Best Bet – (4) UNLACED – Race 2
Spot Play – (4) PATINA SEELSTER – Race 6
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,4,5,6/4/4,5/1,4/3,4,5 = $9.60
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 2,3,4/2,8/2,3,4,5/2/3,5,6 = $14.40
20-Cent Early Pick 4 – Race 4: 1,4/3,4,5/2,3,4/2,8 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 – Race 9: 2/3,5,6/2,4/2,4,5 = $3.60
Race 1 — (5) VIPER has drawn poorly for many starts in a row. Post 5 is an improvement here and I’ll give him a slight nod in this edition of the Harness The Hope Pace. (4) ATEYATEFNGERSLOUIE fits well here, and he should be a threat on the class drop; using. (1) GMC TROOPER should secure a good spot near the front leaving the gate. He isn’t without a chance tonight. (6) ROLLING ROCK is worth a look with Samara Johnson in the bike. She won the women’s driver competition at Leamington last weekend.
Race 2 — (4) UNLACED has come around quickly since returning from a sick scratch in September, and he looks like a short-priced Pick 5 single tonight. (6) ADMIT ONE was closest to the choice last week. He could provide some Exacta value here starting from a wide post. (5) MASKEDMAN is always good for a share it seems; using underneath. (1) WORDS ESCAPE ME will likely race in mid-pack and take a small share.
Race 3 — This race appears as though it will be a battle between (4) FIRST HEIR and (5) DUKE DEO. I’ll give the edge to the former who has post edge and is two years older than the former, but I’ll use both in the Pick 5. (7) SOGNO ROCKS has enough speed to contend for a share if he stays flat tonight. (2) CENTURY SEELSTER qualified well enough for this to suggest that she can land in the Super.
Race 4 — (4) PEP IN MY STEP looked like he was heading for victory here last week when he broke on the last turn, perhaps affected by the wet track. I’ll give him the nod to make amends tonight. (1) TOONIE TEEN should be prominent throughout, and he appears to be the main danger; using. (6) DROWNS THE WHISKEY raced tough on the rim last week, but from the widest post I’ll use him underneath. (5) RICOTTABEKIDDINME raced well to finish 2nd last week, and he should be closing for a share again.
Race 5 — (5) STONEBRIDGE NITRO dominated in this class last week, and she looks like a good bet to repeat. (4) RUBBLEONTHEDOUBLE has the speed to contend here and if he stays flat, he might surprise. (3) SPUN FROM MAGIC gets his nose back on the gate here and he should be part of the Tri racing from close range. (1) HOROSCOPE should be good for a share starting from the inside here. (2) DUSTYLANE THUNDER is another that can use her post to get position early and ride a trip to a cheque.
Race 6 — (4) PATINA SEELSTER chased a strong winner home last week and with that one not in here she has a great shot to beat these. (3) SHADOW ONE rallied well last week, but she was too far back. She could get a setup for her late kick tonight; using. (2) CASEOUS drops in for a tag here, and her good early speed gives her a chance; using. (8) NEEDINGOFFTHEGRID appears to also need the lead. I’ll use her on the bottom starting from the second tier.
Race 7 — (8) ANGRY EYES has been facing tougher at Mohawk Park and she should handle these if she can work out a decent trip tonight. (2) CONQUEST AS should blast to the front leaving the gate tonight, and that makes him a threat to go all the way on the engine. (4) SIZZLEN HOT HERBIE is capable of better than he showed at Flamboro on 10/14. He should fit better vs. this Preferred 3 field; using underneath. (7) VEYRON would be rated higher if he drew a better post. From out there, I see him as a fringe player.
Race 8 — (5) BEST KEPT SECRET raced well in defeat last week and she looks clearly best in this field; top call. (4) SEEL THE DARK paced a nice back 1/2 here on 10/12 now she draws better. Like the choice, she is stuck on 1 lifetime win, but she seems to fit with these; using. (2) CENTURY HARLOT is yet another 1-time winner that is worth a look here dropping into a claimer and drawing inside. (3) REMINISCE ROAD will likely try to control the pace tonight, but I prefer to use her underneath.
Race 9 — (2) HEAVY DUDE E raced tough in defeat when facing better last week. He should be hard to beat starting from an inside post tonight. (8) TRADE BARRIER has a very good record and solid form. She could be the one the choice will need to fend off late. (5) CAN DO IT ALL looks good off her last race, but she has already had 23 chances to convert. I see her taking a small share here. (3) LASS SHOT likely sits a trip and rounds out the Tri or Super.
Race 10 — (3) SORPRESE gets her nose back on the gate tonight and I could see an aggressive Kelly steer coming here; call to upset. (6) LEFKADA had a wild parked out trip last week and she still hung around to take 4th. She can be right there if she gets a slightly better trip tonight. (5) THEE DESPERADO is obviously in an easier spot here and Belore won with him several times at Hiawatha Horse Park. He is another in with a chance. (8) SICARIO is in good form but I don’t love the second-tier post for him in this spot. I’ll play to beat him.
Race 11 — (4) AMERICAN ROSE chased home a very sharp winner last week at Mohawk Park, and she should find this assignment easier; top call. (2) WOODMERE CHA CHA is on a roll but this is tougher. She is an obvious contender, but she could get overbet. What to do with (8) C U PRINCESS who brings great form north but has missed close to two months action? I’ll watch her this week from post 8. (3) READEMANDWEEP should be good for another small share tonight.
Race 12 — (4) CENTURY GEORGIA paced two good back halves in a row, now she gets a slightly better post. Sorrie is likely to get more aggressive with her tonight and she gets top billing here. (2) COUNTERCURRENCY is the main threat after winning from the 8-hole last week; using. (5) JACKIEOFALLTRADES gets a better post here and she should be blasting. She is the third viable option for the late Pick 4. (7) MOONSHINERS CREDIT would be rated higher had she not drawn widest. From out there, I’ll use her underneath. (3) LADY NATASHA should get a more alert start from this better post and she can take a share.
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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.
Photo by Ryan Clements Photos
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