Best Bet – (1) MELODY MAKER – Race 6
Spot Play – (1) MAGIC BULLET – Race 2
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,6,7/1,3,6/3,7/1,3/1,2 = $14.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 1/1,2,3/4,8/1,4/2,4 = $4.80
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3: 3,7/1,3/1,2/1 = $1.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8: 4,8/1,4/2,4/1,2,3,6,8 = $8.00
Race 1 — (6) PACIN N RACIN was better in her second start, and I could see her blasting to the front this time to avoid being first-over again; slight nod. (7) LADY LIBBY will likely be favoured coming off a win, and she should contend again despite drawing the worst post; using. (1) J M SPEAK EASY gets the rail and a driver change tonight. She has upset potential in this second start.
Race 2 — (1) MAGIC BULLET — a $32,000 Lexington purchase — is a full-sister to a gelding that finished 2nd in his second lifetime start. She is worth a poke on debut here starting from the rail with St. Louis driving. (3) SORONE SEELSTER couldn’t seal the deal at 2 to 5 last week, but she will likely be the one to catch again tonight. (6) ACEFORTYFOUR MONEY passes horses every race, which is a positive, but she has had nine chances with no wins to show for it. She might just be faster than these though, so she is hard to toss.
Race 3 — (3) A BLACK DIAMOND gets back to the one-mile distance here, which gives her a better chance racing on the lead, and she gets top billing. (7) DAZZLIN ROSIE was a convincing winner from this post last week, and she will likely be the one to fend off in the lane tonight. (2) DEEP IN THE RED should improve starting from an inside post tonight. Give her a look for the Tri and Super.
Race 4 — (1) LASS SHOT moved up considerably with the driver change last week, now Young takes the lines; call to repeat. (3) JUST NEVER MIND should go much better here moving to an inside post and she should be a speed threat tonight; using. (2) GLANDCASTER HALL shoots for the three-peat but he faces tougher, faster rivals this week. I wouldn’t take a short price here.
Race 5 — (2) ACROBAT HANOVER just jogged here last week, his fourth win in his past five starts, and he is the one to beat here. (1) RIVER DALI lost all chance due to an early equipment break. He is capable of giving the choice a race if there are no mishaps tonight; using. (8) DRAGON TEEN should get a setup for his good late kick tonight and he should be part of the Tri. (3) DOVER SEELSTER will take action racing off the Nostadt claim here but he will likely be forced to take a seat early by the choice. I’ll use him underneath. (5) TOONIE TEEN loses post advantage tonight and he faces tougher; small share predicted.
Race 6 — (1) MELODY MAKER is sharp as a tack right now, and he will be very tough to beat at a short price starting from the rail. (7) DUSTY LANE MORGAN is interesting here being sent out by trainer Waxman following a private sale. I could see him hitting the board at a price. (5) U R DRIVINGME NUTZ should show speed again tonight, and I see him hanging on for a share.
Race 7 — (3) WHO SAID NOT TO finished third to tougher in a “winners over” $7K claimer, now he faces non-winners of $1,500 last 5 and he gets top billing in this field. (2) KINGSLEY B also faces easier, and he picks up driver St. Louis, but he has one win in his past 59 starts. I wouldn’t take a short price if you like him. (1) REDWHITEANDBOOTS hasn’t won in two years but he could get a great trip here. I’ll use him underneath.
Race 8 — (4) THORN IN YOUR SIDE raced well last week considering he had been off for more than five months, and I see him going right down the road tonight. (8) UF BETTORS HANOVER is obviously one of the best in here, but he will need to find a way to work out a trip leaving from the second tier; using. (2) LAWMEN REIGN is in the exotics mix every week and he should get a piece of this.
Race 9 — (4) ROUGH TRADE comes off a sharp first-up win at Flamboro Downs and he gets St. Louis in the bike tonight; call to repeat. (1) MYSTIC MESSENGER should get another great trip from the rail, and he is the one to fear. (2) SAUBLE PLAY should be an early speed presence, and he can hang around to take a share tonight.
Race 10 — Only the 8-hole at Flamboro could get (4) BEARCATWILLY beat recently and he should be mighty tough to beat here as he seeks a three-peat. (2) MODERN WRITER won last time he drew inside, and he is the most logical upsetter in this spot. (8) STRONG ENOUGH N raced better last week when he was finishing 2nd to the choice, and he should get a piece of this.
Race 11 — (8) SHADOW TAIL exits some fast claiming races at Flamboro Downs and he picks up St. Louis to drive. I could see him making the winning move in the third 1/4; top call. (6) SHADOW PLACE should blast to the front here and I can see him carrying his speed farther vs. these; using. (1) DREAMING OUT LOUD fits much better here than he did in his most recent start at Mohawk Park, and he is another in with a chance tonight. (2) COLORADO BUCK gets post relief and that should be enough for him to make it into the top four vs. these; using underneath. (3) CARSONS SHADOW looked good beating easier here last week, and he could better this placing if he gets a good trip.
*
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
More Tips from the Pros