Harness Analyst – Sun Stakes Saturday

Grand Circuit harness racing invades Pocono Downs this afternoon (Aug. 19) with a great card featuring many of the best horses in North America.

Here is my full analysis of this stacked card and multi-race tickets.

Best Bet – BELLA MACCHIATO – Race 7

Spot Play – SECRET VOLO – Race 10

50-Cent Pick 4 – Race 1 – 1,4,5/2,3,4,6/4/1,6,7 = $18

50-Cent Pick 4 – Race 6 – 1,2,3,8/3/1,3,5,7/3,5 = $16

20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 8 – 1,3,5,7/3,5/5,7/4,5/5 = $6.40

50-Cent Pick 4 – Race 11 – 4,5/5/2,4,8/1,2,6 = $9.00

Race 1 – 4-1-5-2

(4) PURE HOPE S had excuses in her last couple of starts. This is a much better spot and post for her and she gets the nod to kick off the early Pick 4.

Race 2 – 6-2-3-4

(6) TREACHEROUS PENNY is in tougher here but she produced a huge winning effort racing over this track two starts back and I’ll try her at a price today.

Race 3 – 4-3-5-1

(4) ACT FAST got a tough trip as the favorite at Scioto now he gets Gingras in the bike. His best race gives him a huge shot vs. these.

Race 4 – 6-1-7-8

(6) HILLEXOTIC was in a tough spot in the Vincennes and he closed for a share. He came out of that race to record a nice win in a tightener at Harrah’s Philly and he is sharp and capable.

Race 5 – 5-4-7-8

(5) LITTLE EXPENSIVE faces easier after racing okay vs. better in the Hambletonian elimination and Muscle Hill and he should get an aggressive Andy Miller steer here; top call.

Race 6 – 8-3-2-1

(8) QUICK E is 8 for 8 this year and she gets class tested here but drawing widest should ensure that she offers a good price.

Race 7 – 3-5-6-1

(3) BELLA MACCHIATO was live with trot in the lane in the Continental Victory but she had nowhere to go and eventually broke stride perhaps frustrated that she couldn’t get clear sailing. I could see Dunn leading all the way with her in this spot.

Race 8 – 1-5-3-7

(1) COMMAND gets needed post relief here and he may work out the winning trip starting from the rail in a wide-open race.

Race 9 – 5-3-7-6

This is a good spot for (5) CROWN, who has a good chance to head right to the front and lead these all the way.

Race 10 – 7-5-4-3

(7) SECRET VOLO raced close to the wild pace in the Hambletonian Oaks and she was still right there at the finish. She is due for some better racing luck and she will offer a good price here.

Race 11 – 5-4-1-3

It seems that this is the spot where many handicappers are predicting that (5) SYLVIA HANOVER will taste defeat for the first time in 2023 so she might offer a better price than you’d expect. I’ll stick with her.

Race 12 – 5-2-1-3

(5) CONFEDERATE is simply the best horse in the sport currently and it would take some extreme bad racing luck to get him beat in this field.

Race 13 – 4-2-8-1

Good betting race here. (4) UP YOUR DEO zigged when the winner zagged in the lane in the Hambletonian or he might have got his picture taken. That was a vastly improved effort and he gets top billing here.

Race 14 – 2-1-6-7

(2) TATTOO ARTIST raced great last time but Bythemissal is just too good right now and he would be 1 to 5 in this field. He is due for a win the way he has been racing and this is a good spot for him.

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

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink