MEET STATS: 228- 824 / $1,352.00 (-$296.00)
BEST BETS: 41 - 79 / $190.00 (+$32.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 7 - 79 / $88.40 (-$69.60)
BEST BET-GRETZKY THE GREAT (5th)
SPOT PLAY-SMOKIN BY N (7th)
Race 1 - 40000CLM Trot
(5) ICE BREAKERS K won in this class back on 9-19 and returns off a gaining fifth-place finish in the top class at Saratoga most recently. He gets a chance to partner with the hot hands of Anthony Napolitano here, and I'll give him a shot. (4) BAR COINS gets significant post relief in his second try back at this level and shows three victories against $40,000 claiming company back in August and September. (3) AUSTRAL HANOVER tallied against $40,000 claimers a week ago and was Brent Holland's choice of a pair of horses in this tilt.
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Race 2 - NW7876L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace
(7) ULTIMAROCA drew poorly but drops again, and I have to think the NW7500L5 class for a horse who was in the Invitational about a month ago should be a green-light spot. (2) WINDSUN RICKY hikes up from the NW5000L5's but does so off a victory and is another horse who shows races at much higher levels. (4) VIVA LAS VEGAS N is just one-for-24 in the win column this year but has hit the board in four of his last five outings and could definitely provide some value underneath.
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Race 3 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace
(4) TWO FACED tallied pretty handily the last time he was in this class back on 9-12 and drops after facing open $40,000 claiming company in his last two appearances. He also gets trainer Joe Bongiorno in the bike to go along with significant post relief. (1) LOUS THE ATTITUDE has a pair of wins and a second in his last three outings and was victorious at this level in his last try on October 7. He moves in on the gate from post five to the pole position. (3) CELLMATE steps up from the age-restricted $20,000 claimers but is in sharp form and I'll toss him in the mix underneath.
Race 4 - 3-5YO 20000CLM Pace
(3) FIXN AND MIXN comes in from The Meadows into Travis Alexander's barn, and he often does well with these types. Add in a good draw and Alexander's regular driver Matt Kakaley in the bike, and I'll swing with him. (1) I AINT NO MACK moves in from post eight to the pole position off a gaining fourth-place result a week ago and gets a driver switch to Jason Bartlett. (5) CAHOOTS gets some post relief after he had to start from the eight-hole last Thursday, and he's performed well in this class before. He goes for new connections off a claim tonight.
Race 5 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace
(2) GRETZKY THE GREAT makes his second start back after a layoff and finds a much softer spot than the non-winners of 2 but not more than 4 class he was in on 10-8. (5) ALL ALONE cruised to a win in the corresponding class to this one over at Pocono last Wednesday and should have picked up some confidence off that performance. (4) SURFSIDE BEACH was third with a good final quarter against NW5000L5 foes in his last try on the 30th of September and gets a driver switch to Jordan Stratton.
Race 6 - 40000CLM Trot
(2) GAELIHILL finished third over at Pocono in his first appearance back after some time on the shelf. He's had success at Yonkers before and gets co-owner Yannick Gingras to come in and drive. (1) WILLY WALTON broke before the start last Thursday and lost all chance, but he was very sharp prior to that. He was claimed by a hot barn in Dennis Laterza out of that race and has the pole position again. (6) STICK WITH ME KID has won two of his last three tries against $40,000 claiming foes and gets reunited with Bartlett this time.
Race 7 - 25000CLM Pace
(4) SMOKIN BY N gets out of the eight-hole tonight after having it in two straight tries, and he was facing tougher claiming foes prior to that. I like his good final quarters in those two races out of the post eight, and I'll hope he takes advantage of the improved draw this time. (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR had the one poor result on 9-26 from an outside post but has been very sharp other than that and was Holland's pick. (6) KEYSTONE DASH tired after a bad trip last time against $30,000 claimers but drops tonight. He won two in-a-row at this level prior to that last try and gets a driver who could fire him out of there in Mark MacDonald.
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Race 8 - NW20000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW10 PM Races LT/60000CLM Trot
(8) KHAOSAN ROAD landed the eight-hole but won back-to-back races at Harrah's Philadelphia in late September and also owns a victory in the Invitational at Yonkers in July. I trust Dan Dube will put him in play despite the poor draw. (2) DW'S POINT MAN finished second in a NW30000L5 tilt a week ago and gets to drop a notch on the ladder tonight. (5) I GET IT has hit the board in three straight tries, including both of his efforts against NW20000L5 company.
Race 9 - 3-5YO 20000CLM Pace
(5) OVER THE HORIZON took on tougher age-restricted claimers last Thursday and had to settle for sixth, albeit with a solid final quarter. I'll give him a try as he drops here and gets a driver switch to Napolitano. (7) JERSEY BEACH has a win and a second in two tries in this class and was George Brennan's choice over my top selection. (2) PORTERS MAN owns a victory at this level back in late August and has hit the board in his last two trips behind the gate as well.