Best Bet – (6) GRITS N GRAVY – Race 2
Spot Play – (7) CAMVICTED – Race 6
Race 1 – (6) WHOLE LOTTA SASS has four wins this year and all her rivals in this race have two wins combined. She has a good chance to wire these. (1) RIVERSAWAY raced better last time and she should get a good trip near the front this time. (2) SPARTAN VICTORY also comes off a decent effort and he should get a good following trip near the lead here; using underneath.
Race 2 – (6) GRITS N GRAVY powered his way to an impressive win vs. similar here last week and post position was no issue; call to repeat. (4) STONEBRIDGE BETTOR was overland most of the way and stayed game. He could sneak into the Exactor here with a good trip. (1) CAMPASSION was second to the choice last week, but she was no match. She should hit the board again here.
Race 3 - (1) BLISSFULLANNMARIE is in great form and anything close to a repeat of last week’s effort makes her very tough here. (2) IDEAL SPACE moves inside, and she should be the main threat here. (6) LILLIAN ROAD is a relentless closer who will be coming late, and she should hit the ticket again.
Race 4 – (5) NOTHARDTOLOOKAT showed good early speed in her most recent qualifier and I can see Rooney sending her right down the road on debut. (3) FULL RACE CAM showed good speed on the end of his mile last week and I have a feeling he’ll get put into action earlier here and contend. (2) ST LADS FIJI improved sharply last week, and she draws much better here. She is another in with a shot to win this.
Race 5 – (7) BALLPARKFRANK easily handled similar when racing off the claim last week and the only issue here might be post position, but he has the right driver to get him motivated early. He can repeat here. (1) LATTE GRANDE is in position to get a perfect trip, but she got one last week and couldn’t get near the choice late. (2) TOWNSHIP WILLY should sit a nice trip here and emerge late to take a share.
Race 6 – (7) CAMVICTED faces easier here and maybe Steward can send him right down the road at a square price. (2) REGAL BEAGLE gets a major driver change here so expect him to be put into this race early. (3) PLAIN EASY rarely wins but he’s a good one to throw onto the bottom of Tri bets in this spot.
Race 7 – (4) SHADOW SUE had nothing go right last week. Her race two starts back probably wins this. (3) DONAVAN Z TAM won easily with driver St. Louis last time he raced here for a purse on July 7th. He can be a big threat if all is okay following the judges’ scratch. (1) ST LADS CHLOE should be sent for position early and she is another obvious threat.
Race 8 – (4) STONEBRIDGE SCORE is likely to clear to the front by the 1/4 again here and if he does, he’ll be tough to beat. (3) EAGLE SCOUT was game in defeat to the choice last week and he can turn the tables here with a good trip. (1) AVUNCULAR is always in the mix and he is a very good bet to be in the Triactor here.
Race 9 – (6) SGT NEILGREENBERET is the only winner in 2019 in this field and facing a group that has gone 0 for 84 might be just the tonic she needs to get back in the win column here. (2) ST LADS SUNDANCE raced decently from an outside post last time. She can get better position early here which would lead to a better result. (7) A BIT A BILLIE should be closing late and passing rivals. I’ll use her underneath.
Race 10 – (5) GO RRRILLA raced here once at this meet and that was opening day. He won easily in this class that day and he gets my top call here. (3) BIG IS BETTER is also one-for-one at this meet and his dominant win came last week. He’s the one to knock off. (2) SPORTSRANGER hasn’t missed the board in six starts at this meet and he will be in the mix here.
Race 11 – (3) ROBINTHEATM has been virtually unbeatable racing at Hiawatha Horse Park and she is sure to be the one to catch here. (1) ACROSS HANOVER has licence to upset the choice moving inside after getting several bad posts in a row. She may be a pocket rocket down the lane. (4) DALI CAT raced large here last week, and she should threaten for at least a share here.
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Garnet Barnsdale is a veteran handicapper, bettor and racing writer who has worked as an analyst for DRF Harness for the past five years. He is also the current President of the Canadian Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
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