Tonight's card features four HALF MILE sprints (Races 1,3,5, and 7) as part of the
"Can You Go The Distance" Series - those races will be unpredictable at best, but we'll
TRY to offer some (hopefully) helpful guidance!
RACE 1 - 1/2 MILE: (6) GOLDEN QUEST N was a little short last week when 2nd best (to a sharp
winner) in her 1st start back after 2 months off - if ANYTHING is "certain" in these short races it's that if
any of Bongiorno's horses HAVE speed, he'll be sure to ask for all of it, right from the start! (3) MAGICAL
MISTRESS was "alive" on the tote board last week and turned in a much improved effort to be a close 2nd
- maybe Dube can get the jump on the outside leavers and coax this mare to her first win of the season? (2)
KAITLYN N has been "steady" lately across the river - not sure just how quickly the 10YO can leave the
gate these days, but she does have a pilot that can certainly get most any horse to get away quickly - would
consider only if the price was fair. (7) CHUPPAH ON is definitely off her game lately but she still has
plenty of speed - definitely worth a look at that 15-1 ML price. (1) LARJON LEAH may or may not get
away quickly enough from the pole, hasn't won too often over the last couple of years and does figure to be
overbet. (5) VEL DONNA does leave decently, but may be caught in a "sandwich" heading into the first
turn - hard to predict! (4) EMMY LOU HAYES would be a surprise right now.
RACE 2 - (2) HUNTING ZONE showed some promise at 2 campaigning on the Excelsior A circuit - has
looked good so far since returning at 3, picking up a pair of solid 3rds behind legitimate rivals - may be
able to take advantage of his post edge tonight, and grab his first career victory. (6) TACK ROOM CHATT
ER wasn't quite ready for the 1:51.3 mile at PcD in his seasonal debut (for a new barn) but was an excellent
2nd here last week, behind a razor sharp, odds-on winner (finishing just ahead of #2 that night) - Bartlett
takes him over #3 (and #4), and he's the main danger. (4) ONE CRAZY GUY raced 6X at 2 and did pick up
a win (vs. cheaper) in Canada - qualified back nicely for his 3YO campaign, and lands in a new barn upon
arrival from Canada (while also adding Lasix) - maybe the tote board can offer some clues? (3) MR
DRESS UP also arrives from Canada and he lands in our leading barn - he raced just 5X at 3, and his 4YO
starts have been mixed (so far) - Bartlett opts for #6, and we will too. (1) DAVIDS IDEAL is 0 for 34 and
not close in either local try -maybe a minor share? (5) URIKA BLUE CHIP was well back in his career
debut last week, and may be better suited for some softer company right now.
RACE 3 - 1/2 MILE: (1) TALL POPPY N comes into this sharp, finishing 2nd to dropdown TECHYS
ANGEL A two back and wiring the field in her last - it's hard to say how well horses will get away from the
pole in these dashes but IF she's fast off the car, she'll be a big threat tonight. (4) NUTTINBUTHEBEST
isn't always the best "finisher", but she leaves quickly and won't be tired after half a mile - logical player.
(3) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX doesn't have "sharp" gate speed, but she can step a little bit - she's good
enough right now for a chance in here IF Bartlett can get her a good getaway. (5) SEZANA N is off 3
weeks and wasn't on her best game prior to that - doesn't feel like a great spot for her. (7) MILADY
DENVER A folded badly last week but at least she did leave the gate well - maybe that can help her pick
up a piece tonight? (2) BOTTOMOFTHENINTH is a slow starter that doesn't seem suited for this at all -
not even with Joe B. at the lines. (6) FEAR HER TOUCH is in a tough spot for this short sprint.
RACE 4 - (1) ON ACCIDENT may be a little cheaper than a couple of other main players in here but he's
looking at a good trip from this spot, and may be sharp enough to pull it off if a couple of the others just
don't bring their best efforts (which certainly seems possible). (6) BEE TWO BEE takes a big drop and will
likely be the heavy favorite - he's not really clocking right now, and there's no guarantee that the class drop
will automatically perk him back up....could be vulnerable. (7) STOP STARING gets the class opened up to
fit him in but gets no luck at all with the draw - has a legitimate chance if Kakaley looks to handle him
aggressively, but insist on a fair price if trying him from out here. (2) BENHOPE RULZ N is another that
hasn't been on his best game lately - maybe he can just sit close to the pace and take home a small share?
(5) JAY BRACKEN A looked like he was going to be a terrific purchase for our leading barn but he's yet to
win (so far) in five starts - just missed at Chester last week, and we'll see if he can build off that tonight. (3)
PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN was stuck in the back with no chance in his last pair - gets post relief here, but
also faces a pretty good NW15000 field - leaning towards others. (4) JMS DELIGHT has missed 3 weeks
thanks to a sick scratch - will keep an eye for next time.
RACE 5 - 1/2 MILE: (6) LADY DELA RENTA A actually has the speed/brush of a higher-class mare at
times, but her trouble has always been sustaining it - that's not an issue at this 1/2 mile distance and while
it's impossible to predict what kind of "trip" she'll get here, she worth considering just because the price
will be decent (hopefully Boyd will give her a chance to make her presence felt). (5) MIKI ROSE really
disappointed off the drop last week, but her connections are hoping that the addition of Lasix tonight may
help her turn things around - could be a real threat here on her best effort. (4) CORAL BELLA will take
plenty of $$ here off that last win, and just her general ability to leave/cut the mile almost every week -
there's just no guarantee that she'll be as "fast" if put under fire throughout the whole race. (2) HEY HEY
DBAY is having a good year and would be a legit threat if this race was a mile....she may still be a big
player, but it's hard to predict how quickly she can get away from the gate from this spot. (3) LIGHTNING
LEIA has been better vs. cheaper lately, and may not have the speed to sprint hard in the early stages. Both
(7) KATYS DELIGHT and (8) BETTER WATCH IT are NOT known for early speed...and draw outside!
RACE 6 - (1) STRAIGHT UP COOL upset this class 4 starts back and was 2nd best to WINDSUN
RICKY at this level on 3/6 - he should be able to land on a nice trip from this spot, and may be able to pull
off a mild upset. (2) SHAKE IT was an ok 4th in his last local try (in December, at the end of a solid 3YO
season) - he really didn't take any $$ in his 2 Chester starts since returning for his 4YO season, but he'll
likely be heavily backed tonight for our leading trainer/driver team - might be a spot where he can wire the
field, but he may also be just a bit vulnerable right now. (6) LUCIANO N has finished 3rd in 5 straight
starts, and was 2nd the week before that - would definitely include in exotics, even from Post 6. (5) BETTO
RBUCKLEUP was just 1 for 18 last year but already has 2 (recent) victories in 2023 - another that can be
used in exotics. (3) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N was able to wire much easier 2 back but does seem a bit
below the main players in here. (4) AINT HE SPECIAL has been no factor in both starts since the recent
claim - probably needs a softer spot than this.
RACE 7 - 1/2 MILE: (1) COWGIRL LILLY has been sharp since arriving from Canada in March and can
certainly leave the gate - if Kakaley is able to hold the lead through the first turn, it may be hard for
anybody to overtake in this sprint. (5) LINE EM UP can usually leave pretty well and she won't have to
worry about being motivated by her pilot - her chances go way up if able to outstep #1 to the lead. (6)
TONYS MOM has upped her game since moving to our top barn, picking up a 2nd followed by a pair of
wins - no idea what kind of trip she'll have from this spot, but obviously her chances go up exponentially if
Bartlett can ever hit that first turn on top! (2) MCNATURAL L raced much better than expected when she
won her local debut....but hasn't come close to that effort in the 3 starts since then - maybe she can grab a
piece if she gets away up close. (4) TUGGINGONCREDIT has been a bit in and out lately, and has speed
on both sides of her tonight - her trip is unpredictable, at best. Both (7) SALA EL SOL and (8) SPORTS
FLIX figure to be well off the action after drawing outside.
RACE 8 - (5) YO AJ didn't race at 2 but he did good work in a short 3YO campaign, compiling a 7-4-2-0
record (racing in PA) - he just qualified back nicely after 4 months off, and while his connections may be
"low profile", they've always sent out very live horses - not much value to be had (8/5 ML), but he does
seem the one to beat. (4) COUNTER OFFER shocked at 39-1 in his local debut, rolling by the whole
(NW2) field in the stretch - his solid 4th last week (in a fast mile) suggests that win wasn't a fluke, and he
may be able to have a big say here as well. (8) HUNTSVILLE PLACE is just 2 for 29 lifetime but he gave
it a big go here last week (to just miss to the favorite), and may be worth at least look tonight, even from
Post 8. (1) SAULSBROOK BOOMER picked up pieces in all 3 YR starts and draws the pole with Brennan
(who takes him over the top choice) - he's also just 1 for 33 for his career, and hard to back on top at a short
price. (7) AMBITIOUSBEACHBOY does fit with these, but will have to overcome the difficult draw - ok
to include in exotics, at a good price. (2) BEST BETTOR continues to pick up minor pieces every week. (3)
GETAWAY took some $$ for his local debut but raced poorly...and now moves up from NW2 to NW4 -
prefer others. (6) MASK ON MASK OFF was no factor in either local start this year.
RACE 9 - Tough finale! (2) DIAMONDBEACH endured a tough trip from Post 8 last week but actually
raced pretty well - he came up a little short and low odds several times recently, but does figure to be a
decent price here - one of several with a legitimate chance to take this. (5) MOONLIGHT SHADOW takes
a double class bump after winning his last pair, but may be sharp enough right now to pull it off - just don't
fall in love if he ends up overbet (a possibility). (1) BUDDY HILL is off 3 weeks and that's an obvious
concern - he's also quite capable with this type, and starts from the best spot. (3) BRAEVIEW BONDI A
was no match for the very sharp winner last week but safely held 2nd - he finished well the week before
(for 3rd) and may be able to grab another slice tonight. (6) NOWHERE CREEK A doesn't win very often
but he does usually race well, particularly when he lands an easy trip - decent bomb to land on the bottom
of the exotics. (4) KING JAMES EXPRESS lost all chance last week when forced to abort and retreat at the
start - it's hard to really pinpoint what his current level is, but hopefully we'll get a clearer picture after
tonight. (8) ROCKIN WITHELVIS A has ability for sure, but was overmatched in most of his Borgata tries
- this spot is right up his alley...but the draw could prove a major obstacle. (7) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N has
two recent wins in this class, but will need things to fall apart up front for a chance at even a small piece.