Best Bet – (2) SHOOTINFORTHESTARS – Race 4
Spot Play – (4) DOVER SEELSTER – Race 6
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,3,5/3/2,3/2/4,9 = $2.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 7 – 2,4,9/2,5/3,7/2,5/1,4 = $9.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3 – 2,3/2/4,9/4,8,9 = $2.40
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8 – 2,5/3,7/2,5/1,4 = $3.20
Race 1 — (5) ACEFORTYFOUR MONEY raced well here last week, closing ground while the pace accelerated late. I’ll give her the nod. (3) EINHORN IS FINKLE meets her easiest field yet, and she should be a strong factor here. She’s on my Pick 5 ticket. (1) P L PORTIA is worth a look on debut in a spot that doesn’t look very tough.
Race 2 — (3) SHARE THE MOMENT was huge here last week beating NW3, and she gets the call to repeat. (1) SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET should go much better here moving in five post positions. She can be an Exacta factor. (5) SHEMARS LADY HAVOC drops to face easier, but she got no favours at the post draw. I’ll use her on the bottom here.
Race 3 — (2) WILDRIVER LADY BUG looks best here based on some of her August races, but it’s hard to lean heavily on any horse in this race; slight nod. (3) CASEOUS almost surely should get a better trip here in this short field, and I’ll use her in the Pick 5. (1) SHEILAS BRUSH looks solid based on current form, but she has failed to convert 30 times, so I’ll use her underneath only.
Race 4 — (2) SHOOTINFORTHESTARS is a win machine that is unlikely to get beat starting from an inside post here; top call. (8) MACHED UP is in tremendous form, but overcoming the 8-hole to beat the choice might be asking a bit too much. I’ll use him underneath. (3) DURHAM TOWN finishes 3rd frequently. He’s a good one to use on the bottom of the Tri.
Race 5 — The two Mohawk Park shippers (4) VIRTUAL SUCCESS and (9) BOTTOMOFTHENINTH should fight it out for the win here. I’ll give a slight nod to the former who has post position advantage and will likely be the one to catch when they turn for home. (8) AMERICAN ROSE has a great record but she loses post position advantage here, and she will be behind the 8-ball at the start; using underneath.
Race 6 — (4) DOVER SEELSTER is fast enough to contend with these, and she could offer some multi-race value considering her 15 to 1 morning line quote. (8) CHUCK HEATON LOVE drops back to the claimer level, and he is another bomb that can make some noise here in a race with no standouts. (9) HOLD THUMBS N fits well here but the second tier might not be ideal for him. I wouldn’t take a short price. (1) FAST AS PHELPS should take another small share off a following trip here. (3) KEYSTONE TAZ rarely misses a cheque so he shouldn’t be left off High-5 tickets.
Race 7 — (4) STONEBRIDGE BETTOR does his best work on the front end, and he should be able to clear tonight, so I give him top billing here. (9) MISTER J R was claimed by a barn that can move one up, and I’ll use him in the late Pick 5. (2) SAVANNAH SPLENDOR has the best recent form. He is hard to leave out, but he isn’t one that I would take a short price on in the win pool.
Race 8 — (2) BEST KEPT SECRET brushed and crushed at a big price at Grand River, and she draws perfectly for a similar third 1/4 attack; call to repeat. (5) NIKI LOUDER exits a fast race where she couldn’t keep up late. She fits better here, and she’s on my Pick 5. (4) TREASURES GEM has had 18 tries now, and she seems better used underneath.
Race 9 — (7) DEFCON SEELSTER comes off a solid try here, and I’ll give him the nod to knock off the streaking (3) BLOGMASTER, who has won two in a row without being challenged. (6) P L OSCAR should mount another closing effort to land in the Tri.
Race 10 — (2) JM SPORTSFAN had no chance to close into a 27 3/5 final 1/4 and she still finished gamely. She looks solid vs. this group. (5) MOONSHINERS CREDIT was an easy winner here two starts back with Coulter in the bike, and that teamster returns here. She has upset potential tonight. (6) HAVANA PANIC is right there every week, but from a wide post she figures to finish on the edges this time.
Race 11 — This looks like a field that (4) DABUNKA can clear and, once he makes front, he should prove tough to catch; top call. (1) GRANDE SEELSTER has had three starts back, now he finally draws well. He’s worth a look here. (5) TWOMACSONEMACH has some of the best recent form, but he is an infrequent winner. I’ll use him underneath here. (2) EINHORN is capable of working out a trip and landing in the High-5. (7) JIMMY BE GOOD drops back into a claimer but he draws poorly. I’ll play to beat him in this spot.
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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 also a past president of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
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