Best Bet – (9) BROOKDALE JOEY – Race 1
Spot Play – (6) OUTLAW TURN N BURN – Race 2
20-cent Middle Pick 5 – Race 5 – 3,4,6/2,5,9/1,3,9/5/6 = $5.40
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 2 – 2,4,6/2,5,7/1,4/3,4,6 = $10.80
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 4 – 1,4/3,4,6/2,5,9/1,3,9 = $10.80
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 6 – 2,5,9/1,3,9/5,6/5,6 = $7.20
20-cent Last Pick 4 – Race 8 – 5,6/4,5,6/1,3,5/5,9 = $7.20
Race 1 — (9) BROOKDALE JOEY starts from second tier in Ontario and 5/8-mile track debut; all three career victories were by huge margins at Truro Raceway; one caveat: the dramatic decrease in front-end winners (leading at the half) over the last two Rideau cards, when surface was downgraded to "good". (6) SHADOW DAVE qualified well last Sunday; mature maiden trailed badly in five pari-mutuel starts for different trainers/drivers last year, individually timed in 1:57.4 in best effort, but never worse than 1:59.2; potential form reversal for Mike Healey. Tough draw for (8) BOARDING DOGS, who grabbed early lead from Rockin Fire (#2 this race) when they last met up two weeks ago; eye-catching front-end dominance in first try for Guy Gagnon, followed by parked-out first-over adventure on class hike for different driver.
Race 2 — (6) OUTLAW TURN N BURN hasn't raced here since last November 29, when he stalked and popped to deliver as 4/5 fave for Guy Gagnon. None of (2) HOOTER SHOOTER's four 2021 wins were at this track; boxed in fifth at the half in his latest Rideau start, he closed late through traffic, pacing a full second faster than his lifetime-best mark. (4) WOO SHARK left aggressively in the rain last Sunday, settled third on pylons, and was narrowly outgunned by fast-closing Matts Tuition in stretch drive; adds catch driver Pascal Berube, who's currently second only to Gagnon (by wins) among Ottawa driving colony.
Race 3 — (7) DYLANS BANK is deceptively good; won at 8/1 from tonight's post October 17, shadowing front-end-loving Fcee N and powering past him in the stretch; closed widest of all in the rain last Sunday in field's-co-fastest 28.3. (5) MACHO POLO cut mile but lost photo finish last Sunday; beaten even-money fave moves back up in class after latest in string of place results. (2) HOPETOBEFIRST is first recent Rideau drive for Marc St. Louis, Jr.; recently a half-mile track specialist, but versatile; latest wins were in restricted company against other 11 to 14-year-old pacers.
Race 4 — (1) GENESEE has recently disappointed as top-choice selection; tonight's class drop and returning Marc St. Louis, Jr. suggest otherwise for effective stalker returning to claiming level of his most current victory; late speed. (4) TAKE THE DEAL moves from conditioned into claiming company; wired at lower level here two starts ago, over "fast" surface that hasn't been the prevailing track condition for last two Rideau cards. (7) MISTER GODRO has been strong at $8K claiming tag; winless since claimed away from Mandy Archer stable, he was first off the gate last Sunday, opting for pocket and runner-up finish behind 1/9 front-end winner Thundering Jim.
Race 5 — (6) BANKROLL was third-over sixth when he made the move that would make him top choice tonight, accelerating around stalled cover nearing the three-quarters; three-wide pursuit of leader (4) FCEE N continued to the wire, falling short by a diminishing neck; Guy Gagnon's class-dropper was a rare front-end winner in last Sunday's rain and "good" track conditions; winning 8/5 fave will have hands full early with the freshly-claimed (3) THUNDERING JIM, who debuts for Anne Marie Turenne and Marc St. Louis, Jr. after win streak for Archer/Gagnon; significant class hike for last weekend's other gate-to-wire Rideau winner. (7) EMPTYTHETILL closed in field's-fastest 28.4 in last Sunday's $10K claiming event; caught behind parked and tiring (5) SOS JUSTIFIED, who struggled from post 7; this field's winningest horse of 2021 can never be counted out.
Race 6 — (2) JANS LEGACY enjoys class/post relief; three seasonal victories were all at Hippodrome 3R, but she took her lifetime mark here last year; Daniel St. Pierre is one of higher UDRS drivers in this Coville Cup leg. (5) MONTYSGONEMARBLE hooked wheels at Mohawk last start; better current luck on Rideau front end. (9) KEYSTONE PRESTIGE faced tougher in latest Preferred-2 start at Hippodrome 3R; trailing post for strong closer who was beaten 8/5 fave in his last Coville Cup event; too far back to get involved.
Race 7 — Class-dropping (9) BIG PETES STYLE hasn't been winning at the same rate as last year; then again, no horse has matched his 18 seasonal victories, then or in 2021; second tier start and catch driver with co-second-best UDRS in this Coville Cup leg; gains Jimmy Gagnon, who was aboard (3) SASKABUSH STEVE last Sunday in interference-marred race; Koloy DM jumped on first turn, directly in his path, hooking wheels with Tico Time; first-over from fifth at the opening quarter, "Steve" raced wide the remainder of the mile; closed gamely. (1) ONE FOR JULIUS' lone 2021 victory was from Rideau rail, stalking Bestofbest Hanover; draws inside again after good overland effort for different driver in last Sunday's Cup event.
Race 8 — (5) THE LIGHT SPEED waited single-file sixth and emerged third-over en route to the half last Sunday; lost ground on last turn, to find clear path in stretch; closed widest of all in 28.1 quarter that matched that of winner Shadow Margeaux. (6) NATIONAL DEBT was third in three-way win photo that race; late gains up passing lane; ground-saving trip from second last on final turn; field's-second-fastest 27.4 closing quarter. (2) NIGHT CLUB HANOVER hasn't missed board in latest tries for Steeven Genois, except when assigned post 7; this has held true even as he's climbed class ladder to Preferred Handicap.
Race 9 — (6) CROSSFIT put in a huge mile last Sunday; parked throughout, yet making steady gains and only overtaken late by the now-absent Ripped And Ready; first-over effort finally put away pacesetter (5) SEEYOU MEN in deep stretch; Guy Gagnon trainee's last victory accompanied inside draw/stalking trip behind this race's top selection back on October 17; note front-end trips in all but one of six seasonal victories, however. (4) CAPTEUR DE REVE swapped blinkers for Swedish blinds last weekend; his favoured front-end trip didn't materialize, as he was caught inside most of mile; left hard to grab command on first turn; stretched out by rail-defending Gloire Dream (#3 here).
Race 10 — Versatile (3) REDDIT HANOVER removed blinkers and raced with open bridle last Sunday; he had nose on the gate and got away first, but ended up locked in with pace behind beaten 4/5 fave (5) LADY LAKESHORE, who was picked off in the stretch by a fast-closing American Sniper; "good" surface didn't suit most front-end trips, including hers. (1) DEAN STREET has Stephane Pouliot aboard again, after departing from Coville Cup competition; troubled trip from outside post last week; gate-to-wire winner from Rideau rail September 30 at similar level, for another driver.
Race 11 — (5) STONEBRIDGE BEACH rewarded our optimism November 7, winning at 9/1 odds at similar classification; he'd won previous non-Preferred race October 3 by following pacesetter Atomic Million Am and holding off late-charging Giddy Up Max; more class relief tonight. (9) ASHLEYSBEST starts from trailing post where he's gone winless in last two tries at this track; leading at every call in recent going-away win on class drop; up in class and boxed in until passing lane last Sunday. (6) STORMY HALL GB teams up with Marc St. Louis, Jr. for what could be another attempt to go gate to wire; recent claim for Anne Marie Turenne; Pascal Berube apparently chose (7) THE REGULATOR instead; latest victory (at lower classification) saw him narrowly hold off (3) HES GOT A VENDETTA's above-average closing kick; ten-time 2021 winner's most recent score was also on class drop.
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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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