Best Bet – (8) MAE BELLE DUKE - Race 6
Spot Play – (1) BLUE CHIP SUNSHINE - Race 8
20-Cent Pick 4 - Race 1 - 1,3/2,3/1,2/1,2,3 = $4.80
Race 1 – (1) MOSTLY DALI will look to control this race as she did last week from a worst post and she should be tough to upend leaving from the rail. (3) MORAMAPPO figures to battle the choice early and these two are likely to be 1-2 turning for home with the race to be settled in the lane. (6) ARTISTIC MEADOW can use her late kick to sneak into the Tri or Super.
Race 2 – (2) PANERAI perhaps went too fast too early in Sarnia last time. She has a better chance of getting a breather with an extra turn added on this 1/2-mile oval and she gets top billing. (3) WATCH ME BABY raced well here two starts ago and he should be passing some of these late; Exacta factor. (5) LARJON LEAH missed some time but she fits here and she could be along late to land a spot in the Tri or Super.
Race 3 - (2) ACEFORTYFOURTALON - parked the mile last time - has a good chance to clear early from post 2 here and if he does, he will be hard to catch. (1) LAWMEN REIGN figures to be near the front early here in a race that doesn’t show many quick leavers and he could be a pocket rocket in the stretch. (8) SIMON SAID fits okay here but I’m not sure what kind of trip he can get starting from the second tier. I’ll use him on the bottom.
Race 4 - Tough race here with little form. I’ll side with (1) LARJON LENA assuming she is a go first time out with aggressive driver Kelly signed up. (2) SHES A BEAUT CLARK should go better here after showing late pace on a sloppy track when leaving from the worst post. (3) HINDU MASTER gets a positive driver change here and he should improve in this spot. I’ll use him to round out the Super.
Race 5 - (5) FAVORS WAY has some sneaky good form and he is a nice price option in this spot; top call. (2) COIN FLIP brings good form to this race but he missed more than a month so I wouldn’t take a short price. (8) WITNESSINTHESHADOW faces much easier here and she’s not out of this, but she will need to get moving early from this post.
Race 6 - (8) MAE BELLE DUKE figures to get another good setup here and I see her rolling by these on the last turn. (2) DESTINY CRUISE will look to control the pace here but she will have competition for the front and she needs to make up seven lengths on the choice. (3) KINNDERUNTOUCHABLE has been rallying well almost every week and she should be coming late again to take a share here.
Race 7 - (1) BUCKEROO gets his nose back on the gate and draws best and he has a good chance to control this race. (3) JACK OF CLUBS clearly fits well at this level and he also draws better here; the main danger. (6) BLOSSOM ONTHEBEACH has the speed to get away well from this post and I see her landing in the top four early then taking a slice.
Race 8 - In a race that seems void of early speed, (1) BLUE CHIP SUNSHINE should take the initiative leaving the gate and he can get the job done here. (8) VIJAYSCAM would be a lock to make front leaving if he drew on the gate but from here, he may be following the choice most of the way; Exacta factor. (3) SANDYS CANDY is another who should get away from the gate better after drawing post 8 twice and he can be in the exotics mix.
Race 9 - (5) STYLE SNAPSHOT has been facing tougher at Grand River and she should be tough in this spot. (2) BRAONACH is always dangerous from an inside post and today should be no different. She will be the one to fend off late. (1) DALI CAT should do no worse than make the Tri starting from the rail and she could win this with a trip.
Race 10 - (3) DREAM ON DREAM ON gets post relief here and he should still bring a square price vs. these; call to upset. (5) DASHIKI never loses at Clinton it seems and he is the one to fend off. (1) PAY LATER figures to get involved early from the rail and he should take a slice here.
Race 11 - (3) DANCE OFF improved with Henry back in the bike last time and she may try to go down the road here; slight nod. (1) ACTION ROYAL GRIN gets her best post in several weeks and she could provide some Exacta value here. (4) MY DEAR JASMINE is another who figures to be near the front early here and she is in with a shot in a race that is likely to come down to trip.
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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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