Best Bet - (1) HEINEKEN SEELSTER - Race 3
Spot Play - (5) TOP ROYAL - Race 11
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3 - 1/1,2,7/2,3/2,3 = $2.40
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8 - 1,3,4/2,5,7/4/1,5 = $3.60
Race 1 - (5) WILLYWIN gets his easiest assignment yet and Shepherd in the bike. I’ll side with him hoping for a price in the opener. (4) ANN JACKSON trotted a big third 1/4 last week despite being left out a long way. She rates highly here. (6) D J ROY HALL was permitted to crawl on the front end at Grand River and that made him impossible to catch. I doubt he gets the same trip here and I’ll play to beat him.
Race 2 - (2) OSBORNE SEELSTER drops and moves inside and you won’t get anything close to the 10 to 1 morning line quote here; top call. (4) MOONWRITER is another who gets post and class relief and he should get an aggressive steer this week; Exacta factor. (1) PAR INTENDED should improve in his second start back. Give him a price look for the Tri and Super.
Race 3 - (1) HEINEKEN SEELSTER is going to be tough to beat here drawing the rail in a race where he appears to hold a class edge. I’ll make him a Pick 4 single. (3) IRISH THUNDER also drops but the choice is almost sure to use his post advantage to force this one to take a seat early; using underneath. (4) CHARMBO CHROME is in sharp form and he should be passing horses in the back 1/2 again. He should be part of the Tri or Super.
Race 4 - (7) THOR DE VIE faces his easiest field in several months here and you have to think that Henry will be sending him; top call. (2) NOTETOSELF HANOVER was used hard early against a tough rival at Hanover Raceway and he hung in well. He hasn’t won a race this year but he has upset possibilities here. (1) TERO is worth a look starting from the rail as he will likely work out a good trip from there.
Race 5 - (2) WORKING CLASS HERO has been in against much tougher recently and I expect that Davies will send him on a speed mission here. (3) SIN CITY SHARK makes his second start for Puddy and he is back to a level where he can contend; using. (1) MONTY MONO should sit a good trip here and take a share.
Race 6 - (3) CUSTARD LITE moves back inside where she can start quick enough to get in good position to use her potent late kick to advantage. She gets top call. (2) WESTBEACH was used hard early and she stayed game in defeat. She should be the main speed threat. (6) SO AWESOME is sharp and she is a good one to try to get into the Tri or Super at a price. (1) THE GIRLS OF IMAGE is unlikely to be allowed to lead uncontested here like last time. I’ll use her underneath. (7) BALFAST N would be rated higher from a better post but from out there a small share is likely.
Race 7 - (5) OXFORD COMMA hasn’t been in a race restricted to mares only in many weeks. She can pop here. (1) MA REBELLE will be the speed if she stays flat here. Maybe she didn’t like the following post at Hanover; using. (3) THATS MIA BAD is on a roll right now and she would be no surprise in this spot.
Race 8 - (3) ZEALOUS SEELSTER gets a good spot on the gate from which to head for the front early and she gets the nod here. (1) TOBINS TERROR was a winner at this level three starts back then was in some tough spots. She is in with a shot tonight. (4) DAN DAR MAL races best for Coulter who returns here and I’ll toss her on the late Pick 4 ticket as a price option.
Race 9 - (7) ON CRUISE CONTROL holds a class edge on these and if he can clear from out there, he will be very tough to beat. (2) CAJON THOMAS makes his fourth start of the year, draws well and gets aggressive teamster Kelly. I’ll put him on my Pick 4 ticket. Reliable veteran (5) OUTLAW GUNPOWDER is hard to leave out considering his outstanding win percentage; using.
Race 10 - (4) BRAVE WORLD gets out of the second tier and he is sure to be heading to the front where he does his best work; top call. (8) DREAMFAIR MOXY looks next best but from out there I’ll use him underneath only. (7) LEVIS DAY classes up well here and he should be able to take a share.
Race 11 - (5) TOP ROYAL is the class of this group and she might head to the front and never look back. (1) KIT figures to start quicker and she has the potential to be a pocket rocket coming down the lane; using. (2) ALPHABET QUEEN’s form is darkened somewhat by the outside posts at Clinton. She can get a better trip and take a share here. (4) INNOCENT KISS also gets post relief this time and she merits a look for the exotics. (9) GIGGLE HANOVER could be overbet here. I prefer to 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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