RACE 1
2-Shoshie Deo – No worse than second in five career starts, chased the standout U Need Stones all through the sires stakes series, first two wins have come back-to-back on mile tracks, draws inside to take charge
4-What A Knockout – Ake Svanstedt filly has been on her toes in four starts since a sick scratch, didn’t quite have the knockout punch off cover last week, but the experience was beneficial
6-Top Of The Line – 0 for 19 this season & only one for 27, but this 4YO gelding has been knocking on the door in three of his last four, rallied to be right there in the photo with What A Knockout from the same post last week
RACE 2
2-IYQ YQR – Made a triumphant return to the Big M, got an amazing :52.3 half to catapult off of, was able to exploit a softer class & take a new mark, draws inside to follow up & his entrymate has some back class
8-Double Your Bet – Closed the fastest of all in here & just missed with a solid :55.3 back half, obviously post ten is no picnic, yet this gelding seems to be coming around & fast fractions can put him in play
3-Ring Warrior – Beaten favorite left in the wake of IYQ YQR, but he’s a consistent stalker, loves this track, draws inside & looms as a prime opportunist
RACE 3
3-Moonlight Cocktail – Mare with a 1:53.4 mark here this season has been getting bogged down in those added distance events in NY, gets some class relief, plus a smooth trip is imminent with an inside draw
5-Danish Durango – Classy horse-for-the-course was either not himself or didn’t handle the Freehold half miler two starts back, then got parked last week as the beaten favorite, chance to rebound in this wide open affair
4-Murmur Hanover – Shipped in after a three-week layoff & energetically cruised wire-to-wire, while exploiting a real soft bottom level field last week & rewarded with an improved post
RACE 4
2-Silvermass Volo – Lightly-raced 5YO has found his best stride @ Pocono, romping to a new mark of 1:54.2 two starts back, then had too far to come from post eight, draws inside
7-Pinkman – The 2015 Hambletonian champ has struggled on the comeback trail, added Lasix to win his latest two qualifiers for Team Takter, faces a demanding draw with only one start this year
6-Lauderdale – We know how much he loves The Big M, has come around since the sick scratch in late July, flashed good energy @ Pocono, expect him to be forwardly placed
RACE 5
3-Quality Bud – 0 for 21 this season, but just missed with a gutsy mile back on 7-22, reaching too high last week, now plummets to the bottom level & draws inside
9-Jumbo Jet N – Came out of a shuffle with some late pace for a minor share last week, just one for his last 30 & lands outside, yet remains at the reduced level & looks a speed target
8-Big Stretch Mark – Shows a close second from a similar post here back on 7-29, drops to face a real light field & wouldn’t be a big stretch
RACE 6
5-Chevals Clivesdale – Stormed home from an impossible spot to just miss with a :53.2 back half last week, draws better to stalk the ample inside speed
2-Ashley’s Husband – Has quickly regained his winning edge, romping in two of his last three, took charge from post nine & controlled the front end last week & now moves inside
3-Super Imposed – Gelding has suddenly caught fire with some class relief in PA, lowered his mark to 1:49.1 two starts back, then went all the way @ Pocono, dangerous speed from an inside draw here
RACE 7
7-Express Stride N – Disappointed with his effort last week, thought he’d be more forwardly positioned off his previous two, there’s some talent lurking here, now drops into a wide-open field
1-Jacksrluckytoo – Moves inside off a wide nightmare trip, 1:49.4 performer here this season just missed in his previous two & seems to be on point for Team Harmon
3-City Hall – Returns to the Big M in dull form, failing to respond to some recent class relief, but can’t be left off the ticket based on his magical success here in the past & lucky at the draw again
RACE 8
6-The Summer Wind – Mostly a closing type she can thrive down the long stretch here, actually posted her season’s best 1:52 here on the engine, in solid form & matches up well with these
8-Mcace Of Arts – 1:49.2 winner here this season moves farther outside off a strong speed try & narrow loss last week, expect her to be in familiar blast off mode
5-Our Els Dream N – Veteran mare has been overmatched in her last few @ Yonkers, has been pretty strong in the win column & lands in a prime spot to assert herself
RACE 9
2-Sawbuck Hanover – Like the competitive form for this price @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & closing style, draws inside an even match up, look for a stalk n pop strategy
9-Scirocco Blue Chip – Arrives fresh off a career best 1:51.3 on the boiler @ Pocono, just missed from post nine there on 8-15 after firing hard in :25.4, look for a blast off from this one
3-Perserverant – Earning steady checks in slightly tougher classes elsewhere, got parked from post eight here last week, chance to work out a smooth trip from an improved post
RACE 10
6-Always A Diamond – Ran into a revved up Ashley’s Husband in his third start off the bench last week & now looms large with the severe class drop
4-What I Believe – Drops to the bottom rung along with several others in here off a solid second to the runaway Ashely’s Husband last week & draws well again
9-The Rock – Ships in off form & draws outside, but this 1:51 winner in the slop here this season must be considered simply based on his back class
RACE 11
1-Don Dorado – Grinded gamely & just missed despite the long layoff, lands the pole again & faces a field begging to be beaten
3-Man Of Destiny – Lightly-raced 4YO has had four races on the comeback trail, drops to the bottom condition & draws inside again
4-Wildflower – 0 for 18 this season, but excellent debut here, closing stoutly from far back to grab second for Rick Dane, Jr., draws well & logically expecting more
RACE 12
8-Walk Two Moons – Steady, productive Richard Silverman trainee got roughed up @ Saratoga last out, ships back here at a greatly reduced level
9-Aarin Hanover – Shook loose with plenty of late pace & almost got there in last Saturday’s finale, moves outside, yet remains a contender off that mile
3-Ten Carat – 0 for 14 in 2017, yet finished a solid second two starts back in N/W of 3 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, that kind of effort may be enough with an inside draw in this toss up finale
