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When this barn is hot, watch out
By Tom Tolmich As I discussed recently, Tim McCanna likes to put his horses into winning spots, usually double or triple dropping them. Another Emerald Downs trainer, Doris Harwood, also uses this move to get into the winner's circle. Once the proper level has been attained, Harwood's horses often reel off consecutive victories while stepping back up in class, often at very good prices because the betting public tends to shy away from such horses. Harwood is also great with horses first time out (especially 2-year-olds) in the meet. Finally, when she claims a horse, you can see how she uses class drops to a tee. One such example is First Page. Claimed as a $10,000 maiden in 1998, he was asked to run against $25,000 maidens, where he ran credibly, then against $16,000 winners! Dropped back into a $10,000 maiden race, he won by 12 lengths at 2-1. Right back up to $40,000, he was simply outclassed. Dropped back to $10,000, he won again by 9 lengths at even money. Another claimed horse, Oh Well Johnnie, was taken back for $6,250. Stepped up to $8,000 twice (he ran fourth once), then dropped to $5,000, he ran poorly as the 2-1 favorite. Dropped into a conditioned $3,200 race, he unsurprisingly won at 6-1. Another great example is Passionate One. Very similar to First Page, she broke her maiden for $8,000 then was outclassed in her next start for $25,000. Dropped down to $6,250, she won at 9-1. In true Harwood fashion, she was asked to run for $8,000, got beat, then won again for $6,250! Once her horses win, they often win again if stepped up reasonably. With Majesty was dropped to the basement early last year to beat $6,250 nonwinners of two. Considering he had the highest last race Beyer figure with the drop, he was more than bettable at 5-2. Stepped up to $10,000, he won again at around 6-1 in a fairly weak field. The best example is Girls Nite. She broke her maiden for $5,000 at 1-2, then won for $12,500, $16,000 and and $25,000. Four in a row! Harwood also does well with 2-year-olds. Last year, fillies Royal Command and Lovely Echo both ran impressively. Royal Command won first time out for $8,000, then right back for $40,000. Considering there aren't many races for 2-year-old claimers, the step up was reasonable. Lovely Echo ran into the best filly on the grounds twice in Taste the Passion, then won in her third start in a romp. Harwood's best 2-year-old colt, Elttaes Bay, also won first time out at 9-1 in track record time. He then ran well in two stakes races. I believe that Doris Harwood is a fine trainer, and the wise horseplayer should pay attention to the above examples. She is simply one of the best when she drops her horses and once they get hot, they can stay hot at very generous odds. |