Northfield Park analysis for Wednesday, May 24, 2023

We have a another competitive 15-dash harness racing card lined up at the “Home of the Flying Turns”, Northfield Park, tonight and here are my selections for the entire card:

BEST BET: (4) HOBBS (12TH)

SPOT PLAY: (2) PASSIONATE PROMISE (6TH)

$1 Pick 4 – Race 2 – 2,3/1,5/1,2,5/3 = $12

$1 Pick 5 – Race 6 – 2,5,8/1,3,4,6/1/1/1,2,3 = $36

$1 Pick 4 – Race 11 – 2,4,5/4/2,9/5,7 = $12

Race 1 – 3-1-6-9

(3) BAMBOO qualified well for this four-year-old debut, and he holds the fastest mark in this field, taken at this track last year. This race should be a battle between him and the filly starting from the rail.

Race 2 – 3-2-1-6

(3) SOUTHWIND MEMPHIS gets a significant barn change after being sold and he comes up tagged for the first time in his career. Expecting sharp improvement tonight, I’ll give him the nod to kick off the Pick 4.

Race 3 – 1-5-2-3

(1) REICHERS CAVIAR gets major post relief and a huge driver change tonight and I’ll call him to score a mild upset over the probable favorite (5) WHAT A MISSION.

Race 4 – 3-9-2-5

(3) WISK KEY K is winless this year, but he was a win machine in 2022. Maybe the class drop and switch to Merriman will wake him up tonight; slight nod.

Race 5 – 3-2-1-8

(3) HUGHIE JUNIOR N finished 2nd in a fast race to a horse that has already come back to win at Mohawk Park facing better and starting from the worst post. This gelding should prove hard to beat in his Northfield Park debut.

Race 6 – 2-8-5-7

I like the speed that (2) PASSIONATE PROMISE flashed from an outside post in her last start at Scioto Downs and the filly that beat her that day would likely be favored in this race. She gets top billing over (8) MO POWER BABY, who is fast enough to beat these but draws widest and needs a clean line tonight.

Race 7 – 1-3-4-6

Tough race here with the two morning line favorites both showing stale dates. I’ll take a stab with the rail horse (1) PLAYERSTOWNHOUSE expecting an aggressive drive from his advantageous post.

Race 8 – 1-5-6-8

(1) BEE STORMIN has speed, the rail, and the leading driver. All of those advantages should make him hard to beat tonight.

Race 9 – 1-2-4-7

(1) ATI BEACH YOUTO IT looks like a strong Pick 5 single and a wire-to-wire victory is likely for her.

Race 10 – 1-2-3-7

(1) GLOBAL CYCLONE gets a key driver change here and Stahl will likely blast with him and look to lead all the way.

Race 11- 5-4-2-9

(5) SEASAR L’s race two starts back is good enough to beat these if he can replicate it tonight and he is worth a stab at a price here.

Race 12 – 4-6-5-2

(4) HOBBS was facing much better than these in Ontario and he is the clear top choice here and Pick 4 single.

Race 13 – 2-9-1-4

(2) PRINCE OF BAILAIR is the one to beat as he shoots for a fourpeat after taking a new life’s mark here last week. It’s unlikely you’ll get a price close to his 4 to 1 morning line quote, though.

Race 14 – 5-7-1-4

(5) LONG RANGER is the clear one to beat here shipping into Northfield with a prefect 2023 record and picking up leading driver Merriman.

Race 15 – 1-2-7-5

I’ll take a swing for an upset here in the finale with (1) FEAR THE BLAZE, who improved last week and gets major post relief after drawing two 8 holes in a row.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink