Best Bet – (7) DRY CREEK IMAGE – Race 8
Spot Play – (1) LIVIN LARGE – Race 7
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,3,4/2,6/2,5,6/2,4/2,3,5 = $21.60
20-Cent Pick 4 – Race 3 – 2,5,6/2,4/2,3,5/3,6,7 = $10.80
20-Cent Pick 4 – Race 8 – 7/2,7/ALL/8 = $3.60
Race 1- (3) SHES A SASSY BEACH had a decent trip in her season opener, but she couldn’t advance in the stretch. She can get a confidence-boosting win vs. this group. (1) CLASSYLANEPRECIOUS came ready for action last Monday, and went right down the road vs. similar. She’s a must-use for me getting the rail this week. (4) EMBLYNETTE has been facing tougher in Ohio, and she should wake up with a better effort here. She’s not out of this.
Race 2 – (2) DEOLICIOUS was decent in her debut out of the Baillargeon barn last week, and she looks good to break her maiden in this spot. (6) CENTURY HAVANA is capable of much better, and maybe she needed that race last week. I’ll use her in the Pick 5. (4) UPTHECREDITWITHART typically flashes early speed, and she could get position leaving the gate and ride it to top three finish.
Race 3 – (2) CHAMPAGNE PHIL had a nice Mohawk Park tightener, and he should be looking to blast off early tonight. He gets the nod, but I doubt you’ll get close to the 10 to 1 morning line quote. (5) BRODYS SCRAPPER was as sharp as a tack last week when winning first up, and he should be right there again. (6) SPORTSLINE should be ready to show some gate speed now that he has a start in from an outer post, and if he clears, he could lead all the way.
Race 4 – (2) SAULSBROOK OLYMPIA used a 27 2/5 third 1/4 to get away from the field then she barely held off (4) JM SPORTSFAN. These two fillies should battle it out again, and the former gets the nod based on her superior tactical speed. (1) VALENTINE DELIGHT should improve in this spot, but I prefer to use her underneath.
Race 5 – (3) RAISE YOU TWENTY races best at the B tracks, and this appears to be a good spot for him to take his fourth lifetime win. (2) LOBEL BRUISER should be much closer to the front early in the mile this week, and that gives him a chance in this spot. (5) SAULSROOK KAISEN is another who figures to try to leave here, I suspect whichever of these three is leading at the 1/2 will prevail.
Race 6 – (3) BRYDOWN BETTER BEA qualified faster than her rivals pace in pari-mutuel races, and that makes her an automatic play for me. (6) KATYS DELIGHT is the one to beat coming in off a sharp maiden-breaking score last week, but she loses post position advantage now. (7) GOTAGETUPTOGETDOWN gets a positive driver change which could mean a more aggressive steer is coming this week; using. (1) STONEBRIDGE CRUSH should use rail control to get position early, and she can land in the bottom of the High-5. (4) CARWINS LUCKY LUNA is likely to improve with post relief here, and she is another to consider for the bottom rungs of the High-5.
Race 7 – (1) LIVIN LARGE could fall into a perfect pocket trip tonight and on that theory, he gets the nod here. (6) SPECTRUM SEELSTER only knows one way – blasting to the front – and he should be the one to catch as usual. (3) OUTLAW GUNPOWDER is game and honest, and he should be in the mix again tonight; using underneath.
Race 8 – (7) DRY CREEK IMAGE demolished similar foes last week here, and she should prove hard to beat at a short price. (6) IF YOU KNEW SUSIE was no match for the choice when second and she can complete another Exacta tonight. (1) RIVER RISING has drawn poorly forever. Give her a look for the exotics starting from the inside.
Race 9 – (2) FLOSSIE N gets major post relief here coming in off an excellent effort from the 9-hole. She looks solid in this spot. (7) SHARE THE MOMENT paced a big mile in defeat, and she can fly off the gate. She’s on my Pick 4 ticket. (6) RANDOMIROGEO loses post position advantage tonight, and I prefer to use her on the bottom this week.
Race 10 – (9) LETS GET PICKLED can get a decent start here leaving behind a horse with sharp gate speed, and I see him vaulting past some fading leaders late. (2) HIDDEN POTENTIAL can improve in this spot and he may be the one that the choice is chasing down the lane; using. (3) EXIT SMILING is another that should be passing rivals late. Give him a look for the late Pick 4.
Race 11 – This is a race that (8) EASY LOVER HANOVER simply shouldn’t lose from any post position. (4) YS LOTUS was razor-sharp at Kawartha Downs, and he should be the main threat. (5) ALI faces mostly easier, and he is likely to be blasting tonight; using underneath. (2) ABOUT A BOY was sharp in defeat last week, and he should be a threat right back. (1) BLUE MOOSE raced great in Quebec, but these are tougher; small share predicted.
*
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.
More Tips from the Pros