2025 MEET STATS: 209 - 717 / $1,147.40 (-$286.60)
BEST BETS: 36 - 68 / $123.40 (-$12.60)
BEST BET: GOLDEN RAIN S (9th)
SPOT PLAY: CAVIART SARGENT (2nd)
Race 1: NW5081 in last 5 starts Trot
(4) NO DRAMA PLEASE is somehow still shut out of the win column this year through 21 tries and though he faces some decent rivals for this level the addition of Bartlett and post improvement can help get this classy veteran over the top. (2) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM almost went the distance last week but was collared late. From another good post he remains a solid threat. (3) KASHA V doesn't figure to be sitting that far from the front and he has a legit chance to hit the board.
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Race 2: NW5281 in last 5 starts Pace
(6) CAVIART SARGENT has just one win and one second-place finish through 22 races this season but he's been pretty live recently; last week's finish was especially good and though he can't seem to get any help at the post draw maybe new driver Brennan can coax some early speed out of him. (5) COVERED BRIDGE makes his way down to the lowest conditioned level and he must be considered no matter what the circumstances. (2) DEALERS TURN is another o-fer in here but figures to be sitting close up, perhaps even on the front end.
Race 3: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) EASY TO PLEASE went wire to wire from a similar spot two back and the classy mare fits well with these; Brennan gets the catch drive tonight with regular driver Stratton out of town and he figures to be moving early with the veteran. (1) LUCKY ARTIST A is back facing a bit tougher but this 12YO mare also oozes class and she's been going well of late. Rail start gives her a legit chance. (6) PASS AND STOW gets Bartlett back in the bike and the Harris trainee does get some class relief but lands outside most of her competition.
Race 4: F&M NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) DONEGAL SPIRIT has underachieved this year after a 3YO campaign that saw her bank over $121K but the mare does have a win over the Yonkers oval a couple of months back and she faces a very soft field. Bartlett was in the bike for that aforementioned win and he's back driving tonight. (1) CATIE FAYE HANOVER won at Monticello two back in 1:56 and I think she's competitive in here. (6) TWO PISTOL ANNIE has been very erratic recently but if she can put it together then watch out!
Race 5: NW7500 in last 5 starts Trot
(6) FULL OF MUSCLES has been solid in three races since returning from Europe and though the Noel Daley trainee has some legit talent inside of him he deserves a shot, as he probably has more to offer facing better. (2) HANKINS HANOVER steps up a class after a nice pocket-sitting win last week. (3) AQUARIUS FACE S' last win was three months ago, but it was at Yonkers with Bartlett driving; Engblom trainee commands respect.
Race 6: F&M NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) FACTORY GIRL raced very well in her last couple to be third best at overlay odds. DiDomenico trainee steps down from the Invite and has a post edge on her fellow class droppers; Brennan sticks. (6) LIT DE ROSE may have too much ground to cover from this spot but the Lachance mare always deserves respect. (7) DOUGS BABE A fits perfectly with these class-wise and figures to be a huge price from the poor post. Nifty Norman trainee needs a trip but wouldn't be a total surprise if she picked up a share.
Race 7: NW10000 in last 5 starts Trot
I'm going to be stubborn here with (3) B NICKING and assume he'll be heading to the front. Not a whole lot of current form from the others. (2) STREET GOSSIP drops down in class and gets post relief; veteran is logical from this spot. (4) CHIPPER DALE also drops to a softer level and hails from top connections but he'll be overbet.
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Race 8: F&M NW7643 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) MISS DOTTIE MAE dropped and popped with ease last week. Loses Bartlett to #4 and faces tougher inside of her but that means she should offer value for a mare that is more than capable. (4) RACIN HUNGRY found a soft spot at Philly to put it all together and the Bongiorno trainee will attract plenty of attention shipping in. (1) VIBRANCE was a winner the last time she was in this class; Burke trainee was third best the last two starts and figures as high again tonight.
Race 9: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot
(2) GOLDEN RAIN S is five for six at Yonkers this year and the Engblom mare seems hard to go against, especially with Bartlett now back in the bike. (4) DIAMANTE TRIO IT was second best to the top one last week after cutting the mile and she should be right there again. (5) BE DIFFERENT has raced well the last few times Holland drove and he's got the lines again; he's a price option underneath.