Best Bet – (4) RIPPED AND READY – Race 6
Spot Play – (3) LAWMEN REIGN – Race 9
Race 1 – (3) BRAONACH brings some great form in from Clinton and she should work out a good trip starting from the inside; top call. (1) APRIL BANDIT will likely be winging early again, and she should be the one to catch. (8) MYSTERY MIDNIGHT can get a great trip here following the choice out leaving the gate; consider for Ex and Tri bets.
Race 2 – (1) ENDURING STRENGTH has rail control here and driver Baillargeon is sure to use it and try to send him down the road. (2) GRETZKY SEELSTER was picked off by a big longshot last time, but he picks up Hanover’s leading driver for this Grassroots try and he will be a threat. (4) TUCKERS OUT comes off a good try in the Balanced Image here and he should be along late for a share.
Race 3 – This is a class where (7) DERBY DYLAN can be tough if he gets sent hard off the gate and he should be a square price; slight nod. (5) ACEFORTYFOURTALON is one of the main contenders on paper but he has six times as many slices as wins this year; your call. (2) ROYAL SHIP is a great one to use underneath in the Triactor as he is always around the money.
Race 4 – (3) KENOGAMI COCO brings solid form in from Quebec and equally as important he has been sure-gaited; top call. (1) DART GUY is showing some signs that a better race is coming, and he could provide some Exactor value here. (2) BEADS is obviously fast enough if he can stay flat, but I don’t trust him to achieve that for the first time while racing for a purse on this half-miler.
Race 5 – (5) COINCIDENTAL CREWS finds a good spot to make his debut and he gets the call here to get the job done at first asking. (4) ROCKABILLY BARBIE is coming around and she may be the one to beat here. (6) QUINN BLUE CHIP seems to have a knack for rounding out the Tri so that’s where I’ll use him here.
Race 6 – (4) RIPPED AND READY is the only winner in this race and he could get sent right down the road here. (6) LAVAL TITAN raced well last time at Mohawk Park despite breaking stride, but his gait issues are worrisome. (2) KING OF HEARST should improve here racing from the inside in a short field; consider for Tri bets.
Race 7 – (4) FLUENTOCITY was a big winner here last week – as expected – and more of the same could be coming here considering how sharp she is. (2) YNOTHOS is the other sharp one in the field. Her last win at Leamington was really good and she should be a big threat. (1) ONE CHILLY NIGHT may finally record a board finish for 2019 getting the best draw and the leading driver here.
Race 8 – (5) AUSSIE LOVER woke up in a big way last time and if he produces the same kind of late speed here, he will be hard to fend off. (1) AWESOMEDABRA is in great form and getting the rail is an obvious bonus. He should be in the hunt throughout. (2) MR ARCH has yet to miss the board and he is another in with a big shot here in a race where it makes sense to price shop.
Race 9 – (3) LAWMEN REIGN is always tough when he drops to the lowest condition class and he will likely be a square price too. Expect an aggressive try here. (8) DABUNKA is on a great roll but it’s hard to predict his trip starting from the second tier. I’ll try to beat him. (4) MYSTIC MESSENGER is always a good one to use in the 2-3 slots in the Triactor and he should get a piece of this.
Race 10 – (2) JOEYS KIDD went a big trip to win here two starts back then had little chance in a fast race at Clinton when he had a bad post. He can rebound here. (7) LAUTNER SEELSTER got hammered at the windows off the claim last week and he showed little. He could get a better setup here and add some value to the Exactor and Tri. (5) BANDICOOT can’t seem to find the wire and close a race out lately, but he is always a threat because you know he will be on the lead most of the way in virtually every start.
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Garnet Barnsdale is a veteran handicapper, bettor and racing writer who has worked as an analyst for DRF Harness for the past five years. He is also the current President of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
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