Best Bet – (4) BETTER WATCH IT – Race 3
Spot Play – (2) ALWAYS N THE MONEY – Race 5
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,2/1,3,5/4/3,4,7/1,2,7 = $10.80
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 7: 1,4/5,8/1,3,4/5,6/2,6 = $9.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3: 4/3,4,7/1,2,7/1,2 = $3.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8: 5,8/1,3,4/5,6/2,6 = $4.80
Race 1 — (1) IN A HURRY amazingly drew into the second tier three times in a row, and she raced well in every start considering she had to take the overland route in all of them. Kelly should be looking to send her down the road tonight, and she gets top billing. (2) PANNINGFORTREASURE is another who gets needed post relief after drawing poorly forever. She should be the main threat here. (7) TIGER SHARK figures to take another small share starting from the widest post.
Race 2 — (5) CAPTAIN RAY paced a big third 1/4 in defeat when he raced at this level here on 12/7, and he should be tough returning to a spot where he fits. (1) LAST MACH jogged here when dropped to this level for his last start, but he has missed more than a month now so I wouldn’t accept a short price. (3) MO BETTOR should improve on the drop into claimers, and he is worth using in the early Pick 5.
Race 3 — (4) BETTER WATCH IT is on a roll that isn’t likely to be stopped here, but she will be a big favorite again. (2) DEEP IN THE RED was bet like she couldn’t lose when she dropped into a claimer at Flamboro Downs but only closed mildly. From an inside post tonight, I can see her rounding out the Exacta. (8) CHARMBO STORMY comes off a big win, but these are tougher, and she is likely to land in the bottom of the exotics.
Race 4 — (4) ESSENTIAL WORKER tries hard every time, as evidenced by her 10 Exacta finishes from 18 starts this year. She looks good in this spot; top call. (7) DUKEPEDIA faces easier after getting a tough trip at Flamboro, and he could be blasting here. If he clears to the front, he can beat these. (3) HOT FUDGE SUNDAY is only 2 for 23, but he is another that contends frequently and fits well in this spot; using.
Race 5 — (2) ALWAYS N THE MONEY gets away from red-hot Hopetobefirst, who has now won seven straight. This Seniors Pace should be a better spot for him, and he gets top billing. (1) TWILITE ZONE followed a winner that was too good last time, but that rival draws widest tonight. This gelding is in with a good chance. (7) LEAFS AND WINGS responded to the driver change to St. Louis last week, now he draws widest and gets Coulter. He isn’t out of this, but this is a tougher chore this week. (8) ETERNAL RULER should pass a few of these and close for another good share. (3) CIONA BROMACH should be good for another share in this spot.
Race 6 — (2) TWIN B FABULOUS raced well in her debut, now she draws perfectly. She likely converts as the favourite tonight. (1) COMEALONG should be looking for the front coming off a wire-to-wire qualifying win, and she should be the main threat. (8) CHEDDARS DELIGHT has yet to hit the board, but she can get a nice following trip here and sneak into the Tri or Super.
Race 7 — (4) SKIP ACROSS beat a decent field of maidens at Mohawk Park and, off that sharp win, she gets the call to repeat. (1) A BLACK DIAMOND is the obvious danger, especially starting from the rail considering her potent gate speed. She is the other one that I’ll use on multi-race tickets. (6) MOONSHINERS CREDIT is seemingly in a better spot here, but she got no favours from the post position draw; using underneath.
Race 8 — (8) FERN HILL BREEZE was a powerful winner racing off the Goit claim, and he gets the call to repeat here despite stepping up in class. (5) MISTER X couldn’t repel the tough Real Wicked last time, but he remains the one to catch here; using. (2) EATAAMS SPORTSBABY can pass a few of these in the back 1/2. Consider using him on the bottom of the exotics.
Race 9 — (1) DEPUTY SEELSTER raced well on the class rise last time at Flamboro and, starting from the rail, he should be the one to beat tonight. (3) TOUGHSONOFABEACH was hammered at the windows last week and, with the trip he got, he wasn’t getting beat. He should be the main threat here. (4) SHADOW WARRIOR is in great form, and he is worth using on late multi-race tickets.
Race 10 — (5) E L WILD SPORT was passed by the odds-on favourite that took a perfect pocket trip last week. He should have a good chance of wiring this group; top call. (6) TALISMAN SEELSTER circled up to finish just behind the choice, and he should be the main danger here. (1) LARJON ALEXANDER makes his fourth start back off a break, and I think he gets put into play early tonight; using underneath.
Race 11 — (6) HES GOT SWAGGER was involved in some big early splits at Flamboro last time, and he hung in there well. He can lead these all the way if he clears to the front. (2) J J POWERBALL couldn’t catch speedball Ideal Jet last time, but that was a decent effort and he should contend again vs. these; using. (4) MR MACH JIMMY was a big winner last week when St. Louis took over the lines, but he loses that driver and moves up in class tonight; small share predicted. (9) HOMEY JOE fits well here but got a bad post draw. He likely finishes on the edges. (1) A POSITIVE HANOVER should be good for a small share starting from the rail.
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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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