Best Bet – (1) – THUNDERING JIM – Race 7
Spot Play – (4) – MR CONTESTANT – Race 5
20-cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3 – 1,4,5/1,4,6/4,6/1,4 = $7.20
20-cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7 – 1,6/6/3,4/1,8,9 = $2.40
Race 1 – (6) CHUCKIESSWEETDREAM is down in class and retains Rodney Laframboise for third race in a row, improving week over week after self-destructing at Hippodrome 3R Preferred-1&2 level Oct. 9; his one 2020 win was in front-end style Sept. 25 at half-mile Northfield Park (at 20/1), but his late turn of foot was impressive at Rideau Carleton Oct. 25: shuffled back to last at the three-quarters here Oct. 25, he closed in a field's-fastest 28.4 and narrowly missed hitting board, because he momentarily veered wide of Mr Contestant when charging impressively three-wide down the stretch. (4) P C HEISENBERG had post #8 and was non-factor at Rideau Nw1400l3cd classification Oct. 29; much more competitive at tonight's post/class, as he was when he was second by a neck to the now-absent The Magic of Life Oct. 15. (1) UNDERCOVER STRIKE and #3 Hldontghttoyurdrms are both trained by Guy Gagnon, however this Oct. 29 beaten fave seems the most playable tonight; the 12-year-old on comeback trail is Gagnon's choice to drive; had to be taken back to fourth when widest in a four-horse battle for early lead Oct. 29, resulting in an extended overland trip first-over and throwing in the towel at the three-quarters.
Race 2 – (7) MACHO POLO was first over and made front at the half in 56.2 at Rideau Carleton's Op15000clm classification Nov. 1 for Melanie Plourde, but the effort over the "good" surface seemingly left him with no more fight; he was quickly overtaken by The Regulator, gapped in the pocket, and faded into the distance; trainer Stephane Pouliot is back in the bike this time, behind this field's winningest/richest horse of 2020. (2) BROOKLETSJUSTIFIED was claimed at Mohawk and Flamboro last month; Oct. 27 at the latter, he made a quick move out of fourth to chase leader Mister X in the second turn, but couldn't clear and tired by the three-quarters on the "good" surface; most recent wins have been gate to wire at Flamboro, but former Richard Moreau trainee's big-track victories were from off the pace. (4) WILDCAT SAM is half of the unofficial Mandy Archer stable entry, with #5 Crazy Luke Duke also starting for the same trainer this race; with a driver change from Sebastian Turenne back to Guy Gagnon here, plus post/class relief, he's more of a threat, although his single 2020 victory was when he wired Nw600pscd Rideau pacers Sept. 3.
Race 3 – (4) ZEN DA BALLYKEEL made the Brian Jerome Memorial Claiming Series Final last week, but drew the #8 hole; couldn't catch Reys N A Rocket, yet he closed for show despite being dismissed at 45/1; Jonathan Lachance catch drives because Pascal Berube is competing at Flamboro Downs; lone class-dropper hasn't missed board since he was claimed Oct. 18. (1) SOS JUSTIFIED and Tyler Jones tried things third-over from second last in the Nov. 1 Brian Jerome Memorial Claiming Series Consolation; followed fave Barn One, who went in reverse on final turn; too far back/too much traffic to catch sparring frontrunners Sin City Shark (who won; he's #2 this race) and Too Much Duncan; 12 seasonal wins from 32 starts speaks for itself, but cool-weather form hasn't been as dependable as during this summer's six-race win streak. (5) SENIOR K is a recent $7,000 Rideau Carleton claim, now up in class and racing for high-percentage Mandy Copley/Guy Gagnon combination; front-end-loving three-time seasonal winner could be vulnerable to closers.
Race 4 – (1) HAT TRICK MARLEAU from the rail looks like a gift; the Rideau Carleton "not listed" Preferred regular has no Lestenpercent or Ace Bi to battle, so his closing ability should be rewarded tonight for trainer/driver Pierre Bovay; his only recent break was in the hands of a catch driver. (6) VERO AMORE BI looked like his old self when he took the early lead and held off Angels Kid (#7 this race) right to the wire in Oct. 29 Rideau Nw1400l3cd victory; the 1:59.2 clocking isn't on par with the faster current efforts of several rivals, but note that trainer/driver Mike Healey's gelding had a pair of Ottawa Preferred-level victories last Dec., stalking/closing to beat some rivals also found in this field. (4) Y C BROADWAY gains catch driver Ryan Guy, as Richard Simard is listed at Hippodrome 3R; best recent results were for Simard over "good" Rideau surface; passed pacesetting Pasadena Star (#2 here) and nearly caught Mr Contestant at Nw2750l3cd level last week.
Race 5 – (4) MR CONTESTANT wired Rideau Carleton Nw2750l3cd trotters over a "good" track Nov. 1; while he's up in class tonight, he defeated #8 Lestenpercent Sept. 27 when facing "not listed" Preferred company from an inside post; John MacMillan-owned/trained gelding is apparent choice of Stephane Brosseau over #5 Ace Bi. (6) CAPTEUR DE REVE is considered up in class here, although it's debatable whether Hippodrome 3R's Preferred-1&2 level is less competitive than what he faces tonight in the Rideau "not listed" Preferred Handicap; fourth and eighth from post #7 in August 23 and 30 Preferred Handicaps at this venue, it's worth noting that Lestenpercent left from a post position to his inside on both occasions, and that he's won by widening margins in last two races. (8) LESTENPERCENT is 11-for-20 for wins this year; that impressive record includes several post #8 victories at Rideau "not listed" Preferred classification; he opened up for a 1:57.4 win over next-best Seeyou Men (#7 this race) in Nov. 1 Preferred, but note that was from post #2.
Race 6 – (1) RACEMUP finds class drop from the rail, as Victor Puddy trainee makes 2020 Rideau Carleton debut for Guy Gagnon; mastered the 5/8-mile on front end at Georgian Downs in Preferred-3 victory July 14. (7) ARRHYTHMOGENIC exits Hippodrome 3R distaff Preferred-2 competition to take on the boys; excellent overland effort here Oct. 1 at Nw2r30000lcd level, in which she just missed beating Brutus Bayama. (4) BESTOFBEST HANOVER disappointed in recent races where he had class/post relief, but never count him out; he won against Ottawa Nw850pscd pacers Oct. 11 for Stephane Pouliot. (6) TWIN B LAKER and Tyler Jones handled post #7 and early interference Nov. 1, still coming from off the pace for place behind the now-absent Red John. (2) STOLEN ART performed well at lower Rideau classifications prior to an unsuccessful start at Mohawk Nov. 2; resume is very light overall, with his only three on-the-board results of 2020 coming for Pascal Berube and Rodney Laframboise over this track; Marie-Claude Auger catch drives now.
Race 7 – (1) THUNDERING JIM made the Brian Jerome Memorial Claiming Series Final Nov. 1, but drew post #6 and was never in serious contention over the "good" surface that night; claimed two starts back, this is his second in a row for trainer/driver Ted McDonald, with same post position from which he matched his lifetime-best 1:54 record in a gate-to-wire win Oct. 11. (6) MACH MESSIER finished a distant second to Brian Jerome Final winner Reys N A Rocket last week; she's not in this race, so the winner of six starts this season stands a better chance of making front and holding on to the wire, although he's lost several of those close decisions. (3) MYBROTHERGEORGE was second by a head in his last two starts, and now faces class climb; third race in a row from identical post with Tyler Jones driving.
Race 8 – (6) LUKE AND DUKE has won by widening and significant margins over Rideau Carleton $15,000 claimers Oct. 25 and Nov. 1; Guy Gagnon owns, trains and drives the eight-time 2020 winner. (1) ASHLEYSBEST hasn't missed the board since Oct. 4, in spite of last week's class jump. (8) SILVERADO just quietly stalks leaders for minor shares in every recent race; Ryan Guy stays aboard dependable late speed horse.
Race 9 – (4) NATIONAL DEBT put away this crew in back-to-back Rideau Carleton Preferred/Preferred Handicap victories Oct. 18 and Nov. 1; post position determined his trip on both occasions, so from mid-pack, the versatile pacer could add to this year's 9-for-23 win tally whether he's in command early or coming from off the pace. (3) KWIK TALKIN is technically up in class, but the way he and Rodney Laframboise levelled Rideau Nw4000l3cd rivals Nov. 1 in a faster mile (1:54.2) than National Debt's top-class victory (1:54.4) suggests that class--and speed--pose no real problem. (2) VEGAS ROCKS was runner-up to this race's top choice last time they met, closing in 28.4 for Stephane Brosseau, who returns to the sulky here; one of two Mandy Archer trainees this race, with Guy Gagon retaining drive on #1 Avatar J.
Race 10 – (8) BIG PETES STYLE needs no introduction, yet he could use a trip; claimed back by owner/trainer/driver Guy Gagnon, the class-dropping 14-for-30 winner (this year) must navigate a better finish than he did from identical post at Op15000clm level for another driver Nov. 1; fortunately, there is history: Gagnon won with him from the outermost post Feb. 16 gate-to-wire, and Stephane Brosseau used different tactics for same outcome last Dec. 15. (1) REYS N A ROCKET captured the Brian Jerome Memorial Claiming Series Final Nov. 1 in definitive style, opening up by more than six lengths for Richard Simard; class jump and no Simard tonight, yet she's been in such great form, the mare who was claimed from (and then immediately back by) trainer Robert Bernicky looms large. (9) RED JOHN starts from second tier for Rodney Laframboise; class jump and new catch driver tonight, but he's going for his fifth consecutive Rideau victory; a 1:53.4 winner here as recently as Oct. 25. (6) ALWAYSYOURWAY was no match for this race's top selection when they met in the Jerome Series Final, but he romped in 1:53.2 series leg victory Oct. 25; now driven by owner/trainer Marie-Claude Auger after claim. (2) WESTERN PHIL loses Gagnon and Brosseau to rivals this race, gaining catch driver Tyler Jones for a shot at minor shares of Hi-5 on class jump; fifth in last outing at same level.
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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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