Spot Play – (1) – TROUBLEWATERSDEVIE – Race 6
Best Bet – (1) – STATE NEWS – Race 8
20-cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3 – 1,4,5,8/2,3/1,3/1,9 = $6.40
20-cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7 – 1,7/1,7/5,6/3,5,7,8 = $6.40
Race 1 – (1) ASA IM READY lands rail, and the formful John MacMillan trainee seems ready to wire rivals the way she did here Oct. 15 and 22; the winningest (5 wins) horse of this field in 2020, this mare holds the interesting distinction of never, ever having been defeated in a race or qualifier once she has made front. (4) MONTANABLACKANGEL has been perfect for Tyler Jones in their last three races, even maintaining his lead over #1 Asa Im Ready in their 1-2 finish Nov. 5; post position advantage has flipped this week, with Stephane Brosseau's mare getting rail, from which she will be very tough to get past. (5) ORLYS PRIDE hasn't missed the board when starting from Rideau Carleton post #5 this year; after three weeks with second-tier post #9 or outer post #7, it's a relief for trainer/driver Richard Simard to have this field's fastest 2020 winner (1:55.4) back in a spot where he can either leave or bide his time; out-trotted the now-absent Goaltender and Beyond the Lens (#5 tonight) in the stretch Nov. 5 for show spot, behind Montanablackangel (#4 here) and Asa Im Ready (#1 this race).
Race 2 – (2) KEYSTONE NOLAN left aggressively from post #7 Nov. 15, then tucked in third behind eventual winner Task Bar Hanover and largely spent the second half boxed in third behind that leader; he finished fourth behind a hard-closing Rub Me and General Lee (#4 this race) that night, but finds post relief this week after seven consecutive starts from Rideau Carleton's #7, #8 or #9; lone 2020 win was on front end against Nw7500lcd pacers here June 25; no Ottawa drives for Pascal Berube tonight, so Jonathan Lachance is in the sulky for this race where... (5) WILD RIVER COYOTEE could romp again for trainer/driver Guy Gagnon, although he's up in class from Rideau Nw1r9300l level; others face less of a class climb than this front-end loving speedster who's never won back-to-back races, and arrives off a 1:57.3 victory here Nov. 5. (6) DANCE MACHINE paced past tiring rivals in a field's-fastest 28.3 Nov. 5 to finish third; what impressed more was that he started from post #8, was last by 9 lengths at the half, and got to within two-and-a-half lengths of the winner at the wire; just two lifetime wins, both at half-mile Grand River from inside posts, but curious about what else this gelding can do in second consecutive Rideau start for Tyler Jones.
Race 3 – (1) SINGHAMPTON KENNY had just one win in 2020, back at Rideau Carleton's Nw455pscd classification July 16, yet he was an 11-time winner here in 2019; parked first over in fourth through a 27.1 opening quarter Nov. 5, he amazingly continued to gain ground despite never finding a place along the pylons, even getting within one-and-a-quarter lengths of gate-to-wire winner 1:55.1 Springbridgevision at the finish. (4) BALI last won at Rideau Carleton last Dec. 8, when he pocketed up behind Its Eds Idea and surprised in the stretch with an 18/1 upset in Op15000clm company; half-mile specialist was first-over from fourth for Guy Gagnon Nov. 5, stalling in that spot and offering little late; Stephane Brosseau catch drives here, as Gagnon has gone with... (8) DABUNKA, a class-climbing John MacMillan trainee who was fourth behind Springbridgevision as beaten fave in Nov. 5 Rideau Nw450pscd event; another 9-year-old half-mile specialist, like Bali, but the richest and winningest (4 wins) of this field this year.
Race 4 – (3) EAU NATURELLE jumped it off on the turn here Oct. 29, second over going to the half; while the mare never reset in time to get into serious contention, she wired Rideau Carleton Nw1250l3cd trotters August 13, putting away PC Heisenberg and Batting Stats (#5 and #2 this race) in the 1:57.2 victory; her driver on that occasion, Stephane Brosseau, has evidently opted for #7 YS Suzanne tonight; stablemate #6 Tuxedo also starts this race for trainer Carl Duguay. (2) BATTING STATS should never be singled in a ticket, given his history of breaks; stayed flat Nov. 8 and closed for fourth behind Hat Trick Marleau at Rideau Nw2800l3cd classification for Guy Gagnon/Mandy Archer. (5) P C HEISENBERG is up in class, however he tends to close well enough to be part of the ticket, hitting board 12 times in 30 seasonal starts, winning once; interfered with Nov. 8, so he was fourth-placed-third.
Race 5 – (1) CRAZY LUKE DUKE turned a corner Nov. 8, returning after an Oct. 29 judges scratch (for lameness) and blasting to a 1:54.1 lifetime-best victory by five open lengths in first try at Rideau Carleton Nw1650l3cd level; Mandy Archer and Guy Gagnon join forces with this one for legitimate chance to repeat; last week's winning driver, Rodney Laframboise, drives #5 Passionate Prince this race. (3) DYLANS BANK also won by an impressive margin Nov. 5, when he beat Larry Is Debs Rock (#4 here) by three lengths in a 1:54.2 gate-to-wire effort over Ottawa Nw2r31000lcd pacers; up in class and loses Gagnon to #1 Crazy Luke Duke, but 3-year-old gains catch driving services of Stephane Brosseau. (4) LARRY IS DEBS ROCK couldn't close the gap between himself and a front-end Dylans Bank last race; despite his reputation as an "out-of-the-clouds" closer, all three of his most recent victories were front-end efforts over Rideau Op15000clm company, which he does not face here.
Race 6 – (1) TROUBLEWATERSDEVIE was boxed in at the back of the nine-filly/mare pack at Hippodrome 3R Nov. 8, free too late in the race to get involved; involved in interference in her two most recent starts, she was a different animal from an inside post Oct. 25, leaving hard to make early lead for Pascal Berube, and parking first-up challenger Moonlight Boy to the half; she was caught by closers in the last quarter, but showed good fight; Martin Morel's best bet of two he's driving on this card. (9) SAGALI starts from second tier, with Stephane Brosseau in place of her familiar driver, Pascal Berube; neither is a drawback, although they introduce new variables for the lightly-raced three-year-old who just recorded 1:58.1 maiden-breaking victory in Nov. 5 dead heat at Rideau's distaff Nw1r8500l classification; the style in which she won still stands out: as announcer John MacMillan said at the opening quarter, "Sagali would need a sweep from last," and she did. (3) OHBABYWEFOUNDLOVE and Tyler Jones were third in Sagali's winning race here Nov. 5, coming first over from sixth en route to the half; won from second tier here Oct. 1, but tough to envision a scenario that doesn't leave her vulnerable to the late speed of Sagali or overextended by Troublewatersdevie in early battle for command. (7) PERFECT DALIANCE looked strong in the pocket behind pacesetter/eventual dead-heat winner Powered By Mach Nov. 5; she pulled out to challenge at the top of the stretch, but fell slightly short of the late-charging Sagali and Ohbabywefoundlove, ending up fourth for the third consecutive start. (4) GRACE TOO broke her maiden at Rideau August 13, and hasn't won since; in her one win, she chased early leader Stage Terror (#5 this race) second over from fourth at the half, tipping three-wide at the three-quarters and pacing past easily at the wire in 1:58.4; Ryan Guy returns to the sulky tonight, and needs to find more speed if this filly is to factor into top three.
Race 7 – (1) BLISSFULL FACTOR was a decent fourth Nov. 8, following the 9-year-old's gate-to-wire maiden victory at Rideau Carleton's Nw1r8000lcd classification Oct. 29; draws post position suited to that kind of trip, should Darcy Clancy send him down the road against this field populated by maidens, several of them still two-year-olds. (7) THREE TRICK GAINER arrived from Western Fair and finished a head shy of 1:57.3 winner Wild River Coyotee here Nov. 5; sent off at 1/5 that race, the three-year-old is now 0-for-25 for wins in his career, but tries again from outside post for Stephane Brosseau/John MacMillan; interesting to note he's been the place-finisher in all three lifetime starts on 5/8-mile tracks. (4) FESTIVE JOE is a former New York Sires Stakes competitor in the Excelsior "B" division; while he has yet to hit board, the two-year-old gelding has experience on 5/8-mile tracks and has never missed a cheque; third in Rideau qualifier Nov. 8 in a six-horse field, timed in 1:58.4 with 29 flat last quarter that would make him competitive against these.
Race 8 – (1) STATE NEWS seems to be the pick of Ryan Guy, who drove Banacek (#6 this race) to a winning qualifier here on Oct. 25; a going-away Rideau winner over the "good" racing surface Oct. 15, he also won over lower-level Nw265pscd company Oct. 1 in 1:55.4, his fastest win of 2020; gapping last after the start Nov. 5, he caught the field, but couldn't gain ground coming third over from sixth; finished with broken equipment, flying wide down the stretch in a field's-fastest 28.4; class jump, improved post position. (7) MYBROTHERGEORGE lands class relief but loses Tyler Jones to #9 Woo Shark; Anne-Marie Turenne trainee gets catch driver Richard Simard for pursuit of win #3 this year after getting first pair at Mohawk; reliable closer has lost photos for win here on two recent occasions. (3) MORTGAGE MY VILLA disappointed as a Nov. 5 spot play, although he did close for show and pace a full two seconds faster than his 1:57.3 seasonal record; won at Rideau Nw420pscd level Oct. 22 from rail, then couldn't replicate that effort when he faced Nw700pscd company Oct. 29; up in class this week.
Race 9 – (5) SOS JUSTIFIED and Tyler Jones waited in fourth along the pylons in Rideau Carleton $10,000 claiming event Nov. 8, letting Zen Da Ballykeel and Senior K knock each other out on the front end; it set up perfectly... for Sin City Shark to close for the win; on the plus side, Jones' horse did find another gear in the final strides, gaining ground without improving position in a personal 1:56.1 effort; class relief, but needs to do more. Lone mare (6) MONEY EARNED has shown she's dangerous with stalking trip at this level, finishing second by a nose to (1) JACKSON K DOWN over Rideau $7,000 claimers Nov. 5, when the gelding was able to race on Lasix; he then finished up the track at Hippodrome 3R Nov. 8; aside from losing catch driver Pascal Berube tonight, the conditions are right for top-three result with owner Martin Morel in the bike: Lasix, class drop, and rail.
Race 10 – (5) COOL HAND LUCAN remains winless in his 31-race career, but he's facing a group with similar challenges tonight, as three others are winless in 2020, and the three who have a single victory this year are starting from the outside and trailing posts; Ryan Guy stays loyal to four-year-old who has hit board here Oct. 29 and again Nov. 5, despite having the #8-hole last start; paced field's-fastest last quarter (30.2) last start. (3) VEE BREEZE was written off at 70/1 when she finished fourth here Nov. 5, in blanket finish for place where she ended up just behind Cool Hand Lucan; she was taken back early by Mike Healey to find spot along pylons, and gained ground late. (8) BRONSON has done nothing from outside posts, but he's shown great recent form, breaking his maiden Oct. 29 in gate-to-wire style; second over at the half behind 99/1 shot Journalistic Nov. 5, Richard Simard tipped him around that longshot for the stretch drive, where he came up empty; expecting better in the absence of multi-race winners like Rub Me and Double Down Duke this time; Simard's apparent choice over #6 Beach Bayama. (7) PANTHEON SEELSTER was interfered with Nov. 5, ending up fifth against Rideau Nw660pscd rivals; his single win of 2020 was based on stalking trip in 1:54.1 mile cut by Canadian Edition August 9, at Nw875pscd classification. (4) QUEEN JANE BLUECHIP was briefly second over in fourth going to the 27.2 opening quarter Nov. 5; she backed off dramatically to end up last for Tyler Jones, who has gone with #7 Pantheon Seelster, the other half of the Mike Armstrong "stable entry" this race; adds Guy Gagnon to shake things up.
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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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