Best Bet – (1) SLY ELEANOR N – Race 5
Spot Play – (3) BETCHULOVEME – Race 8
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1 – 1,4/1,4/1,4,5/1,4/1 = $4.80
20-Cent Pick 4 – Race 4 – 1.4/1/1,2/4,6 = $1.60
Race 1- (1) TWEETER HANOVER, a $28,000 Harrisburg Sale buy, is a full-sister to Breeders Crown winner Traceur Hanover and a 1/2 to solid Mohawk Park pacer Torrin Hanover. If she has a fraction of their ability, she should beat these. (4) IM CHIARA maybe went too fast at Kawartha Downs, and she got picked off late. She’s hard to leave off the Pick 5. (7) NORTHERN LUXURY qualified decently for this, and she can share at first asking.
Race 2 – (4) L WEATHER B should improve in this second start back facing easier, and he gets the nod. (1) SAVANNAH SPLENDOR qualified well for this but he hasn’t won in forever. What price would you accept? (5) SOUTHWIND GRIZZLY is another that qualified okay, and I see him coming on late for a small share in this short field.
Race 3 – (1) STILETTO BLUE CHIP bottomed out the field as expected last week at Hanover Raceway, and she should be the one to catch again despite facing slightly tougher. (5) BRIO BEACH improved sharply in her second qualifier, and she could be a pocket rocket on debut; using. (4) B VANISH can enter contention today facing a group that should be more to her liking; using.
Race 4 – (1) TSIMIS brings some sharp form north from Pennsylvania, and she has a big shot starting from the rail here. (4) LADY KATIE B is capable in this spot, and her regular driver is listed. I expect an aggressive try tonight. (3) SPORTS CHECK couldn’t get the job done racing first up at Monticello. She is likely to get a better trip here, and land in the Tri or Super.
Race 5 – (1) SLY ELEANOR N is the class of this field, and you have to think Plante will have her on the engine before they reach the 1/2; top call. (5) CASIMIR SWAMP GIRL is likely blasting right to the front, and she is the logical alternative to the choice. (6) TABLES BIG SECRET qualified sharply, but from the widest post I’ll use her underneath.
Race 6 –
(1) HIGH ROLLER DUKE gets needed post relief here, and Kelly should send her right down the road vs. these. (2) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL broke when on the move at Grand River, and she should be right there in this short field if she behaves. (3) TRIZZLE TRAZZLE kicked home in 27 1/5 in her qualifier and she should be good for a share here.
Race 7 – This race should come down to the two Mohawk invaders (4) MORNING HAS BROKEN and (6) CUSTARD LITE. I’ll side with the former solely based on post position advantage. (2) ASKMYSECRETARY also ships in from Mohawk Park, but she raced in a lower class and shows one win in her last 36 starts. I’ll play to beat her.
Race 8 – (3) BETCHULOVEME had an impossible trip at Clinton after starting from the second tier. I like the driver change to Haughan, and I’ll side with her looking for a price. (6) LETS ROAR obviously fits better here, and she should be the one to beat in this spot. (4) MOONSHINERS CREDIT was allowed to walk around the track at Grand River, and she had no problem turning on the jets and finishing the job. This is tougher, and I wouldn’t take a short price on her.
Race 9 – (3) BLUE MONK had a race vs. much tougher, now he lands in a spot where he might be able to control the race from the outset; slight nod. (5) SAM MCKEE HANOVER has a similar profile as the choice, and he should be right there vs. these. (1) JUSTA BANDIT moves from the worst post to the best starting slot, and that makes him interesting for the exotics. (9) MODERN WRITER is right there every race, but from the worst post he is worth trying to beat out of the Tri this time. (6) BIG CITY NEWS raced well in his last couple in Ohio, and he should get a piece of this.
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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.
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