Best Bet – (1) MARZANNK HANOVER – Race 6
Spot Play – (2) THRIFT SHOP – Race 2
20-cent Early Pick 4 – (Race 3) – 1,2,7/1,2/2,3/1,4 = $4.80
20-cent Late Pick 4 – (Race 8) – 3,5,6/1,3/2,5/3,4,5 = $7.20
Race 1 – (7) AUDI BAYAMA interestingly has top Mohawk Park driver Filion listed here and if he shows up to drive the intent should be there despite leaving from the worst post. (6) HP XANADU is in solid form and she may pass all of these if she can stay close enough early. (1) SHEMARS LADY HAVOC is sure to be a factor leaving from the inside, but she could get overbet in this spot.
Race 2 – (2) THRIFT SHOP hasn’t drawn an inside post for ages and I expect teamster Richardson to send her here. (7) HEARTBEATNSIZZLE qualified well with Desroche driving and she could land in the Exacta or Trifecta at a big price here. (3) ONE CHILLY NIGHT gets a driver change to aggressive pilot Moore and she could show sharper early speed here; consider for the exotics.
Race 3 – (2) BIG BANG BABY lands in a good spot to debut and conditioner Auciello brings stable driver Drury along. Expect an aggressive try first out. (7) MACH MINE BLUE faces much easier here and it won’t be a surprise if Kelly rolls her leaving the gate; using. (1) CANTSTOPTHEFEELIN couldn’t seal the deal last time but she remains a viable contender. She’s on my early Pick 4 ticket.
Race 4 – This race will likely come down to the two class-droppers who drew inside and (1) TWICE AN ANGEL is sure to be pointed to the front leaving the gate. She gets the nod over (2) DAZZLING ROCKETTE who should be tracking her all the way then taking her shot in the final 1/4. (3) TABLES BIG SECRET looks next best and she could split the top two if they engage in battle too early in the mile.
Race 5 – (3) GREY BELL showed some grit in London fighting off challengers to win; call to repeat. (2) LILYS PENELOPE has been facing some tough mares recently and she should move up in this spot. (6) FLYSANTANNA is an interesting price option here making her second start back. She could show more early speed in this spot
Race 6 – (1) MARZANNK HANOVER faces markedly easier and she draws the best post; graduation time. (4) TRAGICALLY HEP was a sharp winner the only time Richardson drove two starts back and this duo should be the main danger here. (6) SHAD goes for two straight but from post 6 in this spot I prefer to use her underneath.
Race 7 – (2) BAD NIGHT MARE was impressive grinding out a win first up last week and she gets the call to repeat here. (1) HONOR ROLL will likely be the pacesetter again and the one to catch; Exacta factor. (7) ONLY ONE STAR is always dangerous but at odds of 1 to 9 she was no match for the choice last week. I’ll use her underneath here. (5) MOON LAKE is in solid form and she can come on late for a slice here. (9) RUSTYS FLYING never misses a check and she shouldn’t be left off High-5 tickets.
Race 8 – (5) STOLEN SECRETS gets aggressive pilot Kelly racing off the Rob Fellows claim, and she is a good candidate to go coast-to-coast here. (6) EATAAMS TRAUMA is in great form – check out her 28 3/5 kicker at Flamboro – and she merits a long look for use in this late Pick 4. (3) JOYFUL KATE raced big last time at huge odds, and she could surprise here with the right trip.
Race 9 – (3) MY BABY GIRL has two clean lines on display which means she could be over her gait issues. She has enough talent to beat these if she behaves. (1) BETTERTHANLOVE gets post relief here and Henry should put her into play early; using. (8) TRIM THE SAILS is in great form but post 8 may be tough for her in this spot. I’ll play to beat her.
Race 10 – (2) FILLY FORTY SEVEN showed she is sharp by pacing a 55-flat back 1/2 at Mohawk Park last time. She should get an aggressive steer here. (5) REGAL LUCK drops, and she often pops with that move; beware. (1) SOUTHWIND ION is hard to toss from the rail and getting Drury in the bike won’t hurt here.
Race 11 – (4) LARJON LEGACY was first up in a rapid third 1/4 at London and that should have her tight for this second start back; slight nod. (3) HAMMERING HALEY is sure to be much closer to the front here starting from an inside post and she should be a major factor. (5) ALWAYS A ROSE is another speedster who should be in the hunt throughout; using. (2) DEX THE LAND just missed last time and she is another possibility in a contentious dash although I prefer to use her underneath. (7) BRYN BARONESS draws poorly here but she can still enter contention and take a slice.
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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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