2025 MEET STATS: 261 - 876 / $1,457.60 (-$294.40)
BEST BETS: 46 - 85 / $153.70 (-$16.30)
BEST BET: LADYCORONA (2nd)
SPOT PLAY: SPLASH BROTHER (3rd)
Race 1: $60,000-$75,000 Claiming Pace
(2) TWIN B DELUXE has been very live for multiple barns and just got run over last week in return to the Bako barn. (3) TRENDY TEEN ended up with the better trip to reach the top one and these plus (1) VICIOUS seem like they will be controlling the action up with the way the post draw shook out.
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Race 2: F&M $30,000 Claiming Pace
(3) LADYCORONA missed a nose last week for Laterza, now back with Bako, where she was a winner two back. Bartlett is also back driving and she can go from on or off the pace depending what the inside speed does early on. (1) STORMY SERENA sat the trip to post the mild upset against these last out; in line for another good journey. (5) TOBAGO TIME is back with Laterza off the reclaim and she's as good as the top two speed and class-wise but is at an obvious tactical disadvantage. Helps the price, however.
Race 3: NW5971 in last 5 starts Pace
(6) SPLASH BROTHER makes his second start back off the bench and the classy speedster also makes his second start at this reduced level. Looks like MacDonald can make the front here if he wants to. (3) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE raced well last week in his third start for Lachance and first with a reasonable post. He can definitely build off that effort. Seems strange going with a 20/1 and 15/1 ML for the top two but those are both bad morning lines. (4) GINGRAS BEACH finished second last out, picks up the leading driver. (1) SURFSIDE BEACH folded at 45 cents on the dollar in his local return; vulnerable.
Race 4: F&M $25,000 Claiming Pace
(2) SHEZAHUNGRYGIGI took money upon arrival for the Bongiorno barn and rallied from last to third; steps up a notch but draws way better. (4) COALFORDSNSHINE GB was game in defeat in last start and stays at the same level where she was a winner for this barn three back; Bartlett tonight. (1) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT has been a rent-a-horse at the $20K level, now steps up a notch debuting for Forte.
Race 5: F&M $20,000 Claiming Pace
(6) WHO'S PERFECT doesn't get the best of the draw here but she can leave the gate (as almost everything with Bartlett can) and the Engblom trainee with six wins on the year is overdue to get another. (7) JIVE DANCING A lands another awful post but she's been relatively good lately and two back she finished swiftly from a similar spot. (4) YOU BEDA ROCK rallied from off the pace to score last week as the slight favorite and is in a logical position to repeat.
Race 6: 3-5YO Winners 2-4 races or $67,738 LT Pace
(5) ALL OUT HANOVER was second best to the well-rated winner last start when bumped to this level and while he faces some good-looking competition to his inside he should be a very reasonable price and therefore worth a look; needs pace up front. (1) IKNOWBETTER battled gamely and came up just shy last week and the Bongiorno trainee draws well again; he could be the one to catch. (3) FORWARD FLASH exits Excelsior action and keeps Bartlett after he steered the 3YO to an easy win up at Tioga. The favorite? Overbet?
Race 7: NW18051 in last 5 starts Pace
(6) SOHO SANTORINI A is the latest of what seems like a never-ending stream of these Down-Under imposts and this guy makes his debut for the Dilloian Jr. barn after a 1:54 1/5 second-place effort in his lone qualifier. Ready for action? (1) HIMSELF N missed last week with a transportation scratch but he was a winner in his last start against similar talent and the Hudson trainee should be live from the rail. (3) COPPERFIELD is back with Bartlett so the top trainer/driver tandem is back in play; also drops a notch.
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Race 8: F&M $20,000 Claiming Pace
(1) IN A WINK N ships down from Saratoga on a three-race win streak and joins the Izzy Estrada barn. She gets a little class test but does face a soft edition of these $20K claiming mares and has a controlling position from the rail. (5) HARPER SEELSTER was better last week after a couple of poor tries and she gets an improved post. She may be trending in the right direction for the Laterza barn. (4) NORTHERN HALO also gets an improved post after being lost at the back out of the eight hole in her prior start, also back to Bartlett who finished second with her four back.
Race 9: NW12101 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) CAPTAIN MOORE A had that hiccup two back but brushed that off and started a new streak last out. He technically moves up in class as he faces some more seasoned foes but I don't see anyone in here who can seriously threaten this winning machine. (4) TWIN B POWERBALL successfully dropped and popped for Lachance after racing pretty well in prior starts. He's one of those more "experienced" rivals who could make things a little interesting. (2) SILKY CHOICE is a 3YO who was racing well in NYSS and Excelsior events prior to jogging at five cents on the dollar in an overnight event. He's another technically up in class but seems capable.