RACE 1 - (2) EXOTIC SAND took a bad beat when he was disqualified for a late miscue two starts back
and placed 2nd....then benefited in his last when he finished 2nd, but the winner was disqualified for a
break that HE made heading to 3/4s - regardless of the drama, this guy has been racing well for several
starts, and has a chance to come out on top again tonight. (5) UNSUNG HERO was sent off at 3/5 from
Post 8 in his local debut but had to drop in 6th when he almost broke off the first turn - ended up with a
good trip anyway, and proved an easy winner (getting stronger as the race went on) - moves up a bit in class
and does figure to be overbet tonight (but still a decent chance to win). (3) DANCING JOE raced better 2
and 3 back then was really good last week, dead-heating for 2nd after rallying from way back - could have
a big say tonight, as well. (1) LATEST ERA picked up 2nds in his first 2 local starts but was a non
threatening 5th in his last - the rail draw should make him an up close player from start to finish. (6)
AMERICAN WAY has continued to race well since that form-reversing win on 6/21 - tough spot, but still a
chance for a small piece. (7) CENTURY HEFNER arrives from Canada to a barn that has historically done
well with these types - he does look a little cheap, though, and the outside draw won't help either. (4)
STATE SENATOR failed to function in his first local try - observing only, for now. (8) CAUGHTINALA
NDSLIDE was well back in his local debut and now lands Post 8.
RACE 2 - (3) NO LOU ZING can hold his own with much better and is getting some major class relief
here - he's really supposed to handle these pretty easily, although he did come up a little short in a few local
tries earlier this year - still, pretty hard to go against in this spot. (1) WARDAN EXPRESS A is just
11-0-1-1 at Yonkers this year, mostly against much easier - that being said, he's really found his game out of
town recently, and may be able to just follow the top choice and bring home a decent piece of this. (6)
APEX SEELSTER shipped in razor sharp from Stga. and went a big mile on 7/16 to pick up 2nd behind a
raging BENJIS BEST - no factor in his next but charged home again last week to be 3rd, pacing a big final
half - a live trip may allow him to rally again tonight. (7) RAUKAPUKA RULER N lands all the way
outside but may still be able to blast his way into this race - willing to include underneath, hoping that
Stratton handles him aggressively. (2) WINDSUN RICKY would prefer to be in cheaper but he can hold
his own with this type too when the trip goes to his liking - with the inside draw, that just might happen. (4)
SHADOW CAT gets important post relief and his only recent win was when Bartlett (who is driving
tonight) was on board - still seems more likely to pick up a smaller piece, than a bigger one. (5) CAPTAIN
FANCY shipped in sharp from PcD but lost all chance after an early miscue last week- guessing he'll be
handled conservatively tonight, and that may leave him in a tough spot.
RACE 3 - (2) LIGHTNING LEIA wasn't far back in the $104K Park MGM Filly pace 4 starts back, then
rallied well (but too late) for 4th the next week - returns off a strong looking PcD try, and may finally be in
a winning spot. (5) SOMESWEETSOMEWHERE raced well in her local debut, finding the two hole trip
then kicking home strong for 2nd into the :27.3 final quarter - could be the main danger. (3) CAPTAINS
STAR ships in from PA riding a 3 race win streak, and in 6-3-2-1 on the year - should fit very well with the
locals, and we'll see if she can give the top pair a tussle. (1) MISS DOTTIE MAE is a homebred that has
been doing solid work since debuting this year, currently at 11-3-2-2 for the season - draws best returning
from PA, and definitely has a shot at a decent piece of this. (4) SHORTYS GIRL has picked up a small
piece in each of her 3 local tries and is eligible to do the same tonight - throw in for 3rd. (7) BETTER WAT
CH IT was well backed for her local debut but broke before the start and was out of it - gets a poor draw for
tonight, and seems likely to take a conservative approach here. (6) YS ISA jogged as the favorite in her
local debut (NW2) but failed at 1/10 in her next, looking erratic at times - put in a good move last week, but
got all funky on the final turn and lost all chance - she just feels like a work in progress despite her 8-5-1-1
career slate. (8) RAISE THE ANTE raced ok in a couple of recent starts but gets stuck behind the 8 ball
tonight, off a bad date.
RACE 4 - (3) CAPTAIN BUTLER still isn't great on the turns, but he seems to be dealing with it much
better - finished ok from an impossible spot last week, and was a sharp 1st and 3rd the two starts prior to
that - a live trip could make him dangerous tonight (in a race that was written to fit him in -
"NW$31255Lifetime") . (1) DANCE MONKEY wasn't bad at all in his local debut, and might have been
even closer had he found room in the stretch a bit sooner - eligible to be much sharper in his 2nd local try,
and looms a major threat from the pole tonight (but don't expect to get that 8-1 price). (7) SHARKY BEAR
was scratched sick here from his local debut then was close in a couple of Chester starts - tough draw, but
could still make some noise...at a decent price. (4) COLD CREEK FELIPE won his local debut, was right
there the next week but really wasn't that sharp last time, even though 2nd - could easily rebound and beat
these, but a couple of others just seem to be offering better value tonight. (5) LOUS BEACH has hit board
in all 5 local tries but still hasn't visited the photographer - use in exotics for sure, but maybe go with others
for the top slot. (2) BEST BETTOR has some "ok" tries but he's 8-0-0-0 locally, and hard to recommend for
more than a minor piece. (6) JITTERBUG FLIP is 1 for 23 lifetime and draws a tough post - prefer others.
(8) LENDA HAND MAN hasn't threatened in 5 local tries.
RACE 5 - (5) NOCH TEN doesn't have the best looking recent form in Canada but he was facing much
better - Bartlett figures to send this one right to the top against these...and he may be hard to reel in. (3)
KAUAI KING has a terrible local record (17-0-2-1) but last week's effort was actually pretty solid - willing
to use him in exotics tonight. (6) ACES ROCK was much improved last week in his 2nd start off the claim
- tough post tonight, but may still be able to find his way into the mix. (1) MOHAWK WARRIOR was far
back on 7/29 then caved badly after trying to cut the mile last week - hard to back him with confidence
right now, but a wake up call from this spot wouldn't be out of the question. (2) TOWNLINE ALL GOOD
seems a little cheap but does show recent wins at Monti and Tioga - maybe can grab a piece with the help
of the inside draw? (7) VIRGINS STORM just hasn't been sharp in some time, and gets stuck outside
tonight - maybe a minor share? (4) ZACH MAGUIRE N has just one 2nd from his last 35 local starts -
sticking with others. (8) BRONSONS DELIGHT has been driven mostly by his owner/trainer out of town
recently - gets Marohn for tonight, but also draws Post 8 - wait for a better spot.
RACE 6 - (4) CRAZY LUCKY was given a bizarre drive last week so we'll assume she was either too hard
to hold early on, or was suffering from an equipment issue - regardless, we'll give her a pass for that
debacle and give her a chance at redemption tonight, making her 2nd start for a very live barn (while also
racing with Lasix for the 2nd time). (1) CLEAR THE WAY is 0 for 17 to start her career but she's hit board
9X, and chased the sharp winner nicely into the fast final quarter last week - it may be graduation day for
her. (6) MAJOR LOVER is just 1 for 20 but she's hit board in 5 of 6 local starts this year - ok to include
underneath. (5) NOT SO EVIL has already banged out nearly $150K....but mostly thanks to racing in 4
horse NJSS fields - she'll probably fit well with these, and she won't be hurt by her new trainer and driver -
ok for exotics. (8) ARTEMIDA won here as a 2YO but hasn't hit board in 3 local starts this year - ships in
off a nice Chester qualifier, and might have been rated higher if not for the terrible draw. (2) RUMORED
put in a good looking bid in her local debut but really curled up at the end of the mile - took almost 4 weeks
off since then, and may not be primed for a big effort here. (3) ROLL WITH SHORTY is just 1 for 35, and
shows some shaky current form. (7) BEACHBLANKETLINDY is just 1 for 39, and shows far more weak
recent efforts than good ones.
RACE 7 - Good race: (3) POPPY DRAYTON N has been much better lately, with a win 3 back and a pair
of 3rds in her last two - her late kick has been solid, and a live trip may help her get back to the winner's
circle. (2) AHOY has also been a consistent player in her last few, including a 2nd and 3rd at this level -
another hoping that the trip goes her way. (8) SHECANDANCE has been pretty camera shy here the past
couple of years but she's definitely sharp right now, and has the right pilot from Post 8 - possibility. (4)
VELOCITY MCSWEETS tired after being hard used last week but picked up a pair of wins and a 2nd just
prior to that start - legitimate threat here. (1) CAVIART CHERIE has been on our tickets several times but
she continues to take home only smaller pieces - perhaps it's time to bail from her team? (7) CHECKERED
PAST has been solid in most of her recent starts but she's definitely a question mark at this level, especially
from Post 7. (6) CORAL BELLA is a streaky sort that just hasn't been clicking for some time - waiting for
some signs that a wake up call may be coming. (5) BYTHEWAY HANOVER is hard to gauge of all those
amateur tries but the guess is that the $50K level is a bit too ambitious for her...even with a catch driver.
RACE 8 - (1) PRICELESS BEACH was just "ok" in his last couple of starts but it wasn't long ago that he
was razor sharp, winning a couple of Opens - guessing we'll see him put in a sharp try tonight, but still
wouldn't take too short a price right now. (2) ONE EIGHT HUNDRED was used pretty hard to make the
lead from Post 7 in his local debut, got pressed hard and only gave way late - Stratton's choice feels like the
main danger. (3) FEELIN WESTERN was disappointing last start, but he's gone too many better efforts to
dismiss off one lesser try - willing to include underneath. (6) CARLISIMO shook free into the stretch last
week and had plenty of life finishing - not a great spot here, but maybe he can still rally for a piece? (4)
THE REAL ONE was a game 2nd to the runaway winner at this level last week - the classy veteran has
been holding form as he climbs back up the class ladder, and a small piece is within reach. (5) LONG WEE
KEND A has hit board in 8 of 10 local starts this year including last week's victory - steps up in class, but
he's another with a chance for a piece with the right trip. (7) PACE N PRIDE N wasn't at his best last week
and now draws Post 8 - prefer to just watch, for now.
RACE 9 - (2) BECKHAMS Z TAM was reclaimed by a barn that was doing very well with him before
losing him back in June - they won with a fresh claim on Monday night (B LIKE CRUISER), and may be
able to take another in the finale. (4) ODDS ON DELRAY is 0 for 22 this year but moves to a barn that
wins with nearly half of their fresh acquisitions - we'll see which one of those strong angles (one positive,
one negative) wins out. (3) TIN ROOF RAIDER A has been sharpening at PcD. even if vs. cheaper - may
be sharp enough to grab a decent piece of this. (1) DOCTOR BUTCH has seen better days for sure, but
hasn't been terrible out of town - we'll see if he can be competitive in his first local try of the year. (7) LUC
ROCKS was a game winner one level down last week - steps up a notch and draws outside, which figures
to limit his production a bit. (8) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING fits well with these, but is stuck all the way
outside- might still consider for 3rd/4th at a big price. (5) JOJOS PLACE has been struggling for a long
time - sticking with others. (6) SOUTHWIND MOROCCAN moves from a high % barn to one that doesn't
win that often - prefer others.