Best Bet – (5) PRETTY HANDSOME – Race 11
Spot Play – (1) MAINTENANCE MAN – Race 3
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 3,5,6/3,4/1,3,5/3,7/1,2,9 = $21.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 1,3,5/3,7/1,2,9/2,5 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 2,3,5/4,5,6/7,9/4,5 = $7.20
Race 1 – (3) CURIOUS CORTEZ made a nice wide move around the final turn at London last time but there was no catching the winner. He can get a better start here and he is in with a good chance in the opener. (5) STRONG ENOUGH N has been right there in his past five starts and he raced tough on the engine to win his most recent start. He should be a strong contender tonight. (6) CHARLIES DRAGON is an interesting shipper who goes into a barn that can move one up. His winning effort two starts back would likely win this race if he can replicate that effort tonight.
Race 2 – Positioning is critical for (3) BRODYS SCRAPPER and moving inside three post positions should be a big benefit for him. He gets the nod here. (4) SPORTSLINE was flying late last week but he was never close enough to threaten the winner. He will take plenty of action here and with good reason moving to a much better post. (6) CHAMPAGNE PHIL is on a roll but it gets tougher here with him drawing widest; demand a price.
Race 3 – (1) MAINTENANCE MAN comes in off a couple off a couple of solid qualifiers and it looks like the lead is his for the taking early. He might lead these all the way. (5) ABOUT A BOY drops again and he should get put into play early here. He should be a big threat and he’s hard to leave off early multi-race tickets. (3) LIFE IS BETTER is showing improvement with Coulter in the bike and he is another possibility here.
Race 4 – (3) RED HOT TORCH got on a roll in London and he looks best vs. this group, too. A threepeat looms. (7) WINDSONG OPHELIA has been very consistent with Mackenzie in the bike and she is worth a look here even starting from an outside post. (4) ALONA got rolling a bit too late last week. She should be in the mix again this week.
Race 5 – (1) SHADOW PHANTASY N has drawn poorly in all three starts at this track and he fared decently in each of those races. From the rail he should get an aggressive Cullen steer here and he gets the nod. (2) LAST MACH blew away a weaker group last time but the way he did it suggests he could double up in this spot; using. (9) DUBAI SEELSTER was good in the Autumn Series in London and he should get away well following the choice here; using underneath.
Race 6 – Not much went right for (2) MR JOHN in his debut and starting with his nose on the gate might be what he needs; slight nod in a tough race. (5) BRIGHTSIDE MELVIN’s October 30th qualifying effort identifies him as a contender here and I’ll use him in the early Pick 4. (1) THERUBBERDUCKIE could go better here starting from the rail and he is worth using on the bottom of Tris and Supers. (4) SOMEWHERENTUSCANY has finished in the top 5 in both starts and he should be part of this Hi-5. (3) FONZIE CHACHARELLI picks up top driver Coulter here and he can take a share if he stays flat.
Race 7 – (7) LODI DORIAN BLUES qualified well with Coulter in the bike and with him sticking to drive here I’ll give this gelding the call to upset. (8) WINGS OF BALLYKEEL comes off a poor effort but she was claimed by Shepherd on that occasion so she could move up sharply in this spot; using. (3) THOR SEELSTER has taken shares in his past two and with that improving form, I’ll use him underneath.
Race 8 – (3) PEMBROOK LEGACY N returns to Flamboro coming off a dominating win vs. a decent Preferred 3 field at London and I’ll give him the nod here. (5) NOSPORTPUNINTENDED gets needed post relief here and it would be no surprise if he returns to his winning ways tonight. (2) D GS SHALLWEDANCE is right there every week and starting from an inside post he is hard to leave off the late Pick 4 ticket.
Race 9 – This is a much easier spot for (4) WORKING CLASS HERO and he will be tough to beat if he is over his bout of sickness. (5) TYLERS BEACH BOY raced tough on the rim last week and he is likely to get another aggressive steer here; using. (6) RACING FOR SPACE has shown that he is capable of a big rally and he is another one to consider for late Pick 4 bets.
Race 10 – (7) HUNTER HILL exits a much tougher race and he may get sent to the front and never look back here. (9) CAPITANO ITALIANO produced one of his better efforts in a while last week and he is worth a look here off that improved performance. (2) ROCK N BO can get a piece of this starting from an inside post.
Race 11 – (5) PRETTY HANDSOME holds a big class edge here and he should be tough to beat in this spot if he gets a reasonable trip. (4) PREMIER JOY A can get a better start here and he might be a pocket rocket in the lane; using. (2) JAY EYE EM moving inside should help him get involved earlier and he should be in the exotics mix. (9) SIR PUGSLEY fits well here but he is likely to be too far back early to do better than take a small share. (3) PRESTIGE SEELSTER is always around the money and he could better this placing if he gets a good trip.
*
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.
More Tips from the Pros