RACE 1 - (2) TEXAS TERROR N tried it at the $25K level last week and just missed, despite being used
pretty hard - drops back down to the level he crushed the week before, and that stamps the 14YO as the one
to beat tonight. (5) SWAGASAURUSREX had been in a funk for weeks but looked like his "good" self last
week, flying home from the final turn to collar heavily favored ALEX TYE late for the win - a similar
effort would make him a very legitimate threat tonight. (1) KINGSTONS BAD BOY dropped down into a
soft NW15000 field last week, was able to make the top then dug in to pick up the victory - this is a much
tougher spot, but he has back class and may have gained some confidence from that mile - ok for exotics.
(6) ITSGOODTOBEDAKING used a quick start to work out a good trip off the claim last week, and was a
close 3rd - chance for a piece tonight as well. (4) ASTON HILL DAVE looked a little better last time, and
his barn got off a long schneid with a winner earlier this week - not a bad bomb to throw in for 3rd. (3)
URBAN RENEWAL wasn't bad in his first 2 starts after shipping in, but came up pretty flat last week -
needs to rebound to that better form for a chance at a piece. (7) BETTOR LADY is a mare facing boys, and
she draws far outside - maybe can rally for a minor piece with some racing luck? (8) KIMANI N has some
decent efforts lately, but will be hard pressed to make much of a dent from out here.
RACE 2 - (7) ROCK LIGHTS was heavily backed in his 2nd start off the claim and went a BIG effort,
coming up 2nd best despite pacing a final quarter in under :27 seconds - no luck with the draw tonight, but
he's still worth a play against this suspect group off that last stellar effort. (3) MAGRITTE blasted into the
first turn last week and made a break (something we've seen him do before) - he's in an easier (overall) spot
tonight, and should be a live player with no mishaps...but that 9/5 ML price makes him hard to get too
excited about. (4) J B MAUNEY went through a long rough patch but does seem to be back on the upswing
right now - include in exotics. (2) FINE DIAMOND was much better 2 back but failed to build off that
effort, looking just "meh" last week - a few of his barnmates have popped off some big miles lately...
maybe be can be next? (1) GLOBALDOMINATION N was an "ok" winner vs, cheaper 4 back, but pretty
much invisible in his last 3 (bad spots) - definitely a chance we could see some improvement from the pole
tonight. (5) SWEET N FAST N just hasn't been clicking for some time, and really in need of a wake up call
- sticking with others. (7) MINGO JOEL has failed to earn even a small check in his 3 YR starts, so far.
RACE 3 - (7) RISKY MILLION hasn't been a factor in any recent races and generally goes off at pretty big
prices....tonight, however, he moves to a barn that routinely improves horses like this up to 2-3 seconds
instantly, and we'll probably see him on the lead, at a very short price....with a good chance to come out on
top of this pretty modest group of 15s. (1) P H KENNY tried a first over move in his 2nd start off the layoff
but tired in the stretch after being repelled - maybe he'll be tighter now, and perhaps can find his way into
the ticket? (3) BLUEBERRY HEAVEN is usually good for some decent late pace, and tonight should be no
exception - include underneath. (2) SAFETY SECOND was sent off at 32-1 at Fhd. last week despite
winning his prior 2....and lagged badly all the way -- if he can show up with that better form tonight, he'll
have a chance to contend for a piece....but that 9/5 ML price makes it hard to consider him for more than a
smaller share. (6) MISTER HAT has been struggling so the class drop makes sense - he was 3 for 11 here
last year, so a wake up call is not out of the question. (5) THEREISAPACEFORUS is hard to gauge as he's
been driven in all his recent starts by his (very tiny) trainer - wouldn't be shocked to see him perform much
better with Buter at the lines tonight. (4) POCKET WATCH N is 13-0-1-1 locally and generally not a
serious player. (8) NIALL HANOVER may get a longer look when he draws a lot better.
RACE 4 - (4) DA GHETTO WIZARD put in solid rallies from tough spots in his last couple - gets Bartlett
on board tonight and that may see him handled more aggressively....could be sharp enough to beat these if
put into a good early spot. (5) SO MANY ROADS was way overbet last week, but did race very well for
2nd to a very sharp (better trip) winner - he's a very logical player once again, but he's just not handy
enough to really be worth a play (on top) at what figures to be another very short price. (6) MARK WITHA
K was bothered a bit early on last week and really had no prayer - his current form has been inconsistent for
sure, but he CAN beat these on his best effort - consider, if the price is decent. (2) KERFORD ROAD A is
used to facing better, but his form has been iffy (at best) even since dropping down to these lower levels -
willing to use underneath. (1) VERGEOFGREATNESS N has shown that he can follow decently when he
lands a good post - ok to throw him in for 3rd/4th. (3) ORILLIA JOE has struggled to get into a good
groove so far in 2022 - would need some quick improvement to be an actual threat with these. (7) GHOST
DANCE is capable of much better than he's shown in his handful of 2022 starts - not sure this is the spot
where we'll see a wake up call. (8) LA PLAYER A found a soft spot to grab a (rare) win at Fhd., but won't
have that same good fortune from Post 8 tonight.
RACE 5 - Tough race! (5) KASHA V hasn't been on his best game but he's been known to perk up at any
time - he may benefit from a contested pace tonight, and that would give him a chance to use his late kick -
one of may possible winners in here/ (2) BELIEVER has a strong 7-1-1-3 local slate, and returns off nice
win at PcD - may get a stalking trip just off some vulnerable speed. (1) MAGICAL JOURNEY had had
issues with breaking and tiring, but he still remains a dangerous player at this level - he grabs his share of
wins every year, and can't be ruled out from this spot. (6) NEXTROUNDSONME seems to be right there
every week without being able to seal the deal - some may view that as him being "sharp", while others
may be less impressed with his inability to actually come out on top - either way, a good one to include in
exotics. (3) SWANSEA tends to be overbet while underdelivering most weeks - would consider underneath
but looking at others for the top slot. (4) ROCK OF CASHEL was 2nd to SECRET BRO 3 back so that
15-1 ML price does seem a bit long - chance to pick up a piece with the right trip. (7) MOSTINTERESTIN
GMAN has just 1 start in 5 weeks and it wasn't a good one - draws outside, and we'll just observe, for
tonight. (8) LIFETIME ROYALTY figures to be too far back to do any real damage in here.
RACE 6 - (1) STORMY KROMER is able to get a class drop tonight despite picking up a win and a 2nd in
2 of his last 3 Open starts - he throws his share of "duds", but it's unlikely we'll see one from this excellent
spot - clearly the one to beat. (4) HAYEK has blossomed into an excellent Friday night trotter, after some
rough patches last year (after first arriving from Canada) - still can't believe he didn't get by WARRIOR
ONE last week, but it's hard to fault him for that effort....probably the main danger. (2) BARRY BLACK
has really come back strong from those two uncharacteristic miscues in March, winning 2 in a row after
re-qualifying, then finishing full of trot from an impossible spot last week - it's possible that he could pull
off a mini upset from this spot, and surely belongs in exotics. (6) FANATIC appears to have appreciated the
time off as he was an excellent (very close) 3rd in his first start back - tough draw here, but may still be
able to rally for a share. (3) KINDA LUCKY LINDY does his best work with cheaper, but the inside draw
may help him earn a small paycheck. (5) SECRET BRO is another that seems a notch below the top players
in here, but more than capable of taking home a decent chunk with the right trip. (7) VAINQUEUR R P NO
has held his terrific form for a long time, but facing a bit easier in those claiming races - this figures to be a
much tougher spot for him. (8) THE LAST CHAPTER could use a class drop, and better post!
RACE 7 - (2) KING JAMES EXPRESS returned sharp for his 4YO season, just missing in the Fhd.
Preferred in his first start back - was a steady 4th here last week, and now drops and draws inside...good
week to hop on board. (3) PAT MCGARRY A is a tough call - his Canadian lines would seemingly make
him a good fit here but he was ignored at the windows in all 3 of his NJ starts (for the Super Siblings) and
wasn't a factor in any of them - we'll see if he perks up over the Hilltop Oval. (7) GAMBLINGTERROR
lands in a terrible spot but he was an ok 4th behind 3 solid horses last week, and has picked up pieces at
prices in the past - ok bomb to include underneath. (1) REIGNING DEO usually figures, almost always
gets bet, but he's just 1 for 17 locally over the past 2 years (and 2 for 25 over the past 3 seasons) - good one
to include underneath, but a little shaky for the top spot. (4) WHITE HAIR ROCKS just came up empty
last week, making tonight a bit of a guessing game - his "good' version could contend for a piece with
these. (5) DON DOMINGO N was caught in a bad shuffle 2 back, then stuck trying to rally into a :27.1
final quarter last week - he may be able to sneak somewhere onto the ticket, at a nice price. (6) BETTER
UP could probably use a better post in an easier field.
RACE 8 - (1) MAJOR BEAN landed on a brutal trip 2 back and gets a pass for tiring late - was used
VERY hard again last week, but this time was able to keep it going, and pick up the hard fought win -
moves to a new barn and faces a couple of tough foes, but we'll still go with him on top. (6) CAVIART
SARGENT came up big in his Hilltop debut and it took a huge mile by the top choice to beat him - gets the
worst of the draw as he looks to turn the tables here, but he also moves to a barn that has shown the ability
to improve almost any horse that comes their way - we'll see how things play out this week. (2) ELS
DISCO JOHNNY sat right off the top pair last week and finished a close 3rd -- may end up in a similar
boat tonight. (4) JET ACE had been racing well before getting stuck in an impossible spot last week - goes
for anew barn tonight but still is very playable for 3rd/4th. (3) WESTERN WALTZ was an even 4th last
week - seems a bit below the main players, but may be able to tow along for a minor share. (8) THIRD
EDITION has been "ok", but this is a brutal spot - wait for a better scenario. (5) MY WISH CAME TRUE
looked terrible in his first try off the 4+ month layoff, and now drops after missing 3 more weeks -
observing only, for now. (7) BARRY WHITE HANOVER took off the gate the last 2 weeks and never got
involved - faces same fate tonight.
RACE 9 - (6) HUNTING AS may not be on his absolute best form right now, but he's not far off of it - gets
the worst draw of all the main contenders, but that also means he'll be a better price - decent value play in
the finale. (2) ETHAN T HANOVER gets Bartlett to bail off his main client here (#8), and it's interesting
that this is really the only barn that he'll do that for - was able to just steal the win last week when somehow
the only leaver (from Post 8!), but that's why Bartlett has been leading driver here so many times - obvious
threat to win again tonight. (1) NEW HEAVEN comes into tonight off a trio of 2nd place finishes, and has
burned plenty of $$ along the way - he'll win soon (maybe even tonight), but there's just no value using him
on top right now. (4) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE is probably a tad below the top ones, but good enough right
now to grab a small slice. (3) WINDSONG PIONEER lost all chance when parked last week - look for a
more conservative try tonight, with a chance for a minor share. (5) QUEEN OF ALL has a win and two
close 2nds from her 3 local tries, but it's hard to say how she'll do taking on tough older foes tonight -
inclined to just watch, for now. (7) MY BOY CHRISTIAN failed to get involved from a similar spot last
week, and faces the same tough task tonight. (8) JUSTLIKEHIM moves to the highest % barn around for
tonight, and he'll be reined, trained, and maintained by his new owner this week (while also trying it
without hobbles) - good week to just observe, and wait for Bartlett to take over the "reined" part in the near
future.