MEET STATS: 120 - 408 / $723.00 (-$93.00)
BEST BETS: 23 - 40 / $87.00 (+$7.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 7 - 40 / $88.40 (+$8.40)
BEST BET - THE REAL ONE (7th)
SPOT PLAY - SHOEMAKER HANOVER (9th)
Race 1 - 40000CLM Trot
(2) ALTUS HANOVER is stepping up from the $20,000 claiming handicap level over at Pocono but has hit the board in two straight and is switching to a catch driver (Tyler Buter). (8) BLUEBIRD BISHOP drew post eight but went a long way on the lead before finishing second last week and gets to partner with Yannick Gingras again for leading trainer Per Engblom. (4) THE BALLYKEEL DEAL wound up first-over last week and tired. She had been very sharp prior to that, though, and picks up Jordan Stratton in the bike.
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Race 2 - F&M Invitational Trot
(1) JULIA SISU S faces just mares here after racing in the Invitational last week. This mare is staked to some big races later this year, so the connections must have some hopes for her, and I'll look for her to fire in her third U.S. try. (5) UNFORGETTABLE was racing well out in Ohio and is now with Engblom. (6) P L NOTSONICE made an uncharacteristic break on 5-30 and lost all chance. She's been the one to beat consistently in this class when Tipsy Moni hasn't been around.
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Race 3 - NW20000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW10 PM Races LT/60000CLM Trot
(6) STORMONT DIVIDE closed well last week in another good effort and had been off for over a month coming into that tilt. Joe Bongiorno picks up the live drive with Matt Kakaley not here tonight. (1) MISSISSIPPI STORM returns from Pocono where he gained some spots in the final quarter from the eight-hole. He drew the pole tonight and won at Yonkers two back. (3) INFINITY STONE destroyed $40,000 claiming company last Thursday and steps up here. He was one of trainer Ricky Bucci's three romping victors on that card.
Race 4 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM/NW35181L5 Draw Outside Trot
(2) DW'S POINT MAN hit the board in this class twice in May and picks up Jim Marohn Jr. in the bike with trainer Pat Lachance unfortunately sidelined after getting injured last Friday. (5) I GET IT was third in the Invitational a week ago and here he slides back down to the level where he won two in-a-row last month. (3) DELAYED HANOVER picked up a confidence-building win at Plainridge most recently and was battling tough company over at the Meadowlands prior to that.
Race 5 - NAADA Summer Series Leg #2 Trot
(5) LOOK IN MY EYES gets a bit of post relief here after starting from the seven-hole and had a recent run of a win and two seconds in four starts out of town. I also think we may see a more aggressive drive with Joe Lee taking over. (2) ALL RISE endured a difficult trip most recently at Harrah's Philadelphia but has hit the board in five of seven overall and has regularly shown the ability to cut the mile. (1) MR CONTESTANT got parked out last week in this series but moves to the pole position tonight and shows lines against the toughest rivals anybody's faced in here.
Race 6 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace
I'm going to give (2) DEMPSEY HANOVER another try this week as I have to think trainer Ron Burke will get him sorted out at some point, and Gingras going in the bike could definitely mean an aggressive approach is ahead. (7) THAT DOG WILL HUNT hasn't been outside the top two in his last six outings and lured Jason Bartlett off an Engblom trainee. (6) URIEL BLUE CHIP loses Gingras but has been racing well lately.
Race 7 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace
(3) THE REAL ONE was a closing second in this class two back and switches drivers to Dan Dube with Lachance not available. (4) VENIER HANOVER won against NW7500L5 company back on 4-19 and has been facing tougher rivals since then. (5) HUNTING ZONE has a class drop/post relief combo tonight and was third in a NW10000L5 tilt on 5-22.
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Race 8 - Invitational Trot
(6) SOUTHWIND TYRION makes his second start back after a layoff tonight, and I think the connections could definitely have an eye on a good performance over the oval on the way to September's International Trot. (1) NOWS THE MOMENT starts from the pole after three straight poor draws, and I think he'll be sitting behind my top choice. (4) SEA CAN went a big first-over trip last Thursday in winning the Invitational and has Gingras in the bike again.
Race 9 - NAADA Summer Series Leg #2 Trot
(5) SHOEMAKER HANOVER landed a mid-pack slot here after a series of outside draws out of town, and I'll hope a couple of off-the-pace tries has hit set up for an aggressive attempt tonight. (1) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE overcame an early break to hit the board again a week ago and owns two recent victories at Yonkers. He also moves in from the six-hole to the pole position. (4) DROP THE MIC just missed last Thursday in an improved effort and gets another chance to team up with Tony Beltrami.
