RACE 1 – Tough card tonight! (2) CHAMBA just missed here from Post 7 three back then almost won from Post 8
in his last – we’ll see if the move inside is enough to help him get to the line in front. (1) MAX’s line here on 3/15
looks good on paper, but he really could have been a little sharper from the final turn that night – he’s still a very
legitimate threat from this spot, but be careful about accepting too short a price. (7) MUFASA AS has been pretty
solid lately, and did finish well last week after a final turn shuffle – needs to leave and hope for something good to
happen, but that 20-1 ML price does have appeal. (8) WICKENBURGH was the choice here last week and the 8-1
payoff was definitely very generous – MUCH tougher spot tonight, but still worth at least a look at an even bigger
price. (3) KASHA V had fallen apart recently but that last qualifier (now with hopples), looks much better – if
“right”, he may just crush these – but it would be hard to take too short a price right now just HOPING the hopples
make all the difference. (4) INFINITY STONE drops to a more comfortable level but has missed some time –
maybe a small piece? (6) BEERTHIRTY K has been stuck on minor pieces all year – more of the same tonight? (5)
WILY WALLY hails from our leading barn but he just isn’t sharp right now.
RACE 2 – (3) BETTER WATCH IT was super for a long stretch last year before tailing at the end of the season –
she appears to have benefited from those 2 starts at Pocono (to start her 2024 season) as her win here last week was
definitely sharp – can certainly handle the class jump, and may be able to take another with just a bit of trip luck. (6)
GINGER TREE LIZ had a promising 2024 return mile on 3/8, was a little disappointing in her next but was “sneaky
ok” from Post 8 last week– she gets her favorite pilot now, and an aggressive try is expected– definitely worth using.
(1) COWGIRL LILLY brought a big one last week even if she had to settle for 2nd behind the top choice – look for
another big try tonight, even moving up a bit in class. (2) HALLELUJAH HANOVER showed her best life of the
season 2 back, but then was a little disappointing last week – leaning towards others for the top slots. (5) ROCKNR
OLL ANNIE has a few “ok” tries recently but she was just 2 for 32 last year, and still hasn’t been 1st or 2nd in ’24 –
may look better in NW5000 next week. (7) FADE OUT was a strong 6 for 16 here last year but hasn’t gotten her act
together in 2024, even as she continues to plummet down the ladder. (4) WOODMERE HARRIET is just 19-1-1-1
locally – sticking with others.
RACE 3 – (2) ROCKN PHILLY showed little in her first 2 starts of the year but was much better in her last – she’s
capable of big miles when she gets sharp, and she’s a logical threat tonight...but still wouldn’t be too quick to accept
a very short price. (1) ALTA MADEIRA N has been building confidence with good miles vs. a bit easier – she could
trip out tonight, and is worth a look if the price is right. (3) ON THE MONEY GB had an encouraging first start off
the claim, especially since she was pacing pretty well at the end (not usually a strong point) – she won’t be 47-1
tonight, but she should still be a pretty nice price. (5) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL A can hold her own vs. better than
these but her current form is iffy, to say the least – seems like a good sign that she drops right back in the box after
that last mile, and we’ll see if she can get a wake up call for tonight. (6) RACEY RACH N was able to wire this
class 3 back but then tired in her last pair – tonight’s draw won’t help her cause. (7) ALITTLESIDEHUSTL N
probably fits well enough with the locals but the Stga. invader lands in a tough spot upon arrival.
RACE 4 – Blue Chip Matchmaker Leg 3: (1) JIVE DANCING A served notice in her qualifier that she was ready to
roll for this series – she had plenty of pace finishing in the first leg and simply took no prisoners last week, easily
holding off the 1/5 DOUGS BABE A through the lane – have to give her the edge again tonight. (5) DOUGS BABE
A rallied from 7th to 3rd in Leg 1, took ALL the $$ last week (as expected) and while she certainly raced well, she
still went down at 1/5 to #1 – will need to be sharper (especially with the draw) if she hopes to reverse that decision
tonight. (2) KARMA SEELSTER sat the pocket last week and was a little disappointing in the lane, offering no
threat to the winner and having to work to hold 2nd – she’ll also need to show up a bit sharper tonight for a chance at
the top prize. (3) TRUE BLUE HANOVER paced evenly at the back in a decent seasonal debut – could be a bit
tighter now, but likely still looking at only a minor share. (4) COACHELLABOUND N is definitely off her best
form right now – she still tries hard, but seems up against it vs. the top mares at the moment.
RACE 5 – Tough race: (4) ARIZONA wasn’t bad in her only local try, rallying for 4th and pacing a good final half –
she returned to Stga. the next week and wired the Open mares from Post 7, and may be able to work out a winning
trip (at a decent price) back here at The Hilltop. (2) FAVORITE BEACH has smoothly made the transition to facing
older mares and was a solid 2nd best last week to a very sharp LUCKY ARTIST A – should have her say tonight, as
well. (6) VILLAGE JADE went through a rough patch but found her form again at the lower levels, and has been
holding it as she’s been climbing back up the ladder – tough draw, but a juicy price makes her worth a look. (1)
MORNING HAS BROKEN had been on the upswing so it was no surprise to see he jog last week after landing on a
perfect trip – seems sharp enough to handle tonight’s class jump, and could easily land somewhere on the ticket. (5)
PEMBROKE SOUTHIE is 2 for 2 since joining the Super Siblings for the 2024 season – she’ll take on older mares
tonight, and we’ll see if she can continue to race as well against these tougher fields. (3) ULTIMATE SPEED was a
winner taking on older mares 3 back but not as sharp in her last pair – we’ll see if she can bounce back with one of
her sharper tries tonight. (7) OAXACAN DREAM N has been very sharp in her last 3 out of town but that was vs.
easier – catches a bad draw for her YR return and that could really hurt her chances.
RACE 6 – (7) BETTERB CHEVRON N drops all the way down to the bottom level and catches a field where most
of them have been no good at all lately – has to get the nod, even from out here. (1) SILENT CROSSING is clearly
the main danger but she’s listed at 6/5 ML, and has gone down as the odds-on favorite in her last 2 Yonkers starts –
realistically she does have a decent chance to win from this spot, but it would be very hard to swallow another very
short price on top. (2) TARGARYEN EMPRESS has a few decent efforts recently – probably not a candidate for the
top spot, but definitely a chance to at least land a good piece. (3) SEZANA N’s “good” starts have been few and far
between – she did race “ok” for 4th last time, and a similar effort could help her land a piece tonight. (5) DAKOTA
SHADOW shipped down with some less than stellar form from Canada and even moving to our leading trainer
didn’t really help (at least not the first try) – we’ll keep watching for any signs of improvement. (4) PURAMERI has
gone good miles here in the past but her current efforts have certainly been lacking. (6) JUST ROSAS LUCK ships
back in after a couple of tries at Monti – not sure she’s ready to take these on right now.
RACE 7 – (3) HOOLIE N HECTOR obviously doesn’t have the best looking form to start off 2024 but he’s also
been in some terrible spots – gets the potent combination of post and class relief for tonight, so perhaps we’ll see a
much bigger effort now. (2) PARISO was well backed for her local debut and rewarded her new connections with a
very solid score – she’ll faces tougher now, but still has to be seen as a major threat. (8) PAPA DOC went to NJ after
2 straight breaks here (to avoid having to re-qualify) and raced well in three straight starts – he’s always a somewhat
risky proposition but he has legitimate ability, and isn’t a bad bomb to at least consider. (6) JULA MUSCLE PACK
hasn’t found his mojo yet in 2024 – we’ll see if tonight’s class drop helps at all. (1) THE LAST CHAPTER was off
to a quick start in 2024, leveled off after moving up too high in class but did race a bit better dropping in his last –
drops again and draws the pole, but he’s also missed 3 weeks...mixed feelings. (7) SOUTHWIND ARTURO hasn’t
been “bad” lately but he also hasn’t been at his best – probably looking at only minor spoils from out here. (4) B ME
DITHREE saw his form fall apart badly recently – he did manage to wire the field in his last pair, but facing much
easier – not sure he’s rebounded enough for a chance against these. (5) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE tends to do his best
with a bit easier.
RACE 8 – (3) HIGHLAND MOWGLI was taken off the gate last week (under a big hold), sat in the back but did
have trot finishing – that’s just not his style, but the move inside should allow Brennan to handle him aggressively
here – not a bad week to give him a shot. (1) GRINDER draws another rail and gets some class relief to go with it –
the barn has been too strong lately to ignore from this spot. (2) FULL RIGHTS has been doing good work so far in
2024 – he may need to be in a little easier to grab a win, but he could easily land somewhere on the ticket from this
spot. (4) IMMANUEL K S is a bit of an enigma, always hinting at more ability but not always delivering it on the
racetrack – he’s been freshened up, and that qualifier does look impressive – would really be no surprise. (5) HAT
TRICK MARLEAU has come back to life and that last mile was very hard to believe – still, a double class jump
could slow him down a bit, especially with 4 live players to his inside. (8) FOR A DREAMER fits well with these
but does tend to get lost at the back when drawn outside like this. (6) HUNTING AS is probably pushing it up at this
level, especially from Post 6. (7) BRAVE BY DESIGN seemed to lose interest when stuck in the back last week, and
faces a similar scenario for tonight.
RACE 9 – (1) LUCKY ARTIST A was good when 2nd two back and looked VERY good in last week’s crisp 1:52.4
jogburger – no reason the classy import can’t take another in her current form. (3) RACY ROXY A shipped in sharp
from Saratoga and raced very well in both local starts, despite less than stellar trips – can be part of the equation here
(2) TALENT TO SPARE A raced better than expected last week and now adds Lasix for tonight – good value horse
to consider for your tickets. (8) TWIN B SUNKISSED hit a rough patch for a while but started to perk up on 2/16
and has done all good work since then (including almost getting to the sharp SILK CLOUD A last week) – would
have been listed higher if not for the horrible draw. (7) UPTOWN HANOVER can hold her own with Open mares
but she may be a notch off her best game right now, and the poor draw may be tough to overcome. (5) DRAGONS
LUCKY LADY has been an overachiever for a while, but may not get the trip she needs tonight to succeed. (6) YS
SENSATIONAL CITY always hinted at ability and has been very good in her 5 starts this year – tonight’s draw may
leave her in a tough spot, though. (4) MC ANGEL is enjoying an outstanding season, and is only listed on the
bottom because of the strength of the field.
RACE 10 - Blue Chip Matchmaker Leg 3: (1) TONYS MOM ran into a much tougher trip last week and wasn’t her
usual self – she’ll get to call the shots tonight, and that makes her the one to beat. (5) LIT DE ROSE is a little
tougher to gauge, because it’s hard to know if Lachance will leave (to try to give her a decent chance to win), or if
he’ll be content racing from off the pace, and rallying for as much as she can – she’s talented enough to overcome a
bad trip, but it may leave her with a little smaller piece. (2) CRÈME DELIGHT should be closer to the action this
week, and that could help her take home a little better piece of the pie. (3) SALE EL SOL may be a bit cheaper than
the main players, but she’s shown that she can still finish very well when given an easy trip – chance to land on the
bottom of the exotics. (6) EASY TO PLEASE seemed to be leveling off before going a better effort last week – her
barn has come to life recently, but this is a tough spot, even if she’s sharp tonight. (4) AVF CLAIRE’s efforts have
been mixed – not sure she can find a decent trip here.
RACE 11 - Blue Chip Matchmaker Leg 3: (2) RACINE BELL was terrible in Leg 1 but since she missed Leg 2 and
now returns on Lasix for Leg 3, we’ll assume she bled that night (and may have been bleeding for a while) – this
could be a rare opportunity to actually get a decent price on her...worth a stab? (1) DELITFULCATHERIN N
seemed like maybe her best days were behind her but her connections have done a good job getting her back on
track, and she’s racing very well these days – legitimate threat from the pole. (6) MIKALA wasn’t at her best in the
first leg, but was racing off a sick scratch and qualifier, and didn’t have the greatest of trips – she bounced right back
with a sharp win in her last, but must contend with the tough draw tonight...would still consider her on top if the
price was decent enough. (4) INCASEYOUDIDNTKNOW found her best on time to get up at the wire in Leg 1 but
was really hurt in Leg 2 when forced to pull VERY early, after the field was jammed up by the winner before the
quarter – she was still a very game 3rd, and should race well again tonight...the trip may not be the best, however. (3)
TREACHEROUS PENNY used an easy pocket trip for 2nd in Leg 1, but was unable to get involved in her last – not
sure she’ll get a manageable trip tonight, either. (5) MAN DONTFORGET ME is tough as nails and only listed on
the bottom because she may be stuck coming from last.
RACE 12 – (8) SPECIAL PROSECUTOR is a legitimate Open type at the upstate tracks and most of these could
never race at that level – he draws all the way outside, but has a pilot that’s pretty good at getting horses into the
hunt from bad spots – decent value play in the finale. (1) WESLYNN CROWN acts like he “wants to do it”, but
tends to gap and get choppy during his miles, compromising his chances – if he can stay close to contention to the
final turn, he’ll have a chance to be a late threat. (3) STREET GOSSIP will attract plenty of attention dropping to the
basement but he seems pretty vulnerable at a short price right now, especially with several in his barn being ice cold
as well. (2) LUCKY WEEKEND just missed 2 back and rallied nicely for a piece last week – use in exotics. (4) MA
TCH MEIF YOU CAN wasn’t “good” last week but he did improve some – we’ll see if he keeps trending in the
right direction. (5) BIG CHARLIE MORAN does throw a good one at times but not often enough to consider him
on top here at a short price. (6) BAZILLIONAIRE still hasn’t hit board locally all year. (7) NEWSBOY keeps
dropping in the box every week despite his form deteriorating even more with each start.