Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for July 5-8, 2012
BALMORAL
7/8: 2w, + closers
7/7: 2w, + closers
SHAX – Left and was parked to the quarter for the lead, rated the second quarter then raced under pressure the final half and was second best to the pocket sitter
THE INVISIBLE PAN – Was first over pushing a quick last half and held okay
BEST MAN HANOVER*** - Was 9 lengths back early, paced a sparkling :53 1/5 last half to get up for the win in 1:49 4/5
DEE DEE SAGE – Had post 10, was 4th over behind weak cover and finished in :26 2/5 for the show
MAYWOOD
7/6: 7w, + speed
7/5: 4w, no bias
NJ’S GO JOHNNY GO – Far back early from post 7, followed weak cover, rallied wide and finished gamely
JOSTING JACK – Was 8th at the three quarters while 4th over, followed cover wide around the final turn and finished stoutly to just miss
BAUER’S Z TAM*** – Had post 8, left and was three wide but couldn’t clear and remained parked the mile without cover, finally wore down the game pacesetter on the wire
MONTICELLO
7/6: 5w, no bias
7/5: 3w, no bias
BIG SLICK Z TAM – Was first over a long way against the sharp 1-2 favorite and held well
TIGER’S DESTINY – Left from post 6 and was parked the mile without cover, held well to finish 4th, beating four horses
NORTHFIELD PARK
7/7: 4w, no bias
7/6: 8w, ++ speed
SKY RIDGE KATIE – Left from post 8 and was three wide part of the first quarter, remained parked uncovered while unable to clear, pushed a quick pace and excusably tired on the final turn
HARRAH’S PHILADELHIA
7/8: 6w, no bias
7/6: 6w, + speed
7/5: 4w, no bias
SIR RICHARD Z TAM –
Showed early speed and yielded, pulled the pocket and drew clear quickly to a handy win
LIVE ON*** – Left sharply and parked a horse to a :27 1/5 opener, yielded, was shuffled to third and paced a :26 4/5 third quarter to regain command with a first over move, held sway
RUSTY SKIPP – Paced a :26 4/5 third quarter after losing cover past the half, continued gamely to the wire to just miss in a solid placing
THE POKESTER – Left from post 8 and was parked most of the opening half for the lead, yielded to pressure at the three quarters, only lost by a length in a solid effort
MEADOWLANDS
7/7: 1w, + closers
7/6: 3w, no bias
7/5: 4w, no bias
SMOKIN N GRININ – Left well and yielded, pulled first over down the back and held gamely
EIGHT TEN EOM – Had post 10, left and worked his way to the lead to a :53 4/5 half, yielded and excusably tired in the lane over a track that favored closers; price factor in exotics at the NW2 level
FORECLOSURE N – Rallied wide around the final turn and finished fast in :26 to just miss
STATE TREASURER –
Was first over in the first elimination and paced a :26 4/5 third quarter, held surprisingly well to the wire in a game effort
THINKING OUT LOUD – Followed cover, tipped wide for the drive, steadied in mid-stretch to avoid locking wheels as Randy Waples played it safe, got going again and finished fast as usual to just miss
BOLT THE DUER – Showed good early speed as expected, sat the pocket, was blocked into the stretch, angled out for clearance but was pinched in tight quarters and cleared late with pace
POCONO
7/8: 5w, + speed
7/7: 7w, + speed
7/6: 7w, + speed
TAKE A WALK*** – Left from post 9 and was parked the mile without cover, wore down the leader in the lane but was nipped on the wire by the perfect pocket trip 4-5 winner in a game placing
BITTERSWEET CHAMP*** - Had post 8 and finished strongly against the bias
AMILLIONPENNIES – Had post 9, set a fast pace under pressure and didn’t tire that badly
BOOZE CRUISER – Had post 8 and was used hard to clear then yielded to strong pressure in a fast-paced race, held nicely to be second best
MEADOWS
7/6: 8w, + speed
7/5: 7w, + speed
SARATOGA
7/8: 5w, + speed
7/7: 6w, + speed
7/6: 6w, + speed
7/5: 8w, ++ speed
SJ’S INTHEDOUGH – Trotter was parked the mile without cover from post 8 and held well
TIOGA
7/8: 4w, no bias
7/7: 3w, no bias
7/6: 1w, no bias
FORTY THREE – Left from post 7 and was parked to a quick half; didn’t tire that badly
MR EXCELLENT – Left fast and yielded grudgingly in front of the stands parking a horse past a :26 4/5 opener, was hopelessly shuffled back in tight quarters
VOICE OF TRUTH – Left from post 9 and was parked with cover early then lost cover past the quarter, continued uncovered forcing a fast pace and excusably tired in a brutal trip
LAMBRETTA – Left from post 8 and was used hard to clear, then set a fast pace under heavy pressure, yielded to pressure and faded out of it; price factor in exotics
YONKERS
7/7: 8w, ++ speed
7/6: 6w, + speed
7/5: 3w, + speed, 8 leavers and 3 first over horses won the races
DANCIN YANKEE – Third over behind weak cover, rallied wide around the final turn and finished sharply
FLIPPER J – Had post 7, was unable to flush cover and grinded first over from an impossible spot; held gamely to lose by only 2 lengths
*** = extra-sharp preferred plays
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