Best Bet – (1) IF YOU KNEW SUSIE – Race 8
Spot Play – (1) GIDDY UP MAX – Race 1
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 3,4,7/2,5,6/3,9/5,6,9 = $10.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 1,9/1,2,7/1,2,3/1,5,9 = $10.80
Race 1 – (1) GIDDY UP MAX was a winner last time he drew the rail and Cullen has been winning with everything the past few days; price play in the opener. (9) DONTBLVMEJUSTWATCH comes up tagged for the first time and he faces much easier but I’m not sure he’s worth a short price leaving from the second tier; your call. (3) CENTURY GIGALO should be the pacesetter and he could provide the perfect trip to the choice that he needs to beat these.
Race 2 – (3) SIR SHADOW showed enough in his lone qualifier to suggest he can beat this group at first asking and he gets my nod. (6) SOUTHPAW HANOVER has the best form but he also shows four third-place finishes in a row and he could burn some money here. I’d demand a price. (5) EDITORIAL fits better here and he picks up a hot driver. He’s not out of this.
Race 3 – (7) ZEALOUS SEELSTER looks best and Cullen has been winning with everything the past week, but post 7 could make it tough so I’ll use others in this Pick 4. (4) LDL GEM is right there every week and she will be put into action early here; using. (3) BRAONACH has a solid win record and she is in with a chance dropping back into a claimer in her second start for trainer Shepherd.
Race 4 – (2) FRESH EYES raced tough last week and she was game in defeat. From an inside post she gets top call here. (6) HIT BY A BUS gets priced for a tag here after racing against much tougher in her most recent start and she should have a big shot here. (5) TOPSILL BEACH is capable but she frequently gets tough trips. If she is within a length or two at the head of the lane, look out!
Race 5 – (3) IRISH PRINCE had an impossible trip in the Prospect Series final. He should improve sharply moving to an inside post here and he gets the nod over (9) JUST ROCK HIM who is obvious in this spot but will need to work out a trip from post 9. (5) LUNAR LAUNCH can sit a trip in this spot and rally late for a small share.
Race 6 – (6) EATAAMS TRAUMA exits the toughest race, gets slight post improvement and hot driver Cullen; top call. (5) WARRAWEE SPEEDY has a similar profile and she should be showing speed this time; using. (9) ISLA SEELSTER MIGHT beat a couple of these off the gate and put herself in position to upset; consider for the exotics. (8) SURE FIRE KATIE can pass a few of these and finish in the bottom of the High-5. (2) OXFORD COMMA should sit a following trip and she is another good one to use underneath in the High-5.
Race 7 – (4) D GS SHALLWEDANCE is rolling and he can be placed anywhere and win it seems; a threepeat looms. (2) SEA LAIRD is another hot gelding and the inside draw is good for him as it will enable him to be placed in midpack from where he can launch his assault; Exacta factor. (3) DONT ASK LOGAN just took a new season’s mark so he can’t be discounted. It makes sense to price shop in this race.
Race 8 – (1) IF YOU KNEW SUSIE comes off a blowout win and draws the best post. She is hard to go against in this spot. (9) APRIL BANDIT could make it into the pocket following the choice off the gate and if she does, she has an upset chance. 104-time winner (6) RUSTYS FLYING rarely throws in a clunker. Give her a look for Tri and Super bets.
Race 9 – (7) SIZZLEN HOT HERBIE faces much easier here dropping one class level and he should be tough despite drawing wide. (1) CHEATALOTPOV gets post advantage on the choice and he is the other obvious one for the late Pick 4 ticket. (2) MAJESTIC BRAYDEN brings driver Drury with him and he’s in with a shot starting from an inside post.
Race 10 – (2) OK JASMINE draws back inside from where she does her best work and she gets the nod over a couple of others with a similar profile. (1) STARGAZING CRUISER figures to improve sharply moving to the rail post and she could add some value to this Pick 4. (3) TABLES BIG SECRET makes her second start back, gets her nose on the gate and meets a group that she fits with; using.
Race 11 - (1) FIREBBY A lays over these on class and drawing the rail adds to her appeal; top call in the finale. (5) OUTLAW IMAHOTVIXEN goes for a barn that has been on fire the past week and I’ll use her in this late Pick 4. (9) LARJON LEGACY goes for the same hot barn and she could trip out following the choice. She isn’t out of this. (3) MANHATTAN AGAIN is the other Mohawk Park shipper in this field and she has a good shot of completing the Tri or Super starting from the inside. (2) CHARMBO BRIE should sit a trip and take a share from her good starting slot.
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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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