Spot Play – (2) – MORTGAGE MY VILLA – Race 8
Best Bet – (5) – CRUISE CAPTAIN – Race 5
20-cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3 – 4,6/1,7,8/2,5/3,4,7 = $7.20
20-cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7 – 1,2,3/2/4,7,8/2,9 = $3.60
Race 1 – (2) MONEY EARNED isn't considered down in class in the official program, however, she's been racing in Rideau Carleton Op15000clm company and finds herself facing $7,000 claimers tonight; the lone mare is this field's top 2020 earner besides #5 Genesee, in spite of dealing with consistent hard-hitters like P H Impulse, Rub Me, and Double Down Duke; sacrificial move when she left hard Oct. 29 from post #7 to challenge Stoney Curtis for earliest lead, but post improvement and absence of those previous names make a difference here. (3) SHRIMP AND GRITS was a top-choice Rideau selection Nov. 1, holding on for second (at odds of 5/1) to runaway winner Road Runner Colony over "good" surface; front-end battle with Savannah Splendor took its toll after early fractions of 27.4 and 57.3, on a night when only two of the highest-class pacers (Kwik Talkin, National Debt) and one in exceptional form (Red John) were able to maintain their lead from the half to the finish; first seasonal win over this track was August 6 for Michael Armstrong and Guy Gagnon, the same connections he started for last week and tonight; class drop from Nw1300l3cd. (5) GENESEE could manage no better than seventh from post #7 in the $33,200 Brian Jerome Memorial Claiming Series final Nov. 1; regular driver Tyler Jones wasn't aboard for that race, but he drove in the seven-time seasonal winner's last pair of Rideau victories Oct. 18 and 25, and he's back for first time since this field's fastest (1:53.1) 2020 Ottawa winner returned to Anne Marie Turenne, Michael and Alex McDonald after being claimed away.
Race 2 – (9) MACH TIE SON is the winningest horse in this field (3), including a stakes victory at Hippodrome 3R Sept. 27 and a personal best 1:56 effort in an Oct. 11 Rideau Carleton dead heat with the recent winner of two legs of Mohawk Harvest Series, Dabarndawgswatchin; the latter race was with Rodney Laframboise in the sulky, and he's back tonight; beaten fave Oct. 29 closed late for fourth, on a night when front-end winners predominated, like Blissfull Factor (tonight's #7), who went gate-to-wire for first lifetime win...at age nine. (3) WILD RIVER COYOTEE will get bet as if he's won far more often than his actual resume indicates (twice); the Guy Gagnon-trained/driven gelding has the fastest (1:55) lifetime best of this group, but could not get to winner Bronson Nov. 1, despite stalking from pocket throughout 1:55.3 mile. (2) THREE TRICK GAINER is a three-year-old maiden making Rideau debut for John MacMillan and Stephane Brosseau; his limited 5/8-mile track experience includes a couple of competitive place finishes August 23 and 30 at Georgian Downs for previous connections; didn't care for starting from tailing post at Western Fair last week, but closed well at added distance for show finish Oct. 26; one of two MacMillan horses this race, the other being the two-year-old #4 T J Thunder.
Race 3 – (4) SASKABUSH STEVE stalked Shine a Light Oct. 29 and closed in 28.2, eating up ground late in place finish just a half-length back of that 1:55.1 gate-to-wire winner; out-closed both Dylans Bank and Larry Is Debs Rock (#5 and #6 respectively this race) with late move that fell just shy of a 16/1 upset. (6) LARRY IS DEBS ROCK was too far back when he made his move for Richard Simard last race, finishing fifth despite pacing co-fastest (28.2) closing quarter; winningest (6) horse of this bunch in 2020 did win from post #7 back on Sept. 27, but hasn't shown same form or inclination in last two weeks from post #6. (5) DYLANS BANK has won every time Guy Gagnon has driven him this year, and all three victories were last month at this track; this three-year-old has shown versatility in his winning style, however his body language and deceleration in deep stretch Oct. 29 told the "tail" of a tiring beaten fave.
Race 4 – (1) MONTANABLACKANGEL has been a different animal from his old off stride self lately; credit Tyler Jones with keeping the four-year-old focused through Oct. 29 and 22 wins; he's Jones' apparent choice over the strong #6 Fierce Magic here, which speaks volumes. (7) ASA IM READY goes for fourth Rideau Carleton win in a row, following last week's successful Nw2r31500lcd battle with early leader and closest rival Fierce Magic (#6 this race); front-end-loving mare brings her own sharp form, plus that of high-win-percentage driver Stephane Brosseau/trainer John MacMillan. (8) GOALTENDER has late speed and shouldn't face the early pressure of two-time beaten fave #5 Beyond the Lens, so seems poised to come flying in the stretch for third week in a row, despite outside post; winning fave at Hippodrome 3R in last two tries outperformed his minimal respect at Rideau windows in place finish here Oct. 15 behind #7 Asa Im Ready.
Race 5 – (5) CRUISE CAPTAIN is blue-blooded four-year-old who nearly made his Rideau Carleton debut a winning one Oct. 11 for driver Guy Gagnon (aboard his own trainee, #8 Matts Tuition, tonight); Darcee N upset the leader with a passing-lane move to steal the 1:54.2 victory that race, and Cruise Captain hasn't raced again until now--without Lasix tonight and for new catch driver Rodney Laframboise. (2) CAMS LUCKY SAM left well Nov. 1 and was settling into the pocket behind Savannah Splendor and suddenly jumped offstride, seemingly reacting when Pascal Berube moved his whip to urge Savannah Splendor; it was an atypical move for pacer showing recent improvements, who had class/post relief and catch driver Robert Robinson filling in for owner/driver Carol Voyer; tonight, Mike Healey is in the bike as Robinson sides with #4 Michele Z Tam. (8) MATTS TUITION has steep post assignment to overcome, but he's only missed board once since debuting with Guy Gagnon in the sulky here Oct. 8.
Race 6 – (3) ITS ALL WORTH IT has been fourth at double-digit odds in Oct. 15 and 22 Rideau Carleton trips for returning reinsman Jonathan Lachance; forwardly-placed in both miles, he suffered broken equipment in the first; class drop for pacer whose last victory was here Dec. 22, 2019, at odds of 40/1. (7) QUEENJANE BLUECHIP is winless in 19 starts this year, but changes things up tonight in third consecutive start for Tyler Jones; fourth against Nw240pscd company Oct. 29 with pocket ride behind now-absent Cliff Drummond; late dive for passing lane showed some late kick that could come in handy tonight. (4) P L GYRO switches from owner/trainer Andre Champagne to catch driver Pascal Berube in the bike; last raced at Rideau June 18, when he finished a respectable fifth from post #7 (after a scratch to his inside) against Nw400pscd pacers, with Berube driving; 8p7 with broken equipment Nov. 1 in "heavy traffic, bumper to bumper" at Hippodrome 3R. (2) JULIO LAUXMONT was flying late in the same race as #7 Queenjane Bluechip; while only fifth, it was a marked turnaround for pacer who last hit the board at this venue back on August 13, when he stalked Nw445pscd rivals for show with Clarke Steacy driving for Cara Steacy; post/class relief. (8) COOL HAND LUCAN has disappointed when things seemed to be going his way, and a 7/2 morning line is optimistic from the #8 hole; place result Oct. 29 was from rail against lesser Nw1r8000lcd competition; Ryan Guy was able to get the winless-in-30-lifetime-starts four-year-old that far, and evidently chose him over class-dropping rival #5 Vee Breeze tonight.
Race 7 – (1) SPRINGBRIDGEVISION might have rediscovered her old fire, as the eight-time 2019 winner closed for place Oct. 22, her most recent start, when Red John proved just too good for anyone to catch; still winless (aside from qualifiers) in 2020, the rail and catch driver Robert Robinson represent her best recent chance, despite class jump. (2) MACH LEE set his 1:54.3 personal best at Rideau August 13, emboldened first-over on the last turn after pocket trip for Stephane Brosseau (driving #3 Dabunka tonight), at odds of 20/1. (3) DABUNKA has class/post relief and the winning team of Stephane Brosseau/John MacMillan; winningest (4) of this field in 2020, although current tendency to lose ground late.
Race 8 – (2) MORTGAGE MY VILLA won at Rideau Carleton Nw420pscd level Oct. 22 from rail, then couldn't replicate that effort when he faced much tougher Nw700pscd company the following race, unable to make much progress when sixth from third-over at the three-quarters; lighter in the win column than others this time, but with fresher legs and Clarke Steacy. (4) BALI won his qualifier at Hippodrome 3R Nov. 1, but his best recent effort was Oct. 2, when he cut the 1:58.2 mile for Stephane Brosseau over a "good" surface, battling three-wide challengers yet coming back with more until tiring in deep stretch; Guy Gagnon now catch drives for high-percentage-winning owner/trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau, because... (3) WINDSUN CHEYENNE is apparently Brosseau's choice this race; reduced classification helps, although he's struggled in previous two starts at Rideau; most recent win was Oct. 9 at Hippodrome 3R.
Race 9 – (8) SAGALI is the clear class of this group, seemingly on brink of maiden victory in the absence of top filly rival Baywatching; returns to distaff company after understandable show finish behind Bronson and Wild River Coyotee Nov. 1 at Nw1r8000lcd classification; likes front end and should sustain a lead if she gets there tonight; has not missed board at Rideau Carleton over three starts since arrival from Hippodrome 3R. (7) OHBABYWEFOUNDLOVE qualified successfully Nov. 1, wiring two other filly pacers, with trainer Michael Armstrong in the sulky; Tyler Jones is back to catch drive tonight, as her breaking problems are seemingly remedied; excellent string of front-end Rideau performances for Jones ended when filly went to Flamboro Oct. 11. (4) PERFECT DALIANCE has two Ottawa wins this year, like #7 Ohbabywefoundlove, but they were back on July 23 and August 6, at odds of 14/1 and 10/1; those wins were over deeper fields than this one, so Kathy McBride's four-year-old seems to be the stronger of her entries this race, the other being maiden filly #1 Better Than Men.
Race 10 – (2) RUB ME looks ready to deliver the latest beatdown from helpful post tonight; class climb for six-time seasonal winner who earned all but one of them at Rideau Carleton between Sept. 17- Oct. 29 for Rodney Laframboise, and suffered only loss when edged out Oct. 1 by Wild River Coyotee. (9) BRONSON looks like the potential spoiler in this group, especially from second tier; lightly-campaigned four-year-old has been coming on strong for John MacMillan/Richard Simard since Ottawa arrival; broke maiden wiring Wild River Coyotee in 1:55.3 here Oct. 29. (4) DOUBLE DOWN DUKE has not been able to get to Rub Me in last two tries, and shows no reason to change that tonight; pair of place results behind that top-ranked adversary certainly suggest putting the Mandy Archer/Guy Gagnon representative in all exotics, either under the #2 and #9 or boxed with them. (8) ZAR E IP lands a punishing post position, yet the Quebec stakes filly is a four-time winner this season and second only to #4 Double Down Duke in 2020 purse money earned; return from lengthy layoff for class-dropping outsider who took 1:56 record at this venue July 30 with Pascal Berube in the bike; this race, Berube has gone with... (7) KEYSTONE NOLAN, who closed effectively for show behind #2 Rub Me and #4 Double Down Duke Oct. 29; regularly dealing with unappetizing post positions, he's landed yet another this race, yet he tries hard and usually gets a cheque, so definite Hi-5 material.
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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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