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The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) have announced their horses of the meet for 2017 at Batavia Downs.

Pacer of the Meet: Focus Power

While racing in the top Open class for 13 starts at Batavia, western New York newcomer Focus Power won three times and finished second another five while amassing $36,010 in purses. He was on fire in September when he won three out of four starts while setting two new lifetime marks during that period (September 2, 1:53 and September 23, 1:52.4).

After being claimed at Yonkers just prior to the start of the Batavia meet, Focus Power made an immediate impact to the good fortunes of owner James Caradori and trainer Darrin Monti. Driver Drew Monti was aboard for every start. Overall Focus Power has nine wins in 2017 and earnings that total $97,395.

Trotter of the Meet: BZ Glide

BZ Glide was a fixture in the weekly Open trot once again this year and showed although he’s getting older, he hasn’t lost a step. In 15 starts against the local best, BZ Glide won three with six seconds and a third banking $34,405 in the process. He also set a seasonal mark of 1:56.3.

As has been the case every year, the family affair of Alana Caprio training and Mike Caprio driving, the two...

Bookies  Luck will stretch out to one mile for the first time as he aims for his third consecutive stakes win in the $100,000-guaranteed King Glorious Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Named in honor of the winner of the 1988 Hollywood Futurity and 1989 Haskell, the King Glorious is restricted to 2-year-olds bred or sired in California and is the main event on the next-to-last day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet.

Post time Saturday is 12 Noon. The King Glorious, which is the eighth of 10 races, is scheduled to be run at 3:28 p.m.

The Los Alamitos Racing Association will also offer a cash prize and as many as three seats to the 2018 National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas with a live money contest Saturday.

Cost to enter the contest is $400. Of that amount, $100 will be placed in the contest prize pool with the remaining funds going towards a live-money wagering card.

Contestants must enter prior to 12 Noon Saturday. Players can enter the contest on track Friday, Dec. 15 on the mezzanine level of the grandstand between 1-3 p.m. and beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Tournament races will include the entire card at Los Alamitos with permitted wagers including win, place, show, exactas and daily doubles beginning on races 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. Each entry must bet at least $50 on six races, but there is no wagering limit. For purposes of the contest, a Daily Double wager counts as one race.

The player with the highest bankroll at the end of the day will be declared the winner and the player with the second highest bankroll will be the runner-up.

The winner will receive 50% of the prize pool, which will be capped at $10,000. The remaining payoffs: 20% (2^nd place), 15% (3^rd place), 10% (4^th place) and 5% (5^th place).

There will be three spots to the 2018 NHC available if there are a minimum of 60 entrants in the contest. If less than 60, two berths will be...

IdaBet players:

The New York, New York Double is set for Sunday, December 17th. The wager will consist of Aqueduct Race 3 (Post Time 1:18pm) and Yonkers Race 6 (Post Time 1:30pm).

 We would like to again thank all of you for participation in Yonker’s Sunday racing and thank you for choosing IdaBet!

For our IdaBet players, here are the Tuesday Picks for Monticello. Happy Wagering!

1ST RACE: 3-6-5-1

2ND RACE: 7-3-4-1

3RD RACE: 4-8-7-5

4TH RACE: 1-5-6-2

5TH RACE: 4-2-1-8

6TH RACE: 4-3-1-2

7TH RACE: 6-4-1-3

8TH RACE: 6-1-7-5

Northfield Track Announcer Ayers Ratliff’s free handicapping tips are provided for our IdaBet.com players.

Remember, due to their draw schedule, picks are made in advance and do not account for scratches or late driver changes.

From the “Ayers Above” MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12

Race 1: 4- Major Matter – Should improve in his second local effort; this one gets the top-call to start the Daily Double. 5- Strong Hope – Drops in class and could make the ticket. 1- CJ Photo Victory – Could be tough from the rail. 6- Sheatrottin Kid – Looks to be in the thick of the action.

Race 2: 8- Sammy Said – Posted a successful qualifier and could strike despite starting from the far outside. 1- Western Fella – Looks to be tough from the rail. 4- Hare Craft – Draws well and could make the ticket with the right trip. 3- Warrior Call – Looks to grab a piece of the action.

Race 3: 3- Patient ID – Draws into a race where several could win; this one gets the slight call over several others to start tonight’s Pick 5. 4- Skyway Jaguar – Another that looks to have a big shot in here. 7- Big Package – Could add value to the ticket.

Race 4: 5- Midnight Gambol – Made the ticket in five of his last six races; could step-up and lead that ticket this time around. 4- Nashville Bound – Finished second last time out and could be the runner-up again tonight. 1- Here Comes Hudd – Looks to make the ticket from the rail. 2- Silver Spir – Has as good of a shot as any in here to complete the Superfecta.

Race 5: 4- Muscolo – Looks to trot home a winner if he minds his manners. 2- A Little More Love – Another that looks to be tough in here. 6- Blue Swan – Finished second last time out and could be tough again. 7- Dew In The Desert – Could add value to the exotics.

Race 6: 4- Lovely Feelin – Was a beaten favorite last time out but could prevail for his backers this time around. 1- Zeke – Looks to be...