Harness racing: Sharp Horses and Track Trends for May 14 - 20, 2012

BALMORAL

5/20: 2w, + closers

5/19: 4w, no bias

5/16: 3w, no bias

SHARP@BALMORAL

SEPTEMBER ROAD – Was far back early, finished in :26 2/5 for the win

LEE AVE – Worked his way to the lead from post 10 and was used hard to clear before the half, dug in with a :27 1/5 final quarter to hold on

STAR CITY HERO*** – Left and was parked to the quarter for the lead, yielded, was shuffled, finished fast

RICHESS EMPEROR*** – Had post 10, moved at the three quarters and finished powerfully

L T’S BIG JAKE – Had post 10 and a tough chance off a slow pace, finished fast

MAYWOOD

5/18: 8w, + speed

5/17: 6w, + speed

SHARP@MAYWOOD

MELODIE HOTSPUR – Had no shot from post 8 in a race where the 6-5 shot got away with an easy pace, rallied wide and finished evenly; exotics factor from a better post

NOTJUSTAPRETTYFACE*** – Was third over, rallied wide on the final turn and finished fast

BLAZING FURY – Followed cover 4th over, was blindswitched on the final turn and into the lane, cleared late with good pace

GUTS N GLORY – Was 4th over from post 8, rallied wide with solid pace

FIVE COUGARS A*** - Left from post 6, was looped by the 8 horse and was parked the mile without cover, held well considering

FREEHOLD

5/19: 8w, + speed

5/18: 5w, no bias

5/17: 5w, no bias

SHARP@FREEHOLD

WAIVER HANOVER – Had post 8, left, tucked, went first over into a quick third quarter and weakened; price factor in exotics with a drop in class or a better post

MONTICELLO

5/17: 8w, + speed

5/16: 4w, no bias

5/15: 3w, no bias, sloppy track

5/14: 2w, no bias

SHARP@MONTICELLO

SOUTHWIND IRVIN – Was parked to a :27 4/5 opener, fast for this sloppy track, set the pace under second-half pressure and weakened but could be dangerous at a price

ALWAYS RIGHT – Had post 8 and finished fast for the show

WINK AND NOD – Went first over and pressed the 1-2 winner hard through a quick third quarter, held well

P H HOTSHOT – Had post 8 and poor cover, finished willingly over a speed favoring track

TIOGA DOWNS

5/20: 5w, no bias

5/19: 5w, no bias

5/18: 8w, + speed

SHARP@TIOGA

FIREYOURGUNS – Made a long quarter-move to take the lead at the half, paced a strong middle-half and won clear in a sharp performance

RAIDERS FAVORITE – Left from post 8 and was three deep and then parked the mile without cover, held well

EASTEND EDDIE*** - Had post 9 and blasted to the top in :25 3/5, set a wicked pace under pressure and only lost by 2 lengths

RECENT NEWS*** – Had the rail, used up energy chasing a blistering first quarter, went first over pacing a :27 2/5 third quarter, only lost by 2 lengths in an effort that was better than it looks on paper

NORTHFIELD PARK

5/18: 7w, no bias

5/15: 4w, no bias

5/14: 5w, no bias

SHARP@NORTHFIELD

LAUNCH ANGLE – Left fast and yielded to a :26 4/5 opener, was shuffled with pace

ALIQUIPPA – Was parked to a stiff first quarter, set a blazing pace and excusably tired

LIVEANDINCONCERT – Was three wide a long way and finished gamely, tough trip

OSBORNE’S SWEEPER – Was used hard to clear the lead from post 8, set a quick pace, won gamely

HARRINGTON

5/20: 4w, + speed, leavers did well as usual here

5/17: 7w, + speed

5/16: 6w, + speed

5/15: 7w, + speed

5/14: 5w, + speed, leavers did well

SHARP@HARRINGTON

AS BAD AS THUNDER – Left fast from post 7, yielded, moved on the final turn and finished strongly to win with a :26 4/5 final quarter

IVEGIVENWHATIGOT – Was first over from post 7, paced a :27 4/5 third quarter and held well

VIVERE*** - Had post 7, raced third over, rallied wide and finished strongly for the place

GEM HEIST – Had post 7, made up a ton of ground on a long uncovered grind through the middle-half in a good effort that was much better than it will looks on paper

HARRAH’S PHILADELPHIA

5/20: 6w, + speed, leavers did well

5/19: 5w, no bias

5/18: 4w, no bias

5/16: 9w, ++ speed

SHARP@PHILADELPHIA

PRINCESS MCARDLE N – Left from post 8 and was parked to the quarter, rated the second quarter then drew off strongly; was claimed and can repeat, especially if the track stays this speed favoring

KITTY’S PRO GIRL – Had post 7, left, tucked, went first over into a stepped-up final half and held okay

MEDOLAND BIG CAM*** – Left from post 8 and was part of a three way battle for the lead, was used hard to clear before the :54 half, set the pace under pressure from there and held the place gamely

MEADOWS

5/18: 4w, no bias

5/16: 7w, + speed

5/15: 4w, no bias

5/14: 5w, no bias, wet track

SHARP@MEADOWS

NIFTY ACE*** – Far back from post 9, finished fast for the show

HICKORY BIG RED – Left from post 8 and was parked to the lead in :26 3/5, yielded and had good late pace

FOUR STARZ KYLE*** – Was parked the mile without cover fighting for the lead, finally put away the pacesetter into the stretch but was out-kicked by the perfect trip winner in a game placing

SAM HILL – Left from post 7 and was parked to a :54 1/5 half for the lead, yielded to pressure and excusably tired; may be worth a price off this effort

I’VE GOT A BONO*** – Left fast and was parked to the quarter for the lead, parked a horse to a fast half, yielded, popped back out of the pocket to regain the lead down the back and didn’t tire that badly

REAL ATTITUDE*** – Left from post 9 and was parked to the quarter for the lead, rated the half then reeled off a quick last half to win impressively

POCONO DOWNS

5/19: 5w, no bias, very fast track but not as biased as the prior nights, perhaps because the classier horses were more capable of overcoming the bias, overall a quality card with good racing and some big payoffs

5/18: 6w, + speed, leavers and first over horses did well

5/16: 7w, + speed

5/15: 9w, ++ speed

SHARP@POCONO

WAYLON HANOVER*** – Shot to the lead in :26 1/5, shrugged off early pressure while maintaining a hot pace and drew clear

PW IVORY GRIN – Was first over into a :27 1/5 third quarter against a tough 4-5 shot, held okay

IDEAL DANNY*** – Showed early speed then pulled the pocket and went first over, held okay

OL’ MAN RIVER*** – Quarter-moved, shook off pressure through a :55 middle-half and drew off

ELUSIVE REWARD*** – Made 2 moves to the lead, opened up on the field to a 1:20 4/5 three quarters, sharp

SAULSBROOKS FAME*** – Was parked the mile without cover forcing a fast pace, finished last but only lost by 4 lengths, tough trip

DAPPER DUDE*** – The 3yo colt was second over behind weak cover, rallied wide and paced an eye-popping :54 1/5 last half to wear down the 3-5 pacesetter in a huge effort

DANCIN YANKEE – Followed cover third over and paced a :53 3/5 last half for the win

STAR PARTY – Left, tucked, went first over into a :55 last half and held okay

SARATOGA

5/20: 5w, no bias

5/19: 5w, no bias

5/17: 4w, no bias

5/16: 9w, + speed

SHARP@SARATOGA

REAL YANKEE FAN – Third over from post 7, rallied wide and finished strongly against the bias

DANA’S SHARP SMART – Had weak cover, rallied wide and finished gamely to just miss

YONKERS

5/19: 4w, no bias

5/18: 4w, no bias

5/17: 7w, + speed

5/15: 7w, + speed

5/14: 4w, no bias

SHARP@YONKERS

MYRA’S HIHO*** – Had post 8 and was 4th over following an empty 49-1 shot, rallied wide and finished fast

NEW YORK KITTY – Had poor cover but paced a huge last quarter to save the chalk players at $3.10

ARTIC STRETCH*** – Left from post 7 and was parked to the lead in :27 1/5, set a lively pace and held well

LITTLE PRINCE*** – Had post 7, followed cover third over and finished fast in :27 3/5

FOX VALLEY TYRESE – Followed cover and finished with solid pace from post 7

REAL MYSTICAL – Made 2 moves to the early lead and jogged in 1:51.2, very fast for a $15,000 claimer, but was claimed away from a high-percentage barn

LEAN ON YOU – Had post 8, moved up quickly between horses approaching the three quarters but was blindswitched and shuffled behind a tiring horse, angled wide for late clearance in the stretch and rallied quickly late

TIDEWATER TEDDY – Was 4-5 shot left and got into a speed duel with a horse that refused to yielded, was parked the mile forcing a quick pace and finished last but only lost by 5 lengths

WINTER RETREAT A – Had post 7, followed tiring cover third over and finished sharply for the show

POKER HAT – Tried to leave from post 6 but took an early tuck, went first over into a :55 4/5 last half and held okay, tough trip

SOME LIKE IT HOT*** – Trotter left for the early lead and yielded, broke off the third turn and was taken to the infield, dropped back to 8th, moved back on the track and followed on the final turn, angled wide for the drive and was flying through the stretch

PATSYS LUCK – Made a strong first over bid pacing a :27 1/5 third quarter and held well

SKYWAY HANOVER – Third over behind poor cover, finished full of pace for the show

LETS GO BLUE – Followed poor cover, moved wide on the final turn and finished strongly for the win

*** = extra-sharp preferred plays