Woodbine Mohawk Park: Saturday 8/11 Analysis
Best Bet: KENDALL SEELSTER (11th)
Spot Play: AMERICAN WIGGLE (10th)
Race 1 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool
Race 4 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool
PICK 5: 4,5,6/6,7/5,7,8/3,4,5/1,8 = $21.60
EARLY PICK 4: 3,4,5/1,8/1,3,7/7,9 = $36
LATE PICK 4: 1,5,7/3,7/2,6/8 = $12
MEET STATS: 248 - 754 / $1,477.60 BEST BETS: 39 - 68 / $136.90
SPOT PLAYS: 25 - 65 / $148.00
Race 1
(4) FREDDY BEAR seems like he lands in a good spot to put his potent late kick to use as an expected fast pace falters late; slight nod. (5) IDEAL JET will be winging again, and if he builds up a big enough lead, he may hold on here. (6) BEYOND DELIGHT has hit his best stride lately and he's capable vs. these if he can work out a trip. (2) MODERN REFLECTION will likely sit the pocket early again and he can stick around for a share.
[DRF HARNESS LIVE: Join Garnet Barnsdale as he provides real-time updates and insight on the Dan Patch card from Hoosier Park .]
Race 2
(7) PLAY JET RAY got a clean line vs. sires stakes company last week and he can beat these if he gets put into the race off the gate. (6) AVALON HANOVER is the other one dropping out of Gold company who should be dangerous here. (4) DANCIN DOUG was flying late last time. If he starts his move earlier here, he can hit the ticket. (3) TREASURE WRITER raced better at Clinton and he may crash the exotics at a decent price here.
Race 3
(5) MONOPOLY is hard to go against here after lowering his lifetime mark by more than three seconds last week. He has clearly figured out the racing game with three straight wins after 11 losses to start his career. (8) BEHOLDER is also on a big roll and she's the logical alternative to the choice here. (7) MAJESTIC FIRE is one that I'll include in the Pick 5 on connections alone as they have been known to jump up with big upsets at times. (4) TREASURED TEE raced okay vs. the choice when coming off the shelf and he can share here, too.
Race 4
(3) COOL ROCK drops several class levels here which should mean he gets aggressive earlier than usual; top call. (4) TUXEDO BAY is sharp and dangerous, and I'll use him on multi-race tickets here. (5) SHADES OF BAY gets Henry back which could mean that he will be on a speed mission here; using. (6) SHADOW MOON is in between stakes engagements, but he can take a share vs. his elders in this spot.
Race 5
(1) AMERICAN HUSTLE and (8) HUMBOLDT knock heads every week in this class. The latter has won two of the last three, but I'll give the former the edge this time based on post position. (6) ROCK THIS WAY has 13 slices in 21 starts this year vs. one win. I'll use him underneath again, but I imagine he'll get lucky one of these times. (4) THE DOWNTOWN BUS has been racing very well in sires stakes company and he's not out of this.
Race 6
(3) DAZZLING ROCKETTE lands in a good spot here and perhaps Hensley will get her rolling earlier; slight nod. (7) AMERICAN CHEER pressed swift splits then couldn't hang on late last time. She fits this class well and she should be heard from here. (1) ART ANGEL BABY had a brutal trip last time. Drawing better here gives her a chance. (4) JUSTABIT MEAN should be closing for a smaller share.
Race 7
(9) PHIL THE THRILL continues to race tough every week and he was beat only by a classy colt last week. He gets top call here. (7) CASIMIR RICHIE P has been very good in his past three starts and he fits here despite facing elders; using. (1) TRUMP THAT continues to be a horse that you want to use underneath in Tri and Super bets. (4) TIGERS WAY is similar in that he closes belatedly for shares often but doesn't threaten the winner.
Race 8
(7) MOONWRITER gets a much better post here and he returns in seven days this time. I'll give him the nod in a race with little form. (1) MAJOR LEGACY can contend if he leaves a bit better here, which is a good possibility in this field. (5) HIGHLANDBEACHYCOVE should set the early pace again and he's not impossible in this spot. (6) DON MCWHITE has two decent efforts here in his past two starts and he should be closing for a piece of this.
Race 9
(7) ALWAYS A HOTSHOT jumps into the deep end here, but his price will go way up, and he may be good enough right now to take these down. (3) SINTRA is the obvious class and best horse in the race, but he's missed some time after stopping badly in the Haughton, so this might be a rare time to take a shot to beat him when facing locals. (2) DR J HANOVER has raced well since returning from a short break and he should hit the ticket here. (1) TE KAWAU N is another who is very sharp currently who should contend here.
Race 10
(6) AMERICAN WIGGLE's race two back vs. similar puts him right there vs. these; top call. (2) SHAMBALLA may not be what he once was, but he should contend here leaving from a good post. (4) JINS SHARK comes off a solid win, but he has never been one to pair wins up, so I'll use him underneath here. (5) BIG BANG BOOM is a tough call here coming off more than a month break, but he should at least be heard from early.
Race 11
(8) KENDALL SEELSTER is one that always puts out a good effort in any class and I'll give her the nod to extend her win skein here. (7) AMERICAN SARA is sharp and could upset here with a trip. (4) SHOWER PLAY is a contender, but she has shown chinks in her armour in her last two starts; your call. (2) HOT SPOT HANOVER faces much tougher here coming off a win, but she can close late for a small share. (3) EXHILARATED is another who figures to finish on the edges in this spot.
[DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]