Best Bet – (2) HOOTER SHOOTER – Race 9
Spot Play – (4) SOPHIES CAM – Race 6
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3 – 2,3,9/1,3,5/2,6/3,4,8 = $10.80
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 7 – 3,9/2,3,4/2/1,4,5,6 = $4.80
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 12 – 2,3/2,3/1,3,5,8,9/2,6,7 = $12.00
Race 1 – (6) WINDSONG QUINCY made Rideau Carleton debut in impressive style March 14, opening up on the lead by seven lengths at the wire for Guy Gagnon; Tyler Moore picks up catch drive on a night when Gagnon is not listed on any due to serving a driving suspension March 20-22; Mandy Archer trainee makes his seventh lifetime start tonight; this field's second-fastest record pacer. (5) KOLOY DM is down in class for seasonal return; ended last year with strong closing efforts from challenging Rideau post positions; her regular driver Pascal Berube hit board in just 2 of 12 drives last Sunday; late speed. (1) OHBABYWEFOUNDLOVE's most recent victory was Oct. 1 against Rideau Carleton distaff Nw7500l rivals for tonight's driver Tyler Jones, from trailing post #9; gapping in fifth along pylons at the half, she picked up cover going to the three-quarters, then gamely battled leader Grace Too, pulling away in the stretch for the career-best 1:57.2 win; no shot from post #8 here at Nw10000lcd classification March 7.
Race 2 – (4) ANGELS KID and regular pilot Tyler Jones drop from Nw3500l3cd classification this week; his most recent win was Nov. 29 in Rideau Carleton Nw1600l3cd company, also starting from mid-pack; he followed in fourth until finding cover en route to three-quarters, advancing steadily to make front and stay there; has struggled at higher classifications in subsequent starts; last Sunday, he looked ready to leave the pylons and follow a second-over Asa Im Ready out of fifth, but was covered up and never shook free until top of the stretch. (1) GOLDEN DYNAMITE was eased back at the start March 14, getting underway from seventh for Stephane Brosseau; second over in sixth behind eventual winner Raising Rusty (#6 this race) at the half, the John MacMillan-owned/trained gelding stayed trotting and closed in respectable 30.4 for fourth; if Brosseau has this gelding's breaking issues under control, the form reversal is likely to continue; class relief; Brosseau's apparent choice over #5 Eau Naturelle. (6) RAISING RUSTY draws one of Rideau's worst post positions for trotters so far this season; coasted to a four-open-length Nw1200l3cd victory for Stephane Pouliot on last Sunday's class drop.
Race 3 – (9) SHEMAKSMEFELUNREAL is back in line to Richard Simard, who steered her to her latest victory, Dec. 6 at Rideau Carleton distaff Nw1250l3cd classification; post relief for mare who spent most of March 14 trip parked, yet still held on for fourth in Nw20000l company; second tier offers post relief; did not beat the boys at this track, but 2 of her 5 wins last year were here; Simard went winless yet hit board for 5 different trainers from 10 drives last Sunday night. (3) WILD RIVER COYOTEE wired similar group with Guy Gagnon aboard last Sunday; Stephane Brosseau catch drives this field's only pari-mutuel race winner of 2021. (2) MALL COP tried things first over from last at the half March 14; disadvantaged by post #8, the half-mile track specialist found cover behind Shemaksmefelunreal (#9 this race) but tired after overland journey; that going-away 1:58.2 Rideau qualifying win March 3 holds promise; strong on front end.
Race 4 – (3) SOS JUSTIFIED disappointed as a 4/5 beaten favourite at Rideau Carleton 10000clm level last Sunday, ending up sixth for driver Jacques Beaudoin; first-turn duel with the now-absent First Car proved the undoing of both and set up for Red John (#6 this race) to upset; he was claimed back by former connections, however, and tonight he races for trainer Anne Marie Turenne, for whom he won here March 7; apparent choice of Richard Simard over #1 Alwaysyourway and #2 Senior K. (5) BET TILL DAWN adds latest catch driver Marie Claude Auger, who went winless in 9 tries last weekend, but hit board in 3; this gelding's monster qualifying win here Feb. 25 was over trotters; light on wins, but a consistent runner-up in 2020. (1) ALWAYSYOURWAY had Simard in the sulky March 14; closed to get within a length of upset-minded Red John (#6 this race); Samuel Fillion now catch drives; co-fastest 29.3 closing quarter in last week's place finish.
Race 5 – (2) MCJAGERSONTHEMOVE paced Canada's fastest mile for his age and sex on a 5/8-mile track last August 2 at Rideau Carleton, when racing for Guy Gagnon; he won twice more here in 2020, but not since he debuted for owner/trainer Gary Mc Donald Oct. 25; this is his second start in a row with Lasix; stalking trip at similar class level resulted in place finish behind Journalistic March 14 for Robbie Robinson. (6) LUNAR LAUNCH is one of two 4-year-olds in this field; teaming up again with regular reinsman Richard Simard, this gelding remains at classification where further improvement looks likely tonight; his 1:56.4 individual clocking for March 14 dead-heat show finish was his fastest mile of the new year and within fractions of a second of his 1:56.1 personal best, set last year in a Nov. 25 Rideau victory for Simard...at odds of 25/1. (5) BEACH RUNNER A M encountered interference last week, so deserves another look on the class drop; Stephane Brosseau stays loyal to owner/trainer Alain Martin's 14-year-old.
Race 6 – (4) SOPHIES CAM and Richard Simard draw inside two of their toughest competitors tonight; eight-time 2020 winner started 2021 with an Ottawa victory three starts back; closed for show behind this race's top pair March 14, from second tier; note that her most recent wins were from Rideau post #3, most recently in 1:57.1 over a "good" surface. (8) REYS N A ROCKET couldn't be stopped by same post position when she and Ryan Guy took on similar company March 14; always-game mare with late-speed superpowers came home in 28.4, the card's co-fastest winning closing quarter; more impressive is that almost every other March 14 Rideau Carleton pacing winner was on the lead by the three-quarters, while she closed from seventh to take down... (5) E R RHONDA; Tyler Moore picks up drive on class-dropping March 14 runner-up; she did defeat Reys N A Rocket here March 7, when that rival moved up in class and landed post #7; a number of other leavers in this field could test her early in the mile; beaten fave. (3) MICHELE Z TAM's 3/1 morning line is odd, considering her seventh-place result from identical post March 14; she did finish fourth for Robert Robinson in her most recent effort against a mares-only field March 7, however, and is the more accomplished of the two mares exiting mixed-sex competition in this race. (2) KAHLUA MORNING gets class relief and helpful post; that doesn't change the fact that she hasn't been keeping pace with Mandy Archer stablemate #5 E R Rhonda so far this season; likes to leave; minor shares.
Race 7 – (9) OFFICER JONES looks like he's closing in for the win at Rideau Carleton Preferred level, based on strong closing efforts for Ryan Guy; Vic Puddy stablemate #3 Racemup loses regular driver Marie Claude Auger to her own Xternal (#5 this race) and looks to set typical hot early pace, but for new catch driver Samuel Fillion; came home seventh to second for Guy March 14, in a field's-fastest (by nearly a full second) 27.2. (3) RACEMUP has Samuel Fillion catch driving this week; fifth from post #8 for Marie Claude Auger March 14, the gelding's front-end-loving style suits tonight's post position much better. (2) ATOMIC MILLION AM is up in class but benefits from inside post; show finish with Richard Simard aboard in March 14 Preferred Handicap from same post assignment.
Race 8 – (3) BS TYRRIFIC is the fastest winner of the year at Rideau Carleton among this group; Pascal Berube drove the 1:55.3 winner March 7 as they faced Nw650pscd company, and is back in the bike here; class drop. (2) WRANGLER CASH and Richard Simard struggled in overland journey against Ottawa Nw4000l3cd pacers last Sunday; moves into front tier again tonight and gets class relief in second start of 2021; Simard's apparent choice over #5 Larry Is Debs Rock. (4) HP PATRIOTE is racing for trainer Mandy Archer after being claimed at Mohawk March 8; an off-the-pace winner that night, there's some Ottawa history for this gelding: he took his 1:53.2 lifetime mark at Rideau Nw3150l3cd classification June 30, 2019, for trainer Gerard Demers and driver Pascal Berube; inconsistent, but 4 of his 5 pari-mutuel wins that year were at this track. (8) PANTHEON SEELSTER has hit board from post #7, so watch for any scratches of horses to his inside; Dec. 6, even that didn't help: he was sixth for Tyler Jones; overlooked at 45/1 from second tier last Sunday, he closed for place behind Stelios. (5) LARRY IS DEBS ROCK needs to rediscover his December form; Stephane Brosseau drives this week, as Simard goes with #2 Wrangler Cash; at his best, he's flying late.
Race 9 – Standing by (2) HOOTER SHOOTER again this week, despite his disappointing sixth-place result for Samuel Fillion March 14; three consecutive starts where he closed in 28.3 for Fillion have given him place finishes in half of his four 2021 starts; neither horse who beat him to the wire is in this field; class relief. (3) FARMERS TAN has catch driver Pascal Berube this week, seemingly because regular reinsman Samuel Fillion has opted for this race's top selection instead; nearly wired in back-to-back Rideau Nw650pscd events, but caught late and finished second by a nose to the now-absent Saskabush Steve March 14. (6) JEFFS JOURNEY closed for fourth last Sunday, from same post/classification; owner/trainer Michel Allard switches up drivers here, as Richard Simard takes the lines from Clarke Steacy; late speed.
Race 10 – (6) LESTENPERCENT was perfect from off the pace in March 14 Rideau Carleton Preferred Handicap; a 12-time winner last year, he looks to repeat for Rodney La Framboise in this abbreviated field. (1) CROSSFIT challenged Severus Hanover for the earliest lead March 14, then settled in behind him; Marie Claude Auger's pocket ride with this trotter became a boxed-in situation when Pasadena Star led the outer flow in pursuit of the 22/1 leader; tried passing lane but lacked late kick. (5) MR CONTESTANT started from post #7 and finished second for Stephane Brosseau last week; ground-saving trip worked to his advantage in the stretch as harder-used rivals faded late; no longer a 17/1 outsider, he may have to find more to beat these on even terms.
Race 11– (2) PRINCE GIOVANNI doesn't win very often, but he could be closing in on one soon; came home fourth in a field's-second-fastest last quarter (28.4) here March 14 for Jacques Beaudoin; most recent victory was from same post Dec. 13, when he made front early and breaker Savannah Splendor created interference in the backfield; improvements in every start so far this year; class drop. (5) WINDSUN CHEYENNE recorded six victories last year; his most recent win was for Pascal Berube in Dec. 13 Rideau Nw4000l3cd; Berube is back to drive him in his third start of 2021; stalking trip could pay off again tonight. (1) WILDCAT CAM and Tyler Moore team up for trainer Mandy Archer, after last week's driver Berube apparently chose #5 Windsun Cheyenne tonight; stalked The Roadies for place at this track's Nw2500l3cd classification; another recently-light-on-wins class-dropper.
Race 12 – (2) SIR GALAHAD missed by a head at 21/1 last week; owner/trainer Gordon Ley is back in the bike for this five-time 2020 winner's second consecutive start with Lasix. (3) MACHO POLO laid down fast early fractions March 14, paying the price by finishing third to this race's top pick and eventual winner Independence Time (#4 this race); Stephane Pouliot-trained/driven gelding was only third by a neck, a week after finishing second as beaten fave behind runaway winner Thats Some Plan. (9) MORTGAGE MY VILLA doesn't win much, but hits the ticket frequently as show finisher; second tier for Clarke Steacy tonight; up in class; beaten fave last week despite class relief and rail.
Race 13 – (2) MACH LEE was competing at Rideau Carleton 10000clm level in December, managing third and fourth in two races; now at 7000clm in his first pari-mutuel start of 2021, the gelding who last won at this track's Nw450pscd classification Nov. 26 finds helpful class/post; Tyler Jones was in the sulky for that victory, and returns tonight; March 17 qualifier a good tightener. (3) SIN CITY SHARK finished third as beaten fave for Guy Gagnon facing similar here March 14; has lost ground late in every start this year; Rodney La Framboise catch drives this field's most accomplished performer of last season, who finished second as often as he won. (6) TWIN B FEARLESS is up in class, yet still appealing because he and Richard Simard wired Rideau 7000clm pacers March 7; third Feb. 21 at tonight's classification, from post #5, this seems a more likely outcome here.
Race 14 – (5) SIR CHOPIN left strongly for new catch driver Samuel Fillion March 14; they timed the gate and overtook Asa Im Ready (#8 tonight) by the opening quarter; still leading at the 58.2 half, he came up empty as Vero Amore Bi (#6 this race) came calling near the three-quarters; anticipating a better performance at lower classification than where he ended last year; Fillion stats loyal. (3) GOALTENDER moves in from post #8 for trainer/driver Marie Claude Auger; he closed for place as beaten fave March 14 at Rideau Carleton Nw1200l3cd classification, unable to diminish the four-length lead of now-absent winner Raising Rusty despite trotting the field's-fastest last quarter (30.2); second in both starts so far this season, his last victory was a Nov. 26 stalking trip. (1) UNDERCOVER STRIKE shares Goaltender's late speed; undefeated in four 2021 starts for Guy Gagnon, catch driver Richard Simard gets the call tonight; change of strategy may be required for deep closer with rail.
Race 15 – (6) DRACHAN HANOVER has been disappointing as top choice so far this year, proving no match for Rideau Carleton Preferred Handicap pacers even with Lasix and catch driver Stephane Brosseau March 14; however, he's got serious class relief this week, and paced a 1:55 individual mile last start; a compelling proposition in tough-to-figure field; back class galore. (2) THE REGULATOR was beaten by post #8 last Sunday; taken back early by Ryan Guy, he was a non-factor, yet paced a field's-fastest 28.2 last quarter; the real late speed. (7) STELIOS was claimed last week; he wired Op12000clm pacers for Guy Gagnon March 14, but faces class hike without familiar driver tonight; Richard Simard catch drives gelding who hasn't missed top two this year, who now lands his toughest post position of 2021. (3) DYLANS BANK has been strong for Stephane Brosseau in a pair of March efforts, racing on/near front end; Brosseau has apparently chosen Marcel Barrieau trainee #6 Drachan Hanover here; up in class. (1) AVATAR J and Guy Gagnon wired Nw4650l3cd pacers here on the class drop last Sunday; Tyler Moore catch drives; unlikely to be bottoming out this bunch.
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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 a whopping $1.60.
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