Best Bet – (1) SHADOW N REDSHONEY – Race 4
Spot Play – (1) WINDSONG GRAYSON – Race 8
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,7/1,4/2,3/1,5/1,2 = $6.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6 – 1,3,5/1,2/1,4/1,2,3/1,4 = $14.40
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3 – 2,3/1,5/1,2/1,3,5 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 7 – 1,2/1,4/1,2,3/1,4 = $4.80
Race 1 — (1) VIVA LA DEO faces much easier here and draws the best post. She should be the one to catch and beat in the meet’s curtain raiser. (7) TURNING THE TABLE shows four wins in four tries on B tracks since August 1st, and she should contend here despite drawing wide. (6) HAVANA PANIC beat easier seven times in 10 tries this year. In this tougher spot, I’ll use her on the bottom.
Race 2 — (4) BARSTOW BELLE beat most of these at Grand River on 8/23, and she should be tough right back with aggressive teamster Kelly at the controls. (1) LYONS EUPHORIA failed as a big chalk on that same day, but she should be a threat from the rail here and a possible pocket rocket in the lane. (3) SHESASHARPSHOOTER comes off a good effort but her driver is 0 for 52 this year, and I prefer to use her underneath tonight.
Race 3 — (3) CAPTAIN RAY is in a much better spot here facing $7K claimers, and he should be the boss tonight. (2) TEREM A NEW ONE had second tier posts in two straight starts, now he gets his nose on the gate. There could be some multi-race ticket value here. (6) MACKS THREE is winless so far this year but his recent form is good enough to suggest that he can take a share here.
Race 4 — (1) SHADOW N REDSHONEY was involved in a destructive early pace battle at Mohawk Park and she backed up late in the mile. She looks like a single to me starting from the rail and facing much easier tonight. (5) PDQ HANOVER should get sent hard for position leaving the gate, and she could give the choice a race if she lands in the pocket. (6) PRETTYDIVA is another that should be in the first flight early, and I see her landing in the Tri.
Race 5 — (2) MACHED UP has paired up two really good efforts at Hiawatha Horse Park where he took the overland route to get a win and a 2nd. From a better post, he could make front much earlier vs. these and he gets the nod. (1) CHUCK HEATON LOVE is going to blast and use rail control to take the early lead, and he will have to be overtaken at some point. He is a threat to lead all the way here. (3) ALWAYS BEEN CRAZY broke his maiden in the 13th try but these are tougher and a small share is likely for him tonight. (4) KEYSTONE TAZ can get position early and ride a good trip to a spot in the High-5. (7) FAST AS PHELPS would be rated higher from a better post. From out there he is likely to take a small slice.
Race 6 — This race shapes up as a battle between (5) NIKI LOUDER and (3) LILI GL. The former comes out of a race with much faster fractions and she might wire these. However, I’ll use both on multi-race tickets. (1) SG ALEXIA should appreciate getting away from the Mohawk Park competition, and she should be good for a share here.
Race 7 — (1) MIAMI SEELSTER has the most gate speed in this field and you know where she is heading leaving the gate. Catch her to greet the cashier. (2) WHISKEY TO WINE exits a much tougher race, and she could provide some Pick 5 value here if she gets put into play leaving the gate and lands in the choice’s pocket; using. (5) MARVELOUS KISS can get position early and ride a trip to a share.
Race 8 — (1) WINDSONG GRAYSON raced okay from a bad post in a higher class in Sarnia. Now things shift his way as he gets both post and class relief; top call. (4) DURHAM TOWN is one-for-one with Henry driving, and he figures to be the main danger to the choice tonight. (3) EAS IDEAL should make front leaving the gate and look to hold his four rivals at bay. He should be an exotics factor.
Race 9 — Tough race here. I’ll take a stab with (3) MAGNITUDE TEN who drops into a claimer for the first time in his racing career. (2) STONEBRIDGE NITRO has the best recent form, and he should be a threat tonight. He’s on my Pick 5 ticket. (1) FRISK AWAY fits well vs. these, but with a 1 for 33 record what price would you take on him tonight?
Race 10 — (1) LADY KATIE B gets a big advantage drawing inside and she will be the one to catch here. (4) PRIDEINMYSTRIDE exits some tougher races, and she could provide some multi-race value; using. (6) BETTOR COUNTRY was sharp breaking her maiden but she didn’t beat much. She can win tonight, but I wouldn’t take a short price. (3) WOODMERE CHA CHA should be good for a slice racing from close range. (2) MOONSHINERS CREDIT should be good for another small share leaving from an inside post tonight.
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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 six years. He is also a past president of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
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