Best Bet – (4) – SPORTS AUTHORITY – Race 8
Spot Play – (2) – CAPTEUR DE REVE – Race 4
20-cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3 – 1,4/2,4/3,4/2,4 = $3.20
20-cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7 – 5,8/4,5/5,7,8/2,9 = $4.80
Race 1 – (3) LESTENPERCENT was a “menacing presence” chasing leader Capteur de Reve down the stretch July 12 noted track announcer John MacMillan; owner/trainer/driver Paul La Framboise finds post relief for consistent 1:56-range trotter, although he’s up in class here; his field’s-fastest closing quarters could make the difference in final strides. (1) HAT TRICK MARLEAU won in 1:58.2 at Kawartha Downs July 11, from same post as tonight over a “good” surface; doesn’t have to contend with the 2 who finished ahead of him in Rideau Carleton’s “not listed” Preferred Handicap July 5, Severus Hanover and Im the Muscle; likes front end and appears vulnerable to late speed here. (2) CHEQUE THE MAGIC knows all about getting cheques for trainer/driver Ted McDonald, at least since dropping to Rideau Nw4000l3cd level; with a pair of show finishes in 3 tries since June 28, he seems unlikely to repeat the more aggressive tactics deployed July 12, when leaving hard to tangle with eventual winner Capteur de Reve resulted in only a fifth-place cheque.
Race 2 – (1) MUSSELSFRMBRUSSELS ended up the beaten fave who finished second to Take the Deal in Rideau Carleton Nw890pscd class July 5; he had identical inside post as tonight and paced a personal 1:53.2, which should be enough to put the 12-year-old veteran back in the winner’s circle for first time in 2020; Robert Robinson stays aboard here. (4) BARN ONE was claimed July 5 and currently races for trainer Anne-Marie Turenne; second-over at the half behind tonight’s #2 Realrubies at Play July 12, he tipped 3-wide in the stretch drive for latest catch driver Stephane Brosseau, finishing just a length back in third; Rideau bettors and this column alike have been disappointed by the 2-time beaten fave since his June 28 debut. (2) REALRUBIES AT PLAY might as well be nicknamed “Realrubies at Place” based on his 2020 season to date; he’s been runner-up in half of his 6 seasonal starts for owner/trainer/driver Jason Gilchrist, most recently an aggressive first-up challenger at the half before getting nosed out by Twin B Laker at the wire July 12, timed in 1:54.3; also tends to bounce after a place finish, so using him for show here.
Race 3 – (1) COOL HAND LUCAN is back in the hands of Guy Gagnon for a shot at a maiden victory; 4-year-old hasn’t been able to win at tonight’s Nw7500lcd level yet, however he’s been dealing with outer post positions and now lands Rideau Carleton’s winningest post; Rachel Archer trainee reunites with top reinsman Gagnon, for whom he was fourth as beaten fave here June 25. (4) DE CHAIRMAN stepped up to Nw7900lcd level last week and finished third for Tyler Jones, who returns to the bike here; back down in class and with same post as July 12, 3-year-old turning in recent series of 1:55-zone miles is a must-use. (2) RETOUR AU JEU was a top-choice winner July 12, opening up by 3 lengths for the 1:56 victory; that first lifetime win shows the good form of Jonathan Lachance-driven colt, although quicker closing quarters would inspire greater confidence here.
Race 4 – (2) CAPTEUR DE REVE gets the nod over #1 Wildwild Men because he’s in great form right now, unlike his June 21 attempt at the “not listed” Preferred trot; it’s still a class jump, but on the heels of win and place results at Rideau Nw4000l3cd level in back-to-back 1:55.4 performances, he’s ready. (4) BOO THANG has been competitive every week since his first 2020 start at Rideau Carleton June 14; Pierre Bovay-trained/driven 4-year-old just missed by a head to Cascada in July 12 “not listed” Preferred trot, timed in 1:56; although his July 4 win was at Kawartha Downs, his Rideau game remained convincingly strong the following week. (5) SEVERUS HANOVER set all the early fractions before fading to third in July 12 “not listed” Preferred, behind winner Cascada and runner-up #4 Boo Thang; on the board for 10 of 13 starts this year, he likes to leave and lacks the post advantage for that tonight.
Race 5 – (3) THINK AGAIN and Pascal Berube have won 3 of 4 most recent starts against Rideau Carleton $12,000 claiming company, with the rare show finish July 5 coming from post #6; it seems foolish to overthink the chances of July 12 winner, who was a length better than tonight’s #2 Casimir Overdrive. (2) CASIMIR OVERDRIVE has had seconditis for his last 3 starts since the June 18 claim; driver change to Tyler Jones for Gary Mc Donald-co-owned/trained pacer could improve chances here, but note his last victory was at lower Rideau Op10000clm level. (4) ZEN DA BALLYKEEL gets Guy Gagnon as catch driver this race, his first since July 9 victory and claim by owner/trainer Sylvain Cote; that win was a 1:55.2 gate-to-wire effort from the rail for Stephane Brosseau, at lower Op10000clm classification, and it’s unlikely that strategy would play out as well this time.
Race 6 – (2) WOO SHARK and Clark Steacy dropped into Nw1250l3cd company July 12, leading the way until the stretch drive, where they ended up fourth behind winner SOS Justified; they last faced Nw1250l3cd rivals June 18, finishing third behind Casimir Overdrive; massive post relief here. (4) MITT JAGGER steps down from $12,000 claiming level for trainer/driver Ted McDonald; 3 wins and 3 place finishes in 11 starts this year, so he’s looking good if he can get a front-end trip. (5) MACH MESSIER reconnects with Guy Gagnon and moves in from last week’s post #7 for better shot tonight; best results since his June 7 win for Gagnon have been stalking leaders for place or show spot. (7) GENESEE was a beaten fave in previous 2 starts at $7,000 claiming price, second by a head to tonight’s #4 Mitt Jagger July 2; Anne-Marie Turenne trainee has not raced since then, but finds himself in deep waters here; stablemate is #6 Darcee N. (8) SINGHAMPTON KENNY wired Nw455pscd rivals for Tyler Jones July 16; must overcome tough post and class climb here, so minor shares only.
Race 7 – (5) TAKE THE DEAL finished second by a head in July 12 Rideau Carleton “not listed” Preferred pace, stalking leader #6 Vanilla Malted from the pocket throughout a 1:52.3 mile; Guy Gagnon back in the bike as lightly-raced pacer makes only his fifth start of 2020. (8) LIT DE ROSE has raced close to the front, then unleashed a quick closing quarter to win at this level June 28, then finish second (as beaten fave) to tonight’s #7 National Debt July 5; with an interior post position, the lone mate would be top selection here. (4) STONEBRIDGE BEACH has a single 2020 victory at lower classification, also from post #4; likely to floor it to the front early, yet must overcome fast-closing rivals; with 3 show finishes this year in 9 starts for trainer/driver Stephane Pouliot, he seems likely to round out the triactor.
Race 8 – (4) SPORTS AUTHORITY gains class relief from “not listed” Preferred competition, returning with Tyler Jones to the Nw4000l3cd classification where pacer earned his first win of the season June 7, only with better draw this time; 1:52.3 show finish behind the now-absent Vanilla Malted, coming home in 27.2, speaks to great current form. (5) BIG PETES STYLE has the most wins of this field: 9 in 16 races this year; Guy Gagnon owns, trains and drives the likely favourite, who has notably finished second twice and third one time in recent consecutive races from post #5. (1) BRIGADIERBRONSKI A leaves the “not listed” Preferred and lands the rail in forth 2020 start at this track; worked out a June 28 show finish against tougher group.
Race 9 – (8) LUKE AND DUKE jumped up for Guy Gagnon when asked July 12 from post #6, so why not here? Similar level on heels of going-away 1:54 flat romp. (7) REYS N A ROCKET can leave aggressively from outer posts and proved it over this track July 2 and 9; the question is whether she can sustain her pacesetting ways all the way to the wire; second to Mister J R in Nw400pscd event after doing all the early work, lone mare is back with Jonathan Lachance in the sulky. (2) PRINCE GIOVANNI has a couple of show finishes in 6 starts this season for co-owner/driver Jacques Beaudoin; not up in class like several here, he looks like he can find his way into the triactor from off the pace or up front, as he did in back-to-back show results July 7 and 14.
Race 10 – (9) ASHLEYSBEST navigated to a Nw2750l3cd level victory from post #2 with Pascal Berube aboard July 5; catch driver Tyler Jones and helpful trailing post could put recent 1:53.4 Rideau Carleton winner in good spot for favoured front-end trip or good stalking position. (2) ROAD RUNNER COLONY was a show finisher for Jonathan Lachance at this track in last 3 tries, the latter 2 efforts timed sub-1:54; road running short on excuses why no first seasonal win for 6-time 2020 starter now racing at lower level. (8) SAULSBROOK PEACH moves down to Nw4000l3cd company with Guy Gagnon, but a daunting post; likes to get into position early and stalk for place or show, which didn’t work out from outside post June 14, his last previous off-the-board result. (4) ITS EDS IDEA has been changing barns a lot lately, now racing for owner/trainer Randy Scott with Rodney La Framboise in the bike; a 1:52.2 Rideau winner at the $12,000 claiming level July 5, he lost ground late for Guy Gagnon and ended up third with a 30.1 closing quarter; sensing a form reversal. (1) SILVERADO has improved week over week in last couple of races here, despite overland journeys in both; with rail, he’s a likely fourth-place finisher.
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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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