Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for Feb. 20-26

BALMORAL

2/26: 4w. no bias

2/25: 3w, + closers

2/22: 1w, ++ closers

SHARP@BALMORAL

I GOT MY WISH – Left to the early lead from the rail and yielded, pulled the pocket and went first over, regained the lead into the stretch and tired while racing against a closer’s bias

MAXIMUS MERIDAN N – Had post 9, left, tucked, power-brushed to the lead with a :27 1/5 second quarter and led into the stretch, didn’t tire that badly against the bias

BET ON HIM*** – Was outside a long way from post 9 and held gamely while pacing home in :26 2/5

FIRSTCLASSALLTHWAY*** – Was first over into a fast last half, made up good ground and held well

RICHESS EMPEROR – Left, tucked, went first over into a fast last half and drew clear

MAYWOOD

2/24: 5w, no bias

2/23: 2w, no bias

SHARP@MAYWOOD

APOLLO’S Z TAM – Left and was parked to a :27 3/5 first quarter, tucked, was hopelessly shuffled when the leader stopped badly

BRING THE RAIN – Left from post 7 and was parked to the half, held gamely for the place

FOX VALLEY SLAMMER – Was shuffled, slipped out but was in traffic, had pace in close quarters in the lane

MONTICELLO

2/23: 8w, + speed

2/22: 6w, no bias

2/21: 4w, no bias

SHARP @ MONTICELLO

RUSTY’S MARTINI*** – Had post 7, was third over behind weak cover, rallied wide and finished sharply

PRINCESS BLISS*** – Was first over from post 8, paced a huge middle-half to take charge and drew clear

REAL PLATINUM*** – Had post 7 and was fourth over, followed cover wide and finished sharply for the show

FAIR LADY J – Fourth over behind weak cover, stormed wide on the final bend and finished fast to get up

NORTHFIELD PARK

2/24: 9w, ++ speed

2/22: 4w, no bias

2/21: 4w, no bias, sloppy track

2/20: 4w, no bias

SHARP @ NORTHFIELD

PAN AU CHOCOLAT*** – Left from post 5 and was parked to a wicked half before finding a tuck off the third turn, somehow held the show in a big effort for the NW200 level

TOWN ATTACK*** – Picked up a catch driver in 2nd start off the bench, gunned out to the lead in :26 3/5, set a hot pace under heavy and constant pressure and surprisingly held sway rather easily

MAJIK MASTER – Put in a solid first over bid in second start of the year, just missed

DOVER

2/26: 8w, + speed

2/23: 5w, no bias

2/22: 6w, + speed

2/21: 2w, no bias

2/20: 2w, no bias

SHARP@DOVER

SAMANDER – Third over from post 7 and finished sharply for the show

MCMURRAY HANOVER – Had the rail and made 2 moves to the lead, set a fast pace under pressure and tired but only lost by 3 lengths

HIGH JOLTAGE – Had post 7 and followed weak cover third over, finished fast for the place

DON’T FOOL ME NOW – Left and was parked to the lead in :26 4/5, yielded to a strong brush at the three quarters and held willingly for the show

ARRESTED DREAMS – 1 for 46 coming in, showed remarkable improvement off a driver change to Tim Tetrick, had post 6 and was third over behind poor cover, launched a bold wide charge into and around the final turn to take the lead and drew clear at 37-1

ROCK N LOAD – 7th at the half, finished fast to be gaining rapidly

LORRIE PLEASE – Left and was three wide while part of a three way battle for the lead, set a fast pace and didn’t tire that badly

EYESEEFAME – Was uncovered a long way and held nicely for the show

UWANTAPIECEOFME – Was looped leaving and parked to the half from post 7, held okay

OSCEOLA GOLD – Was uncovered a long way pushing a sharp 3-5 winner and held well

WINTER NIGHT*** – Marched first over, took control with a :27 1/5 third quarter and drew off powerfully

SEAWIND ALLEGRA – Paced a :27 4/5 third quarter first over and held okay

POMPANO

2/25: 4w, no bias

2/22: 2w, no bias

2/21: 5w, + speed, one covered winner, the rest of the winners either left or went first over

2/20: 3w, no bias

SHARP@POMPANO

ARTS DAY – Left quickly from post 7, yielded grudgingly at the half and was shuffled a bit, angled out between horses in the lane and showed little but wasn’t really asked in tight quarters

REVE PRIDE – Trotter had post 8, slipped out fourth over and finished strongly

MEADOWS

2/24: 8w, + speed

2/23: 4w, no bias

2/22: 6w, no bias

2/21: 10w, + speed, unusually speed favoring to open the week

SHARP@MEADOWS

PRO PROSPECT – Had post 9 and was parked the mile, brushed around tiring cover then picked up cover again and finished gamely for the show on a rare speed favoring day here

HAVERFORD HANOVER – Went first over against a sharp front runner and paced a :26 1/5 third quarter, held okay

COLONIAL ROAD – Left and was parked to the lead in :27 1/5, set a lively pace under some pressure and had plenty left to draw clear

SHE’S AN AMERICAN – Left and was parked the mile without cover, held okay

YONKERS

2/25: 4w, no bias, windy

2/24: 2w, no bias, wet track

2/23: 2w, no bias

2/21: 3w, no real bias but leavers did well

2/20: 6w, + speed

SHARP@YONKERS

LONESOME CRUISER – Had post 8, left, tucked, followed cover and finished fast for the place

LOADEDUPNTRUCKIN*** – Had post 7, left, tucked, came first over into a quick last half and held gamely for the place behind the sharp 2-5 winner

AVENUNE HANOVER*** – Left well and yielded to a quick opener then was shuffled out of contention as the 4-5 favorite, showed late pace once free

JEREMIAH TROTTER*** – Had a brutal trip, was wide, broke and dropped back to last, finished sharply making up a lot of ground

FOUR STARZ ALEX – Was on the move early from post 8 and picked up poor cover, brushed wide approaching the three quarters and had willing pace but no real chance in a quick last half

SOUTHWIND CHASE – Had post 7, followed poor cover and finished fast from a tough spot

HIGHLY THOUGHT OF*** – Left strongly from post 8 and was parked to a quick opener, yielded and was shuffled back in a solid effort to come back on for the show

TRIESTE SEELSTER – Had post 8, gunned wide from a tough spot and made up good ground then excusably flattened out

SWINGINGWITHASHARK – Paced a sharp third quarter first over from a tough spot and held okay

UP FRONT KELLI JO – Left and was parked the mile without cover in a fast paced race, held well

WAYNE THE LEFTY – Hard trying pacer was fourth over and 8th at the three quarters, finished strongly

*** = extra-sharp preferred plays