Harness Analyst – Breeders Crown longshots worth a look

This weekend, Grand Circuit harness racing takes center stage at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with 12 divisions of The Breeders Crown being contested. The very best in the sport knock heads in four divisions for two-year-olds on Friday night and eight divisions for three-year-olds and aged competitors on Saturday night.

It’s typical for these races to produce a mixture of results; some of the Breeders Crown races will be dominated by heavy favorites, but there always seems to be some upsets, sometimes by huge longshots. It’s never a bad strategy to take a swing for the fences. Remember, many of the eliminations contested last week advanced all but one entrant to the final. This weekend’s races will not look the same with every horse in every race shooting for a big purse this time around. Strategy and tactics will change as will the pace and trip scenarios.

The goal here is to identify one value horse in each of the 12 Breeders Crown final that either has the chance to score an upset or can add some value when used underneath in Exacta, Trifecta or Superfecta bets. As always, good luck with your punts.

FRIDAY

Race 10

(7) SIERRA GIRL will be no better than 4th or 5th choice in here and while she is up against it trying to beat the three fillies lined up in posts 1 through 3, she is consistent and she can be part of the exotics here at a price.

Race 11

(4) STORM SHADOW has caught fire for recently for trainer Moore and he likely won’t get bet much here. If you want to see how good a horse can get when Moore finds the key, check out Tattoo Artist, who started the season 2 for 14 and now is seemingly invincible. This colt is worth using in this spot.

Race 12

(1) CANIGETALOUPLOUP was third beaten five lengths last week, and she will be let go at another big price here. But she is a Burke trainee with speed who will use it to get position from the rail post. I see her landing in the Super and I’ll construct some tickets with her in the third and fourth slots. Supers pay great at this track when you can get one longshot on the ticket.

Race 13

(9) SITUATIONSHIP draws worst so he will be a big bomb here, but he has been very consistent and you can do worse than betting Scott Zeron driving an Ake Svandstedt trainee when trying to get a longshot on the ticket.

SATURDAY

Race 8

(2) ADARE CASTLE won’t get bet much here, but she did finish 2nd in her elim to tonight’s likely favorite Jiggy Jog S. I see her sitting a trip racing near the front and landing in the Super.

Race 9

(7) HEAVEN HANOVER was good last week, and she won the Hambletonian Oaks at 28 to 1 in the summer, beating many of tonight’s rivals. If there is some battling and things shake out her way, she could rally for another big upset.

Race 10

(6) CHARLESTON roared home in 25.1 last week. A similar effort likely gets her in the Tri or Super at a price tonight.

Race 11

(6) AIR POWER is fast enough to go with these when he is on his game and minding his manners. I’ll call him to score a big upset here.

Race 12

(10) MIKALA races better when she saves her brush for the final 1/4 and she will likely to be forced to race in the flow tonight starting from the second tier. She is in with an upset chance and is worth using on multi-race tickets.

Race 13

It’s likely hard to find value in this race but (5) COACH STEFANOS might offer some in the Exacta after flying home in 24.2 to win his elim last week.

Race 14

(10) RATTLE MY CAGE is one that I can see staying covered up to the lane then flying late to get a piece of this at a big price.

Race 15

In a race likely dominated by the favorites, let’s try to get fast closer (7) TAURASI into the Tri or Super.

For complete Friday race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

For complete Saturday race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink