RACE 1 - Excelsior A, 2YO filly pacers: (7) LADY JERICHO rallied very nicely in her debut at Stga. to
pick up 3rd from a tough spot, then was a close 2nd to the talented SOUTHWIND BELLA in her next pair
- draws worst and Stratton goes with #2, but she'll be offering good value from out here, and may be able to
pull it off...with some trip luck. (1) ZIRA held her own in NYSS company and it's logical to assume she'll
be very tough at this lesser level....she probably would have been the top choice had she not been scratched
up at Monti last week - still, will be very tough if anywhere close to 100%. (2) AT THE HOP was a solid
wire to wire winner at Monti after picking up a 2nd and 3rd in her first two starts - clearly belongs, and
figures to be right in the thick of this. (4) TURN ON THE CHARM kept coming steadily for 4th last week
with her trainer on board, after winning at Tioga with Mike Merton - goes back to a catch driver for tonight
and could easily rally for a good piece. (5) BAMA BREEZE dropped from NYSS to this level at Monti but
still wasn't a threat - we'll see if she can do a little better with this crew, and at least pick up a share. (6)
TRUE BLUE HANOVER just missed at Stga. in her career debut but broke at Tioga, then skipped last
week's leg at Monti - hard to know what to expect from her tonight. (3) EVERDEEN steps up after blowing
out cheaper - she'll have to prove that she can hang in there with this much better bunch.
RACE 2 - Excelsior A, 2YO filly pacers: (3) SECRET GARDEN qualified nicely at Lexington, and that's
likely why she was sent off favored in her career debut at Monti last week - she lost action and struggled
for a while off the first turn, but did recover and paced smoothly enough after that...drops right back in the
box, and we'll give her sharp trainer a chance to make the necessary adjustments. (4) HULA GIRL Z TAM
was able to sweep last to first to win her first ever start at Stga. - caught a good field/quick mile at Tioga,
but did rally nicely for 3rd at Monti last week - possibility. (2) FLIPPIN AWESOME has been in the hunt
in all 4 career starts, picking up one win - would be no surprise at all. (1) B ON THE HUNT dropped down
from the NYSS level last week and was testing the leader when that one broke on the final turn - hard to
say what would have happened had she not been bothered, but she probably deserves another chance to
show us what she's got. (5) NO CIGAR TONY has made breaks in 2 of her 4 starts, but was an ok 3rd last
week - prefer others, but wouldn't be shocked to see her race well here. (6) CHICKFROMFRENCHLICK
was a winner in her last at Monti, but was pretty fortunate to grab that victory - overall form is fine, but the
draw could make this a tough spot for her.
RACE 3 - Excelsior A, 2YO filly pacers: (1) SOUTHWIND BELLA was offstride before the start in her
career debut but gathered herself up, worked out a nice trip and charged on by to win - came back to the
wire the field at Monti the next week, and that stamps her as the one to beat tonight. (3) GOLDEN
SUNRISE tried the NYSS fillies in her first career start then dropped down to this easier level right after -
she's been 2nd best in her last 3 starts, and may end up in that same boat here. (6) DOING MARVELOUS
was sent off at 3/5 debuting at Buffalo in a NYSS race and was a winner that night - got parked at Stga. the
next week and it was certainly a surprise to see her dropped down to this Excelsior A level right after that --
she was a winner at Tioga, but could only manage a 3rd in her last at Monti - obviously fits, but may be
hurt by the outside draw. (2) ROCKFORD PEACH bumped back up from Excelsior B to the "A" level last
week and was able to chase from the pocket to be 2nd best - chance for a small piece here too. (7)
BELLATRIX HANOVER was an upset winner at Tioga (14-1), but could only manage a 3rd at Monti -
Post 7 may leave her with a tough trip tonight. (5) IDEAL STAR dropped from NYSS to Excelsior A at
Monti last week and made an early miscue - not quite sure what to expect from her tonight. (4) SHEDAZY
DUKE seems a little below the main players in here.
RACE 4 - (3) ALL ABOUT THE HUNT has been sharp in all 4 career starts (out of town) and if he avoids
any miscues, he should have no problem handling these (at a very short price) in his YR debut - that being
said, note that although he jogged in a NYSS race at VD, he avoided racing over the half milers at Batavia
and Monticello - maybe not the one to bet the rent money on? (1) AMERICAN WAY just woke up with
that upset win 4 starts back and has been a legitimate player ever since - draws best, shouldn't be too far off
the action, and definitely has a shot to land somewhere on the ticket. (6) TRENDY TEEN was doing little
(at big prices) down at Chester but the public LOVED the new trainer/driver combination he was getting
last week, sent him off at even money and he was the easiest of winners - hard to leave him off the ticket
tonight, even moving up in class. (2) EXOTIC SAND was a big "go" last week, and had it won...until he
lost action and broke near the wire (resulting in his disqualification) - certainly can grab a good piece
tonight from this spot. (4) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE shows some mixed form in PA, but his best effort
might be enough to see him rally for a small piece. (7) CAPTAIN BUTLER has been pretty good lately, but
he may just have too far to come tonight - tough spot. (5) COOL MAN DUDE has been in and out - needs
to bring that "good" version for even a chance at a piece. (8) STATE SENATOR ships down from Canada
to a very live barn, but may need to wait for a better spot before we see his best.
RACE 5 - Excelsior A, 2YO filly pacers: (2) REC TIME has 2 wins, a 2nd and a 3rd from her 4 Excelsior
A starts, and has shown the ability to handle a variety of trips - she's clearly the one to knock off, but that
6/5 ML price does make her likely to be sent off at a very short price. (1) CELIA B MONEY was an ok 4th
behind the top choice at Tioga, then benefited from a breaking leader (IDEAL COVER) to easily take her
last at Monti - should be in the hunt all the way from this spot. (3) IDEAL COVER just missed at Tioga
dropping down from NYSS but broke on the lead while battling at Monti last week - there's ability here, but
she's made breaks in 2 of her last 4, and does seem a bit risky. (6) CHERRY VALLEY improved
significantly when 2nd at Pococo 2 back, then built off that mile with a nice rallying 2nd last week - could
add some value to the exotics, if she can find some racing luck. (5) PARTY LOUNGE gapped in the 3rd
quarter the last 2 weeks and it hurt her both times - willing to throw her in for 3rd, but prefer others for the
top slots. (4) SURI HANOVER and (7) MAY B PANDEMIC will need to improve quite a bit to have any
kind of say against these.
RACE 6 - Tough race! (3) JOSSIE JAMES A was 2nd in 3 of her last 4 starts (parked the mile in the other)
and is definitely a good fit here - the 3 weeks off are a concern, but she's still worth a look as long as the
price is right. (5) STELLENBOSCH paced home evenly in a quick mile against better in her YR return -
she fits well here, and "fresh Bartlett" has been a strong angle all year - consider. (8) LAURIE LEE was a
winner 2 back then just missed last week - will need a lot to go her way from out here, but seems sharp
enough to be a threat if lady luck does shine on her. (4) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY drew Post 8 vs. better
shipping in from Ohio (for a new barn) and had no chance - this is a much more realistic spot, and a much
better effort could be forthcoming. (7) LOOKATMYART was a winner at this level last week, but from the
pole- would be willing to give her a look from Post 7 IF the price was long enough (2) POPPY DRAYTON
N has been a bit better lately - good draw gives her a chance at a piece. (1) FLOSSIE N seems to need a
little easier to be a serious player, but the rail draw may at least put her in play for a minor share. (6) MILL
WOOD BONNIE N picked up a pair of 4ths since bumping back up to this level - probably looking at only
a shot at a minor piece once again.
RACE 7 - NYSS, 2YO filly pacers: (3) VIVIANS DREAM won both of her qualifiers and is 4 for 4 in
NYSS action - gets a new pilot tonight (Stratton), but that surely won't hurt her chances - remains the one to
beat as she looks for 5 in a row. (2) EARTHWINDFIRE finished a strong 2nd to the top choice at Tioga in
her NYSS debut, then was a dead game winner at Monti last week - the main danger! (1) ALABAMA
HANNAH has been ok so far in her NYSS starts, but has been a notch below the top pair - does draw the
rail with Bartlett, so we'll see if that helps her narrow the gap between her, and the top pair. (5) LINEMUP
KNOCKMBACK delivered a good looking qualifier at PcD, then was 3rd in her debut at Monti - definitely
some upside here, but not sure she's ready to tackle the top two just yet. (6) SILKY STRIDE pace home
quickly in her first Chester qualifier (in a slow mile), then blew out the field in her next prep - may be a
nice filly, and we'll learn more about her tonight...perhaps the tote board can provide some clues as well?
(4) AMERICAN STARLIGHT seemed to be developing nicely in her Canadian preps but was no factor in
her NYSS debut - will just keep an eye on her, for now.
RACE 8 - NYSS, 2YO filly pacers: (1) HUNTING SEASON jogged from the pole at Stga. in her first
NYSS endeavor - came up 2nd best to the very promising TWIN B JOE FRESH in her next, then gave
VIVIANS DREAM all she could handle at Monti, last week - the road to the winner's circle goes through
her. (3) DAME was handled aggressively last week (despite her 55-1 odds) and actually raced pretty well -
maybe she can add some value to the exotics tonight, as well? (4) ROCK MY SOCKS went her best mile to
date last week, giving EARTHWINDFIRE a good tussle - a similar effort here would put her in play for
another big piece. (5) TEAM COLORS was right there in an Excelsior A race to start her career - bumped
up to the NYSS level last week and paced well into a fast final quarter - we'll see if she can build on that
mile and have an even bigger say tonight. (6) HUNTING LINDY has shown some ability, but feels like a
work in progress - drawing outside isn't going to help her chances tonight. (2) PINE BUSH MAGA seems a
notch below these right now.
RACE 9 - (4) FORTIFY looked very good when 2nd shipping in from Canada 2 back - changed hands
after that race, and was a sharp winner last week for his new connections...may be sharp enough to take
another. (3) JOESSTAROFMIAA was 1/5 here on 6/13 when he just stopped on the lead and was eased -
took some time off, qualified back nicely, and may very well be ready to do some damage right off the bat.
(2) OAKWOODINITOWINIT IR was a little disappointing when he couldn't hang on last week but the
winner came back and jogged again on Monday night, so maybe we shouldn't be so hard on this guy - he
goes without Lasix tonight, and sometimes that's actually a good angle - consider. (5) GARDYS LEGACY
A ships in from the midwest and he's done some good work here in the past - barn always deserves respect.
(1) PRETTY HANDSOME gets a rare inside post and Stratton will surely try to take advantage - just not
sure he's as good as a few of the top picks. (7) BLANK STARE ships in sharp from Chester and has a good
local history - pretty tough draw, though, and he may need to wait for an easier spot. (6) WINDSUN
RICKY landed on a perfect trip last week and knew just what to do with it - tonight's class jump (and bad
post) figure to slow him down, though. (8) ROCKATHON figures to have a hard time reaching from here.