Best Bet – (1) SHINE A LIGHT – Race 8
Spot Play – (7) SOMETIMES WHEN – Race 3
20-cent Pick 5 – Race 5 – 7,9/1,2,4/1,4,6/1/1,2,7 = $10.80
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 2 – 1,5,6/2,5,7/1,6,7/7,9 = $10.80
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 4 – 6/5,7,8,9/1,2,4,6/1,4,6 = $9.60
20-cent Last Pick 4 – Race 7 – 1,4,6/1/1,2,7/2,5,6 = $5.40
Race 1 — (2) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE starts for trainer Isabelle Darveau and is Robert Shepherd's lone drive for her on this card; two-year-old's arrival from Flamboro comes with post/class relief; 5/8-mile track debut. (5) JIMS BIG THRILL stalked leader Prettydiva last Thursday, leaving pocket at top of the stretch; got within a half-length of winner Rockin Fire at the wire; "moving best of all" in deep stretch, to quote John MacMillan; won't be 30/1 again here. (1) QUOI cut mile in Sunday Rideau qualifier where she faced Giddy Up Max and a three-year-old filly who won from post 7 at Western Fair last month; lightly-raced mare draws well and retains Jimmy Gagnon.
Race 2 — (5) JANS LEGACY stole early command from Blackcreek Rosebud (#3 this race) last Thursday, battled a three-wide Sauble Delightful on last turn, and was caught in final strides by Jessicas Legacy; with the latter two mares missing from this field, a repeat performance for Stephane Brosseau looks likely to get the win. (6) MIDNIGHT SURF followed Jans Legacy off the gate last Thursday, getting ground-saving trip from second-tier post position; closed in field's-co-second-fastest 29.4, but couldn't get through late traffic. (1) KOLOY DM bizarrely went last-to-first in her latest victory starting from Rideau rail; deep closer was hung out most of mile last week against this group; on her best behavior, she's top-three material here.
Race 3 — Front-end-loving (7) SOMETIMES WHEN makes second consecutive start with Lasix; left strongly last Thursday, made front by opening quarter, led until losing photo finish to Drone Seelster; gains Stephane Brosseau, who was in the sulky for his most recent victory: September 12, 2019, at this track; Pascal Berube moves to (5) ARCHIMED ALPHA this race; no match for the first-over Field Gunner when up in class last week; still slightly above the classification of his latest wins; vulnerable late. (2) FIX A DRINK jumped it off behind the gate for Mario Cote in Rideau debut; in previous race, he chased a long-gone Archimed Alpha at Hippodrome 3R; qualified for today's driver Jacques Beaudoin here June 23, finishing sixth; subsequent improvement racing without trotting hobbles.
Race 4 — (6) SAULSBROOK VELVETA drops closer to level of most recent victory; reunited with Pascal Berube, for whom she recorded three of four career wins; Marie-Claude Auger timed the gate with her last Thursday, when the beaten 3/5 fave broke at the start; it appeared "Velvet" tried to go under the wing of the gate and may have made contact. (7) SPORTY MYSTIC went winless at 5/8-mile Kawartha and Georgian Downs this season; broke maiden from Western Fair's toughest post November 9; two distinct moves in Sunday Rideau qualifier; debut for Mandy Archer/Guy Gagnon. (1) ROCKIN FIRE broke maiden here from rail last week in what was also Schae Kelly's first win as a trainer; stalked and sprung as 30/1 pacesetter Prettydiva gave ground in deep stretch; Robert Shepherd catch drives because Stephane Pouliot is aboard his own #8 D GS Magic Moment.
Race 5 — (9) NAVALNY finished with a broken martingale last Thursday; first away at the start, he opted to pocket up and follow Montysgonemarble, who drew away in the stretch; looks to be Pascal Berube's pick over #6 Hardy Mill Joe and possibly others. (7) MONTYSGONEMARBLE has never won from this far out; nonetheless, his four gate-to-wire going-away Rideau wins show strong current form; Richard Simard catch drives as Stephane Brosseau moves to the sulky of John MacMillan stablemate (8) SIR A, who gets major class relief but tough post; late speed. (5) ROLLIN WITH ROCK needs to shave a second or more off his lifetime mark to match strides with top three this race; he's likely capable, just never needed to find that gear; crushed rivals last week with first-over trip out of third nearing the three-quarters, opening up by another decisive margin. (3) JON SNOW is seemingly Samuel Fillion's pick over #1 Favaro Seelster; adventurous overland trips in last two, for two different drivers; post helps.
Race 6 — (1) PLATINE ALPHA looks to be Jimmy Gagnon's choice over the just-claimed Jessicas Legacy (#7 here); left hard last Thursday, parked through opening quarter; opted for pocket and came up a little short in passing lane; took new lifetime best, for tonight's driver, in her win here two starts ago, beating the mighty (2) YNOTHOS; North America's winningest pacing mare of 2021 can leave and defend front end better than most, but the filly was the first to interrupt her most recent win streak. (4) JK ELLEM ENOH has had back-to-back #8-hole assignments; came home in field's-fastest 29.1 last race, even as hard-used Sauble Delightful (#6 this race) slowed in her path down the stretch; second consecutive start Lasix; latest catch driver Rob Shepherd replaces Pascal Berube, who's opted for Ynothos.
Race 7 — (6) OHBABYWEFOUNDLOVE closed in field's-fastest 29.1 for show against similar company last week, from same post; complexion of the race changed when favorite Saulsbrook Velveta broke at start; deep closer was taken back to second-last early, then made up tremendous ground over "good" surface in the rain. (1) SAGALI lost show photo last Thursday; she was first-over from fourth at the opening quarter; kept coming despite being parked by (4) BATTLE WITH DESIRE most of mile; Samuel Fillion stays loyal to winner of back-to-back Ottawa starts; she appeared beaten by tonight's #7 Sport A Lucky Star in deep stretch last race, but dug deep to reach the wire by narrowest margin; equalled her own lifetime mark in latest victory.
Race 8 — (1) SHINE A LIGHT lost a shoe during last Thursday's race; upset from off the pace in his last two victories, but also opened up on front-end here June 20; late speed. Erratic-gaited (3) GIDDY UP MAX qualified well here Sunday, with Pascal Berube (driving #2 Sports Jacket tonight) in the bike; oddly, his only seasonal victories were from this track's two statistically-worst post positions, back in August; Richard Simard was aboard for both wins; this race, he drives (4) SASKABUSH STEVE, another closer; "Steve's" one 2021 victory was March 14, stalking Farmers Tan and pouncing in the stretch for Guy Gagnon; moves in from #8 hole.
Race 9 — (7) ALEXUS EH took significant late money last Thursday; first over from fifth at the opening quarter, she gained steadily on the outside, making it to Field Gunner's wheel at top of the stretch; (1) FLYING ISA N followed her cover closely; he went wide in deep stretch around Steeven Genois' mare in field's-fastest 29.2, gaining on the front-end winner to the finish; his only 2021 victory was when stalking Fitt Bit from post 2 here August 8. (2) UNDERCOVER STRIKE began an eight-race Ottawa win streak last December 6, uninterrupted until he class-jumped into Preferred March 28; dangerous from off the pace.
Race 10 — (5) ONE FOR JULIUS had an equipment change (blind to open bridle) Sunday; he responded with two moves, skimming the pylons on second turn to advance inside rivals, then closing through traffic after shuffle to back of field; one catch: he loses Guy Gagnon; bonus: Stephane Brosseau was aboard for his last win. (2) WHATS INTHE ESKY A wasn't catching a going-away Vanilla Malted last Thursday; he was next best, from pocket; wired this track's Nw2600l3cd pacers in his most recent (August 1) victory for Stephane Pouliot; with no Thrilling Times or Vanilla Malted in the field, he's especially strong from inside post. (6) WESTERN PHIL showed completely different sides in his two latest legs of Coville Cup; multi-length Sunday winner was recently claimed and went to Guy Gagnon, who drives tonight; front-end-loving gelding has tendency to lose ground late. (4) ST LADS CASH seems to be Samuel Fillion's choice over #9 Art of Fire; stalked Four Finger Floyd and held off late bids from Sir A and Salty Robyn N; versatile three-time seasonal winner's best results were all at lower classifications than tonight's. (9) ART OF FIRE: unpredictable class-dropper is winless at Rideau this season, gets new catch driver from second tier; late speed.
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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
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