Best Bet – (5) UBER HANOVER – Race 4
Spot Play – (2) BETTER KISSTHE MEN – Race 6
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1 – 2,3,7/1,2,3/4,6/5/4,5,8 = $10.80
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 7 – 1,6,9/2,5,7/5,6/1,3/2,3,8 = $21.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 3 – 4,6/5/4,5,8/1,2,6 = $3.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 8 – 2,5,7/5,6/1,3/2,3,8 = $7.20
Race 1 — (2) WILDCAT DELIGHT lands in a spot where she should be able to make front leaving the gate and control the pace; top call. (3) SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET faces easier here, and she is another that should be leaving tonight. She is one of several live options for the early Pick 5. (7) TURNING THE TABLE goes for hot connections and she is right there every week; using.
Race 2 — (1) SO LONG DARLING finds a good spot to make her return to the races and she draws best. I’ll give her the nod over (2) I WISH YOU WELL, who figures to be in the thick of the battle from the outset. (3) SAULSBROOK JESSIE won at this class last time she raced here, and she is hard to leave off Pick 5 tickets.
Race 3 — (6) SHADOW TAIL produced a big back 1/2 to win here last week, and I’ll give him the nod to repeat coming off that sharp victory. (4) LIVIN LARGE raced well vs. a winner that was taking a huge class edge in London. He should be the main danger here. (3) TAHUYA BREW, 2nd to the choice last week, can close for another share tonight.
Race 4 — (5) UBER HANOVER lands in a spot where the late pace figures to be soft, and I can see him sweeping past the leaders on the last turn; top call. (1) BOOTS N BRIAN is another one that should have live legs in the final ¼, and I’ll use him to complete the Exacta. (6) MAY TO FOR is one of three that like to lead the way so he may not be allowed to clear tonight; using underneath.
Race 5 — (5) BETTIMONTHERIVER is a frequent winner that fits well in this spot, and she should offer some value in multi-race tickets; top call. (4) MORAMAPPO finished 2nd twice in a row at huge odds. She is in with a chance here in a race where there are a couple that are contenders on paper that have missed a month’s action. (8) WATCH ME DANCE is capable of better than she showed last week. She gets a new driver here, and perhaps Mackenzie will put her into play leaving the gate; using.
Race 6 — (2) BETTER KISSTHE MEN gets out of the second tier tonight with her main rivals drawing wide, and she gets the nod to take these coast-to-coast on the lead. (1) DEJA VU SEELSTER is another who draws better that figures to use her good post to blast for position, and she is the second mare that I’ll use in the Pick 4. (6) WINDSUN GAGA got used up early in the Prospect Series Final and she could get stung early here, too. If she can clear, she could be gone on the lead, but I’m not sure she can in this spot. I’d demand a price. (4) SAULSBROOK FLASHY should get position near the front leaving and use it to get a trip and take another share. (5) LATTE SEELSTER is a good one to use on the bottom of the High-5.
Race 7 — (9) CUSTARD LITE goes for Plante off the claim here and she is in a good spot to work out a stalking trip; top call. (6) BEACH MOMENT faces easier and she is another who should be passing horses in the back 1/2; using. (1) DRESS TO THE NINES is sure to be leaving hard from the rail. She is a speed threat that is worth a look at a price.
Race 8 — (7) EMBLYNETTE was firing off sub-27 kickers at Mohawk Park and getting nothing to show for it. This is a much better spot for her, and she gets the nod. (5) EVAS BEST GIRL had two starts back at Mohawk Park and she is another that should improve here. She is in with an upset chance. (2) REYS N A ROCKET is another that fits better here, but she has the trainer listed to drive; your call.
Race 9 — (5) CAPTAINOFROCKNROLL gets away from the deadly Mappos Lion tonight which makes this a big class drop in reality, and he gets top call vs. these. (6) HUGHIE JUNIOR N made a nice late charge in his North American debut and he is likely to be more aggressive now; using. (1) YOURTHEONE figures to get a good trip racing near the front, and he should be part of the Tri.
Race 10 — (3) POWER AND GRACE is on a roll right now, and she will likely be hard to beat in this spot. (1) WILD AND CRAZY GUY will likely ride the choice’s pocket if he stays flat tonight; using. (7) I GOT THE LOOKS dominated in this class last week with the choice sitting it out, but the post draw likely limits him to a small share this week; using underneath.
Race 11 — (8) BILLY BAYAMA goes for a hot barn and he is in great form. I’ll give him a slight nod despite drawing widest. (2) JUST PLAIN NEEDY took a new life’s mark last time he raced at this claiming level, and he figures to be the main danger. (3) SHIFTING VIEWS is worth a look making his second start off the Auciello claim tonight. (1) BO DOVER should be in the hunt if he stays flat this week; using underneath. (9) QUINSFRISKYWHISKEY should get a good following trip and sneak into 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 six years. He is also a past president of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
Photo by Holly Chaytor-Photos By Design
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