Best Bet – (4) FIREBBY A – Race 1
Spot Play – (3) OCEANVIEW MAGNUM – Race 10
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 4/2,3,4/1/3,5,6,8/2,4,5 = $7.20
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 2,3/1,3,4/1,3,4/1,3,5/2,3 = $21.60
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 4: 3,5,6,8/2,4,5/2,3/1,3,4 = $14.40
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 1,3,4/1,3,5/2,3/4,7 = $7.20
Race 1 – (4) FIREBBY A catches a field she should dominate here and she will be a Pick 5 single for me to kick off the card. (2) CATCH AN ACE is likely to ride the choice’s pocket throughout and complete a chalky Exacta. (7) FUN ON A BEACH is well spotted here from a class perspective and she should offer a good price due to drawing widest; consider using on the bottom of the Tri and Super.
Race 2 – (3) AJKNIGHT roughed it first up in the slop in the Autumn series in a decent effort. He looks as good as any in here and he could provide some Pick 5 value with his 10 to 1 morning line quote. (2) SMOOTH AS CHEDDAR rode the choice’s cover and finished just behind him. He has post position advantage and he should be a big threat. (4) DEPUTY SEELSTER continues to race well but he hasn’t found it easy since the Hanover Raceway meet ended and I wouldn’t take a short price on him here.
Race 3 – (1) FAST AS PHELPS wasn’t beating much at Leamington, but his style of bottoming out the field combined with driver St Louis and the rail post will probably make him very tough to beat in this spot. (2) GUY SMILEY showed some late interest in his debut racing against the choice and he should be an Exacta factor here drawing much better. (6) P H RAINMAN can improve in his second start over this track but from an outer post I prefer to use him underneath.
Race 4 – (5) C L SPORTACTION has missed some time and he draws poorly here but he drops to a much easier class and picks up the leading driver so he gets a slight nod. (3) WINDSONG NAPOLEON raced well in this class several times at Leamington and he should be the main danger. (8) KEATON is no stranger to the Forest City oval and his strong record of 19 wins from his past 66 starts should be respected. He could pop up and win in this kind of a spot.
Race 5 – (4) SIGNIFICANCE took some money at the windows and she raced okay in her first start back after missing four months. I see her getting more aggressive in this spot; top call. (2) SPORTY TORI comes off a sharp effort at this level and drawing inside she should get position early. She has a big shot here. (5) LIFELONG DREAM chased a classy three-year-old filly home last week and she is another in with a decent chance. (1) RELEASE THE BABY should get a nice following trip here and take a share. (6) CASINO CLASSIC would be rated higher had she drawn better. From out there I’ll play to beat her.
Race 6 – On paper, this is a two-horse race between (2) GEORGES CREDIT and (3) SLICK N SPORTY. The former gets top billing based on post and driver advantage but I’ll use both in the Pick 4 and 5. (1) BABYS BEACH BUM is worth a look for the Tri making his debut off a decent qualifier.
Race 7 – (1) PINECONE PETE gets to face easier here and from the rail he may get sent right down the road. (4) UNABATING took a week off after breaking in his October 14 race here and the short rest may be just what he needed. He is obviously capable if on his best behaviour and he is hard to leave off multi-race tickets. (3) WINGS OF BALLYKEEL won the 10/14 race then stepped up and raced evenly. She is in with a shot starting from the inside.
Race 8 – (3) BACKRIVER DUKE was first up a long way at Leamington last Sunday and he stayed game. I’ll give him a slight nod in a tough race. (4) MONTY MONO similarly raced tough and came up just short and he appears to fit well here; using. (1) AMAZING QUEST could be the one to catch leaving from the rail and I’ll use him on multi-race tickets.
Race 9 – (3) FIRST CAR had no luck trying to chase down the gritty Tomitta Bayama at Flamboro but from an inside draw he projects to get a better start here and he is a gate-to-wire front end threat. (1) CAL HANOVER fits much better at the $7K claiming level and he’s on my Pick 4 ticket. (5) REGALLY MAGNIFIED was racing great at Leamington but the sick scratch is worrisome. I wouldn’t take a short price.
Race 10 – (3) OCEANVIEW MAGNUM has been in some impossible spots from tough posts in his past two starts at Mohawk Park and it will likely benefit him that he wasn’t used hard in either race. He fits well here and he should be hard to beat. (2) WALTER MITTY raced tough in defeat last time and he should be the main danger. (7) MOONWRITER fits better in this class but he loses St Louis who is driving the #6 which is trained by his wife. I see him closing for a small slice this time.
Race 11 – (4) RED HOT TORCH had no problem torching most of these rivals last week and he stands a good chance to repeat at a short price here. (7) P C GLIDELINE drops into a claimer and she has enough gate speed to make a dash for the front at the start. She should be the main threat to the choice. (1) GYM RAT can leave much better this week starting from the rail and he can provide some exotics value. (8) SECRETLY FLASHY chased the choice home now her task doesn’t get any easier being mired in the second tier to start; using underneath. (6) YOOOUKILIS should pass a few of these and take a small 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 five years. He is also the current President of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
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