Best Bet – (1) MADE TO SHINE – Race 1
Spot Play – (8) SECRETLY FLASHY – Race 5
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,2/3,4,5/2,3,8/1,2,4/6,7,8 = $32.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 1,3,8/1,5/3,4,8/3,4,7/3,8 - $21.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 4: 1,2,4/6,7,8/1,3,8/1,5 = $10.80
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 3,4,8/3,4,7/3,8/5,6 = $7.20
Race 1 – (1) MADE TO SHINE didn’t have the greatest trip last week, but he did rally wide late and manage to get past a tiring leader. I expect him to be more aggressive leaving from the rail tonight; call to repeat. (2) TJ SILVERADO qualified well enough to attract catch-driver Henry here in his debut race and he is worth a look for early Pick 5 tickets. (6) P H RAINMAN was the first to try to chase the loose leader in the race won by the choice. He is capable of getting a better result in this spot.
Race 2 – (5) REYS IN A ROCKET gets St Louis here racing off the fresh Puddy claim and she could end up parked a long way and still get the job done in this spot. (4) SIGNIFICANCE could make things tough for the choice because she is sure to be pointed to the front leaving the gate and she’s hard to leave off Pick 5 tickets. (3) BIGRISK CRUSIER’s local debut was decent considering she drew the worst post. She should make it into the Tri tonight.
Race 3 – (3) STONEBRIDGE BETTOR races best at this $7,000 claiming level and dropping back down tonight gives him his best chance to succeed; top call. (2) WINDSONG NAPOLEON is in excellent form and he should be the main threat to the choice while racing close to the front throughout. (8) CAL HANOVER could get a contested early pace to chase here and that makes him one that I’ll use on multi-race tickets as he looks to repeat.
Race 4 – (4) J J POWERBALL has raced well in his past three starts all with Sorrie in the bike and he should be tough in here despite missing some time. (1) ROSE RUN QUEST likely needed to stretch his legs last week after shipping from the Maritimes and missing three weeks. He should be much sharper tonight; using. (2) BRAVADO SEELSTER was game in defeat last week and he isn’t out of this, especially starting from an inside post.
Race 5 – (8) SECRETLY FLASHY won the pace battle but lost the war last week. She could make a third 1/4 brush-and-crush move in this spot. (7) LA MAGIC is one of the main contenders on paper but post 7 could make things tough for him; demand a price. (6) WARRAWEE USAIN is going to show speed again and one of these times he will forget to stop; maybe tonight? (4) O SEA SEA takes small shares frequently. She’s a good one to use on the bottom of the High-5. (1) P C GLIDELINE can use her post advantage to get a spot in the top five early and ride a nice trip to a check.
Race 6 – (8) VALIDUS DEO comes off an impossible trip, now he gets a better post and St Louis in the bike and I’ll give him the nod. (1) FASHIONONTHEBEACH has been mired in the second tier in two straight starts now he draws best and he is almost sure to show early speed here. He is in with a decent chance. (3) MR MACH JIMMY gets post relief and a driver change to Kelly which means he should get put into this race earlier. He should get at least a piece of this.
Race 7 – (1) NAKED CITY is an obvious big threat to lead this group all the way and he will have to be caught. (5) NEEDLECREST gets St Louis back for this start and he could use a grinding first-over trip to take a win in this spot; using. (4) MYSTIC MESSENGER is right there every week and he will use his potent gate speed to get position early here; using underneath.
Race 8 – (8) INSINCERITY couldn’t repel a strong challenger that went on to win easily last week. She will need to deploy a stalking style this time but she could get the job done if she can get position in the top five by the first turn. (4) STONEBRIDGE DRAMA is a logical contender on the class drop facing rivals with mostly poor recent form. She’s hard to leave off late Pick 4 tickets. (3) ALPHABET QUEEN comes out of the same race as the choice and I won’t be surprised if she improves sharply tonight.
Race 9 – (4) AJKNIGHT faces much easier here and he should be hard to knock off racing on the engine. (3) HIGH FLYIN JAMIE brings solid form into this race and this doesn’t look like much tougher of a spot; using. (7) DEPUTY SEELSTER has the most wins in the race and he has also been facing tougher but post 7 could be his undoing here. I wouldn’t take too short a price here.
Race 10 – (3) THE GIRLS OF IMAGE dropped and dominated last week and off that sharp effort where she was aggressively driven by Sorrie I’ll give her the call to repeat. (8) PHOOS GIRL drops and gets regular driver St Louis back. She is an obvious threat but she could get bet off the board here; be mindful of price before you plunge. (1) WOODMERE WYLDSTYLE has a better chance here getting major post relief but I prefer to use her underneath.
Race 11 – (6) MALL PEEN HAMMER made an extreme wide move on the final turn last week and he was pacing so fast at the wire that he made a speed break as soon as he reached the lead. He should offer good value from an outside post here and he gets my nod. Last time St Louis drove (5) GRITS N GRAVY on 10/26 he was a winner and with that teamster returning today he should be put into play early here; using. (8) OLD BUCK comes in off a sharp win in good time at Flamboro and he should get a solid pace to chase here. He is another option for the late Pick 4. (9) ROUGH TRADE should pick up some pieces and close for a small share. (1) ARTS FIRST LUCK is hard to leave off the High-5 ticket considering he draws best and should get a good trip.
Photo by John Watkins
*
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