Best Bet – (4) OFFICER JONES – Race 9
Spot Play – (5) SIN CITY SHARK – Race 5
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 1 - 1,2,6/1,4,5/3,5/2,5,6 = $10.80
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 5 – 5,7/1,2,7,9/1/2 = $1.60
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 9 – 4/3,4,5/2,4,8/2,5 = $3.60
Race 1 – Quick turnaround for the game (6) DELLAS BOY; five-year-old showed a clear dislike of trailing post #9 Thursday; spent second half on the outside, gaining on pacesetter Wild River Coyotee right to the wire, before both were picked off by closers; Ryan Guy's apparent choice over #4 Hes Got a Vendetta; late speed. (2) WINDSONG QUINCY won from same post, same Rideau Nw20000lcd class at last asking; made front early from #8-hole Sunday, leading at every call until edged out at finish by (1) THE LIGHT SPEED, who used pocket and passing lane to his advantage Sunday, taking lifetime-best mark; lone three-year-old looks vulnerable.
Race 2 – (1) SALTY ROBYN N enjoyed pocket behind #4 Racemup in last Sunday's Rideau Preferred Handicap, then passed him in the stretch; found more when he looked to be caught by closers in stretch drive last start; Thursday, Stephane Brosseau used same tactic to stage a pair of mild upsets with other John MacMillan trainees starting from rail. (4) RACEMUP teams up with new driver Guy Gagnon; cut the 1:53 mile for this Rideau class on Sunday; offered little in stretch; that was a comeback race for Preferred regular who has missed the board just once in 2021. (5) NATIONAL DEBT was a beaten fave from outside post in similar small field Sunday; all three Yves Tessier trainees failed to hit board that night, suggesting this one may need a start to get back to his familiar winning ways, based on his February return after pause of racing season; never rule him out.
Race 3 – Class-dropper (5) WILDCAT CAM disappointed as a top-choice pick Sunday; emerging from fifth to follow cover to the half, he was parked behind first-over Vegas Rocks; appeared uncomfortable and backed through field late; both 2020 wins Rideau wins were on front end, one for tonight's driver Guy Gagnon, who replaces Marc St. Louis Jr. (3) BOBBIES POWER PLAY led the way from identical post last Sunday; pressed by three-wide challengers to the three-quarters, he faded due to setting quick early pace; class relief, but stamina still in question. (1) SHINE A LIGHT dominated in early-season Rideau efforts last year; his 5-race win streak was for not for current trainer or driver, however; late move Sunday from too far back to make impact; rail means improved chance of racing on/near front, where he's typically better.
Race 4 – Best-ever draw for (2) DE CHAIRMAN, who struggled with outside post in half his starts last year, all at this track; going-away qualifying win before the racing shutdown earns loyalty of Ryan Guy, and this bettor. (6) UMPIRE HANOVER wired field in career-best clocking here Sunday; his win margin was diminishing as Deja Vu Seelster left pocket to challenge in stretch; draws outside at least two rivals who are also likely to want early lead. (5) BONITAS SUNSHINE gapped third following Wisk Key K on Sunday, tipped out to challenge him first over enroute to the half, and retreated when he couldn't clear; class relief and moving out of second-tier post position improve chances of colt who paced big recent qualifier.
Race 5 – (5) SIN CITY SHARK closed in a field's-fastest 29.1 for show Sunday, and finds himself in a spot where he could upset; hasn't won since being claimed in February, but the Brian Jerome Series Consolation winner has a tendency to fly under the radar with bettors; his strong suit has been to stalk leaders and unleash late kick; former Vic Puddy trainee beat tougher fields than this last year, with variety of catch drivers and post assignments. When catch driver Marc St. Louis Jr. came up empty Sunday for two different Rideau trainers, (7) MACH MESSIER was one of his horses who disappointed bettors; taken directly to the back of the field, he gapped early and made half-hearted attempts to get involved from last; Vic Puddy trainees improved significantly Thursday for catch driver Ryan Guy. (1) REDDIT HANOVER fell prey to Senior K on Sunday night, working to make front around that early leader, then being unable to hold him off at the wire; a beaten 1/9 fave that race, his only advantages this week are post position and Guy Gagnon.
Race 6 – (7) TWIN B LAKER arrives from Hippodrome 3R and could surprise like fellow Helene Fillion trainee American Way did at 24/1 for driver Marie Claude Auger Thursday; determined closer was a Rideau Nw850pscd winner and took his career-best 1:54.2 mark here last June 21. (2) NIGHT CLUB HANOVER did much of the work in Thinkingofyoubabe's big mile last Sunday; despite his speed, he's very light on wins, with tendency to lose ground late. (9) WHATS INTHE ESKY A broke leaving in his first seasonal start for trainer/driver Melanie Plourde, but turned things around Thursday; he closed for show in a field's-fastest 28.3 for Stephane Pouliot, in spite of interference when first-over Aphro Star broke directly ahead of him; with only 8 horses in total starting from #9 hole in first two Rideau dates, it's unclear if this will hurt his chances; cautious optimism. (1) TAKE THE DEAL will take money, although he's no sure thing from rail; cut mile Thursday, nosed out by Sir Galahad at finish (there were no gate-to-wire winners that card); better from off the pace last year for Guy Gagnon. (3) THUNDERING JIM should close for Emil Toth; minor shares.
Race 7 – (1) FIT BITT impressed with recent qualifier and earlier Mohawk victory for former trainer Matt Dupuis; Ontario Sires Stakes grad started career with Bob MacIntosh; Rideau debut for Anne Marie Turenne. Class-dropping (5) ASA IM READY looks to avenge Sunday defeat; pacesetters haven't been strong at the end of the mile on Rideau cards so far; seconditis in 2021. (6) CLUB BELVEDERE makes second consecutive start with Lasix; late gains led to show finish in conservative trip for Guy Gagnon last outing; trainer Marie Claude Auger drives here.
Race 8 – (2) HOOTER SHOOTER is apparent choice of Samuel Fillion over the #6 and #7 this race; kept busy in Hippodrome 3R Preferred company while Ontario tracks awaited reopening; a Rideau Preferred winner early last year, gutsy closer has three place results here this season, but has yet to win. (9) THE ROADIES starts from trailing post; this may not suit the frequent frontrunner, who finished last in deeper company here when last starting from #9 hole; strong qualifier for driver Samuel Fillion, who's aboard top selection this race. (4) WESTERN PHIL came home in a field's-fastest 28.3 Sunday; expect light-on-wins gelding to arrive on scene late in mile.
Race 9 – (4) OFFICER JONES paced the fastest last quarter (27.2) of all horses on Sunday's 14-race opening card; he ended up fourth, but gets class drop here and retains Ryan Guy; a winner in last Rideau start when he dropped down from Preferred level. (3) GREAT SOMEWHERE closed well for Stephane Brosseau in Rideau debut Sunday; three-year-old blueblood moves up in class against elders. (5) VANILLA MALTED disappointed as beaten fave Sunday; he was caught widest in a three-horse battle for the lead straight off the gate, and forced to back off and settle in fourth along pylons, showing little in stretch drive; rarely misses Rideau board when not facing Preferred class, but his 2021 form isn't at its best yet.
Race 10 – (3) ITS EDS IDEA set the pace from post #7 Sunday; stung late by tonight's #5 Santanna Tony, he frequently needs to find more in the stretch, but last July 5, he found plenty for owner/trainer/driver Guy Gagnon, winning in a career-best 1:52.2 at this track's $12K claiming level by five-plus open lengths. (4) THATS SOME PLAN has not missed board this year; evident choice of driver Pascal Berube: that's significant because he drove (5) SANTANNA TONY to a good win Sunday, and that rival is making second start with Lasix tonight.
Race 11 – (2) MAGIC NIGHT departed the Hensley stable not long after finishing second at 25/1 at Mohawk; no horse trotted a faster last quarter in three trot races on Rideau season opener card, even in the Preferred; Richard Simard stays loyal to gelding who won his last race on a 5/8-mile track (Georgian Downs, July 14, 2020, from post #2) and steps up in class. (8) SEEYOU MEN makes second start in a row with Lasix; a winning front-end favourite in Sunday Rideau Preferred, he's been able to overcome an outside post here earlier this season, crossing over from a #7-hole assignment Feb. 16 in field with one scratch; watch for scratches to his inside tonight. (4) CROSSFIT must mind manners; driver change to Ryan Guy raises hopes.
Race 12 – (2) VEGAS ROCKS is down in class and looking to bounce back after narrow loss to the now-absent Barn One; beaten fave retains Samuel Fillion. (5) JIMMY BE GOOD has been perfect for Guy Gagnon since claim; likely favourite will face new pressure. (3) SHADOW MARGEAUX gets class and post relief, plus adds catch driver Ryan Guy; late speed. (6) PANTHEON SEELSTER closed in a field's-fastest 28.1 to finish second to Macho Polo Sunday; that was despite starting from post #7; loses Pascal Berube to (8) WRANGLER CASH here; this class-dropper was runner-up to #5 Jimmy Be Good last weekend; post hurts.
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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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