Best Bet – (2) STORMY HALL GB – Race 2
Spot Play – (1) TAKE THE DEAL – Race 7
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 3,4,5/2/1,4,6,7,8/1,7/5,8 = $12.00
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 1,4,6,7,8/1,7/5,8/4,6 = $8.00
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 1,2,4/1,9/1,2/2,6,7 = $7.20
Race 1 – (3) SOMEWHERENTUSCANY – a winner here at this level two starts back – gets a notable driver change tonight and he gets the nod vs. this suspect group. (5) MACHED UP tried an ill-advised quarter pole move to the front and the big favorite rebuffed him then paced on to a huge win. This should be an easier spot and he merits close consideration for the Pick 5. (4) JUST PLAIN NEEDY is only 1 for 16 but his recent form is good enough to contend vs. these; using.
Race 2 – (2) STORMY HALL GB couldn’t last vs. tougher at Mohawk Park, but this is a much better spot for him and he should be hard to get past tonight. (1) SHOOTING STRAIGHT has a good chance to land in the pocket here and he could add some value to the exotics. (9) TOJENNIFERSCREDIT has improving form and I can see him making it onto the Tri ticket here.
Race 3 – (7) LYONS VENTURESOME is bred well enough to be able to handle this group if he is raced aggressively at first asking and he goes for a barn that had a nice year in 2020; price play. (6) BELIEVE IN BRIAN had an impossible trip at Mohawk Park and he was still only beaten five lengths. He should improve sharply in this spot. (8) HARPERS HAT TRICK goes for a high percentage barn coming in off a decent qualifier and he is another to consider in a wide-open race.
Race 4 – (1) GAUDI KIR’s Mohawk Park form should make him tough to beat from the rail, but don’t expect much of a price. (7) CAPTAIN RAY picks up a catch driver here coming off two nice efforts and if there is going to be an upsetter, he will likely be the one. (4) NOTYOURTYPICALMAN picked up Sorrie and he beat easier but that was a good effort from the worst post; using underneath.
Race 5 – (8) NIGHT WATCHMAN’s current form doesn’t set the heart racing, but this is a mighty class drop and if he blasts and clears to the front, he will likely be gone. (5) TASTE OF HISTORY gets Cullen for this second try at this track and I expect him to improve here; using. (3) DOWN ON MY LUCK isn’t out of place here and he should get a better trip, but at press time the trainer – who has five drives with a 0-0-1 record this year – was listed to drive. Check for driver changes on this one.
Race 6 – (6) IDEAL JET is the class of this field and he is sure to be looking to go down the road and take a confidence-building win; top call. (4) REVOLVER N can sit another good trip here and he could be a pocket rocket coming down the lane; top call. (1) PRESTIGE SEELSTER exits a good race at London and he should work out a good following trip to take a share. (9) ALI is another who can land in the top five early and I see him finishing in the bottom of the High-5. (2) D GS DE VITO fits better here but his lack of gate speed hurts him; small share predicted.
Race 7 – (1) TAKE THE DEAL gets class and post relief and he picks up Coulter. He should be a big threat to wire this field. (3) HUNTER HILL tried it first up last week to no avail. I can see him landing in the choice’s pocket here and that makes him an Exacta factor. (5) SILVER BEAST was nailed by the pocket sitter last time. He may not be allowed to clear here. I’ll play to beat him.
Race 8 – (1) CYCLONE JOE was a predictable winner last week and while he steps up in class here, he could work out a similar trip and his price will be better; call to upset. (2) ABOUT A BOY was right there at this level in a fast race and he should be a threat tonight. (4) TOOT TOOT N should get a quicker start here which should facilitate a better result; using underneath.
Race 9 – (1) ALWAYS N THE MONEY has drawn poorly forever. He is sure to try to take advantage of getting the rail post tonight and he gets my nod. (9) BAROSSA BLUE GENES should follow the choice out at the start and his form is too good to ignore; using. (8) RACING FOR SPACE comes off a sharp win and he has a strong record this year but he will need some racing luck tonight starting from out there; small share predicted.
Race 10 – (1) PRINCE ADAIR raced decently from the 8-hole last week now he draws best and he can work out the winning trip never leaving the pylons. (2) ARCANE SEELSTER should be the one to catch but he might end up being the perfect target for the choice. (3) NOSPORTPUNINTENDED wants the front but the top two choices will likely force him into the three-hole early. A smaller share is likely this week.
Race 11 – (2) BL SUPER SALLY was lights out last week facing open claimers and she gets the call to repeat in this conditioned claimer. (6) WORTHYOURATTENTION should contend if she doesn’t break this week and I’ll use her in the late Pick 4. (7) RED HOT TORCH is another that comes off a break in stride and I can see him hitting the board if he minds his manners this week. (1) WALK THE PLANK makes sense to use in the High-5 starting from the rail and picking up driver Boyd. (4) NORTHERN TAILWIND was probably overbet last week when he broke stride. He can land in the High-5 tonight if he stays trotting.
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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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