Best Bet - (4) MACH STEADY - Race 8
Spot Play - (1) VINO LOUIE - Race 1
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 2,7/1,3,5/4,5/2,3,5 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7: 1,5,7/4/4,6,7/1,4,9 = $5.40
Race 1 - (1) VINO LOUIE finally draws a good post which could lead to a form reversal tonight; surprise package. (2) YOURTHEONE has improved in his last couple of starts and he gets post advantage on many of his rivals here as he shoots for two straight wins; Exacta factor. (9) THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is clearly a contender on paper but he has missed close to a month so tread carefully here.
Race 2 - (1) NO BETTER JOY raced well to grab 4th in the biggest race in the country for two-year-olds, now he draws best; top call. (3) BULLDOG HANOVER has been excellent lately and Jamieson is sure to be sending him; the main danger. (5) CANDY TRADER should be closing to best the rest and round out the Tri.
Race 3 - (2) BIG SIR is at his best when he draws inside and can control the pace and he should be the one to catch here. (7) CURIOUS CORTEZ exits some fast races and he is likely going to test the choice early. If he clears, he could be gone. (1) SUNSHINE LOU figures to sit a good trip and take a share.
Race 4 - (3) TRADITION closed ground into an accelerating late pace in his debut which is always an encouraging sign, now he gets Trevor Henry in the bike and a great chance to break his maiden at second asking. (5) TWIN B POWERBALL comes off a nice win at this level and he is an obvious contender and a Pick 4 must-use for me. (1) DRAGON TEEN has been facing much better than these and he draws the best post for this. He is also in with a chance.
Race 5 - (5) BETTOR SUN paced a big mile in the Metro final considering the trip he got and he should be tough vs. Gold foes here, but he’s also no lock in this spot. (4) TWIN B EAGLE has been excellent in races where he stayed flat. If he can make it around the first turn of this smaller oval without breaking stride, he should be a factor. (3) DESPERATE MAN was given a month off after getting beat for the first time and this is no easy spot to make a return; demand a price.
Race 6 - (3) CHEATALOTPOV drops to the class level where he last won and he should be able to grind these into submission with first-over pressure. (5) IRISH THUNDER has never been better and he is the other one that I’ll use in the cash leg of the early Pick 4. (2) OCEANVIEW DEB gets major post relief here and I see her landing in the Tri. (6) HEINEKEN SEELSTER is likely going to get stung early this time; small share predicted. (1) YOU CANT HABIT should trip well from the rail and find his way into the High-5.
Race 7 - (1) BETTOR BECAUSE A has improving form and it appears all she needs is a good post. She draws best here and gets top billing. (7) FURIOSA’s current form is too good to ignore and she could win here despite drawing wide; using. (5) FRESH EYES draws better this week and she could clear to the front which is where she does her best work; another in with a shot.
Race 8 - (4) MACH STEADY takes a huge drop in company here and I can see him going right down the road. (1) GOOD AND SWEET gets his nose on the gate here and he should get a nice trip this time; Exacta factor. (3) ROCKIN WIZARD has improved racing out of the Fritz barn and he should contend for a share again.
Race 9 - (7) ST LADS THRILLER drops to a likely spot here but I doubt you’ll get close to the 9 to 2 morning line quote; top call. (6) IM NOT BAD adds Lasix for this third start back and he is capable at this level; upset chance. (4) KINGOFBROKENHEARTS gets Kelly for this and he also draws better. He should be in the exotics mix.
Race 10 - (9) G A SPEED SAMMY won the last two times he dropped to this class level and while this looks like a tougher than usual Preferred 3, he should be able to get a good trip and prevail. (1) PAPARAZZI HANOVER should use rail control early and he is likely the one the choice will need to run down. (4) SHADES OF BAY has improved sharply since shipping in from Mohawk Park and he was narrowly beaten by a class dropper last time. He isn’t out of this. (6) CLIFFHANGER fits well here but I’m not sure what kind of a trip he can get starting from out there; using underneath. (2) JACK OF CLUBS gets a much better post here and he can tag along and take a small share.
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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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