Harness Racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends, August 2 - August 5

BALMORAL

8/5: 0w, no bias, leavers did okay with 6 pocket winners
8/4: 7w, no real bias but slightly speed favoring over a sloppy track
8/1: 3w, no bias

WAITING AND HOPING – Set the pace and drew off with a quick final half

MAYWOOD

8/3: 5w, + speed
8/2: 5w, + speed

PRIME ESCAPE – Was parked most of the mile without cover from post 7, held okay

MONTICELLO

82: 5w, + speed

VINNIE’S VALENTINE – Had post 7 behind a slow pace, followed weak cover, rallied wide and finished well

MEADOWLANDS

8/4: 3w, daytime card, no bias but horses that left or raced close to first, such as first over, had somewhat of an advantage over a lightning fast strip
8/3: 3w, no bias
8/2: 4w, no bias

RIVERFEST – Looked to leave but settled into a tuck on the first turn, ended up 4th over and shuffled back behind horrible cover, rallied wide on the final turn and finished fastest of all

CAPTAINTREACHEROUS – Left and tucked, brushed to the lead and poured it on to draw off impressively in fast time

TO DREAM ON – Was mired behind terrible cover, moved wide on the final turn and gradually gained striking position, finished gamely to edge clear under confident handling in a sharp win

BLACKJACK PRINCESS – Left quickly to the early lead, yielded and was shuffled out of contention, finished well

HURRIKANE KINGCOLE – Was looped leaving by Panther Hanover but worked his way to the lead in :26 3/5, set a blistering and uncontrolled pace while fighting his driver all the way, gave way grudgingly to the pocket winner late in a big effort

FASHION BLIZZARD – Two-year-old trotter was in a tough spot off the pace from post 10, knifed between horses in the lane and finished quickly

MYLUVMYLIFE – Left in :26 4/5, yielded, brushed back to the lead at the half, yielded, rallied gamely for a rare three-move win

NORTHFIELD PARK

8/4: 5w, + speed, slight edge to speed
8/3: 6w, + speed

BE BOP BEAUTY*** – Left with two others and was three deep the opening quarter, couldn’t clear and remained parked uncovered, battled gamely to save the place in a game effort

PAN AU CHOCOLAT – Left from post 8 and was used hard to clear in :27 1/5, parked a horse to the half, shook that one off then yielded to pressure at the three quarters, didn’t tire that badly

HARRAH’S PHILADELHIA

8/5: 9w, ++ speed, very speed favoring most of the week
8/3: 9w, ++ speed
8/2: 6w, + speed
8/1: 6w, + speed, slight edge speed

PERMA GRIN – Gunned to the lead from post 7, set the pace under stiff second-half pressure and drew clear with a nice :27 4/5 final quarter

BESTJETYET – Was first over and paced a :55 2/5 middle-half against a tough front runner, tough trip

HURRIKANE SCOTTY J – Left quickly in :26 4/5, yielded, brushed back to the lead at the half, maintained a quick pace under pressure and dug in bravely for the win

JUST LIKE LLOYD – Trotter had post 7, followed cover, lost cover, trotted a :27 4/5 third quarter and held okay; price factor in exotics from better post

CAMBASSADOR – Had post 6, left, tucked, followed weak cover, rallied wide approaching the three quarters to go after the 4-5 winner on the final turn, was shaken off but held nicely for the show

MACH LADY – Grinded first over from post 6 and paced a :26 4/5 third quarter, held the show

WINDFALL BLUE CHIP – Followed weak cover, rallied wide around the final turn and finished sharply against the bias while pacing a :53 4/5 last half

POCONO

8/5: 3w, no bias, sloppy track
8/4: 9w, ++ speed
8/3: 4w, no bias

BLESSED VICTORY – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over, pushed the winner and held gamely for the show

SUMMER CAMP*** – Left from post 7 and worked his way to the lead past the quarter, set a hot pace and was second best to the pocket horse in a fast

WINDSONG GORGEOUS*** – Kept up well early pacing a :26 3/5 first quarter, went first over and paced a :26 3/5 third quarter, held well for the show, losing by only a length

DIAL OR NODIAL – Shot to the lead in :26, yielded, was shuffled a bit and finished willingly in a quick mile

ZITOMIRA – Trotter was parked the mile without cover and held gamely

MEADOWS

8/4: 7w, + speed
8/3: 3w, no bias

SARATOGA

8/4: 4w, no bias
8/3: 8w, + speed
8/2: 7w, + speed

APRIL FOOL – Left from post 6 and was parked the mile without cover, held well considering

CLASSIC ROCK NROLL – Had dull cover, brushed wide and finished gamely pacing a :55 last half

TIOGA

8/5: 3w, no bias, off track
8/4: 4w, no bias
8/3: 5w, + speed

PENNY PINCHER – Left from post 5, went first over and was second best to the favorite

MYSTICAL MIKEL – Quarter-moved and was parked on a long first over bid, held nicely

YONKERS

8/4: 7w, + speed
8/3: 3w, no bias

LILY’S HI HO – Had post 6, left, tucked, went first over against a sharp front runner and was 2nd best

RAFFERTY HANOVER*** – Left from post 7 and was parked most of two turns before finding a tuck, angled out for clearance in the lane and finished fast for the win

NIP PAN TUCK*** – Had post 7, left, tucked, brushed approaching the half, couldn’t clear but kept the heat on through a lively third quarter and held well for the show

DIGITAL Z TAM – Had post 7, followed dull cover at the three quarters and finished fast