Race Reviews
Race Reviews For May 16, 2025
Race Review by Ken Warkentin
1
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | JONAH | Fresh off a 1:54 wire-to-wire blowout he fired out for a pocket ride & fade to eighth last week over an off track, recent Ivan Lopez claim now draws better & retains The Judge |
| 4 | GRACEFUL GALA | 4YO mare acquired by Geovany Hernandez & showed immediate improvement when she finished second as the beaten favorite in her last two @ Harrah's Philadelphia |
| 6 | BRAZEN BRAZILIAN | Beaten favorite he tried to close from an impossible spot two starts back & shook loose late from the pocket to finish a solid second last week, so trending right |
Top Contenders: 4-3-6
Driver Choices: Beltrami 3 over 9 | Stillwell 10 over 7
2
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOLD MY TIARA | Winner at this level with a gutsy grind & new mark of 1:54.1 three starts back, bounced back with a strong third last week & rewarded with the rail |
| 4 | PULL ME THROUGH | 0 for her last 48 & winless this season, returns to The Big M at a reduced TM 68 off a decent rally for the deuce @ Harrah's Philadelphia & now tries it third time Lasix |
| 6 | MS FRANCES ASSISI | Lived up to high tote hype & nosed out with an aggressive effort first time Lasix & this lightly-raced filly, now acclimated, makes her second start off a sick scratch & gets Dexter Dunn |
Top Contenders: 6-1-4
Driver Choices: Beckwith 4 over 2, 3
3
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | CAMPBELLINI | Versatile 11YO definitely knocking on the door in his last three, draws inside back here fresh off an aggressive narrow loss @ Yonkers, almost went all the way here before that |
| 4 | R JEZZY | Lightly-raced Tactical Landing filly found her best stride in the Weiss Series @ Pocono recently & she draws better to rebound off a miscue over an off track here last week |
| 6 | EXPERT TUTOR | Added Lasix for his Big M debut & just missed with a lively acclimating mile & it's reasonable to expect more from this 4YO sparking a Veronica Spicer 1-2 punch |
Top Contenders: 4-6-3
Driver Choices: Buter 4 over 7 | Beckwith 3 over 6
4
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BIG BAD BILL | We all had Karen at a juicy $24.40 last week when she uncorked an emphatic career best, Maria Reid no doubt has her on her toes & she looks capable of another class hike |
| 3 | ROCKABILLY CHARM | Had her moments this season, runner up to a runaway Moneymakesherhappy when heavily favorite two starts back, then blitzed by a drop down chalk Madrid A last week |
| 7 | EVER M | Has evidently caught a case of seconditis, beaten favorite in his last two at this TM 68 level draws a tougher post, but his gate speed puts him in play again |
Top Contenders: 3-7-2
Driver Choices: Herschberger 7 over 1, 4, 8
5
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BETTE TINA | Stepped up to this TM 74.5 & finished a decent fourth behind Powered By Mach, draws inside that rival & switches to The Buckeye in a supreme pari mutuel puzzler |
| 6 | DREAM PILLAR | Took a new mark of 1:54.2 here back on March 7, has struggled since, yet has flashed some serious late pace from tough spots |
| 7 | POWERED BY MACH | Rebounded with a much-improved third from the same post last week, she can really fire off the wings & retains Lauren Tritton |
Top Contenders: 6-7-1
Driver Choices: Beckwith 8 over 2
6
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | A B COLLINS | 0 for his last 40/winless this season, has paid the price for slow starts, but some class & post relief presents a glimmer of hope in a field that is a combined three for 106 this season |
| 4 | COLE ON THE BEACH | Has flashed some more late life at this TM 68 level & rallied for the show in his last two, draws post four again & may have a slight edge in this severely wide open field |
| 7 | COLT FOURTY ONE | One for his last 41/winless this season, give him credit for hitting the board in his last two, yet hasn't raced in three weeks & draws a tougher post |
Top Contenders: 4-7-3
Driver Choices: Beckwith 5 over 7 | Herschberger 3 over 9, 10
7
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | ARTIST BEST | One for his last 42/winless this season, not much @ Yonkers recently, but gets a big red flag for the barn change, plus some class & post relief |
| 4 | QUEEN SUN RYSER | Picked up Brett Beckwith & suddenly flipped a switch to romp in 1:53.1 over an off track last week & draws well with something big to build on |
| 10 | STORM THE COURT | Beaten favorite managed to work out an ideal second over trip & just missed last week, slammed with post ten again, but gathering momentum for Mark Silva |
Top Contenders: 3-4-10
Driver Choices: Beltrami 4 over 3
8
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | BACARDI | Dropped to the TM 71 level & dominated with a confidence-boosting career best of 1:55.4 over an off track & draws well to repeat for Brett Beckwith in a complete toss up |
| 5 | MONEY MATTERS | Winless in 11 this season, but bounced back off a miscue with a solid third last week, lands mid pack & look for more in his third try off a sick scratch |
| 7 | PARODY | Has consistently picked up minor spoils at this TM 74 level, draws a tougher post off a decent fourth behind Money Matters & needs some speed to shoot at |
Top Contenders: 4-5-7
Driver Choices: Herschberger 7 over 2
9
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LYONS LIBERTY | Has slugged it out against tougher TM 80.5 stock in his last two after crushing as a heavy favorite in 1:52 three starts back when claimed & lands the rail in a softer MADC |
| 4 | SWIMWITHTHECURRENT | Very intriguing Team Burke entrant plummets into a softer MADC event & draws better with a big chance to revive his form, flaunt his class & speed |
| 8 | T DOG | Put together a pretty solid :55.2 back half to grab second/placed first thru a DQ of Good Rockin, draws another tough post, but gets another shot at this MADC scramble |
Top Contenders: 4-1-8
Driver Choices: Sheridan 7 over 5, 6 | Beltrami 1 over 10
10
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | PEMBROKE SOUTHIE | Five-time winner in nine starts this season, Big M lover freshened off a solid second in a qualifier to 2024 HOY Twin B Joe Fresh & looms large for Team Bongiorno |
| 7 | LOUISVILLE GB | On fire this season with six wins in eight starts, fresh off another blowout @ Pocono, then a sick scratch & 25 days off, plus post seven, yet might still be too good for these |
| 8 | MY AUGUST MOON A | 1:51.2 winner @ The Big M this season a solid third from the pocket over the off track last week, now tackles post eight for her third try off a sick scratch |
Top Contenders: 7-6-8
Driver Choices: None
11
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | PHELGON | Her lone win this season was a dominant MADC score back on April 4, now she draws better to be within closer striking range for Geovany Hernandez |
| 4 | FRAZIER HANOVER | Just one for 24 lifetime, yet go back to his drifting wide first/placed second back on April 11 & off a no-chance trip from post ten he moves inside |
| 7 | CHEDDAR SHREDDER | Dropped into this MADC action & rallied for the show in much-improved result last week, draws a tougher post, yet retains Yogi Sheridan |
Top Contenders: 3-4-7
Driver Choices: None
12
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOL PAPA BELL | 2022 Hambletonian shocker & Dan Patch Award winner flashed some sneaky late trot in his 2025 debut & lands the rail again to follow up |
| 4 | INTERVIEW FRA A | Was allowed to steal a :57 half & held on for an overdue wake up win, now he draws better off that confidence booster for the red-hot Noel Daley |
| 7 | GINGERTREE STAKIAS | Returned to The Big M with a much better third with trot at both ends last week, draws a more challenging post, but remains in top form |
Top Contenders: 1-4-7
Driver Choices: None
13
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MARE OF THE CITY | 1:53.1 winner @ The Big M last season stymied by a late-March lame scratch & gets another serious shot at this softer TM 68 level from the rail |
| 4 | MISS YOU JOANN | Ventured to Tioga Downs, put forth an excellent effort & just missed, she seems to be trending right & could be on the verge of a season skid snapper |
| 7 | SWEET MOVES | Trying to gain some traction since coming back this season, tackles a challenging post for her fourth start off the bench in a field that will surely test the most seasoned handicapper |
Top Contenders: 1-4-7
Driver Choices: Herschberger 5 over 3 | Ahle 6 over 8
14
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | ALMOST KAREN | This Karen was used too hard when stepping up over the off track last week, she had won two of her previous three, including a career best 1:53.2 & now draws better |
| 3 | DUCK INTO THE NITE | Took a new mark of 1:52.4 back on April 18, draws inside off a no-chance trip & has a chance to set up a stalk n pop scenario |
| 5 | MONEYMAKESHERHAPPY | She was more than a happy winner in a career best 1:52.2 two starts back & if she can bounce back her opposition will be left in the dust |
Top Contenders: 5-2-3
Driver Choices: None