Race Reviews
Race Reviews For January 18, 2025
Race Review by Ken Warkentin
1
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | LAZARUS STAR | One for 27 lifetime, but knocking on the door recently, a strong second from post ten two starts back, then grinded gamely through a solid pace as the beaten favorite |
| 8 | AYR CORLEON GB | Irish import had the dreamy Jason Bartlett second over trip & just missed in his USA debut, deals with a tougher post, but comes off an excellent acclimating mile |
| 9 | NOTORIOUS HANOVER | Lightly-raced Team Burke 5YO building momentum on the comeback trail, displayed sudden speed, a positive sign, moves outside, yet continues to improve |
Top Contenders:8-2-9
Driver Choices: Siegelman 4 over 3 | Boyd 2 over 7
2
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | SIX FEET APART | Beaten favorite was aggressively handled in a tough trip & settled for third, draws a bit better on a nice roll & could employ a stalking strategy |
| 5 | STONE COLD SAVAGE | Responded to a slick/patient drive by Mark Herschberger to take a new mark of 1:54.1 last Friday & looks capable of stepping up slightly to repeat from mid pack |
| 7 | WOODROW F CALL | Just missed with a super effort from post seven in his Big M debut, then used hard from post ten & has room to improve in his key third try off the bench |
Top Contenders: 3-5-7
Driver Choices: Ahle 8 over 1 | Herschberger 5 over 4, 10
3
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | BLOODHOUND | Has sniffed out two in a row with strong finishes, hikes up to the 77.5 TM Rating, yet his renewed confidence & stalking style could spell three in a row |
| 7 | LUKE MCGOOK | Luke has been on a long spree of seconditis, solid runner up from post after stealing a soft :57.1 half, chalk burner remains a contender second try off the claim |
| 8 | URIEL BLUE CHIP | Fresh Team Bongiorno claim freshened, adjusted to his new barn & qualified with plenty, but faces a tough draw & will have to turn things around significantly |
Top Contenders: 6-8-7
Driver Choices: Stratton 10 over 2 | Boyd 6 over 7
4
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YNOTTHISHOS | Comes off a near $80,000 season, been facing $40,000 & $35,000 claimers elsewhere, has a chance to play a stalking role, so will the class & post relief be enough? |
| 3 | GEMINI EXPRESS | Seven-time winner last season with a mark of 1:51.4 here been on the fringe fifth in his last two, drops further & draws better in a real form-challenged field |
| 5 | MASK ON MASK OFF | With a mark of 1:52.1 @ The Big M last season we know when The Mask is on he can be tough, flashed a positive hint last Friday & gets another shot at this bottom condition |
Top Contenders: 1-5-3
Driver Choices: Siegelman 6 over 2 | Chisholm 7 over 3 | Ahle 5 over 10
5
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALLSTAR CHEDDAR | Lived up to the tote hype by making the mile-track transition look easy with a big winning rally off a pedestrian :57.1 half & lands the rail as a repeat threat |
| 2 | MIKI THE CLOWN | Harry gunned out for a pocket ride, angled & just missed last Friday, so he could be on the verge with a similar trip scenario from a better post |
| 5 | YOU BEDA ROCK | Beaten favorite left alertly, got stuck inside & shook loose with late pace in his first start after a long layoff, note he was claimed off a new mark of 1:51.1 last June |
Top Contenders: 5-1-2
Driver Choices: T. Miller 7 over 2
6
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAST GOODBYE | Forced wide & thundered home in :27 from a tough spot to hit the board last week, nosed out with a :26.3 back on December 7 & can stalk closer from the rail |
| 2 | CELLMATE | All eyes will be on one of the hottest horses here, stole a :57 half & refused to lose with a :27.2, claimed again, jammed in for the same price & draws well in career form |
| 9 | HUNT FOR CASH | Just missed to Cellmate again with a gallant two-move effort last week, will have to blast from post nine, yet remains sharp since the recent claim |
Top Contenders: 1-2-9
Driver Choices: Bartlett 2 over 5, 10 | Chisholm 7 over 8
7
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | DECISION DAY | Fresh off a narrow loss @ 84-1 he squandered a second over trip last week, 10YO Big M lover is still on his toes & draws better in a real headscratcher |
| 8 | MY PAL JOE | It took a drop to N/W $3,000 for him to finally come to life with a long overdue win, steps up with a tougher post, but has loads of back class |
| 10 | SURFSIDE BEACH | Dropped out of $50,000 claimers @ Yonkers, chased a raging Sport Secret with a :26.4, then tried to rally from a tough spot last week, stuck outside, but drops a notch |
Top Contenders: 10-8-4
Driver Choices: Boyd 6 over 3
8
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | VANDIEMEN BLUECHIP | Came out of the fog to grab the show two starts back, slow start & traffic issues chasing a next out winner Maxim Hanover & draws better |
| 8 | BUILD THE WALL | Was on his way to five in a row when he DQed for stretch interference, tougher draw this time, but makes his third start off a sick scratch & faces a field full of fringe players |
| 9 | ZEPPOLE HANOVER | Finished a solid second first time Lasix in his Big M debut, then made a rare miscue, post nine is no picnic, but expecting a rebound effort from this Andrew Harris trainee |
Top Contenders: 8-5-9
Driver Choices: Buter 6 over 9 | Ginsburg 8 over 10
9
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | CAPTAIN CRUSADER | Got away last from post ten in a requisite acclimating trip last week, gets class & post relief & his opposition lacks serious spark |
| 4 | RIFLEMAN | Hammered down to 3-1 & delivered a wake up win with a perfect trip two starts back @ Harrah's Philadelphia & draws well here @ a similar condition level |
| 5 | STAY GROUNDED | Flashed some more late life from a tough spot in his mile-track transition here, gets further class relief & could be poised for an overdue win |
Top Contenders: 3-5-4
Driver Choices: Buter 3 over 2 | Bartlett 8 over 6, 7
10
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HEZA CHARTTOPPER A | Beaten favorite got stung taking an early lead from post ten, now moves to the rail while trending in the right direction & retains Jason Bartlett |
| 4 | OAKWOOD PADDY IR | Faced the Preferred types here, has beaten comparable stock @ Harrah's Philadelphia & draws an improved post for a high percentage barn off a tough first over trip |
| 10 | FOR ONCE INMY LIFE | Slammed with post ten, but has been on a serious form spree, took control & was barely outsprinted by the pocket sitter Brue Hanover last week |
Top Contenders: 1-10-4
Driver Choices: Stratton 10 over 3
11
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | WARRAWEE YANG | 11-time winner last year kicked home okay to snag the show in a Big M acclimating mile for Team Burke, gets a hefty dose of class relief & lands post two again |
| 4 | HUSTLENOMICS | Comes off a tough trip against better, just missed in his last try at this level on December 14 & plays his stalking game from post four again |
| 5 | EPOS OSTERVANG OK | Returns from a long layoff & energetic qualifier & might be ready to show some of his class fresh off the bench for Per Engblom at this easier level |
Top Contenders: 2-4-5
Driver Choices: Bartlett 5 over 8
12
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | TWIN B SUNKISSED | 1:50.3 winner @ The Big M last season just missed with a game grind two weeks ago & remains on a form spree for Team Burke |
| 6 | TONY'S MOM | Made the mile track adjustment chasing superior mares two weeks ago, she can scoot off the wings & now drops dangerously for Per Engblom |
| 8 | LOUISVILLE GB | Just one for 17 last season, has a caught a recent case of seconditis, yet her persistence could payoff in this wide-open field |
Top Contenders: 8-6-5
Driver Choices: Huckabone 4 over 3
13
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | CURBSIDE PICKUP | Swooped them with a late explosion in a big rebound effort, draws inside again for his third start off the Team Bongiorno claim & hikes up into a soft 80.5 TM field |
| 7 | REAL PEACE | Has rallied to hit the board in both starts at this 80.5 TM rating, draws a tougher post, but continues to ramp it up on the comeback trail for Per Engblom |
| 9 | GALLIE GETAWAY | Capped 2024 with rousing/winning rally & best mile of his season, tackles post nine again & forced up in class after missing 22 days |
Top Contenders: 2-7-9
Driver Choices: Bartlett 2 over 6, 7, 10
14
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HAGGARD | 1:51.1 performer @ The Big M last season, nonthreatening fifth in his 2025 debut, previous form was competitive, drops a notch & lands the rail for his third start off a sick scratch |
| 2 | HUGH HESTON | Drops into a more likely spot for his second try off the bench, was a stakes caliber 2YO & now a lightly-raced 4YO who draws well with potential untapped for Per Engblom |
| 3 | WARRAWEE XTREME | Fired hard in :26.3, settled down to rate the pace & folded tent as a badly beaten favorite, now lands in a softer spot to rebound in his second start off the Bongiorno claim |
Top Contenders: 2-1-3
Driver Choices: Bartlett 2 over 3 | Buter 5 over 6, 10