Best Bet – (6) VILLAGE JAMIE – Race 8
Spot Play – (1) FASTBALL SEELSTER – Race 4
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 1,2/2,3/2,6/1,3,7/2,6,9 = $14.40
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 2,7/2,3/6/3,6/1,2,4,5,6 = $8.00
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 4: 1,3,7/2,6,9/2,7/2,3 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 6/3,6/1,2,4,5,6/1,3 = $4.00
Race 1 – There isn’t much question that (2) MR JOHN is the fastest horse in here and he should be tough to beat in the opening leg of the early Pick 5. (1) TJ SILVERADO was ready to fire at first asking and if he rides in the choice’s pocket as expected, he might be able to spring an upset. (8) JAYS N TIGERS qualified well enough for this debut to suggest he should be able to take a share; using underneath.
Race 2 – (2) WILSON WALL got rolling a tad too late last time and came up just short. I’ll give him the call to upset likely heavy favorite (3) NEED AROCKET who is impossible to leave off Pick 5 tickets. (1) DEPUTY SEELSTER is in better starting position to get a good trip tonight, but I prefer to use him underneath in this spot.
Race 3 – (2) LA MAGIC was the only pursuer of a loose leader in the lane last week, well clear of the rest of the field and he gets post position improvement here; top call. (6) AVUNCULAR should improve sharply dropping into a claimer tonight and if he can clear to the front, he might be gone. (4) SECRETLY FLASHY is in good form, but with 16 slices in 34 starts this year vs. only two wins, she is probably best used underneath.
Race 4 – (1) FASTBALL SEELSTER – a 1/2-brother to 22-time winner Frontier Seelster – qualified fast enough to be competitive at first asking and drawing the rail is a bonus; top call. (3) HERESTHATMANAGAIN squandered a huge lead when tiring racing over an off track last time. He should be the one to catch. (7) RANGER HANOVER raced well with Kelly driving two starts back at Flamboro when he started from the widest post. He has upset potential here.
Race 5 – (6) DASHIKI went a big trip last time after breaking stride and he keeps hot driver Sorrie here. I’ll give him the nod despite drawing a wide post. Nothing went right for (9) TOMITTA BAYAMA last time, but he stayed game. He will need to work out a trip starting from the second tier, but he is one of the main contenders. (2) TWOMACSONEMACH is probably in an easier spot racing against bottom level claimers tonight. I’ll use him on multi-race tickets. (4) WINDSONG NAPOLEON should get position near the front again tonight and he can ride that into a spot in the High-5. (8) TOWNSHIP WILLY comes in off a game win but this looks like a tougher spot; using on the bottom.
Race 6 – (7) MOONWRITER holds a class edge on paper here and I’ll give him top billing despite drawing widest. (2) BRAVE WORLD figures to be the main threat starting from the inside and he is the other one that I’ll use to kick off the late Pick 5. (1) THE REGULATOR is sure to push out from the inside early and gain position on most of these. From there he can get a good following position; small share predicted.
Race 7 – (3) NEEDLECREST moved early and was relentless when winning last week. He loses driver St Louis but Henry is a capable replacement and he should be tough in here. (2) RACEBYTHESEASIDE was an easy winner last time he started from an inside post; Exacta factor. (4) STONEBRIDGE BETTOR should get positioned near the front early and I see him landing in the Tri.
Race 8 – (6) VILLAGE JAMIE faces much easier here shipping in from Mohawk Park and she should be tough to beat if she gets a reasonable trip. (3) ALPHABET QUEEN comes off an improved effort and she should be in the hunt despite stepping up in class. (8) WOODMERE RIO has taken slices in 40% of her lifetime starts and she is a good one to use underneath in this spot.
Race 9 – (6) HIGH FLYIN JAMIE broke stride when on the move last week. This seems like a group he can sweep by with his good late kick if he minds his manners tonight. (3) CARD SWAP was second best behind a runaway winner at Flamboro Downs last time and this is a decent spot for him to shoot for his second win; using. (2) SMOOTH AS CHEDDAR makes attempt #22 at breaking his maiden. I see him finishing on the bottom of the Tri again.
Race 10 – (2) THE GIRLS OF IMAGE caught fire with Sorrie driving and I like her to notch the threepeat here. (4) BUTTERMILK HANOVER is in good form but she hasn’t been able to break through with a recent win. She stacks up well in this field and she’s on my multi-race tickets. (1) SAULSBROOK JESSIE comes off a big win vs. lesser and she’s hard to leave out starting from the rail.
Race 11 – (1) WOODMERE CHELLA gets massive class relief here shipping in from Mohawk Park and Sorrie will no doubt be looking to send her right down the road. (3) OK JEWEL goes into a high % barn here while shipping in from the U.S. and she figures to be the main danger. (7) ALYSSA MARIE is the other shipper who faces easier but she is at a severe post disadvantage; using underneath. (8) THREE ACCOUNTS should improve in this spot and if she follows the choice closely at the start, she should get good position early. She should be in the High-5. (4) ROLLWITHITANNIE is yet another shipper to consider here. Her good gate speed should facilitate her taking a cheque tonight.
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