RACE 1
2-All It Takes – 1:50.1 winner here last season paced a :53.4 back half to gain the place in an encouraging comeback, lands inside again for Tetrick & Trainer of the Week Jeff Cullipher
4-Bungalow Bill N – Winless in his last 28, but remember how Campora N (1:48.4) & Midnight Lightning (1:51.3) woke up last week for Shaun Vallee? This one draws better for his second start off the bench
3-Ideal Chill – No factor in the comebacker, yet paced a solid back half of :55.1 & needed the race, note the gutsy win with Dexter Dunn before the layoff & post improves
RACE 2
1-Whats In the Esky A – Finished well into a :54.3 back half & :26.1 in a much-needed acclimating mile, back on the rail to spark Team Bongiorno in a field ripe for the taking
5-Rock The Nite – Battled bitterly & finished with broken equipment in the comeback at Harrah’s Philadelphia, has faced much tougher & lands in a prime spot for Andrew Harris
7-Vanquished N – Shaun Vallee won big with a couple of 8YOs last week, mostly notably Campora N (1:48.4), this gelding just missed in the recent qualifier here in :26.4
RACE 3
1-Billy Badger N – No factor from post ten in a 1:48.2 mile two weeks ago, was tangling with the top ones @ Dover before the shutdown, makes his key third start off the bench & now gets class & post relief
6-Decision Day – Flashed some more sneaky late pace in :26.3 in his second start back, took a 1:50.2 mark here this season & drops again
4-Fizzing N – Just missed in his Yonkers return, took a mark of 1:52.2 here last season, draws inside & Team Vallee stepped it up with a pair of wins last week
RACE 4
2-Brassy Hanover – Tuned up with a new mark of 1:49.3 @ Scioto Downs, then grinded gamely for third in Leg 1 @ Tioga, draws inside again to stalk the expected speed
8-Hurrikane Emperor – Aired it out in a 1:49.4 qualifier here, then put them away with a :26.2 third quarter & :53.3 back half @ Tioga, stuck outside, but likely blasting off
5-Warrawee Ubeaut – Two-time Dan Patch Award winner won both qualifiers with sharp late bursts, then got brutally parked @ Tioga, has a chance to rebound for Team Burke
RACE 5
8-Allywag Hanover – Stablemate to Papi Rob Hanover continues to prep for the Pace, unleashed another vicious rally in an impressive comeback last week, this one is for real
7-Manticore – Another pace eligible couldn’t have looked much better hitting the board in both starts here with strong finishes, a lightly-raced colt with a lot to build on
10-Captain Barbossa – Just missed to Allywag in his latest qualifier, then charged home in :53.3 & :25.3 in a noteworthy 3YO debut, has to be considered despite post ten
RACE 6
3-Covered Bridge – Closed from a real tough spot to finish second to Dancin Lou @ Tioga, on fire here before the shutdown, draws better here for his second start back for Team Burke & has a chance to turn the tables
6-Dancin Lou – Exploded home to win his 4YO debut here, then fought off pressure & blew them away in Leg 1 @ Tioga, 11-time winner at three has a big target on his back
8-Captain Victorious – Just missed to the speedy Hurrikane Emperor @ Tioga, sharp & classy 4YO has the tactical speed to overcome post eight & completes a Team Burke 1-2 punch
RACE 7
6-Dealer’s Table – Just missed when last seen here, won his comeback with plenty of speed @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, then had no chance, Team Cullipher have a strong 1-2 punch in here
3-Ocean Colony – Twice dove into The Ocean this season, ventured to Pocono last two & no chance last out, returns to his favorite track with an inside post & nothing stands out in this affair
7-Saying Grace N – Clearly the repeated slow starts have hurt his chances, yet he’s finishing well from tough spots, demanding draw again & now gets some much-needed class relief
RACE 8
5-Atlanta – 2018 Trotter of the Year & 2019 Dan Patch Award winner was denied by a scant nose in a vicious comeback, fastest trotter in Big M history is primed for revenge
6-Manchego – Two-time Dan Patch Award & Breeders Crown winner gallantly held on in the race of the year so far, world champion can do it either way & poised for a great rematch
11-Guardian Angel AS – Couldn’t have looked any sweeter when he crushed the Preferred in a career best 1:50.1, looms large if he can work his way out of second tier city
RACE 9
6-Soho Burning Love A – Last week’s 1:48.3 devastation is nothing to sneeze at, this lightly-raced 6YO is just hitting her best stride & likely gets a better speed target to shoot at
9-Kissin In the Sand – Unleashed the fastest mile of the year, a 1:47.4 sizzler in her 5YO debut, then tuned up with an impressive qualifier, lands outside a tough field, but looks unstoppable
7-Caviart Ally – Beaten favorite in her seasonal debut, finished third to arch rival Shartin N @ Yonkers on Tuesday, steady mare back on the mile track to face a salty match up
RACE 10
2-Bettor’s Wish – 2019 leading money & Dan Patch Award winner had a terrible trip as the beaten favorite in his 4YO debut in the Roll With Joe, back @ The Big M with an inside post
8-Workin Ona Mystery – That was an eye-catching rally to win a Leg 1 division @ Tioga with a :54.2 back half, proven major stakes winner rates highly despite the outside draw
5-Best In Show – 2019 Meadowlands pace upsetter prepped well & flashed sharp speed from a tough post @ Tioga, might be close to showing his best for Team Toscano
RACE 11
10-Papi Rob Hanover – One of the Pace favorites tunes up with an outside post against a decent group of older foes & has looked superb in his morning trials
4-Capt Midnight – Another Pace prospect & Grand Circuit winner at two prepped nicely @ Gaitway for Team Alagna & draws inside to work out a smooth comeback
6-Thatswhatisaid N – NZ import has been sharp in both starts here on Lasix, just missed in 1:48.4, beaten favorite barely outgamed by Persimmon A last week
RACE 12
4-Respect Our Flag – One of several upset candidates in this one, 1:49.2 mark here last season, two tough tightening miles under him & draws well at a softer level for Team Bongiorno
5-Thinkbig Dreambig – Rebounded with a solid second last week, now further class relief for the red-hot Team Takter & has options launching from midpack
8-Somebaddude – Finished a hard-charging third by a neck at long odds in his comeback, then just missed with an aggressive effort @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, back here at a reduced level
RACE 13
7-The Mighty Marner – Stormed home from a near impossible spot to just miss in a sharp comeback here & looms large off that huge improvement
4-Make It Big – Left alertly, got shuffled a bit, encountered some stretch traffic & finished willingly in his much-needed comeback, just two for 35 last year, but back inside to show more
8-Mister Rebbily A – Bounced back from a dull US debut here with a solid qualifier @ Gaitway, draws another challenging post, but a decent trip makes him a player