RACE 1 - (5) MACHING TIME was stuck in much tougher fields in his first 2 starts after the recent claim - back with horses more suitable to his ability tonight, and a much better effort is expected - and should even be a pretty fair price. (4) STATESMAN N has plenty of good recent efforts when paired top raceway catch drivers - the 14YO has won plenty of races here at The Hilltop, and deserves plenty of respect with Bartlett in the bike tonight. (7) PEMBROKE JOEY bounced back powerfully from the sick scratch with a good looking win last week - legitimate threat despite Post 7, but make sure to get a good price if using on top (from out here). (6) MAJOR BUCKS is winless in 5 tries since the claim but did hit board in 3 of them - one to include underneath. (1) CINNABAR DRAGON showed encouraging life 2 back but was hard to steer and sluggish in last, and just can't seem to get back into any kind of good groove - will need to be better here for a chance at a better piece. (3) WE THINK ALIKE has been more competitive in recent starts but still seems a bit below the top ones...and is winless here over the past two seasons. (2) COOL BLUES MAN continues to struggle in almost every start.
RACE 2 - Tough race: (6) LYONS WILLIAM was actually pretty good last week, only losing 2nd late after getting outbrushed by the sharp winner at 3/4s - his overall form has been sharp for some time, and he would have a chance to score here at a nice price if some trip luck comes his way. (4) KINGSTONS BAD BOY was a "meh" 4th as the odds on choice for his local debut but he was racing on short rest (after a long ship from Ohio) and may not have been at his best that night - goes for a new barn tonight, and does have the credentials to beat these....on his best effort. (1) BLACKTREE has probably been facing easier up at Monti but his 13-6-5-0 record this year is still worthy of respect - wouldn't be surprised at all if he was able to bang heads with the locals, as well. (5) CHIEF ALTAWICK wasn't bad here 2 back in his only local try, then followed that up with a 3rd over at Fhd. - could offer some value tonight, and should be included in exotics. (2) TASTE OF HISTORY landed on a tough trip in his only YR appearance then came back to win his next (across the river) after a sick scratch - yet another possibility in a very difficult race. (3) ZOEEZ BOY HENRY was just an "ok" 2nd last week while up in class, for a new barn - fits nicely with these, but also figures to be a bit overbet in a field with better wagering opportunities. (7) TAP TAP TAP showed up with one of his "good" efforts last week, but it's always a guessing game as to what you'll get from him on any given week - tough spot, even if sharp tonight.
RACE 3 - (8) PLAY THE FIELD was absolutely hammered at the windows last week, clearly with the expectation of major improvement with the barn change....he certainly did go a big mile, blasting to the top from Post 8, absorbing heavy back side pressure, and only giving way late - gets stuck out here again but at least the price should be a little better, and he deserves a chance to make amends. (2) VILLAGE CHAMP benefited from the contested pace last week and was the 11-1 upset winner in that race (where the top pick finished 3rd) - it's certainly possible that he could benefit from a similar scenario tonight. (1) GRAND MASTER will be the one taking lots of $$ this week as the 13YO exits a low % barn, and joins an outfit that routinely improves their new acquisitions quickly, and significantly - at that 12-1 ML price, he'd be a great bet....but the guess is that he'll probably end up the favorite (making him a bit less appealing). (4) THEREISAPACEFORUS was handled very aggressively last week, and is the one that hounded the top choice into submission (finishing 2nd, by a nose) - another very logical threat in here. (3) ROCK ON PRECIOUS landed o the perfect trip last week but the notoriously inconsistent 13YO squandered the opportunity...but that doesn't mean he won't show up with a better effort tonight - he's been known to win at big prices, when in the right mood! (5) WILD WEST has struggled in most of his local starts the past 2 years but raced pretty well last week - chance for a small piece. (7) FAST ON THE DRAW took a couple of months off after some weak efforts - we'll just watch, for now. (6) MEETYOUATMIDNIGHT was no factor in either of his last 2 local starts.
RACE 4 - (6) MAGICAL JOURNEY could be a good value play in here - he raced well 2 and 3 starts back, but came up a little short at the end last week after a menacing 4 wide move on the final turn - if they mix it up a bit up front, he may be able to use his late rally to score an upset. (1) THE LAST CHAPTER has been coming up weak at the end for some time, so it was good to see him right there to the wire in last week's very quick mile (won by #7) - if he's as sharp tonight, he can have a say in the outcome. (4) SMALL TOWNTHROWDOWN has been very solid since shipping back east, holding his form as he's climbed the class ladder - he's a little iffy at this level, but Siegelman knows him well and he's worth a look IF the price is right. (3) WINNERUP regularly ships in with lines that make him attractive...but he's just 5-0-0-1 here over the past 2 years and just seems way too risky to endorse at what figures to be another fairly short price (definitely ok underneath, though). (7) LEAN HANOVER put in his sharpest mile in a while in last week's victory, just swelling up on the lead and ripping off a fast front end victory - looking at a much tougher time from Post 7, though (while back up in class). (2) BARRY BLACK hadn't been on his best game but was able to find a cheaper field last week that he could handle on the front end - will need to be sharper with these, though. (5) GUILTY DESIRE should have been assigned an inside post, as he's stepping up considerably here - will wait for an easier spot.
RACE 5 - (3) KASEY JOHN A shipped in here on 2/8 and defeated a NW10000 field - several tough spots after that but his last 2 local tries were solid, then he picked up a tough trip 3rd over at Chester - returns at the basement level, and this feels like a spot he should handle. (7) HUDSEN A took a couple of months off after battling some good NW6/NW8 fields here this winter - tough trip at The Swamp in his return try, followed by a sharp win at Chester...chance to be a live player here, despite Post 7. (2) WESTERN HILL ships in from PA off a pair of solid efforts - just for 1 for 39 over the past 2 years, but definitely ok to use underneath. (6) CAMPORA N is another that's very camera shy, but does often race well enough to land in the exotics. (1) BLATANTLY BEST hasn't clicked at all in 3 starts since the claim but draws the pole and he does figure to perk up one of these starts - willing to throw in for 3rd. (4) SOMWHERENBROOKLN N has been largely unreliable, but he does hail from a top barn - another that can be thrown in for 3rd, if spreading a bit. (5) TALENT SOUP hasn't gotten to the point of being "competitive", but he's at least been "functioning" - we'll see if he shows any signs of getting better. (8) ART HISTORY figures to be well out of it at all points
RACE 6 - (4) NOWS THE MOMENT got used pretty hard making the top last week and gets a pass for weakening a bit in the stretch - should be able to secure the top a bit easier this time, and that would give him a good chance to avenge last week's defeat. (1) FULL RIGHTS landed on a perfect trip last week and found what he needed to secure his first Open victory - gets the best draw for tonight, should be looking at another easy trip, and figures to have a big say in the outcome once more. (6) ARABELLAS CADET was used hard making the top last week, had to let the top choice go on turn two but still finished strong up a clear rail to just miss - the knock for tonight is the draw, and the uncertain trip that it might create for her. (2) MOSTINTERSTINGMAN seems destined to get away 3rd and sit the cones...and that may allow him to grab a piece of this. (3) KINDA LUCKY LINDY charged home to beat slightly cheaper 2 back, then held very gamely in last despite a long first over trip - may be stuck with that same first over trip tonight, though, and that might make things tough for him. (5) HILL OF A HORSE was scratched last week and that leaves him with just one start in the last 6 weeks - prefer to just watch for tonight.
RACE 7 - (4) DANCIN DRAGON definitely wasn't sharp when he returned to YR in late March but did gradually start to sharpen, and picked up the hard fought win in last - still doesn't seem to be at his peak level yet, but he can probably handle this class as well as he tries to move back up the ladder. (6) NVEST MENT BLUECHIP found a soft field at Pocono 2 back and scored as the favorite - seemed to gain confidence off that mile as he was able to ship back to YR and win here as well, pacing a strong last half to get the decision - may be able to have a big say here too, if the trip works out again. (2) IDEAL WHEEL was 2nd at this level on 3/19 then beat this class convincingly 2 starts back - rough trip at PcD in his last but he can be a major threat again tonight if Dube finds him an easier journey. (3) MARINER SEELSTER went a big mile last week, even if helped by a weak leader that gave way at the top of the lane - still hasn't won since the Feb. claim, but a repeat of last week's effort would give him a chance here. (1) HEAVENLY SOUND seems a bit cheaper but he's racing well and draws the pole - chance for a minor share. (7) MCCLINCHIE N was bet last week like he was the only horse in the race...and that's exactly how things played out on the racetrack - bumps in class now, lands outside, and figures to have much less of a say this time around. (8) BELTANE A was actually pretty good last week, but he'll be coming from way back tonight and seems unlikely to be able to reach. (5) IWONTDOTHATAGAIN made a break in his first try for a new barn in last - prefer to just watch this week
RACE 8 - (5) BEERTHIRTY K ended 2020 strong and has looked good all through 2021...especially since adding Lasix recently - he's going to be a solid, Friday night trotter, and he'll have a good chance tonight with the right trip -- hopefully Marohn sees this as a good spot to handle him a bit aggressively. (7) HOMER HALL had only one start in 6 weeks heading into his last, but he actually finished full of trot behind a wall of horses - gets a nice drop here, and might have been the top choice if the barn hadn't been so terrible for the last 2 months (2 for 64) - maybe he can be the one to start to turn things around for them? (1) AFTER ALL PAUL is much better than his last pair would suggest - looking at a much kinder trip tonight, and his more typical effort would put him in the hunt for a good piece. (6) BULLY BOY has bullied cheaper in 4 of his last 5 starts (broke in the other), but faces a much more difficult test tonight (while also losing his regular pilot) - definitely seems a bit vulnerable. (8) EYE OF A TIGER AS feels like he's tailed a bit but at least he's stayed trotting most weeks - can never count out the classy veteran when down at this level. (4) TAD KRAZY HANOVER was much better in her last couple, grabbing a win and a 3rd - facing tougher now, but has a chance at a small piece. (3) STINGLIKE A B K looked fine after quarter moving to command last week but made an unexpected break on the lead - might also be a bit cheaper than these, so not a bad week just to observe. (2) OMAHA OMAHA has shipped in with decent NJ lines in the past and failed to replicate them here - sticking with others.
RACE 9 - (2) MISTER REBBILY A scratched out of what was probably a much tougher spot on Monday (NW8) to race against these - he's shown that he can handle any trip, gets his favorite pilot back on board, and gets the edge over a couple of other sharp rivals. (1) SOHO CHELSEAA has done some good work in NJ but only has a handful of local starts - always the danger of an overdrive from a spot like this, but he'll be a serious player here if handled properly. (3) SANTAFES COACH looked like a winner into the stretch last week but was either outbattled, or simply hung at the end - either way, he'll have a big say here if he gets the trip he likes (relax for as long as possible, then brush home). (6) TIN ROOF RAIDER A has battled with, and even beaten much better than these - does seem to have fallen off form, though, so we'll see if tonight's class drop perks him back up towards a better effort. (5) BILBO HANOVER was one of the barn's recent form reversing winners (at multiple tracks) - seems overmatched here, but a repeat of that last mile might earn him a small piece. (8) LUCIANO N figures to be too far back to really threaten, but there's always a chance he could save ground from the back, then shake free late for a small piece (at a big price). (4) ABERDEEN HANOVER woke up with that win 4 back but did little before, or little since. (7) GINGRAS BEACH needs a drop in class, and much better post