Best Bet – (1) TYLERS BEACH BOY – Race 5
Spot Play – (8) ROYAL SHIP – Race 8
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,2/1,2,6/2,3/1,2,3,4/1 = $9.60
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 6: 3,4/2,6,7/2,4,8/1,2,5/2,3,7 = $32.40
20-Cent Early Pick 4 Race 4: 1,2,3,4/1/3,4/2,6,7 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 Race 8: 2,4,8/1,2,5/2,3,7/1,8 = $10.80
Race 1 – (1) EATAAMSBETTERSHARK gets McClure who is in town for the charity Drivers Challenge and drawing the rail gives him a big shot to wire this field; top call in the opener. (2) GEORGES CREDIT should be leaving with the choice and he should be no worse than second at the 1/4; using. (7) LAND OF ROYALTY is worth a look for the exotics dropping into a claimer and picking up Henry to drive.
Race 2 – (6) STONEBRIDE DRAMA dropped and popped now she gets McClure and she should be tough if she can clear to the front from her wide post. (1) WHOZYOMOMMA faces easier from the rail which makes her worth a look for the early Pick 5; using. (2) OK JEWEL’s first try at this track was good and starting from a good post makes her a contender in this spot.
Race 3 – (3) DINNER AT THE MET drops and picks up Henry which makes him a big threat to go down the road in this spot. (2) TOMITTA BAYAMA with Roy in the bike and starting from the inside is another who is sure to be leaving here and he looks like the main danger. (7) CAL HANOVER is on a roll and he won from this post two starts back. He may find one or both of the choices too tough; using underneath.
Race 4 – (3) MISSTWINKLINSJONES drops to a likely spot and I expect an aggressive drive here. She is very tough to pass when she clears to the front. (4) MACH SHARK gets off the 7-hole and gets St Louis back. Notice he won with her three starts back from the worst post; using. 106-time winner (1) RUSTYS FLYING is hard to leave out anytime and especially not when she draws the rail. She can rebound here if she stays pacing this time.
Race 5 – (1) TYLERS BEACH BOY goes for a high percentage barn racing off the claim and he should be tough to beat as he leaves from the best post. (4) FIGHTYOUROBSESSION improved last time and he should flash early speed again here; Exacta factor. (7) CANTCOUNTMEOUT can move up with Roy in this spot and he could beef up the High-5 payout. (5) EINHORN moved up last time and that race was from the worst post. He should be a factor tonight. (2) SHARK OUTTA WATER picks up McNair who is likely to put him in position to land in the High-5.
Race 6 – (4) MALL PEEN HAMMER is one of the hottest horses on the grounds and picking up Henry here won’t hurt; top call. (3) MO BETTOR is usually in the thick of the battle when he draws well and Roy should put him into this race early; using. (2) SPORTSLOVER should get a more aggressive steer with Wray in the bike and I see him landing in the Tri.
Race 7 – This is one of the tougher races on this card. I’m looking for a horse from an inside post to notch an upset and I’ll take a swing with (2) WORKING CLASS HERO, hoping that St Louis can wake him up. (6) JACKSON K DOWN comes off an improved effort and picks up Roy but from post 6 I’d demand a price in the win pool. (7) TAILS AWAY has early speed and Henry and that makes him dangerous even from Post 7.
Race 8 – Another tough race; I’ll side with (8) ROYAL SHIP who gets a massive driver change to Roy here. (2) LEAFS AND WINGS raced aggressively last time and he may be tough to catch if he gets pointed to the front here; using. (4) HIDDEN POTENTIAL likely needed his last start coming off a lame scratch and he is another in with a shot here.
Race 9 – (2) BYE BYE DADDY is on a roll and starting from an inside post she is likely to clear to the front quickly here; a threepeat looms. (5) IDEAL SPACE gets out of the second tier after two straight starts from the 8-hole and she is worth a price look here. (1) MOLLIE Z TAM gets Henry and the rail and she should be heard from late in this mile; using.
Race 10 – (3) BOOMBOOM BALLYKEEL lands in a good spot here and he picks up McClure. He should be gunning for the front and I see him as tough to beat in this spot. (2) A POSITIVE HANOVER’s race two starts back puts him in the mix here if he can replicate that effort; using. (7) FERN HILL BREEZE rolled to a big win when he shipped in from Mohawk Park and he isn’t out of this.
Race 11 – (1) MR MACH JIMMY was a winner last time he dropped from the Preferred 3 class and he should be tough here leaving from the rail. (8) HUNGER PANGS has been good recently and McNair will likely have him following the choice. That makes him a threat and he is on my late Pick 4 ticket. (7) MONTY MONO is hard to toss coming in off a huge win when claimed but from post 7 I’d demand a price. (6) EXCALIBER SEELSTER seems to fit decently here and he can land a spot in this High-5. (2) DEVILS PEAK figures to come on late again to take a slice.
Photo by John Watkins
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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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