Best Bet – (3) LINCOLN BOULEVARD – Race 2
Spot Play – (3) JAYDENS PLACE – Race 12
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 2,4,8/3/1,2/1,6,8/2,4,5,6 = $14.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 1,5,7/1/1,4,7/2,3/2,4 = $7.20
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 4: 1,6,8/2,4,5,6/1,5,7/1 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 9: 2,3/2,4/4,6,7/1,2,3 = $7.20
Race 1 — (2) PACIN N RACIN didn’t show much in her opener, but moving inside should help here and this isn’t a tough field; call to upset. (4) SORONE SEELSTER, the only winner in this field, comes off a narrow loss and is an obvious threat in this spot. (8) STONEFACE GERRY is in a much easier spot, but the second tier might make things difficult so I wouldn’t take a short price.
Race 2 — (3) LINCOLN BOULEVARD beat better two starts back at Flamboro Downs and he should be very hard to beat here racing for a tag and drawing inside. (1) LIL MEMORIES comes off a good try, he draws best, and he picks up Sorrie to drive; Exacta factor. (2) GEORGES CREDIT should sit a good trip and land in the Tri tonight.
Race 3 — (1) MS MEAGHAN SPARKEL is the speed of the race and she draws best. Coming off a sharp qualifier, she looks ready to roll; top call. (2) NOTHINHOLDINMEBACK blew up the tote board here last week in a good effort, and she should be a threat right back starting alongside the choice. (3) TEARINGUPTHECREDIT can be a threat here if she stays flat, but she is a bit hard to trust at this point; your call.
Race 4 — (6) CAPTAIN RAY raced well twice in a row vs. A Better Man, who isn’t in this race. This gelding should get an aggressive Sorrie steer and he gets the nod despite drawing wide. (1) SHAZAM BLUE CHIP will likely be a big chalk here coming off a dominant qualifying win and drawing the rail. He is hard to leave off multi-race tickets. (8) CASEYS DRAGON finished just ahead of the choice last time in a good effort, and he should be right there again tonight; using.
Race 5 — (4) MR MACH JIMMY drops and his potent late kick should play much better tonight; top call. (5) A BIT OF LUCK produced a good effort from the 7-hole when he last raced here, and he is worth a look for the early multi-race tickets. (6) JKNR LIKETELL was 1 to 5 when he dropped to this level last week and he finished a closing third. He will offer a better price here and he is in with a shot. (2) DREYDL HANOVER fits well here, but he has missed a month. What price would you take considering that gap in activity? (1) A POSITIVE HANOVER should flash speed again and finish in the High-5.
Race 6 — (7) ALWAYS N THE MONEY lost to a hot horse last week that has already come back to repeat, and he gets top call vs. seniors here despite drawing the widest post. (5) HOPETOBEFIRST exits an open claimer where he was right there and he seems to fit well here; using. (1) THORN IN YOUR SIDE has seen better days, but he has the class and speed to wire these if he is fit and ready. He is one that I’ll use on multi-race tickets.
Race 7 — (1) TOONIE TEEN exits the Autumn Series and he should be tough to beat here drawing the best post. (3) TUUKKA RASP failed as the 8 to 5 chalk, but his recent form is good and he should be an Exacta factor here. (7) ROYAL DOUBLE has won two of his last three but, from the widest post, I can only use him underneath in this spot.
Race 8 — Tough race here. I’ll give the edge to (1) WINDSONG GRAYSON, who has drawn poorly forever and should be sent forward leaving the gate tonight. (4) VIJAYSCAM might be able to make front tonight and that gives him a chance in this suspect field; using. (7) SOUTHWIND MASIMO probably faced better in a couple of his Leamington starts and he has upset possibilities tonight.
Race 9 — (3) BAROSSA BLUE GENES was regularly facing a horse at Leamington that won eight straight starts and was undefeated at the meet. He should have a good chance vs. this group, and he gets the nod. (2) DERBY DYLAN moves inside and gets St. Louis in the bike. He should be a threat vs. these; using. (1) SAVANNAH SPLENDOR looks good on paper, but he has won only one of his past 56 starts, so I’ll play to beat him.
Race 10 — (2) LAWMEN REIGN is in good form and he draws much better here. I’ll predict this is where veteran driver Battin notches his 5,000th win. (4) BET ON BRETT faces what should be an easier group here, and he is a clear contender that is hard to leave off late multi-race tickets. (6) UF BETTORS HANOVER should improve in this spot, and I see him landing in the bottom of the Tri or Super.
Race 11 — (6) MISTER X showed how sharp he is by winning at the extended distance last time, and he is the one to catch and beat again. (7) REAL WICKED is an obvious threat coming off a sharp win, but he could get hung out to dry by the choice, so I wouldn’t take a short price. (4) SHADOW OF LINDY should be good for another share in this spot.
Race 12 — (3) JAYDENS PLACE got hot at Flamboro and this is a good spot for him. I see him launching a first-over assault on likely leader (1) IDEAL JET and prevailing. (2) CHAMPAGNE PHIL has rounded into form and he is another in with a shot in a race where he figures to get a good trip. (7) HOMEY JOE is in tremendous form but the 7-hole can be the great equalizer. I’ll play to beat him tonight. (4) EASTON BEACH wants the front and he may not get it tonight. I’ll use him underneath.
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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 Ryan Clements Photos
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