Best Bet - (4) VALIDUS DEO - Race 2
Spot Play - (7) BETTOR ATTITUDE - Race 7
Race 1 - (1) WILSON WALL almost prevailed here in this class last time and he should be hard to beat from the rail today. (4) SPORTSLOVER shows a couple of races on his card that make him a contender in this field. Look for him late. (5) CHAPPIESBOY is stuck on one win but he comes off a sharp effort here last week and he would be no surprise in this spot.
Race 2 - (4) VALIDUS DEO is going to be tough to beat here coming off a season’s-best score but you won’t get much of a price. (1) ROUGH TRADE is capable of much better than he showed from a bad post at Dresden. I’ll use him in this Exacta. (2) SR BEACH BABE is hot but she moves from facing filly and mare claimers to an open conditioned race here. A small award is likely her ceiling in this spot.
Race 3 - (6) SWEET AMBITIONS shows a sub-29 closing quarter last week and this two-year-old looks as good as any in this wide-open dash; price play. (2) HOT FUDGE SUNDAE qualified well for this sophomore debut and he could go down the road if sent to the front leaving the gate. (8) BLACK SEVEN is likely to set the pace and he can stick around for a slice.
Race 4 - (8) MARLBORO SEELSTER - the $270,000 sale-topper at the 2019 London Selected Sale - tried two moves in his debut vs. Grassroots foes in what was not a bad effort. He should be able to beat this group. (4) SAUBLE ATTACK also comes in off a decent performance in Grassroots company and these two seem to stand out. (2) SPIRIT OF A STORM is worth a look for the Tri on debut with St Louis driving.
Race 5 - (6) AVATAR SEELSTER takes a big class drop here making his third start back from the break and he should wake up in the spot. (8) OH MISS SOPHIE should show speed in this spot and she could go a long way on the lead if she can clear to the front quickly at the start; Exacta factor. (2) HOLIDAY HOLLY is another who will be forwardly-place early and she should hang around for a share.
Race 6 - (6) HIGH FLYIN JAMIE - the only winner in this field - made a tremendous recovery from a break in stride to take his debut and he gets my call to repeat. (9) MOONSHINE WILLY appears to have the speed to overcome this post and I expect him to be put into play in this debut start. (1) NEED SUM LUCK is always in the mix but I will try to beat him here in a race where he could get over bet.
Race 7 - (7) BETTOR ATTITUDE is bred to be better than this and he should wake up in this spot dropping in to face easier; top call. (4) DUBAI SEELSTER looks well-prepped for this debut and he should be part of the Exacta or Tri. (2) SHADOW WARRIOR also faces easier here and he is likely to get put into this race early. He’s another in with a decent shot.
Race 8 - (6) RYE N CLYNE gets a driver switch to St Louis here and that could be the tipping point in a race where no horse seems to hold a decided advantage. (7) REGALLY MAGNIFIED came very close to winning at this level last week and he should be the main threat. (5) FIGHTYOUROBSESSION should land in the top three leaving the gate and ride a trip to a spot in the Trifecta.
Race 9 - (9) SPELLCHECK HANOVER showed enough speed in her Mohawk Park qualifiers to suggest she can pop here at first asking despite drawing widest. (4) COUNT TO THREE almost won in a Prospect Series leg last time and she’s the one to beat but she could get overbet. (7) LITERALLY HANOVER faces easier here and she should be in the mix for the exotics.
Race 10 - (2) FURIOSA was well-beaten by (7) BYE BYE DADDY last time but she gets post advantage now and the latter was claimed and loses St Louis; slight nod to the former in this spot. (6) BETTER NOW gets driver Carroll shipping in and she is worth a look for the Tri in this spot.
Race 11 - (5) HOMEY JOE lands in a spot where he should be able to pass them all and he gets top billing vs. these. This is also a better spot for (3) RAYS KREDIT and he could be the one to catch this afternoon. (1) KINGSLEY B is capable in this spot but I prefer to use him underneath the top two to complete the Trifecta.
*
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.
More Tips from the Pros