Best Bet - (5) LARJON LEAH - Race 5
Spot Play - (2) NATES BUCKY - Race 6
20-cent Early Pick-4 – Race 3- 3,5/3,5,8/5/2,4,5 - $3.60
20-cent Late Pick-4 - Race 8 - 3,4,6/1/1,4,5/1,4 - $3.60
Race 1 - (6) SUNNY SICILY has won three of her last four starts and her last effort at Grand River she was narrowly defeated. This is a nice filly who can race from anywhere. (1) JMR MACH MEL has struggled some with the post draw, but should improve from the inside. (8) CENTURY GEORGIA adds Henry back to the bike this week and is one of the more consistent horses in the field.
Race 2 - (1) SWEET NAN gets a key driver change to Brett MacDonald trying Flamboro for the first time in her young career. She has the ability to beat this group. (5) LITERALLY HANOVER is another shipper who has a decent chance to improve. Since coming from the barn of David Byron, she has yet to miss the board. (4) KEMPENFELT faces tougher this week, but finally gets some post help. Worth a look underneath at a little bit of a price.
Race 3 - (3) REACH FOR INFINTY was hit or miss against lower level claimers in my neck of the woods at Northfield Park. He faces “easier” this week and won’t have to go nearly as fast as he did in Northeast Ohio. (5) WAVE THAT BANNER was making a big move last week and just didn’t have it through the stretch. He is a decent closer who will be coming late. (8) CROSS MY MIND has been known to sneak his way onto a ticket before.
Race 4 - (3) DEX THE LAND has won two of her last three starts and gets a key driver change to Henry, look for her to continue rolling against this group. (5) LYDI LULA BELLE has struggled a lot with the post draw over the past few starts. She needs to get into a good early spot, but has a chance to make the ticket a price. (8) HOWMACFIESTY is a consistent mare who can race from anywhere.
Race 5 - (5) LARJON LEAH has been an absolute machine as of late having won seven of nine this year including six in a row. Not betting against her. (3) SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET has been hit or miss as of late, hoping the driver change to Boyd makes a difference for her tonight. (4) BELLINI SEELSTER comes in from Woodbine Mohawk Park this week, the shippers tend to do well from there.
Race 6 - (2) NATES BUCKY faces tougher this week, but has won three straight leading up to this. He has the speed to control the race and should have no issues. (5) C L SPORTACTION faces a good group with some much-needed post help tonight. He is a decent closer and should be out and rolling late. (4) CAJON THOMAS raced exceptionally well last week having won by just over seven lengths. Against the $8,500 claimers, things have been up and down, I like him underneath. (8) MISTER X doesn’t get the best post draw tonight, he is a gelding that tends to do his best work when on or near the lead. He needs to leave to have a shot. (1) ON CRUISE CONTROL has bounced around from barn to barn in his last five starts. He is clearly a popular racehorse and you’d think he would have to rebound eventually.
Race 7 - (4) SIN CITY SHARK added Steward last week and dropped in class, but did not pop like Victor Puddy had hoped for. Hoping that he just didn’t like the Grand River surface that night; he should be better tonight. (6) BARRYS SHELBY faces easier this week after a pair of tough starts here. Look for him to improve. (3) MALL PEEN HAMMER has done well here in previous starts.
Race 8 - (1) WINGS OF BALLYKEEL took her talents to Mohawk last week and did not race well at all. She steps back in class tonight for trainer Patrick Shepherd who is a 19% winner when dropping. (3) FLUFF ME UP had too much ground to make up last week, gets a driver change to Coulter tonight, looking to improve. (4) EXCELLENCE is one of the more consistent horses in the field this week. She won’t be a big price, but she will be close.
Race 9 - (4) CASINO CLASSIC has raced well all over Ontario and has struggled somewhat as of late. She draws into a good spot here and gets a big driver change. (1) WAR FILLY closed gamely last week and just didn’t have enough through the stretch. She is versatile and can race from anywhere. (5) PLAYA DUHARAS hasn’t been racing that great as of late, she has room to improve against easier and with a better post draw.
Race 10 - (1) ACEFORTYFOUR PAT could light up the tote board in the finale with some much-needed post help. Normally a consistent mare, she threw in a random clunker last week. (4) BEHAVENMYSELF faces another good group here tonight, she is really turning things around at the right time. (2) LADYLIKE has been racing very well as of late, she should not be counted out underneath. (9) WATCH MY SPEED faces slightly tougher this week, but should make her way onto the Hi-5. (8) DRESS TO THE NINES draws outside tonight, but her ability allows her a big chance to hit the ticket.
*
Michael Carter is the co-host of Post Time with Mike and Mike and also is one of the USTA Social Media/Publicity Coordinators. Carter got his start in the sport from going to the track with his father. Carter is the former announcer at Buffalo Raceway and worked at Northfield Park prior to working at the USTA. - JJ Zamaiko Photo
More Tips from the Pros