Best Bet – (1) O NARUTAC PERFETTO – Race 10
Spot Play – (2) SIBONEY – Race 5
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,5,7/5,6/2/4,8/2,7 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 7: 1,4,8/2,4/3,4/1/2,6 = $4.80
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3: 2/4,8/2,7/1,3 = $1.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8: 2,4/3,4/1/2,6 = $1.60
Race 1 — (5) AZUCAR JACK went too fast, too soon racing at the extended distance on 12/13 here. A more even rationing of his speed can land him a win tonight; top call. (1) SUNSEEKER fits well here, but he brings a 1 for 21 record into the race, so I wouldn’t take a short price tonight. (7) IFUDONTCHEWBIGRED draws worst, but he is on a roll, and he has enough gate speed to get positioned near the front early. I’ll use him in the Pick 5.
Race 2 — 2021 O’Brien Award finalist (6) POWER AND GRACE should be able to clear to the front despite drawing wide, and that makes her the one to beat. (5) SIZZLEN HOT HERBIE lived up to his name on 12/23 here, crushing Preferred 3 foes. He should be the main threat tonight. (1) JAYPORT HI CLASS is consistent, and he should be part of the Tri starting from the rail.
Race 3 — (2) LOYAL WILL is obvious here coming off a dominating win on Boxing Day, and he is strictly the one to beat. (1) MIKELLO HANOVER, a $12,000 Harrisburg purchase, is worth a look on debut starting from the rail. (3) LUX SEELSTER, 2nd to the choice last week, should be part of the Tri here.
Race 4 — (8) LIME IN DA COCONUT is razor-sharp and driver Coulter fits him like a glove. A three-peat looms. (4) MR JOHN comes off a solid effort, and he draws better tonight. He could be a big speed threat in this spot; using. (5) SOMEWHERENTUSCANY has gotten better results since DesRoche took over the lines three starts ago, and he can be in the exotics mix again tonight.
Race 5 — This looks like a great spot for (2) SIBONEY to point straight to the front leaving the gate and lead all the way; top call. (7) ADDITUDE looks like a live longshot here, making her second start at this level, and getting her nose back on the gate; using. (3) MORAMAPPO should get position near the front early and land in the High-5. (4) ROSELLA is another one that should get a trip racing near the front, and she should take a share. (6) ASHLEES DELIGHT should be good for a small share at this level leaving from a wide post.
Race 6 — (1) A SHAM OF AMBER will have to be caught tonight drawing the rail and getting St. Louis in the bike; top call. (3) EVAS BEST GIRL is sharp, and she has been on a roll. She will be the one to fend off in the lane; using. (2) DALI CAT should sit a good trip and take a share tonight.
Race 7 — Tough race here. I think (4) STEVIE SEELSTER can improve sharply with the move off the 7-hole, and I’ll give her the nod. (8) DOLLYS SKY drops and she had a good win record last year. She could provide some late Pick 5 value. (1) SEE THE DELIGHT will probably take a shot on the front end from her rail draw, and she can get brave if she gets left alone on the lead; using.
Race 8 — (4) TITANS DREAM is always the one to catch at this level it seems. If he has a clear lead at the ¾ pole, he is almost impossible to catch; top call. (2) MASS BALANCE gets St. Louis and that makes him a threat tonight. He is the other one that I’ll use on late multi-race tickets. (1) FLUFF ME UP should be good for a small share tonight starting from the rail.
Race 9 — (3) IF YOU KNEW SUSIE wants the front, and she’ll be able to clear from post 3 tonight. That makes her the clear top choice. (4) DREAMADREAMFORME comes off a nice effort after being forced to requalify, and I can see her being a late threat tonight. (2) BLUEWATER BEACH is in solid form, and she could be riding the pocket tonight. She should be part of the Tri again.
Race 10 — (1) O NARUTAC PERFETTO beat better by most of the length of the stretch last time he raced here on 11/19. It’s hard to imagine him getting beat in this spot. (2) IRISH THUNDER will likely race close to the front throughout, and he can round out the Exacta. (3) WRAP AND A HOOEY drops but he has missed close to two months. I’ll try to beat him out of the Exacta considering that layoff.
Race 11 — (6) REAR VIEW was dynamite last out and has been tough to beat recently. I expect a strong showing with St. Louis remaining in the bike. (2) COCO BEACH DE VIE was successful under identical circumstances on 12/20 but could not provide the same effort on the step up on three days’ rest. A better performance is likely with the drop back down and the friendly post draw. (7) STYLE SNAPSHOT was dominant in this class last week, but loses St. Louis and draws outside here; would need a favourable trip. (9) ASBRAVEASMYMOMMA is a frequent top five finisher and a necessary addition to any Hi-5 ticket. (3) RUNAWAY HEIRESS is likely to benefit from an inside trip and make the Hi-5.
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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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