Best Bet – (2) SOUPS ON – Race 8
Spot Play – (5) SOUTHWIND MARITIME – Race 4
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 4,7/2,5/1,2/3,4,5/1,5 = $9.60
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 7: 1,5,7/2/1,2,7/1,4/1,5 = $7.20
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3: 1,2/3,4,5/1,5/1,2 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8: 2/1,2,7/1,4/1,5 = $2.40
Race 1 — (4) WILLY WALTON produced a nice late kick here last week, now he draws inside the rival that beat him. I’ll give him the nod this week. (7) I DA PRINCESS shoots for the three-peat but she loses post position advantage this time. She is an obvious threat, but I won’t take odds-on this time. (1) NO ANGEL HERE should sit a nice trip and take a share as she did here on 11/27.
Race 2 — (5) OUTLAW GUNPOWDER holds a clear class edge racing at the $7K claiming level and he gets top billing here. (2) SANTANNA TONY is in great form and, racing off the McQueen claim, he should be the main threat; using. (3) SAVANNAH SPLENDOR comes off a nice effort in London, and he should be closing for a share tonight.
Race 3 — (2) A BETTER MAN showed his mettle last week when he fought off a rival in a 28 2/5 third quarter then coasted to victory. He should be tough right back. (1) UF BETTORS HANOVER was a big winner here three starts back, then he tried tougher. He should be the main danger. (6) R U TALKIN loses post position advantage tonight, and I see him closing for a small share.
Race 4 — (5) SOUTHWIND MARITIME produced a strong third quarter brush to win here two starts back. Perhaps she just didn’t perform in the slop last week; price play. (4) W C KENZIE COOKIE took a costly mid-race shuffle as there were a couple of lead changes, but she did come on again late. She should be dangerous here racing from close range. (3) FLYSANTANNA moves inside and she should be heard from this week; using.
Race 5 — (5) WHEELING IN CASH was confidently handled to no avail by Jamieson last time, racing at Mohawk Park. This is an easier spot, though, and he is in with a good chance tonight; top call. (1) THOMAS P TWO is on a roll, and he is the obvious horse to beat starting from the rail. (3) DORO SOGNO figures to round out the Tri behind the top two tonight.
Race 6 — (1) DIOR HALL had little chance leaving from bad posts in two straight at this level since breaking his maiden. He can be a big speed threat tonight leaving from the rail and he gets the nod. (2) ROYALTYS ROCKET produced a big uncovered effort to win here on 11/28, and the step up tonight isn’t steep; using. (6) MUSCLES D ORO raced okay at this level last week but he was 9 to 5 and he didn’t convert. His price will be better tonight, if you still like him. (9) DIRT got a perfect trip to win last week, that isn’t likely to be repeated here; using underneath. (5) CAN DO IT ALL is another that should be good for a small share in this spot.
Race 7 — Tough race here. I’ll side with (1) MORAMAPPO who draws best while making her second start at the bottom level. She should get sent forward leaving the gate. (7) GODIVA MACKIAVELYC didn’t fare well in the slop last week. She could go a long way for aggressive teamster Plante if the track is fast tonight. (5) TAYDERTOTZZ has the best recent form, and she’s hard to leave off the late Pick 5.
Race 8 — (2) SOUPS ON — the only winner in this field — looks fastest, and she can take these coast-to-coast on the front; top call. (5) SPAGHETTI JUNCTION is worth a look for the Exacta getting out of the second tier for only her second lifetime start. (9) EPIC THRILL figures to be in the exotics if she stays flat this week.
Race 9 — (1) ITS EDS IDEA jumps in class off a win, but drawing the rail gives him a good chance to repeat; top call. (2) PAPARAZZI HANOVER should work out a good trip, likely racing in the choice’s pocket, and he’s on my late multi-race tickets. (7) FARMERS TAN is worth a look on the class drop, but I’d like him better if he didn’t draw widest.
Race 10 — (4) LADY TITAN draws better and faces easier, and she is the one to beat in this field. (1) ATALANTA EXPRESS is another getting post relief tonight, and she should be blasting for position. These two will likely battle for the win in the final quarter. (3) ARCH WE LUCKY will likely sit a following trip racing near the front and take a small share.
Race 11 — (1) LARJON LENA should be tough from the rail after beating similar here last week but don’t expect much of a price. (5) SHAKEITIFYOUGOTIT gets a better post here, and she can leave quicker. She looks like the main challenger to the choice; using. (4) MINNIE MILLION should go better in this spot and close to take a share. (3) WAR DIAMOND, making her third start off a rest, can sit a trip and land a share. (9) WRITENINSAND S BG should pass a few of these and take a spot in the High-5.
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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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