Best Bet – (5) SPEED TO MARKET – Race 11
Spot Play – (5) ATTHEBEACH HANOVER – Race 4
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 2,7/1,5/1,2/5,7/2,5,9 = $9.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 1,2/5,7/2,5,9/1,2,7 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 1,2,3,4,5/1,9/1,9/4,5 = $8.00
Race 1 – (2) FARROS REIGN picks up Jamieson here and he owned this track at one time. I’ll give him the nod expecting a “no prisoners” approach. (7) HOLD THUMBS N easily handled the choice last week and while he draws poorly here, teamster Plante has been hot and this gelding is hard to dismiss. (6) SLATE N is an interesting import who adds Lasix for this local debut; consider for the exotics.
Race 2 – (1) NELSONEDDY HANOVER easily handled similar here two starts back and he will have to be caught tonight. (5) LITTLE WILLY showed enough in Ottawa last year to be competitive in this spot and getting Plante won’t hurt; using. (4) TRADITION should be closer early this time and that makes him an exotic factor.
Race 3 – (2) YOU CANT HABIT should get put into this race earlier facing much easier and I’ll give him the nod expecting an aggressive Ryan steer. (1) KENDRAS COCO should also recapture some of her gate speed in this spot starting from the rail. It wasn’t that long ago that she was blasting every week. She’s on my multi-race tickets. (5) YOOOUKILIS faces tougher but he can still pass some horses late and take a share.
Race 4 – (5) ATTHEBEACH HANOVER was probably unlucky in defeat the way the race played out last week and I’ll side with him to turn the tables on (7) DONTBLVMEJUSTWATCH tonight. The latter was sharp and ready last week and he should be the main threat again here. (6) MAJOR ON THE BEACH is a good one to use on the bottom as he should be passing a few of these late again.
Race 5 – (9) SOMEHOWSOMEDAY didn’t get the best trip last week now he drops into a $7K claimer. I’ll give him the nod over (2) FIRE STORM K T who is sure to take plenty of action coming over from Mohawk Park but whose recent form isn’t the greatest. (5) GOLD STAR DIABLO elected to stay inside last week and that didn’t work out so well. He should be more aggressive here and he is another contender to consider for multi-race tickets.
Race 6 – If (1) PROBERTS LEGACY was ever going to wake up, this is probably the spot as he draws best after getting the 10-hole twice in a row at Mohawk Park; call to upset. (2) MILLENIUM SEELSTER is also better situated tonight and he should be heard from in this spot; using. (7) BETTER BE GOUDA is another who should fit much better here but I’m not sure I’d take a short price with him starting from a wide post. (3) BET ON BRETT should sit close to the pace and hang around for a small share. (5) HEAVENLY SOUND should move up with the return to Flamboro and he is another to use in the bottom rungs of the High-5.
Race 7 – Many of these exit a strangely-run race where the winner built up a 17-length lead in a 55 3/5 opening 1/2 then hung on while pacing the back 1/2 almost eight seconds slower. In that race (3) FLASH TOTHE FINISH raced closest to the leader the whole way and still wasn’t beaten by much. He gets my nod. (5) NICOTIME made up a lot of ground in that race and he should be in the hunt tonight; using. (7) BAD EYE BILL took plenty of support that night and he is another who can win this wide-open race.
Race 8 – (4) MC PAT adds Lasix after showing speed at Mohawk Park and I’ll take a swing with him looking for a price in a race that seems to have many viable options. It’s been a long time between wins for (1) CAPITANO ITALIANO, but he should have a good shot here drawing the rail; using. (5) ALI blazed around Mohawk Park qualifying for this and he is another who should have a legitimate chance in here.
Race 9 – (9) NO TIME AT ALL and Plante were winners last time they raced at Flamboro Downs three starts back and they should get a good start here following the #1 who figures to leave quickly; top call. (1) LITTLEBITASWAGGER has had a lot of success at this track in the past and he should be pointed to the front by Coulter as the gate pulls away; using. (7) REEL will take action on the class drop but he is no lock from an outside post and I’ll play to beat him.
Race 10 – (9) EXIT SMILING fits this class well and he should get away decently from the second tier; top call. (1) FREDDY BEAR jogged three starts back at this track and he will have to be caught leaving from the rail. (3) BEACHIN LINDY is capable of better and perhaps he gets sent hard leaving this week. He has a chance to upset if he gets put into the race early.
Race 11 – (5) SPEED TO MARKET was a predictable winner racing off the Moreau claim here last week and he gets the call to repeat. (4) MIRAMICHI DAVID goes for a threepeat and he could be a pocket rocket this week; using. (9) RACING FOR SPACE gets away from the 8-hole this week and he could add some value to the Tri. (7) HERCULE J M never misses a check and he should be good for another small share here. (2) REGAL MAC is worth a price look racing off the fresh claim for a hot barn.
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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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