Best Bet – (1) ENCHANTED MISSION – Race 1
Spot Play – (4) FERN HILL BELLA – Race 8
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 1/1,5,7/2,4,5/1,3,6/2,4 = $10.80
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 2,4,5/1,3,6/2,4/5,7,9 = $10.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7: 5,7/2,4/1,5/1,2,4,5 = $6.40
Race 1 – (1) ENCHANTED MISSION and rider Cuthbertson were easy winners in sharp time on 10/23 at London. Can you single a horse in a Racing Under Saddle race? I can. (3) WAIKIKI HANOVER was 2nd in that mile and he should contend again. (4) TALBOT EH PLUS interestingly goes right into a RUS race off the claim and I’ll use her in the Tri.
Race 2 – (7) SPORTJET RAY was impressive last time and off that sharp mile she may repeat here despite drawing a wide post. (5) BLACKREEK ROSEBUD is always dangerous but note that she got beat by the choice on 10/31. (1) SOMETHING ROYAL is the other one coming off a win that should be in the mix here and I’ll use her in this Pick 5.
Race 3 – (2) JOANI TREELANE gets major class relief and she draws well here. She should have a big chance in this spot. (4) MILLWAY MAGIC is developing a habit of finishing 2nd, likely because her final quarters have been a little on the light side but in this field, she could break through. (5) DORSET BAY’s recent form is good enough to suggest he can be an exotics factor and Boyd should put him into play early; using underneath.
Race 4 – (3) TWO POCKETS showed a bit of late interest in her debut now she gets to face easier and she draws well; slight nod in a wide-open race. (6) HOORAY FRANCKE showed some speed at Mohawk Park and stopped but against this softer group that approach may work a lot better; using. (1) MASS AMOUNTOF WINE already won at this level two starts back and she will be a factor if she stays trotting here.
Race 5 – (2) FAST N RELENTLESS has a good chance of leading these from wire-to-wire dropping out of much tougher competition at Mohawk Park and she gets top call. (4) BETTOR MOVE OVER has some good races in open company and she is another who should benefit from the easier company here. (1) BETTE MITTLER should be in the mix early and hang around for a share.
Race 6 – (5) MAIDENS COVE and (9) EATAAMSACTIVEPANIC both exit a race where extremely fast fractions were set and they can both improve sharply in this spot. I’ll give the former the nod based on post position advantage. (7) LADY TO WATCH had a nightmarish trip last time. If she can find a spot near the front early, she could win here. (4) BETTER JOY inexplicably is the morning line choice while she carries a 0 for 33 lifetime record into the race. She is more likely to take a slice than her maiden win here. (2) ROLLWITHITJESSIE usually finishes on the edges and she is a good one to use on the bottom of the High-5 at a price.
Race 7 – (5) HALO ITS ME is back with her own kind here and she is sure to try to take control of this race early. She has a great shot of going down the road in this spot. (7) SORPRESE similarly faces much easier here and she should wake up with a better effort. I’ll use her in the late Pick 4. (6) XTATIC HANOVER raced against some tough ones in London and he should improve here but I prefer to use him underneath here.
Race 8 – (4) FERN HILL BELLA will be nowhere close to 8 to 1 as the morning line predicts because of the class drop from Mohawk Park claiming handicaps to this conditioned claimer and she gets my nod. (2) TOPSILL BEACH could get the exact same perfect trip as she got last week when she won and she is hard to leave out. (8) HIT BY A BUS is on a nice roll but she won’t win these forever. Will the 8-hole be the great equalizer here?
Race 9 – (5) TLF ROYAL LAKE should be able to clear these and when he does, he may never be headed. (1) LAVAL TITAN figures to leave hard and he has a good chance of securing a pocket trip tonight. That makes him dangerous. (4) ZAKARINA is stuck on one win but she’ll take some action here because she is shipping in from Mohawk Park. She isn’t out of this but I prefer to use her underneath.
Race 10 – (5) SIN FOR CREDIT went too fast too soon last week and she paid for it late in the mile. She should be a good price here and she gets my nod. (1) ACEFORTYFOURLADYDI can get a trip here and I wouldn’t be shocked if she was a pocket rocket in the lane; using. (2) KEMPENFELT is always right there but still stuck on one win; demand a price if you are betting her to win. (4) PATWEARSTHEPANTS comes off a very nice maiden win but she loses driver Coulter now. I have mixed feelings about this mare but that was a big mile. (9) GOTTA HAVE FAITH is a good one to use on the bottom in this race.
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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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