Best Bet – (5) BETTER DAYS AHEAD – Race 2
Spot Play – (7) MADAME DOLCE – Race 4
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 4,6,8/5/2,3,4/2,7/1,2 = $7.20
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 2,3,4/2,7/1,2/1,9 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 6,7/4,5/1,3/1,3,9 = $4.80
Race 1 – (4) HOORAY FRANCKE was a winner at this level three starts back and his good early speed will put him in contention immediately in this race. He gets the nod facing a weak group. (8) DEALIN MAGIC’s Flamboro form qualifies him as a contender and I like that he picks up Coulter tonight; using. (6) STORMONT WEDDING should be a factor if she stays trotting this week and she is another to consider for Pick 5 tickets.
Race 2 – (5) BETTER DAYS AHEAD was razor-sharp in victory last week and if she produces a similar effort here, she will be hard to beat. (3) COUNT T0 THREE was closing in at the wire last time but she ran out of racetrack. She can threaten here. (4) BETTE MITTLER was second to the choice last week and she can contend again here for a share.
Race 3 – (2) ROYAL PEACH gets major post relief here after getting hung the mile last time and she should be a big threat to go right down the road. (3) ANN JACKSON is back in a spot where she fits much better and she should have the choice in her sights when they turn for home; using. (4) ETERNAL JEWEL is hard to leave out considering she has by far the fastest recent mile but she is 2 for 27 lifetime. What price would you accept?
Race 4 – (7) MADAM DOLCE tried in vain to chase down a tough leader last week and that mare has already come back to win; top call. (2) CATCHAFEWRAYS lands in a claimer for the first time and she should improve tonight. I’ll use her in the Pick 5. (3) SHARK IDEA fits better here but she stopped badly last time now she missed a week; your call.
Race 5 – (2) SOMETHING ROYAL raced decently in two straight vs. better now she drops and gets a great post. She should be tough in here. (1) TOBINS CHOICE picks up hot driver Sorrie and she draws the best post here. She is in with an upset chance tonight. (5) VINTAGE SMILE comes off a nice front end score but she may not be able to clear tonight so I’ll play to beat her.
Race 6 – (9) LAVECS MUSCLE GIRL came too late last week as the 3 to 5 favorite and she can make amends here if she can get an alert start from the second tier. (1) HOMETOWN BOYZ faces easier and draws best and if he is ever going to wake up, this is the spot. (2) ATALANTA EXPRESS should be a threat with Sorrie and a good post but I prefer to use her underneath. (3) INCREDIBLE HALLY hasn’t missed a cheque in the past six starts and she should be part of this High-5. (4) KADS KISS should pass some rivals late here to take a slice.
Race 7 – This seems like a good spot for (2) SCOTTISH MACH and she faces one or two that might be overbet in this spot which should help inflate her price; call to upset. (1) JAZZ gets into her easiest race yet since shipping west from Quebec, but she is no lock. I wouldn’t take odds-on which she might very well close at. (3) RETICENT HANOVER gets post relief for her second attempt at this class level and she is another who could take this if she gets a good trip.
Race 8 – (6) AUSSIE LOVER paid a ridiculously good price last week when he shipped in from Mohawk Park and facing similar here, he gets the call to repeat. (7) MISSYS MAGIC MAN got hammered down to 1 to 9 in that race and came up short. He should be the main danger. (2) GO WITH HER has only missed the board once all year and she should be part of the Tri.
Race 9 – (5) LADY TO WATCH comes in off a sharp win and she faces several win-shy types here; call to repeat. (4) TWIN B DREAM GIRL raced great hung the mile vs. a winner who has run off a big streak of wins at London. She rates highly here tonight. (1) PATWEARSTHEPANTS is stuck on a single lifetime win but she often gets bet. I’ll use her on the bottom.
Race 10 – (3) BIG DIAMOND handled most of these last week and I see her taking a third straight front end win here. (1) TRANSENDANCE is capable of blasting and sitting a nice trip. She could be a pocket rocket down the lane. (2) LYONS SWEETJEN gets post relief tonight and she should be close to the front early and ride a following trip to a share.
Race 11 – (3) MONTY MONO lands in a good spot here after getting claimed out of a Mohawk Park race and I expect an aggressive steer from Plante. (9) REACH FOR INFINITY comes in off a big win but it’s hard to predict his trip considering his second tier post. If he can get put into the race by the time they reach the 1/2, he should be right there. (1) BAD BOY SPROXY can make another late rush to land in the Tri. (6) LONEWOLF CURRIER showed some signs of improving form in his last race and he should make it into the High-5. (7) BR ROYAL BOOM is always around the money. He’s hard to leave out of the High-5.
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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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