Best Bet – (1) GALTERIO HANOVER – Race 10
Spot Play – (3) ESCAPE – Race 4
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,5,7/2,6/1,4,9/3,7/2 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 1,2/3,4/3,6/2/1 = $1.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3: 1,4,9/3,7/2/1,2 = $2.40
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 7: 3,4/3,6/2/1 = $0.80
Race 1 — Tough race to kick off the early Pick 5. (1) TREASURES PIRATE might be able to blast to the front and take these all the way on the lead. I’ll give him a slight nod. (5) GROOGRUX KING has won five times this year and his rivals only show seven wins combined. He should contend vs. this group. (7) JOEYS KIDD fits well vs. this group, but from post 7 I wouldn’t take a short price.
Race 2 — (2) R U TALKIN was a winner last time he drew inside, and getting post relief tonight should make him tough in this spot; top call. The horse that won the race that (6) TAHUYA BREW exits has already come back to jog. This gelding rates highly in this field; using. (5) A BETTER MAN should be a speed threat here and stick around for a share.
Race 3 — (4) DEJA VU SEELSTER raced okay vs. better in each Mohawk start, and she could get a pace battle to chase tonight; slight nod. (9) LADY TO WATCH has won four out the last five times that Henry has driven her but the second-tier post adds a degree of difficulty tonight. She might make an early move looking for the lead. (1) WHISKEY TO WINE is sharp and dangerous, and she is hard to leave off multi-race tickets.
Race 4 — (3) ESCAPE adds Lasix for this and Cullen makes an interesting driver choice over the #8 horse. I’ll give this one the nod. (7) SHIFTING VIEWS took all the money at the windows last week and then went right down the road. He has to be considered off that form reversal. (8) BILLY BAYAMA is worth a look for a share on the class drop and adding Lasix.
Race 5 — (2) STREAKAZANA is spotted against easier here by trainer Auciello, and she should be tough vs. these; top call. (4) WOODMERE ROLLILY had no excuse last week, she was just picked off by a sharp (8) LADIES FROM HELL. These two might be racing for 2nd if the choice brings her best effort tonight. (1) TAURIEL should be good for a share starting from the inside. (3) DREAM ALL NIGHT hasn’t missed a cheque in her past six starts. She should be part of the High-5.
Race 6 — (2) TEETER dominated at this level here two starts back and he will have to be caught here. (1) PRESS TIME comes off a good try in a fast race, and he will likely be racing in the choice’s pocket; using. (4) HIGH FLYIN JAMIE should pass a few of these late and take a slice.
Race 7 — (3) O NARUTAC PERFETTO was devastating winning at London last week, and he gets the call to repeat off that mile. (4) ESQUIRE has been racing great at this track, and he is the one to fear. (2) WILD AND CRAZY GUY looks next best and I can see him rounding out the Tri.
Race 8 — (3) NOTETOSELF HANOVER was a strong first-over winner here last week and, drawing well again tonight, he gets the call to repeat. (6) EVASIVE CARD SHARK maintained his strong form when 2nd to the choice, and he should be the main threat tonight. (5) OLD BUCK is worth a look for the exotics racing off the fresh claim.
Race 9 — (2) SECRETS LADY was an easy winner last time she raced in a class this low, and she should be the one to catch here facing much easier tonight. (3) CELIA BAYAMA gets Cullen following a failed first-over effort vs. similar, and she should be an Exacta factor tonight. (1) SHADOW DREAMER can pass a few of these and land in the bottom of the Tri.
Race 10 — (1) GALTERIO HANOVER tipped his hand two starts back with a strong effort, then he followed that up with a dominant win from the 7-hole. He will be tough to beat here from the rail. (2) JOE ROCKHEAD raced much better when facing the choice last week, and he can sit the pocket tonight and complete the Exacta. (3) RICOTTABEKIDDINME rallied for 2nd last week but he would need to find a better effort to challenge the choice; using underneath. (8) ALLY FLIGHT stays in the second-tier post due to an early scratch, and he could sneak into the High-5 off a following trip. (5) BETTORS JET RAY can pass a couple of these and round out the High-5.
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Garnet Barnsdale is a veteran handicapper, bettor and racing writer, who has worked as an analyst for DRF Harness for the past six years. He is also a past president of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
Photo by John Watkins
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