RACE 1
8-Ruthless Dude – Wow, he arrived here & got hammered down to 5-2 favorite, fired out & tripped out to a convincing new mark of 1:53.1 in last Friday’s finale, another tough post, but can’t rule out a repeat
3-The Mighty Marner – Forced wide & put together a pretty strong back half to grab a board spot chasing the well-meant Ruthless Dude, that was a much-improved effort & now draws inside that rival
5-Thunder Dome – Experienced a wake up win as the lukewarm 3-1 favorite two starts back, then got blitzed in a Fall Harvest Final, this match up figures to be more to his liking with a midpack stalking strategy
RACE 2
6-Marvalous One – Three tighteners since coming back recently, used very hard from post eight last week, still a positive sign of speed & could surprise this camera-shy bunch with a more patient trip
4-Our Art And Heaven – Made his late move a bit prematurely & just missed by a neck two starts back, had no chance last week, look for a better start from an improved post
10-Grandpa Don – Has hit the board in two of his last four, made a big late move to grab second in a sharp :27.2 last Saturday, stuck outside, but has one of the few bright spots of form in this wide-open affair
RACE 3
8-Respect Our Flag – Flashed some positive speed from the same tough post last out, now gets his fourth consecutive class drop for Team Bongiorno & can tackle several sharp items
5-Trojan Banner N – Stablemate to Shartin N took a mark of 1:51 here this season, beaten favorite in three of his last four, capable of controlling speed & returns here with some class relief
7-Mindtrip – Finally got the drop he needed & took full advantage making a mighty late surge to score decisively as the heavy favorite, now has something to build on & has the class to back it up
RACE 4
3-Dontpassme Hanover – Lightly-raced Always B Miki gelding was flashing hints before capitalizing on a fast pace & rallied for his first win, a logical threat to come right back from another inside post
6-Rockin Rocko – Another repeat threat brushed & crushed the heavy favorite Claytons Bettor N for a new mark of 1:51.2 last week & lots to build on from an improved post
4-Ode To Gray – That was some noteworthy comeback from a long layoff & lame scratch, charged home from way back in an eye-catching :26.1, draws better & re-united with Mark MacDonald
RACE 5
2-Davids Coming Home – Took a mark of 1:52 @ The Big M this season, getting significant class & post relief here, which likely spells form revival
4-Mrs Browns Boy – Owns a mark of 1:53.1 in 2019, been competitive against tougher N/W 4 @ Hoosier Park & draws inside for the track switch & barn change
6-Change Stride N – Horse-for-the-course has raced much better to rally for third in his last two, his latest as the heavy favorite, yet did squander a perfect trip
RACE 6
2-Flyingevenbettor N – Team Alagna-tuned 4YO finally moves inside after another tough trip, still closed to hit the board in :26, back half in :54.1, rates a slight nod in a very competitive match up
4-Saying Grace N – Was ramping it up, dropped again & bottomed them out in 1:50, nosing out a gallant Palomar, back up in class, but draws well for a hot barn
10-Islandspecialmajor – Has been razor sharp in three starts here, that was a powerful post ten win two starts back & just missed two weeks ago
RACE 7
7-Pembroke Joey – Just one for 11 in 2020, yet did crank it up with back-to-back solid seconds in a Fall Harvest Series, just missed with a game grind last week, tougher post, but finds another soft spot
8-Thunder Some Where – Followed his upset rally two starts back with a pressured third as the beaten favorite, now looks to set up a late move from an outside post
10-Rock N Tony – Surprised some by shipping here from Saratoga & repeating on the front end from post eight, factors in despite a class hike & post ten
RACE 8
2-Premier Rockstar – Seems everything Team Cullipher sends out is live as can be, this 4YO suddenly reeled off two in a row @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, his latest a sharp new mark of 1:51.2 & draws inside here
9-Duplicated N – Makes his second start after a long layoff & injury scratch, draws outside, but this is a multiple class drop in a field full of question marks
3-The Bettormack N – Tailed off since taking that new mark of 1:50 on 9-12, drops back down, reunited with Todd McCarthy & lands post three again
RACE 9
5-Shartin N – 2019 HOY & fastest female in Big M history made it three straight in the Lady Liberty, got collared in her recent comeback in the Dayton Distaff & gearing up for a ferocious Fall campaign
4-Highalator – Gallant fan favorite on a late-season roll winning four of five & three straight here controlling the engine, but now he has a special lady here to boss him around in a very intriguing match up
3-Geez Joe – This Joe got a bit overzealous last week & set the table for revved up Harambe Deo, now makes his key third start off the bench with a smooth stalking trip likely
RACE 10
8-Ideal Feeling – Trounced these wire-to-wire from post nine in 1:49 on 9-12, just missed to Highalator two starts back & now drops out of the Preferred
10-U S Captain – This Team Alagna-tuned Captain had dead aim & lacked his usual late punch in the Preferred two weeks ago, lands outside, but this a dangerous class drop
5-Ana Afreet N – That was some turnaround & wicked performance last week, dropped back down to a previous winning level & exploded to a new mark of 1:48.3, any semblance makes him a threat again
RACE 11
2-Dealer’s Table – Has struggled making the 4YO transition this season, makes his third start off the bench with class & post relief & stands out
6-War Dan A – Australian import took a much-needed tour of the oval in his US debut & now drops into a more likely spot for Team Tritton
4-Rock N Zeus – Kicked out one of his big late moves from out of the clouds & just missed by a neck in :26.4 last week & draws a bit better to step up further
RACE 12
3-Exotic Dance – Went three-for-three in Lasix, including a 1:51.2 crush on 9-26, freshened with a couple of weeks off, gets a slight dip in class & draws post three again for Team Bongiorno
2-Queen Josephine – 0 for 12 this season, but adapted quickly to the mile track & just missed in the needed comebacker, draws farther inside to stalk the speed
9-Bronskimackenzie A – That was quite the rebound effort & convincing win @ the bottom level last week & she can handle the spike in class despite post nine
RACE 13
7-Papiamento – Was on a long form spree before bumping into a raging Mindtrip last week, tougher post, but returns to claimers
3-Junior’s Dew – Equaled his lifetime mark of 1:53.2 when he wired $10,000 claimers from post eight on 9-5, nice blowout @ Freehold two starts back & draws inside to take charge
1-P H Kenny – Hot item @ the claim box & on the track @ Running Aces, hasn’t raced in 24 days, but can push off from the rail & trip out
