Ocean Downs: Analysis for Monday 5/18
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This Monday is opening night of the 2026 Ocean Downs meet! The Maryland half-mile track has been a staple of the North American harness racing schedule for over 70 years. Throughout the summer we at DRF Harness will be giving some insight and spot plays for selected races on the Sunday and Monday cards. Personally I've always been a fan of half-mile harness racing and Ocean Downs is always on my radar.
Race 1: NW of 2 pari-mutuel races or $14,000 lifetime Pace
We might as well start off with the 2026 lid-lifter and look to get things going with a bang! (4) ALWAYS HAS BEEN arrives from Harrington off a win as the odds-on favorite in a comparable class and he picks up Jonathan Roberts, one of the leading drivers at Ocean year in and year out. Connections thought highly enough of him to race him in Kentucky-sired stakes events as a freshman so his perceived class plus early speed should play nicely from this spot. (5) BAYSIDE MAVERICK has been showing speed and versatility recently at Shenandoah Downs, another half-miler. Draws the outermost post but has an aggressive driver in William Carter. (3) TORRONE HANOVER is just 2 for 42 lifetime but his two inside rivals are 0 for 53 combined. He's been caught up in faster races recently at Rosecroft.
Race 4: NW3501 in last 4 starts; Opt. $10K Claiming Pace
(2) ULTIMAROCA has loads of back class with over $627K earned lifetime but it's been seven months since this veteran has won a pari-mutuel race. He's blazed down the road in his last two at Harrington before tiring but he should be able to carry his speed much further here. Switch to Ocean may be just what the doctor ordered. He won't offer a ton of value on the win end so we'll try a cold exacta with (3) ROSE RUN ZOAR, who has been racing exclusively on the larger track at Rosecroft at a comparable level but he was first or second seven times in 15 local tries last year.
Race 7: NW4501 in last 4 starts; Opt. $15K Claiming Trot
(4) SPEED BALL SWAGGER has very little recent form but owner Ken Weckstein has two in here and he elects to drive #1, so we get a catch driver tonight as Jonathan Roberts takes over. Could that be enough to turn this veteran around? Not entirely sure, but one thing that is certain is he'll offer plenty of value at 15/1 on the morning line. Looking in a more logical direction, (6) R HOT TODDY is 0 for 12 on the season but two back he wasn't awful in Rosecroft's feature and he's won here multiple times in the past.
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