Best Bet – (4) – EATAAMS ELLIE – Race 9
Spot Play – (5) – APRIL BANDIT -- Race 10
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3 –2,5,6/1,4/2,3,5,8/5,9 = $9.60
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 7 – 3,7/6,8/4,8/1,5,6 = $4.80
Race 1 – (5) PETRO CHROME surprised few on his pari-mutuel 2020 comeback last Friday, going gate to wire as hard favourite; 2019 OSS Grassrooter has few similarly-seasoned rivals in this group. (7) CHILI N TOAST outperformed long odds Jan. 31, closing strongly to finish second to winner Petro Chrome; outside draw seems only question mark tonight. (1) DONT YOU FOOL ME makes London debut in second lifetime pari-mutuel race for owner/trainer/driver Danny O’Brian; inside post and ability to get around a half-mile track play in his favour.
Race 2 – (6) SUPER T did not hit board in previous start from post #6, but prevailed over Warrawee Usain in added-distance event Jan. 31; Travis Henry has engineered both front end and off the pace victories with winningest trotter in this field, so he remains top choice here. (5) RED HOT TORCH has lived up to his name in recent Flamboro starts, notably trotting to gate-to-wire win on the class jump Feb. 1; he is the fastest winner on a half in this group, and as versatile as Super T, so exactor box seems best idea here. (2) POSSIBLE CREDIT lands a helpful inside post, and not as a trailer this week; reliable closer is frequent show finisher and should follow top 2 to complete Triactor tonight.
Race 3 – (5) KINDA LIKE HER disappointed as beaten favourite against similar company Jan. 31, ending up third to Friends To The End and Gia Diamond as she tired after three-wide move; she draws best post position for pacers in her second consecutive London start at same level, so expecting better. (2) YNOTHOS romped in the slop against $7000 claimers Jan. 24; tends to turn in excellent results after returning from tougher competition at Woodbine Mohawk Park for owner/trainer/driver Preston Shaw. (6) FRIENDS TO THE END is on form spree that makes her impossible to leave out of ticket, even from post #6, from which she closed for place Jan. 3 against $8500 claimers; unlikely to get away on front end without a battle tonight, as Ynothos, Braonach, Topville Cheetah, and Play With Passion are all contenders to challenge for early position.
Race 4 – (1) WHAT CAN I SAY dominated for driver Colin Kelly in Preferred-3 victory Dec. 26, also from post #1; while third in this class last Friday for Scott Coulter, he could be dangerous on the lead here, as fast-closing rival Hldontghttoyurdrms lands tougher post #7. (4) NEBRASKA JACK is another class-dropper, and a winner from this post position at The Raceway Dec. 10 for Scott Young; beaten favourite in narrow loss to Oceanview Deb last start should close strongly again for Marc St. Louis Jr. (5) AVATAR SEELSTER has gotten better every start this year, closing overland for fourth in this class Jan. 31; solid 30.1 final quarter last race for regular pilot Garrett Rooney.
Race 5 – (2) SHIPPEN OUT closed for fifth at mile and 1/16 and higher level Jan. 27, but that start looked like it would yield better result for recent Preferred-3 pacer; broken equipment hampered this beaten favourite in that race, so tonight should be better. (5) CRUISE CAPTAIN is back from Woodbine Mohawk Park to the scene of his last victory, a gate-to-wire effort from post #5 against lower level Jan. 13; counting on Austin Sorrie to put the recently-Lasix-added blueblood into early position. (8) OFFICER JONES was edged out as beaten favourite at similar level and same post Jan. 31; strong closer.
Race 6 – (9) MACH SHARK has 3 attempts at mile and 1/16 in her last 5 races; she faded late at mile for Marc St. Louis Jr. Jan. 31, but that was on basis of parked-out trip. (5) SHOW ME SOME MAGIC faced $15000 claimers at Flamboro 4 starts back; driver change to Robert Shepherd tonight could ignite better effort from mare with fastest miles in listed lines. (4) MISS OHIO was third at same distance in slop Jan. 24; dependable show finisher tired after three-wide bid Jan. 31, but there is no Dream Ball here to run away with the race. (3) IDEAL SPACE was seventh in 2 tries at extra distance for Tyler Borth; she has not drawn an inside post in recent starts, so post #3 should allow her a breather and a shot at stronger finish. (6) SPORTSCRAZY finished fifth at same distance/classification Jan. 1, then fifth again at mile in most recent; winless in 2019, she could improve in her third start following recent reintroduction of hobbles. (7) VICTORIOUS VALLE was a judges scratch at extra distance Jan. 17, so she remains untested at mile and 1/16 this year; her 30.2 final quarter in last start could make her a factor in late stages that matter at this distance, although post iffy.
Race 7 – (3) JAYPORT HI CLASS has closed strongly for trainer/driver Greg Dustin in every recent race and is well positioned for another good effort despite class jump. (7) H A HOUSTON returns to mile distance against lower-level group, albeit from outside post; lacks the late kick demonstrated by Jayport Hi Class but should be in the ticket at this level. (5) SETTING DAY continues to perplex her followers, finishing third in last 2 starts but putting in none of the eye-catching moves that accompanied her early Ontario races.
Race 8 – (8) STONEBRIDGE DRAMA is winningest mare of lifetime and 2019 in this field, and lands same trailing position as Jan. 31; her overland effort at added distance faded late on that occasion, but she won in front-end fashion for Tyler Borth Jan. 21, her previous start at usual mile. (6) LADY LAKESHORE was beaten favourite in London $7000 claiming company Jan. 24; powerful closer has had limited success crossing over from outer post positions, but her late speed makes her tough to leave out with class relief tonight. (4) SMILE IN STYLE returns from Ohio adventure on 5/8-mile tracks; back on her favoured half-mile dimension and with Marc St. Louis Jr. aboard.
Race 9 – (4) EATAAMS ELLIE was scratched at Western Fair when this column last picked her to win, but she emerged with show finish at mile and 1/16 Jan. 28; class relief plus a good closing effort last race make her top choice here. (8) THRILLOGY likes to leave and lead, although she tends to lose ground late; back to mile distance from trailing post. (2) ARTICLE ANNIE has not hit board at higher level so far in 2020; catch driver Robert Shepherd, post #2, and class drop suggest a better result tonight for frequent show-finisher.
Race 10 – (5) APRIL BANDIT was added-distance winner Jan. 8; joins forces with Colin Kelly for what could be typical off-the-pace effort. (6) BAD NIGHT MARE was second to Braonach at the mile on Jan. 31; added distance could help her catch leader/s tonight in her third recent Raceway start at lower level.(1) IDEAL TOY stands a strong chance of being pacesetter pursued by Bad Night Mare here; inside draw advantageous for mare who won at mile and 1/16 for Marc St. Louis Jr. Dec. 13, but was caught late and finished third at same distance in Jan. 17 attempt. (2) MOLLIE Z TAM finished fourth at mile and 1/16 Jan. 17; second-quickest final panel at added distance (37.1) in current lines, behind only April Bandit (36.3). (4) SHANIAS IMAGE lands catch driver Nat Day in first start after Flamboro arrival; fast mare likes to race near front, but questions remain about carrying speed this distance at London.
Photo by John Watkins
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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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