There is a great card of harness racing on tap tonight (Jun. 10) at the “Home of the Flying Turns”, Northfield Park, highlighted by the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie featuring the best aged pacers in the sport. Here are my selections and multi-race tickets for the entire 15-race card:
BEST BET: (1) ALMANAC – Race 13
SPOT PLAY: (1) MISS STEFFY CHECK – Race 4
$1 Pick 4 – Race 2 – 2,6/3,5,6/1,5/1,5,6,7 = $48
$1 Pick 5 – Race 6 – 5/3,4,6/1,2,3,6/1,2,4/1 = $36
$1 Pick 4 – Race 11 – 2,3,6/3,5,6,7,8/1/1,8 = $30
Race 1 – 3-2-9-5-1
(3) WHIMSICAL gets class and post relief tonight and leading driver Merriman back in the bike. She should be tough starting from an inside draw.
Race 2 – 6-2-5-4
(6) JOHN DUTTON just took a new life’s mark and he is versatile enough to overcome this wide draw in Ohio Sires Stakes action.
Race 3 – 6-5-3-4
(6) ANGEL HILL comes in off a sharp stallion series win and she should be tough here if she gets a reasonable trip from her wide post.
Race 4 – 1-5-7-9
This looks like a race where Ronnie Wrenn Jr. uses the advantage of the rail post and sends (1) MISS STEFFY CHECK right down the road.
Race 5 – 1-5-6-7
(1) TEACHERS ROCK has a reasonable chance of landing in the pocket here and that can be the winning trip in this competitive field.
Race 6 – 5-6-1-2
(5) JET HILL is on a roll that isn’t likely to be stopped here. He’ll be a Pick 5 single for me.
Race 7 – 3-6-4-2
(3) DELIGHTFUL ACT A raced great from the 8-hole last week now she gets post advantage on the rival that beat her that night. She can turn the tables here.
Race 8 – 1-6-2-3
Fast sophomore (1) FEAR OF SPORTS should handle these if she gets put into the race early enough.
Race 9 – 1-2-4-6
(1) MORNING MIRACLE comes off a strong win at this level now she draws a better post. Call to repeat.
Race 10 – 1-2-3-5
It’s hard to see speedball (1) ALMANAC getting beat here from the rail. He’ll be a single for me to complete the Pick 5.
Race 11- 6-2-3-5
This is such a great field for this year’s renewal of the $200,000 Battle Of Lake Erie for the best aged pacers in harness racing. You can make a case for several, but I’ll side with 1/2-mile track specialist (6) COVERED BRIDGE, who will likely get the setup he needs and come flying late.
Race 12 – 8-7-5-6
(8) FLEMSTEEN just won from the 6 and 7 holes in this class so maybe he can handle the 8-hole too. His price will be good.
Race 13 – 1-6-9-4
I think (1) MCMARKLE SPARKLE controls this race from the outset. She will be a late Pick 4 single for me.
Race 14 – 8-1-9-6
Wide open race to end this Pick 4. I’ll try 20 to 1 morning line quoted (8) BAD TIGRESS on the class drop and driver change to Miller.
Race 15 – 1-3-2-6
(1) DEVIOUS DAME gets post advantage on the mare that beat her last week and I’ll call her to turn the tables this week.
by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink