Best Bet – (3) ALEXA BLUE CHIP – Race 3
Spot Play – (1) P L OSCAR - Race 6
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,4/2,3/3,6/1,5/ 1,2,3 = $9.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 3,6/1,5/1,2,3/1,3 = $4.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7: 3,4,6/2,4/2,4,7/1,3 = $7.20
Race 1 – I don’t typically land on horses that have missed more that three weeks action, but, if (4) WILLY WALTON brings anything close to his best race his rivals here will likely be racing for 2nd. (1) APOSTLE PETER is the other obvious contender shipping in from Mohawk Park and driver JR Plante is having a good meet so far and driving very aggressively. (7) INCREDIBLE HALLY is in contention every week but starting from a wide post tonight, she is best used underneath.
Race 2 – (3) DESTINY CRUISE gets Plante to drive here which likely means an aggressive approach will be taken. She could lead these every step. (2) CRYSTAL DRAGON should be the other leaver in this field and she is the second one that I’ll use in leg 2 of the early Pick 5. (4) TAYDERTOTZZ couldn’t make any headway racing first up last week but, in this field, she should be good for at least a share.
Race 3 – (3) ALEXA BLUE CHIP lands in a great spot for an all-out speed try and she picks up reinsman Kelly who is as good as any with front enders at this track; top call. (6) TITANS DREAM has some obvious talent but his frequent gait issues make him a risky proposition. I wouldn’t take a short price here. (1) HOORAY FRANCKE couldn’t seal the deal last week after stealing a 1:03 flat opening 1/2. I’ll use him on the bottom this week.
Race 4 – (1) TRAGICALLY HEP seems to be rounding into form and getting the rail tonight she should be leaving much quicker. I’ll give her the nod. (5) RETICENT HANOVER obviously faces easier and she should be the main danger. (6) BETTER JOY can’t seem to get that elusive second win, but she is in the mix every week and she should be part of the Tri or Super.
Race 5 – (1) CANTSTOPTHEFEELIN was right there in three straight races from outside posts now she draws best and you have to think that Sorrie will go on the attack early in this short field; top call. (2) SAULSBROOK FLASHY has shown flashes of sharp gate speed and she should be a threat here from the outset. (3) RECKLESS FOOL faces easier here but she goes from a catch driver to the trainer in the bike; your call.
Race 6 – (1) P L OSCAR powered home in 59 flat while racing uncovered on the rim last week to win in an impressive effort and he gets the call to repeat. (3) TANZANITE TRIXX showed speed vs. much tougher at Mohawk Park on March 1st and she figures to be the main danger here; using. (7) MASS ABRAKADABRA, 4th as favorite to the choice last week, can improve here making her second start back and be part of the Tri. (5) STORMONT WEDDING finished 3rd to the choice last week and she is likely to get position early here and ride it to another share. (4) DARLING PLEASE can sit a nice following trip and round out the High-5.
Race 7 – (3) CREDIT SKILL beat similar here in December and he will be tough if he can clear to the front early vs. this group. (6) STONEBRIDGE NITRO comes off a win also against similar and she should be in the mix from the outset here. (4) SEBASTIAN RAY is good enough to beat these if he can stay on stride but that is always a bit of a question mark whenever he lines up behind the gate. Demand a price here.
Race 8 – (2) BIG DIAMOND has post advantage on her main rival (4) IN THE NEWS who beat her by 1/2 a length last time they met in December. The latter is razor-sharp and no doubt will be firing off the gate again tonight. She is the one to beat. (1) SAVEMEDASPORTSPAGE figures to get a much better trip here after leaving from the rail and she has an upset chance tonight.
Race 9 – (2) SICARIO hasn’t won in a while but he is always the one to catch and he may carry his speed further here in his third start back; slight nod. (4) OLE JACK MAGIC passed the choice late in the mile last week and he should be a threat again; using. (7) TYMAL HOUDINI finished right behind the top two choices last week and despite drawing wide he is in with a chance here.
Race 10 – (3) HER OWN LAND got hot driver Plante last week and he sent her right down the road. She has a good chance at notching a repeat tonight. (1) EATAAMS PRINCESS has come back sharp and from the rail tonight she should be a threat. (2) MA REBELLE was put into play last week and she fared better than she has been. Another aggressive approach is likely from an inside post tonight. She should be part of the Tri. (5) ASBRAVEASMYMOMMA gets slight post relief here and she should pass a few of these to make it into the High-5. (7) DRY CREEK IMAGE comes off a nice win but from a wide post I’ll play to beat her in this spot.
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 six years. He is a past President of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
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