RACE 1 - (4) VICTORIAS MAVERICK failed to function for his new barn last week but was reclaimed (for $5k more) by the barn that won with him 2 starts back, and drops right back into the box - no guarantee he'll rebound back to top form in one start, but the guess here is that he will...and that'll make him a very live player tonight. (6) OHOKA JOHNNY N tired late after a multiple move trip last week but his best efforts come on the front end...and there's a chance he can get there tonight (or at least a pocket trip) - should be a fair price, and definitely worth considering. (5) LANAS DESIRE has never been a big favorite of ours but he did put in a big effort for new connections last week (despite finishing 6th) - he'll be a nice price tonight, and definitely could offer some value even in this short field. (1) CONTROL TOWER looked sluggish for 5/8ths of a mile last week but definitely picked things up after that - he's now hit board in 6 straight (and 8 of his last 10), and has to be respected....but he'll also be way overbet here (thanks to that 7/5 ML price), making a couple of others more attractive for the top slot. (3) SOLID ASA ROCK A was able to win last week as he benefited from perhaps THE most opportunistic trip of the meet - can't say that he doesn't have a chance to repeat, but he'll be way overbet off last week's "miracle win". (2) OFFICIAL DELIGHT was just "ok" here in the past, vs. lesser - ok for a piece, but definitely prefer others.
RACE 2 - (3) P H KENNY had been razor sharp for a while before going through a long stretch of "meh" races - suddenly came back to life after the 3/26 claim, though, and his last 2 wins have been razor sharp - solid chance to extend his win streak to 3 here. (5) KEPT UNDER WRAPS A lost to the "miracle trip" winner in last, but still could have won had HE been a little sharper - moves to another top barn tonight, and remains a threat to go wire to wire. (4) GUMPTION lacked the speed to leave from Post 7 last week and paid dearly, getting parked weakly for the duration - he had some very sharp lines in PA/Ohio prior to that, and might be a lot better here with a more patient trip...may even offer some decent value off that last line. (2) GIVENUPDREAMING has mostly disappointed since being claimed for $30K back in March, but he may be able to leave well and sit an easy trip here...which would give him a chance at a piece of this. (1) MAJOR CROCKER A qualified back solidly after 3 months off, but does figure to need a start or 2 before hitting his best stride - willing to use for 3rd/4th. (6) BAKERSFIELD would have a chance at this level if he could hit the top, but that seems unlikely from this spot - just not as effective from off the pace these days. (7) CHANGE STRIDE N isn't bad these days, but faces an uphill battle from all the way out here.
RACE 3 - Good race: (1) ROCK THE NITE is the not the most reliable horse (see last), but on his best, can be very good against this type (see 2 back) - exits a perennially top barn but joins an outfit that has enjoyed extreme success with claims over the past year....the rail draw gives him the edge tonight. (4) MISSISSIPPI RABBIT ships in off a career best (blowout) win at PcD, and raced here in a pair of starts earlier this year (close 2nd each time) - anything close to that last mile would make him a serious threat. (7) CRUZING HILL has maintained his fine form even through some class jumps, and a barn change - his local debut last week was excellent (lost by a nose in a tough beat), and he has a legitimate chance, even from out here. (5) CHRISTEN ME N does feel like he's been tailing, but the 13YO has a ton of class and CAN go with these, when "right" - willing to include as long as the price is fair. (2) RECORD YEAR comes into this riding a 3 race win streak, but he's facing a much tougher overall bunch, and may not get the same pocket trip he's used in all 3 victories - definitely a bit vulnerable. (3) MARTY MONKHOUSER A is very reliable most weeks. but debuts for a new barn here and may not be quite as sharp - we shall see. (6) BARBADOS rallied nicely 2 back (YR debut) but just never grabbed the bit in his last - likely to be coming from way back here, and that's going to hurt...even if he brings his better game. (8) TWIN B SPEEDO will appreciate the drop, but not the draw - he's solid now, but may not be able to find a way into the mix.
RACE 4 - (2) LETS HAVE ANOTHER has taken 6 of 12 starts so far this year in Delaware - ships in to a very sharp barn, gets Stratton on board, and will take these as far as he can....and that just might be from wire to window. (4) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN is much better on the front end but can still win from just off the pace when sharp - may get overlooked off the barn change but his new connections have been on a good roll lately...willing to use assuming the price is decent. (6) ROCK LIGHTS wasn't nearly as good last week but may have been hurt by sitting much closer to the pace than usual - he's been super from well back a few times, and will be a lot better price than the 3/5 he was sent off last start -- another worthy of a look, at the right odds. (3) ROCK ON LINE has been terrific since being claimed 5 starts back (already winning 3X for his current connections - relies on things falling apart up front to make his late kick pay off...and that is a possibility tonight. (1) CLASSIC PRO probably needs to be in a little cheaper for a chance at the top prize, but he can pick up a decent piece from this spot...assuming a pretty easy trip. (7) LACHIE MAGUIRE N is 2 for 2 since returning to YR, but those were much easier fields than this one - also gets stuck outside, and that figures to limit him to a smaller slice. (8) TREASURE MACH had been sharp for weeks but threw a clunker off the claim last week - moves to another new barn; lands all the way outside, and we'll just watch for now. (5) MAROMA BEACH does his damage vs. much easier - prefer others
RACE 5 - (6) FIZZING N will appreciate the class relief after holding his own with better in his last few starts - not the greatest post position, but he does have enough speed to possibly improve at the start, or can at least work out a decent cover trip if that's not possible - decent value play. (4) WARDAN EXPRESS A was just 1 for 21 here last year but he's already 2 for 9 in 2021, and comes into this off a nice rallying 3rd into a hot 1:51.4 mile - should be a live player again tonight. (5) ON THE VIRG was life and death to hold on vs. easier last week, but that doesn't mean he can't be sharper tonight, even with the class bump - hard to pick on top as the 2-1 choice, though. (1) HOT DEUCE would normally be a major threat from a spot like this but he was scratched sick on 4/20 and his last race (on 4/5) was a bit weak - it's possible that he could just show up on his "A Game" and beat these tonight, but there's probably a better chance that he'll be a bit short. (8) YAYAS HOT SPOT towed along ok in a few Borgata starts but he's also come up well short in his recent overnights as well - would need to perk up in a big way (for an ice cold barn) to upset these from Post 8. (2) ROCK N BLUE picked up a nice win in a $12.5 claimer across the river last start but will face tougher in his YR return - lacks the consistency to recommend tonight. (3) SOUTHWIND MOROCCAN has a few ok tries lately but vs. lesser - wait for an easier spot. (7) MACH IT SO is closing in on the $3M mark, but he'll need easier fields (and better draws) to get there - tough spot tonight
RACE 6 - (2) SHERIFF N was a bit overmatched in the Borgata Series, and drawing several bad posts didn't help either - gets to drop down now to a class he handled easily back on 2/15, and he should be able to have similar success tonight. (4) SOHO LENNON A took a month off after throwing a clunker on 3/29 but he really wasn't bad at all despite the missed time, and Post 8 - gets both post and class relief tonight, and there's no reason he can't be a solid player in here. (7) ITALIAN DELIGHT N can be excused for his last in NJ as he was stuck well back into a 1:48 mile - plenty of solid tries before that, and he's raced well here at The Hilltop in the past - chance for a good piece if he can find some trip luck. (1) MOHAWK WAR RIOR would prefer to be in a bit cheaper but the rail draw may allow him to just sit close and tow along for a decent piece....assuming he has no issue chasing a mile that may go a little faster than he's used to. (3) LISBURN raced very conservative in last after making a break the week before - his prior starts were pretty sharp, though, and he may be able to rally for a minor share, at a decent price. (5) HIGH IMPRESSION was pretty disappointing in his local debut, but it would be hard to write him off after just one start - ok to throw him in for 3rd/4th. (8) DON DOMINGO N rallied very nicely to get 3rd from Post 8 last week, but that was vs. softer competition -- may have a hard time replicating that from Post 8 tonight. (6) BETTOR THAN SPRING just hasn't been sharp in his last few - needs to find more if he hopes to be a player
RACE 7 - (5) RAUKAPUKA RULER N (quietly) raced pretty well throughout the Borgata Series, losing by more than 3 lengths in only one leg - picked up a solid 3rd in the Consolation, and definitely can look to leave the gate in tonight's softer spot - the draw may give him the edge he needs here. (1) PYRO was hurt by a late leaver last week, got caught wide into the first turn and went offstride - gets a big break in the draw tonight, and could be looking at a very nice trip - legit threat. (3) SPEED MAN was very sharp in his wins 2 and 3 back and finished very alertly from an impossible spot in last - he's beaten these when on his best game, and he's definitely good right now - worth using. 92) THE REAL ONE finished crisply in his last pair and while he may not be at his absolute "top" game, he's still very sharp - may trip out from this spot, with a chance to rally by late. (6) TWIN B TUFFENUFF has been on his game for a while, but Post 6 will hurt his chances tonight - he does draw inside a couple of sharp rivals, so maybe he can at least leave for position, and give himself a chance. (8) ROLLWITHPAPAJOE is in the best shape of his career right now, and he's blossomed into a very solid horse at age 5 - ends up with Post 8, though, and that figures to leave him with a very tough trip -wouldn't shock, but definitely leaning to others for the top slots. (7) LYONS STEEL did some good work throughout the Borgata Series, but does his best when allowed to "relax and rally"...and that means he'll likely be coming from way out of it tonight. (4) HEAVENS GAIT pounced on a 2nd over trip to rally by cheaper last week - will need to find a lot more to beat this bunch
RACE 8 - (1) OSTRO HANOVER was a notch below the top ones in the Borgata but did manage to finish 3rd or 4th in every leg....making it hard to figure out how he ended up in tonight's Preferred, rather than Open - he'll also be getting the benefit of starting from the rail, and he's clearly the one to knock off...at what figures to be a very short price. (4) BETTOR MEMORIES took a tough beat here 2 back when the classy Groovy Joe showed up ready and wore him down late - followed that up with a good first over 4th in a solid Pocono field, and this feels like a spot where he can leave the gate and grab a good trip - good one for exotics. (3) HERRICKROOSEVELT N was a winner at the bottom level 5 starts back, then was right there 4th in last week's Open., successfully climbing the entire class ladder in about a month - sharp enough for a good piece tonight. (6) PEACE OUT POSSE steps up razor sharp, a winner of his last 2 starts - Post 6 will hurt, but he's good enough right now to still find a way to land a good piece. (2) EHRMANTROUT never retook the lead last week then disappointed late from the pocket - may be tailing a bit after a good run of starts, but I suppose we'll learn more tonight. (7) WINDSUN RICKY woke up in a big way with that blowout win 2 back, then continued to do good work as he used a nice trip to defeat Borgata eligibles in his last - tough assignment from Post 7, though. (5) TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER came up well short 2 and 3 back but gave it a much better try last week, cutting the mile and holding for 2nd - doesn't seem as good from off the pace, though, and that's how he may have to race tonight. (8) OUR MAX PHACTOR N owns 3 recent front end scores over cheaper...but that's not something he'll be able to pull off against these
RACE 9 - Very tough race: (2) MICKY GEE N is strictly a guess here - wasn't close to his best returning from the layoff in last, but he wasn't terrible either - lands in a field that's hard to separate, so we'll give him a shot to show up sharper and come out on top. (6) TOWNLINE ALL GOOD was sent off favored in his YR debut last week and was a solid 2nd best to a sharp winner- was claimed for $40K that night and seems like a good fit with these - may even be a decent price. (1) MIGHTY SANTANA N hasn't exactly been a winning machine but he has been pretty solid every week lately - has a license to trip out from this spot and go by at the end. (5) YANKEE ROLLER A broke leaving hard from Post 8 in his local debut in Jan. but was able to rattle off wins in his next 3 before coming up a head shy to Bronx Seelster - was an ok 4th in a good PcD field last week, and his best effort would give him a shot here. (7) NOCTURNAL BLUE CHIP was right there until late in the Open 2 back, then a game 3rd after a 1st over trip in last - would have been ranked higher tonight if not for Post 7. (3) KEYSTONE PHOENIX was tiring late when he beat softer 2 back, but did rally a bit for 4th from well back in last - not impossible, but would want a good price to use him on top. (4) ORILLIA JOE drops from the Open but the 11YO would probably still like to be in just a bit softer - he's gone some good miles lately, but may find a few of these a little too tough. (8) IM SIR BLAKE A draws Post 8 for his U.S. debut and we'll likely just keep an eye on him for tonight.
RACE 10 - Totally wide open! (4) QUALITY BUD moved to a new barn 4 back and his game picked up dramatically - gets a total pass for his last (stuck in the back in a 1:48 mile), and he should be a good price here - one of many possible winners. (5) SHADOW CAT was huge shipping in here on 3/29 when he got parked the mile from Post 7 and was still there in 2nd into the stretch - no chance 8 hole in next, but ripped off a 1:51.3 blowout in last - anything similar would make him very tough here too. (2) CAN B PERFECT never got involved last week but had been incredibly consistent for months prior to that - expect him to bounce back with a big effort here. (6) WALKINSHAW N just wasn't up for last week's 2 move try from Post 8 - another that could rebound quickly here...and be a serious threat. (7) FAST N FIRST was a talented youngster but missed his entire 4YO season - he's now 5 starts into his 5YO comeback and starting to sharpen more and more every week....just not sure he's ready to overcome a spot like this. (3) VIRGIN STORM is another that has been an ultra reliable performer for weeks (months) - if the trip goes his way, he'll be right there....as always. (1) ROCK THE DEVIL disappointed last time when unable to survive a test from the winner, giving way in the lane and tiring - maybe will do better with somebody else cutting the mile. (8) RUNRUNJIMMYDUNN N doesn't figure to be able to do much damage from out here, especially with 7 solid rivals to his inside!