Best Bet – (1) PROHIBITION LEGAL – Race 2
Spot Play – (1) JACKSON STORM – Race 10
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,5,6/1/2,3,6/4,5/1,2,4,8 = $14.40
20-Cent Pick 4 – Race 10 – 1,3/5/4,6/1,3,4,7 = $3.20
Race 1- (1) WINX impressed here beating Grassroots rivals in her debut by unleashing a huge late kick. She steps up into the Gold division but draws best, and she gets my nod. (5) SILVER LABEL is another who impressed on debut easily handling Grassroots rivals. She’s on my Pick 5 ticket. (6) I LOVE ONGAIT was beaten only by a resilient filly who just kept coming on the outside on July 2nd at Mohawk Park, and she is hard to toss here.
Race 2 – (1) PROHIBITION LEGAL was outstanding winning her debut, and she should be very tough to beat here from the rail. She’s a Pick 5 single for me. (3) SPEAKER NANCY clearly looks next best, and she should complete a chalky Exacta. (5) STONEBRIDGE THALIA has been a bit one-paced late in her two starts, but she can take a slice here.
Race 3 – (2) BETTER DOUBLE FLIP was only third best on July 2nd at Mohawk Park, but she closed well and might have been behind the two best fillies in the division. She is well-spotted to take her first Gold win tonight. (3) DEWITT FOR JOSIE looked sharp beating Grassroots foes in her debut and driver Roy looks like he had some options here and chose her; using. (6) SPEAK YOUR MIND is the only Gold winner in here, but she faces tougher tonight and is no lock; demand a price.
Race 4 – (5) GLASS NICKEL is a 1/2-brother to a couple of good racehorses, and this looks like a good spot for his debut. He should be tough if he stays flat. (4) MASS ABRAKADABRA raced much better when she dropped down to this class level last time, and she is the main threat here. (7) CHICO MODERNO is improving but he could get too far back again after starting from an outside post; using underneath.
Race 5 – (1) SHOOTING STRAIGHT has got closer in each of his three starts this year, and tonight he gets a huge driver change to McNair. This could be the value horse in the $1,500 Guaranteed Pick 5. (2) SAULSBROOK KAISEN fits better at this track and in this class, and he could be the one to catch tonight. (8) BLUE MONK comes off a solid effort and he’s hard to toss, even from the widest post. (4) HOLD THUMBS N should get a more conservative steer this time, and I see him closing for at least a share. (7) RIOT is a good one to use in the 4th and 5th slots of the High-5.
Race 6 –
(5) ARCH HALL has been in tough recently and has fared decently. In this easier spot, I expect an aggressive Macdonald steer; top call. (6) ARCHIES STAR is on a roll but this is a bit tougher spot. Be careful not to take too short of a price here. (2) TYMAL RIGGS is capable at this level but he loses driver Young; your call.
Race 7 – (5) STILETTO BLUE CHIP has no secret strategy. She will go to the front, go as fast as she can for as far as she can and hope to take the sting out of her rivals. She will have to be caught. (3) LADY TO WATCH is racing great, and I don’t think the step up is significant here; Exacta factor. (7) BLACK BETTY can close late for another small share.
Race 8 – (2) BIG RICH faces tougher here, but from an inside post he could lead these all the way and double up. (3) WILD AND CRAZY GUY should be the main danger on the class drop. I see these two fighting it out down the lane for the win. (4) LINCOLN TUNNEL raced well here when finishing 2nd to a big chalk, and he should be good for another share tonight.
Race 9 – (9) ROCKETING fits well here, and he has the speed to overcome the outside draw. Getting post 9 will only help boost his price today; top call. (2) WHEELING IN CASH comes in off a sharp win at this level, and he is the one to beat from his inside post. (3) WHOLE NINE YARDS has some talent and he can be part of the Tri if he stays flat today.
Race 10 – (1) JACKSON STORM didn’t have the greatest trips in his first two starts now he draws the rail and gets Henry in the bike; call to upset. (3) TITAN M UP is sharp and he draws well here. He should be the one to catch. (5) RUN LIKE HILL has the speed to contend with these if he stays flat this week; using underneath.
Race 11 – (5) WOODMERE ROLLILY races off the Moreau claim and gets J Mac in the bike here. She could prove tough to catch. (6) SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET made a nice late charge last time when she finished ahead of the choice, and she can be an Exacta factor here. (7) ASKMYSECRETARY is worth a look for the Tri and Super shipping in from Mohawk Park.
Race 12 – (4) ROSE RUN VIGILANT is in much easier here, and she should get an aggressive steer from Plante in this spot. She gets the nod over (6) RHYTHM SEELSTER who got shuffled out of contention last week and should be a speed threat tonight. (2) PUTNAMS FIRE looks solid on paper but she doesn’t win often. I’ll use her underneath.
Race 13 – (1) EXEMPLAR just beat a decent field at Mohawk Park, and Sorrie should be aggressive starting from the inside; top call. (4) ESQUIRE raced big to win here last week, and he is a Pick-4 must-use for me. (3) SERENITY CRUISE just missed last week, and he should get a nice setup for his late kick here; using. (7) CHARMBO PRINCE gets class relief here but no favors in the post draw; using underneath. (2) ARRAKIS should be good for a share off an inside following trip.
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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.
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