Best Bet – (2) SHES A COMEDIAN – Race 2
Spot Play – (1) STONEBRIDGE STING – Race 9
Race 1 – (2) SHADOW WARRIOR had a useful prep for the first leg of this stakes series, and the two-time winner should be tough from an inside post here. (3) WILLINGNESS showed good speed last week here, and last year’s leading driver Borth takes the return call; Exacta factor. (1) CIMERON PAT needs to drop a few seconds, but I can see him taking a share in his debut starting from the best post.
Race 2 – (1) SHES A COMEDIAN should be very tough to beat off her Hoosier and Mohawk lines, but don’t expect much of a price. (2) PLEASING PINK raced decently in Ohio, and she figures to grab the pocket at the outset and try to outpace the choice late. (4) I DUNNO was sharp in victory in his debut at Kawartha but these are tougher and I’ll use him on the bottom.
Race 3 – (5) YNOTHOS made up a lot of ground last week at Hiawatha Horse Park, and she can get the job done here if she gets a slightly quicker start. (4) SHAKEITIFYOUGOTIT will likely be the one to catch judging by the speed she showed in her qualifier on 6/15 at Mohawk Park. (6) ROSELLA has the speed to get position from her wide post and she should be part of the Tri.
Race 4 – (2) MISS SINFONIA will likely be hard to beat here, drawing well again coming off a big win at this track last weekend. (3) CATCHME IF LOU CAN will take heavy action based on his final times in Ohio, but he is still only 1 for 24 lifetime and I wouldn’t take a short price. (4) CANT THINK displayed big speed in her qualifier and she should contend, but I wonder if she will get leg weary late in the mile.
Race 5 – (3) WILLIAM ROSS’ 1:58 mile paced in Sarnia last week kind of stands out and if he behaves, he should be tough to beat. (1) CHAPPY DAYS looks faster now, and drawing the rail and driver Borth won’t hurt; Exacta factor. (5) THE WITCHES BREW never saw the pylons in her qualifier, but she stayed game. She isn’t out of this, and you know St Louis will put her into the race.
Race 6 – (6) CULLEN KEEFE N meets a field he should beat, and with a reasonable trip I expect to see him in the winner's circle. (4) FOR KEVINS SAKE raced okay here last week, and he should be a threat again racing from close range. (7) KISS IT BETTER can pass a few of these in the back 1/2; using on the bottom.
Race 7 – (5) AJKNIGHT faces easier than he was in London when racing stopped, and he will be tough here if he is ready to roll. (1) LIL MEMORIES raced tough uncovered on the rim here last week. He’s the main danger. (4) SEE THE DELIGHT should be in the mix again racing from close range. Consider her for Exacta and Tri bets.
Race 8 - (2) BYE BYE DADDY is a win machine that is hard to go against. She is now looking to double up after notching win #14 in her past 38 starts here last week. (3) BLISSFULLANNMARIE has the speed to go with these, and she should get an aggressive steer from St Louis; Exacta factor. Veteran (8) IDEAL SPACE should pass some of these in the back 1/2. Consider using her on the bottom of the Tri.
Race 9 – (1) STONEBRIDGE STING does his best work on the front end, and the driver change to Piroski likely means that he is looking to go right down the road today. (5) ZOOM BAYAMA made a nice wide move in the back 1/2 last week, and if he is closer to the leaders today, he might swoop past them all. (6) CANTCOUNTMEOUT is sure to get put into play early by St Louis, and that makes him a contender here, but I prefer to use him on the bottom.
Race 10 – This shapes up to be one of the better races of the afternoon and I’ll side with (8) EATAAMS SPORTSBABY to catch the speed and notch the upset. (3) FRONTIER SEELSTER is likely to make a big speed attempt again this week, and he should be the one to catch. (4) MACK THE KNIFE exits a fast race, and the winner has already come back to repeat at Grand River. He is another live option in a contentious dash.
Race 11 – (2) EATAAMSBETTERSHARK is likely to try to bottom out this field, and he should be hard to catch in this spot. (3) A POSITIVE HANOVER is in great form, and he is likely the one that the choice will be looking to fend off late. (7) STYLE SNAPSHOT took this class last week, but she has her work cut out today leaving from the worst post; small share predicted.
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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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