Best Bet – (1) NATES BUCKY – Race 9
Spot Play – (9) MR JOHN – Race 1
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,9/5,8/1,3,4,6,7/4,5/1,5,6,9 = $32.00
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 1,3,4,6,7/4,5/1,5,6,9/6,7 = $16.00
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 5,8/1/1,2,5/2,6,9 = $3.60
Race 1 – (9) MR JOHN only cost $6,000 at auction but that price may have been a bargain judging by his latest sharp qualifier at Mohawk Park. I’ll give him the nod to get the job done at first asking. (1) CHUCK HEATON LOVE battled gamely to take an unpredictable win at huge odds but now he draws best and he should be the one to catch. (2) SOUTHPAW HANOVER will do better if he stays flat this time but he has already failed a few times as the odds-on favorite so I’ll play to beat him in this spot.
Race 2 – (8) NOTAWORD N is no doubt the fastest in here and if Coulter can orchestrate a decent trip from the outside of the gate, he should be tough to beat in this spot. (5) BIG JOURNEY raced huge uncovered on the rim here last week, no doubt relishing the class and post relief and he is in with a decent chance to repeat. (2) HEART ON MY SLEEVE just missed last time but the top two choices here are likely tougher than the ones he faced then; demand a price.
Race 3 – (3) OUTLAWGRABBINGEARS gets needed post relief here and he could upset these if he can work out a good trip; slight nod. (7) SPORTSLINE is the obvious threat having just faced the swift Beaumond Hanover recently and he is hard to leave off Pick 4 and Pick 5 tickets. (1) TOOT TOOT N could get the same perfect trip he got to win one class level lower last week and that makes him dangerous.
Race 4 – This is a much easier spot for (4) BETTOR CAT and you have to think that he will be motivated to blast off the gate tonight; top call. (5) WHITE HAIR ROCKS should fare better moving inside three posts here and picking up Cullen and he is on my multi-race tickets. (2) BEARLY A SECRET’s most recent start from the 9-hole wasn’t bad now he draws much better; pocket rocket at big odds?
Race 5 – (5) LAST MACH paced a huge mile parked the route and pressing all the way in London and the winner needed a textbook perfect trip to get by him. He looks good vs. these. (1) DRAGON TEEN is likely to try to blast and secure the pocket early and that gives him a chance tonight; using. (6) TRADITION comes off a nice closing effort and he matches up well vs. these from a speed perspective. He is another feasible option.
Race 6 – (7) NORTHERN TAILWIND made a wide move that he couldn’t sustain vs. better but that could be a hint that a top performance is coming vs. claimers this week and I’ll give him the nod despite his wide post. (6) WRAP AND A HOOEY should be able to clear to the front again here and that’s when he does his best work. He’s on my Pick 4 ticket. (4) ALONA comes off a nice winning effort vs. open claimers but she is hard to trust considering her frequent gait issues; your call but I’d demand a price. (5) MASSIVE POTENTIAL’s good gate speed puts her in the exotics mix but I prefer to use her underneath in this spot. (2) TUXEDO should take a good following trip here and stick around to land in the High-5.
Race 7 – (7) SHADOW PHANTASY N gets his nose back on the gate here making his third local start and maybe Cullen sends him this time? I’ll go price shopping with him and give him the nod over (1) MOXLEY who is the obvious one to catch from the rail. (9) POPLAR ARTIE needed every inch of a perfect trip to get past Moxley last time. A repeat of that journey is unlikely so I’ll use him underneath.
Race 8 – (8) NOSPORTPUNINTENDED is on a roll that isn’t likely going to be stopped by drawing the 8-hole in this spot. (5) CYCLONE JOE raced against some tough ones last time at Mohawk Park. He should be an Exacta factor vs. these. (2) D GS SHALLWEDANCE was no match for the choice last time when finishing 2nd. Another small share likely is his ceiling again tonight.
Race 9 – (1) NATES BUCKY throttled tougher on Thursday night at Mohawk when he was claimed and its hard to imagine him losing here from the rail. (2) RUDE BOY could land in the pocket here and follow the choice around the track to provide some Exacta value. (5) TYLERS BEACH BOY is worth a look for the exotics racing off the Shepherd claim.
Race 10 – (5) JAY EYE EM drops a level and gets Cullen back. I see him sailing by these in the lane. (1) CARSONS SHADOW has been facing some salty company at Mohawk Park and drawing the rail sure won’t hurt here. He’s hard to leave off Pick 4 tickets. (2) CHOCOLATE SWIRL hasn’t drawn inside since 9/14 and he should be a speed threat here.
Race 11 – (6) D GS DE VITO showed some late interest vs. better, now he makes his second start back in four months and he gets to face easier. I think Kelly will be more aggressive early this time and he gets the nod. (9) ABOUT A BOY also get to drop here and he should be heard from this week; using in the late Pick 4. (2) J J POWERBALL was best of the rest behind a romping winner last time. He should work out a decent trip and take a share here. (8) JAKE LEOWEN might have been rated higher had he drawn better. From out there he is likely to finish on the edges. (1) CASEYS DRAGON should be good for at least a small slice here starting from the rail.
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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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