RACE 1
1-Premier Rockstar – 4YO Team Cullipher has clearly fallen off form, but this is one of the most massive class drops seen in awhile, plus he draws the rail again, while leading a field full of question marks
10-Star Commander N – Rounding into form since dropping in his last two, unleashed a fierce wide rally in :25.4, back half in :54.2, stuck outside again, but now hits the bottom rung & needs a clear shot
2-Thndrfrmthethron N – Somehow got off to a really slow start from post four & lost all chance last week, has flashed some positive signs, drops a notch & makes his fourth US start from another inside post
RACE 2
8-Victorias Maverick – 4YO exits series action @ Plainridge where he recently won wire-to-wire from post eight over an off track, lands in a completely wide open field & fresh-face angle might be worth a swing
10-S Mckee – Has found a new lease on life for this price, winning two of his last four & took a new mark of 1:52.3, post ten may pose traffic issues, yet he just needs the right pace set up in a real headscratcher
5-Thunder Dome – Finally draws a bit better after trying to close from far back in his last three, 1:54.4 winner here this season expected to be within closer striking range, but not sure he’s going to get a decent speed target in a form-challenged field
RACE 3
7-Steuben Gladiator – Hunter Oakes & Bob Lounsbury have been a potent team, they romped with Durant in last Saturday’s finale, this 8YO has won two of his last five on smaller tracks & may surprise in this soft match up
9-Rockaholic – 10YO has been knocking on the door with some eye-catching rallies, nosed out last week when he came charging hard in :27, tough draw, but can blow by a lackluster field
5-Chip For Real – 4YO with a one for 26 record this season ships in from Plainridge where he turned in some hard-charging seconds in series action recently, sets up a stalking trip from midpack & adds Yannick Gingras
RACE 4
3-All Week – 0 for 15 this season, yet has been hinting of snapping that goose egg recently, closed a ton to be right there in the photo last week & draws better
1-Imageofarocker – Beaten favorite really had an off night when he held a brief lead & stopped, on quite a roll before that, now drops & has a chance to rebound from the rail
6-Century Ferrari – Trounced these in decisive fashion on 11-14, beaten favorite recovered from an early miscue & just missed last week
RACE 5
6-Casimir Rumrunner – Newcomer from Mohawk ships into the Michael Russo barn, recent form has been so-so, off 16 days, lands in a real soft spot, but tough to gauge
10-Johnnysfirecracker – Scored a well-driven upset & equaled his lifetime mark of 1:52.2 two starts back, still up in class & lands outside, but has a chance to collar this camera-shy bunch
4-Franco Tristan N – Seems to have tailed off in his last two, but liked his effort back on 10-31 & draws better to set up his preferred stalk n pop strategy
RACE 6
3-Decision Day – Sports a 1:49 mark here this season, bumped up as high as the Preferred recently, closing like a freight train from out of range, gets class & post relief
2-Dealt A Winner – Classy millionaire & horse-for-the-course paid immediate dividends when he came right back to repeat in his debut for Team Burke & finally draws inside
9-Heza Real Diamond – My top pick on 11-21 when I thought he was sitting on a big one, so a week later he uncorks a mindboggling 1:48.4, how does he follow up in this tougher spot?
RACE 7
5-Billy Lincoln N – Stormed home from last in :26.4 two starts back, then bogged down in heavy traffic last week, acclimated now with a midpack draw & switches to Tetrick
1-The Candyman Can – 3YO launched a premature move to a late lead & was barely outsprinted in a sharp Big M debut & moves inside for Team Burke
8-Sweet Truth – The other Team Burke-tuned 3YO was closing well from the clouds in a slightly better second start here, possible price play from another challenging post
RACE 8
4-Bechers Brook A – Team Cullipher trainee was an Open class winner in 1:48.1 here this past Summer & just missed in 1:47.2, easy score @ Hoosier Park two starts back & now lands an a softer class to stalk the ample speed
7-Let It Ride N – NZ import for Nifty Norman won his qualifier with a nice late burst, then rallied in :26.3 to win his US debut as the heavy favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, back half in :53.4, might be this good
6-Love The Blues N – Have to forgive the early miscue as the beaten favorite last week, was poised to step up with gutsy efforts before that & has a license to rebound
RACE 9
8-Bracken Storm A – Has been on a four-race form spree, taking a mark of 1:50.3 in process & won from post eight two starts back, unfurled a furious rally to just miss last week, back half in :53.4
1-Always And Again – Stakes quality 3YO in Indiana flashed some serious :26.3 speed along the cones in a patient Big M debut, benefits from that acclimating mile & now moves inside to set up a similar trip
6-A Major Omen – Has been bogged down by slows starts from outside posts in his last two, go back to his late October form when he took a mark of 1:49.2 & that would make him a contender here
RACE 10
6-This Is The Plan – Classy Team Burke trainee closing in on $2 million, had dead aim on Bettor’s Wish in the TVG Final, parlayed that into a Yonkers win & looks to set up a similar stalking trip
7-American History – 2019 Breeders Crown winner suddenly sparked his winning form here two weeks ago, wheeled right back to romp @ Yonkers, tougher spot here, but could keep it going for Team Alagna
9-Franco Totem N – Fresh off a decisive score in 1:49.3, while overcoming an outside draw last week, runner up to a raging American History before that, rates highly for the potent Dexter Dunn-Nifty Norman combo
RACE 11
4-No Easy Day – Just missed with a hard-charging :26.2 against N/W $10,500 stock three starts back, gets further class & post relief in a drop down derby
3-Ocean Colony – Horse-for-the-course noted for his big late kick, bounced back with a better effort last week, now gets his third straight class drop & moves inside, might be time to dive into The Ocean
2-Saying Grace N – Sub 1:50 performer here this season reverted back to speed & got too enthusiastic two weeks ago, Team Cullipher trainee has worked his way down the class ladder & lands inside again
RACE 12
9-Fox Valley Nemitz – Uncorked a career best of 1:51.2 fresh off the bench, then got nosed out first over & came right back to win from post nine last week, this is a live item for a hot barn
6-Shattered Glass – Has suddenly caught fire scoring his first three wins this season in his last four starts & took a mark of 1:51.3 & can’t rule out a repeat against these
3-Mr Mcdreamy – Reclaimed fresh off a game win in a career best of 1:52.1 with Dexter Dunn last week, draws inside to be forwardly placed & stay on a roll
RACE 13
9-Go West Go Fast – Owns a mark of 1:50 @ The Big M this season, no chance trips in his last two, huge rallies to hit the board before that, tough draw, yet finds a soft field & he can easily regain form
3-Urban Renewal – Hasn’t been as strong in the win column this year, was on a nice roll @ Pocono recently, slow start @ Yonkers last week, gets an inside draw here to set up his usual stalking scenario
1-Ghost Dance – Well-traveled gelding was roughed up @ Yonkers last out, two solid thirds before that @ Pocono, lands the rail for a chance to trip out & surprise in this light match up
