Best Bet – (1) BUTE COURAGE N – Race 7
Spot Play – (6) HOLIDAY PARTY – Race 3
20-Cent Early Pick 5 – Race 1: 3,4,6/4,7/4,6,7/1,6,8/1,5 = $21.60
20-Cent Late Pick 5 – Race 6: 1,6/1/1,2,7/2,4,8/1,3,4 = $10.80
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 4: 1,6,8/1,5/1,6/1 = $2.40
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8: 1,2,7/2,4,8/1,3,4/2,6,8 = $16.20
Race 1 – (6) SMOOTH AS CHEDDAR just missed with St Louis in the bike for the first time here last week and you know he is going to get the same aggressive drive from that teamster tonight; slight nod in the opener. (4) PARTYINTHESHADOWS is an obvious contender but he is likely going to be forced to follow the choice early so I’m not sure I’d take a short price. (3) CAMYOUBELIEVEIT gamely grinded it out on the rim uncovered last week and he is another in with a shot here.
Race 2 – (7) CRANKYS BOY improved immediately with St Louis at the controls as many do and he gets the call to repeat here despite drawing widest. (4) ACROBAT HANOVER is an obvious contender on paper but has missed close to two months of action and he could need this race. Proceed with caution. (2) DEPUTY SEELSTER is right there every week but I prefer to use him underneath in this spot.
Race 3 – (6) HOLIDAY PARTY is an interesting shipper here in that the horse that won his most recent start in Quebec was taking his 8th win in 11 starts this year which included a $65,000 stakes series win in his previous start. He could find these much easier and notch an upset. (7) TALBOT EH PLUS made some good headway late here last week and she could get sent hard this time leaving the gate in a race where the horse that is leading after the opening 1/4 might lead them all the way. (4) IAM WHAT I AM is an obvious threat dropping into a claimer and he’s on my early Pick 5 ticket.
Race 4 – (8) SIR SHADOW likely faces his easiest field so far here and I imagine Coulter will put him into the race early this time; using. (1) BABYS BEACH BUM had an okay opener and he could surprise here if he can land a pocket trip. (6) KEYSTONE TAZ is one of only two winners in here and he is another who is likely to be aggressive early. I’ll use him on the multi-race tickets.
Race 5 – (1) NEEDLECREST comes into this race on a big roll and he should be tough to beat starting from the rail. (5) FIRST CAR has also been very good lately winning three of his last five and he can be a big speed threat. (8) STONEBRIDGE STING comes off a nice effort here and he could trip out following the choice. I’ll add him to my Pick 5 ticket. (4) INVITATION TODREAM made up some nice ground late last time and he can be part of this High-5. (6) FRONTIER SEELSTER was dominant at Leamington but these are better horses and he will likely have a hard time with the post draw; using on the bottom.
Race 6 – (6) VALIDUS DEO couldn’t withstand a 27 3/5 third 1/4 onslaught last week but he did stay game to hold 2nd. A similar aggressive strategy can work here. (1) ADORE HIM has big speed to offer on his best day and he should be a threat coming off a break and drawing best. (2) BETTORS WESTERN has a chance to get a really good trip here and he has upset potential.
Race 7 – (1) BUTE COURAGE N got a huge driver change last week and he dominated after being parked out past the 1/2. Now he draws best and he will be hard to beat. (8) DASHIKI gets a positive driver change here coming off a win and he may get a great trip following the choice; Exacta factor. (7) MALL PEEN HAMMER is unbeaten racing out of the Clements barn, but he loses St Louis and draws poorly now so I’ll use him underneath.
Race 8 – (2) MADETOBEKING gets the nod here coming off a sharp try vs. tougher at Mohawk Park. (7) MISTER X has an abundance of early speed and St Louis at the controls and that is a tough combination to ignore; using. (1) MONTY MONO never misses the board and there is no reason to think he’ll start here leaving from the best post.
Race 9 – (4) ZEALOUS SEELSTER had no chance to show her typical early speed last time starting from the second tier. Expect a St Louis speed mission this time; top call. (2) LARJON LEGACY is another who gets post relief here that figures to improve sharply and she is on my Pick 4 ticket. (8) BALFAST N is in a good spot here in terms of class but she needs to work out a trip from post 8. She is another in with a decent shot.
Race 10 – (1) INNOCENT KISS had no luck chasing the classy Firebby A last time but she draws best here and she might go right down the road vs. this group. (3) PHOOS GIRL comes off a strong win vs. easier and St Louis will no doubt have her out and moving. She is a multi-race must-use. (4) SO FRISKY faces considerably easier here and she isn’t out of this.
Race 11 – (2) P L NOTORIOUS raced tough on the rim last week now she draws a spot where she could go down the road if she gets sent hard leaving the gate; top call. (8) MISSTWINKLINSJONES is hot but she does her best racing on the lead and from post 8 it’s hard to predict if she can make it to the front at some point; demand a price. (6) AZUCAR PIPEDREAM is sure to get put into the race by St Louis and she is one that I won’t leave off the late Pick 4. (1) DALI CAT should get a good following trip and land a share here. (5) AMETHYST SEELSTER is worth a look for the High-5 drawing a slightly better post.
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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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