RACE 1 - (7) RISKY MILLION was parked over 3/8ths of a mile last week before finally finding the rail,
then had steady late pace to be a close up 4th - draws another terrible post, but definitely worth a play at
what figures to be a pretty fair price. (1) QUICK ASA TRICK N really disappointed in his first 2 starts off
the barn change but put in a much better effort in his last - very logical threat, but also figures to be way
overbet from this spot. (8) LANAS DESIRE was right there 3rd at 28-1 in a big wake up call 2 back, then
built off that with last week's 5-1 score (one of the 3 races contested before the card was wiped out by the
storm) - not impossible, even from Post 8. (3) FAST ON THE DRAW is incredibly camera shy, but is in a
spot where a small piece is within reach. (2) WAR DADDY may be able to just tow along for a minor share
from this spot. (5) SLUGGEM N debuts for a barn that has been known to wake one up off the claim - and
this guy could surely use a wake up call!
RACE 2 - (7) UVA HANOVER was very well backed in last and proved much the best - steps up a notch
and draws poorly, but a repeat of his last effort would give him a chance to handle this assignment as well.
(6) WHETHER OR NOT FI perked up significantly last week when he came up 2nd best to the top choice
despite Post 8 - may be able to complete a "deja vu exacta"! (2) WISENHEIMER hasn't raced here in a
long time but used to do well here at The Hilltop - the 12YO can still throw some big efforts, and he's one
to consider if the price is right. (3) EVS GIRL just hasn't clicked at all since the barn change 2 back - gets
class relief tonight but what she really needs is a better effort - mixed feelings. (4) ETERNAL PRINCE
looks cheap on paper but moves to a sharp young trainer and gets a pretty significant driver change upon
arrival from upstate - look for an improved performance tonight. (1) SEVEN KNIGHTS draws best, but his
good efforts have been few and far between lately.
RACE 3 - (3) CATIE FAYE HANOVER has been raking in the "frequent shipper miles", as she never
seems to race at the same place twice in a row (looks like she's raced at 7 different tracks just in her last 9
starts!) - her only YR try was a good one, rallying form 7th to be 2nd in a NW4 race - returns at the NW2
level after a near miss at Stga., and deserves top billing. (8) THE KINGS QUEEN was our choice when
scratched from last week's "Hurricane Ida" card - she lands in a MUCH tougher spot now, but still has to be
considered at that 15-1 ML price. (6) BEACHBLANKETLINDY is 0 for 12 this year but hit board in 10 of
those losses (including close 2nds in her last 2 local tries) - she's Stratton's choice over a few others, and
maybe we should trust his judgment. (7) IDEAL CHIP has been right there n 4 straight local tries but the
outside draw figures to hurt her chances tonight. (2) HELLRUNNER HANOVER keeps finishing 2nd in
PA and now moves to a barn that's been known to do well with these - may just be a little too cheap, though
(4) ROLL WITH SHORTY is just 1 for 20, and pretty inconsistent - minor piece only.
RACE 4 - (1) TEMPUS SEELSTER has been facing what we have to assume are better mares out in the
midwest - she's won 17 races over the past 2 years, debuts locally for a top barn and has to be accorded the
edge (we liked her from Post 6, on last Thursday's canceled card). (5) SANDYS BEACH drops down to the
bottom level and would have been the top choice had she not drawn in with #1 - her best game is brushing
from OFF the pace, and hopefully she'll be driven that way tonight. (3) ISLAY N has been 2nd in 4 of her
last 6 starts - good one to include underneath. (8) TOO MUCH SUN gets a big barn change - fits with
these, and could add some value to the exotics from Post 8. (4) E R HILARY is a rock solid player at this
level but moves to yet another new barn and it's hard to say how she'll respond. (7) WIGGLE DELIGHT
has raced well here in the past but lands in a tough spot for her Hilltop return. (6) ASHTINI just isn't hitting
on all cylinders right now. (2) FRANSCHOEK just hasn't been the same since leaving the Dynamic Duo.
RACE 5 - (6) CAPTAINANDTELLY has been solid all year, compiling a 14-2-5-4 record (racing mostly
in PA) - seems like a very good fit with these, and we'll give her the narrow edge in her local debut. (8)
RUTHMAE HANOVER really upped her game at The Meadows in her last pair (after a barn change) and
lands in a top barn for her YR debut - chance to make a lot of noise, even from Post 8 (she also had Post 8
for last week's early-canceled card). (1) DC BATGIRL drops out of NYSS races into tonight's easier NW4
class, but her form this year has just been ok - legitimate chance to take this, but better value to be found
with a couple of others (she'll be way overbet, for sure). (2) IDEAL IN MIRACLES didn't bring her best
last week but could easily rebound with a better effort tonight - ok piece. (5) IDEAL HANNAH has the
barn's ONLY local win this year (1 for 63) - decent value horse for the bottom of exotics.
RACE 6 - (4) MACHIAVELLI was sharp when 2nd three back (winner just threw a huge, form reversing
mile), then crushed as the odds on choice in his next - no prayer after getting parked the mile in last but he's
looking at a much better trip tonight, with a chance to score at first asking for his new connections. (2)
SHOREVIEW chased the hot pace last week and that may have left him short at the end - could land on a
much kinder journey tonight, and he's a legitimate threat from this spot. (1) KILLER MARTINI has
improved a bit each week since joining forces with this talented training tandem - definitely a threat to beat
these, but also may be wildly ovebet. (3) WESTERN HILL was caught in a horrendous flow in his first
start off the claim and didn't have a prayer (but really wasn't bad) - drops, draws inside, and is a good one to
use in exotics. (5) KINGSTONS BAD BOY hadn't shown any gate speed in ages (ever?) but he shot right
to the front for the Dynamic Duo last week and had no trouble completing the wire to wire score - goes for
a new barn this week, and we'll see if he can keep the ball rolling. (8) EFFRONTE A plunges from 50s to
25s and while he was worth a stab when the card was canceled last week (had Post 3), you'd want a pretty
good price to try him from Post 8 tonight.
RACE 7 - Tough race! (2) PACING MAJOR N was the universal "wise guy" horse last week, going off at a
ridiculous even money after being sent off at 61-1 the start before (off a layoff, where he made a break on
the final turn) - came up 2nd best, but he'll be a bit better price this week and it may not be a bad idea to
give him one more chance. (3) TIME OUT IM TIRED threw a dud last week but had been pretty good for
quite a while prior to that - he'll be a big price if you think he can rebound. (8) ROCK THE NITE blew out
the 20s two back, was claimed, then jogged vs. the 30s last week - clearly he's feeling pretty good right
now, and seems quite capable of making it 3 in a row....but he looked a LOT better when he had Post 3
(canceled card)! (6) ROCK N TONY has raced well in several recent starts and can handle any kind of trip
- will look to pay instant dividends for his new connections, but this is definitely not an easy spot! (7)
THISJETSABOOKIN is one of a zillion sharp horses in this barn but he lands outside and may find the 30s
a little too steep. (1) CLASSIC PRO moves up to 30s off the claim and may be a notch below these - will
surely have a say from the pole, though. (4) KASEY JOHN capitalized on a pocket trip last time but may
not be as lucky here. (5) MY DELIGHT may need to be in cheaper to do any real damage.
RACE 8 - (7) MORNING HAS BROKEN moves to the Super Siblings and we've seen them win first time
out with horses that look a LOT weaker than this one - hard not to pick her on top...but don't expect
anything close to that 12-1 ML price. (3) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX is always a steady performer vs. this
type and tonight should be no exception - good chance she can land somewhere on the ticket. (6) ALL
ABOUT AMY's last start is MUCH better than it looks, and her overall form is pretty decent for a barn
that's been going well lately - at 20-1 ML, she deserves a spot somewhere on your tickets. (4) FREE
EXCHANGE hails from a hot barn and was even a little better herself last week - good one for 3rd/4th. (2)
QUITE A DELIGHT N is 5/2 ML off a lame scratch - she may be just fine tonight, but the value would
seem to be in playing against her this week. (8) MACHIN MARLEY's trainer has been sending out live
ones lately - not a bad bomb for 3rd/4th, if spreading. (1) EYE POPPING hasn't functioned in ages - hard to
hop on her team right now.
RACE 9 - (4) FULL RIGHTS can battle much better than these when on his game, and last week's mile
(off the layoff) may have him tighter for tonight - may land on a pretty nice trip and should offer some
decent value here. (8) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN raced well last week, not far off 2nd after getting his
doors blown off by the outstanding winner - faces a few sharp foes in a good NW10000 field, but looked
much better when he had Post 4 for the canceled card - still has a shot, though, and worth using if the price
gets juicy enough. (3) HOMER HALL was a game first over 2nd last week dropping in class, and gets to
drop another peg tonight - very logical threat in a pretty competitive affair. (2) P L KETCHUP drops to the
level of his last win, and you can add him to the list of possible winners in this contentious event. (1)
SUMATRA draws best, but seems a bit below a few of the main players. (5) LUCKY MATTERS ships in
for crafty connections, gets Stratton, and really wouldn't be a shock.
RACE 10 - (8) DELITFULCATHERIN N was 3 for 3 to start her U.S. career but never looked "flashy",
while hinting there really was more in the tank - took a month off and looked VERY good re-qualifying,
finishing right behind Western Fame, and Arties Ideal -- we'll stick with her from Post 8, especially because
her price will be that much better. (7) ELLAGATOR dropped right back in the box last week and came up
with an excellent performance for 2nd - expect another sharp try from her tonight, although things looked a
lot better when she had the rail last week (canceled)! (4) CAPTAINS MAID makes her local debut after
racing exclusively over the bigger tracks in PA - if she gets around the half okay, she should be able to grab
a good piece here. (1) LET ER BUCK and (2) ROLL ON MAMA draw inside, but both may be a bit below
the top ones...either could grab a good piece thanks to the draw, though. (6) THUNDRA was sneaky good
last week, and been racing ok overall - tough spot tonight, however.
RACE 11 - (1) WARRAWEE SHIPSHAPE gave it a good speed try from Post 6 in this class off the claim
(3 back) - not close in next then 4th on that nightmarish track last Wednesday (canceled after 3 races) -
expect a strong, aggressive try tonight. (5) SWAN BEFORE ALL had a few recent Ohio wins vs. a bit
lesser - moved to a new barn and delivered a nice Stga. victory last week....definitely willing to consider
here. (6) LIFETIME ROYALTY can trot with these when on his best...and when he behaves - make sure to
get a good price is using him on top. (3) CASINO CUTIE IT tends to be pretty unpredictable but she did
pick up a 2nd vs. better 2 back, and can't be ruled out for a piece off the class drop. (7) LIMERENCE raced
ok off the drop last week and takes another drop tonight - figures to be hurt badly by the draw, however. (4)
PRESIDENTE ZETTE is on the upswing - we'll see if he can keep it going against this much tougher
bunch. (2) CON AIR HALL gets major post relief but still may need a class drop before we see his best. (8)
SHOWMEYOURGUNS was no factor in his last pair and lands all the way outside for tonight.
RACE 12 - (5) DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N has been racing herself back into shape (as she drops through
the classes) and really wasn't bad last time - she'll be a mice price here, and just may be ready to show up
with a serious effort. (1) TAKE ABIT OF LIFE has done some excellent recent work vs. much better than
these - gamely for 3rd dropping to this level last week, and a major threat from the pole tonight. (3) HIGH
ROLLING A has been delivering a mixed bag of effort as she drops down the class ladder - she's at a level
right now where she CAN be a big threat...if she brings one of her better efforts tonight. (7) LUCKY
ARTIST A was sent off as the prohibitive 1/10 favorite last week (barn change & class drop) - she got the
job done, but had to work for it and will be vulnerable tonight if she doesn't up her game considerably. (6)
DIBABA N disappointed from the pole last week and now moves outside to Post 6 - not writing her off just
yet, but she'll need to find more if she hopes to grab any kind of decent piece here. (4) FOX VALLRY
CHARLIZ adds Lasix, but probably needs an easier spot to be a threat. (2) MORE THAN MANY perked
up off the pocket trip last week but this field is much tougher. (8) BULLVILLEKARLA is good right now,
but severely post compromised tonight.