MEET STATS: 235- 843 / $1,453.30 (-$232.70)
BEST BETS: 41 - 81 / $190.00 (+$28.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 8 - 81 / $103.20 (-$58.80)
BEST BET - AROUND MIDNIGHT (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - GINGER TREE PETE (4th)
Race 1 - F&M 25000CLM Pace
(7) SHEIKH YABOOTY N steps up from the $20,000 claimers but has won four in-a-row and perhaps will offer some value given the class hike and outside draw. (5) REAL LADY SADIE has won by open lengths in her last two tries at this level. She tallied for trainer Scott Di Domenico once in late August and is back in his barn tonight off a claim. (3) TOBAGO TIME held sway on the front-end to win a $25,000 claimer two weeks ago and gets another try with Jason Bartlett here as he chose her over a Per Engblom trainee.
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Race 2 - 40000CLM Pace
(4) AROUND MIDNIGHT prevailed two back in this class and trainer Dennis Laterza continues to send out plenty of live horses. (1) KARLOO BRADLEY N scored against $40,000 claimers a couple of weeks ago. He wasn't Bartlett's choice but moves to the pole position and gets a solid replacement in Jordan Stratton. (5) BILL HALEY N cut the fractions and just missed by a neck in his last outing on 10-14 and was Bartlett's pick in this tilt.
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Race 3 - F&M NW of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Pace
(7) SWEETER THAN LOU was third in what I think was a tougher edition of this class last Wednesday and has a driver switch to Bartlett. (3) SOUTHERN SUGAR ships in from Pocono off a victory over NW2's and hails from the powerful Ron Burke stable. (4) DECISION TIME had a recent four-race win streak in Indiana and Ohio and comes east into Di Domenico's barn. Driver George Brennan stuck with the Burke trainee, so Joe Bongiorno goes in the bike.
Race 4 - 20000CLM Pace
(2) GINGER TREE PETE is another Laterza trainee I'll give a chance as he drops again and has another inside post. He was also Brent Holland's choice. (3) BUDDY HILL makes his second start back after a layoff here and could definitely improve. He also gets an often-aggressive driver in Mark MacDonald. (7) B COOL FOOL owns a victory at this level back on August 7 and has finished second in two straight.
Race 5 - 15000CLM Pace
(3) HURRIKANE GEORGIE doesn't have any wins yet in 2024 but was second against $15,000 claimers two back and drops and moves inside here. (2) SWAGASAURUSREX was a gaining third last week and makes his third start back after a layoff from a much-improved post. (5) ITALIAN DELIGHT N hasn't lost in forever but does go for new connections here off a claim. I'll take a swing against this time but obviously you have to respect his chances.
Race 6 - NW of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Trot
(3) MEETMEATTHEBAR, (2) CENTRAL PARK and (1) CAVIART IRISH LUCK all exit the New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund Series for 3-year-old filly trotters at Freehold. MEETMEATHEBAR is my top pick as she's won in this class at Yonkers before. CENTRAL PARK has the best form of the trio and will go underneath in second and then CAVIART IRISH LUCK, who was a runner-up against NW3's at Harrah's Philadelphia once in late August.
Race 7 - F&M NW of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Pace
(1) MYBITCOIN overcame a bobble before the start to win two Wednesdays ago and has only been out of the top three once in 15 appearances in 2024. (4) KISS MY CHEEK got to the front and won handily at this level last week. If she's that good again, she might be too tough for the others. (3) CHIAPANECAS drops out of stakes action but doesn't have a great win record this year, including a defeat in this class on 9-21, and is likely to be a short price. I'll take a stand against.
Race 8 - NW of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Trot
(7) LUCKY MUM N moves out on the gate but won in her U.S. debut in this class on October 9, and given her success in Graded races Down Under, I'll put her on top again here. (1) MIGHTY DEO was second to my top choice when they met in that event on 10-9 and has a significant post edge on her this time. (2) JAKEY JUMPUP finished in the runner-up spot to a sharp foe when last seen on the 2nd of October and drew well again.
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Race 9 - F&M 20000CLM Pace
(7) EBONY LADY continues to struggle with poor posts but does drop a notch tonight and gets Bartlett in the bike in a wide-open affair. She was second against $25,000 claimers two back. (4) PALADIO posted a third-place result at this level most recently and was Anthony Napolitano's choice over my top selection. (3) BROOKDALE JESSIE has a poor win record but does sometimes sneak on to the ticket with some value. I'll toss her in underneath in the hopes one of those times comes here.
Race 10 - 15000CLM Pace
(1) ROCK THIS WAY slides all the way in from post eight to the pole position in his second try back at this level. Hopefully that sharp form he displayed last month is still there as he meets up with a field he can handle at his best. (2) JUST A WRANGLER was a gaining second in a $15,000 claimer last week and moves in on the gate this time. (6) LAST MACH gave the $20,000 claimers one unsuccessful try and now drops a notch. He also gets another chance to partner with Napolitano.