Best Bet – (2) MARLOE HANOVER - Race 3
Spot Play – (3) YARIS SEELSTER - Race 5
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,2,4/1,5/2/4,6/1,2,3,6 = $9.60
20-Cent Pick 4 – Race 4 – 4,6/1,2,3,6/1,3/1,3 = $6.40
Race 1- (2) IM CHIARA used a 27 2/5 third 1/4 to brush to the front and sprint away from her rivals at Kawartha, and that quick turn of foot is a big asset on smaller tracks; call to repeat. (1) ARDYNE GRAYSEE couldn’t close on a speed-biased track at Grand River, and the filly that won that race has already come back to win. She’s in with a chance here starting from the rail. (4) MY ONLY SUNSHINE can be closer tonight returning to a 7-day cycle and she’s the third one that I’ll use in the Pick 5.
Race 2 – (1) WASAGA just missed at Grand River, and she should have a good chance to break her maiden starting from the rail here. (5) MIDIROSE is getting better each week it seems, and she should be a big speed threat tonight. (3) NORA D hung tough racing first up last week, and she should be in the hunt again.
Race 3 – (2) MARLOE HANOVER has been racing against the best aged mares in the country and hasn’t been worse than 4th in any of those races. The lion’s share of this purse should be hers for the taking. (1) SAULSBROOK JESSIE is solid racing in the top class at this track every week, and tonight she is an Exacta factor. (3) T C SCANDAL has caught fire since being claimed by Johnson but this is much tougher; small share predicted.
Race 4 – The filly that beat
(4) SHADOW N REDSHONEY last week has already come back to win at Mohawk Park. She should be able to control the fractions tonight and lead these all the way. (6) SEEL THE DARK seems better suited to B tracks, and she can be an Exacta factor here. (3) ALICE B gets post relief here and that should help her sit a good trip and take a share.
Race 5 – (3) YARIS SEELSTER moves inside here, and I could see him racing first up vs. these and pulling away down the lane; top call. (1) FREDS NIGHT tripped out to blow up the tote board, and he could get another good trip here; using. (2) SPECTRUM SEELSTER is sure to be on the engine again and he will have to be caught. (6) ROCK AND TWIST is right there every week. It’s hard to imagine him not being part of the High-5. (5) LARJON LUCKY is likely to finish on the edges again.
Race 6 – (3) TEATIMEPREACHER GB was right there in a fast race last week, and she should be tough in here. (1) CLASSYLANEPRECIOUS may have disliked the slop last time as she had been on a good roll racing on fast tracks previously; Exacta factor. (2) GOT SEXY SCARS has been right there in five straight races, and she should take a good share again.
Race 7 – (3) TUAPEKA JESSIE N should get a much better trip here facing easier, and she has a big shot at this level. (1) SO FRISKY drops but so do others so, she is no cinch here. Demand a price before you plunge. (2) CUSTARD LITE is the morning line favorite but she holds no apparent edge. I’ll play to beat her.
Race 8 – (7) KASHE is likely to be last early but this is an easier spot and she might just pass them all anyway; call to upset. (3) SHEENA SOLDIER should be right there if he stays flat this week; using. (5) JMR PINARELLO looks like a fringe player to me, and I’ll try to beat this morning line favorite.
Race 9 – (1) FOREGO THE CIGAR hasn’t drawn well in forever, and from the rail tonight, he should be tough. I like the wide move that (2) SHIFTING VIEWS made last time. It hints at improvement, and he is in with a chance here. (3) ROUGH TRADE never misses the board and from an inside post that streak isn’t likely to end tonight. (6) UNPRECEDENTED raced well in two straight starts, and he should be part of the High-5. (4) REDWHITEANDBOOTS often finishes on the edges and he is a good one to use on the bottom of 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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