Best Bet – (3) NO TIME AT ALL – Race 2
Spot Play – (1) SHADOW OF LINDY – Race 6
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,2,3,4,6/3/4,6/1.4/3,5 = $8.00
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 4,6/1,4/3,5/1,5,9 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 1/5,6,7/1,2,7/3,4,6 = $5.40
Race 1 – (6) SUNSHINE LOU endured a long trip as the favorite last week in London but that recent racing action should bode well for him and he could bounce back at a price in this spot. I’ll give him the nod. (1) MOXLEY is the obvious threat with his potent gate speed and drawing the rail. He’s hard to leave off Pick 4 tickets. (2) TOJENNIFERSCREDIT shows races three and four starts back that make him competitive tonight and this is a much better spot for him. He is another possibility in a race with several options.
Race 2 – (3) NO TIME AT ALL lands in a good spot and if he can clear early, he will be tough to overhaul. (2) OLD BUCK is another quick leaver that has a good post and he should be the main threat to the choice. (1) HERCULE J M might decide to hang everyone out in this short field. There is a good chance that whoever wins the early battle for the front will win the war.
Race 3 – (4) EPIC PROPORTION seems to find a good spot here and he should be tough to beat if he gets a reasonable trip. (6) MACHED UP paced a big winning mile on the rim in London last week and although he faces tougher here, he should be heard from. (3) NELSONEDDY HANOVER can improve in this spot at a price. Consider using him in your Tri and Super bets.
Race 4 – (1) MODERN WRITER has a recency edge on his rivals here and that start last week was a huge winning effort; call to repeat. (4) ROCK AND TWIST may have needed that start last week and he can be a speed threat and an Exacta factor here. (3) DADDY DEVITO can take a lot of air and he figures for at least a share tonight.
Race 5 – (5) RIDE THE WIND made front from the worst post in London then set contested fractions all the way before tiring late in a good effort. She gets the nod here. (3) MA REBELLE is sneaky in here moving inside off what should be a good tightener and she’s on my multi-race tickets as a possible value option. (2) KIWI FOCUS N should sit a good trip racing close to the front and she should be part of the Tri.
Race 6 – (1) SHADOW OF LINDY had a productive 2020 although he was off form at the end of the year. I can see Sorrie tripping him out at a big price from the rail and I’ll go price shopping here in a race with no standout. (9) HEAVENLY SOUND is in an obvious easier spot but how low of a price will you take with him starting from the second tier? (5) MALL COP got a much-needed pari-mutuel start last week – his first since last October – and he could sneak into the exotics at a price here. (2) LYONS MUSIC should get away close to the leaders and stick around for a share. (6) FREDDY BEAR figures to improve on the class drop but from an outer post I prefer to use him underneath.
Race 7 – (4) ZACK TO THE MAX produced a wicked late move to win at London last week and his barn has come out firing off the break. He faces tougher here moving into the top class, but his price should justify taking a swing. (3) VEYRON was in solid form when racing stopped and Harris is a good partner for him. I’ll use him in this Exacta. (5) WILLYORWONTHE is always tough on the B tracks when he is on his game and he should be heard from in this spot. He is another possibility in a race with many options.
Race 8 – (1) EXIT SMILING faces considerably easier and draws best tonight. It’s hard to see him getting beat in this spot. (2) BIG MACH N is another who should like this company and Cullen will put him into play early; Exacta factor. (5) G A SPEED SAMMY is the other class dropper, but he is at a post disadvantage. I’ll use him on the bottom.
Race 9 – (7) FLUFF ME UP rates highly in this field the only question being the outer post. I’ll give him a slight nod. (6) OCEANVIEW DEB fits well here but she might be trying to pass them all considering she isn’t usually a quick leaver. I’d demand a price. (5) DOMINUM DEO almost blew up the tote board at London last week. He should be a speed threat at the very least tonight.
Race 10 – Winter-raced (1) PRESTIGE SEELSTER should hold a fitness advantage here to go along with drawing the coveted rail. I see him going right down the road. (7) NIGHT WATCHMAN is unbeaten at Flamboro Downs and while post is his enemy, he would be worth a swing if he gets overlooked. (2) BRODYS SCRAPPER should be close early and parlay that trip into a spot on the board.
Race 11 – (3) JACKSON K DOWN comes off a decent effort over the London surface last week and drawing well here he should get an aggressive steer; top call. (6) TICO TIME has a similar profile and he should be the main threat to the choice; using. (4) MISTER J R couldn’t convert from the rail last week and while he is a threat, I wouldn’t take a short price. (5) MASTER SMILE regularly takes small shares and he is a good one to use in the lower rungs of the High-5. (1) JULIO LAUXMONT should be good for a small share starting from the inside.
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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