Harness: Sharp Horses and Track Trends from Dec. 15 - Dec. 18

CAL EXPO

12/16: 5w, no bias

12/15: 2w, + closers

NORTHFIELD

12/18: 9w, + speed

12/17: 10w, ++ speed, only one of the 15 winners got off the pylons, eight of the winners had post 1 or 2, but there were ten winning favorites so it’s hard to tell if the track was very speed biased or if it was just the best horses gunning for the lead

12/16: 7w, no bias

ST LADS MAGGIE MAE –

Had post 7, followed cover, rallied three wide on the final turn and finished with solid pace for the show from a tough spot

DOVER

12/18: 6w, no bias

GOOD BET*** –

Went first over pushing a :27 4/5 third quarter against the sharp 3/5 winner, held well

BRODY*** –

Left hard and parked a horse to a :26 opener, yielded, regained the lead before the half, which went in :54 2/5, yielded to strong pressure approaching the three quarters, held well in the stretch to finish second

THE MEADOWS

12/18: 4w, no bias, off track

12/16: 5w, no bias

NITRO SEELSTER –

Left from post 8 and was used hard parked to the half for the lead, set a pressured pace from there and didn’t tire that badly

UPFRONTWHOSURLADY*** –

Was six lengths behind at the quarter, hustled up to challenge at the half, pressed a :27 1/5 third quarter, weakened but held okay

SAFE FROM TERROR –

Had post 8, left quickly and was parked to the lead in :26 3/5, rated the half and then drew off as much the best

PHILADELPHIA

12/17: 5w, no bias

12/15: 5w, no bias

THE SPY –

Kept up well to a :26 first quarter, rushed up to challenge at the half, was rebuffed and weakened but the trip wasn’t easy; may be worth a price

IDEAL FASHION –

Left hard and parked a horse to a :26 opener, yielded and was shuffled back to 6^th, squeezed out in a blindswitch and finished evenly

J C ONTHEBEACH –

Was 7^th and on the move at the quarter, picked up terrible cover, ducked back in past the half, swung clear in the stretch and finished quickly after the tough trip

MIDWAY ISLAND –

Left from post 8 and got into a duel with the sharp even-money winner, forced a fast pace and excusably tired, still beat three horses home after the brutal trip

FREEHOLD

12/16: 7w, + speed

12/15: 0w, no bias

MEADOWLANDS

12/16: 1w, + closers

12/15: 5w, no bias, light snow

BIG STRETCH MARK –

Left from post 8 and was parked to the lead in :27 3/5, set a quick pace under pressure and just missed

ALLSTAR PARTNER –

Gunned to the lead from post 10, set a quick clip and gave way late in a game placing

CITY HALL –

Had post 8, followed weak cover and finished quickly for the show, last quarter in :26 3/5

ROLL N CATCH –

Left from post 9 and followed horses up with cover, lost cover past the quarter and grinded up first over, reached the leader at the three quarters, held okay

LONE WOLF TERROR –

Left and worked his way to the lead at the half while hard-used, broke stride; this horse showed strong late pace at Hoosier this year, and although he does have trouble staying flat, he may be worth a price in exotic wagers

SPILLING THE BEANS –

It’s not often you see a horse pay $48.40 after winning by eight lengths in its prior start, but Spilling The Beans stepped up in claiming price off a trainer change and a romping win, left from post 9, was parked to the half for the lead and drew clear handily

MADE OF JEWELS AS*** –

8/5 favorite had post two, was boxed in right from the start and shuffled back to 7^th, angled off the pylons for late clearance and had plenty of late pace for the place

MONTICELLO

12/18: 2w, no bias, + closers, off track; although it may not look like a pure closer’s bias, the track was definitely more tiring than usual, four odds-on favorites failed on the lead

YONKERS

12/17: 6w, + speed

12/16: 7w, + speed

12/15: 7w, + speed

BORDER CONTROL A –

Had post 6, followed cover third over and finished with good pace for the show

CAVIART SKYLER –

Had post 7, followed poor cover, rallied three wide on the final turn and finished gamely for the show pacing his last quarter in :28 2/5

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