Spot Play – (2) – PACIFIC DELIGHT – Race 9
Best Bet – (1) – THE REGULATOR – Race 4
20 cent Early Pick 5 - Race 1 - 5,6,7,8/2,6/2,5,7,8/1/1,3,8 = $19.20
20 cent Late Pick 5 - Race 6 - 5,6,8/1,4/1,4/2/5,6 = $4.80
20-cent Early Pick 4 - Race 4 – 1,5/1,3,8/5,6,8/1,4 = $7.20
20-cent Late Pick 4 - Race 8 – 1,4/2,6/1,2,5,6/2,5 = $6.40
Race 1 – (8) STORMONT TIM qualified at Western Fair Nov. 5, finishing fourth; he was beaten by pacers in that mixed-gait Q, and his 2:03 flat effort was the best of the three trotters in the race, including fifth-place Adadasolo (#2 tonight); retains Lorne House this race, who drove this three-year-old in the qualifier where he actually trotted his last quarter (30.1) faster than the pacers he was in with. (6) FINANCIAL DAY returns from Mohawk, where she started from trailing post #10 in both her October races, unable to progress beyond sixth in either; Paul Walker-trained/driven three-year-old's only top-three result of 2020 was place finish from outside post #8 at Georgian Downs June 20, when favourite Twin B Hugs self-destructed on lead. (7) HOT FUDGE SUNDAE is the most accomplished of this field, having only missed the board once in five races; he also qualified at this track Nov. 5, finishing third as the only trotter in a field of six; he was individually clocked in 2:03.4, last quarter 31 seconds, and did lose ground late.
Race 2 – (2) EXHIBITION DAY makes fourth Ontario start this race, as the former Iowa stakes competitor rebounds after his "worst" result, a fifth-place finish Nov. 6 for Travis Henry; what stands out about that race is that he not only left from second tier post #8, but was "loaded with trot" late, in the words of Sugar Doyle; visibly forced wide in the stretch, the Oct. 30 beaten fave was only two lengths back of winner Drone Seelster on Nov. 6; note driver change to Nat Day tonight. (6) WOOD JACK enters this race as the winningest trotter, with a 5-for-11 record in 2020; four of those victories are from his undefeated February at Flamboro; he hasn't won at another track (excluding qualifiers like his London win Oct. 15), but looked good racing in third through most of his Oct. 30 mile at Western Fair, exiting to chase Ten Four We Gone first over at the three-quarters, and narrowly edged out for place by a late-charging Jayport Hi Class; he was a beaten 4/5 fave that race, and finds class relief tonight. (5) THE REINS OF TITAN has a strong record on the front end at Western Fair, winning that way at 15000clmcd level here in two of his three 2020 victories Oct. 9 and 16 (the other was August 21 at Grand River, also gate-to-wire); nosed out by the now-absent Final Cheque here Oct. 30, the three-year-old appears vulnerable to closers.
Race 3 – (8) DUSTYLANESAM must start from trailing post position, but his 5 seasonal wins in 25 starts are more than the combined number of wins (2) by the rest of the field this year; a proven commodity who took his lifetime mark (1:56.3) at Western Fair March 6, at a 7000CLMCD classification; his early break last start looks to have been caused by crowding and possible contact with a rival to his immediate outside in the first turn. (2) TEREM A NEW ONE looks to be the choice of Darryl Thiessen over #1 Sandys Candy; winless in 2020, however, he's a half-mile specialist with six seasonal place finishes, mostly at Clinton; back from Flamboro this week, with post relief. (7) HEERZ SOCKED UP was scratched sick at Flamboro last week following a poor showing in London Oct. 21; although winless in two years, he's down in claiming ranks from 15000clmcd level now; one of two horses in this race with demonstrated sub-30-second closing speed in the past couple of months, the other being Terem a New One.
Race 4 – (1) THE REGULATOR is back from Mohawk, teaming up with Marc St. Louis Jr. from the rail; class-dropping Preferred-2/3 caliber pacer has recorded all three 2020 wins on halfs: one at Grand River, one at Flamboro and one at Western Fair; all were on/near front end, from inside post positions, for trainer Victor Puddy. (5) CASEYS DRAGON was scratched as result of race office error Nov. 8 at Flamboro, so arrives well-rested tonight; Colin Kelly picks up catch drive on four-year-old with late speed and pair of 2020 victories, at Grand River and Kawartha Downs, after starting his racing season June 26. (7) AMAZON DRAGON gets up for show more than any rival, most recently Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 at London Nw1500l3cd classification; upset at 9/1 Western Fair Feb 24 when he wired rivals for a personal-best mile in 1:56.3; Colin Kelly drove on that occasion, while it's trainer George Ketros in the sulky tonight.
Race 5 – (3) TEN FOUR WE GONE has been top two in each of his three most recent starts at Western Fair, and won on the class jump Oct. 30; three-year-old faces a test of stamina in his first mile-and-a-sixteenth event tonight, but he's got a post that helps stalking style and Marc St. Louis Jr. stays loyal. (1) MACKJUSTICE was fourth after travelling along pylons in a gapped-out single-file field here Oct. 30, then making move on final turn and trotting an identical field's-fastest (30.1) closing quarter to winner Ten Four We Gone; just too far back that night. (8) JAYPORT HI CLASS is an expert at place finishes, earning all six of them at Western Fair this year for trainer/driver Greg Dustin; closed for second behind #3 Ten Four We Gone Oct. 30; closed for show in his Nw25000lcd added-distance effort here March 6. (6) LA TOUT PETITE moves from second tier back to a better-percentage position this week for Tyler Borth and Suzanne Kerwood; up in class from Nw12000lcd level where she finished fourth here Oct. 30. (2) ZORGWIJK TECOMA faces steep class hike, from post position that few London trotters overcome for the win; top-three when racing near the front this season, Lorne House-trained/driven four-year-old has done best work to date at 5/8-mile Sarnia.
Race 6 – (5) DALIATOR drops from Preferred-3 company into Nw1500l3cd event where he has chance to go down the road for Greg Dustin the way he did at Clinton in his only 2020 win, at same conditions, August 16. (8) EASY FLYER began his year on a winning note at Western Fair, wiring 15000clmcd competition on New Year's Day 2020; five of his six seasonal victories have been winter wins at Mohawk; March 1, he captured the Flamboro Preferred-3 from off the pace; claimed Oct. 30, he exits the Carmen Auciello barn for that of trainer Cassidy Schneider. (6) TERO is winless this year, however he's hit the board in a quarter of his 20 races; adds Marc St. Louis Jr. for another chance at same level as he's been competing since Sept. 16.
Race 7 – (1) WHATAREALBADGIRL looks for her fourth consecutive Western Fair victory from winningest post for pacers; even added distance and slop haven't been a problem, making her dominating front-end style tough to bet against; she's won for Ron and Brett MacDonald on class jumps in each of her last three races. (4) RECKLESS FOOL will undoubtedly put the top pick to the test tonight; Patrick Shepherd trainee is back from Mohawk to the scene of her latest victory, a gate-to-wire added-distance romp at London distaff 15000clmcd classification; Colin Kelly's apparent choice over...(8) COCO BEACH DE VIE, another three-year-old filly who's been competitive at this track's filly and mare 15000clmcd classes, and finds class relief from second tier tonight; adds Travis Henry as catch driver.
Race 8 – (1) MR MACH JIMMY steps back from Preferred-3 class, but keeps Colin Kelly, with whom he closed to win London Preferred-3 twice early this year; Nov. 9, he was second over from sixth at the half, following J J Powerball into the stretch but never close enough to pacesetting 1:54.3 winner Validus Deo to figure in top three. (4) COLORADO BUCK just kept chasing leader Shadow Margeaux Nov. 6, ending up third as Another Great Pick swept by late, but never giving up the fight; it's that, plus his solid win and place finishes in early Oct. comeback qualifiers at The Raceway after a lengthy layoff, that impress. (5) ACEFORTYFOURTALON is pretty dependable, even when he moves up class ladder; just missed off-the-pace win at London Nw1500l3cd level Nov. 6, and is up in class tonight; a single win in 2020, but he's 10-for-22 when it comes to hitting board; late speed.
Race 9 – (2) PACIFIC DELIGHT has raced for trainer Colin Johnson since leaving the Maritimes, but hasn't added to her single 2020 win in Ontario yet; put in a misstep Oct. 28 on Western Fair's third turn, but handled track near-perfectly when she finished second to Stevie Seelster Oct 27; she was a bold first-over from fourth at the half for Colin Kelly that night, improbably parking the three-wide Betchuloveme from the three-quarters on, while also fending off a fresh Whatarealbadgirl in a blanket finish for place; two moves that night in lead-up to Autumn Series; class drop and adds catch driver Brett MacDonald tonight. (6) GET UP N GOUDA is the apparent choice of Marc St. Louis Jr. here; second in her Nov. 5 London qualifier, after a layoff that's lasted since June 27; a 1:59 gate-to-wire winner here March 17, going away by five open lengths, with St. Louis driving for trainer Stephen Bossence; may be overbet relative to chances of a repeat on her pari-mutuel comeback. (4) CENTURY GAGA was a beaten 1/5 fave here Nov. 4, setting the pace for Marc St. Louis Jr., yet getting stung at the wire by Paisa Hanover; driver change to Lorne House for the Vic Puddy trainee as St. Louis goes with Get Up N Gouda this race.
Race 10 – (5) CHOCOLATE PIE trotted to a blowout Nov. 7 qualifying win at Flamboro, opening up by over six lengths at the wire after leading throughout the 2:00.1 romp; he broke leaving in his two previous starts, but appears ready to stay flat for Austin Sorrie again tonight. (6) VICTORIAHASASECRET has hit board in roughly half her 2020 starts, most of her best performances taking place at this track; place finish when leaving from same post at Nw50000lcd level for Travis Henry Oct. 23, behind the now-absent Missys Magic Man; she's evidently Henry's choice over #8 Super T this race. (2) KASHE tends to come flying with a powerful move to take on the pacesetter, a tactic that's earned her four victories this year, most recently here Nov. 6; it's tougher from an inside post, especially after a memorable win.
Race 11 – (2) G A SPEED SAMMY drops from Flamboro Preferred-3 level, draws inside post position, and picks up catch driver Marc St. Louis Jr.; a 16-time winner last year, he's the fastest half-mile track winner of this field in 2020. (5) HIDDEN POTENTIAL? You bet: He won at Nw1500l3cd extra-distance in London Oct. 9, then finished third at same distance at higher class level in his next start for Tyler Borth Oct. 23; class drop from Preferred-3 here. (9) BOOMBOOM BALLYKEEL has an aptitude for the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance, hitting board (but not getting the win) in each of his Oct.9, Feb. 17, and Jan. 27 added-distance starts at Western Fair, each time from same post position #9. (4) CULLEN KEEFE N and Lorne House pocketed up behind the now-absent Reel over a sloppy surface here Oct. 23, holding on for place spot at end of added-distance event. (7) OFFICER JONES is seemingly the stronger of the unofficial Vic Puddy "stable entry" this race, since he's the class-dropper coming in from Rideau Carleton and #6 Shadow Margeaux has been caught late after leading through two recent miles at this venue; his last win was gate-to-wire at The Raceway Oct. 16 at lesser Nw2500l3cd classification and regular mile distance.
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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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