Best Bet – (2) SAULSBROOK VELVETA – Race 4
Spot Play – (2) STORMONT MUFFIN – Race 10
20-cent Pick 5 – Race 5 – 5,6,7,8/5,7/2,4,5/2,5/3,6 = $19.20
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 2 – 3,4,6/5,6/2/5,6,7,8 = $4.80
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 4 – 2/5,6,7,8/5,7/2,4,5 = $4.80
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 6 – 5,7/2,4,5/2,5/3,6 = $4.80
20-cent Last Pick 4 – Race 8 – 2,5/3,6/2/1,3,6,9 = $3.20
Race 1 — (3) SPORT A LUCKY STAR broke her maiden from Rideau rail at distaff Nw3000lcd classification June 24; while Clarke Steacy migrates to #2 Farmerwhosemydaddy, this class-climber's only career victory was in line to Mike Healey, who's back aboard this race; strong place finish from same post last start, pocketing up behind pacesetting (4) STEELMEATREASURE September 30; the front-end-loving grey/roan is fastest winner in this field, yet recently vulnerable to late speed. (6) WHITEMOUNTAINCAMMY was first-up from third en route to the Hippodrome 3R half last start, advancing through a "big, big tempo" for the gutsy win on class hike; taken to back of field in previous Rideau start from today's post, she closed in field's-fastest 28.4, although from too far back; close to the pace, she's dangerous.
Race 2 — (6) GETYOURLICENSELIAM was front-end, going-away winner in career, and this field's, best record last Thursday from identical post; never headed since Ottawa arrival for Mandy Archer/Guy Gagnon. (3) NAVALNY went gate to wire in new lifetime mark last Thursday; Pascal Berube's apparent pick over #7 Bet on a Dream and possibly others; sub-1:54 speed, but in runner-up finish behind a long-gone Four Finger Floyd that doesn't suggest he'll cut mile and prevail over Getyourlicenseliam here. (4) WISK KEY K is stablemate to top selection this race; he's hit board in 70% of seasonal starts, mostly for Gagnon; class relief in first trip for latest catch driver Steeven Genois.
Race 3 — Y not stop looking for angles to beat (6) YNOTHOS? Win-streaking Archer/Gagnon mare is currently tied for fourth among this year's winningest distaff pacers in North America; every rival in this field has tried and failed to stop her relentless roll, which recently culminated in new lifetime best in going-away style from this track's statistically-worst post for pacers. (5) COLD CREEK LACEY moved from second-last at the quarter last Thursday, following cover; parked out; closed three-wide late; in absence of Jessicas Legacy, she's the probable first-up challenger this week. (3) JK ELLEM ENOH was boxed in under tight hold last Thursday; got the shuffle and closed up passing lane in co-second-fastest (29-flat) last quarter.
Race 4 — Undefeated (2) SAULSBROOK VELVETA beat males handily last Thursday start, despite trailing post and early interference; tested by pacesetter Phenom Seelster (#1 here), she put that rival away by the half; Pascal Berube's apparent choice over (4) BATTLE WITH DESIRE, his narrow 16/1 winner (from post 7) last Thursday; career-best, gate-to-wire trip over girls, yet lacking the raw speed of fellow leaver Saulsbrook Velveta. (3) YS BIG GIRL broke behind the gate at Hippodrome 3R Sunday, never getting into the race; tough post and interfered with by Maroon Seelster (#7 here) in latest start, she was third in both recent tries from this track's better post positions; latest catch driver Steeven Genois had top-two finishers in half his drives here last week (Thursday and Sunday).
Race 5 — In (8) SAVINI's last start from this post, he was parked second over from sixth at the opening quarter; never saw the rail, yet closed strongly for show at 23/1 odds; passing lane sprint in field's-fastest 29.2 to beat all but Cloud Nine Hanover in break-riddled field last Thursday; seemingly choice of Marie-Claude Auger over #5 Betonawheelin. (6) ARCHIMED ALPHA wired lesser group here in new lifetime best last Thursday; Pascal Berube has driven him to both his first and latest career victories, and picks him tonight. (7) AMIGO MIO is the only Rideau trotter to win from post 8 so far this year, which he did with a front-end trip July 1; self-destructed off the gate last week; all three seasonal wins were for Samuel Fillion, who handles the more-erratic class-climber (5) BETONAWHEELIN; filly closed to win from tonight's post twice in July for Stephane Pouliot; this race, he drives his own trainee (1) VITOR; maiden makes second start with trotting hobbles; in deeper company than for last week's pocket ride behind Archimed Alpha.
Race 6 — (5) ROCKIN FIRE left aggressively and battled Phenom Seelster for early command last Thursday; clearly second-best to winner Saulsbrook Velveta, he closed well ahead of the rest; shaved two seconds off his fastest mile to date, a winning Rideau qualifier September 19. (7) ROLLIN WITH ROCK has disappointed as post-time favourite in his last three; last Thursday, he was interfered with by Jims Big Thrill (#1 this race); first-up from sixth on second turn, he had to go three-wide when Rockin Fire stepped out of the pocket. (6) BOARDING DOGS was also interfered with last week; followed first-over from third early, settling in fifth and shuffled back as Saulsbrook Velveta began move to the front; gapped as leaders drew away.
Race 7 — (2) CHUCK THE CHEESE debuts for Mandy Archer/Guy Gagnon; three Kawartha Downs victories for previous connections in June/July; class drop after wide voyage from post 8 at Flamboro; settled last at quarter, but out and moving around two rivals past the half; too much ground to make up late. (5) SHARKS INTHE CREEK wired for Pascal Berube in recent maiden-breaking effort at lower classification; three-wide on first turn last Thursday, he pressed 1/9 leader Getyourlicenseliam, but faded after 55.3 half; still, an ambitious trip on class jump. (4) WELLWORTHTHEWAIT was runner-up from pocket that race; front-end qualifying win Sunday shows two-year-old's strong form; all his best performances have been from rail, however.
Race 8 — (5) CHOO CHOO BLUE looked overmatched in her first couple of Rideau races; last Thursday, she nearly stung Pasadena Star at the wire, closing from tonight's post; in early career, she was a one-dimensional front-end winner at Hippodrome 3R; this July, under Stephane Brosseau's conditioning, she won twice in a row from off the pace, including her first 3R Preferred victory. (2) RAISING RUSTY is down in class, where his off-the-pace tactics produced his most recent two victories, both from inside posts; Choo Choo Blue simply looks to have more speed on tap as she makes fourth start on a 5/8-mile track. (3) THE MAGIC OF LIFE has three show finishes since losing trotting hopples; consistent closer.
Race 9 — (6) Y C EASY intrigues; versatile Hippodrome 3R distaff Preferred-1&2 pacer finds class relief; last Thursday at Rideau, closed in field's co-second-fastest 29.2 for fifth in blanket finish, in her fastest-EVER beaten mile. (3) MACH JACOBS equaled his lifetime-best clocking in October 7 show finish; he took that mark in his only Rideau win this year, an August 19 stalking trip; rode pocket behind Wisk Key K last start, closing up passing lane for his best recent performance; exits claiming ranks for conditioned; late speed. Unlike #8 Red John, (7) DELLAS BOY doesn't hate drawing outside; overcame interference and made front from 8-hole August 19, setting pace until collared by a closer: Mach Jacobs; only wins this year were from inside posts, but adds Guy Gagnon.
Race 10 — (2) STORMONT MUFFIN nearly took down Duke Lavictoire last Thursday; stalking trip and field's-co-second-fastest (28.4) last quarter brought her within a length of ending that now-absent rival's six-race win streak; her fastest-ever beaten mile. (5) HAT TRICK MARLEAU returns to classification where he recorded two recent place finishes here; just one 2021 victory, at Hoosier; his last two Rideau wins were last November, from rail. Recent beaten 8/5 fave (1) UNDERCOVER STRIKE's last win from the rail was from off the pace, July 15; he also won with stalking trip from innermost post March 21, but most of his 2021-late 2020 wins were from outside posts, showing dramatic improvement and consistency in colder months.
Race 11 — (1) HOWMACFIESTY has disappointed with recent overland trips as top choice for Richard Simard (now serving suspension); first over from fifth for Stephane Brosseau last Thursday, she ran out of racetrack after softening up Thinkingofyoubabe (#9 here) for (3) VILLAGE JAMIE, who coasted to back-to-back victories against this group when (9) THINKINGOFYOUBABE drew inside and cut mile; second tier complicates matters for front-end-loving beaten 4/5 fave who now starts behind a closer. (6) PERFECT DALIANCE makes return to distaff company after three consecutive weeks of pacing sub-1:55 miles against males; took career-best mark three starts ago; clocked in her fastest-ever individual mile last week. (5) JESSICAS LEGACY has been chasing the win-streaking Ynothos from tough posts; although up in class, she belongs; lone win of year here was front-end trip for Berube on September 16.
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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 $1.60.
Photo by Ryan Clements Photos
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