Best Bet – (1) ISLA SEELSTER – Race 9
Spot Play – (4) CLOUD NINE HANOVER – Race 10
20-cent Pick 5 – Race 5 – 2,4,6,8/1,4/5,7/4/1 = $3.20
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 2 – 2,3,4,5,6/1,3/3/2,4,6,8 = $8.00
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 4 – 2,3/2,4,6,8/1,4,6/5,7 = $9.60
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 6 – 1,4,6/1,5,7/4,5,7/1,5 = $10.80
20-cent Last Pick 4 – Race 8 – 1,4,5,7,8/1,5/4/1,2,5 = $6.00
Race 1 — (7) SKY SPIRIT surpassed his own lifetime mark in chasing the now-absent Duke Lavictoire last Thursday; stalked throughout and came home in field’s co-fastest 29.2 for place, getting within a length of the winner; beaten 1-5 fave. (6) STORMONT MUFFIN hasn’t defeated this race’s top choice in any of her four seasonal wins; strong closer has hit board in half her starts this year, however. (3) SHOWME SOME MUSCLE drew #8 hole, then lost all chance due to a broken sulky wheel when facing familiar foes last Thursday; lone career victory was perfect pocket ride at lower Rideau classification July 29; hit board here at similar level when racing close to the pace in August.
Race 2 — (6) PERFECT DALIANCE is lone class-dropper; aggressive handling last Thursday, looking strong coming second-over from fourth nearing the three-quarters; over her head against the likes of Thinkingofyoubabe; hasn’t won since December 13, when she beat Shallow, from same post as tonight. (4) CEASELESS will be bet down on basis of better draw and racing for Mandy Archer/Guy Gagnon; it’s her third try at this track, but first from desirable post position. (5) STEELMEATREASURE was actually first to grab the lead last week, although she quickly backed down to third along pylons; made second move, challenging Bumblebabyandme first over going to the three-quarters; finished a brave fourth.
Race 3 — (3) CURIOUS KHALEESI nearly nailed (1) BATTLE WITH DESIRE at the wire last week; between these two, William Roy’s filly came home in the faster (field’s-fastest) last quarter (28 flat) in a mile cut by front-end-loving (5) YS BIG GIRL, who couldn’t sustain her lead when the top pair came calling at the top of the stretch.
Race 4 — (3) BET ON A DREAM looks to be Pascal Berube’s choice over #4 Sagali; post relief for gelding who won at 3/1 the last time he raced at $10K claiming tag; grabbed early lead from post 6 that start, opening up by 3 lengths over the rest by the 27-flat opening quarter; also showed late fight to hold off closers in career-best victory. (2) DELLAS BOY gets class relief and avoids Saulsbrook Kaisen this week; Samuel Fillion’s apparent pick over Bet On A Dream, but winless since August 5, when they were first over from second past the opening quarter, making front and maintaining advantage to the wire, over weaker field. (1) JON SNOW from rail with Guy Gagnon catch driving grabs attention; losing ground late in recent efforts, however.
Race 5 — (2) SAULSBROOK C HORSE looks to follow the familiar path of other good “Saulsbrook” horses, making the jump from Truro Raceway to Rideau Carleton with early success; driver upgrade to Samuel Fillion. (6) PREMIER STAR has closed well in back-to-back starts with trainer Benoit Hebert in the bike; Stephane Brosseau catch drives as OSS Grassroots filly returns to mixed-sex company. (4) ROCKIN FIRE wired field (including two trotters) in mixed-gait Ottawa qualifier Sunday; Stephane Pouliot stays loyal for gelding’s return to pari-mutuel action; a troubling number of breaks suggest caution. (8) HEAD OF THE TABLE gets tough post for Rideau debut; dropping in from Mohawk, where he was taken back to second-last early in slop and encountered traffic late; hasn’t raced since September 7. (9) ST LADS SKIP loses Samuel Fillion to top selection this race; second-tier start for colt who turned in mild closing efforts in last two starts.
Race 6 — (1) CHANTEE was third in Hippodrome 3R three-year-old track record mile two starts ago; his three 2021 victories are all at that venue, but he’s been a competitive second with two different trips in both recent efforts at Rideau; Quebec stakes competitor is top earner in tonight’s field, with this track’s winningest post for pacers. (4) FOUR FINGER FLOYD is co-winningest of this group, yet somewhat one-dimensional so far; front-end-loving gelding held off Chantee last Thursday, circling him on first turn and keeping ahead to the wire; could be vulnerable late. (6) SHOTGUN JERRY recorded both career victories at Rideau; OSS Gold start at Mohawk didn’t pan out September 4; this field’s lone two-year-old finds class relief from the same post position as his most recent win here.
Race 7 — (7) GETYOURLICENSELIAM romped by an expanding margin last Thursday; front-end winning 1/9 fave looks like Guy Gagnon’s pick over two rivals who recorded their single lifetime win with him in the sulky (#1 Major Motion and #2 De Chairman); gate speed lessens impact of outside post. (5) GODIVA WATCH ME stalked from pocket for place last race; very strong up passing lane, closing in on Under Warranty; class climb for gelding who hasn’t yet shown speed of top selection. (1) MAJOR MOTION won by diminishing margin in his most recent Rideau effort, facing field with multiple two-year-olds and fillies; faces tougher group on his return from Kawartha.
Race 8 — (4) HOWMACFIESTY seems to be choice of Richard Simard over #1 Village Jamie; tough mile last Thursday from post 8; first to pull at the half (from sixth) that race, she gained steadily and matched strides with pocket-sitting Village Jamie as Thinkingofyoubabe stole away on soft early fractions. Half-mile track specialist (so far) (5) MIDNIGHT SURF left well, settling into fourth along pylons in the race with last Thursday’s slowest (29 flat) quarter and co-second-slowest half (59 flat); covered up and shuffled back in Rideau debut for high-percentage trainer Macy Cassell; late speed, despite a race where she was never really able to put it to use. Last weeks near gate-to-wire winner (7) THINKINGOFYOUBABE got an unusual trip with very slow opening panels and late acceleration; going-away victory with field’s-fastest 27.4 last quarter was from rail; cannot see similar trip from outside.
Race 9 — (1) ISLA SEELSTER hasn’t raced in a month; makes Rideau debut after dominating at Hippodrome 3R; front-end-loving mare with eye-catching win margins retains Pascal Berube; beat males in last two races; parked first over from third when coming after gate-to-wire winner at Georgian Downs in her only ⅝-mile start this year. (5) LUNAR LAUNCH won from same post as tonight in previous start; held on for show as beaten 7/5 fave last Thursday; chased Wild River Coyotee in overland trip and lost narrow decision for place to a hard-charging Three Trick Gainer (#3 this race). (4) WISK KEY K is the likely favourite here; Archer/Gagnon angle may not be enough for colt whose latest win was in line to Pascal Berube, who has gone with this race’s top selection instead.
Race 10 — (4) CLOUD NINE HANOVER looks to be going in the right direction; retains Pascal Berube after closing for fourth in field’s-fastest 29.4 as longest shot on board last Thursday; his only 2021 win was at Flamboro, but he has some back class that includes both front-end and off-the-pace victories at Mohawk in 2018. (1) LMC MASS GEM led to the three-quarters last Thursday, finding more in the stretch to advance up passing lane for show; lost ground to the first-over (8) BEYOND THE LENS nearing the three-quarters that race; while Stephane Brosseau’s gelding ended up fifth and has tough post tonight, his cover set up for tonight’s #3 Undercover Strike to trot past the softened-up pacesetter, LMC Mass Gem, last week.
Race 11 — (2) RAISING RUSTY is that horse you cannot overlook, from any post position; powerful closer makes second consecutive start without trotting hobbles. (1) THE MAGIC OF LIFE is back on home turf after recent overland voyage at Mohawk; no longer taking on Rideau Preferred Handicap trotters, he’s closer to level of his last win at this track. (5) BABIDIBOU loses Stephane Pouliot to this race’s top selection; Steeven Genois gets the catch drive on recent off-the-pace winner who faces tougher after his first win of 2021. (8) SEVERUS HANOVER exits Preferred Handicap; has finished third and fifth in two Rideau starts from post #8 this year. (6) CHEQUE THE MAGIC is reliable, flat-gaited type making third consecutive start with trainer Ted McDonald back in the bike; winless in 2021, but safe choice to round out Hi-5.
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Melissa Keith is a lifelong harness handicapper/bettor, Hervey/O'Brien Media Excellence Award-winning writer, and occasional racecaller. She is a contributor to TROT, Hoof Beats, Atlantic Post Calls, and Harness Racing Update, often covering topics related to wagering. Her most memorable bets include taking down the Truro Raceway Pick-7 pool for a $36 investment (it has not been offered since) and collecting $1,287 for a Woodbine Harness Pick-4, which cost $1.60.
Photo by Ryan Clements Photos
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