Best Bet – (3) MACHING MARY – Race 1
Spot Play – (4) TWILITE ZONE – Race 6
20-cent Pick-4 - Race 3 – 1,3/3,9/2,3,5/1,4 - $4.80
20-cent Pick-4 - Race 7 – 2,9/2,4,5/2,4/3,6,9 - $7.20
Race 1 – (3) MACHING MARY faces easier dropping out of the Prospect Series where she only missed by three-quarters of a length. She likes the half-mile tracks. (5) P L NELLY dropped to this level last out and handled it nicely, slight post improvement. (2) TWIN B LUSH should step up, finally getting a decent post draw.
Race 2 – (4) E L VINTAGE CUDA should be a very short price come post time tonight. Her most recent qualifier is enough to win at this level. (7) CENTURY GEORGIA steps back in class and picks up driver Colin Kelly. She is a filly who has been known to show some speed in the past. (2) SHARK IDEA is a horse I’d use in Triactor tickets, but that’s about it. Hasn’t shown a lot of promise when racing at Grand River.
Race 3 – (1) MIRAMICHI DAVID made an uncharacteristic break in the slop last week, pitch that start and give him another opportunity from the rail. (3) REGAL MAC loved the sloppy track last week; he is a gelding that likes to be on the ticket. (2) LONEWOLF CURRIER enters off a victory on July 3 and has not raced since. This race should tighten him back up.
Race 4 – (3) ALWAYS N THE MONEY finished just out the money last week for trainer Jodie Cullen. He draws well again this week, second start off an almost thirty-day layoff, he should be better here. (9) MAC RAIDER didn’t race that great over the sloppy going last out, he gets a decent draw inside this week, which could make him dangerous. (1) DO YA THINK hit the board the last time Kelly drove, look for him underneath at big odds.
Race 5 – (3) NEW WRITER has won two of her last four and has only missed the board once since coming back from the COVID break. She steps back against the claimers this week, and should be able to use her front-end speed. (5) MOCODORA has hit the board in two of her last three starts for trainer Teesha Symes. This looks like a good spot for this mare by A Rocknroll Dance. (2) AZALEA SEELSTER enters off a win last out for trainer Nick Liadis. She does her best work when close to the pace, the draw helps her big time.
Race 6 – (4) TWILITE ZONE could possibly be the one to upend the big favorite tonight. He faces easier and gets some post relief from the last time he was here. I think he is a strong contender tonight. (1) FERRARIFEVER will most likely be taking the majority of the money having won four of his last five starts. He handled the jump in class well, don’t count him out this week. (5) WORKING CLASS HERO stepped up to this ground last out and handled it with absolute class, you may be able to get some value underneath. (2) CANDID CAMERON makes his third start off the layoff for trainer Dean Nixon, expect him to improve. (6) DEVILS PEAK drops and could pop coming off Lasix.
Race 7 – (9) CLASSIC PATTY came to Grand River for the first time last week and closed from out of the clouds, narrowly defeated at the wire. She should be closer to the pace this week. It was a good learning experience last out. (2) SOUTHWIND MARITIME looked like a winner last week before being interfered with heading to the three-quarter pole, room to improve. (3) SHES MAGIC is a solid filly that likes to hit the board.
Race 8 – (5) LADY OXFORD faces much easier after a few rough trips at Mohawk Park, the shippers tend to do well here and you may be able to get some value. (2) TELL EM HANOVER comes back to Grand River where she has had success before. Pitch that start two back from the outside. (4) DREAM ALL NIGHT gets class relief after a promising effort last out.
Race 9 – (4) SPICEY VICTOR was one of my top picks last week and he lost ground through the stretch to get beaten by two lengths. He moves inside one spot here and gets driver change to Colin Kelly. (2) HELLO CHIPPER has won two of her last three and done well since coming back off the layoff. Look for her to be quickest into stride. (6) SCHRADER HANOVER is a consistent gelding who tends to hit the board at decent odds.
Race 10 – (9) D GS SHALLWEDANCE gets post relief and a big driver change for the first start at Grand River. He’s only one for eight on the board this year, but he could step against this group at bigger odds. (6) TWIN B FEARLESS had to come three-wide off the turn last out and just had too far to come, toss that line, and look for him to be closer here. (3) SPORTS JACKET just didn’t have enough through the stretch last week to make up ground after a slower beginning. Expect more speed with an inside draw, use underneath. (8) TOMORROWS HEADLINE has been struggling as of late, if he can get things together tonight, he may hit the ticket. (4) CHIK MAGUIRE is a gelding that if he behaves could hit the ticket.
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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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