RACE 1 – (2) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS was struggling to find his best form this year but his last couple of efforts
have looked much more encouraging – drops, draws inside, and this feels like a good week to give him a shot. (4)
MISSISSIPPI STORM finished with broken equipment last start but it’s hard to say just how much that might have
hurt his chances – the classy 9YO also gets a class drop tonight and deserves plenty of respect...but may be overbet.
(5) P C FREE WHEELING missed a spot to drop in 3rd and ended up parked last week, still out there battling at 3/4s
despite the hot 1:25.4 clip– she was a winner in both starts before that, and may be sharp enough to do some damage
here, despite moving up in class. (3) AIRMANS JACKPOT shocked at 24-1 last week but it’s not like the race “fell
apart” for her to do so (she was right there all the way, and trotted past a classy leader to win it) – may be good
enough to hang in there with these too, with a similar effort. (1) FIX A DRINK was much improved when 2
nd in his last, and adds Lasix for tonight– he’s also missed 3 weeks, and moves up in class...mixed feelings. (6) ON HIGHER
GROUND just missed in his last pair but the concern is that he’s had some major issues on some turns, and a new
pilot may have some trouble with that tonight. (7) GRINDER is capable at this level, but probably needs a better
spot to be a serious player. (8) KINDA LUCKY LINDY ships in sharp, but draws Post 8 moving well up in class.
RACE 2 – (2) COACHELLABOUND N worked out some bugs a few weeks back and raced well right through the
Matchmaker Series, picking up 2nd in the Final – she’s a versatile sort, and may end up with a better trip tonight than
a couple of her main foes (1) MC ANGEL makes her first try at the Open level and she’s certainly earned it, winning
4 in a row and 7 of 10 this year – she’ll be class-tested tonight, and we’ll see how that works out for her (having the
pole certainly will help). (3) DOUGS BABE A hit board in all 5 Matchmaker legs (1 win), but could only manage a
5th in the Final – she’s been sluggish/lazy all year, and that could hurt her tonight, as well. (5) LIT DE ROSE doesn’t
miss a beat after taking this year’s Matchmaker Final, right back in the box to do battle tonight – she can NEVER be
counted out, but she could be looking at a less than stellar trip tonight...at a short price. (4) SILK CLOUD A was
better in his last than the line looks, but still probably looking at only a smaller piece against these.
RACE 3 – (4) CELIA B MONEY was sent off favored vs. better last week but was driven poorly, used every step of
the way before giving way and tiring badly– she faces much easier now, and could bounce right back with a winning
effort. (1) COMMANDER CATHY N was dull 2 back but rebounded with a close 2nd last week after an easy trip –
steps up a notch, but more than capable of a nice piece here too, with any half-decent trip. (6) BETTER WATCH IT
has been having trouble getting back to her top form from last year but did finish alertly from a tough spot last week
– willing to use her in exotics. (3) GAME OF SHADOWS has been having a decent year, and gets some class relief
– not really a fan of that 3-1 ML price, though! (7) COWGIRL LILLY threw a rare dull one last week but vs. better
– obviously will need plenty of luck starting from Post 7, but a big price makes her worth using underneath. (5) HA
LLELUJAH HANOVER landed on what LOOKED like a winning trip last week, but was outkicked in the lane with
no excuses – maybe a minor share? (2) ELISES DELIGHT has fallen well off her best form (see last week!).
RACE 4 – (3) FANATIC went an even effort from the back on 4/12, his first off the layoff (and adding hopples) for
a new barn – he finished with encouraging late trot in his next, and the classy 8YO may be ready to bring his best
against this fairly modest bunch – worth a shot tonight. (6) STREET GOSSIP remains winless on the year but is a
solid weekly threat at this level – he took off the gate from a bad spot last week, but can have a serious say tonight
with an aggressive steer. (1) TOCCOA FALLS has been a weekly “bet against” in this corner and it’s been a good
strategy – he’s listed at 6/5 tonight (it seems even Bartlett has given up on him), and we’ll try to beat him once more.
(5) BANK BOX TREASURE struggles in PA in his first few starts this year – was a bit better 2 back, then put it all
together vs. a very easy field last week – faces tougher now, but he may be ready to hang with these too (Dube off to
a poor start since returning from an injury, currently at 15-0-0-0). (2) MUFASA AS was empty here for several starts
before throwing a better one in NJ last week (vs. much easier) – maybe a small slice? (4) BAZILLIONAIRE is as
camera shy as they come – minor spoils only. (7) IN MY DREAMS drops to the basement, desperately hoping for
some kind of wake up call.
RACE 5 – (3) SWEETEST BELLE ended her 3YO campaign (late 2023) looking like she was blossoming into a
nice Open mare...things haven’t quite turned out that way, but she lands in a field tonight that she really should be
able to handle...wouldn’t bet the rent money at a short price, however! (2) BIG BIG PLANS raced “ok” vs. better in
her last 2 starts and seems the main danger – her 0 for 26 record over the last 2 years does make it hard to endorse
her on top, at what figures to be a fairly short price! (6) SWEET ALI LOU is the “x factor” in here – she picked up
her first win since 2022 vs. softer at Hoosier last week, and moves to our top barn for her YR debut (while also
getting a pretty significant driver change) – if the tote board suggests she’s a big “go”, it might be a good idea to pay
attention. (1) ANNELIESE HANOVER has always been very “in and out”...but it’s been most “out” so far in 2024
– logical spot to at least look for an improved try. (5) FEAR ABBY was a no factor (but even) 6th in her local debut,
but then empty last week – not writing her off just yet, but also not looking to back her right now. (4) BLUEBIRD
GRAF just hasn’t clicked in her 5 starts since the claim – needs a quick wake up call. (8) NITE TIME DEAL is on
the upswing and ships in sharp from Fhd. – she also lands all the way outside, and was 11-0-0-1 here in 2023. (7) SE
ZANA N would be certainly be a surprise from this spot (11-0-0-0 so far this year).
RACE 6 – (5) GOLDEN QUEST N gets a surprising barn change (considering how successful she’s been for her
previous trainer!) but she does land in one of the sharpest barns around – she’s been razor sharp for weeks, and we’ll
go with her on top tonight. (1) ROCKN PHILLY has always been a streaky kind of mare so it’s no surprise to see
her picking up 3 straight wins (even if helped by a couple of great trips) – she should be full of confidence right now,
and can have another big say tonight...even with the double class bump. (4) EASY TO PLEASE is doing better this
year than she did in 2023, but still hasn’t been able to “bring it” on a weekly basis – her best effort puts her right in
the mix...but be careful about taking too short a price. (3) DELITFULCATHRIN N (in for a tag tonight) is sure to
attract plenty of attention dropping out of the Matchmaker but she’s been known to hit some dry spells in the past,
and definitely doesn’t seem on her best game right now – could be vulnerable. (2) FORGOT THEWALLET A had a
forgettable effort on the lead 2 back but rebounded with a hard charging 4th from well back last week – no reason she
can’t show up late once more, with another easy trip. (6) TWIN B SUNKISSED beat a bit easier last week but that
was on the front end, from a better post – may have some trouble starting from Post 6 against these. (7) REC TIME
tends to lag badly for much of the way...and that could leave her too far back to threaten tonight.
RACE 7 – (3) ULTIMATE SPEED just got unlucky last week when viciously parked by CELIA B MONEY and
gets a total pass for that mile – she’s been a very solid player all year, and very legitimate danger here with any
“normal” trip. (2) FAVORITE BEACH was one of the beneficiaries of the duel that cooked that #3 last week, sitting
in the back and then charging home for 2nd as the leaders folded – she’s another that’s been a weekly player against
these types, and figures to be right in the hunt once more. (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE sat 6th vs. better last week then
finished evenly from a no-chance spot– she drops a notch, and a live trip would put her right into the mix. (1) ARCO
N has been sharpening at Buffalo and will get a bit of a class test in her first local try – we’ll get a clearer picture
after tonight, but she’s certainly one to consider if the price is right. (6) MORNING HAS BROKEN hasn’t been on
top of her game this year, but can still offer a decent late rally with an easy trip - maybe 3rd/4th? (4) PURAMERI
returns off a pair of NJ wins but was struggling vs. much easier in most of her local starts.
RACE 8 – Tough race! (7) MAN DONTFORGET ME was our choice in last week’s Matchmaker Consolation – she
was well backed, but just not up for a tougher trip than expected – she faces an overall softer field tonight, but will
have to deal with a terrible draw – willing to try her again, as long as the price is worthwhile. (3) UPTOWN HANO
VER beat this class 2 back – she got a free ride last week but lost all chance when caught behind an exhausted leader
– definitely worth considering again tonight. (1) OAXACAN DREAM N is very solid at this level, draws inside and
can handle any trip that comes her way – live player. (2) OKINAWA BEACH A may prefer to be in a little easier,
but a good trip from this spot would give her a chance to rally for a piece. (4) CHERYLS SHADOW was handled
very aggressively off the sick scratch/qualifier and came up a little short at the end – could be tighter now, and is one
of several that could be players in here with the right trip. (5) HELLO YES HI was 2nd in this class on 4/5 then raced
ok at this level last week, finishing with belated pace – another hoping to be able to capitalize on a live trip. (6) A
GIRL THAT TWIRLS has picked up 4 seconds from her 6 starts since arriving from Ohio – tough draw tonight.
RACE 9 – (1) FOR A DREAMER has been cursed with bad posts for the last 5 starts and hasn’t had any chance at
all (he was 2nd in NW15000 the last time he drew inside!) – drops, draws the pole, and looms the one to beat. (7) YO
BETH D is the “x factor” – clearly she has no shortage of ability (banked $420K at 2 and 3, in Indiana), but she has
some hard-to-gauge form in KY to start off her 4YO campaign, and draws all the way outside for her YR debut
(now in a new barn, and re-adding Lasix) – perhaps the tote board will help identify her intentions for tonight? (4)
QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP has been tough to gauge from week to week – if the “good” version shows up tonight, he
can definitely be a contender for a piece. (2) INFINITY STONE hasn’t been doing much lately but the class drop
and good draw could help him find a better mile tonight. (6) VOYAGE TO PARIS is another that never seems to
race the same way twice – will his better version show up? (3) WILY WALLY returns off some good tries vs.
cheaper at Chester but his last few local starts were less than stellar. (5) SCUBADAN has been struggling lately, but
it’s a rare opportunity to get a big price on a barn that’s usually heavily backed!
RACE 10 – (3) NO DRAMA PLEASE steps up another peg seeking three in a row and he catches a field filled with
question marks – one more time? (2) HOOLIE N HECTOR hasn’t really found his groove in 2024 and is still
seeking his first victory (in start #10) – maybe the good draw can help him find a live trip? (1) BARRY BLACK
would normally be a solid player from a spot like this but he hasn’t raced in a month and has to be viewed as risky,
at best! (5) WARRIOR ONE has been struggling in a lot of his starts recently, including that last disaster in PA –
he’s eligible to turn things around ANY week and find the form that makes him an Open trotter...but do you want to
HOPE that it’s tonight, when he’s listed as the 9/5 ML choice? (4) KASHA V seems to have been helped since
recently adding hopples but it’s hard to say if he needs easier at this point to do his best damage. (7) FULL RIGHTS
gets an important drop but that may be offset by the terrible draw– good bomb for 3rd/4th. (6) THE LAST CHAPTER
made an uncharacteristic break last week and while he did recover (and somehow hold on to 2nd), we’re going to shy
away from him tonight.