MEET STATS: 141 - 639 / $1,032.10 (-$245.90)
BEST BETS: 33 - 64 / $143.60 (+$15.60)
SPOT PLAYS: 6 - 64 / $56.50 (-$64.20)
BEST BET-GHOSTLY CASPER (7th)
SPOT PLAY-BLACK HAWK JOE A (8th)
Race 1 - 15000CLM Pace
(3) CHECKONWILLIAM GB catches a pretty wide-open group here in his second try at this level and slides in from post six to the three-hole. He was in good form out at Oak Grove before he came east and can hopefully get back to that tonight. (4) A FEARSOME HANOVER gained in a second-place effort in a $15,000 claiming event last Wednesday and makes his third appearance out of this high-percentage stable. (2) DANCE ON THE BEACH shows two prior victories against $15,000 claimers and one against tougher $20,000 claiming company since mid-June. He was a solid third on 8-13 and gets additional post relief.
Race 2 - NW32001L5 / NW12 PM Races LT / 75000CLM / Winners in One of Last Two Starts in Base Class NW20000L5 Draw Outside Trot
(6) DRIBBLING BI drops out of the Invitational where he was a good second to a stakes-caliber foe last week. He starts from the outside but is in razor-sharp form, and I expect he'll be put in play. (1) DIRE STRAITS returns off a runner-up finish in an undercard race on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands and drew the pole. Add in that he got the nod from Jason Bartlett over a Per Engblom trainee and he's usable. (3) TACHYON picked up checks in a couple of appearances in the Invitational and gets some class relief this time.
Race 3 - F&M Invitational Trot
(5) TIPSY MONI never got involved from the outside post last week but should be ready to go back to a more aggressive approach here and Bartlett takes over the drive with Yannick Gingras not here. (4) HOT FLASH KIMMY is riding a five-race streak of on-the-board finishes and hails from a stable that's sending out plenty of live horses overall right now. (6) QUEEN OF ALL rallied to take the F&M Invitational a week ago but loses the post edge she's had against my top pick. I respect her chances but will just use underneath.
Race 4 - F&M 20000CLM Pace
(2) ALWAYS BE CITY raced well again in a second-place effort last Wednesday. She landed another inside post here and I'll stick with her. (1) EMDOUBLEAKAY advanced from seventh to a dead-heat for third in the final quarter of her mile on 8-13 and gets significant post relief off her last three appearances. (8) DEFININGTHE MOMENT has won two straight against $20,000 claimers but is stuck with the eight-hole tonight. I still expect she'll be firing out with Bartlett in the bike and is a contender to tally again.
Race 5 - 40000CLM Trot
(3) PEDAL ON METAL was second to one of the top horses in this class last Thursday. Even though he wasn't Jordan Stratton's choice, I'll go with him as I liked that last performance and think value will still be there. (2) HAT TRICK MARLEAU shows on-the-board results in his three recent efforts against $40,000 claiming foes, drew well again and gets a driver switch to Brent Holland. (7) FULL OF MUSCLES kept Stratton's services and this should be a softer spot than he's been in in his last two attempts.
► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter
Race 6 - 15000CLM Pace
(6) MAJOR POCKET A performed well here against $15,000 and $20,000 claimers in his lines and returns from Monticello with Colin Kelly taking over the driving. (8) GARDYS LEGACY A will have to overcome the eight-hole but is the sharpest horse in here and I don't expect George Brennan will be taking back. (4) MOTIVE HANOVER rallied to win over $15,000 claiming company when last seen at Yonkers on August 2 and gets a driver change to Jordan Stratton.
Race 7 - NW24431L5 / Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5 / NW10 PM Races LT / 60000CLM Trot
(3) GHOSTLY CASPER overcame post seven to win the Open Handicap at Saratoga most recently and was in the top class at Woodbine Mohawk Park prior to that. He finds a pretty soft spot here compared to where he was in Canada and got the nod from Bartlett over an Engblom trainee. (2) CRAZYLAND saw his run of on-the-board results end in his last effort on 8-7 but gets post relief and teams up with Brennan as Bartlett went with my top pick. (5) THE HAZELTON finished second to one of my top selections earlier on the card in Dribbling Bi when last seen on August 7. Tyler Buter hops in the bike for the always-dangerous Ron Burke stable here.
Race 8 - 25000CLM Pace
(2) BLACK HAWK JOE A faced $30,000-$40,000 claiming handicap company last Wednesday, so this should be a drop tonight, and he drew well again off a close third-place finish. (6) BURNHAM BOY N was fifth in the same race my top pick exits and gets a driver switch to Bartlett. (1) MAXIMUS RED A starts from the pole again and comes in off a third on August 7. He also shows a victory against $30,000 claiming company back on 6-2.
Race 9 - 40000CLM Trot
(4) BARN HALL got caught up in a battle for the lead last week and tired, but I think he was well-meant since he showed speed and took plenty of wagering action. He is back in a stable that won with him back on May 29 tonight and moves in on the gate. (3) MAX was back to his winning ways last Thursday when Bartlett took over the controls. He's in the bike again here and he slides in a couple of slots on the starting gate. (8) CANTSTOP YANKEE drew poorly again but has been racing well and debuts for new connections off a claim.
Race 10 - 3-6YO 20000CLM Pace
(1) WARRIOR FOR TRUTH tallied at this level on 7-26 and has hit the board in two subsequent appearances. He debuts for new connections after being claimed again and moves inside to the pole position. (3) HEAVE AWAY took one chance against age-restricted $30,000 claimers and now drops down to the class where he won two straight on July 19 and August 2. (2) SOUTH POINT has been outside the top three just once in his last seven trips behind the gate and won handily in his debut for these connections on the 9th of August.