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Garnet Barnsdale’s Western Fair Raceway Selections: Friday, October 9, 2020

Bet Now > Tips from the Pros > Garnet Barnsdale’s Western Fair Raceway Selections: Friday, October 9, 2020

Garnet Barnsdale’s Western Fair Raceway Selections: Friday, October 9, 2020

October 9, 2020
By Garnet Barnsdale
Garnet Barnsdale’s Western Fair Raceway Selections: Friday, October 9, 2020
Best Bet – (1) MACH MINE BLUE – Race 2
Spot Play – (6) GMC TROOPER – Race 6
20-Cent Pick 5 – Race 1 – 2,3,4,6,8/1/7,8/4,6,7/1,3,7 = $18.00
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 4 – 4,6,7/1,3,7/2,6/1 = $3.60
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7 – 2,5/1,6/1,3,6/1,2,4 = $7.20

 
Race 1- Tough race to kick off the Pick 5 that could end up being a war of attrition with so many having gait issues. (2) GRACEFUL TITAN gets the nod based on her good debut effort, but I wouldn’t take a short price. (4) BELLONA shows a couple of races that identify her as a contender and her experience may be an asset here facing many lightly-raced two-year-olds; using. (3) NORTHERN BLIZZARD faces his easiest test yet and McClure is named. He will be a threat if he stays trotting.  
 
Race 2 – (1) MACH MINE BLUE drops in for a tag, draws the best post and picks up McClure; down the road. (2) STILL OWING draws well also and she should get a good trip in this spot; Exacta factor. (7) WINE TYME is capable of blasting for position and she is a possibility for the Tri and Super.  
 
Race 3 – (8) RIVERSONTHEGO has been a different horse in the Nostadt barn and a mid-race brush and crush could be coming from her in this spot. (7) TITANIC KATE comes in off a nice win at Mohawk Park and she is the obvious one to beat, but post 7 is no picnic at this track and I wouldn’t take odds-on. (2) ANN JACKSON looked good dominating easier at Grand River but this is much tougher; using underneath. 
 
Race 4 – (4) NORTHERN FLAME woke up with a big mile when Henry drove last time and I’ll call him to repeat and lodge an upset. (6) LOVE WARRIOR fits well in this $15K claimer and she has a big shot tonight; using. (7) THE REINS OF TITAN blasted to the front at this level two starts back and hung on for 2nd. Kelly is good at leaving with one from any post; using.  
 
Race 5 – (7) P L NOTORIOUS set a wicked pace at Leamington and she almost lasted. St Louis will have her geared up to leave hard and I’ll give her a slight nod in a tough race. (1) W C KENZIE COOKIE should be right up on the pace leaving from the rail and she is a multi-race must-use for me. (3) VINTAGE SMILE has improved in the McQueen barn and she is another solid contender who merits a long look for Pick 4 and Pick 5 tickets, 
 
Race 6 – (6) GMC TROOPER gets a massive driver change to St Louis coming off a decent first-over effort at Flamboro Downs. He could wake up in a big way here. (2) ARTISTIC PICK is clearly the one to beat dropping out of fast Preferred 3 races and he is hard to leave off Pick 4 tickets. (1) BRAVADO SEELSTER should show improvement moving to the best post and picking up aggressive driver Mackenzie; using underneath. (9) DREAMFAIR (8) ETERNAL RULER should sit a good following trip and land in the bottom of the High-5. 
 
Race 7 – (1) TATTOO ARTIST likely didn’t need any help but drawing the rail makes him virtually unbeatable in this OSS Gold race. (2) BEACH BLANKET BOOK is sure to use his post position to secure the pocket leaving the gate and the 1-2 Exacta may over pay here due to the presence of (7) BEAUMOND HANOVER who is obviously one of the best colts in this division but got no luck with the draw. 
 
Race 8 – (5) TYGA HANOVER should blast right to the front here and lead his five rivals on a merry chase. (2) SIR PUGSLEY can sit the pocket and if there is going to be an upset, he is likely to be the one that provides it. (6) ROOTIN TOOTIN would be rated higher from an inside post but from the widest starting slot I see him taking a small share.  
 
Race 9 – (1) MISSYS MAGIC MAN has faced much tougher at Mohawk Park recently and he should be tough in this spot leaving from the rail. (6) CHOCOLATE PIE should be a speed threat if he stays flat this time. (8) NEED AN ALIBI’s most recent effort was decent and she should take a share following the choice tonight. 
 
Race 10 – (6) COUNT TO THREE lands in a spot where she should be chasing a faltering late pace and with a decent trip she should sail by these late. (3) TRIM THE SAILS is the likely leader and one to chase down and she’s on my Pick 4 ticket. (1) BIG DIAMOND should also be prominent early and she should stick around for a small share. 
 
Race 11 – (1) WYND CREEK is in solid form and driver Kelly is likely to push for position early. She gets top call here mainly based on post advantage. (2) WHEELY TWICKY has perhaps the best form of any in here, but her driver’s last win came in 2004 and he is 19 for 357 lifetime; demand a price. (4) FINAL CHEQUE gets both post and class relief here and he is capable in this spot; using.
 
Race 12 – (3) HIDDEN POTENTIAL makes his second start at this level and he draws much better than he did at Grand River; top call. (1) SHIPPEN OUT has missed some time, but he is capable at this level and he could get a perfect pocket trip tonight; using. (9) BOOMBOOM BALLYKEEL is the class of the race but from the second tier post a small share is likely his ceiling this time. (2) DEADLY ACTION will likely get a spot near the front early and he is a good one to use in the High-5. (4) LAWMEN REIGN is another who should sit a trip and beat a few of these. 

Photo by John Watkins

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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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