Harness Analyst – Jugette Day

The harness racing sophomore pacing fillies take centre stage at the Delaware County Fair as it’s Jugette Day! We have a marathon 22-race card on tap.

Here’s my thoughts on the Jugette heats and outright winner and some multi-race tickets and Best Bets to ponder. Yesterday we gave you a winning Pick 4 ticket that returned $1,144 for a $20 total investment.

Race 18 – Jugette 1st Heat

(1) BELISSIMA HANOVER – comes in off a lifetime-best score in a Grand Circuit race at Mohawk Park and she’s the one to beat in this opening heat with all important rail advantage that driver McCarthy is sure to use.

(2) VIVIANS DREAM isn’t one of the top ones in here, but you have to think Gingras will work out a good trip racing close to the front and get her into the final.

(3) DAFFLED HANOVER likely gets away third early here and that won’t be the best spot. One of them has to miss the final. My gut says it will be her.

(4) EARTHWINDFIRE has built a tremendous record racing exclusively in New York this year. I wonder if she will get forced to take a seat early by the filly on the rail. She should make the final regardless.

(5) UCANDOIT BLUE CHIP is saddled with the outside post but five isn’t terrible. It’s not like drawing widest in an eight-horse field. I see this Keystone Velocity mare making the final.

Predicted Top 4 finishers – 1-4-2-5

Race 19 – Jugette 2nd Heat

(1) ZANATTA has been facing iron-tough Twin B Joe Fresh recently, so, this is an easier spot for her on paper. It’s hard to imagine her not making the final leaving from the rail with aggressive teamster Joe Bongiorno in the bike.

(2) HEY HEY MAMA rallied late in the Ohio Sires Stakes Final and then took a couple of weeks off. She comes in fresh for one of the best trainers in Ohio and she has the fastest mark of any of these on a 1/2-mile track. She should make it into the final.

(3) BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE has built an impressive record this year and there aren’t many you’d want driving your filly at this track over Brett Miller. Still, I think she just misses the final.

(4) TARAPASTA took advantage of a slowing late pace to win the Ohio Sires Stakes final, and they can’t all finish in the top 4 here. I’ll predict she misses the final.

(5) SOUTHWIND BELLA gets Gingras for Burke, and you know that likely means aggression. She could clear and win or get hung out and miss the final. I think the former is more likely and she gets top billing.

(6) ODDS ON HAIL MARY hasn’t missed the top 4 all year and I don’t think that streak will be broken today.

Predicted Top 4 Finishers – 5-1-2-6

Prediction for the final: Post can be everything on this track in some of these finals, so it’s tough to pick a winner before you see the first and second heat and the post position draw for the final. However, I am going to assume that improving filly Belissima Hanover wires the first heat then wins the final from either post 1 or post 2.

Here are my Pick 4 tickets and Best Bets:

50-Cent Pick 4 Race 6 – 5/237/1245/26 = $12

50-Cent Pick 4 Race 14 – 356/12610/4/14 = $12

50-Cent Pick 4 Race 18 – 14/125/2/12347 = $15

BEST BET – (4) SECTIONLINESEASIDE – Race 16

SPOT PLAY – (1) BELISSIMA HANOVER – Race 18

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink