2025 MEET STATS: 308 - 1027 / $1,701.88 (-$352.12)
BEST BETS: 54 - 101 / $174.44 (-$27.56)
BEST BET: AUSTRAL HANOVER (4th)
SPOT PLAY: MUSCLE DAN (12th)
Race 1: F&M NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) JIVE DANCING A is able to drop to the lowest conditioned level and the classy mare figures to take advantage of the situation. To the front with Bartlett. (2) PINE BUSH MAGA is back in on consecutive weeks which is a good sign and she can stay close from this spot. (3) IDEAL COVER failed at odds-on when dropped to this level last week but she was used hard; she draws decently again looking to improve on that 2 for 35 seasonal record.
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Race 2: NW17601 in last 5 starts Trot
(5) OVER AND BACK hasn't been bad for these connections since being claimed for $60K and the Alexander trainee seems due for a breakout effort. Value should be there with a non-regular local driver listed but Ridge Warren was in the bike for a good third-place effort a couple of months back when facing much better. (7) TORRONE drops back down and gets the worst of the draw but he's got early speed and a driver who likes to get them in play. (1) MON AMOUR faces better after last week's well-rated win. Landing the rail keeps him on or near the lead.
Race 3: F&M Invitational Pace
(3) DOUGS BABE A is going pretty well these days and she's a proven winner at these top levels. She will be a price in this wide-open race that will come down to best trip. (1) FRONT PAGE STORY always finishes close up when drawn inside. (6) AARDIE B MIKI N surely needed her last start after coming off a break in action and figures to be stronger tonight but was unlucky with the 3 thru 6 post draw.
Race 4: NW15721 in last 5 starts Trot
(2) AUSTRAL HANOVER was an easy odds-on winner last week when Bartlett took over the driving and the Engblom trainee gets a free ride in this class after being written into this race. (4) NO DRAMA PLEASE is classy and comes from a barn that's been going well. Veteran is just 1 for 30 on the season but hits the board with relative frequency. (3) BLACKHAWK ZETTE faltered on the front end last out after rating the pace and he may be better off stalking, which he's likely to be doing tonight.
Race 5: NW5211 in last 5 starts Pace
Just when I was wondering if (3) DEETZY is ever going to win a race again I looked at (4) FUNATTHEBEACH N and thought the same thing. I have to believe one of these two classy oldtimers will be able to get it done and I'll lean to #4 who should be the better price. (6) QUALITY BUD has been rather stale lately and the string of poor posts isn't helping things. He gets a new driver tonight in Buter and maybe that shakes him up a bit.
Race 6: NW7500 in last 5 starts Trot
(4) EPOS OSTERVANG DK is by no means a prolific winner with that 1 for 23 seasonal record but that lone win was with Bartlett driving and he's back in the bike tonight. (3) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM stopped badly last week but he's right back in to go. His race two back was good. (1) DOROTEA TRIO IT has been minding her manners recently and she was third last week facing similar.
Race 7: F&M NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) CHIAPANECAS has taken advantage of facing softer rivals by winning two straight on the front end and the 4YO lands in a controlling spot again tonight. Main threat appears to be (2) HANGON COWGIRL, who just missed in her local return, draws well again and keeps Bartlett. (5) BELLUCCI arrives from PA for the DiDomenico barn and she's woken up in her last couple. Brennan may be moving early to secure a spot near the front and can complete a chalky tri.
Race 8: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot
Mixed bag of trotters here without many wins between them over the last few months. (2) ENERGYSOURCE has been much-improved in his last couple, including last week when he finished second at 120/1. Lance Hudson trainee is forced to step up in class off that race but with his newfound speed and good post he figures to be stalking from just off the pace and could be in the winning spot. (7) BULLY BOY HILL has been facing better recently so he'll appreciate the class relief but needs to overcome the poor post. (1) P CHICO has hit the board in his last four, including at this level the last two weeks; he's logical from the rail.
Race 9: F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) TONY'S MOM has been racing well recently as she works her way back up the class ladder. Top connections in play here from a reasonable post. (1) ACUSHLA MACHREE N moves all the way to the rail for her second start after arriving from Down Under and we'll see what the Dilloian Jr. trainee brings to the table. (5) MY RED SEA has won two of three, last week in a sharp 1:52. She's a quality mare.
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Race 10: NW10000 in last 5 starts Trot
(6) BRONZER was a powerful winner in his local return. Yes the 4YO steps up a notch, yes he moves outside, yes he loses the services of the top driver. He also hails from a barn that's done very well here and should offer an honest price. (3) NYMERIA raced well to be second best last out after breaking the start prior; similar spot here. (1) PISCO SOUR ships in for the Engblom barn trying to find the proper classification after being mostly non-competitive in KY stakes races; she raced at Yonkers one time before in the NY NY Mile last year.
Race 11: F&M NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) EASY TO PLEASE has been waiting for an opportunity to drop to a softer spot and as one of the main contenders in here I hope she's driven accordingly; Stratton trainee does have a class edge over these. (3) BIG CITY DAISY broke late in the mile in two of her last three and sandwiched between those races is a nice pocket-sitting win. I'll assume she minds her manners tonight. (1) MARIA ALLEGONDA N is the latest Down-Under import and the Medeiros trainee draws the rail off a winning qualifier. Is she ready for action?
Race 12: NW5000 in last 5 starts Trot
(4) MUSCLE DAN added the hobbles (one of my favorite angles) and was a winner in a Vernon qualifier. He's 1 for 25 this year but has hit the board in 7 of 8 at Yonkers and faces an equally camera-shy field. (7) CROWN MONARCH hasn't been doing much lately but the Engblom trainee gets Bartlett tonight. (3) SEVENSHADESOFGREY trotted his best effort in some time last start.