Best Bet - (1) LADY FINETUNE - Race 8
Spot Play - (9) SHADOW TAIL - Race 6
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 1,3,7/2,3/1,9/1,3,9 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7: 2,3/1,9/3,4,6/1,4,7,8 = $9.60
Race 1 - (3) ELM GROVE LADYLUCK took a fast mark at Charlottetown a couple of weeks ago and she goes for a hot barn that is capable of moving one up. She should be tough to beat as the likely chalk. (9) FOLLOW THE DREAM moves into the high percentage Bourgault barn; the main danger despite post. (2) MORAMAPPO should get positioned near the front early and trip out to take a share.
Race 2 - (4) SEBASTIEN DUHARAS made two moves on his way to an impressive win here on 9/26 and he gets the call to repeat. (5) ETERNAL JEWEL was in too tough last time. She should be a speed presence vs. these and an Exacta factor. (1) POT STOCK should lay closer early leaving from the rail but I still like him best on the bottom of the Tri and Super.
Race 3 - (1) STRATEGIC THINKING should be making an early bid for the lead here starting from the best post and he gets top call in a contentious dash. (3) BALLPARKFRANK is batting an impressive 46% win rate this year so far and he is impossible to leave off this Pick 4. (7) CRAZY LUKE DUKE is worth a look dropping into a claimer. If he works out a trip he could upset and provide some Pick 4 value.
Race 4 - (3) OUTLAW IMAHOTVIXEN drops, moves inside and likely pops in this spot. (2) BALFAST N is worth a look adding Lasix and drawing well. She’s on my Pick 4 ticket. (6) LIVELY ROCKET is another adding Lasix and she drops but from post 6 I prefer to use her underneath.
Race 5 - (9) DISNEYMAN had to have been facing tougher horses in claimers and if he can make a move to the front early vs. this suspect group he has a good chance to lead all the way. (1) TEETER gets a notable driver change here and Bowins might commit to sending him for as far as he can go on the engine; using. (2) LUNAR LAUNCH has had many chances and while he is hard to back to win at this point, he can take a share here.
Race 6 - (9) SHADOW TAIL paced a 55 4/5 back 1/2 last time and there should be ample early pace to chase; call to upset. (3) ROCK N TWIST was a sharp winner after shipping in from Mohawk Park to face easier and he is likely the one to catch in this spot. (1) YARIS SEELSTER has a much better chance starting from the rail and he could trip out in the pocket most of the way; using. (2) NOAHS PLAY is always in the mix and starting from an inside post makes him a must-use in the High-5. (4) MAJOR ON THE BEACH likes the front end but he is likely to have competition for that spot early. I prefer to use him underneath tonight.
Race 7 - (3) E R RHONDA races well for driver Plante and she gets a good post here so she should be closer early this time; call to repeat. (2) TAYDERTOTZZ is much more dangerous with her nose on the gate and her most recent try from post 9 was very good. She’s a late Pick 4 must-use for me. (6) RETURN TO STYLE was a predictable winner when dropped to this bottom claiming level last time but she loses post position advantage now; small share predicted.
Race 8 - (1) LADY FINETUNE combines a big class drop with drawing the best post here and she should be tough to beat. (9) COCO BEACH DE VIE was the beneficiary when the late pace collapsed last time but she could get a great trip following the choice here and I’ll toss her on my late Pick 4 ticket. (3) RELLA TIVITY should get a good trip here and land in the Tri or Super.
Race 9 - (4) SICARIO is in top form now and he figures to clear to the front by the time they reach the 1/4. He is at his best when controlling the pace and he gets the call to repeat. (3) POWER AND GRACE gets major post relief and that puts her square in the picture this week; using. (6) IN SECRET is another in top form and he is hard to leave out despite drawing wide.
Race 10 - (7) I WISH YOU WELL and (8) YS TALLIA are clearly best in this combined class but they must overcome the worst posts. I’ll give the former a slight edge based solely on drawing inside her main rival but I’ll use both in the Pick 4. (4) THREE ACCOUNTS is interesting adding Lasix coming off a win where the back 1/2 was almost seven seconds slower than the opening 1/2. Maybe she has more speed late tonight? (1) CHARMBO BRIE is capable at this level and she gets major post advantage over the top two choices; upset chance. (5) LARJON LEGACY is another who adds Lasix that is worth a look for the High-5.
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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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