RACE 1
8-Always And Again – Dropped to this level & put forth a much more aggressive & effective effort despite missing three weeks, tougher post, but poised to show more
5-My Pal Joe – Lightly-raced 4YO really stepped up with an impressive mile of his life in his second try off the bench here, any semblance of that makes him a threat to repeat
9-Flyingevenbettor N – Hit the board in both starts since coming back off the sick scratch for Team Alagna, a solid second in fog, post nine, plus a month off to consider
RACE 2
4-Western Redhot – Grinded gamely through a fast pace & right there third in the photo last week, on a roll since The Dream claim, draws better & switches to Dexter Dunn
3-Keystone Honor – Fresh off a hard-charging second by a neck last week, 10YO draws inside again, makes his third start off a sick scratch & keeps The Money Man
2-So So De Vie – Just missed in a nifty 1:51.4 two starts back, then got parked as the lukewarm beaten favorite, big chance to rebound from another inside post
RACE 3
9-Swan In Motion – Won the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final @ three, has taken a few starts to acclimate, second to standout Some Chapter with Lasix added, lands outside, but gets some class relief
2-Sweet Chapter – 1:54.3 winner @ The Big M last season fresh off a rousing return to NJ, just missed as the beaten favorite & draws better
8-Graceful Winner – Was able to trip out from post seven to take new mark of 1:54.1 three starts back & now drops off a big rebound effort for a sharp barn
RACE 4
1-Sugartown – Beaten favorite hits bottom for Team Burke, chased a 1:48.4 winner in the comeback, back half in a solid :55.2 last out, moves inside with room to improve in a field full of question marks
7-Saying Grace N – Added Lasix, made a rare early miscue & recovered with solid late pace as the beaten favorite, gets another shot at this bottom level for Team Cullipher in a drop down derby
4-Archangel Three – Tumbled down the class ladder @ Yonkers & suddenly perked up with an aggressive narrow loss, hasn’t raced in 29 days, but draws inside a field of underachievers
RACE 5
1-Semi Tough – Got off to a slow start from post eight in his return to The Big M for Team Burke, back half in :53.2, now gets class & post relief
4-Seeuinnashville A – Fresh off an excellent acclimating mile, a hard-charging third second time Lasix & with a broken equipment issue, stalking threat draws another inside post
10-Bechers Brook A – Last week’s Best Bet brushed to the top in :27.2 & was nosed out in the final stride, moves outside, but remains a live item for Team Cullipher
RACE 6
4-Twin B Tuffenuff – Encountered a terrible trip from post nine in his Big M debut for Team Burke, now gets class & post relief, and was strong in the win column last year
7-Boiling Oar – Beaten favorite when he finished a rousing second two starts back & now drops back down off an impossible trip for Team Cullipher
2-Shnitzledosomethin – Went all the way in a well-controlled score in a lively second start off the bench @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws inside & has done some damage here in the past
RACE 7
4-Italian Delight N – Ships back to Big M fresh off an emphatic class drop n pop @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, took a 1:50.1 mark here last season & draws well with DD
2-I’m A Gigolo N – Lightly-raced Sweet Lou 5YO launched a wide late bid & just missed in a noteworthy US debut for Team Burke, draws better to follow up in a field of more experienced, yet largely suspect foes
10-Dealer’s Table – Post ten & hasn’t raced in three weeks, beaten favorite had to settle for second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, now getting further class relief for Team Cullipher
RACE 8
2-American Boy N – Steps up in class along with several in here off a sneaky good acclimating mile, back half in :54.3, now moves inside to trip out & surprise them
3-Chaser Hanover – Has suddenly come to life with two straight wins off the class drop, steps back up another notch fresh off a gutsy new mark of 1:51.4 & draws inside again
6-Quick Fun N – One for 16 last year, yet acclimated promptly with a sharp narrow loss after hinting in a positive direction recently, merits the class hike in a wide open field
RACE 9
1-Good Rockin – Lands the rail off a big bounce back mile, rallied stoutly to hit the board with :54 back half, sports a 1:50.4 mark here last season & owns a wicked kick
4-Decision Day – 1:49 performer @ The Big m last season fresh off a gallant narrow loss, hasn’t raced in a month, but gets his third straight class drop & draws inside
6-Lachie Maguire N – Just missed to a raging Stone Hanover in the fog two starts back, then set the table for the big favorite Blood Line, 11YO is a live item for Dexter Dunn
RACE 10
4-Western Joe – The classy Joe finished a sneaky good fourth in last week’s 1:48.1 Preferred, lands in a slightly easier spot & we will likely find him on or near the lead
6-De Los Cielos Deo – Still don’t know how we nailed him last week, but he did capitalize on a lively pace & can’t rule out a repeat for the classy Team Burke closer
5-Paduka N – Runner up to the monstrous Let It Ride N in the fog, came right back with a relentless late lunge to nail the favorite Bechers Brook N last week, steps up to face a salty group in career form
RACE 11
5-Rootin Tootin – Mohawk shipper has encountered some tough trips recently, parked from post eight last out, owns some back class & lands in a real soft spot
2-Dragon Strikes – Just two for 26 last year, but the 1:51.3 blowout on 11-27 stands out & just missed two starts back, draws well in a camera-shy field
7-Sweet N Fast N – Looking to rebound off a fading eighth @ Harrah’s Philadelphia from a demanding post here, his previous two were commendable
RACE 12
7-Imageofarocker – Fresh claim just missed twice against this kind late in 2020, a close second to Shattered Glass from post seven on 11-20 & gate speed puts him in play
6-Shattered Glass – Drops back down in price after a pretty productive Fall campaign here when he won back-to-back in 1:51.3 & 1:51.4 & can dominant this bunch despite a 27-day layoff
5-Dull Roar – 0 for 21 last year, but solid runner up in his last two, made up substantial ground in most recent, draws better, hasn’t raced in a month, mixed signals
RACE 13
2-Best Trick Ever – Has been landing on the fringes in Ohio, ships into a real soft spot, gets a barn change & draws inside
9-Gold Star Yoder – Dull recent form, stuck outside & hasn’t raced in a month, but this is a huge class drop & doesn’t face much
5-Settlemoir – Just one for 24 last year, flashed a :27.3 in his second start since the lame scratch & hits rock bottom here
RACE 14
8-Duckies Dynasty – Must rebound off an early miscue, post eight again, yet note the hard-charging third in :27.1 three starts back, 1:51.1 Big M winner in 2020 now drops
5-Walks Of Life – Trounced these with a :27.2 as the heavy favorite two starts back, then just missed to Genessee Seelster as the beaten chalk, remains a major contender
7-Century Ferrari – Held on to beat $10,000 company on 12-5, returns off a solid second on the engine @ Freehold & could try to wire these
RACE 15
7-Hold Thumbs N – NZ import hasn’t been heard from in three US starts, tougher post, but now switches to the bottom TM rating & eligible to improve
6-Thunder Dome – Just two for 31 last year, yet his third-place finish last time was encouraging, has a chance to work out a smooth cover trip & pounce late
3-Grandpa Don – Grandpa’s latest win came with a last-to-first rally in this class back on 11-20, beaten favorite finally moves inside to get within closer striking range
