Best Bet – (4) DEBT COLLECTOR - Race 2
Spot Play – (4) JAKE LEOWEN - Race 6
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 4 - 2,5/2,4,7/4/2,3,4,5 = $4.80
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8 – 1,6,7/1,8/2,4,6/2,7,8 = $10.80
Race 1 – (3) DADDY DEVITO should be closer early here and this is a field he should beat; top call. (2) DENMARK SEELSTER can also land a good spot near the front early and he should pose a threat in this spot. (6) BING BANG BIGOLO comes off a solid try at Flamboro but post may make it tough on him here; using underneath.
Race 2 – (4) DEBT COLLECTOR finds another field he should beat, and he will be hard to take down here if he stays flat. (6) IMPRESSIVELY DONE - 2nd to the choice last time - should be the main threat but the widest post doesn't help. (2) CHAOTIC DECISION comes back in three days here and he could stick around for a small share.
Race 3 – (7) STONEBRIDGE LOYAL made a big late move last week, she just had way too much ground to make up. She will have a big shot here if she can enter contention earlier. (4) BEARY YU VON has the best recent form in here and she's hard to leave out. (6) ACROSS HANOVER - who finished just ahead of the choice last time - is another in with a shot in a contentious race.
Race 4 – (2) CURIOUS CORTEZ was a winner from this post two starts back and he should be tough here moving back inside vs. this group. (5) VEGAS MACHS blew up at the start last time, but his previous races make him a viable contender against these. (8) NOAHS PLAY moved up for driver St Louis; using underneath.
Race 5 – (4) R THINKING MONSTER was an easy winner vs. lesser and his price should be decent here in a spot where he can double up. (2) EATAAMSBETTERSHARK should be the main threat if he minds his manners this time. (7) GAMBLING ADDICTION went a long way on the front last time and if he can clear - which is questionable from post 7 - he could do here.
Race 6 – (4) JAKE LEOWEN chased fast fractions racing uncovered on the rim last time and the runner-up in that race has already come back to win by a football field. He gets top call here. (3) OLDFRIENDSKENTUCKY loomed for driver Macdonald on the final turn last time in an improved effort and he can hit the board here. (1) PODIUM SEELSTER gets needed post relief here; consider for the exotics at a price. (7) LEAFS AND WINGS fits well here but the outermost post likely limits him to a small share. (5) ROLLING ROCK should leave quickly for a spot near the front and stick around to land in the High-5.
Race 7 – (3) SPORTS JACKET gets the best post of the top contenders and driver Kelly is likely to be uber-aggressive here and seat them all early which could lead to another gate-to-wire win. (4) SPORTS CHARM has a recency edge on the other main contender (5) D M JOHNWICK, so he gets the nod to complete the Exacta while the latter can take a smaller share.
Race 8 – (1) KEEPER CRUISIN wasn't permitted to clear last week and he got hung out pressing some quick splits. He may take these all the way at a good price starting from the rail. (6) HEZA HANDY MAN tried to keep his win streak alive facing tougher here and he could be up to it. (7) BERNIE obviously faces much easier in this spot, but he could get overbet and he is no lock starting from the worst post.
Race 9 – (8) RACEMUP has been facing tougher at Flamboro and he sticks out vs. these, the only question being what kind of trip he will get starting from the second tier. I expect him to be moving early. (1) UFDRAGONS ROCKET also faces easier here and he draws best. He should be the main threat. (4) AVATAR J is in excellent form, but he may find the top two choices too tough here; using underneath.
Race 10 – (4) REEL goes more long trips than any horse I have seen recently. In this race he is situated to perhaps make front at some point which is the trip he needs to get the job done. (6) LEVIS DAY was right there in this class on Friday and he will be one of the main contenders here if he goes on two days' rest. (2) HIDDEN POTENTIAL is likely to be the first leader and the longer he is allowed to lead, the better his chances get.
Race 11 – (2) GARD LOUIGGI drops in for a tag and draws well. She could wake up here at a price. (7) CLOTHIER HANOVER has the best recent race and he is on my late Pick 4 ticket despite drawing worst. (8) SECRETLY FLASHY has been solid of late and she is another who can take the finale with the right trip. (1) LUCKYJOHANNA is capable of better and she could land in this High-5 at a price. (6) PINE ESPOIR is always a good one to use underneath.
*
Garnet Barnsdale is a veteran handicapper, bettor and racing writer who has worked as an analyst for DRF Harness for the past five years. He is also the current President of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
More Tips from the Pros