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Garnet Barnsdale’s Flamboro Downs Selections: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Bet Now > Tips from the Pros > Garnet Barnsdale’s Flamboro Downs Selections: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Garnet Barnsdale’s Flamboro Downs Selections: Wednesday, December 23, 2020

December 23, 2020
By Garnet Barnsdale
Garnet Barnsdale’s Flamboro Downs Selections: Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Best Bet – (5) DRY CREEK IMAGE – Race 4
Spot Play – (5) BUTTERMILK HANOVER – Race 10
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,3,6/6,7/1,3,6/5/1,5 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 1,5,9/3,5,7/2,4/6,7,8/5,6 = $21.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 4: 5/1,5/1,5,9/3,5,7 = $3.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 2/7,8/5,6/1,4,7,8 = $3.20

 
Race 1 – This race may end up being a trivia question answer being the first “Flamboro Downs at Mohawk Park” race in history. With that in mind, I’ll give the edge to the two horses in here that made their most recent starts at this track with the edge going to (6) SAM MCKEE HANOVER who might get sent right down the road. (3) DONTBLVMEJUSTWATCH is the other one who has been racing here and his start two back was quite good. He should be a threat this afternoon. (1) SUNSHINE LOU hasn’t missed the Exacta in five starts so he is hard to toss from Pick 5 consideration.
 
Race 2 – I see (6) MACHED UP and (7) QUINSFRISKYWHISKEY blasting off the gate here and taking the top two spots then controlling the race. I’ll give a slight nod to the former but use both in the Pick 5. (3) CATCHME IF LOU CAN will be overbet here as a “closer” that bettors think will benefit from the bigger track. He is a maiden facing winners and I’ll play to beat him.  
 
Race 3 – (3) BASTIANO has faced a steady diet of Preferred 2 company recently and he should be tough on this class drop; top call. (6) ZACK TO THE MAX has been on fire in the Moreau barn since being claimed on 11/19 and he should contend here despite facing tougher. (1) SIZZLEN HOT HERBIE should appreciate the class drop and move to the bigger Mohawk Park track and he is another to consider for multi-race tickets.  
 
Race 4 – Sorrie has (5) DRY CREEK IMAGE racing great right now and she gets top call here coming off a dominant first-over win. (2) W C KENZIE COOKIE has excellent tactical speed and that should serve her well in this race; using. (1) HER OWN LAND gets the inside post for her second try in this class and she should improve tonight; consider for early multi-race tickets.
 
Race 5 – (1) HONOR ABOVE ALL shows a lifetime mark at this track and getting a chance to race over it could wake him up in this spot; top call. (5) OCEANVIEW DEB is another who has shown an affinity for this track in the past and she could pop at a price today. (2) SAVINI – with one win and two seconds in 39 lifetime starts – is inexplicably the 5 to 2 morning line favorite. I’ll play to beat him.
 
Race 6 – (5) CASIMIR OVERDRIVE goes for trainer Shepherd off the claim and he picks up aggressive teamster Plante who has been hot lately. He could offer a good price and I’ll take a swing here. (9) GA SPEED GABY comes off a sharp win and he should be able to work out a good trip here; using. (1) BIG BOY FRAZIER is another contender that’s in excellent form who is in with a decent chance in this spot. (3) TWILITE ZONE has been good in his past three starts but he has fallen short each time; using underneath. (4) SIN CITY SHARK should be able to sit a good trip racing near the front and take a share.  
 
Race 7 – (5) REFI and (3) VEYRON both have 2020 season’s marks at this track and I won’t be surprised if they are fighting it out for the win down the lane here. Nod to the former who shows a Preferred 2 win two starts back. (7) IN SECRET is in sharp form and may appreciate the long stretch today. He would be no surprise in this spot.  
 
Race 8 – (2) BLOSSOM ONTHEBEACH was an easy winner last time she raced for a $8,500 tag and she should control this race. (4) EVAS BEST GIRL produced a nice late rally to win last week and she should be a threat and Exacta factor again. (1) FLYSANTANNA should sit a good trip here and come on for a small share.  
 
Race 9 – (7) THATS MIA BAD gets a switch to aggressive driver Sorrie and she should be firing off the gate. I like her chances in this spot. (8) BURN MY VILLA is another one in here that should be firing early and she’s the second one that I’ll use in the late Pick 4. (6) NO PANIC comes off an improved effort and she can take a slice here at a price.
 
Race 10 – (5) BUTTERMILK HANOVER is in top form now and she has a lifetime mark of 1:51 3/5 taken over this track. She should handle this group if she gets a reasonable trip. (6) YS TALLIA comes off a sharp effort and she is likely going to be the one to catch when they turn for home; using.  (4) SIGNIFICANCE has been flashing good early speed lately and she should be there off the gate then hang around for a slice.
 
Race 11 – (7) KIWI FOCUS N blazed around this oval in her better days and she comes off a win here. I’ll give her the nod in a spot where she might lead all the way again. (4) ASBRAVEASMYMOMMA was closing in last time but the wire came too fast. She might roll by them all coming down this longer stretch. (1) ROSELLA always get good position early and she figures to work out a nice trip racing on  or near the lead today. (8) BRAONACH should pass at least a few of these in the back 1/2 and she is another late Pick 4 possibility. (2) ELM GROVE LADYLUCK should sit a following trip and make it into the High-5.


Photo by John Watkins

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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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