Best Bet – (1) O NARUTAC PERFETTO – Race 9
Spot Play – (1) UFTON ABBY HANOVER – Race 4
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,4/1,3,5/1,3,5/1,6/1,4,5 = $21.60
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 7 – 4/2,8/1/3,5/1,3,7 = $2.40
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3 – 1,3,5/1,6/1,4,5/2,3,8 = $10.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8 – 2,8/1/3,5/1,3,7 = $2.40
Race 1 — (4) E R RHONDA faces much easier here and she should wake up and handle this group; top call. (1) WATT MACHS ME WIN should be closer early in the mile tonight leaving from the rail. She should be an Exacta factor tonight. (9) EATAAMS ELLIE should sit a good trip and close for a small share.
Race 2 — (1) MAGGIESMOMONEY figures to get an easier trip tonight starting from the rail. I’ll give her the nod in a tough race. (5) ATALANTA EXPRESS drops down from NW3 to NW2, and she should get sent forward leaving the gate tonight; using. (3) ALL R WISHES outdueled the choice last time and finished ahead of her. She is worth a look for the Pick 5.
Race 3 — (1) GOALDTENDER has drawn poorly forever, now he gets the rail. I’ll side with him in a race with many possibilities. (5) TOM D BAKER figures to be the early leader and the one to catch again. He is hard to leave off Pick 5 tickets. (3) ONE TRIX PONY converted as the heavy 3 to 5 favourite vs. NW2, and he is another possibility here.
Race 4 — (1) UFTON ABBY HANOVER gets the rail and Young in the bike here. I see him getting a great trip and rallying for a win. (6) OFF ROAD HANOVER raced well in defeat last week and a similar effort puts him right there with these; using. (2) INFINITY STONE goes for three straight wins, but these are tougher and I don’t see him getting his own way again. I’ll play to beat him.
Race 5 — (5) STELIOS was a bit short last week after coming off a four-week break. His big early speed should carry much farther here, and he gets top call. (4) SAM MCKEE HANOVER had little chance with the trip he got in London. I expect Kelly to put him into this race earlier; using. (1) KEVMARVALOUS is in top form, and he is hard to dismiss leaving from the rail tonight.
Race 6 — (2) RAMBARAN ROSE has only won one of her past 30 starts in the last two seasons, but her past three starts are all good. She can beat these if she gets a decent trip. (3) DRY CREEK IMAGE has been in the Exacta more than 50% of the time this year, and she should be right there vs. these. (8) BETTER DECISION N is the type of mare that can get into position early from the 8-hole, and she should be a threat here. (5) HANNAH ON THE VIRG should be leaving quicker today and she can land in the High-5. (7) MA REBELLE fits well here but I don’t like her stale date from her most recent start; small share predicted.
Race 7 — (4) THOMAS P TWO has looked tremendous in the first two legs of this series, and I expect him to control this final from the outset. (5) DORO SOGNO is the obvious alternative if you are looking to try to beat the choice here. (1) MUSCLES D ORO, 2nd to the choice last week, should get a good following trip and land in the Tri.
Race 8 — (8) EXCLUSIVE ROSETTE is in a much easier spot here and I’ll give her top billing despite drawing wide and having missed some time. (2) SOUPS ON goes for cagey veteran trainer Budd and teamster Kelly is likely to put her into the race early. She is the other one that I’ll use on late multi-race tickets. (1) BARROOM BRAWL BOYS should be prominent early and stick around for a share.
Race 9 — This is a race that (1) O NARUTAC PERFETTO shouldn’t lose, especially starting from the rail; enough said. (2) TESLA SEELSTER is likely to blast off early this time, and that makes her an Exacta factor in this spot. (5) FRANKS ANGEL trotted a big mile in defeat last time, and he should be an exotics factor again.
Race 10 — (3) A BLUE BLOOD beats these if she stays flat, but last week’s break is concerning. What price would you take? (5) RIVERSONTHEGO trotted a huge mile to win last week, and she will be right there if she repeats that effort. (2) WITCHES N ANGELS should get a better start here and land in the Tri.
Race 11 — (1) TALLNTAN BLUE CHIP looks like a solid contender here from the rail, and he should get an aggressive steer from Haughan; top call. (3) BETTORS JET RAY will be blasting if he stays flat this week, and he should be the main danger. (7) LATE NIGHT DEALER is worth a look getting driver Macdonald back tonight, and I’ll use him in the late Pick 4. (2) ILUSIONIST HANOVER should get position early and stick around for a share. (6) FRED DEES FRIEND is a good one to use on the bottom of the High-5.
*
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.
Photo by Ryan Clements Photos
More Tips from the Pros