Best Bet – (6) FINA PATINA – Race 1
Spot Play – (2) IT’S A BIG SECRET – Race 7
Race 1 – (6) FINA PATINA has been competitive with much better at Mohawk Park and she’ll take beating in the opener. (1) REDHOT N SPORTY is always dangerous in these conditioned claimers and she should be right there again. (5) HOPE FOR HEAVEN comes up tagged for the first time and he could wake up here at a price
Race 2 – (3) LUCK O THE IRISH gave a big chalk a good tussle last week and that rival would be odds-on in here, too. Brown may send him right down the road here. (1) MUSCLE LANE faced better last time at Georgian, and she raced okay; Exactor factor. (2) ALLERAGE STARGAZER is always a threat, especially if she gets left alone on the lead for a while.
Race 3 – (2) PRIVILEGE is on a roll now and he’ll be hard to stop going for his third straight win. (1) WATCH AVE had a decent debut against the choice and he can improve off that initial effort; using. (8) DEUCE HELIE is always around the money and he can get a piece of this even starting from out there.
Race 4 – Last time (3) OAKROCK ELDORADO was in this low, he jogged on the front end. The Gass Man will be looking to impose his will with this gelding. (5) MAC RAIDER also drops, and he will be heard from in this spot. (9) JETSET CHARMER could trip out and come on late to round out this Triactor.
Race 5 – (2) NO PANIC exits the fastest race and she draws inside for her second start off the claim; top call. (4) DIAMONDS DANCE couldn’t seal the deal as the 4 to 5 chalk last time. I’ll use her underneath here. (5) ROCKET GAL can get position early then hang around for a share in this spot.
Race 6 – (3) ACEFORTYFOUR PAT is unbeaten with Gassien in the bike and she looks solid to threepeat in this spot. (1) MARZANNK HANOVER was a decent 2nd to the choice and she should be the main danger here. (6) WINDSUN ARIA can pass a few of these late and come on to take a share.
Race 7 – (2) IT’S A BIG SECRET lost to a rival last week that is better than any in here and he should prove tough to beat if he gets sent to the front early, as expected. (3) OLLIESTRIKESFAME exits the same race and he should be the main rival. (4) EVERY GIRLS DESIRE was sharp in defeat last time and he can hit the Tri in this short field.
Race 8 – (7) STORMONT RARE was a winner here in July and from this post you might get a square price on him. He gets the nod over (4) CADENCE SEELSTER who comes off a strong win but has missed three weeks now. (3) JANES ANGEL is usually in the mix and she can get a good trip here to take a share.
Race 9 – Not much form to go on in this race with only two of the five entrants having won this year. Of that duo, I’ll side with (4) ARSENAL DE CHAFRA who has had broken equipment in two straight starts. He can beat these if everything goes okay this time. (2) DRAGON WAVE rates highly on speed and form, but his driver is an infrequent visitor to the winner’s circle; your call. (1) RASCAL FLATTER has the best post and the second-leading driver. He should get at least a slice here.
Race 10 – (7) FOUR FOR ORR was taken out of his comfort zone last week when he wasn’t allowed to cut the mile. He can clear these early and lead them on a merry chase. (6) OK DIABLO moves up in claiming price but I’m not sure that this $15K conditioned claimer is tougher than a $7K claiming handicap. Watch for this guy coming down the lane. (3) IAMSAM SAMIAM can get a decent trip here and take a good share vs. these.
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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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