Don't miss Ontario Racing UNFILTERED on CTV2, Saturday, March 30th at 8:00 PM EST. Whether you're a seasoned turf aficionado or new to the sport, prepare for an unforgettable experience. Get ready to be on the edge of your seat!

Mel Keith - Rideau Carleton Selections - 2022-06-09

News and Results > Top Racing Headlines > 2022 General > Mel Keith - Rideau Carleton Selections - 2022-06-09

Mel Keith - Rideau Carleton Selections - 2022-06-09

June 9, 2022
Free expert race picks for harness racing at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday, June 9th, from Mel Keith

BEST BET – (6) CAPTEUR DE REVE – Race 5
SPOT PLAY – (2) DUKE LAVICTOIRE – Race 9
20-cent Pick 5 – Race 6 – 1,2,5,9/3,5,6/4/2,3/5,8 = $9.60
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 2 – 1,5,6/4,5,7/1,4,5/6 = $5.40
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 4 – 1,4,5/6/1,2,5,9/3,5,6 = $7.20
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 7 – 3,5,6/4/2,3/4,5,8 = $3.60


Race 1 – (3) SALTY ROBYN N ‘s only 2022 victory came with class drop/move from claiming to conditioned ranks March 20; Stephane Brosseau was in the sulky that race; it was followed by a Rideau class jump and subsequent visit to Mohawk; post relief. Robert Shepherd timed the gate with (5) MIDNIGHT MOOD Sunday; first-over from fourth along the backside; no match for top pair but kept gaining; Jimmy Gagnon catch drives as Shepherd moves to (new) Vic Puddy stablemate #4 Bankroll this week. (1) NIGHT CLUB HANOVER looks like Samuel Fillion’s pick over the #2; class drop for second seasonal start; pocket ride Thursday; moved second-over from fourth on final turn; faded in stretch behind 1:52.4 winner.

Race 2 – (1) GEORGES CREDIT debuts for Mandy Archer/Guy Gagnon; that’s a strong angle (think recent miles by Flash Cube and Southwind Dredge); winless on anything but a half, his fastest clocking on a 5/8-mile track was 1:57.2 last July at Sarnia; new lifetime best from Flamboro rail in gate-to-wire style April 24. (5) ODDS ON WALKOVER took back early from post #7 Sunday; gapped second-last as Okie From Muskogee wired in third-quickest race of the card; gained ground impressively in field's-fastest 28.1 closing quarter; Pascal Berube stays loyal, even though he drove (6) SAULSBROOK VELVETA to her first three wins, including maiden victory here September 30, from post #7; front-end effort remains her lifetime-best mark; followed cover of Anchor So Reel from near-last at the half at Kawartha in latest; three-wide, mild closing bid.

Race 3 – Pascal Berube catch-driving (7) PERFECT DALIANCE for trainer Kathy McBride suggests class-dropping mare could be in for a big race; she was quickest off the gate in her May 5 Rideau victory; circled by 1/5 fave (4) SCARLETTS BIGBEACH, who jumped badly coming off second turn; beaten even-money fave did not hit board from post #7 Thursday; first-over in opening quarter, landing on lead ahead of 10/1 winner (5) WRITE ONE, who enjoyed perfect pocket ride for Stephane Pouliot; took new lifetime mark Thursday, going away.

Race 4 – Playing back (1) JK ELLEM ENOH, who was third-over from sixth enroute to three-quarters Thursday; dull cover; swung four-wide on final turn; gained ground late for show, behind mares who are in tonight’s race 3; late speed. (5) COCO BEACH DE VIE is recent 2-for-2 with Guy Gagnon; class hike from claiming level where she’s been most successful; beaten in higher-priced claiming company in May 12 Rideau debut for previous connections. (4) OUTRAGEOUS SONG won from this post two starts ago; left hard; pocket ride behind Cold Creek Lacey; tipped late; last week, she was slow to respond in stretch, but sprinted home behind “Coco”.

Race 5 – (6) CAPTEUR DE REVE picks up catch driver Samuel Fillion; strong front-end Rideau qualifier Sunday; back class; loves Rideau Carleton: won his first start here last July and wired October 10 Preferred Handicap trotters from tonight’s post for new lifetime mark; gate speed. (3) VITOR has #8-hole and sat last through most of mile Thursday; he got into outer flow near three-quarters; field’s-fastest (29.1) closing quarter, following cover of (2) CASCADA, who was sixth along pylons early; fast brush along backside to reach fourth at three-quarters, behind first-over Field Gunner; three-wide on last turn; ran out of racetrack.

Race 6 – (5) JS LOVETHEMLADIES has had tough recent draws, including a May 29 Rideau qualifier; gets winningest post for Ottawa pacers in pari-mutuel debut here; Guy Gagnon owns and trains gelding returning from Mohawk. Beaten 3/5 fave (9) FRANKY BOB moves from post #7 to second tier; few were expecting Dragon City’s 1:53.3 debut Thursday, which saw Stephane Brosseau’s gelding parked the entire mile. (2) SOME BETTORS DO settled into the loosest of pockets behind Dragon City last week; closed in sharp 28.3 for place, outsprinting (1) RED CAPE PARTY, who also closed in 28.3; ground-saving voyage behind Dragon City. (4) PENNYS NOIR finished fifth in both Rideau starts against males; third in distaff company two races ago; she had best post when facing fillies, so could be better than expected in return to mixed competition.


Race 7 – Strong closer (6) THE WHEEL was second-last at the half May 19; tipped three-wide, advancing third-over from sixth, near three-quarters for maiden victory; back in winnable post position after two tries from outside. (5) KENOGAMI REBEL prefers the front end; edged out Thursday after cutting mile; statistically-best post for Rideau trotters. (3) PACIFIC ROLL is one of two inexperienced Benoit Hebert trainees this race; possibly Guy Gagnon’s choice over the #1; now trotting hobbled; closed well for show in Sunday qualifier behind long-gone Capteur de Reve.

Race 8 – (4) SAULSBROOK RAPTOR led to the quickest opening quarter and half of Thursday’s ten races; stung at the wire by Premier Star, who capitalized on hot early fractions; Guy Gagnon stays loyal. Beaten even-money fave (5) SELF ISOLATION’s three wins were all for Ryan Guy, most recently at Kawartha; still seeking first victory at this level; first-up from fifth along backside Thursday; closed widest of all, from too far back; late speed. (3) PREMIER STAR paced field's-fastest (28.1) closing quarter to beat this race’s top-choice selection Thursday; Benoit Hebert trainee trailed until late, taking passing lane to victory in a new mark just shy of Canada’s seasonal best for her division on any ⅝-mile track.

Race 9 – (2) DUKE LAVICTOIRE was winningest and co-fastest of this field in 2021; strong on front end, although he showed off-the-pace versatility in Mohawk Harvest Series; impressively, beat multiple Rideau Preferred winner Capteur de Reve by 8 open lengths in their 2022 comeback qualifier. (3) UNDERCOVER STRIKE just missed Thursday, coming home in field’s co-fastest 28.2; stalked pacesetting even-money fave (5) FIX A DRINK; Raising Rusty collared both strides from the wire.

Race 10 – (8) RIPPED AND READY is credible from outside post; circled Gloire Dream before the opening quarter in latest win, May 26; never headed after making front; fastest Canadian mile of the year by a trotting stallion on this size track. (5) SEEYOU MEN’s consistency makes him a top-three must-use from winningest Rideau post for trotters; he’s only missed board when starting from outside post or (on one occasion) boxed in and outsprinted late; that was when (7) GLOIRE DREAM flew past for the win April 10; Richard Moreau’s veteran can handle overland trip better than most in this field. Beaten 4/5 fave (4) BLACK TIE BASH trailed all but early breaker Crossfit going to the half Thursday; followed cover of Seeyou Men from second-over fourth to three-quarters; ran out of racetrack charging three-wide down stretch. (2)
FREFREE DAILY ANALYSIS
 

More Top Racing Headlines