Best Bet – (7) – SOLEIL GRETZKY – Race 8
Spot Play – (1) – Y C BROADWAY – Race 6
20-cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3 – 1,2,3,5/1,2,3/4/1,3,8 = $7.20
20-cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7 – 1,4,6/6,7/5,6/1,4,5 = $7.20
Race 1 – (1) PRINCE GIOVANNI is winless in 2020, but has finished third in one-third of his 15 seasonal starts; class-dropper paced his own 1:53.4 Rideau Carleton mile Sept. 20, finishing sixth but pacing last quarter in 28.2; most recent victory was last Oct. 31, a 1:56.1 gate-to-wire performance over a sloppy surface at this venue. (5) MACH LEE was fifth at Rideau Nw1350l3cd classification last Sunday, closing in a field’s-fastest 28.2 after trailing the tightly-bunched group to the opening half; Stephane Brosseau opted to scoot up the pylons late in what didn’t appear to be a taxing mile for this two-time seasonal winner; note Stephane Pouliot drives tonight, because Brosseau is at Hippodrome 3R for their big stakes card today. (7) ROSE RUN SLIDER is down in class, but with outside post and a pronounced case of seconditis; judges’ scratch last week because of “race office error.”
Race 2 – (7) LESTENPERCENT didn’t have a problem with the #7 and #8 hole in Sept. 13 and 20 Rideau Carleton “not listed” Preferred Handicap trot, recording going-away wins in both; took new 1:55.3 lifetime mark here Sept. 6; versatile gelding in top form. (5) BOO THANG is trainer Pierre Bovay’s choice here, with Ted McDonald enlisted to drive his other entrant, #3 Hat Trick Marleau; hard used last week, first over and battling Precieuse CC to a 27.4 opening quarter, he had nothing left to defend his lead by the three-quarters. (3) HAT TRICK MARLEAU closed for show in last Sunday’s “not listed” Preferred Handicap, trotting home in 28.4; consistent closer has hit board in 13 of 18 starts this year, adapting well to Preferred-level competition over his last four races.
Race 3 – (3) UFDRAGONS ROCKET was in over his head at 35/1 odds when competing at this track’s “not listed” Preferred classification Sept. 6; last win was against Rideau Carleton Nw660pscd class August 16 for catch driver Jody Jamieson, pocketing up behind duelling leaders for the 1:54.3 win on a “good” surface; massive class relief for gelding who has had time off since that personal 1:54.2 mile; catch driver Tyler Jones on board, as Stephane Brosseau is at Hippodrome 3R. (1) SAULSBROOK LANNY was an effortless going-away winner at lower levels here Sept. 13 and 17, when the Mandy Archer-owned/trained gelding had Guy Gagnon in the bike; as Gagnon is also driving in Trois-Rivieres today, Stephane Pouliot takes the lines on two-time seasonal winner (from eight starts); like stablemate #2 The Roadies, he’s up in class tonight. (5) ROAD RUNNER COLONY paced the fastest current last quarter (27.4) of anyone here when he tried to catch Nw860pscd winner Mcjagersonthemove Sept. 6; he held on for show that race, and has hit board in half his 16 seasonal starts; Richard Simard busy in Quebec today, so Ryan Guy catch drives class-dropper.
Race 4 – (2) MUSSELSFRMBRUSSELS is apparent choice of Tyler Jones, who actually drove #4 Stelios and #5 Macho Polo in their last starts as well; coming in off a 1:55.1 front-end romp over Rideau Carleton Nw1350l3cd rivals Sept. 20; stablemate #4 Stelios can leave and establish hot early pace, which sets up well for this consistently-fast closer. (1) CASIMIR OVERDRIVE has nine victories from 24 races this year, and has only missed board five times; he’s back up into $12,000 claiming company this week, the same level where he won from off the pace August 23…for Tyler Jones, who drives this race’s top choice. (3) MISTER GODRO gets class relief, moving down from $15,000 claimers; parked by Luke and Duke when he tried first-over move for Clarke Steacy nearing the half Sept. 20, he had no response when closers came calling in the stretch; his three seasonal victories were in $10,000 claiming events here and at Mohawk, plus a Nw2500l3cd effort at Kawartha, his results in $12,000 claiming company suggest show finish most likely.
Race 5 – (4) THUNDERING JIM draws inside Sept. 24 winner Barn One (post #6) tonight; finished third to that winning fave last race; tripped out and nearly caught winner Officially Rusty Sept. 17, stalking from pocket and pacing a 28.3 last quarter; individually clocked in 1:54.4; Tyler Jones gets first catch drive on formerly Ohio-based four-year-old who’s adapted well to Rideau Carleton since Sept. 3 debut. (6) BARN ONE broke his 2020 win drought Sept. 20, wiring Rideau Nw430pscd companions like #4 Thundering Jim in a narrow 1:54.4 victory; that tactic is easier from the #2 hole than out here, but with back-to-back 1:54-zone performances here, he should be in the ticket; Clarke Steacy fills in for Richard Simard, who is at Hippodrome 3R. (1) DRY CREEK IMAGE was fourth and second in her previous pair of efforts from Rideau rail; just one win in 2020 and lacks speed of top two selections, however she has hit board in half of her 16 races this year; Mike Healey catch drives in place of regular reinsman Stephane Brosseau.
Race 6 – (1) Y C BROADWAY didn’t care for half-mile Flamboro Sept. 5; otherwise, hasn’t missed board since fourth-place finish from post #8 at Georgian Downs August 1; Ryan Guy gets the drive on what looks like an overlay; competitive at various recent Preferred classifications, he proved lethal on the lead in Georgian’s $12,500 claiming handicap July 18. (3) CHEQUE THE MAGIC exits Rideau’s “not listed” Preferred Handicap for comparable classification/better post than his August 23 place finish; front-end-loving trotter needs to fend off closers like tonight’s #2 Ace Bi, who beat him by a nose on that fateful occasion. (2) ACE BI won from same post at this track’s Nw2750l3cd level August 23, but finished fourth as beaten fave last Sunday facing similar bunch from post #4; late speed, but lacks consistency of others this race. (4) CASCADA had rail and mid-race advantage Sept. 20, only to fall prey to (now-absent) Stormont Ventnor. (8) BATTING STATS blew up in Sept. 20 “not listed” Preferred Handicap, earning class relief and a driver change to Pascal Berube; post #8 not ideal for explosive trotter on comeback trail, but he did win for Berube in gate-to-wire style against Rideau Nw1750l3cd company Sept. 10.
Race 7 – (4) BIG PETES STYLE and Guy Gagnon, together again; 12 seasonal wins from 25 starts; no explanation required. (1) ST LADS CASH has unrivaled late speed; infrequent 2020 winner draws ideal post for stalking trip, without having to handle “not listed” Preferred company this week. (6) BS TYRRIFIC came on strong after Luke and Duke had already put away first-up challenger Mister Godro Sept. 20, ending up second for tonight’s driver Pascal Berube; #4 Big Petes Style was third that start, in off-the-pace effort from post #6; while the Guy Gagnon-owned/trained/driven top choice looks best here, this eight-time 2020 place finisher’s 1:53.3 personal mile last week suggests he’s one to watch.
Race 8 – (7) SOLEIL GRETZKY is making his second pari-mutuel start of 2020 this race, on the heels of wiring Hippodrome 3R Nw500pscd rivals from post #6 Sept. 18; light résumé, heavy on results, for front-end-loving pacer. (6) BADSTORMANYPORT impressed as a gate-to-wire Rideau Nw1400l3cd winner Sept. 24; the 1:53 flat effort was his fastest of the year; Clarke Steacy catch drives in place of Richard Simard this time. (8) OSIRIS BLUE CHIP has six seasonal victories, but none from a post position this far out; despite class drop and Guy Gagnon in the sulky, his favoured front-end trip appears out of reach tonight.
Race 9 – (5) AVATAR J was third in a Rideau Carleton homecoming Sept. 20, individually clocked in 1:53.2 behind now-absent winner Kwik Talkin and tonight’s #6 National Debt; field’s winningest pacer of 2020 has been plying trade on Maritime Preferred/Invitational circuit, but Mandy Archer trainee looks ready for this group; stablemate #7 Vegas Rocks will likely leave hard and set lively pace. (6) NATIONAL DEBT doesn’t mind an outer post position, although he was nipped at the wire in stalking trip from same post Sept. 20; late speed paired with class relief. (3) MCJAGERSONTHEMOVE is up in class, but from manageable post, with Guy Gagnon driving; beaten front-end fave at this track’s Op18000clm level Sept. 20 finished narrowly behind tonight’s #4 Silverado.
Race 10 – (5) MYBROTHERGEORGE finished fourth of the field scratched down to five in race 2, Sept. 20; his 28.2 last quarter was the field’s fastest, and with Pascal Berube aboard tonight in a larger field, he could put late speed to better use. (4) CHALEURS AD was evidently not Pascal Berube’s choice to drive this race; always-competitive pacesetter is in the able hands of Clarke Steacy, but has proved vulnerable to late speed Sept. 6 and 13, finishing second as beaten fave with Hard Rock Summer Series purses on the line. (1) DARCEE N offered nothing in defence of his lead at the half Sept. 13, as SOS Justified blew past for a going-away victory; Sept. 20, he closed well for show for a returning Tyler Jones, who is back to drive here; better post tonight for pacer with five wins this year and frequent presence in the top three. (2) MACH MESSIER set the pace throughout his 1:54.3 effort Sept. 20, caught at the wire by the now-absent Reys N A Rocket; Guy Gagnon and inside draw bode well for five-time seasonal winner who appeared to be an overlay at 4/1 last week. (9) SOS JUSTIFIED “slapped his rivals senseless” from post #8 Sept. 13 for Richard Simard, then came back with a show finish as beaten fave for Tyler Jones Sept. 20; trailing post and Robert Robinson tonight for 12-time 2020 winner facing class hike.
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Melissa Keith is a lifelong harness handicapper/bettor, Hervey/O'Brien Media Excellence Award-winning writer, and occasional racecaller. She is a contributor to TROT, Hoof Beats, Atlantic Post Calls, and Harness Racing Update, often covering topics related to wagering. Her most memorable bets include taking down the Truro Raceway Pick-7 pool for a $36 investment (it has not been offered since) and collecting $1,287 for a Woodbine Harness Pick-4 which cost a whopping $1.60.
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