Best Bet – (6) GOLDEN LEADER – Race 3
Spot Play – (8) JAYPORT HI CLASS – Race 11
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,2,5/1,2,3,5/6/1,2/2,3,6 = $14.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 4,7/1,4/2,3,4/4/4,5,7 = $7.20
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 4: 1,2/2,3,6/4,7/1,4 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8: 2,3,4/4/4,5,7/1,2,8 = $5.40
Race 1 — (5) ASHLEES DELIGHT got hung out to dry after leaving from the widest post last week. She gets a better starting slot here and she might be able to clear this time; slight nod. (1) GREYSTONE TREASURE should be tighter for this after missing a month between starts last time. From the rail, she’s hard to toss. (2) PATINA SEELSTER threw in a bit of a clunker last week. Her potent early speed makes her a threat tonight. (4) BANANA MUFFIN will get bet exiting the Autumn Series, but she seems more likely to take a small share; using underneath.
Race 2 — In a race with no standouts and driver Kelly listed on one that has shown he can blast off the gate, I’ll give the nod to (5) GLANDCASTER HALL, who might just go right down the road. (3) ROAD TO REDEMPTION has the best recent race but he goes for a low percentage trainer/driver. What price would you take? (2) MASS PIKE PARTY is improving and worth a look from an inside post tonight. (1) MY OLD STUD LEROY went a long trip last time now he draws best. He should be good for a share.
Race 3 — (6) GOLDEN LEADER drops into a claimer and picks up McNair to drive. She should be tough to beat in this spot. (1) CEASELESS will no doubt be heading for the front at the start again, and she will be an Exacta factor tonight. (2) PREMIER BETTINA fits these $15K conditioned claimers like a glove, and she should be passing horses again tonight; using underneath. (5) CENTURY GEORGIA is always around the money, and she should be part of the Tri or Super.
Race 4 — (1) SAUBLE AMBER is in a much better spot here than she was racing at Mohawk Park last time. Starting from the rail, she should be a big threat to lead all the way. (2) BOTTOMOFTHENINTH’s chances improve tonight because she should be much closer to the lead early; using. (3) BEST KEPT SECRET looks good every week, but she keeps falling short. I’ll use her underneath. (4) SEEL THE DARK comes off a sharp try and she should be in the exotics mix again tonight.
Race 5 — (2) BRYDOWN LILIBET is only 3 for 33 lifetime, but she has a chance to control the pace tonight and I’ll give her the nod. (6) SHADOW ONE is likely fastest in here, but she may get too far back after starting from a wide post. She can win, but she might get overbet. (3) SHES A BEAUT CLARK is getting closer and she should get a good trip this week. She is the third one that I’ll use on multi-race tickets. (5) PRIDEINMYSTRIDE was first up last week and she hung around for a share. She is a good one to use on the bottom of the Super. (1) BURLESQUE SEELSTER should get a cheque starting from the rail in this field.
Race 6 — It appears that Doug McNair made the trip to London to drive (7) HIPPYJOHN in this stakes series final for his dad, and I’ll give him the nod expecting aggression from the start. (4) SPICEY P had a nice tightener for this at Mohawk Park, and he should be blasting off the gate tonight. He’s the main danger. (1) UNLACED has been good, but I think the two three-year-olds picked above him are just faster. I’ll use him underneath. (5) TALISMAN SEELSTER should be passing some of these late and he can be part of the Super.
Race 7 — This race should come down to a battle between (1) DIEHARD SEELSTER and (4) KILAUEA who both have been facing tougher at Mohawk Park. Slight nod to the former based on post position advantage. (2) HOROSCOPE should fall into a nice following trip and hang around for a share. (6) INSANITY is usually right there, but from a wide post I’ll use him underneath.
Race 8 — (2) TEMAGAMI SEELSTER gets class relief here after facing the best pacing mares at Flamboro Downs and she gets top billing vs. these. (3) CASIMIR SWAMP GIRL is a big threat to lead all the way with her nose back on the gate tonight; using. (4) SPORTS ICON is as consistent as they come, and she rarely misses the top three. She should be part of the Tri tonight. (1) BUTTERMILK HANOVER is well-spotted to get a good trip and land in the Tri tonight.
Race 9 — (4) IDEAL JET is going to blast off early and try to bottom out this field, isn’t he? I say he gets the job done. (3) BET ON BRETT is in a better spot here, but he is still 0 for 2021. I’ll use him underneath. (5) GOOD AND SWEET gets class relief here, but he could get stung early by the choice. I wouldn’t take a short price on him in this spot. (2) ROLLING ROCK went a crazy parked out trip last time and he still got a share. From an inside post, he can be part of the Tri or Super.
Race 10 — (5) GET TO THE POINTE squandered a sure win when he jumped it off in the lane last week. His gait issues are concerning, but if he stays flat he beats these. (4) DAYLON MIDNIGHT should find this field easier, and he is the logical alternative to the choice; using. (7) JUST NEVER MIND has the speed to get away well from her wide post, and she is another possibility for late multi-race tickets. (1) ROSE RUN XCALIBER should sit another following trip and finish on the edges.
Race 11 — (8) JAYPORT HI CLASS couldn’t be sharper, and he should get a good start here following the #1 leaving the gate; top call. (1) WILLYORWONTHE will be the one to catch again tonight, and he’s hard to leave off late Pick 4 tickets. (2) SCENE A MAGICIAN gets post relief tonight and that gives him an upset chance this week. (3) CONQUEST AS will be racing close to the front throughout, and he should be in the exotics mix. (7) VEYRON never misses a check. Toss him on the bottom of your High-5 tickets.
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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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