Best Bet – (3) BET ON BLAKE – Race 6
Spot Play – (1) OUTLAWGRABBINGEARS – Race 9
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,4,6/1,3/1,2,6/2,3/1,4,9 = $21.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 1,2,6/2,3/1,4,9/3 = $3.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 2,4/1,2/2,4,8/2 = $2.40
Race 1 – (4) NOTAWORD N raced well vs. better at Mohawk Park last time and he gets the nod in a good race to kick off the 20-cent Pick 5. (6) POPLAR ARTIE steps up but he paced a huge back 1/2 while winning last week and he might offer a good price here; using. (1) MACHAHOLIC showed high early speed vs. a good field at Mohawk Park last time and he is an obvious contender starting from the rail here.
Race 2 – (1) NORTHERN TAILWIND is enigmatic because he is obviously best at this level but he has recurring breaking issues. It makes sense to use a Pick 5 backup horse here in addition to this gelding and that would be (3) UNFINISHEDBUSINESS. The latter won in this class last time and is the obvious alternative. (2) YOUCOULDBETHATGIRL is likely to sit a good following trip and land in the Tri or Super.
Race 3 – (2) CONBOYVILLE likely needed his comeback race at Mohawk Park and the winner of that race came right back to take another victory last night. I’ll give him the nod here in a race where he could get a great setup. (6) PEMBROOK LEGACY N has been on a roll and he should be the one to catch again here. (1) BIG JOURNEY faces tougher here but he has the chance to work out a great trip starting from the inside and I’ll use him on my Pick 5 ticket.
Race 4 – (3) HELLO CHIPPER drops back down to the $8,500 claiming level where she performs best and I’ll give her a slight nod in this spot. (2) LA MAGIC is a must-use for me because he could get an identical perfect trip that led to a win last week. (1) TOUCHDOWN AS has improving form and I can see him working his way into the Tri again.
Race 5 – (4) STORMY HALL GB sticks out here off his last start when he set big fractions at Mohawk Park and almost lasted. He should be tough in here. (9) DUBAI SEELSTER comes in off a nice effort where he produced a strong late brush and he could be the one to fend off late. (1) MOXLEY was an easy winner at this level two starts back and he projects to get a pocket trip following the choice and that makes him a threat.
Race 6 – (3) BET ON BLAKE takes a big drop in company here and I’ll be surprised if Mackenzie doesn’t send him right down the road in this spot. (5) FLASH TOTHE FINISH can leave fast and he has a good chance of completing the Exacta. (1) BRIGHTSIDE KELVIN is worth a look on debut as it wouldn’t take much for him the land in the Tri. (9) TRADITION will be passing horses again and he could better this placing if he gets a decent trip. (6) SLICK N SPORTY often takes shares and he should work his way into this High-5.
Race 7 – (4) TWILITE ZONE flashed big early speed vs. tougher last time and he might wire these on the class drop; top call. (6) DINNER AT THE MET recaptured some of his former class last time and registered a blowout win. He should be dangerous right back. (2) ATEYATEFNGRSLOUIE is always in the mix for a share and he should get another good trip racing near the front.
Race 8 – (2) LETS GET PICKLED finds a nice spot here making his third start back and he should get put into this race earlier; top call. (4) YOUCANIKNOW is also in a better spot here and he should wake up with an improved effort; using. (1) JAKE LOEWEN takes a class drop on paper but the top two choices are going to be hard to get past; using underneath.
Race 9 – (1) OUTLAWGRABBINGEARS is right there every week and he has been unlucky to not win one in this class. Maybe the rail post gets him over the hump here. (2) TOOT TOOT N will likely cut the mile and he could end up being a perfect target for the choice but he is a threat here. (5) JAY EYE EM is improving but, in this spot, I see him landing on the bottom of the Tri or Super.
Race 10 – (4) VAGUE TRACES has been facing tougher than these in New York and he should have a solid chance of beating this group. (8) PREMIER JOY A should get aggressive on the class drop here and if he clears to the front he could be gone. (2) FASHIONONTHEBEACH is typically close at this level and he is another option for the late Pick 4 ticket.
Race 11 – This is what should be an easy spot for (2) EASY LOVER HANOVER assuming all is okay with him and you’d think Drury is sending him in this spot. He gets the nod. (6) ALI gets a slightly better post making his second start back and he can be a threat here from the outset. (9) PRESTIGE SEELSTER is right there every week but he lands in the second tier so I’d proceed with caution because he is likely to be forced to take the overland route this time. (7) PAPARAZZI HANOVER classes up well here but from a wide post I’ll use him underneath. (1) CARSONS SHADOW figures to take a small slice leaving from the best post.
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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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