Lots of very competitive races tonight!
RACE 1 – (1) POINTOMYGRANSON certainly hasn’t been on his “best game”, but he’s at least become
competitive again after a brief rough patch – this is the first chance he’s had in a while to be on the front end, and
that’s where he does his most damage – we’ll give him top billing tonight, but wouldn’t take a very short price on
top. (4) TWIN B RISENSHINE was very well meant last week (returning from Chester) but he lacked room in the
lane and had no real chance to rally - he should be a decent price tonight, and could be a player with some better
luck. (5) THE IDEAL DANCER A was too conservative 2 back and it may have cost him a chance to win – gave it
a go from Post 7 last week, but lost all chance when hung out to dry...that 15-1 ML price does make him worth a
look tonight. (8) STRENGTHFROMABOVE certainly is a very good fit with these and is listed at 20-1 ML – his
chances go way up if Stratton is able to leave hard and improve position. (2) GREAT SOMEWHERE could be
looking at a very good trip tonight if the top choice just blasts from the pole – worth a look if the price is decent. (3)
EUPHORIA gets a good draw tonight but also lands in a very solid field for this level – may need a little easier spot.
(7) TASTE OF HONEY like the combination of new barn, class drop, and the lead last week (picking up the win) –
looking at a much tougher scenario tonight, however. (6) INDICTABLE HANOVER seems unlikely from this spot.
RACE 2 – Good race! (7) TWIG hit board in 3 of 4 local starts this year, with an impossible trip in the other – he
lands in a new barn, has the speed to at least create a decent trip for himself, and that 8-1 ML price makes him one to
look at. (5) NOWHERE CREEK A hit a tough patch recently (after being claimed) but he did race much better last
week, and his barn comes off a 3-win night on Saturday – possibility. (6) SMOKIN BY N was handled aggressively
vs. the 40s last week with disappointing results – he drops back down to 30s and while he’s better vs. even a bit
cheaper, he’s a proven winner at this level too – will probably come down to trip. (1) SAN DOMINO A is hard to
just dismiss with the drop to 30s and rail draw (a potent combination), but he’s just 1 for 34 locally over the past 2
years, and comes into tonight off seven straight 4th place finishes – he DOES have a chance from this spot, but won’t
offer much value on top. (4) YS DO IT RIGHT definitely prefers 20s, but at least has a shot to rally for a small slice.
(2) GINGER TREE PETE just re-qualified after a freshening – leaning to others tonight. (3) WAR DAN DELIGHT
N hasn’t hit board in a long time. (8) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N is the outsider...literally and figuratively.
RACE 3 – (6) JUST ENUFF STUFF hasn’t won in a while but he’s come close several times – he had pace
finishing in both starts since the recent claim and IF Brennan can find him a good trip (from this tough spot), maybe
he can pull off the mild upset? (3) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK has been sharp for a long time and can certainly be
excused for his last (first over vs. the 60s) – drops back down, and looms a very dangerous player. (1) SHINE A
LIGHT has had a couple of recent excuses (parked the mile twice!) but he did win at this level in early July and
figures to land on a much kinder trip from the pole tonight – maybe that 8-1 ML listing will help his price a bit. (2)
BIG DREAM FELLA used an easy trip to grab 3rd last week and does have a chance here...but he really shouldn’t
be listed as the 9/5 ML favorite and that has us looking for better value elsewhere. (4) MICKY GEE elected to
qualify on 8/16 (rather than drop in to race) and he hasn’t started since 7/29 – leaning towards others. (7) PEACE
OUT POSSE dropped in for a tag in his 3rd start off the layoff and just drifted from the pocket on the final turn –
hard to make a strong case for him from Post 7 tonight. (8) SHAKESPEARE has some excellent recent tries but
figures to have a very tough time trying to overcome the horrible draw.
RACE 4 – (3) AMERICAN DEALER N has been on his game for some time and can be excused for getting
collared by the sharp tripsitter last week (after being used very hard for much of the mile) – an easier trip tonight
(with the class drop) could help him get the job done. (2) POUND FOR POUND has been fairly inconsistent lately
and did squander a two hole trip last start – he was off a bad date, though, and may be sharper tonight with a similar
journey. (6) FAMILY RECIPE was off 3 weeks to his last but still finished crisply for 3rd – he’s been sharp for some
time, and may find a way to grab a piece of this, at a good price. (5) SOUTHWIND PETYR looked super winning
off the barn change 3 back – disappointed in his next, but bounced back with a solid 3rd last week – maybe a piece
here? (8) BIRTHDAY did leave the gate (and win) from Post 7 two back, but that was an easier spot– he struggled in
2 similar spots three and four back, and will need a good getaway for a chance to be a serious player here. (4)
WINDSUN RI CKY would like to be in a little cheaper but he’s also not bad right now – minor share? (7)
KOMODO BEACH won his last pair, but from inside posts vs. easier – figures to have a much tougher time tonight.
(1) THE REAL ONE is listed on the bottom as he may be pushing his limits at this level – that being said, it would
never be a surprise to see the classy warhorse rally for a small share.
RACE 5 – (5) GENTLE GIANT is 3 for 4 since being claimed on 7/18 and his “best” effort may have been the
week he lost (a close 3rd despite being out the entire way after an early miscue) – faces some solid foes here, but
we’ll stay with the hot hand. (1) DANCE ON THE BEACH is a major player week after week, and gets a full pass
for his last (when trapped behind a quitter) – major danger from the pole tonight. (4) UCANTTOUCHTHIS was
sharper than his line might look on 8/12, then was a solid, well-meant 2nd last week– remains a viable option,
especially at a good price. (7) OZONE BLUE CHIP’s only “bad” line is when he was parked three back – he’s been
rock solid for a long time, but will need some major trip luck to get it done from out here. (8) BECHERS BROOK A
is an outstanding 6-4-1-0 since arriving here in July but note that the one lesser effort was when he landed on a
tough trip (from a similar spot) on 8/12 – may be facing another tough journey tonight. (2) SADDLE UP changed
barns after just 2 local starts and he’s still seeking his proper level – this could be it, but that 5/2 ML price is a turn
off. (3) WICHITA LINEMAN wouldn’t be a strong consideration off his recent form but he does get a barn change
for tonight – we’ll see if it helps. (6) MY ULTIMATE STAR A draws poorly after failing to really fire in his last pair.
RACE 6 – (1) CENTURY HEINEKEN really wasn’t bad last week, though unable to get in play from a difficult
spot – he beat (much) better than these in late June, and did just wire a Tioga “Winners Over” field 2 back – might
be a spot where he can get aggressive and come out on top. (2) HUNTERS HERO was handled patiently last week
and certainly responded when called upon – he can handle tonight’s class bump, and looms a dangerous threat to
repeat. (4) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE has ability but hasn’t shown much of it in his 3 Yonkers starts – maybe he
can have a bigger say with the move inside? (3) SON OF A TIGER N has been reliably picking up pieces, even if
vs. a little easier – maybe 3rd/4th here too? (6) GALANTE A was in an impossible spot in his return from NJ –
unfortunately, this spot isn’t much better (8) CAVIART SARGENT was one of the barn’s massively form reversing
recent winners, this guy scoring in a 27-1 head-scratcher – hard to see him replicating that from Post 8, though. (5)
MY CARBON COPY N is just 1 for 30 at YR over the last 2 years and looking at only minor spoils here. (7)
PURPLE POET does fit well here but also has Post 7 off a sick scratch (and away for 3 weeks).
RACE 7 – (3) THUNDER HUNTER JOE took a while to start clicking at 4 but the recent addition of Lasix seems
to have helped him crank up his game – that last first over victory was excellent, and perhaps he can handle this
bunch too. (6) ADAM TWELVE saw his streak of hitting the board 22 straight times ended last week (bad post and
no chance trip) – he’ll be a good price tonight, and may be able to blast off the car here – worth a look in this wide
open affair. (4) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE got trapped in at the half last week and never had a chance to strut his stuff
– he’s probably a good fit with these, and another good value option to consider. (5) MAMBA did well to hold 3rd
last week in yet another excellent outing – continues to overachieve, and has to be respected once more. (1) STAY
GROUNDED may or may not fit with these but this is his first good draw and first opportunity to really show what
he’s capable of – hard to say how it’ll turn out. (7) ITS A ME MARIO was a very sharp winner 4 back and full of
pace finishing in his next – came up a (disappointing) nose shy to VENTURESOME ARDEN N after that, and
simply had no prayer last week – lands another awful spot, but a big price makes him worth at least a look. (8)
PLEASELETMEKNOW hasn’t won in while so tonight’s 8 hole punishment is confusing, to say the least – won’t
be easy to overcome this harsh assignment. (2) WESTERN ERA moves inside, but still needs to prove himself with
these classy rivals.
RACE 8 – (3) NONE BETTOR A came up a little short the last couple of weeks but was also collared by a couple
of pretty sharp foes – drops a notch, and this might be a field he can take wire to wire. (4) WATTSUP SUNSHINE
A upped his game in his 4th U.S. start and picked up his first victory with last week’s dead-heat – if he can build off
that just a bit, perhaps he can threaten tonight, as well. (2) GINGRAS BEACH hasn’t won in a while but he’s
certainly been holding his own at level typically higher than he’s used to – his barn continues to thrive, and a good
price makes him worth a look tonight...at least for exotics. (5) IGNATIUS A drops a level, gets a better draw, and
may be able to rally for a small piece, at a good price. (1) SAMHARA N probably needs to be in easier to be a win
threat, but the good draw at least gives him a chance to take home a small share. (6) SONNY WEAVER N was well
backed for his last, had things his own way but was still no match for the tripsitter- moves up, draws poorly, and
that could limit him tonight. (7) BIG GULP had been struggling lately, but a class drop and easy lead helped propel
him to a victory last week – will need to be sharper to replicate that success from Post 7, in this tougher field. (8)
ROCKIN N TALKIN was able to wire easier last week – faces an uphill battle tonight, however.
RACE 9 – Outstanding field for a final race! (6) RACING RAMPAGE has crossed the wire first in all 7 local starts,
starting at the bottom level and culminating with last week’s pocket score over the tough-as-nails DUNKIN – we’ll
give him the narrow edge over an excellent bunch! (5) VENTURESOME ARDEN N came out on top in his last
pair, and now has 9 victories this season – he can do damage on OR off the pace, and is one to reckon with any time
he’s in to go. (4) MIRAGE HANOVER is a 3YO taking on older but he has no shortage of ability, and clearly
deserves a pass for that last start in the Hempt (was stuck sitting 8th as the final half was paced in :53.2!) – could
make some noise in his Hilltop debut. (7) DUNKIN obviously needs no introduction, and we’ll forgive him for
getting collared by the streaking RACING RAMPAGE last week (especially after winning the DAN PATCH the
week before) – dangerous, even from Post 7. (2) AMERICAN FLING banged out over $300K at 2 and 3, and
continued to thrive at 4 (already 9 wins and over $100K on the card) – he did win here as a freshman, and may be
able to hold his own tonight with an easy enough trip. (3) VERDUN feels like he MAY be slipping just a bit of his
recent stellar form – he also catches a scary-good field tonight, and will need to be at his absolute best to have any
chance at the top slot. (8) ENERGETIC HANOVER was just insanely good for his first 7 starts after arriving on the
scene this year... but he was no factor in his next pair (after a sick scratch), and just re-qualified after taking 3 weeks
off – might have given him more consideration if no for Post 8! (1) THE GOOD DOCTOR didn’t embarrass himself
trying this class last week and gets to move all the way inside tonight – still has a lot to prove against this bunch,
however.