Best Bet – (3) ALLY FLIGHT – Race 2
Spot Play – (4) DRESS TO THE NINES – Race 3
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,2,5/3/1,2,4,7/2,3/1 = $4.80
20-Cent Pick 4 – Race 7 – 2,3,6/4,5/5,6/2,3,6 = $7.20
Race 1 — (2) DERBY DYLAN gets out of the second tier and he lands in a winnable spot here. Day should get aggressive with him and he gets the nod. (5) DEPUTY SEELSTER dropped, popped and stopped but he could last longer here in this second try at the bottom level. I’ll use him in the Pick 5. (1) MACHAPELO hasn’t won this year but this is a spot where he can contend and he wouldn’t be a shocker in this field. (3) SOUTHWIND GRIZZLY should be good for another small share today.
Race 2 — (3) ALLY FLIGHT is clearly fastest here, and he is a Pick 5 single for me. (1) SORONE SEELSTER should trip out again and she can complete the Exacta. (7) STONEFACE GERRY shows some races that would make him a threat if he could replicate one of them, but he has missed more than 6 weeks action and he draws worst; using underneath. (4) BOOKED SOLID should be good for another small slice.
Race 3 — (4) DRESS TO THE NINES should be able to clear to the front here and that makes her a big threat to lead all the way; top call. (2) SOS NOSTOPPINMENOW is capable vs. these and he comes off an improved effort. Give him a price look. (1) ACEFOURTYFOURTALON won last time he drew the rail here so he is one you have to take a close look at. (7) CARSONS SHADOW was great here last week but he draws worst. Demand a price today.
Race 4 — You know what (3) STILETTO BLUE CHIP has in mind here. She is heading to the front at the start in an attempt to bottom out the field, and she has a good chance of succeeding against this group. (2) ROLLWITHITJESSIE finally gets some good luck with the draw, and she should be a threat here racing from close range. (8) EATAAMS ELLIE comes off a nice win at Grand River but she figures to get a tougher trip here. I’ll use her underneath. (7) MORAMAPPO would be rated higher had she drawn better. From out there, her best hope is probably a small share.
Race 5 — (1) EASTON BEACH drops and likely pops starting from the rail today at a short price. (8) DANCE MACHINE will have a good chance of completing the Exacta if he follows the choice out leaving the gate. (4) TANZANIAN gets away from red-hot Old Buck. She can take a share in here. (7) DOC FANELLI exits some tough NW3 races at Georgian Downs. He would be rated higher if he drew better.
Race 6 — (2) TELL US MORE gets back to the level that he dominated at here in two straight races, and he should be hard to overhaul on the lead. (1) PRINCE ADIRAN figures to get a pocket trip and he should be closest to the choice at the finish. (3) JOEYS KIDD is always coming on late it seems, but he is more likely to take a slice; using underneath. (4) WESTRIDGE WARRIOR is similar in that he takes frequent shares but he is an infrequent winner. I’ll use him on the bottom.
Race 7 — This is a field that (3) UNLACED should beat as he just seems faster than his rivals. He gets top call. (2) BETTERTHANGLAMOR’s good recent form makes her a contender here, and she is the second one I will use in the Pick 4. (6) SAULSBROOK BOOMER is worth a look on debut coming in off a sharp qualifying win. (1) JAFAR DU LAC should be close enough early starting from the rail to take a share.
Race 8 — The mare that beat (4) SOUTHWIND MARITIME last Saturday here came back to jog in 1:56 4/5 at Grand River on Wednesday night. This mare looks mighty tough in this field. (5) CENTURY GIANNA drops. She is the class of this field and the likely challenger to the choice; using. (1) STEELY DAWN figures to be blasting from the rail here and she is a speed threat to consider for the Pick 4. (6) GET IT DONE DONNA looks next best, and she can pass a few of these to land in the Tri or Super.
Race 9 — (5) BETTORBEFLYIN has been consistent racing at this meet all summer, and he looks solid to end it on a winning note here. (6) BEARCATWILLY is sharp and dangerous, the only variable being his poor draw. If he can clear to the front, he might lead all the way. I’ll toss him in the Pick 4. (2) COTE DAZUR is in good form, but he seems more likely to take a share than a win; using underneath. (3) WEST COAST KID is always a good one to use on the bottom of the Tri and Super.
Race 10 — (2) SPORTS ZIPPER, a six-time winner already this year, should have a great shot of making it seven starting from the inside, and he gets top call. (6) LITTLE WILLY can go much better here if he avoids getting hung the mile as he did in his most recent start at Grand River. Give him a look for the Pick 4. (3) WITNESSINTHESHADOW has been facing tougher and she should improve here, but I prefer to use her underneath. (7) RIVER DALI should pass a few of these and take a small share today.
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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.
Photo by John Watkins
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