Best Bet – (1) PINECONE PETE – Race 8
Spot Play – (3) FIRST CAR – Race 6
Race 1 - (7) BUTTERCUP WILL is one of two winners in this field and her 1:56 3/5 score taken at this track two starts back should be good enough to win this. (1) IM CHIARA’s debut was decent and she may elect to follow a helmet here and get a better result. (8) ACEFORTYFOURLADYDI has enough gate speed to get away quickly and find a good spot near the front. She can hit the board here.
Race 2 – (2) MUSCLES APLENTY faces easier here after finishing third in the slop to some tough older horses at Clinton and she may go right down the road back in with sophomore fillies here. (3) TEQUILA N ROSES trotted a big back 1/2 to win at first asking at 55 to 1 and she can contend vs. these. (1) ROYAL PEACH should show early speed here and stick around for a slice.
Race 3 – (2) MAXIM MISER is quirky, but if he behaves this week, he can lead these all the way. (1) JOES CREDIT has a much better chance this week starting from the rail and if the choice breaks at the start again, his chances will improve dramatically. (8) LIL SCREAMER will be passing rivals looking for a third straight win, but she may be too far back at the 3/4 if the choice stays flat and is sent to the front as expected.
Race 4 – (6) BATHGATE has found his best stride racing at Kawartha Downs and he should be tough to catch here while he looks to double up. (5) RJS INVICTUS trotted a big third 1/4 last week to get into contention then was only a neck behind the choice at the finish. He should be the main threat here. (7) MASSMAN was third in an OSS Grassroots event two starts back and if he stays flat here, he should contend for at least a share.
Race 5 – (6) SOUTHWIND GOLIATH has been close vs. Gold company and his expected main rival here draws the second tier, so he gets top billing. (9) FIRST GLANCE was backed up considerably in the second 1/4 by a horse that choked last time and that took the sting out of his late kick. His debut race shows he is a contender with these. (8) DAVID LLOYD GEORGE was a sharp winner in his first try at this track and he merits some respect here despite drawing the 8-hole.
Race 6 – (3) FIRST CAR’s last two starts at Hiawatha Horse Park indicate improving form and he should get an aggressive steer from Boyd here; slight nod in a wide-open race. (6) JETSET CHARMER may have the best recent form, but he moves outside and picks up a driver that is 0 for 29 at the meet; your call. (7) HALTON HURRICANE can take air and keep coming so from post 7 he should work his way into the money.
Race 7 – (7) FOUR FOR ORR and (3) IAMSAM SAMIAM exit a fast race where they finished 3rd and 4th, respectively. They are likely to battle it out here. I give the nod to the former who will likely be closer to the front throughout. (9) FIRESTORM K T is another that comes out of that race and he finished ahead of the two choices but he loses Gassien here; using underneath.
Race 8 – This is an easier spot for (1) PINECONE PETE and I can see him leading all the way here. (7) FLUFF ME UP also drops to a spot where he should wake up and he may offer a square price starting from an outer post. (9) TLF ROYAL LAKE comes off a good try but as a one-time winner starting from the second tier, I have to try to beat him in this spot.
Race 9 – (3) OH K MAN exits some tough spots and I expect him to get an aggressive drive here today; top call. (2) CANDID CAMERON came up with his best effort in many weeks here last week and he is the one the choice will need to fear most. (1) OUTLAWDANCWTHEDEVL will likely look to sit a trip and take a share vs. these.
Race 10 – (1) YNOTHOS was an easy winner from the rail here two starts back and she should be tough to beat again. (4) RUSTYS FLYING, the 101-time winner, will surely be put into the race and she should be an Exactor factor. (7) LDL GEM gets slight post improvement here that could lead to her hitting the board.
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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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