Best Bet - (6) SO MUCH MORE - Race 8
Spot Play - (1) CULLEN KEEFE N - Race 1
Race 1 - (1) CULLEN KEEFE N was held up last time while the winner was circling the field on the far outside. He has a good chance to sit a perfect pocket trip behind the expected early leader (2) DEMACHRACY here and these two have a solid chance of comprising the first winning Exacta. (6) MONSTER IN LAW comes off a sharp win and picks up the best 1/2-mile track driver in the country in Trevor Henry. He's not out of this but post position hurts.
Race 2 - (2) LIFELONG DREAM has a much better chance here starting from the inside and she did well to pass some horses in a fast mile at Grand River last time. (6) TREASURE WRITER raced tough last week, and he picks up driver Henry here; beware. (4) BLAKES BOY should tag along near the front and stick for a share.
Race 3 - (3) ARTISTIC MEADOW paced a 57-flat back half now she gets Henry to drive; top call. (2) LIL BEAU DUKE was game in defeat last week, but the leader was unyielding. he gets his nose back on the gate to start here and he should be a big threat. (1) LYONS JAVELIN should sit a good trip and at least take a share vs. these.
Race 4 - (4) LUCKY BEACH improved last time and House may look to send him down the road this afternoon. (3) OFORPETESAKE faces easier here but he missed a couple of weeks; your call. (1) TIME FOR WINE should go better from the rail here; consider for the bottom of Tri bets.
Race 5 - (5) WATT MACHS ME WIN gets a big driver switch here; expect aggression. (4) QUEEN OF HEARTS takes more shares than wins, but she does come off a gritty victory. I prefer to use her underneath in this spot. (2) TWIN B J J was solid last week and she should provide a challenge racing from close range.
Race 6 - (3) SPORTS JACKET was an easy winner here three starts back which was the last time he had a good post. He gets top call here. (1) KIRBY BE FAST is worth a long look based on the driver change alone. (6) EATAAMSMAGICMEME exits a quick dash at Hanover and he should be closer here at the wire.
Race 7 - (3) FIGHTYOUROBSESSION switches from a driver who has recorded one win in the past 18 months to one who has tallied 327 wins over the same time period. Sharp improvement is likely. (4) BOOTS N BRIAN drops to the bottom here and he should wake up in this spot. (1) MAMMOTH JACK can leave hard and sit a good trip racing near the front here; consider for exotics.
Race 8 - (6) SO MUCH MORE - the day's Best Bet - has been outstanding since shipping west and she is going to be very tough to beat in this first Kin Pace elimination. (3) SIGNIFICANCE sports a perfect record, but she has never faced any rivals like the choice. This Exacta will likely return less than even money. (1) CHARMBO BRIE has been racing some good ones and if anyone is going to split the top two, it's her.
Race 9 - (1) FREYA SEELSTER should be tough starting from the inside here. I expect Macdonald will take no prisoners. (2) SAULSBROOK JESSIE can ride the pocket behind the choice and complete a chalky Exacta. (5) TWIN B FRIENDLY is sharp, but post hurts here; small share predicted.
Race 10 - (4) ATEYATEFNGERSLOUIE won in this class two starts back and the ugly Grand River line when facing tougher will help his price here; slight nod. (2) HUSSYS BLUE BOY is an automatic contender here because of post relief. (3) LAUTNER SEELSTER comes off a big win at Hanover but he will likely get over bet in this spot. I'll try to beat him.
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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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