RACE 1 - (4) REYS N A RUCKUS was sent off at 51-1 for his local debut but raced MUCH better than
that, showing good speed and almost pulling off the upset - lost any real chance when badly overdriven in
his next but a more sensible steer tonight may help him get his picture taken. (1) JAFFA JOSH N was doing
outstanding work vs. the 10s in PA but his last start (vs. 15s) was excellent as well - may be able to wire the
locals in his Hilltop debut, but that 8/5 ML price is a little hard to swallow (2) BEACH BLANKET BOOK
threw a major dud in his last start upstate but his prior lines would make him a player here - would give him
a look, as long as the price is fair. (8) PICARD A has been very steady since landing at this level a few
starts back but he's yet to get his picture taken, and now has to contend with Post 8 - still would include in
exotics, though. (5) TERRITORY is hard to like "on paper" but his barn sent out FOUR winners on Wed.
night, and that alone makes him worth throwing in underneath at a big price. (7) AMERICAN WAY raced
"ok" dropping to this level last week - he fits well, but the poor draw may limit him to another small slice.
(6) UNICO LEGEND N was 9-0-0-4 here last year and just 1 for 20 over the past 2 seasons - tough draw
for his 2023 debut. (3) GO RANDY GO was no factor in his only local try last year - prefer others.
RACE 2 - (6) SPORTS BETTOR was having a tough 2022 but he came to life at Dover on 11/7, grabbed
his first win of the year here 2 starts later, then raced well at Chester in his last 2 starts of the season - we'll
see if that fine form can carry over into '23. (5) APEX SEELSTER can be a bit hot and cold but the "good"
version would be very dangerous here - the solid qualifier suggests he may be ready for action. (4) KINGS
TONS BAD BOY raced well here vs. the 30s on 12/12 so he has to be given major respect tonight taking
on the 20s - the main knock is that his barn has just one win and one 2nd here (in 67 starts) since 2018! (2)
P L LEEROY, like barnmate JAFFA JOSH N (Race 1) shows fine form at Chester - he'll be facing better
here, so we'll see if he can be as successful. (3) AWESOMENESS was unable to find the winner's circle
since being claimed back in September - on the flip side, his barn already has 3 winners here in the first 3
nights of the season....not a bad stab at that 20-1 ML price. (1) PONDERINGJACKSFAME failed to get
a check in his 4 starts for the Super Siblings...he DID win his next start for his current trainer, but that was
vs. much easier...seems a little cheap for these. (7) SAMSON BLUE CHIP has some mixed form lately,
including a couple of sick scratches - tough spot to give him an endorsement.
RACE 3 - (4) QUALITY BUD can be unreliable at times (and also his own worst enemy) but he's also
capable of beating much better than these - willing to hop on his team tonight, even off the bad date. (5)
REVELRY has gone plenty of good miles vs. better but he's also just 2 for 33 here over the last 2 years -
very legitimate threat, but that 8/5 ML price will result him in being overbet. (3) ONE OFF DELIGHT A
was struggling for some time, but did race better in his last couple of starts of the year (after a class drop).
eligible to grab a piece here too. (8) ROCKET RUSSELL lands in a brutal spot for his local debut but he
also moves to a barn that often picks up fresh stock significantly - perhaps the tote board will offer some
clues? (2) VINOVIO has been facing cheaper at Fhd. but at least he's been racing pretty well - chance for a
minor share. (1) REAL LUCKY N had 7 wins last year but struggled considerably in the last few months -
would like to see some better signs before considering, (7) CODYS KNAPSACK raced much better off the
class drop last week but gets stuck with a terrible pot tonight - not sure he can work his way into contention
from out here. (6) KNOCKING AROUND's last few make him hard to recommend, especially from Post 6.
RACE 4 - Difficult race! (5) UPTOWN FUNK crushed the 40s (at 1/5!) in his last start of the year, and
was in beyond scary form - he was scratched sick in NJ the next time he was entered, and he shows up in
for $25K to start the new year - he's being listed "on top" (for obvious reasons), but the drop is beyond
suspicious, and makes him hard to play at a short price! (2) KENRICK N was a little dull (off a sick scr.) to
close out 2022 but he qualified back solidly, and is more than capable against these - may be worth a play
here. (8) PEDRO HANOVER has been away since June but he qualified nicely at Monti (for his new barn)
and he does have plenty of back class - check the tote board for hints. (6) BLACK CHEVRON N was ok in
a pair of starts for $40K here in December but he threw a major dud at Monti last week and now drops in
for $25K - another with red flags! (3) LATE MAIL N is as camera shy as they come but he has speed, is
listed at 20-1 ML and lands in with a bunch of questionable contenders - not impossible. (7) VIRGIN STO
RM was winless here in '22 and lands Post 7 to start the new year - maybe can grab a minor share? (1) LIT
TLE POWER won 5 in a row earlier last year but never functioned again after being claimed. (4) NORTHE
RN NETWORK has failed to earn a check in 6 straight starts - waiting for some signs of life.
RACE 5 - (2) MAN DONTFORGET ME returns with some mixed results out of town but she wired better
than these twice in December, and has always thrived here at The Hilltop - gets the nod for tonight. (1)
LARJON LEAH struggled for most of 2022 but started to sharpen late in the year and even scored at nearly
50-1 at The Swamp 2 back - no reason she can't be a serious player from the pole. (5) BABS JANSEN
comes off a terrific '22 season that saw here race consistently all year, banking $130K - the bad date and
drawing outside a couple of main foes may hurt her a bit tonight though (3) CRISP MANE probably wasn't
too serious in her only local try, drawing Post 7 (in a tough field) in her first start for a new barn - definitely
could show some major improvement tonight. (4) GOT SEXY SCARS may be a little bit cheaper than a
few others, but she ships in sharp for her local debut - willing to include underneath. (7) SOUTHWIND
JAVA was still trying to find her best game (for new connections) at the end of last year - tough spot for '23
debut, and we'll just keep an eye on her, for now. (6) LIGHTNING LEIA is unproven at this level, and
seems overmatched. (8) FOND MEMORIES A may or may not fit in this class, but she may need a much
better post to at least show us what she's got.
RACE 6 - (2) MORNING HAS BROKEN crushed better 2 back then was razor sharp in her season finale
too, charging home from last to be 3rd - she gets "stuck" with Bartlett tonight (who gets along beautifully
with her), and she'll be very tough if not hurt by the winter break. (6) VILLAGE JADE has a win and two
nose loss 2nds in her last 3 local tries, and remained sharp over the break with her starts in NJ - draws
poorly, but still can't be discounted! (1) DRAGON ROLL wired lesser 2 and 3 back, but came up empty in
her season finale - she does feel like she might have slipped a notch last year, but the iron mare has been 1st
or 2nd here 36X over the last 2 seasons...and should never be taken lightly. (3) DEMETER N has enjoyed
plenty of local success in the past and has been racing well at Stga. for her current connections - hard to say
how tight she'll be with the time off, though. (5) ANDRA DAY really perked back up after joining this barn
last year, but did end the year in somewhat lesser form - leaning to others as she returns from the winter
break. (4) DISARONNO HILL was used hard early in her last start and that left her a little short at the end
-she may be more comfortable one level down, and the time off could be an issue too. (7) NEWSY N
shows plenty of ability in Mass. and Maine but has been idle since 12/12, and lands Post 7 for her YR debut
- will probably just keep an eye on her, for now.
RACE 7 - (1) UPTOWN HANOVER really blossomed as a 4YO, and proved she belongs at this top level -
had an unlucky trip in her last start of 2022, but that should only help her price tonight - has a chance to
pull off the mild upset if sharp after the winter hiatus. (7) LIT DE ROSE literally "stole" 4 straight wins,
hitting the top, crawling to the half, then sprinting home an easy winner -- figured to be in some trouble
coming from the back in her last, but the razor sharp man just circled the field to win going away - hard to
ignore a mare THIS sharp, even from this seemingly difficult spot. (2) DELITFULCATHERIN N has 15
local wins over the last 2 years, some in bruising fashion - she's one of several from this barn that just
weren't at their absolute best towards the end of 2022, but she still gets a ton of respect from this good spot.
(5) JODY was just 1 for 21 here last year, usually losing to easier...she suddenly found career form in NJ
the last couple of starts, however, and just may be good enough to beat these right now (but that 9/5 ML
price is a turnoff, for sure). (4) LUCKY ARTIST A continues to race well week after week, and is always
worth including underneath in exotics. (3) VIOLETS RAINBOW had an outstanding 2022 season but is
still unproven at this level - sticking with others. (6) INCASEYOUDONTKNOW does super in Delaware
but was no factor (at a big price) in her only local attempt last year.
RACE 8 - (5) MARTY MONKHOUSER A isn't nearly as reliable as he once was but that (winning) effort
2 back shows that the 14YO can still be very dangerous in the right spot - this feels like a field he can
control, and beat. (1) BUNGALOW BILL N has an alarmingly bad 14-0-0-0 record here the past 2 years
but he's been racing pretty well in PA lately, and is likely looking at a 2 hole trip - should be able to land on
the board to start off 2023. (2) BARRYWHITE HANOVER was no good for an extended period but his
last few suggest he's feeling a little better now - an easy trip could land him somewhere on this ticket. (6)
JK LUCKY CHARMS changed barns then hit board in 6 straight at Monti, before making a break (driver
error) in last - his trainer had amazing success here with limited stock last year, and this guy may be able to
grab a piece in his local debut. (7) ACES ROCK pulled off a 12-1 upset here on 12/2 but had an easy trip
from a good post - not sure he can reach from out here. (3) BORN DESIRE, (4) BAMSKI, and (8) IM
BENICIO A have all been struggling for a while, and are hard to make a case for!
RACE 9 - (1) ROCKATHON ended the year here from Post 8 then was stuck with Post 9 in NJ last week -
he was pretty solid prior to that, however, and easily wired this class (from the rail) back on 11/1 - deja vu?
(5) LUCIANO N is pretty inconsistent at this point of his career but this is a field well within his comfort
zone, and his trainer has started off the new meet strong - logical player. (8) OURRHYTHMNBLUES N
was racing (well) in 50s when he went on the shelf in July - has come back with a pair of qualifiers and a
tightener (in NJ), and may be ready to make some noise now...even from Post 8. (2) FOX VALLEY REN
picked up a win and a 2nd here recently, and is looking at a good trip tonight - if he's ready to go off the bad
date, he can land on the ticket somewhere. (4) CHIEFS BEACH probably would look better one level down
but still has a chance at a piece of this, with the right trip. (3) STILL THIRSTY tries hard but he's often
hurt by a poor gait - maybe a chance at a minor piece with an easy trip? (6) I GET THAT won 6X here last
year but took two months off after a dull try on 9/30 and didn't click in either of his 2 races before the
hiatus - seems pretty iffy right now. (7) DESIRES CAPTAIN landed in a very weak field last week and was
able to grab a win - moves up and draws outside now, and that's a tough combination to overcome.