Best Bet – (2) – DOLLY DALI – Race 2
Spot Play – (5) – GIA DIAMOND – Race 8
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3 –1,6/2,6/1,2,5,7/2,5,9 = $9.60
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 7 – 3,8/2,5,6/2,5,8/1,6,9 = $10.80
Race 1 – (3) MAJESTIC HERO was picked to win this class last Friday, but his first-over effort was in vain, as Dumb Is Forever went gate-to-wire in maiden victory; here, Larry Kestle’s horse is eldest in field, with plenty of flat miles and the closing ability to trot around tired rivals/breakers. (2) FORGED IN FIRE is a 3-year-old who arrives from Woodbine Mohawk Park qualifiers where he’s shown breaks, but has finished ahead of other horses in last 2 tries; TheStable.ca-group-owned colt’s half-mile track (and pari-mutuel race) debut for driver Anthony MacDonald. (4) MACKJUSTICE edged out Majestic Hero for the Jan. 17 show spot, the beneficiary of a more conservative trip; predicting similar result here.
Race 2 – (2) DOLLY DALI is this group’s fastest mare on a ½; tonight she drops in class, lands the post position of her last win, and is reunited with Robert Shepherd; needs to time that closing kick. (5) THRILLOLOGY leaves well and hit the board with frequency in December, albeit at 5/8-mile Rideau Carleton; she is the mare with the second-fastest lifetime mark on a ½-mile track, and now partnered with new driver Andy Moore. (1) MACH ON is a specialist in show finishes; she pocketed up but got the shuffle back to fifth from same post Jan. 17, leaving the impression that she’s ready improve here.
Race 3 – (6) SECRETLY FLASHY broke leaving Jan. 17, breaking hearts in the process; the beaten favourite did get back trotting and closed aggressively for fifth and reunites with Travis Henry tonight. (1) SETTING DAY has disappointed despite every advantage in last few London starts; fast enough to get involved if asked by O’Brien Award finalist Austin Sorrie. (2) SUSIEK is an Ohio Sires Stakes grad making first Ontario appearance and first pari-mutuel start of 2020; finds class relief here for TheStable.ca group and Anthony MacDonald.
Race 4 – (6) BAD NIGHT MARE was unable to catch gate-to-wire winner Friends To The End last Friday; a return to $7000 claiming level (after last 3 starts against $8500 claimers) should put her closing ability to better use for latest pilot Scott Wray. (2) WHITE DANCER was all heart last Friday night, putting away a tough Ideal Toy to her inside, then getting stung at the wire by late-flying longshot Lilys Penelope; a move to inner position and return to the mile distance make her a solid contender again tonight. (1) YNOTHOS returns from Woodbine Mohawk Park to the scene of some strong performances on Jan. 1 and 8 for owner/trainer/driver Preston Shaw.
Race 5 – (1) EATAAMPULTHECHUTE is well-positioned to blast off the gate and try to outsprint the rest to the wire for frequent driver Travis Henry; Dec. 20 show finish at $7000 claiming level came at the mile-and-1/16 distance, but she was able to sustain her lead by open lengths in her 2 previous victories at regular mile. (5) LADY LAKESHORE gains class relief and moves to London’s winningest post for pacers; late speed specialist does her best work on or near the front end, so expecting her to chase Eataampullthechute in the early going. (2) STONEBRIDGE DRAMA drew post #7 and trailed throughout most of her Jan. 17 start; strong closer gets better shot from this post position, especially if top 2 choices go to war throughout mile.
Race 6 – (2) HIDDEN POTENTIAL has been forwardly-placed in some fast miles at London, but loses ground late against deeper company; his late speed could still be effective if he stalks leaders at this level/distance. (5) THE REGULATOR is also down in class, and needs better racing luck than in previous starts; trailing post #9 on Jan. 17 didn’t give him much opportunity to pursue front-end winning favourite Kenny Joe. (9) ROUGH TRADE is a good closer who was too far back to do damage Jan. 17; class drop and driver change from Scott Coulter to Scott Wray inspire confidence. (3) SILKY CAM was second at same distance for Alfie Carroll Jan. 20, stalking leaders and springing in the stretch; Sylvain Lecaille is back in sulky tonight. (6) KENDAL FRESCO has 2 recent tries at the mile-and-1/16; he improved his result with closing effort in both races, and looks to round out the Hi-5.
Race 7 – (8) VICTORIAHASASECRET is a classy closer who looks likely to put away pacesetters like Camco Bailey and/or Mac N Caps, even from trailing post; explosive 3-wide bid from back of field last Friday resulted in show finish. (3) MAC N CAPS is up in class but deserves respect for his front-end success in last 3 races; strong recent form. (2) BLESSINGINDISGUISE was the trailer Jan. 17, behind the instantly-offstride #2 Secretly Flashy; Marc St. Louis Jr.’s mare was fifth on the outside and tiring by the ¾, a situation unlikely to repeat itself from her best post yet at The Raceway, in identical class as last outing.
Race 8 – (5) GIA DIAMOND finished second by a neck to Friends To The End last Friday, charging home in a sharp 29.4; steady improvement since Rideau Carleton arrival suggests she will even the score tonight. (6) TOBINS TERROR was third behind a victorious Friends To The End Jan. 17, flying home in 30.1 from post #7; a smaller field of 6 instead of 8 mares means less traffic to navigate, especially in the stretch. (2) FRIENDS TO THE END is a recent winner on the lead AND from off the pace at this level; strong form, yet vulnerable to aggressive closers like Gia Diamond and Tobins Terror.
Race 9 – (2) EAGLE SCOUT’s front-end trip produced a solid place finish to longshot closer Carmens Fluke last Friday; moving to post #2 from #6 makes him even more appealing now. (5) ALL OUT HENRY has been a beaten favourite in 3 consecutive starts; adds Travis Henry as catch driver here, so the switch may evoke better than his tepid fourth-place effort against this group last week. (8) POSSIBLE CREDIT gets the trailing spot on move down classification ladder; frequent show finisher appears inclined to follow the leaders to similar result here.
Race 10 – (6) MOMARA is owned/trained/driven by Jonathan Lapointe and shows improved finishes week after week at Flamboro this month; extra distance a question mark for mare arriving with good form. (9) MACH SHARK has gotten better with each of her last 3 starts, 2 of which were added-distance events; second for Marc St. Louis Jr. at mile Jan. 17, she’s a trailer here and needs to find position early. (1) PLAY WITH PASSION enjoys class relief and beneficial draw; closing effort has not been effective in recent races, so using with caution. (3) MISS OHIO frequently finishes in show spot or vicinity; in same class and post as previous show result Dec. 13, although added distance an added factor here. (5) ZINFANDART mixed it up with Ideal Toy Jan. 17, doing no favours for either, St. Louis-piloted mare; the fifth-place finish in added-distance event makes her logical to include in 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 a whopping $1.60.
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