RACE 1 – (2) TOBAGO TIME had no prayer last week (8 hole vs. 50s) but drops back down to the level where
she’s been super recently, draws inside, and looms a short priced favorite in tonight’s opener. (8) LAZIN ON THE
BEACH hit the top from Post 7 last week and took ‘em wire-to-wire, going off at an amazing 73-1 (despite all solid
form) – lands all the way outside once more, but she’s proven that she’s not afraid to leave from out here and may be
able to a big part of the equation once more. (4) SALE EL SOL drew Post 7 vs. tougher last week and wasn’t beaten
all that badly – back in 25s, better draw, and a decent chance at a good piece. (1) FEETMADEFORDANCIN was
scratched sick on 10/9 and just re-qualified solidly – should land on a good trip here, and that would give her a
chance to contend for a nice chunk. (3) BIG BIG PLANS hasn’t been sharp in some time but may be able to sit a
little closer tonight and grab a small share. (6) LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK picked up a 3rd at this level 2 back and
an easy trip may help her pick up a piece here too. (5) ONEDERFULBEACH has been better lately, and hails from a
hot barn – another with a chance at a small slice. (7) THATSMYTYPE may need easier to be a serious player.
RACE 2 – (2) TASTE OF HONEY has won 3 of his last 5 starts and started from Post 7 in the 2 losses – he steps up
a bit but still feels like the one to knock off here...though there is definitely some legitimate competition. (3) OPTIC
AL ILLUSION N has been on his game for some time, though hurt a bit by bad posts in his last couple – he’s one of
many from the barn that will be having a new trainer listed for the next couple of months, so start to notice how they
are performing and adjust accordingly. (4) DEETZY benefited from a golden trip last week but that doesn’t deter
from the fact that he’s very good right now – would be no surprise to see him on the wire once more. (5) SOUTHWI
ND PETYR hit board in 5 of his last 6 starts, but the winner’s circle has eluded him for a while – willing to use on
top IF the price is juicy enough. (1) FRANCO NANDOR N is on the cheaper side but an easy trip from this spot
could help him take home some minor spoils. (6) TWIN B POWERBALL has been good since recently arriving
from Canada – note that the only time he’s been off the board recently was when he drew the same Post 6 he has for
tonight. (8) TWIN B DELUXE is a very legitimate player against these types but he’s been hurt by bad draws in the
past, and the same could happen here. (7) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A was “ok” winning 2 back, sharp winning his
last but faces a tough road tonight, starting from Post 7 while facing better.
RACE 3 – (3) UNRIVALED HANOVER was a well-backed, dead game winner in his local debut then still
managed to grab a 5th place check last week despite being parked every step from Post 8 – he moves inside, figures
to be sent off as the 3rd or 4th choice tonight, and could be a decent value play. (1) ICACO HANOVER took a few
starts to get back on his game after re-qualifying in late August but he’s hitting on all cylinders right now and looks
to make it 2 in a row – legitimate chance that could happen. (8) HUMBLE A is 3 for 3 since arriving in the U.S. and
his upside remains limitless – he’s also racing from Post 8 after missing a month, and he could be at least a bit
vulnerable this time...especially at that 8/5 ML price. (6) LEGAL ATTACK was well bet for his YR debut last week
but came up 2nd best to #1 – tough draw, and may have to settle for a smaller slice. (2) ALRITEALRITEALRITE
may be a notch below a few of the top ones and is just 2 for 27 lifetime – minor share only. (5) FALL IN LINE was
a nice front end winner in his Hilltop debut but weakened on the lead last week and lands in a solid field tonight. (4)
DEALERS TURN has raced well in this class (and has 3 recent wins) but faces tougher tonight and was scr. sick
from his last. (7) YANKEE CLOUT had 2 career wins before victories in his last pair in PA – no spot tonight,
though.
RACE 4 – (6) ELISES DELIGHT was sharp just before the recent claim and seems to have upped her game even
more since then – not an ideal draw for tonight, but we’ll still give her top billing, especially since the price should
be fair. (2) ITTY BITTY never thrived after returning from Ohio (to our leading barn), and is currently 20-1-1-2 on
the year – she HAS shown some subtlely better signs lately, and may be ready to be a bit more of a player – good
value horse for exotics. (4) FRONDEUR just managed to hang on by a nose last week (at $2.20), extending her
winning streak to 4 – she’s 7 for 11 here this year and obviously has a chance to take yet another, but there could be
some value trying against her tonight. (1) HARPER SEELSTER is 2 for 16 here in 2024 but also has been 2
nd 8X – hard to not include her in exotics. (3) SHOTGUN PERSUASION wasn’t able to do any damage from Post 7 last
week but hit board in her prior 4 starts – another that’s ok to include underneath. (5) EBONY LADY is tough to call
from week to week – her best effort could land her a share. (7) PALADIO draws poorly after missing 3 weeks –
prefer others. (8) DUCK INTO THE NITE drops in for a tag but figures to be too far back to seriously threaten.
RACE 5 – (2) HEISMAN PLAYER felt like a pretty risky claim recently as he’s struggled for most of the past 2
years – he’s definitely improved dramatically in his last couple of starts, and we’ll see if that will continue with a
new trainer listed now. (1) JUSTASEC N has been racing poorly (and LOOKING terrible) but did perk up with a
ban change last week, benefiting from an easy trip to be right there 2nd at a big price – he’s sure to be WAY overbet
tonight, but does have a legitimate chance to come out on top. (7) ILIKEMEBETTOR A did finish well from an
impossible spot last week and picks up Yannick for tonight – value play? (4) RAYRAY is impossible to predict from
start to start – if we get the version from 2 starts back, he can be part of the equation. (5) GOTTA GO MILKING A
disappointed in his local debut and will need to be a lot better to threaten tonight. (3) OSTRO HANOVER has been
no factor for most/all of his recent starts – looking elsewhere. (6) GREAT SOMEWHERE was super in 2023 but ’24
has been a struggle – leaning to others. (8) OHARE HANOVER draws horribly for his YR return – brutal spot.
RACE 6 – Wide open! (4) OKINAWA BEACH A was invisible the last 3 weeks but she also was facing better, from
extreme outside posts – this is the type of spot she CAN handle, and the price should be decent in a race with many
possible winners. (3) CRÈME DELIGHT gave it a decent speed try (3rd) upon arrival from PA – she was handled
more conservatively last week, and appeared to have more pace than she was able to show (traffic issues) – another
possible value play. (1) FREESTARFLIGHT rarely goes a bad one, and that’s why her local slate sits at 16-6-4-2 –
hard to imagine her not being right in the thick of this from start to finish. (2) YS SENSATIONAL CITY finished ok
from an impossible spot returning from Canada on 10/22 – got hammered at the windows from the rail last week,
gave it a good try on the front end but came up a little short at the wire – remains a very live threat. (5) SILKY STRI
DE drops in for a tag and has been doing excellent work since moving to this barn back in September – could easily
outrace that 10-1 ML price. (8) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL A has been sharp for a long time and has won 3 of her last
4 starts – the issue tonight is the draw, and she just may have too far to come from the top of the lane for a chance at
the top prize. (6) STAY HAPPY worked out a two hole trip 2 back and pulled off the upset in this class – this is a
much tougher field, however, and she draws outside 5 very live rivals. (7) MORNING HAS BROKEN makes her
first start since being scratched sick on 8/13.
RACE 7 – (5) FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE had a nice tightener for his new barn on 10/22 (rallied for 3rd from a tough
spot) then was all business last week, using a powerful first over move to deliver the snazzy 1:50.3 victory – moves
up a notch, but seems more than capable of beating these too. (3) SEMI TOUGH hasn’t been on his best game lately
but Gingras drives him for the first time in a while, and the two usually do good work together – could bring a good
one tonight. (1) EUPHORIA N was a victim of his own success, stuck over his head for a while after a recent form
spree – he tailed off, but his last was a step back in the right direction...playable in exotics tonight. (4) OHOKA LE
BRON N gave it a good try on the front end last week before giving way very late – drops a peg, and should be a
live player here. (2) JET ROCK is forced to move up TWO classes off last week’s 2nd place finish – the good draw
could help him grab a small slice. (6) A ROCKNROLL STAR hasn’t been at his best since re-qualifying on 10/9 –
tonight’s tough draw won’t help his cause. Both (7) BENHOPE RULZ N and (8) ROLL WITH THE FLOW would
look better NEXT week, with a class drop and (hopefully) some post relief.
RACE 8 – (1) BACKSTREET SHADOW hasn’t been at his absolute best in too many starts this year but he’s still
earned nearly $200K, and looked awfully good in last week’s jogburger – deserves the nod from the pole tonight. (7)
HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR was stuck making a long first over move last week but was still able to grind down the
winner, then hold off DUNKIN to the wire – the obvious concern here is the draw, but he’s good enough to threaten
#1 with some trip luck. (2) BRUE HANOVER ended up in a no-chance spot last week but wasn’t far back at the end
– moves inside, and could have a much bigger say here. (4) NONE BETTOR A has lost a step or two but is still a
solid performer at these levels – belongs in exotics. (5) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE finally picked up his first YR win
2 back (off a perfect trip) but was then no factor last week – wouldn’t be a shock, but we’re still leaning elsewhere.
(3) ESCAPETOAMERICA is a 3YO facing tough older foes here – minor spoils only. (6) CADILLAC BAYAMA is
likely headed for a conservative steer after getting parked last week. (8) ROCKIN JUKEBOX is just one of several
in the barn that have been struggling in recent weeks.
RACE 9 – (2) VANDIEMEN BLUECHIP just folded badly in NJ last start but it seems like a good sign that he’s
back in the box quickly – he reunites with Brennan, and the pair pulled off a big NYSS upset here last year, and also
finished 3rd in the Final – may have a class edge here. (3) AYR BALMORAL GB has been a solid performer in this
class for weeks, and could easily be a big part of the action once more. (1) BETTOR MAKE A WISH seems a bit
cheap but he gets a big barn and driver change, and could improve significantly. (6) D A MACDREAMY also gets a
barn change, but his usually ultra-reliable trainer hasn’t been quite as hot lately – mixed feelings about his chances
for tonight. (7) KID FROM THE BRONX does his best racing when on/near the lead – his chances go up with a
quick start. (4) WARRIOR FOR TRUTH has a few good starts here but does seem a notch below a few of the top
players in this field. (5) BET ON MAC may need to find a softer field to be a more serious player. (8) HEY JUDE
HANOVER lands all the way outside for his local debut and has only one start over the last 2 months.