Best Bet – (1) MORAMAPPO – Race 2
Spot Play – (5) LINCOLN BOULEVARD – Race 9
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1 – 2,4,8/1/1,7,8/1,2,6/1,5,7 = $16.20
20-Cent Pick 4 – Race 7 – 1,4,8/1,6/1,5,8/1 = $3.60
Race 1- This is a tough race to kick off the $2,500 Guaranteed Pick 5. I’ll side with two-time winner (4) SHADOW OFDAWN ZAZZ who seems to fit well and should get an aggressive steer from pilot Colin Kelly. (8) MACHING MARY is winless but she appears to have enough speed for these and I’ll toss her on my Pick 5 ticket. (2) ONE DRINK AGO shows decent gate speed and that puts him in the picture here; using.
Race 2 – (1) MORAMAPPO qualified decently for this, and you have to think that Sorrie will be blasting and using rail control to try to go right down the road vs. these. She gets the nod. (3) WATT MACHS ME WIN is another who qualified nicely over this track, and is another with speed that is likely to use it to get position early in the mile. She is in with a shot here. (5) QUEENOFHEARTS is likely to be overbet in this race, a spot where the draw did her no favours. She can win, but I wouldn’t accept a short price.
Race 3 – (1) WINGS OF BALLYKEEL should have an edge here having raced in Buffalo to stay sharp and drawing the best post. She will have to be caught. (8) LMC MASS OAK could get a golden tow here if the choice leaves hard as expected and, on that angle, I will include him in the Pick 5. (7) WING SUIT looks like one of the best ones in here but post 7 is very tough to overcome at this track. Demand a price.
Race 4 – Despite drawing wide, it looks like (6) AZALEA SEELSTER can clear to the front, and if she does, she should be able to close out a win against these. (1) MACH MINE BLUE has done well in $7K claimers, and she’s hard to leave out from the rail. (2) TOP OF THE MORNING was in tougher at Flamboro, and he is another that merits a close look for Pick 5 bets.
Race 5 – (7) ST LADS BEAT IT has been on fire in recent qualifiers, and he should be able to overcome post 7 vs. this group. (5) MAXIMUS POWER was facing better when last seen at London, and he should be a strong factor here. (1) EASY FLYER was in solid form when racing shut down and from the rail here, he is another in with a good chance.
Race 6 –
(2) ILOVEWHATIDO qualified sharply for this, and Kelly is sure to send him forward leaving the gate in this spot. He gets the nod. (5) NOTETOSELF HANOVER was facing tougher in claiming handicaps at Flamboro Downs. He should contend here despite drawing outside. (1) REDHOT N SPORTY should get a spot near the front early and ride a good trip to a spot in the Tri.
Race 7 – (8) HAVARTIWON was good in her Grand River debut last summer, and her 28 3/5 kicker in her qualifier says she’s ready; top call. (1) CENTURY HARLOT should be tough starting from the inside, but she also might provide perfect cover for the choice. She is hard to leave off Pick 4 tickets. (4) CARSONS GOUDA raced big in defeat in her second start. Give her a look for the Pick 4.
Race 8 – (1) HARD ROCK was reaching peak form when racing stopped. In a field with little apparent gate speed, Richardson may try to wire these; top call. (6) EAS IDEAL is one of the horses that does show flashes of early speed and it makes sense to use him in the Pick 4. (2) ROUGH TRADE will take action at the windows, and he is capable in this spot, but he is often slow leaving the gate and for that reason I’d demand a price before plunging.
Race 9 – (5) LINCOLN BOULEVARD faces much easier today and aggressive teamster Harris should be looking to send him right down the road. (1) MS MEAGHAN SPARKEL should be blasting early judging by the speed she showed in her two qualifiers and she can be a threat racing from close range. (8) BETCHULOVEME is sure to get bet off her fast qualifying times but I’m not sure the second tier is great for her. I’ll play to beat her in this spot.
Race 10 – (1) QUICK NICK qualified decently against a very good colt and if he minds his manners here, he can lead these all the way. (4) SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET wins one in every five starts and this is a good spot for her. She could take her first victory of 2021 if the choice falters. (5) GEORGES CREDIT is another who should like the company in this short field, but from an outer post I’ll use him underneath.
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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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