RACE 1 – Good opener! (3) MICKY GEE N gets a pass for his last where he was stuck in the back, and couldn’t
gain even pacing a :26.4 final quarter – he’s been grabbing smaller pieces behind the currently unbeatable ROCK
DIAMONDS N, and finally avoids that rival tonight – Kakaley subs for Zeron, and the pair teamed up for a few
good miles not long ago...one of several with a chance here. (4) JUST ENUFF STUFF raced well in both starts
since the recent claim, picking up a 2nd and a 3rd behind the streaking VERDUN – the right trip makes him very
dangerous here. (2) SURFSIDE BEACH has also been stuck chasing VERDUN, finishing behind him the last 3
weeks – avoids him tonight, but does face other sharp rivals...possible, for sure. (8) REAL WILLEY sports a 3 race
winning streak but ends up with Post 8 tonight (after dropping in for $60K) – much tougher task, but not impossible.
(1) JIMMY CONNOR B is just 1 for 18 this year but does fit with these – a good price makes him worth at least a
look starting from the pole. (5) OPTICAL ILLUSION N came up 2nd best to #8 the last 2 starts but faces several
other sharp rivals tonight (while also drawing into a tougher spot) – leaning more towards others. (6) THRASHER
seems to have tailed off a bit since the 6/22 and will be coming from way back against several very sharp foes. (7)
PURPLE POET can definitely use a much better draw...and probably some class relief.
RACE 2 – (2) VENTURESOME ARDEN N saw his 3 race winning streak snapped last week when stuck in the
back in a quick mile – should end up with a much better trip tonight, and the talented import has already won 8 of 20
Yonkers starts (including the Borgata Consolation) – deserves top billing from this spot. (1) TIP TOP CAT raced
well week after week in KY before shipping to Yonkers, and has continued to thrive here as well (2nd and 3rd in his 2
starts) – could prove the main danger. (3) HAZEVILLE won at the bottom level on 6/10 and has done all good work
since, right up to this top class – could be waiting in the wings should the top two falter. (4) VERDUN is razor sharp
and riding a 5 race winning streak – he also exits our leading barn (was claimed last week...by a surprising owner/
trainer combination), and also faces much tougher here – lots to prove. (5) STAY GROUNDED has only 4 starts as a
4YO and the results have been mixed – lands in a tough spot for his YR debut and that has us leaning elsewhere. (6)
GREG THE LEG figures to have a hard time finding a decent trip from out here.
RACE 3 – (1) MAXIMUS RED A landed in bad spots the last 2 weeks and didn’t have much room to pace in the
lane – he drops, draws the pole, and he’s been 1st or 2nd in 10 of his 21 starts this year – worth a stab. (4) TUFFENU
FTOWEARPINK gets a pass for his last (parked from Post 8) and he grabbed 3 wins and a 2nd just prior to that – he
goes back to a barn that won with him on 6/15, and he was Holland’s choice tonight...very dangerous player. (5)
TWO FACED steps up a notch after being claimed from last week’s winning effort – he’s been sharp for his last 6
starts, but does face tougher here and draws outside a couple of tough rivals – possible for sure, but not a fan of the
2-1 ML price. (2) LOORIM LAKE A has been behaving lately but it feels like his best may still leave him with only
a piece against these. (3) SWEET TROY did win at this level not too long ago but seems a bit more comfortable in
30s – he also wasn’t at his sharpest last week. (6) FINAL CHEESERECIPE has been going solid efforts almost
every week but he’s just 1 for 14 locally, and will likely be coming from too far back for more than a piece. (7) WAR
DAN DELIGHT N is the outsider, both literally and figuratively.
RACE 4 – Excellent race! (3) BIG DREAM FELLA was used more aggressively than OZONE BLUE CHIP last
week but was still able to dig in and hang on determinedly for the win – he lands in a field with several sharp players
tonight, but still may be able to come out on top– one of several with a legitimate chance in here! (5) OZONE BLUE
CHIP was handled a bit passively as the 1/10 favorite last week and while he still raced very well, he came up a nose
shy (to #3) – he moves to a new barn tonight and faces an uncertain trip...but he’ll be a much better price and should
be included on your tickets. (2) BECHERS BROOK A shipped in sharp from Stga. and has a win and nose loss 2nd
since arriving – remains very dangerous if the trip goes his way tonight. (1) DANCE ON THE BEACH was sharp
before getting claimed on 6/3 and has been outstanding ever since – he came up 2nd best to #5 two back, then nosed
out #2 to win last week – another with a very real chance to take this! (4) WICHITA LINEMAN was 2nd and 3rd in
his last pair but the trip was key in both miles – seems below the top 4 tonight. (6) IM A POWERPLAY A has been
on quite a roll but moves up in class tonight off the claim, and will likely have to come from well back – tough spot!
(7) AUSSIE HANOVER figures to be too far back to make any noise this week.
RACE 5 – (2) GENIUS MAN was an impressive winner last week, pacing a powerful final 3/8ths to win going
away (after being well back early on) – he’s not known for his consistency but if he comes up anywhere as good as
he was in his last, he’ll be very tough tonight. (4) NOWHERE CREEK A was hammered at the windows 2 back and
delivered the sharp victory – was claimed that night, and made an uncharacteristic miscue last week for his new
crew – drops back down to 30s, and can have a big say if that last break was just a blip. (1) SMOKIN BY N prefers
the 20s for sure, but he can be a threat at this level too, when on his game – he just missed last week, and remains a
logical threat from the pole tonight. (7) WON LAST FEELING has 4 wins this year and even beat the 40s just 4
starts back – gets a nice drop but also gets stuck with Post 7 – still worth using if the price is decent (as it figures to
be). (3) TWIG gave it a go on the front end in his YR return but weakened in the lane – will need to be sharper if he
hopes to beat these, (5) PAT STANLEY N is running out of excuses – he just seems off his game right now and
while he’s eligible to reverse form at any time, he’s getting harder to recommend at the moment. (6) ARTIST BEST
draws poorly after a lackluster try – prefer others. (8) BARON MICHAEL would be a big surprise from out here.
RACE 6 – (5) CAPTAIN T HANOVER used a strong rally to win his last pair and now has 6 wins on the season
(along with 6 2nd place finishes) – his trip can be tough to predict but as long as it’s manageable, he’ll have a chance
to make it 3 in a row. (1) LAST POUND recently added Lasix and picked up 2nd in both local starts – he’s on the
upswing, and moves all the way in from Post 8 to the pole...finished 2nd to the top choice last week, and will get his
chance to reverse that decision tonight. (4) SURFRIDER beat a NW1 field 3 back then moved up to this level and
won again – he tired on the last week (after getting roughed up a bit), but an easier trip could make him a contender
for the top slot. (2) CLEVELAND B MIKI gets major post relief and can sit closer to the action tonight – chance for
a piece with an easy journey. (6) HES SPECIAL seems off his best game right now but did beat this class twice in
June – maybe he can add some value to the exotics? (8) ON DAYBOO is just 1 for 13 locally but has plenty of
smaller pieces on his card– will need some trip luck to get in play from out here, though. (3) ROSE RUN X CON
hasn’t been 1st or 2nd in 19 starts this year but does have 4 thirds – maybe some minor spoils? (7) HUNTED HOUSE
hasn’t been bad since joining this barn but is another that will need a lot to go his way to reach from out here.
RACE 7 – (2) BOILING OAR returned to the Hilltop after a couple of near misses at Pocono and easily got back to
his winning ways, not bothered at all by a broken headpole – he’s a multiple Invitational winner this year, and
should have no problem handling tonight’s slight class jump. (4) PAT MCGARRY A has 3 recent wins in PA but just
toured the oval in last after drawing poorly last week – lands in a much better spot now, and the barn has a few very
sharp performers right now...one to consider if looking to take a shot against the likely prohibitive favorite. (1) BIG
GULP just isn’t on his best game right now, unable to finish the job last week despite having things all his own way
– still a big threat to land in the exotics from this spot, however. (3) SONNY WEAVER N jogged here on 5/30 vs.
easier and has stayed sharp since then – another that should be able to contend for a good piece tonight. (5) NAUTI
CAL HANOVER followed the top choice on the back side last week and had plenty of pace to be a sharp 2
nd best – a good trip puts him in play for another nice chunk tonight. (6) THIS IS THE PLAN won his last pair, but was helped
by very easy fractions in much easier fields – the triple millionaire has missed 3 weeks, draws poorly, and that has us
leaning elsewhere. (8) IGNATIUS A is sharp for sure but faces a daunting task coming from last while up in class.
(7) SAVE AMERICA has 3 recent wins...but on the lead, vs. easier – much tougher assignment here!
RACE 8 – (2) DUNKIN is getting the nod again but it’s a more tepid one, as he reverted to bad habits last week and
was offstride before the start – he’s proven very tough to beat when he does behave himself, but he’s made enough
of these pre-race miscues to always cause a bit of doubt – don’t accept too short a price. (3) COMBUSTION has
raced well in all three local tries, including a pair of close 2nds behind DUNKIN – might be the night he cracks the
winner’s circle. (5) ADAM TWELVE took a couple of months off after a long stretch of hard efforts and returned
with a nice 2nd behind a rejuvenated ITS A ME MARIO – he has an outstanding 20-8-10-2 local slate, and he CAN
race from off the pace if necessary – worth considering if the price is right. (4) RACING RAMPAGE always had
talent in Ohio so it was no surprise to see him really thrive locally after joining our leading barn – he’s technically
won 4 in a row, but was the victim of an unlucky disqualification last week when he jumped over a piece of debris
on the track, and caused others to be interfered with – big step up now, and we’ll see if he’s up for it. (1) GUNG HO
was an 8 hole winner in his local debut after winning 4 straight at The Meadows – another that will be class tested!
(6) LAYTON HANOVER is solid right now, but figures to get the worst of the trips starting from Post 6.
RACE 9 – (2) DESPERATE MAN has won 6 of 7 local starts this year, and raced as well (or better?) in the one that
he lost (parked every step into insane fractions in the Borgata Final and STILL finishing 3rd!) – he returns off a very
game 8 hole 4th in last week’s Gerrity at Saratoga (into a wicked 1:49.3 mile), and is clearly the one to knock off
back at his favorite track. (5) HEMSWORTH N just couldn’t overcome an impossible trip last week but still was a
solid 4th, pacing his final half in :54.1 despite being first over – he was razor sharp coming into that race, and
perhaps he can rally tonight to add some value to the exotics. (1) HELLABALOU had no chance at Stga. last week
after Stratton backed off at the start and got away last – the back-to-back Borgata winner is looking at a MUCH
better trip tonight, and is the most likely choice to complete a very short exacta. (4) COVERED BRIDGE is doing
better work lately and is another with a chance at a good piece here – he does face a bit of an uncertain trip, though.
(3) ROCKNROLL RUNA A has been inconsistent lately, and certainly wanted no part of last week’s first over try in
the Gerrity – sticking with others, for now. (6) AMERICAN DEALER N is sharp for sure, but steps up in class and
lands the worst post (with the Open draw) – will be hard for him to get in play tonight.
RACE 10 – (2) CADILLAC BAYAMA sat pocketed last week and was right there all the way, a close 3
rd behind a pair of classy rivals – he drops down to a level he beat twice recently and we’ll give him the narrow edge, largely
due the fact that he’ll likely be the better price of the two most logical players. (1) KINGSVILLE is another
dropping down to a level he beat twice recently, including the front end score 2 starts back – very dangerous here,
and could easily be the one to come out on top (3) LUCKBEWITHALEX is getting his legs back after a long layoff,
and definitely looked sharper last week – may be ready for an even better effort tonight, but he does have a pair of
sharp foes to his inside. (5) CASINO ACTION N’s only stateside win (8 starts) came at the NW7500 level, but he’s
held his own in this class the last couple of weeks – definitely could grab a piece, with a decent trip. (4) JAHAN HA
NOVER weakened from the pocket last week and just seems off his best game in general – may look better next
week, with another class drop.
RACE 11 – (1) POUND FOR POUND isn’t the same “beast” he was from April into early June but it’s not like he’s
been “bad” – he gets some important class relief here, and will likely look to get back to his frontrunning ways – the
one to catch, and beat. (5) FULTON picked up his first win of the season here 2 back (over softer, but from Post 8),
then picked up a 3rd at this level last week, helped by being in a very live flow – he doesn’t seem “overly sharp”
right now, but may still be the main danger. (4) HUNTING ZONE tends to be inconsistent and his best work this
year has come vs. cheaper – he does get a switch to Kakaley tonight, and the last time they paired up it lead to an
aggressive try, resulting in a 3rd behind the classy SEMI TOUGH – would be more interested if not for the 5/2 ML
listing. (2) ALL ALONE has been well off his best form lately – we’ll see if an easy, up-close trip can help him turn
in a better effort tonight. (6) PANETTONE HANOVER doesn’t seem sharp enough to threaten from out here.
RACE 12 – (2) WHATS STANLEY GOT A was 2nd to COVERED BRIDGE 2 back then 2nd to TYPHOON BAN
NER N last week, and either would be favored in here – he has sharp front end wins 3 and 5 starts down, and has to
be given top billing tonight...even if Brennan stays loyal to the connections of #8, and drives that one instead. (1)
MY ULTIMATE BYRON N’s last win came at the NW15000 level but he was right there in his next 3 starts in
NW20K, and finished very well last week at this NW30000 level – he’s looking at a good trip here, and is a good
one to include in exotics. (3) NONE BETTOR A sat 7th with no chance last week but picked up a win, 2nd, and a 3rd
in his previous tries at this level – too classy to ever ignore, but this just may not be an ideal spot. (6) FUNATTHEB
EACH N was off a month to his last start and really wasn’t bad, under the circumstances – not a great spot tonight,
but still not a bad one to consider for a “last race get out”... at that 20-1 ML price! (5) HIMSELF N has been a solid
player in his recent starts, including a close 2nd last week (after shaking free late between the two leaders) – maybe
he can rally for a small piece? (8) BIRTHDAY gets Brennan to stay on board and he’s been a steady weekly
contender in the 3-5YO Open – hard to see him finding a manageable trip from out here, however. (4) SHAZAM
BLUE CHIP moves up in class after missing 3 weeks – sticking with others tonight. (7) POINTOMYGRANSON
lands in a brutal spot while clearly struggling.