RACE 1 - (3) GINGER TREE PETE really woke up in that gutsy win 3 back and raced much better in his
last pair than the lines might suggest (finished with good pace from impossible spots) - gets needed post
relief for tonight, and feels like a good value horse to consider in tonight's opener. (5) CHANGE STRIDE
N has been terrific for most of the past 2 seasons but hit a rough patch for a few starts recently - his last 2
efforts suggest that he's back on the right track, and he could be a dangerous player here. (7) TOWNLINE
ALL GOOD found some gate speed last week and earned himself a two hole trip...only to come up empty
in the latter stages - may just be much better racing from behind, and he'll be a very nice price tonight -
worth a look? (1) DESIRES CAPTAIN has been an "in and outer" for some time - he CAN be a threat here
on his best effort, but he's a little too unreliable to take a short price with. (2) KEYSTONE DASH got scary
sharp for a few starts but laid an egg in his last 3 outings - may turn things around tonight, but that 5/2 ML
price makes it hard to consider him on top. (4) AMERICAN WAY was an ok 4th against the 3-4YO
claimers last week - can probably hang with these older foes too, but only for a minor piece. (6) JACKAMI
NO has held his form going from 25s to 30s and then 40s...but the outside draw does figure to limit him to
a smaller piece tonight. (8) AMERICAN BOY draws worst, and doesn't figure to make much noise tonight.
RACE 2 - (3) SAILBOAT HANOVER has won 4 of 5 since the claim (2nd in the other) and just keeps
getting better every start - his connections (who really hadn't raced much here recently) have done an
absolutely amazing job with him, and somehow nobody dips in to claim him away - the heavy favorite to
take another tonight. (4) SHERIFF N is enjoying an outstanding year himself, winning 8 of 18 local starts -
he'll go for a new barn and driver tonight, but still feels like the biggest threat to the top choice. (5) KERFO
RD ROAD A was an ok 4th off the claim 2 back, and a solid (but non-threatening) 3rd behind the top
choice last week - will need to find a way to narrow the gap between them. (2) MANKAT hurt his chances
2 back by popping out of the pocket prematurely (ended up 3rd) and that was really the only good post he'd
had in a long time - moves back inside again tonight, and we'll see if that can put him in the hunt again. (1)
MACINTOSH N is racing ok for a high % barn, and the rail draw puts him in play for a small pieces - may
need a class drop for a chance to WIN, however. (6) BLUEBIRD RECON has enjoyed an outstanding year
but may finally be showing some signs of wear and tear - the outside draw certainly won't help. (7) MACH
DORO A grabs his share of wins every year but he would need a lot to go his way for a shot at a top prize
from this spot. (8) NOWHERE CREEK A lands Post 8, off a weak try and sick scratch - pass for tonight.
RACE 3 - (2) FORTIFY was a solid 2nd best to recent Aria Invitational winner NONE BETTOR A, rallied
crisply for 3rd in his next (off a bad date) then finished with good pace from an impossible spot in his last -
gets major post relief here, and we'll give him a shot to pull off the minor upset. (5) FUNATTHEBEACH N
will be the deserving favorite in here (off the class drop) but the winner of $574K this season hasn't been at
his best for some time, and may prove a little vulnerable at the moment (1) SHADOW CAT does better one
level down but the rail draw should allow him an easy enough trip to contend for a decent piece of this -
include underneath. (4) CAN BE PERFECT has held his form beautifully even as he's been climbing the
class ladder recently - his last was very good, and he's sharp enough right now to grab a piece. (3) PYRO
was a little disappointing 2 and 3 back but took advantage of the front end last week to pick up the win -
worth including underneath even with the class bump. (8) SPLASH BROTHER draws Post 8 off a very
disappointing try out of the pocket - normally would be an easy pass, but he's been known to throw some
big efforts at times, so he's not a terrible choice for big longshot fans. (6) ROCKAPELO missed 3 months
after being scratched lame - we'll just watch, for now. (7) DIAMONDBEACH was no factor from a similar
spot last week, and seems to need to be in easier these days to be a threat.
RACE 4 - (6) MACHEASY A steps up a peg after wiring a bit easier last week but this class is still within
his comfort zone - he'll need some trip luck from this spot, but he'll be a good price in a pretty competitive
affair, and is worth considering. (3) MYSWEETBOYMAX was a sharp, well backed winner in his last - a
similar effort would make him a big threat against these too, but that 2-1 ML price is definitely a bit of a
turn off. (1) REAGAN BLUE CHIP may prove to be a little on the cheaper side but he ships in sharp,
draws the pole with Bartlett and could end up a serious player. (4) MARINER SEELSTER might be tailing
just a bit after what feels like a two year form spree OR he just was hurt by 8 holes in 2 of his last 3 starts -
hard to not consider him dropping out of the tough $40K claimers! (7) JAHAN HANOVER can definitely
be a threat at this level but may need a better post to do so - would at least give him a look if the price is
long enough. (2) BIG SIR has needed easier to be a serious threat lately, but he draws well enough tonight
that IF things get a little hot up front, he may be able to use his one good burst of speed at the right time -
not impossible. (5) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY is a 3YO facing older and seemingly not in the best of form
- leaning to others. (8) GUMPTION seems to prefer racing elsewhere, as he's just 10-0-1-1 at YR this year.
RACE 5 - (4) SETH HANOVER has been in career form for a while, and definitely has valid excuses for
any of his lesser looking lines - this is a well matched field, but we'll give him the slight edge tonight. (2)
HERRICKROOSEVELT N qualified back nicely after about 3 months off then finished with good life
(from an impossible spot) in what should serve as a nice tightener - very appealing at that 9-1 ML price. (3)
PEACE OUT POSSE got caught chasing a hot mile last week and it was just a bit more than he could pace
-his overall form has been very solid, and he's eligible to bounce right back with a contending effort tonight
(5) PRETTY HANDSOME hasn't been "bad", but he's also been off his best game recently - willing to use
on top only if the price is decent. (1) L DEES JACK LOPEZ gave it a big first over try last week, taking a
tough beat late to an easier trip, sharp horse - can't really fault him right now, but a few of these just seem a
little sharper at the moment. (6) SAVE ME A DANCE has struggled overall since returning from a layoff,
with that front end win 2 back actually being an outlier - wouldn't shock, but still opting for others. (7) ESC
APETOTHEBEACH was able to hold on against cheaper last week but now moves up and lands outside,
and that figures to really slow him down here. (8) MY CARBON COPY N is another moving up off a win
that figures to struggle from tonight's brutal spot.
RACE 6 - (6) BRACKLEY BEACH was a game first over winner 2 back then followed that up with a
sharp front end score in his last - he steps up from 25s to 30s tonight, but meets nothing too scary in here -
chance to take another. (2) SOUTHWIND ONYX has been in and out lately, but his "in" efforts would
make him very tough here - include on your tickets. (1) ROLL WITH JR is a tough call - he MAY just be
tailing or perhaps he deserves a pass for a bad post 2 back, and a tough trip last week- wouldn't be surprised
to see him land somewhere in the exotics. (8) KENRICK N has taken 3 of his last 4 starts as he's jumped
from the 15s to the 30s - this would SEEM to be a very difficult spot but his barn was 2 for 2 on Fri. night,
and this guy may not be a bad value horse, at least for exotics. (5) URBAN RENEWAL sat back as the field
stacked up on the final turn last week and was able to pace on by a weak group to score the upset - he may
even further back tonight, and figures to have trouble getting close enough for more than a smaller piece
this time. (3) THOR AND DR JONES raced very gamely to pick up 2nd last week (behind #5) but that just
felt like a "fall apart" race, in hindsight - wouldn't be stunned if he was able to race well here too, but we're
still sticking with a few others. (4) SHARK PLAY was able to hold 2nd off the pocket trip last week but
was really just "ok" - will need to be a bit sharper to be a serious player with these. (7) CINNAMACK is
better than his last, but may need a much better post before he has a chance to redeem himself.
RACE 7 - Good race! (4) WHITECOOKIE shipped in sharp from PA and delivered a dead game front end
score last week - he faces a similar bunch tonight and figures to be tested hard during the mile...but may be
sharp enough to pick up another win. (1) MAXIMUS RED A stepped up sharp to this $75K level last week
and was a close 3rd in his first attempt in this class - may trip out tonight with a chance to get his picture
taken. (3) BRAEVIEW BONDI A has been very sharp ever since returning from Canada and that includes
last week's gutsy first over 2nd to the top choice - the right trip may allow him to reverse that decision
tonight (for his new barn). (2) B LIKE CRUISER felt like he might be tailing just a bit recently but was full
of pace in the lane last week with no room to stretch his legs - would give him a look here if the price was
right. (5) SMOKIN BY N has been razor sharp but does draw outside 4 solid foes - can't count him out, but
will need some things to go his way this spot. (8) THE REGULATOR delivered a pair of very sharp 2nds
then was actually good again last week, but from an impossible spot - unfortunately, tonight's spot isn't any
better. (6) MACH N CHEESE may be able to save ground and take home a minor share, but it's hard to see
him doing much more than that from Post 6. (7) RAUKAPUKA RULER N seems damned if he leaves and
damned if he doesn't - needs a much easier spot.
RACE 8 - (6) LEONIDAS A returned sharp off the freshening, kicking home powerfully for 2nd on 9/26 -
scored on the front end as the 1/5 choice the next week but landed on a brutal 8 hole trip (going 1 1/4 miles)
in the Aria last start, and still only lost by about 4 lengths - the classy 7YO should be able to handle these,
even if roughed up a bit from Post 6. (1) THE WILD CARD had only 2 starts in 7 weeks but was still sharp
in both (3rd and close 2nd) - gets right back in the box tonight, draws the pole, and should be able to take
home a big piece of this. (4) COVERED BRIDGE was in impossible spots in his first 2 starts off the recent
purchase but still finished alertly - cashed in off the drop down in his next, then was a very impressive first
over winner in the Open last start - remains a legitimate threat. (2) DON DOMINGO N has been on a very
extended form spree, even if vs. a bit easier - the guess is that he can hang with these too....at least for a
decent piece. (5) IGNATIUS A was a winner in PA adding Lasix 5 starts back and has been picking up
good pieces here at YR ever since then - chance for another decent slice tonight. (3) BUDDY HILL stepped
up sharp to the Open last start but wasn't able to keep it going on the front end and weakened to 3rd - will
need to be a bit sharper for a chance at a big piece with these. (7) ALWAYS AND AGAIN has been sharp
in almost his start this year but he ends up with Post 7 moving up to the Open tonight, and that just may be
a little too tough for him to overcome.
RACE 9 - (1) MARCO BEACH beat this class 4 and 5 starts back before hitting a brief rough patch -
looked better in his last couple, and this feels like a spot for an aggressive try - we'll see if he's up for it
now. (2) ARTIST BEST has been racing very well vs. the 3 and 4YO $40s but seems capable of holding his
own vs. these older foes as well (especially with the good draw - guessing he'll be a player tonight. (4)
GHOST DANCE hit board in his last 3, and 6 of the last 7 - very logical threat, but does figure to end up
overbet tonight. (6) BENJIS BEST took a suspicious looking class drop last week, almost broke on the first
turn then was never particularly good after that - interesting that he doesn't drop again (a GOOD sign?), but
it definitely feels that there's better value opportunities with others tonight. (3) MISTER SPOT A comes in
with a race win streak but he's really moving up in class, and now exiting a couple of hot barns - maybe a
small piece tonight? (5) GOTHIC ROCK won a fall apart race 2 back at this level, then hung in ok after
looking to cut the mile last week - chance to rally for a small share with a live trip. (8) ONE OFF
DELIGHT A picked up a pair of 2nds at this level (off the claim) but moves all the way outside tonight,
and it's hard to say if Brennan will even be able to get him into the hunt. (7) ASTON HILL DAVE could
really use an easier class (and much better post)!