Best Bet - (2) FAST AS PHELPS - Race 4
Spot Play - (6) SAUBLE ATTACK – Race 10
20-Cent Early Pick 5 - Race 1: 3,7,9/1,4,9/5/2,6/2,6,7 = $10.80
20-Cent Early Pick 4 - Race 3: 5/2,6/2,6,7/4,9 = $2.40
20-Cent Late Pick 4 - Race 7: 2,6/1,2,5/2,6/6 = $2.40
Race 1 – (3) FAVARO SEELSTER qualified well in preparation for this start for trainer Matt Dupuis. Kelly gets the lines back tonight with a favorable post draw which should allow him to sit close to the pace. (7) TWIN B POWERBALL qualified okay after a pretty lengthy layoff. He looks to drop and pop tonight for trainer Richard Moreau - a 21% winner when dropping in class. (9) FULL CREDIT gets a decent draw in his first start back to the races against older. Look for him to be steamrolling late.
Race 2 – (4) JMR MACH MEL stepped down to this level in her most recent start back in March and didn’t seem to mind it. She gets another inside draw and should get a decent trip behind the leaders. (1) A LA MODE SEELSTER was ready to come back to the races, then the next break happened. Tonight, she finally gets a chance to show her stuff. She was razor sharp in her most recent qualifier and should utilize her inside speed to her advantage. (9) CENTURY GEORGIA makes her first start off a very extended layoff. Qualifier says she is good to go.
Race 3 -(5) ALVIN BRICKROCK enters for trainer Carmen Auciello who normally has his horses keyed up first off the layoff, sporting a 13% number with those types. He won’t be much of a price, but if he is close don’t count out this son of Bettor’s Delight. (1) PREMIER KANE has had an interesting journey to the races having only qualified four times in his lifetime. The most recent 1:58.4 effort shows he may be ready to go. (9) GOLD TRAIN was solid in preparation for his first start back to the races and could provide value underneath.
Race 4 – (2) FAST AS PHELPS got off the gate very well in his most recent qualifier at Clinton. He closed gamely from off the pace and made up good ground in that effort; I like him in this spot. (6) MR JOHN comes back to Canada after a tough go of things south of the border. Grand River will be more suitable for him. (9) THE DEVIL YOU KNOW trained by Isabelle Darveau is 0/23 when entering first off the layoff. He is a deep closer and could benefit from the second tier.
Race 5 - Trainer Blake MacIntosh is a 14% winner when entering first off the layoff, he draws tough with (6) LIL RED SPORTSSTAR. He is a speedy son of Sportswriter that will make his first start of his sophomore season tonight. Look for him to be leaving from here. (2) DELLAS BOY enters for trainer Vic Puddy who is a 20% winner when entering off the layoff. He didn’t qualify following his last layoff and it proved that he needed a start to tighten up. I look for him to be close tonight, but maybe a step off of the winner. (7) SALTWATER SAVAGE didn’t qualify that well on June 3, but I think he just needed a start to get rolling. Tough draw this week, but his speedy should carry him.
Race 6 – (4) GOLD STAR DIABLO has won three of his last four starts and was rounding into form well prior to the layoff. He gets a key driver change tonight to Scott Coulter. (9) DREAMFAIR TECATE looked good in the qualifier on June 2, with Nicholas Boyd in the sulky. He doesn’t mind having to come from off the pace, the second tier is a good spot for him. (2) CAL HANOVER was a winner in his last start and will have his first outing for trainer Gerard Demers. Look for him to leave from the inside. (1) TOMITTA BAYAMA has been no worse than third in 2021, worth a look underneath at decent odds. (5) ATEYATEFNGERSLOUIE could spice up the back end of the Super HI-5.
Race 7 - (6) SAVINI could be dangerous in this spot if he can manage to stay flat. Trainer Vic Puddy wins at a 20% clip when first off the layoff. He will be rolling late. (2) NORWEGIAN DAD draws well and should improve off the June 5 qualifier where he made a break at the start that completely wiped out his chances. Trainer Gerard Demers is in the money 17% of the time with horses first off the layoff. (5) WISHYOUDTELLME gets some much-needed post help and should improve this week.
Race 8 - If the stats hold up, trainer Vic Puddy could have a big night, but this is an interesting spot for (5) CENTURY GAGA who struggled in her last return to the races. Hoping that the time off did her some good. (2) WOODMERE ROLLILY showed promise in her tightener at Mohawk Park. Kelly picks up the drive tonight, currently batting a .307 this year. (1) SHARK IDEA didn’t qualify as well as I would’ve liked at Hanover, but it’ll do. Hoping she can improve from the rail.
Race 9 - It makes things much more difficult when the best horse in (6) IN THE NEWS draws a tough post on the outside. She is a speedy daughter of Sportswriter who may have to contend with inside speed early, but I could see her getting into a good spot. (2) COCO BEACH DE VIE did not qualify on Wednesday like she was supposed to. That is a little concerning, but if she is anything close to what she was prior to the layoff, lookout. (5) WATCH MY SPEED put in a big mile at Kawartha, she could produce a minor upset tonight.
Race 10 - (6) SAUBLE ATTACK won three straight pari-mutuel races prior to the layoff and this Bettor’s Delight gelding likes to beat his opponents handily. He will be tough to beat and could provide some value. (3) SMILINGBILLYTHEKID gets Ketros back in the bike tonight following the layoff. He was racing well against Autumn Series company in London and handling it very well. He is one of the speed horses in the field. (9) LAST MACH is the deep closer of the field and has the ability to pick up the pieces late. Don’t leave him out. (1) CAPTAIN RAY proved that he was ready for this start in his qualifier. He is versatile and can race from anywhere. (7) DANCE MACHINE could be a player tonight.
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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
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