Best Bet – (9) – ALWAYS A DIAMOND – Race 6
Spot Play – (4) – STONEY CURTIS – Race 3
20-cent Early Pick 4 (race 3) – 1,2,3,4,7/1/2,9/2,5,7,9 = $8.00
20-cent Late Pick 4 (race 7) – 3,6/2,5/2,5/2,3,5 = $4.80
Race 1 – (6) SOUND TRACK’s only 2020 victory was at Yonkers on July 14; he’s finished second in every start this year at Rideau Carleton, but that almost changed Sept. 10, when he was narrowly second to Batting Stats; coming second over from second-last at the half, his late dive up the passing lane nearly got him the 1:58.4 win, from same position as tonight (after a scratch). (7) FRIDO PV finished first June 25 and second July 30, his last two starts from post #7 at Rideau; more impressively, he hasn’t missed board in 12 seasonal starts; likes front end but hasn’t been able to defend it all the way to the wire in August 28 or Sept. 11 CCQ-Eleveur stakes at Hippodrome 3R. (2) RAISING RUSTY gets class relief after Sept. 10 OSS Grassroots at Mohawk; Sept. 3, he was a beaten fave at this track behind the now-absent Beyond the Lens at Nw7500lcd level; that 1:58.2 place effort came after back-to-back victories against similar and steady improvement.
Race 2 – (1) BETTIMONTHERIVER led at every call in her Sept. 10 Rideau Carleton debut, nosing out Bumblebabynme for the 1:57.1 lifetime best; Guy Gagnon drives Mandy Archer trainee tonight from post where a similar gate-to-wire attempt looks likely to pay off. (5) PERFECT DALIANCE is this field’s fastest (1:55.4) winner; class/post relief this week; post #8 Sept. 10, but she still chased this race’s #1 Bettimontheriver home from far back, finishing sixth with a personal 29.3 closing quarter. (2) BEAUTY BAYAMA comes from a family of fast mares, including a dam who took her 1:55.2 mark in a qualifier at age 2; owner/trainer/driver Sylvain Grenier’s filly has just eight starts so far, all at Hippodrome 3R, yet commands respect for recent resume, punctuated by 2:00.1 maiden victory Sept. 11; up in class.
Race 3 – (4) STONEY CURTIS was runner-up to the precocious Cheekie Babe at Rideau Carleton’s Nw7500lcd classification last Thursday, setting the pace and getting beat by a head in 1:56.4 mile; three-year-old colt remains a maiden, but he’s closing in on a win; class drop this race. (3) RUB ME finished second despite interference in his Sept. 13 Rideau qualifier; light resume but this field’s fastest winner (1:53.4 at Vernon). (7) ROSE RUN VOLCANO has raced for Mandy Archer and Copley Stables since August 27; faded to sixth when parked attempting off-the-pace effort at Nw7500lcd level Sept. 10; narrowly second to Task Bar Hanover when cutting most of the 1:56.2 mile Sept. 3; post unhelpful and Pascal Berube apparently opted to drive #1 GA Speed Arthur.
Race 4 – (1) PRETTY BLUE ANGEL was a beaten fave at Rideau Carleton distaff Nw7500l level Sept. 10; she was single-file fifth to the half in a race that saw others strung out early behind breakaway leaders Bumblebabynme and Bettimontheriver (neither of whom is in this race); followed tonight’s #3 Ohbabywefoundlove from a second-over fifth to the three-quarters, then launched three-wide in the stretch for show; Ryan Guy was also in the bike for her Kawartha Downs victories July 25 and August 1. (3) OHBABYWEFOUNDLOVE came first over from third, en route to the three-quarters Sept. 10; powerful closing effort from post #5 August 27 resulted in 1:58.1 place finish for driver Guy Gagnon; Tyler Jones is in the sulky tonight. (5) BETTER THAN MEN had two show finishes this season for Mike Healey, who’s back in the sulky here; up in class, however her reliable gait and sub-2:00 performances make her next-best in field that lacks depth beyond the top 2 selections.
Race 5 – (2) DÉJÀ VU SEELSTER has won 4 of 10 seasonal starts, all at Rideau Carleton; hasn’t won a race since leaving distaff company following Nw7500l event July 16; even so, Sept. 10, she pocketed up in second and came within a head of upsetting gate-to-wire 1:55.3 winner G A Speed Joey when she closed up passing lane. (7) LARRY IS DEBS ROCK is frequently in the top three, thanks to his late turn of foot; post isn’t helpful, but his 1:54.4 seasonal mark is this field’s best after #2 Déjà Vu Seelster and he does have five place finishes this year. (9) JOURNALISTIC from trailing post position looks intriguing, just like that 28 flat closing quarter he paced when closing for show behind G A Speed Joey and tonight’s #2 Déjà Vu Seelster Sept. 10; the 1:54 record gelding is fastest winner of this group; newest catch driver Sebastien Turenne is seeking his first driving win aboard one of the two Mandy Archer trainees in this race.
Race 6 – (9) ALWAYS A DIAMOND scored at 16/1 at The Meadowlands January 24, when trained by Julius Czermann Jr.; seasonal comeback July 12 at Hippodrome 3R, when he was second to YS Tallia; August 30, when he tried his luck from post #8 at Rideau’s Nw4000l3cd classification, ending up a non-factor eighth but timed in 1:55.2; class relief and trailing post position could work out for Michel Allard trainee in second consecutive drive by Pascal Berube. (5) SAULSBROOK PEACH disappointed again Sept. 13, when he looked like a potential Best Bet; instead, he chased leaders home in 1:56 for fourth; Tyler Jones is back to drive 1:51.4 Rideau record gelding. (4) SALUTATION qualified with hobbles Sept. 5 at Hippodrome 3R, finishing second in a 1:59.3 mile; formerly free-legged mare has previously shown some closing ability at Vernon Downs; followed Darcee N from fourth on pylons August 30, keeping pace well before fading in second half; third without Lasix last week at Rideau. (2) OFFICIALLY RUSTY is up in class, with serious post relief; closed for fourth August 27 and Sept. 3 at Rideau Nw1250l3cd classification; winless in 13 tries this season, he gets driver change to Jonathan Lachance because Richard Simard evidently chose… (7) BEACH RUNNER A M, class-dropper with three 2020 place results and a 1:57.2 Rideau win this year.
Race 7 – (6) ANGELS KID was much better from post #8 than his 22/1 odds would indicate Sept. 3; he left quickly, settled in third, and stayed steady-gaited as rivals broke stride around him; held on for show behind winner Vero Amore Bi and runner-up YS Suzanne, individually clocked in 2:00.1; also, impressive last week, closing in 28.4 in pursuit of Batting Stats for Tyler Jones. (3) HLDONTGHTTOYURDRMS is down in class for trainer/driver Guy Gagnon; closed for fourth in 1:57.3 effort Sept. 6 for Richard Simard; wired Nw1250l3cd rivals for Gagnon back in August 6, in a season’s-best 1:59.2. (4) UPVOTE HANOVER enjoys class relief here; three show finishes and three wins this year, with recent results tending towards the former.
Race 8 – (2) SAULSBROOK LANNY was a going-away 1:54 winner for Guy Gagnon last Thursday at Rideau Carleton’s Nw1350l3cd classification; it was his first 2020 victory in seven attempts, and an eye-catching reprimand to the few who doubted. (5) ROSE RUN SLIDER just missed catching Caseys Dragon Sept. 12 at Kawartha Downs, in a 1:55.4 effort; Stephane Brosseau drives Luc Loyer-owned/trained pacer for first time since they teamed up for a place finish August 13; late speed. (7) JANS LEGACY has five show finishes this year; roughed up from post #7 Sept. 13, she earned a class drop this week; likes to leave and lead, which seems unlikely to translate into a winning trip from outer post.
Race 9 – (2) GENESEE has 11 top-three finishes in 18 starts this season; class-climbing tonight after tough assignment in Hard Rock Summer Series Final Sept. 13, when he tried to close from eighth at the half over a “good” surface; apparent choice of Tyler Jones over #7 Santanna Tony. (5) DRY CREEK IMAGE finished second in the Hard Rock Summer Series Consolation, behind the now-absent runaway winner Carwins Smore; up in class here, but has hit board in over half her starts this year. (1) TOO MUCH DUNCAN drops in class and has Guy Gagnon at the controls; half of an unofficial Lareau stable entry this race, as #9 Alwaysyourway also races for Stephane and Richard.
Race 10 – (3) G A SPEED JOEY is the apparent choice of Pascal Berube, over #5 P H Impulse, with whom he scored a 1:55.3 gate-to-wire victory Sept. 10; wired Rideau Carleton Nw1r15000lcd company for tonight’s driver last Thursday in 1:55.2 from same post position. (5) P H IMPULSE is back with regular reinsman Stephane Brosseau; won at this track’s Nw1r15000lcd classification Sept. 10, his fourth seasonal victory; wired that bunch and has the 1:54.2 record he set here in similar style August 13; class jump. (2) SHRIMP AND GRITS drops in class, regains driver Stephane Pouliot; they won at Nw1250l3cd level here Sept. 3 in a 17/1 off-the-pace upset. (4) MONEY EARNED was second to #5 P H Impulse last start, settling for place in a pocket ride lasting the entire mile; up in class; has not approached her 1:53.2 Tioga record in the six starts since July 24. (9) REDDIT HANOVER wired Rideau Op15000clm rivals August 13, on his way to a 1:54 flat personal best; Richard Simard picks up drive because Stephane Brosseau evidently went with #1 P H Impulse.
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