Best Bet – (2) FARROS REIGN – Race 5
Spot Play – (8) BUSH MAN N – Race 3
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,4/3,5/2,4,8/1/2 = $2.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 7: 1,2,3/1,4,6/2/1,2,3/1,2,3,9 = $21.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3: 2,4,8/1/2/2,3,4 = $1.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8: 1,4,6/2/1,2,3/1,2,3,9 = $7.20
Race 1 – (4) BLUE MONK ran away and hid in the first half on 3/7 then coasted home to win while tiring. A similar approach should work here. (1) NICOTIME should land in the pocket at the start and he is worth using in the Pick 5 because he should be laying closest to the choice if that one falters late. (8) THE YINGYANG is fast enough to get position leaving the gate and he can take a share.
Race 2 – (5) SAUBLE PLAY might be able to take control of this race at the start and if he can clear quickly, he should be tough dropping into this claimer; top call. (3) BANKROLL could fall into another perfect pocket trip here and if he does, he will be dangerous; using. (1) MIRAMICHI DAVID raced evenly when he stepped up to this class last time and although he draws well here, I’ll use him underneath.
Race 3 – (8) BUSH MAN N gets Jamieson here and he could blast and go right down the road despite drawing widest; top call. This is a good spot for (2) LEADER TONIGHT who is likely to blast and possibly sit a nice pocket trip and he is in with a decent chance. (4) CHAMPAGNE PHIL is likely to wake up and produce a better effort on the class drop and I’ll use him on multi-race tickets.
Race 4 – (1) BAD EYE BILL gets major post relief tonight and you have to think that Kelly will be looking to send him right down the road leaving from the rail. He’s a multi-race single for me. (6) FLASH TOTHE FINISH is the other obvious contender but he’s already had 15 tries to break his maiden. I’ll play to beat him tonight. (4) PERFECT ROLO fits okay here but he’s 0 for 48. Consider using him in the Tri or Super.
Race 5 – (2) FARROS REIGN wired the field as easily as expected when Jamieson took over last week and he somehow paid $7. A repeat win is likely but at a much smaller price this time. (3) JESSICAS BEACH BOY exits a fast race but with a 1 for 20 record he is likely to land in the Exacta or Tri again. (9) HES GOT A VENDETTA should be passing horses tonight if he stays flat; using underneath.
Race 6 – (2) NOTAWORD N lands in a cozy spot and owner/trainer/driver Plante will surely be pointing him to the front. He should be tough to beat in here. (4) OZZIE YOUNG has been racing well in London and I can see him passing horses to nail down 2nd late in this mile. (3) FRONTIER CRUISE woke up when he got post relief last week and he should get position early here and ride it to a spot in the High-5. (1) MAJOR ON THE BEACH is likely to ride the pylons and emerge late to take a share. (8) ATTHEBEACH HANOVER would be rated higher from an inside post but from out there I can only use him on the bottom.
Race 7 – (3) SHADES OF BAY is sharper than he’s been in a while and he gets Jamieson here which likely means a speed try is coming; slight nod in a tough race. (2) SILVER BEAST won here in this class two starts back and he figures to be the main threat; using. (1) CYCLONE JOE could be the live one in the final 1/4 if there is any early battling for the front and he is another possibility in a race with several viable options.
Race 8 – (4) MISTER X set big fractions and almost lasted while making his first start off the claim last week and he is a decent bet to lead all the way this time. (1) J P OSCAR made some late gains last week when also racing off a fresh claim and drawing inside now makes him dangerous; using. (6) PAPARAZZI HANOVER has seen better days but he could wake up dropping into a claimer here. His biggest issue is post position so demand a price if you like him.
Race 9 – (2) ON THE SLY hasn’t shown much in his two Mohawk Park starts but this is a much easier spot and drawing inside gives him a chance to control this race. If he makes front, he will be tough. (5) YOOOUKILIS is racing well and he can take lots of air and keep coming; using. (4) LODI DORIAN BLUES is worth a look for the exotics with Jamieson taking over.
Race 10 – (3) ABOUT A BOY was third vs. much better and he should be tough on the class drop tonight. (2) MILLENIUM SEELSTER woke up in a big way when he shipped in from Mohawk Park and faced easier and he should be the main danger. (1) BIG MACH N has a better chance tonight starting on the gate and drawing best. He could be a pocket rocket in the lane.
Race 11 – (9) DREAMFAIR TECATE blew the field away last time he raced in a $7K claimer and he should get a solid pace to track tonight; top call. (1) RACING FOR SPACE is another dropper who should improve here and he could add some value to the late Pick 4. (2) DABUNKA figures to get a much better trip tonight and he can take a slice. (3) GOLD STAR DIABLO comes in off a big win and he is another possibility in a race that has several possibilities. (5) WILD EYED YANKEE was one-paced late last week. He seems destined for a smaller share vs. these.
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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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