Harness: Sharp Horses and Track Trends from Jan. 12 - Jan. 15

CAL EXPO

1/13: 3w, + closers

1/12: fog obscured most of the races, off track

HAWTHORNE

1/14: 2w, + closers

1/13: 2w, + closers, cold, 11 degrees at post time

FOX VALLEY SPARTY*** –

Was 7^th at the half, made a bold uncovered move down the backstretch, collared the leader on the final turn and drew off

NORTHFIELD

1/15: 8w, + speed, off track

1/13: 6w, no bias, off track

MIAMI VALLEY

1/15: 5w, no bias, snow, off track

1/14: 7w, + speed, off track

1/13: 6w, no bias

E Z NOAH*** –

Went first over, pushed a :28 2/5 third quarter against the 2/5 winner, kept going well to the wire in a game placing

DREAMFAIR MESA*** –

Left from post 7, was parked to the quarter for the lead, shook off pressure at the half, ripped off a :27 2/5 third quarter and drew off impressively full of pace

BROOKLYNITE*** –

Had post 7, went first over on a long grind, reached the leader at the half, pressed a :28 2/5 third quarter and battled gamely to the wire to just miss with a :28 2/5 last quarter

E R SIMON*** –

Had post 7, moved at the quarter, followed cover third over, brushed three wide approaching the three quarters and engaged the leader, finished gamely to just miss

DOVER DOWNS

1/15: 5w, no bias

CASHENDASH HANOVER*** –

Was 6^th at the quarter, rushed up approaching the half, paced a :27 3/5 third quarter challenging the 4/5 favorite, was shaken off but held gamely for the show

FREEHOLD

1/12: 6w, + speed, sloppy track

MEADOWLANDS

1/13: 1w, ++ closers, strong headwinds

1/12: 5w, no bias, sloppy track

FIRE N DIAMONDS*** -

Left from post 8 and was used hard to the lead past a :26 3/5 first quarter over a sloppy track, yielded grudgingly, was shuffled to 4^th, moved out behind the eventual winner at the three quarters and finished steadily for the show

FREE SHOW –

Left from post 10, was used hard to the lead past a :26 3/5 first quarter, set a fast pace in the slop and held the show

IDEAL SHADOW –

Left from post 10 and was used hard to the lead in :27, set a quick clip against the bias on a very windy night and held well for the show

AIR STRIKE –

Left sharply and yielded to a quick first quarter, chased a fast pace, swung out for room in the stretch but lacked a rally; the track was very tiring, perhaps a price factor in exotics

FRANKY’S BEACH BOY –

Left and was looped by the six, remained parked on a brutal uncovered grind over a tiring track, pressed the hot pace from the half and excusably tired in the stretch

SPEED AGAIN –

Left sharply, set a fast pace against the bias under second-half pressure and tired in the final sixteenth; dangerous speed on a night when speed is holding better

WELLWESAID –

Left from post 7 and worked his way to the lead at the half, set the pace against the bias and held okay considering

DANISH DILIGENCE –

Saved ground, swung out behind a wall of horses in the stretch and never really got enough room to stretch his legs while appearing to have pace

YONKERS

1/15: 0w, ++ closers, unusually tiring track for Yonkers, or any half-miler

1/14: 5w, no bias, windy

1/13: 7w, + speed

1/12: 3w, no bias, sloppy track

NEWS WATCH –

Left, was three wide on the first turn and used hard to the lead in :27 flat, yielded and was shuffled out of contention over a track that was much more tiring than usual

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