RACE 1 - (2) LIT DE ROSE was able to deliver the first over score last week, and finally got her barn in
the win column for the first time in 2023 (and then the barn had both ends of the early double on Monday
night) - perhaps things are ready to turn around for this mare (and her barnmates) now -- we'll look for her
to take another as she makes her last prep before next week's Matchmaker Series gets underway. (1) JIVE
DANCING A has been sharp since returning for the "23 season but was especially good last week, used
hard early and still giving the top choice a good tussle - she'll be a fair price if you think she can find a bit
more and knock off the top pick. (4) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY was plucked for $50K by our leading
barn and hasn't embarrassed herself in a trio of Open starts since then - gets in a bit softer now, and Bartlett
won't think twice about handling her aggressively - should be right in the mix. (5) MILLWOOD BONNIE
N just suddenly found her form in that 1/19 start in Ohio, and hasn't lost since (3 for 3 here for her current
trainer) - faces much tougher tonight, and landing the outside post may hurt a bit too (even in the short
field). (3) LADYBELUCKYTONITE has really been overachieving lately, but may struggle with these.
RACE 2 - (1) EASY TO PLEASE was clearly short when she returned for her 2023 campaign but a couple
of equipment changes and the addition of Lasix resulted in a much better effort last week - it's possible she
could continue to build off that, and perhaps pull off the mild upset tonight. (2) DRAMAACT disappointed
for most of last year AFTER winning the Matchmaker Final, but she seems to be heading into this year's
Series in solid form (2 for 3, with a narrow loss to #3)- very dangerous here with the right trip. (3) KARMA
SEELSTER traded victories with #2 in her last pair, and is another that is racing very well right now - she
can handle any trip, and would be no surprise at all. (4) RACINE BELL (closing in on the $1M mark) is
listed as the 8/5 ML choice but her last win was just "ok" - on her best she's a VERY serious mare...but it's
possible that she may be just a bit vulnerable right now. (5) GIAS SURREAL qualified nicely but may be
handled very conservatively in her only prep before the series begins - keep a close eye on her!
RACE 3 - (6) ALTA MADEIRA N was handled very conservatively off the layoff last week but hit the
wire with good energy - lands in a much softer spot, and may be able to handle these even from the outside
- good value play. (5) CHERYLS SHADOW was very well meant off the 4 month layoff and was able to
wear down the favorite after a long battle - she steps up to face older mares tonight but she has a strong YR
history, and her last suggests she can be a big player with these too. (3) NORMANS MADELINE reversed
form in that 2/9 victory and has been pretty good since then, hitting board in 2 of her last 3 - chance for a
piece tonight too. (1) DISARONNO HILL would have been the one to beat in this kind of spot for much of
her YR history...but her form has tailed off quite a bit recently, and she could be vulnerable right now -
wouldn't be surprised to see her perk up and win here, but there seems to be better value with a couple of
others. (2) RIGHTFULLY MINE caved badly after cutting the mile 2 back but rebounded nicely with a 3rd
from off the pace last week - maybe an easy trip can help her grab another piece? (4) TALL POPPY N was
winless here in '22 but found a soft NW7500 field last week and got her picture taken - figures to have a
tougher time with these, however.
RACE 4 - (1) BARRYWHITE HANOVER has been sharp for some time, and continued that fine form for
his new barn last week (charging home from last to 4th from a completely impossible spot) - moves all the
way inside and that stamps him as the one to beat. (7) TOATSMYGOATS' last 2 local starts were from Post
7 and 8 yet he was able to get away in the pocket both times, picking up 2nds at 100-1 and 18-1 - no reason
he can't fly off the car and be part of the equation once again. (4) HEART ON MY SLEEVE drops back to
15s, gets a much kinder draw and has shown that he can go with these types in the past - worth using
underneath. (2) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N was struggling when he went on the shelf back in Nov. and is
still trying to find some better form since returning - maybe he can find a better effort from this spot? (3)
FORREST BLUE gets class relief but he's way too far off form to consider on top at that 9/5 ML price. (6)
AWESOMENESS has struggled for weeks so it was a surprise to see him claimed last week - inclined to
pass, but will at least glance over at the tote board to see if any surprise tote action shows up. (5) KINGST
ONS BAD BOY raced ok off the re-claim 2 back (no chance spot) but was empty last week - prefer others.
RACE 5 - (3) KINGSVILLE was pretty "meh" on 2/17 but looked MUCH sharper in last week's "brush
and crush" victory - catches a pretty modest field tonight, and has a legitimate chance to repeat. (4) I DRAI
NTHESWAMP A was overdriven in his YR debut and paid for it late - no chance in his next (8 hole) but
was a sharp winner last week - would be no surprise to see him contend for the top spot again tonight. (2)
MEMPHISTENNESSEE N may deserve a look here - his current form is uninspiring but he gets Bartlett to
bail off #1 to drive him, so perhaps he's ready for a bigger effort tonight- check the tote board? (1) EDDAR
D HANOVER used good trips the last 2 weeks to pick up a 2nd and 3rd - he may be able to beat these, but
using him underneath may be a better plan. (7) BELTANE A has been racing ok, but he steps up and draws
Post 7 after failing to win vs. cheaper in some time - minor share only. (8) ON THE VIRG overcame an
early break AND first over trip to score gamely (over cheaper) 2 back - sat last with no chance in his next,
but did finish alertly from that impossible spot - he's sharp now, but will be hard pressed to get into play. (6)
PRO BEACH was 2nd two back then able to grab a win last week, over easier - moves up, moves outside,
and may struggle a bit tonight. (5) BARON MICHAEL is another stepping up in "meh" form - prefer others.
RACE 6 - (3) LETTUCERIPRITAA had no prayer after a weak leave from Post 8 last week but he's
bounced back plenty of times from disappointing outings - he's compiled a stellar 47-14-10-6 record here
since 2020, was Bartlett's choice, and we'll give him a shot to rebound too. (4) MAAJAACKKOBE was
racing well for a new barn to start his '23 season - was claimed on 2/21 then went out to score immediately
for his new connections last week - could be the main danger tonight, especially with another fast start. (6)
UNICO LEGEND wasn't even on the radar screen when he reversed form 3 starts back to wire the field at
32-1 -- followed that up with another win, then a hard fought 2nd to #4 last week - gets a tough draw here
(and Bartlett opts for #3), but he's still a decent play as long as the price is fair. (7) CASHNCAM seems to
be on a lot better course right now but gets slammed with Post 7 - maybe he can find a way to squeeze out
3rd or 4th? (5) ARTMAGIC has been struggling for a long time - hard to make a case for him right now. (2)
TIDAL SHARK raced ok at Monti in his last couple but he's been non-competitive locally for 2 years. (1)
HELTER SKELTER takes a big drop while his form has really unraveled - too risky at the moment.
RACE 7 - (3) TECHYS ANGEL A acts like she MAY be well off form right now, but a pair of 7 holes may
also be the culprit - she was on a form spree not long ago and was even banging heads with KARMA
SEELSTER....not a bad week to give her a shot for the wake up call. (4) MCMARKLE SPARKLE was
REALLY short in her first 3 starts of the year - did find a spot she could handle last week and MAY be
ready to start upping her game heading into the Matchmaker....but she may also still be off her best, and
possibly a bit vulnerable at a very short price tonight. (6) DARBY HANOVER was dull in HER first 3
starts of the year before turning in a much better one at Dover last week - hard to really know where she's at
right now, and the draw does her no favors - insist on a decent price if she's your play. (5) SAUBLE LIGH
TNING may have been bothered into that break last week and she did race well the week before - might be
able to add some value to the exotics at that 15-1 ML price. (2) ROCKNROLL ANNIE found a soft field
last week and was able to pick up her first win in a long time - seems like she may still be a notch below a
couple of these, however. (1) FADE OUT won in PA after joining this barn then was a very sharp Yonkers
winner (this class) as well - not as sharp in her next pair, however, then went on the shelf for 3 months -
seems a bit risky tonight for that 5/2 ML price.
RACE 8 - (6) STATEMENT MADE A has been knocking at the door since arriving 4 starts back, going
big miles every week but without a victory - has speed to his inside but he can probably improve position at
the start, and doesn't need the lead to win - maybe he can finally get over the hump tonight? (2) SHARK
PLAY has 3 pretty recent wins at this level and just missed to a classy rival last week - remains a threat in
this class any time he draws inside. (5) PROVOCATIVEPRINCE N has been in the hunt every week, even
when forced to race off the pace (not his preferred style) - Bartlett opts to drive #1 tonight, but that also
means a better price with Boyd - not impossible. (1) WAR DAN DELIGHT A was Bartlett's choice here,
but he'll have to break this guy's 46 race local losing streak to get it done - prefer to use him underneath. (4)
BETTOR BE OSCAR A hasn't really improved since dropping from 30s to 25s, but he remains a threat to
grab a piece whenever the trip goes his way. (7) ROBBIE BURNS N was a very nice winner off the claim
last week, but now moves up in class while landing all the way outside - maybe 3rd/4th? (3) SWAGASAU
RUSREX could really use some class relief.
RACE 9 - (6) MIKI ROSE was doing excellent work here last year when her trainer was just doing "well" -
now that the barn is really thriving, it's reasonable to assume that SHE'LL be even better too - had a very
nice tightener last week (after 5 months off) and we'll give her a shot to beat these, even from Post 6. (4)
ROCKN PHILLY is hard to get a really good read on right now but she took plenty of $$ last week and did
race very well from an impossible spot - she'll be a big threat tonight if she shows up on her best game. (1)
BABS JANSEN does her best vs. a little easier but she can hold her own with these too - the right trip
could put her right there on the wire. (7) VILLAGE JADE was no good at all here on 2/10 and while she
was better last week, it still wasn't close to her best - would need to find her "A Game" in a hurry to
contend for the top prize from out here. (2) ANNABELLE HANOVER had success here last year but she
just re-qualified after 3 months off and Bartlett does opt for #6 - perhaps the tote board can offer some
clues? (3) NEWSY N was massively overdriven last week vs. better and the results were predictable - she's
in a bit easier here, and a kinder trip may help her grab a small share. (5) TUGGINGONCREDIT has gone
a couple of very good miles here, but is still unproven at this level - leaning towards others right now.
RACE 10 - (1) RHODENA ROAD looked much better in his 2nd start back, finishing with alert pace for
4th - moves all the way inside, and seems ready for a more aggressive steer. (6) MAXIMUS RED A was
actually 4/5 in a NW10000 race just 3 starts back (tired after cutting the mile) - no shot in his next (7 hole),
then hurt by a bit of a shuffle last week - could be a very live player despite the bad draw. (3) DARK ENE
RGY N toured the oval from Post 8 with Cory last week but now moves inside and has Jordan at the lines -
look for a much more serious effort here. (5) GOTTA MINUTE N tends to lag much of the way before
finding his stride late - may be able to rally late for a piece of this. (2) CAVIART SARGENT was sent off
at 4/5 two back and raced like a 20-1 shot - definitely raced better last week, but still not well enough to
merit that 8/5 ML price - better value with others. (7) SANTAFES COACH is stuck outside again - will
need things to really fall apart to make his presence felt at the end. (4) NOTA REPLICAA showed surprise
speed last week but the end result was the same - continues to struggle. (8) CONBOYVILLE will likely be
well out of it from Post 8 after last week's tiring speed try.