RACE 1
4-Sweet Rock – Classy 10YO chased the standout Ollies Z Tam two starts back, caught in never-never land last week, steady stalker gets an improved post, owns a big late kick & looms as a price play
1-Pokerface Bluechip – Hot item at the claim box tripped out to a new mark of 1:51.3 two starts back, now moves inside off a no-chance trip for new connections & reunited with Todd McCarthy
5-Incredible Shark – Responded to some class relief & was able to cycle forward in his last two, draws better fresh off a decisive score for Team Cullipher last week
RACE 2
3-Wyatt J – Massachusetts Sires Stakes champion won eight of ten last year, hard-charging second to standout My Pal Joe in a sparkling 4YO debut here, now moves inside to flaunt more of his talent
2-Always And Again – Aggressive tactics paid off with three straight seconds, then almost swooped the field after a slow start from post nine, back half in :55.3, big threat finally moves inside
4-Duddies Lor – Took four starts to come to life, fired off the wings & chased a dominant My Pal Joe, last week, took a 1:50.2 mark @ The Big M last year, draws better & might be on the verge
RACE 3
3-General Joy A – Nosed out with a well-controlled effort three starts back, then had broken equipment & too far back last week, 1:49.3 performer in 2020 draws an improved post & we haven’t seen his best yet
6-Sadiq Hanover – Gets his third consecutive class drop, chased better recently like Decision Day & Italian Light N, parked first over last week & long overdue
1-Ourlittlegeneral A – Moves to the rail for his fourth straight class reprieve, benefited from an acclimating trip last week & faces a camera-shy bunch
RACE 4
4-Windsun Azar – Beaten favorite launched a serious late move & came up half a length short in a much-needed 4YO debut here for Team Cullipher, draws better to follow up in a viciously competitive field
3-Im A Gigolo N – Lived up to the hype with an easy win in the slop off two sharp tighteners, has missed three weeks, but draws an improved post for Team Burke
7-Big City Bud – Fresh off the well-driven upset two starts back he almost overcame post nine with a noteworthy rally last week, adds fuel to this fiery match up
RACE 5
3-Paternity Suit A – Bounced back with a better effort last week, left alertly from post nine & flashed some late life, proven winner at this level finally moves inside
1-Dealer’s Table – On a form spree for Team Cullipher, fresh off an upset two starts back he was caught too far off the pace last week & now moves inside to play stalker in a soft consolation
5-Ima Real Ladys Man – Completes the Team Cullipher one-two punch, impressive winner in his debut here, got too revved up & stopped last week, dangerous if he can ration out his speed
RACE 6
4-Pat Matters – Classy mare on her tows for Nifty Norman, has won two Dover Downs Opens in her last four starts, lowered her mark to 1:51.2 in a sharp 2021 debut, draws inside here & likely forwardly placed
7-Buck Dancer – Made it four in a row in his Big M debut despite a 34-day layoff, then pace compromised by a :57.4 half & still closed stoutly in :27.3 last week, draws a bit better & acclimated now
10-JL Cruze – The King had the table set perfectly when he capitalized on a two-hole trip off soft fractions, 10YO classmaster in top form & remains a big threat with his gate speed to overcome an outside assignment
RACE 7
3-Reggiano – Three-time beaten favorite recovered from a rare early miscue & broken equipment & shot home for second behind Mcnulty Z Tam, second try off the claim from an improved post
1-Brigadoon – Beaten heavy favorite outsprinted by Ruthless Dude last week, stalked n popped these three starts back & lands the rail again in a wildly competitive final
4-Forevernalways – Hot claiming commodity took full advantage of a dreamy two-hole ride behind Taste Of History last week & draws well on a form spree
RACE 8
7-Cue Hall – Fresh off a credible fourth in the Dover Downs Open, 1:52.4 winner at The Big M last season returns here at a reduced level & might get the speed target he needs
6-Pikachu Hanover – Lived up to plenty of tote hype & romped accordingly in his Big M debut, class hike & tougher post, but plenty more in the tank
8-Explosive Ridge – Recently claimed gelding has been red hot, rallied to win three of his last four, demanding draw here, yet he’s a confident threat to keep it going
RACE 9
3-Mighty Santana N – Seven seconds last year is a knock, but this NZ bred has been dropping positive hints recently, solid rally for third in a needed acclimating mile last week & draws inside again to upset
1-Tulhurstsantanna A – Pegged him last week when he dropped back down & stormed home for the upset in a crisp :27.3, now can work out a better trip from the rail
9-De Los Cielo Deo – Paid off the chalk players with one of his patented rallies last week, moves outside, but will benefit from the expected action in a competitive final
RACE 10
3-Points North – Took a couple of starts to upset from post nine & finished well into icy gusts two starts back, shuffled from post ten last week, finally moves inside to fire out for an ideal trip
8-Western Joe – Had missed three weeks before getting parked first over from post nine last week, beaten favorite flashed vintage form in a 1:50 romp before that, the classy Joe always brings his A game
7-Paduka N – Runner up to Western Joe three starts back, bounced back with a hard-charging fourth last week, always dangerous when he gets involved with the right pace set up
RACE 11
2-Our Max Phactor N – Been holding his own against better elsewhere, he’s seen this rodeo before, draws well in a wide-open field & eligible to trip out at a price
8-Rockin The Aces – Flashing :26 & change final quarters recently, third to Western Joe three starts back, beaten favorite first over last out, tough post, but drops again
7-Another Daily Copy – Finished a solid third in the comebacker off a sick scratch, 1:48.4 performer last year loves the Big M & has beaten better
RACE 12
4-Whittaker N – Seems to be ramping up his game with recent class relief, nice rally to hit the board from post ten last time & draws better in a race ripe for the taking
7-Eddard Hanover – Classy Team Cullipher trainee finally found a home at the bottom level & exploited it as the heavy favorite, now bumped back up a notch in more confident mode
2-Nome Hanover – Responded to an ideal second over trip, vaulted to a late lead & settled for second behind Eddard Hanover, now draws well inside that rival
RACE 13
4-Seeuinnashville A – Has been tangling with tougher company recently, showing some positive signs, gets another shot at this reduced, draws inside a wide-open field & retains Andrew McCarthy
2-JK Will Power – Classy 1:49.4 performer here last season drops another notch, draws better & has a big chance to work out a smooth stalking trip in a field of question marks
8-Bechers Brook A – Team Cullipher trainee shows a second by a nose to Paduka N back on January 2 and a 1:48.1 mark @ The Big M last season, draws outside again, but gets another chance at this lower level
RACE 14
3-Thunder Some Where – His lone win in 2020 came here, decent rally for third in his return to the Big M last week, lands post three again & not much to beat
7-Motor City Marco – Marco gets to drop out of tougher claimers, draws a challenging post, but relies on a late move anyway & could be a threat if his trip set up is right
9-My Alpha Rock N – Hasn’t won in a long time & draws outside for his Big M debut, but sometimes the fresh newcomer angle can work when you’ve drawn a line through most of his rivals
RACE 15
3-Acting Out – Took a couple of starts off the claim to score the upset in the MLK race from post eight, moves inside to save ground & stalk the speed
7-Pogey Beach – Surprised a few with his post ten upset two starts back, pace compromised & faded under urging after another quick leave last week, fresh Team Burke trainee can rebound
2-Western Redhot – Beat $10,000 claimers from post seven to close out 2020 & draws better to trip out in a wide-open consolation
