Best Bet – (1) ACEFORTYFOURLADYDI – Race 2
Spot Play – (4) REACH FOR INFINITY – Race 8
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1: 2,6,7/1/2,3,4/1,2,4/1,2 = $10.80
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 2,3,4/1,2,4/1,2/3 = $3.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7: 1,4,5/4,5/3,4/1,2,3,6 = $9.60
Race 1 – (6) BARBIES CROWN, a $17,000 Lexington purchase, is a 1/2-sister to 7-time local winner Judge Ken and she wouldn’t need to be a world-beater to compete at first asking vs. these; slight nod in a wide-open race. (2) DEALIN MAGIC was close here from an inside post two starts back and the likely favorite is the one to beat. (7) STORMONT WEDDING’s recent efforts are better than most of these and she is another Pick 5 possibility.
Race 2 – (1) ACEFORTYFOURLADYDI was in total control for the entire mile last week and her drawing the rail again will make her very tough to beat. (2) KEMPENFELT looks next best and she should get another great trip here; Exacta factor. (7) STILL OWING could last longer here adding Lasix but she will likely be forced to take a seat early by the choice; using underneath.
Race 3 – (4) WILLY WALTON was making a move when he broke last week and he should prove best vs. these if he stays flat this time. (2) DORSET BAY made a couple of moves in a decent effort and he is in with a decent chance. (3) HAVEN SEELSTER has improving form and she isn’t out of the question here.
Race 4 – (1) LADYLIKE broke at the start last time at odds of 1 to 9, now she drops into a claimer and draws the best post again. I wouldn’t endorse betting her at 1 to 9 but if she stays flat, she’ll be hard to beat here. (4) HIT BY A BUS will give the choice a tussle if she can clear early and I’ll use her on multi-race tickets. (2) SOUTHWIND BAYOU has a shot to trip out from an inside post here and she is worth a look at a price.
Race 5 – (2) BLACKCREEK ROSEBUD won’t offer much of a price here but she should be very tough to beat. (1) SHADOW SUE drops and gets a critical driver change. Can she be a pocket rocket at a big price here? (5) SCOTTISH MACH has been racing well at this level and she should be good for a slice in this spot.
Race 6 – (3) BIG DIAMOND wasn’t disgraced in two starts at Mohawk Park and she should be looking to go right down the road in this much easier spot; top call. (5) SAULSBROOK FLASHY also ships in from Mohawk Park and she should wake up in this easier spot and land in the Exacta or Tri. (9) DOLLYS SKY is in great form right now and she’s a hard one to leave out but the choice will no doubt get the jump on her so I’d demand a price. (6) FAST N RELENTLESS was much better last week and if she can find a live helmet to follow here she should land in the High-5. (8) LADY TO WATCH takes frequent shares and she is a good one to use on the bottom here.
Race 7 – (4) HERBS JOURNEY fell just short to the pocket-sitter last week and that rival is lined up outside him this time so he gets top call. (1) KASHE is on a roll and she could get another great setup here for her potent late kick; using. (5) HALO ITS ME needed every inch of the stretch to get past the choice as the 1 to 5 choice. She is a contender again but I’d demand a much better price.
Race 8 – (4) REACH FOR INFINITY might have needed his last start and he gets a driver change to Shepherd here; call to upset. (5) TALADEGA SEELSTER is a six-time winner this year who figures to get another good trip racing on or near the lead and he is on my late Pick 4 ticket. (9) TOP OF THE MORNING was a sharp winner here last week but I don’t love the second tier post for him. I’ll play to beat him tonight.
Race 9 – (4) WYND CREEK’s two recent wins stick out on form here and she has a great shot to take another win tonight. (3) BUILT STRONG moved into a hot pace the tired late. He could fall into a great trip racing in the choice’s pocket here and that makes him a threat. (5) POT STOCK rolled by some winded leaders late and he is unlikely to get the same setup here so I’ll use him on the bottom.
Race 10 – (1) SWEET NAN, beat only a length from the worst post last time, gets the nod moving to the rail for this race. (3) SOMETHING ROYAL is well spotted here in terms of class and post position and she’s on my late Pick 4 ticket. (6) WHATAREALBADGIRL shows some nice races in London but from post 6 this is no easy spot and I’d demand a price. (2) SOUTHWIND MARITIME could improve sharply with the driver change to Coulter here. Give her a price look for the High-5. (7) RECKLESS FOOL would be rated higher from an inside post but from out there I can only use her on the bottom.
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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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