RACE 1
3-Twin B Tuffenuff – Closed into a :54.4 back half to grab second to the favored Decoy two starts back, lacked the same knockout punch as the heavy favorite last week, yet was chasing a 1:50.4 winner, draws inside again, while facing a very light N/W 2 match up
5-Rock Lights – Governor’s Cup finalist last Fall just one for 19, on the fringes in the tougher Weiss Series @ Pocono, can see him being more competitive in this camera shy field
2-Major Sugar Rush – Worked out a two-hole trip & was all out to hold third @ 37-1 last week, contender here continues to progress from an improved post for Ray Schnittker
RACE 2
5-Kimberlee – Ake Svanstedt-tuned filly has kicked off her sophomore season going five-for-five, while sweeping through the Weiss Series @ Pocono with narrow victories, big chance to keep her streak alive & step it up further on the mile track
1-KJ’s Justine – Stalked & blew by Pasta Blue Chip to take a new mark of 1:53.2 in the first leg, expect more in her follow up second 3YO start from the rail
2-Pasta Blue Chip – Set a solid pace & yielded to KJ’s Justine in her third try off a sick scratch, Art Major filly draws better with plenty of upside for Trainer of the Week Blake MacIntosh
RACE 3
2-Major War – Fresh off a decent third @ Yonkers on Tuesday with Z Man at the lines, getting some class relief & inside draw back where his speed & success have been abundant in the past
3-Allblack Stride N – Was forced wide from a tough spot again & landed on the fringe fourth last week, gets further class relief, draws a better post in a prime spot & long overdue
4-IYQ YQR – 1:50.3 winner here last season, form has gone south in his last two @ Pocono, yet returns to the mile track in a field of question marks & we know The Mann can wake one up
RACE 4
3-Ideal Talker – Pace compromised & barely outsprinted by Come Get The Cash in her second start off the bench & only third career start, draws inside that rival to possibly turn the tables & break through
6-Come Get The Cash – Lived up to the tote hype, steamrolled to a late lead & held off Ideal Talker to take a new mark in the first round, tougher post, but brimming with confidence now for barn that suddenly came to life
2-Sand Artist – Twice beaten favorite brushed to the front & was all out to hold third last week, just missed in :26 before that, in line for another stalking trip from an improved post
RACE 5
5-Ariana G – Two-time Dan Patch Award & Breeders Crown winner & Hambletonian Oaks champion, Team Takter has her ready for her 4YO debut against the boys
3-Lindy The Great – Bluegrass winner in 1:52.1 & Breeders Crown runner up offered a late surge just a neck shy of Ariana G in the second qualifier, draws well & poised for his 4YO comeback
2-Bill’s Man – Fifth placed fourth from post ten in last year’s Hambo Final, Matron Stake winner flashed some late life in his seasonal debut & draws inside with license to show more
RACE 6
2-More Dragon – Forced wide 7 rallied into a :54.4 back half to grab minor spoils over an off track last week, could be within closer striking range from a better post, price play in a puzzling affair
6-Sweet Rock – Took advantage of some class relief, but had to grind his way in a narrow loss last week, this classy gelding is long overdue
5-Waikiki Beach A – Aussie import finally broke through with an absolutely perfect drive by Scott Zeron last week, was struggling against much tougher company before that
RACE 7
5-International Moni – Goodtimes & Hambo elimination winner took a 1:51.4 mark in the Bluegrass, capped off 3YO season upsetting the Erskine @ Hoosier Park, looked better chasing Ariana G in his second qualifier
1-Moonshiner Hanover – Tuned up nicely with two straight air-out missions as the heavy favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, seems to match up well with this competitive field, pushes off from the rail with The Buckeye
4-Achille Duharas – Lightly-raced 4YO has quickly found his best stride this season winning five of eight for Benoit Baillargeon, who won the 2016 Graduate Final here with Musical Rhythm, twice a winner here last year under Takter tutelage
RACE 8
6-Thor De Vie – Launched a serious late bid & just missed by a nose to Life Happened in :26.3 last week, this gelding continues to ramp up his game for Ed Hart & the added eighth helps
7-Thinkbig Dreambig – Kind of a demanding spot for his 3YO debut, but we’re dealing with Takter & the second qualifier makes him an instant contender here
3-Life Happened – Consistent colt acclimated quickly with a well-controlled new mark in his Big M debut last week, provided a spark for his barn & rewarded with another inside draw
RACE 9
3-Avatartist – Sat shuffled & buried, blocked behind a wall, forced to angle too late in a useful acclimating mile, back inside to follow up in a wide-open field & added eighth helps
4-Ballerat Boomerang – Beaten favorite in round one was used hard in a :27.1 third quarter over the off track, consistent sort could easily bounce back with a better trip from another inside post
10-Santiago Style – Solid season so far, sparked by a 1:49.3 career best three starts back, another sterling rally to score as the even money favorite last week, threat despite post ten
RACE 10
2-Sams Triple Crown – Paced a back half of :54.4 last week, so he’s in form, drops a notch, chased much tougher in the Whata Baron Series last month, 1:51.1 winner here this season draws inside a tight finale & overdue
5-Griffon Hanover – Slides down the class ladder another peg with a one for 11 record this season, has a big chance to stalk & employ his effective late kick
4-Southern Pursuit N – Wire-to-wire shows desire, nailed this guy when he went all the way to take a new mark of 1:51.1 last week, bumped back up in class revived & inside
