RACE 1 - (1) SOCRATES BLUE CHIP was handled conservatively from Post 8 in his local debut but was still an excellent 3rd - made a HUGE move in his last as he brushed by the leader into a wicked :26.4 third panel, and still had no problem holding sway to the end - will be a very short price tonight...and clearly the one to beat. (3) HIGH ST CORRIDOR came up 2nd best to the top choice last week, and was a 51-1 winner in his only other local try - he's the one with the best chance at knocking off the top one...but it won't be easy! (4) HURRIKANE GEORGIE was caught well back in last (vs. the top 2) last week but still finished up with good pace, after the fact - gets a better draw tonight, and does seem next in line should either of the top pair falter. (5) YER SO BAD was no factor the last 2 weeks but did finish alertly each time - decent one to throw in for 3rd, at a big price. (2) AIR GUITAR sat a close up 3 hole last time but was still outfinished at the end - looking at another easy trip tonight, but will need to finish better. (6) SARANAC BLUE CHIP was a good 2nd to The Cookie Monster here 2 back and does have some ability - not a great post, though, and may struggle to get involved here. (7) NUTHIN BUT FINESSE disappointed in his 1st local try but did finish more alertly in last - will be severely post compromised, however. (8) HAPPY CAMPER draws Post 8 in his first start as a 3YO - definitely the outsider for tonight
RACE 2 - (3) SHNEONUCRAZYDIAMND A was sent off as the 8/5 choice from Post 8 vs. BETTER last week (off the barn change)...but opted to just sit last before charging home full of pace (for 5th) at the end - gets to drop to the bottom now, moves inside, and it's fairly safe to assume that a much more serious effort will be forthcoming. (2) IMSTAYNALIVE had plenty of pace for 3rd into a very fast mile 2 back but squandered a perfect trip in his last when unable to rally by a pair of battling leaders in the stretch - he's another that's dropping to the bottom class here, and looms the main danger....legitimate chance if the top one doesn't bring his best. (1) ELRAMA N shipped in from Nfd. showing solid claiming lines then raced well both starts here despite a pair of 7 holes - gets full post relief for tonight, but also catches a pair of pretty tough rivals - likely looking at only a smaller piece, unless the top two really falter. (5) ABRAXAS BLUES A finished well from impossible spots in his last pair - should race well again tonight, but seems destined for only a smaller piece with the 2 "dropdowns" drawn inside of him. (6) CARTERS CAPER ships in off a Monti win but still seems a bit cheap...and surely won't be helped by the outside draw. (7) TITANIUM N was able to pick up 4th last week mostly because of saving ground - will need even more help from Post 7, though. (4) TISADREAM N ships back to YR showing 4 straight 7th place finishes - waiting for better signs before hopping back on his team
RACE 3 - (2) ALTA LEROY N was in spot last week where he looked like a major threat....but Lachance took him off the gate, remained glued to the cones, and only shook free to the top of the lane thanks to a breaker - finished up with a ton of pace (as expected), so hopefully he'll be given a chance to actually strut his stuff tonight. (1) BENHOPE RULZ N had been pretty sharp for a while so last week's tiring speed try was definitely a bit disappointing - deserves a shot to make amends from another very logical spot. (3) VANQUISHED N was away for 8 months but now has a couple of useful Fhd. tighteners under his belt - definitely a good fit with these when "right", and perhaps the tote board will give some clues to his chances (7) FOREVER FAV was very good dropping in for a tag 2 back but was killed by a terrible trip - was claimed that night and gave it a good shot on the front end in his last, losing only to the sharp, dropdown favorite - the concern tonight is the draw, which may limit him a bit. (8) CLIFFHANGER made a break at the start last week (uncharted) was rough a couple of other times, then broke again on the final turn - the talent is there, but he may need the bigger track to do his best work. (5) ARTMAGIC drops from a $50K claimer but he never really belonged in there in the first place - comes up with some good tries against this type, and is playable on the bottom of the gimmicks. (4) MOTIVE HANOVER has gone "even" efforts in all 3 recent local tries - needs to find more (or get in cheaper) for a realistic chance. (6) DEEDENUTO A has been improving a bit but just wasn't up to being more aggressively handled in last - tough spot here
RACE 4 - (4) RETOUR AU JEU started his season off with a few excellent, very promising efforts...but he struggled in his last 2 M Life series starts, and then was no factor in another pair of NW6/8 events - seemed to bounce back with a much better effort at PcD last week and if he's anywhere near his best tonight, this is definitely a field that should be right in his comfort zone. (8) ZIGGY SKY was good in this class 2 and 3 back, then was stuck in a no prayer spot in last - draws post 8 again but he did win from an identical spot (at a BIG price) earlier this year....deja vu? (2) ART SCENE returns from Fhd. with a win over softer but he's just 1 for 23 here over the last 2 years, and listed (somehow) as the 9/5 ML favorite - not impossible, but certainly will be offering no value on top. (6) AWESOMENESS appears to be getting a barn change for tonight, although his previous trainer is still listed as the owner (a bit puzzling) - he's off a bad date (sick scratch), but perhaps the tote board will offer some clues as to his readiness. (5) CHACHING HANOVER hit board in 2 of his last 3 but still seems to be a bit below a few of the main players. (1) SUNKEN TREASURE hails from a barn known for big form reversals...and this guy will need one if he hopes to be any kind of threat in here. (3) ZACH MAGUIRE N squandered a beautiful trip last week and will need to be a lot sharper in order to be a player with these.
RACE 5 - (4) FIREBALL was too far back to have any chance in his first try for a new barn (2 back) but was hammered down to even money the next week and delivered the blowout "brush and crush" victory - moves up to face tougher now, but a mile like that last one may handle these too. (4) MARK WITHA K was sent off as the odds on choice with the move inside last week but was worn down through the final turn by the winner and weakened to 3rd - drops a notch for tonight, and may be able to make amends. (6) EGOMANIA was an excellent 2nd two back (off the claim) but was unable to fire from well back in his last - any decent trip should put him right back in the hunt tonight. (6) EPIC ACE has been picking up smaller pieces in most of his recent starts and will appreciate the class drop - unfortunately, he draws outside a few main rivals, and that may leave him looking at another smaller share tonight. (2) TIGERS WAY picked up his first ever Yonkers win 3 back when he landed in a pretty soft basement field - no factor vs. better in his last pair, but draws well enough here for a chance at a minor piece. (7) SPORTS BETTOR can pick up pieces at this level but generally from easier spots - will need lots of trip luck to do any real damage from out here. (1) DARK ENERGY N does his best work with cheaper - prefer others, even with his good draw. (8) WAY TO CLOSE figures to be dropping to NW5000 next week - will wait for that
RACE 6 - (4) THEFREEDOMFIGHTERN came into his local start at 0 for 17 at The Hilltop but came within a whisker of knocking off the 2/5 winner - changed barns after a sick scratch and was a close up 4th at PcD last week - lands in a suspect field for his YR return, and maybe can finally grab that first local score. (1) SOHO LEVIATHAN A was off form for a few starts but looked much better in his last, a close up 3rd behind a horse who came back to win his next start too - logical threat from the pole. (5) WINNING LINC has always been entirely unpredictable from week to week, sometimes not even functioning at all (see 3/30, his last local start!) - IF he decides to show up on his best game tonight, he'd definitely have a chance in here....just don't take a short price if he's your play. (6) BEVANS CULLEN N was 0 for 8 here last year but raced well in a few of those starts - could be a good sign that he flashed speed at Chester last week, and that was on the heels on an 8th to 2nd rally the week before (off 4 months) - could be a nice value play. (2) MR BIG WIG finished well from far back in his local debut (for a new barn), then was an even 3rd off a sick scratch in last - certainly one to include underneath. (3) MAJESTIC KIWI N was empty in last off the qualifier - draws well, but will need to be a lot sharper now. (8) THUNDER SOME WHERE just missed at The Swamp last week vs. lesser - hard to see him reaching from out here, though. (7) TOWN LINE FLIGHT gets stuck with Post 7 for his local debut...will just observe, for now.
RACE 7 - (3) SUMTHINBOUTIM launched wide from 8th on the final turn last week and was gobbling up ground through the stretch, right there 3rd on the wire - reunites with Brennan tonight, and the pair teamed up for a couple of sharp front end wins back in March - guessing that's the direction they'll be heading here. (6) FLYING FINN N has become very consistent lately, and has been more than holding his own vs. some tough older pacers - gets a drop down to face this NW6 field, and should be able to make his presence felt, despite the outside draw. (2) TELL THEM LOU really disappointed here as the favorite 2 back but did rebound with a solid effort at PcD (at a big price1) - if he brings his best here, he can pick up a good piece. (4) BETTOR AT HIGHTIDE was a big "go" from the pole last week but couldn't quite make it last all the way - his best effort was when he relaxed early and charged by late...and he may land on a similar trip here - one to include in exotics. (1) SWEET TRUTH really struggled after being purchased by his current connections but started to do a bit better in a couple of M Life races, and the inside draw may help him squeeze out a small piece here. (5) REIGNING DEO just hasn't been all that sharp lately - leaning towards others, for now. (7) WHAT YA THINKIN was racing well in PA, did well in his first try in NJ but was a non factor in his last - seems like he could fit here, but the outside draw is a major roadblock. (8) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES made a nice living against Florida breds but has held his own against this type too - draws Post 8 for his first start back as a 4YO, and we'll wait for a better spot
RACE 8 - (1) REDBANK BLAZE A gets a major class drop here and draws the pole on top of that - it's fairly safe to say he'll be going off a lot shorter than that 7/2 ML price would suggest...and the road to the winner's circle absolutely goes through him. (6) POINTOMYGRANSON was pretty good upon arrival from Canada (off a bad date), holding 2nd a long way before finally weakening to 4th into a fiery 1:51.3 mile - excellent chance that he can significantly outperform that 15-1 listed price! (4) KERFORD ROAD A seemed like he might be tailing a bit before rebounding with a much sharper try in last - figures to pick up a pretty nice piece of this. (2) PERFECTLY CLOSE is up higher than he usually gets, thanks to victories in his last 2 starts - with the inside draw, he has a chance at a good piece, even at this higher level. (5) BETTING EXCHANGE is another that's stuck racing a bit higher than he'd like - needs to save ground and hope to pick up a minor share against these. (3) MAGRITTE saw his form spree grind to a halt 4 starts back and has struggled ever since - moves to his 3rd new barn in 3 weeks, so we'll see if this crew has better luck getting him back going . (7) HIGHLAND TARTAN is a hard hitter but is up above his preferred level, and has one leaving right inside of him - very tough spot.
RACE 9 - Tough finale: (2) ONE OF DELIGHT A showed some guts when he was able to dig in and hang on vs. a bit easier last week - definitely fits with these too, and perhaps the post edge he owns over his main foes here will help him make it 2 in a row. (4) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP landed on a pocket trip off the class drop in last and knew just what to do with it - another that can handle this class bump....with a chance to get his picture taken, once again. (7) CAVIART SKYLER has been known to string together victories in the past, and he returns from Freehold off a confidence building win over cheaper - license to overcome the post and win here at a decent price...as HE looks to make it two in a row. (8) ANTHEM N may just take back to last and wait for a better spot but the barn did send out sharp ones on Monday night, and may have this guy ready for a big one too - don't toss too quickly. (1) SILAS SEELSTER will attract a lot of attention from this spot but he wasn't sharp in either of his last pair, and there's no guarantee he'll be sharp tonight - may be vulnerable at a short price. (6) GLACIS adds Lasix tonight and that could help produce a sharper effort - unfortunately, he may be coming from too far back to have all that much impact. (3) KNOCKING AROUND moves up, but is pretty good right now - chance for a minor piece. (5) ALEPPO HANOVER used an easy trip to grab 2nd last week but moves up in class here, and probably won't get that same pocket journey - prefer others.