RACE 1 – (3) BIG DREAM FELLA was loaded with pace with nowhere to go 3 back – finished well off a
conservative trip in his next then was very good last week, with pace at both ends of the mile – maybe he’s found a
winning spot? (1) PEPPERMINT MAN has been facing a bit cheaper but he ended 2023 with a pair of (PA) wins
and returned from the layoff with a near miss at PcD – he can be a little hard to handle at times, but has a good set of
hands to steer him in his YR return – solid threat. (2) ARTISTS BEST didn’t fire last week but he’s capable of better
– willing to include in exotics. (5) IM A POWERPLAY A hit board in his last pair at this level and is listed at 10-1
ML – another very playable option for exotics. (4) FLOW WITH JOE returns from the winter break for a barn that
has had a variety of results with their other recently returning horses – he’s good at this level when “right”, so
perhaps check the board for clues? (6) LUCIANO N doesn’t win very often but he grabs his share of minor pieces –
ok for 3rd/4th. (8) PAT STANLEY A beat these with a sharp mile 2 back but was no factor last week – would need a
big price to consider from out here. (7) CHIEFS BEACH draws poorly after being way overdriven in his last.
RACE 2 – (1) FULSOME has taken 3 of his last 4 and was a sharp 3rd in the other – he draws the pole, and the road
to the winner’s circle clearly runs through him. (2) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK rallied from tough spots 2 and 3
back so it really was no great surprise to see him get there off a pocket trip last week – a similar journey makes him
a serious threat once more. (5) SHAKESPEARE was off his best 3 and 4 back, raced very well the week after but
wasn’t as sharp in his last – he’s a bit iffy right now, so make sure to get a good price if trying him on top. (4) CAU
GHTINALANDSLIDE seemed to be tailing at the end of 2023 so the time off may have helped – his qualifier looks
solid, but still leaning towards others, for now. (3) TALK RACY TO ME was a no threat 3rd off an easy trip last
week – a similar journey can help him grab another small share. (6) UP THE CREEK is more than capable with
these but has missed 3 weeks (sick scratch) and draws poorly. (7) STRIKING IMPACT has been off his best lately.
RACE 3 – “Stake Your Claim” Series: (2) AUSSIE HANOVER ended 2023 with a sharp win, then was victorious
(right off the bench) in his first start of 2024– legitimate chance to extend that streak to 3 in this modest division. (1)
EMINEM HANOVER was helped a bit last week by the way the race played out but still put in a very nice move to
pick up 3rd – if he lands on an easy trip tonight, he may be able to be around at the wire. (5) GOTHIC ROCK tired
on the lead last week but he’s always been a much more reliable horse from off the pace – very possible in here, but
would need a “fair” price to use him on top from this spot. (4) KOUNT BLASTER wasn’t terrible from tough spots
in his last pair – a better trip could put him even closer tonight. (3) ALEX TYE has been unreliable at best lately,
and goes for a new barn tonight – leaning towards others. (7) BALLERAT BOOMERANG has won a bunch of races
at YR but has been well off his game lately – hard to like from Post 7, but his barn has sent out some sharp
performers recently – ok for longshot fans. (6) LONG WEEKEND A has shown little lately, and draws poorly again.
RACE 4 – (2) POINTOMYGRANSON has been on an outstanding form spree, succeeding even at these higher
levels (and even from off the pace) – we’ll see if he can use the inside draw to handle a few very tough foes tonight.
(5) SONNY WEAVER N was unable to get into play in the Invitational last start, but he jogged at 1/5 in this class
the week before – very dangerous player. (6) ADAM TWELVE’s easy victory last week brought his YR record to
11-7-4-0 – has to be given the utmost respect tonight, but he is starting from a bad post against very sharp rivals – be
careful about taking too short a price. (3) SPEED MAN N seems more comfortable vs. a bit easier at this point of his
career but he was actually pretty good last week, and not a bad value horse to consider for exotics. (1) OCEAN RID
GE N had pace finishing from an impossible spot last week but will need to prove that he can win at this level. (7)
ROLLING WITH SAM has held his excellent form for a while now, but will have to pass ALL of them to win from
out here. (4) TAKE A GAMBLE has won 9 of his 17 local starts but is making his first start since last July.
RACE 5 – (5) ALL ALONE has won 2 of his 3 starts here this year and was a strong 3rd behind two good ones in
the other – he gets to stay in the same class and while he faces a few good ones tonight, we’ll still give him the edge.
(3) BLANK STARE rallied for a 2nd and 3rd (vs. better) in his first 2 starts of the year – shipped over to Fhd. and
almost was able to sweep last-to-first, missing by just a nose (with Smith driving) – we’ll give him a pass for his last
in PA and look for a big effort tonight. (8) NIGHT HAWK lands all the way outside but he raced big in both of his
starts this year, and may just be a good trip away from being a big threat here too. (6) BLUE HUNT was parked
every step at PcD in his seasonal return and certainly gets a pass for that – he has a lot of ability but the switch to a
new pilot is a bit of a concern (as he tends to get “lazy”, and can be a tough horse to drive). (1) BENHOPE RULZ N
may not be a threat to win here, but he’s listed at 20-1 ML and is definitely good enough to grab a piece, with the
right trip. (4) BURNHAM BOY N was a game first over winner last week, and is another that could easily grab
another good chunk tonight if the trop goes his way. (2) CAPTIVATE HANOVER had some clunkers at the end of
2023 but he also won TEN races here last year – guessing he’ll need a start off the layoff, though. (7) PHOENIX OF
FLUZZY was very game beating softer last week but may have troubles replicating that effort from out here.
RACE 6 –“Stake Your Claim” Series: (2) AS ALWAYS tried to leave hard last week before backing off to last, and
can be forgiven for not being a serious player after that – his prior form had been excellent, and we’ll look for him to
bounce back with a good one from this much better spot. (1) GINGER TREE PETE nosed out the top choice 2 back
then just missed last week to a sharp, front end winner – remains extremely dangerous. (4) ADAM CROCKER A
saw his 4 race winning streak snapped last week and while his line doesn’t look all that great on paper, he landed on
a tough trip in a very quick mile – could easily bounce right back and be a serious player here. (8) SAILBOAT
HANOVER was no good 2 and 3 back but he crushed ‘em last week after being re-claimed by his previous
connections – not sure he can find a manageable trip from out here, but he’s still worth considering if the price is
good enough. (5) THRASHER has been in fine form for some time and goes back to his previous barn after last
week’s re-claim – he may not land on the best of trips from this spot, so insist on a decent price if using on top. (7)
POUND FOR POUND has been pretty solid lately but faces an uphill battle trying to get himself a live trip from
Post 7. (6) MY ULTIMATE STAR A was a very sharp first over winner last time but he draws poorly (while up in
class) for his new barn, and that could hurt his chances here. (3) STATEMENT MADE A hasn’t been sharp in
awhile.
RACE 7 – “Stake Your Claim” Series: (5) MOVIN ON UP was very sharp vs. the 30s 2 and 3 back – stepped up to
40s off the claim and went a big mile last week, tough collared by the very sharp winner in what turned into a 2
horse affair – should be a decent price here, and worth using. (1) OZONE BLUE CHIP was handled aggressively
from the pole last week (dropping in for a tag) and was a gutsy winner – very real threat to make it 2 in a row. (2)
URIEL BLUE CHIP has been looking smoother in his last couple and that has resulted in a win and a 3rd in this class
– deserves plenty of respect again tonight. (4) FULL SUPPORT looked super in those wins 2 and 3 back but wasn’t
the same after the claim in his next, then was scratched last week – wouldn’t be a shock here, but you’ll want a
decent price to try him over the top three. (6) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER used an easy trip to be a close 3
rd last week but may have a tougher time tonight with the unfavorable draw. (7) THREE GRAND ships in showing sharp tries
every week out of town, but hasn’t won in a while – this marks the first local start for a 23 year old conditioner that
just started training last year, but won an unfathomable 33% of his starts (he was winning at an even better rate in
the short time that he raced at The Meadowlands) – we’ll see if the youngster starts to have a similar impact on the
local scene! (3) ANOTHERSTATEMENT A was shuffled last week but it may not have mattered – prefer others
right now.
RACE 8 – (2) LEONIDAS A rallied full of pace on 2/5, his first start back in 2024 – he came up a little short when
first over in a fast (Invitational) mile the next week, but was seen finishing full of pace (from an impossible spot)
last week – the class drop and inside draw should see him handled more aggressively tonight! (3) FUNATTHEBEA
CH N may or may not be capable of knocking off “real” Open horses at this stage of his career, but he’s still a very
classy, capable performer – solid 2nd to a sharp NANDOLO N in is his last, and may prove the main danger tonight.
(7) BOILING OAR is capable of some big miles, and we certainly saw one last week – may have trouble getting in
play from out here, but he’s still one worth considering for exotics. (5) MACH N CHEESE seemed to find the
Fountain of Youth after the recent barn change, and has been a different horse in his last 2 outings – we’ll see if he
can continue to be as effective as he steps up once more. (4) WHATS STANLEY GOT A was no factor at all in his
last few but he’s capable of much better – it’s never really a shock to see him pop off a good one. (1) KINGSVILLE
started the year strong but wasn’t quite up for last week’s hot mile – leaning towards others tonight. (6) BLAZING
BANNER N draws a tough post in a good field off a sick scratch – prefer others. (8) THE REGULATOR seems
unlikely to be able to have much say starting from out here.
RACE 9 – “Stake Your Claim” Series: (1) SETH HANOVER gets to control the action (for another new barn) in a
field with no stickouts – they have him to catch and beat, but note his long series of 2nds and 3rds before accepting a
very short price on top! (4) REIGNING DEO shipped back in off a pair of Monti wins and was 2nd in his last 2
Yonkers starts – he’s another that’s extremely camera shy, however, and another that’s hard to back with confidence
at a short price. (2) ALLUNEEDISFAITH N has really been just “ok” in most of his recent starts, but a good trip vs.
rivals with an aversion to winning could make him a late threat. (7) SWEET TROY is probably sharp enough for a
chance to beat these, but another bad post does figure to compromise his chances. (5) BIG SIR is on the cheaper side
but he does have a couple of wins and a driver that has been winning races in bunches – wouldn’t shock. (6) OSTRO
HANOVER has his moments, but he’s a “sluggo” coming from the back that will need a lot to go his way to be a
threat here. (3) WORLD FOR TWO shows a pair of clunkers since being claimed – hard to endorse right now.
RACE 10 – (4) CRANBOURNE N turns in a strong effort pretty much on a weekly basis, and last week’s first over
2nd was excellent – he faces several tough foes in a “NW30000” race that’s really more of an “Open”, but he’ll offer
good value and may be worth a shot. (5) SEMI TOUGH has won 2 in a row in a row, is razor sharp, but through the
creativity of the race office gets to remain in the class he beat last week – he’s feeling mighty good these days, and is
a very dangerous threat. (2) COACHES CORNER won 7 straight local starts before a pair of narrow losses to a pair
of beastly winners – his last 2nd place finish (DQ’d to 4th) wasn’t quite as sharp, so we’ll see if he bounces right back
tonight or if he may be starting to tail, just a bit. (1) OAKWOODNITOWNIT IR is a very streaky sort that can
surely go with these when on his game – he just qualified back after 4 months off, however, and we may not see his
best just yet. (6) MOONSHINE KISSES comes off a career year that saw him win 8 of 20 local starts – he ships in
after making his season debut at Stga. last week, and it’s hard to say if he’ll be ready to take this on, especially with
the bad draw. (3) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A comes off a magical 16 win season but his qualifier suggests he may
need a start or two before we see his best. (7) GROOVY JOE has been very solid of late, but faces a daunting task
starting from all the way out here.
RACE 11 – (6) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES is solid week after week but his last start (2nd off the re-claim) was just
super, brushing into the fastest part of the mile and then finding enough late to collar a very sharp rival – we’ll give
him the slight edge despite the bad draw. (2) WAR DAN DELIGHT N has outraced his odds the last few starts,
moves back inside, and has Bartlett on board – decent value horse to consider. (3) RJ SPORTS IMAGE moves from
one very high % barn to another but the real concern is that his last 2 starts were sub-par – IF he bounces back to one
of his better efforts he’ll be mighty tough here...but that’s a big “if”! (1) SAN DOMINO A has to be respected just
on his back class and connections but the reality is that he hasn’t been all that sharp lately, and will probably be
overbet tonight. (4) MICKY GEE N was a surprising claim as he hasn’t done a lot of winning the last couple of
years, and hasn’t been all that great lately – another that figures to be overbet. (8) TUGGIN ON MY HEART has
more than enough ability to win here but he draws Post 8 after missing a month and seems risky, to say the least. (5)
NOWHERE CREEK A hit board in his last pair but does seem a bit below the main players. (7) PRETTY HANDSO
ME probably needs a much better post, in an easier field.