Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for June 21-24, 2012

BALMORAL

6/24: 3w, + closers

6/23: 2w, + closers

MYSTICAL VICTRESS*** – Far back early, picked up weak cover, rallied wide on the final turn and finished strongly to draw clear

FOX VALLEY GEORGE*** - Had post 8, was used hard to clear, set a fast pace against the bias and held well

MAJOR MALE*** - Had post 10, gained at each call and paced his last three quarters in 1:21.2 while flying in the stretch

LOST ONE*** – Left from post 8 and was parked the mile without cover forcing a fast pace, held surprisingly well considering the trip

JJ SUPREME*** - Was first over a long way, paced a :55 2/5 middle-half and just missed in a game try

MAYWOOD

6/22: 8w, + speed

6/21: 6w, + speed

CELEBRITY BEST – Was parked the mile without cover from post 7 and held gamely for the place

STONEBRIDGE SYMBOL – Had post 8, left and got parked out behind a tiring horse, followed cover wide at the half and ran out of steam but beat three horses home in a difficult trip

CRIME OF PASSION – Was first over into a fast last half and just missed

TURN IT UP LOUD*** – Was third over behind horrible cover, rallied wide and finished strongly against the bias

PICASSOS BOY – Had post 8, rallied wide around the final turn and finished fast from an impossible spot

MONTICELLO

6/21: 8w, ++ speed

WINK AND NOD – Was first over a long way from post 6, made up a lot of ground in a good try

NORTHFIELD PARK

6/23: 6w, + speed

6/22: 9w, ++ speed

ARMBROS REVENGE A*** – Was first over and paced a big middle-half making up 8 lengths in the second quarter, drew off impressively

A LITTLE CRAZY*** - Blasted to the lead in :26 4/5, rattled of a blazing pace on a long lead and won by 9

UP FRONT CARL – Had post 6, took an early tuck, went first over and held okay for the show

HARRAH’S PHILADELHIA

6/24: 6w, + speed, leavers or first over trip won 13 of the 14 races

6/22: 6w, no bias

6/21: 3w, no bias

WILDFIRE OSBORNE*** – Was parked most of the mile first over, paced a big middle-half and drew off impressively

STREAKIN STAR – Trotter left, tucked, went first over and held well

OPENING NIGHT*** – Trotter was parked to the lead in :27 1/5, set a fast pace and bottomed out his rivals

WARNERS SPEEDY ART – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over into a :27 2/5 third quarter and held okay

MEADOWS

6/22: 3w, no bias

THE MEADOWLANDS

6/23: 1w, no bias

6/22: 0w, + closers

COCO LINDY – Consistent trotter rallied wide and finished sharply in the fastest quarter of the race

TOPGUN RAIDER – Shot to the lead in :26 1/5, set a fast pace and tired in the stretch; could be live at a price with a different type of trip

MYSTIC DESIRE – Went a big uncovered trip last start then came up short this week but was third over behind poor cover; chance at a price off the “bounce re-bound” pattern and perhaps a switch back to a smaller oval such as Pocono or Yonkers

POCONO

6/24: 4w, no bias

6/23: 6w, + speed, 11 races won by pacesetter or pocket, three won by first over horse, track lightning fast. This track is significantly faster this year, appears to be at least a full second faster than the Meadowlands now, easily the fastest five eighths track in the country and out of the tracks that run a long meeting, Pocono appears be the fastest track in North America now.

6/22: 2w, no bias

SANGAAL – Left from post 9 as one of four leavers and was used hard three deep past a :26 3/5 opener to take the lead, set the pace and didn’t tire that badly

MC ATTABOY – Was parked the mile without cover from post 7 and held okay

ARACACHE HANOVER – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over and paced a :53 2/5 last half for the win under strong handling by George Brennan, who won four races and in my opinion appeared to improve horses that he drove for the first time

HURRIKANE KINGCOLE – Stayed flat this time, uncorked a wicked first over brush and drew off impressively

GOOGOO GAAGAA – Fast trotter left and tucked on turn one, brushed to take the lead in front of the stands, got roughgaited down the back while appearing to momentarily switch into a pace but kept it together and held sway under confident handling in world record performance

SARATOGA

6/24: 3w, no bias

6/23: 7w, + speed

6/22: 6w, + speed

6/21: 5w, + speed

NATIVE QUEEN – Had post 6, power-brushed to the lead at the half, continued on with a :28 third quarter and weakened but held the show

UPFRONT MISSYS BOY*** – Had post 7, made a big uncovered move to get within striking range of the 3-5 winner and was second best

TIOGA

6/24: 5w, no bias

6/23: 5w, no bias

6/22: 4w, no bias

SPECULATIVE EDGE – In his second start off a long layoff, made two moves to the lead and drew off easily

YONKERS

6/23: 4w, no bias

6/22: 3w, no bias

6/21: 7w, + speed

SPECIAL COMMAND – Trotter was 6th at the half, roared wide around stopping cover and engaged the leader with a strong third quarter brush, flattened out in the lane but it was a solid effort

LIGHTNING TREASURE – Left from post 8 and was three deep and used hard to get the lead on the second turn in a race with a :26 3/5 first quarter, yielded to the winner approaching the three quarters and faded but only lost by 4 lengths in a game effort from a tough spot

SPEED HANOVER – Had a nightmare trip, broke, recovered, was parked two turns, finished willingly

COURSER HANOVER – Was third over behind dull cover and finished fast in :27 1/5

ART TWO D TWO – Left from post 6 and was used hard to clear in :26 2/5, set the pace under pressure and didn’t tire that badly

CASH CAB – Had post 7, left and tucked, went first over into a :27 third quarter and held okay

REIBERCROMBIE- Had post 6 and got hung the mile without cover, only lost by 4 lengths

*** = extra-sharp preferred plays

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