Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for Feb. 27-March 4

BALMORAL

3/4: 3w, no bias, same as the Meadowlands, speed did a bit better here this week, not unusual as the temperature increases, but still a fair surface that benefits horses that can finish well

3/3: 2w, + closers

2/29: 3w, no bias

SHARP@BALMORAL

TRUE ENTRY – Left, tucked, was shuffled, followed cover at the three quarters and finished well

MAJESTIC ROYALE – Had post 10, followed cover third over and finished fastest of all

DANDY’S CONQUEST – Had post 8, moved out at the three quarters and finished fast

AJS DELIGHT*** – Brushed first over and paced a sharp :27 2/5 second quarter, remained parked uncovered and held gamely for the show

WINTHISONE HANOVER – Had post 10 and was far back early, followed a weak flow of cover and finished well

PEACE – Had post 9 and was a tepid 5-2 favorite, left and tucked, was shuffled, finished well; should be tough from an inside post

MAYWOOD

3/2: 10w, ++ speed, sloppy track

3/1: 4w, no bias

SHARP@MAYWOOD

PACING PENNY TWO – Far back from post 8, came 4th over behind a weak flow, rallied wide and finished well from an impossible spot

FREE PARKIN BEHIND – Had a tough parked-out uncovered trip from post 7 and held well

LAZY LIZARD – Was parked to a quick opener, broke over the sloppy track, recovered and went second over without a rally; tough trip

ONHISHONOR HANOVER – Third over, rallied wide and finished gamely to be 2nd best over a speed favoring track

FREEHOLD

3/3: 2w, no bias, wet track

3/2: 4w, no bias

3/1: 5w, no bias

SHARP@FREEHOLD

PRINCE SHARKA – Had post 7, got moving early and brushed around a tiring horse, chased the 6-5 winner uncovered and held okay

MONTICELLO

3/2: 7w, + speed, wet track

3/1: 4w, no bias, wet track

2/28: 4w, no bias

2/27: 7w, + speed

SHARP @ MONTICELLO

SHARK SHUFFLE*** – Classy speedster was an easy wire to wire winner and should go well stepping up

SS DERBY GIRL*** – Had a brutal parked-out trip from post 7, paced a :28 3/5 second quarter, dueled for the lead on the rim and prevailed bravely

COMMUNITY SPIRIT*** – Had post 7 and went third over, made a strong backstretch brush to clear dull horses and chased the 3-10 winner, held the show gamely

INCREDIBLE AL*** – Had post 8, followed weak cover third over, rallied wide and finished strongly

HAPPYENDING – Had post 7, left, tucked, went first over and held well for the show

GARCENIER – Quarter-moved and got caught in a speed duel with the even money winner, held okay until excusably tiring past the three quarters

CARDINE HANOVER – Was 15 lengths behind early from post 6, was first over a long way and drew clear full of pace despite a difficult trip

NORTHFIELD PARK

3/3: 5w, + speed, continued speed favoring trend that started last Friday

3/2: 7w, outside closers did better than rest of the week over a sloppy track

2/29: 9w, + speed

2/28: 8w, + speed

2/27: 7w + speed

SHARP @ NORTHFIELD

BEANS AND WEENIES – Was parked the mile without cover from post 6 and held well

NAMES FAME – Was shuffled to 8th, finished fast in the lane

AUTO PILOT – Surged wide around weak horses and finished sharply

BLUERIDGE CAMAGOT – Was first over against a sharp 3-5 shot and was clearly second best in a good try

ENTICING ATTACK*** – Left from post 7 and pressed the :28 1/5 opener, could not clear and remained parked uncovered, held gamely to beat 5 horses home

CLASSY ROCKET – Had a tough parked-out trip from post 6 and held okay in an improved effort

DOVER

3/4: 7w, + speed, last two races on 15 race card won by closers but all other races were won by either a leaver or first over horse; as usual, as the temperatures increase, this track becomes more speed favoring than it is during the winter months, so adjust accordingly

3/1: 4w, no bias

2/29: 4w, no bias, wet track

2/28: 8w, + speed

2/27: 9w, ++ speed

SHARP@DOVER

FRESCO BLUE*** – Was used hard three deep to a hot opening quarter, yielded, was shuffled, finished gamely for the place

SAHARA HALL – Had post 7, followed cover third over and finished well from a tough spot on a card that favored front runners with 9 wire to wire winners

SUNSHINE SUPERMAN – Left from post 7 and was used hard to the half in :53 4/5, continued on setting a blazing pace and held sway gamely

SENTINELLE HANOVER – Was 7th at the half behind weak cover, gunned wide and finished sharply to just miss

DICEY MISS – Followed weak cover and finished with solid pace from a tough spot

GEM HEIST – Was shuffled back and impeded in a race marred by a breaker, finished fast

ASTOUNDING HANOVER – Had post 7, left, tucked, followed weak cover and finished gamely in :28 2/5

FOOL OF IDEAS – Had post 7 and was one of four leavers, worked his way to the lead pacing a :27 3/5 second quarter and held sway nicely in a sharp win

POMPANO

3/3: 3w, no bias

2/29: 1w, no bias

2/28: 3w, no bias

2/27: 5w, no bias

SHARP@POMPANO

SHE’S A PEGASE – Was 4th over behind a poor flow of cover, followed cover wide and finished strongly

MEADOWS

3/2: 4w, no bias, wet track

2/29: 3w, no bias, wet track

2/28: 4w, no bias

2/27: 3w, no bias

SHARP@MEADOWS

WILLIE BOOTS*** – Left from post 9 and was parked past the quarter to the lead in :27 1/5, set a pressured pace until yielding past the three quarters and held well to miss by less than a length

BABY TEETH – Was 9th throughout, angled out at the three quarters and finished fast in the lane

YONKERS

3/3: 8w, ++ speed

3/2: 4w, no bias

3/1: 6w, + speed

2/28: 5w, + speed, slight edge to speed

2/27: 5w, + speed

SHARP@YONKERS

LORD OF THE BLING – A 3-5 shot was far back early, followed weak cover, had to make a long uncovered bid to clear dull horses, engaged the leader on the final turn and got up gamely

FRITZIE ROCKET*** – Had post 8, left and was used hard to get the lead in :27 2/5, set a lively pace and drew clear in a sharp win

SMELLTHECOLORNINE – Left from post 5 and was used hard battling for the lead through a wicked pace

MASTERS DEGREE – Trotter had post 8, left, tucked, went first over and held well

SIR JONATHAN Z TAM – Was second over behind weak cover, brushed wide but couldn’t get to the leader who had gotten away to a slow opening half, paced a solid :56 2/5 last half

MUD PIE HANOVER – Left strongly from post 7, set a fast pace, shook off a stiff third quarter bid and gave way grudgingly to the pocket winner late

RIDGE JUMPER – Was third over and finished well in a quick last half

BILLMAR SCOOTER – Left and took an early tuck, went first over, battled fiercely through a :27 2/5 third quarter, was wisely taken in hand on the final turn and waited for the stretch, came on again and got up gamely on the wire in a big effort

SAN ANTONY-O – Had post 7 against a strong speed bias, picked up weak cover and finished sharply

WINORDIETRYING – Was 7th at the half while third over, finished strongly on a night that favored speed horses

BIG BAY POINT***– Left well from post 8 and was used hard to clear in :27, set a hot clip extending his lead at every call in an impressive blowout win for the Lou Pena barn

SPY N – Was third over and 7th with a lot to do turning for home, finished in overdrive to just miss

RIVER SHARK – Left from post 7 and was stung to a quick opener, set a well-rated but pressured pace and only lost by a length while pacing a respectable :28 4/5 final quarter

*** = extra-sharp preferred plays