Standardbred Canada's Bet Canadian best bet and value play selections for Saturday, June 30 are now available.
On the anniversary of our country's first horse racing event, Standardbred Canada is bringing back its popular Bet Canadian campaign and selections for harness racing tracks on Canada Day weekend.
Exactly 100 years to the day before Canadian Confederation, the first horse racing meet was held in this country on July 1, 1767. The event was for a purse of $40 and won by a mare named Modesty. The race, which took place on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, ushered in a rich tradition of horse racing in the province and across Canada. Our sport grew and prospered long before concepts like ice hockey or American football had even been conceived.
SC helped close out the 2011 racing season with its much heralded Bet Canadian campaign, offering free program pages and selections. These popular selections will be featured on the SC website for Saturday, June 30, Sunday July 1 and Monday, July 2, and will include each standardbred track racing in Canada that day.
Alberta Downs - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 10
#2 Caress Of Steel (2-1)
The most consistent horse by far in this race, just picked off in his last by a horse that went the mile of his life. Morning line odds will be a gift if you can get them at post time.
Caress Of Steel (at odds of 0.60 to 1) finished first, paying $3.20, $3.10 and $2.80.
Value Pick: Race 7
#4 Dickies Motel (9-2)
Take away that last race in this class from the nine hole - the worst winning percentage post at Alberta Downs - and this mare has performed solidly in her last three. She has the speed to go with these and could upset.
Dickies Motel (at odds of 6.60 to 1) finished sixth by two lengths.
Charlottetown Driving Park - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 12
#1 All Turain (3-1)
Major post relief for this Tell All colt, gets CDP's leading driver Marc Campbell - who guided this one to a 1:57 and change mile in his return to the Maritimes.
All Turain (at odds of 1.30 to 1) finished first, paying $4.60, $4.10 and $3.20.
Longshot: Race 10
#1 Glencove Victor (10-1)
Toss the one line with the break three starts back and this horse has been very consistent - three wins in four starts, despite poor posts. If horses like Block Party and Zanzibar give each other a tussle, the Carl Bagnall pupil could live up to his name here.
Glencove Victor (at odds of 14.00 to 1) finished in a dead heat for second, paying $5.00 and $6.70.
Flamboro Downs - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race #6
#5 Lucky Amy (3/1)
After back-to-back wins at Georgian and Mohawk in late May, this one went a rough trip and stopped in a Grassroots event more recently in Ottawa. Today she drops into a conditioned claiming event where she should lay over the field. If the price is too short at post time, feel free to play a 5-2 Exactor to get a better return on your investment.
Lucky Amy (at odds of 1.00 to 1) finished first, paying $4.00, $3.90 and $3.20.
Value Play: Race #11
#7 Palm Patrol (6/1)
After a very solid 2YO campaign, this daughter of Mach Three has had no racing or draw luck at all in three starts this year. She draws poorly again today but that gives us a better price. If Plante can get her positioned near the front off of the wings - something he's been known to be good at - look for her to grab the first win of her 3YO campaign today.
Palm Patrol (at odds of 5.95 to 1) finished fourth by seven lengths.
Georgian Downs - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race #9
#6 Daylon Miracle (7/2)
Although this will be her toughest test to date watch for 'Mr. OSS' to bring this sister to Daylon Magician back to the winner's circle for the 8th straight time to start her career. The fact that the competition is getting tougher is only going to help you get a better win price on this burgeoning superstar.
Daylon Miracle (at odds of 0.70 to 1) finished third, paying $2.20.
Value Play: Race #7
#5 Mikey Hanover (4/1)
With last year's Super Final wnner inside of him here look to get a nice square price on a horse who acquitted himself very well from PP10 in both his Goodtimes elim and the final. He found himself in impossible situations in both starts and in the final he trotted hme in :54.1 to just miss by three lengths. 2.55
Mikey Hanover (at odds of 2.55 to 1) finished third, paying $2.20.
Hanover Raceway - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 9
#5 Kennairn Crystal (2-1)
Very tough to go against this one after back-to-back 1:56.3 scores in this class. Expect her to make it three straight, use her on top of a 5-2-7 triactor if a straight win bet doesn't seem patriotic enough.
Kennairn Crystal (at odds of 1.00 to 1) finished fifth by two and a half lengths
Value Pick: Race 8
#1 Speedy Desperado (6-1)
This veteran trotter has only made two starts in 2012 and suffered from terrible posts in each. Speedy Desperado took his lifetime mark of 1:58.1 on a half-mile track so he knows how to get around the tight turns at Hanover. Showed enough closing in his last two outings to consider as an outsider with a chance to give Margaret Jones her first lifetime driving win.
Speedy Desperado (at odds of 3.45 to 1) finished third, paying $5.40.
Hiawatha Horse Park - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 12
#2 Artashack (5/2)
Just one win in his last 14 but the company he faces on Saturday is a big step down. Last start, he finished second after blazing to the front in 25.4 from the six hole. He will be extremely tough to beat.
Artashack (at odds of 1.20 to 1) finished second, paying $2.20, $2.20.
Value Play: Race 9
#5 Paper Beats Rock (12/1)
After dominating against easier company he jumped up in class last race and suffered a break in stride. He has won 10 of 17 this year and (note to driver Gene Piroski) he was on the lead at the half for all 10 of those wins. In fact, the last 12 times that he has been leading at the half, he's won 11. There is not much speed inside of him. WIRE TO WIRE.
Paper Beats Rock (at odds of 2.45 to 1) finished first, paying $6.90, $4.50 and $3.00.
Kawartha Downs - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 3
#1 Peruvian Paradise (3/1)
In his last, this three-year-old maiden finished fourth behind three horses who had each previously paced sub 1:54 miles in their careers. In this race, only one of his rivals has even paced a sub 1:56 mile (Signifier, 155.2 in 11/2011). With the competition easier, and the rail, he should get the job done.
Peruvian Paradise (at odds of 3.35 to 1) finished sixth by five and three-quarter lengths.
Value Bet: Race 6
#8 Dazzlin Zetterberg (7/2)
Despite the morning line, this horse may be a fair price from post eight. His last couple of efforts did not result in cheques as the pace scenario created an impossible situation for a stretch move. With a little bit of racing luck he should be there and charging.
Dazzlin Zetterberg (at odds of 7.20 to 1) finished ninth.
Miami - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 1
#4 I Mean It (2/1)
After a 40 length romp over a sloppy track in her qualifier, she came back with a solid first over effort in her debut. Now, with that experience, she should have an easier time with this field.
I Mean It (at odds of 2.00 to 1) finished second, paying $2.10 and $3.00.
Value Play: Race 4
#5 Senga Waterford (5/1)
After recording a last quarter in a blazing 29.1 in his Glenboro Qualifier, he rallied from last to finish third in his Manitoba pari-mutuel debut. His final quarter was 30 seconds. To put that into perspective, only one horse the entire weekend paced a final quarter faster. And these are maidens!
Senga Waterford (at odds of 1.50 to 1) finished first in a dead heat, paying $2.80, $7.20 and $2.70.
Mohawk Racetrack - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race #5
#3 Stonebridge Terror (6/1)
This classy old veteran has faced much tougher recently and has been right on the fringes. He stays in the same class tonight as last week but looks to be the one to beat, especially if he continues to pace home as strongly as he has been in recent starts for driver Keith Oliver.
Stonebridge Terror (at odds of 1.55 to 1) finished third by a length, paying $2.90.
Value Play: Race #8
#3 Waiting On A Woman (5/1)
Putting some pressure on Oliver to double up here but I have confidence in 'The Red Man' to do so. After facing awful traffic problems in his last two this former Maritime superstar looks to break through tonight. Note: #1 (Roush Hanover) looks good here too so you should back up your win bet on #3 with a 1-3 exactor box.
Waiting On A Woman (at odds of 3.20 to 1) finished first, paying $8.40, $5.60, $3.10.
Northside Downs - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 10
#2 Electric Prince (5-2)
Finally draws a decent post in this class and looks to kick the bout of seconditis. While he's the only winless pacer in this group, he was a seven-time winner last year and should be able to call on his backclass here.
Electric Prince (at odds of 1.85 to 1) finished second by a half length, paying $2.10 and $2.20.
Value Play: Race 11
#5 Fex Education (6-1)
Both the fastest (1:56.2) and winningest (three wins) horse in this race, appears to be going into this tilt sharp and is the second longest price on the morning line? Worth a serious look.
Fex Education (at odds of 9.70 to 1) finished ninth.
Sudbury Downs - Program Pages
Best Bet: Race 2
#2 Joshua My Boy (2/1)
After winning his first two career starts, he qualified at Mohawk on June 4th in 1:53.3, defeating Speed Again, one of the early favourites for the North America Cup. His only loss came at Mohawk, a second place finish after leaving from the 10 hole. There's no escaping who is best in this race, and likely on the entire card. Let's set the over/under on how much he wins by at 2 1/2 lengths.
Joshua My Boy (at odds of 0.35 to 1) finished first, paying $2.70, $2.10 and $2.10. He won by 6 1/4 lengths.
Value Play: Race 7
#9 Riverwalk (10/1)
With a recorded trainer change, an injury, bad posts and awful racing luck, we're going to excuse Riverwalk for his last three races. Yvon Lamoureux is a high winning percentage trainer (24% career and 25% this year). Before June 1st, Riverwalk had eight top three finishes in a row, at this level or higher. We expect Riverwalk to bounce back on Saturday with a trip to the winner's circle.
Riverwalk (at odds of 5.00 to 1) finished sixth.