Best Bet – (7) UNABATING – Race 3
Spot Play – (7) TRIM THE SAILS – Race 10
Race 1 – (2) A LA MODE SEELSTER is sure to be put into action early by St Louis who regularly stacks wins at this track and she gets the nod in a wide-open race. (6) BEACH MOMENT defeated the choice handily at Kawartha and she is the one to beat. (7) WASAGA should improve at this level and she could boost the payout on the Tri.
Race 2 – (6) VALIDUS DEO is on a roll and he can take a lot of air and keep coming. A threepeat looms. (4) ROOTIN TOOTIN fits much better facing these after shipping in from Mohawk Park and he should be an Exacta factor. (3) COOL ROCK should be closing again for a share as he does frequently.
Race 3 – (7) UNABATING is winning races by open lengths every week and that streak should continue here. (4) MUSCLES APLENTY – 2nd to the choice last week – can complete the Exacta again. (5) JOONER is in good form and he should be closing for another share vs. these.
Race 4 – (3) SHAKEITIFYOUGOTIT likely squandered a win when she broke stride last week. If she can stay flat, she likely wins here. (5) P L NANCY came on to get the win after the choice broke and she should be a contender again here. (4) TEARINGUPTHECREDIT gets post relief which means she should be closer early; using underneath.
Race 5 – (3) HEZA HANDY MAN should get a perfect setup for his good late kick here and he gets the nod. (9) MYINSIDEVOICE is on a roll, but there are other leavers to contend with in this race and I’d demand a price. (8) ZEKE THE FREAK improved last week, and he can take a slice here again.
Race 6 – (1) ZORGWIJK TECOMA was picked off by (6) ROYAL VISTA who sat a perfect trip last week. These two will likely battle it out for the win again. (3) HOT FUDGE SUNDAE is sure gaited and rarely misses the board; using underneath.
Race 7 – (4) P L NELLY ships in off a good effort at Georgian Downs and gets St Louis to drive; down the road. (2) BIG CITY NEWS was no match for a blowout winner who then came back a day later to win at Leamington. He should be an Exacta factor here. (3) ANDROID SEELSTER – with six thirds already this year – is a good one to use on the bottom of the Tri.
Race 8 – (3) VILLAGE CHAMP had broken equipment, broke stride yet still won last week. He gets the call to notch the threepeat. (6) RIOT was a game 2nd to the choice, and he should be a threat again. (8) KEVNDAN FRAUDSTERS comes off a blowout win here but he loses the leading driver to one that has only 13 drives and one win so far this year, so I’ll use him underneath.
Race 9 – In a race with no standout, I will give (6) CAL HANOVER the nod on the driver change to St Louis. (5) FAMILY SPORTS has yet to finish in the Exacta this year, but he stacks up well in this field and he should be heard from. (1) ARTYS WISH comes in off his best race in several weeks and he is a contender, but I wouldn’t take a short price on him or any of these.
Race 10 – (7) TRIM THE SAILS gets a notable driver change here and she could take these on a merry chase. (2) ASBRAVEASMYMOMMA exits a tough race at Clinton where she didn’t fare poorly. She should be an exotics factor here. (5) VINTAGE SMILE races best at this level and she is another who is in with a good chance.
Race 11 – The way (1) P L NOTORIOUS qualified for her new trainer Clements makes me think she is going right down the road here. (3) SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET faces easier and she is an obvious threat leaving from a good post. (4) THE LOAN RANGER exits a very fast race and he picks up the leading driver. He is not out of this.
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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 five years. He is also the current President of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
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