Best Bet – (1) BLACKCREEK ROSEBUD – Race 2
Spot Play – (7) BLUEWATER BEACH – Race 6
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 7,8,9/1/2,5/6,7,9/3,5 = $7.20
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 2,5/6,7,9/3,5/4,7,9 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 1,5/1,2,6/1,7/2,3 = $4.80
Race 1 – (8) LAVECS MUSCLE GIRL raced evenly when she stepped up to face tougher at Mohawk Park and she gets the nod despite drawing the worst post. (9) HOORAY FRANCKE was well-driven by Coulter to break his maiden last week and he should be the main danger. (7) ANNUAL ROYALTY had a very tough trip and fell just short. She isn’t without a chance here.
Race 2 – (1) BLACKCREEK ROSEBUD is on a tremendous roll and I can’t find a way to beat her starting from the rail here. (2) EATAAMS ELLIE comes off a sharp win but she has now missed longer than a month. I’ll take her to round out a chalky Exacta. (5) BLACK ELEKTRA can get good position early and stick around for a slice.
Race 3 – (2) WILLY WALTON brushed and crushed and he will be hard to beat here if he stays flat again. (5) TEN FOUR WE GONE has been on a roll in London and he is likely to clear to the front leaving. The choice will have to catch him. (9) ST HELENS comes off a solid effort and she should pass a few of these tonight and make it into the Tri or Super.
Race 4 – (7) WYND CREEK looks for a fourth straight win and the aggressive manner in which she is driven every week exudes confidence; top call. (6) TYMAL RIGGS is in an easier spot here and he should be a threat against these. (9) MISSYS MAGIC MAN has already won 10 times in 2020 but he is no gimme here starting from the second tier.
Race 5 – (3) PATWEARSTHEPANTS gets Coulter back after breaking stride last time and she should be tough against this group if she behaves this week. (5) EATAAMSACTIVEPANIC comes off a sharp effort and she could provide some multi-race value here. (9) LILY DANCER’s current form is good, but she has a 0 for 32 lifetime record that stares up at you. I’ll use her on the bottom.
Race 6 – (7) BLUEWATER BEACH drops into a claimer and lands in a spot where she could get a great setup for her late kick; call to upset. (9) PERSISTANT XAMPLE paced a huge mile uncovered on the rim last week and if she can get situated in the top five early, she should be right there tonight. (4) LADYLIKE is clicking at a win rate of higher than 50% in 2020 so she’s hard to leave out, but she is no lock here. (2) HIT BY A BUS will be put into play early and she should be part of the High-5 as should (1) LO HOLD A MOONBEAN who should pass a few of these late.
Race 7 – (1) SAULSBROOK FLASHY improved when she dropped to this conditioned claimer level last week and she should get a more aggressive steer this time; top call. (2) RETICENT HANOVER figures to get a good trip racing near the front this time and she is an Exacta factor. (4) DOLLYS SKY is better starting with her nose on the gate and she can be a speed presence this time.
Race 8 – (5) D J ROY HALL is winning the hard way, racing first up and advancing and he gets the nod for a threepeat here. (1) WILLYWIN has a much better chance here starting from the rail and I’ll use him in the late Pick 4. (4) PEARLS GIRL should show speed again and I see her sticking around for a share.
Race 9 – (1) AZALEA SEELSTER is in a great spot here to blast out to the lead and go coast-to-coast and she gets my nod. (2) SOUTHWIND BAYOU has the most wins this year of any in this field and she should get more aggressive early this time; using. (6) TRANSENDANCE might get sent by Boyd this time and that gives her an upset chance.
Race 10 – (7) TH PRESENT gets in against much easier here and you have to think that Coulter will be sending her against this group. (1) HALO ITS ME for sure is blasting off the gate and she is always in position to threaten for a win. She is hard to leave off the late Pick 4 ticket. (2) KASHE isn’t impossible in this spot as she should get better position early; consider for the Pick 4.
Race 11 – (2) COUNT TO THREE is well-spotted to control the pace again tonight and she gets the call to repeat in this spot. (3) RECKLESS FOOL should be leaving with the choice and getting position near the front early. She is the main danger to the choice. (4) SHARK IDEA shows improving form in the past couple of starts but she will likely be forced to take a seat early here; small share predicted. (6) RHYTHM SEELSTER is one that could get a nice setup here and I see her passing some of these to make it into the High-5. (8) LYDIAS LIBERTY would be rated higher from a better post. Starting from out there, a small slice is likely her ceiling.
Photo by John Watkins
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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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