Race Reviews
Race Reviews For April 19, 2025
Race Review by Ken Warkentin
1
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | SEA ISLE CITY | Off a solid second to heavy favorite Hervey Hanover delivered the chalk decisively last Friday, draws well in a competitive field & poses a serious stalking threat |
| 3 | SPINDOCTOR HANOVER | Rebounded from a late miscue in his Big M debut with a crushing score & new lifetime mark second time Lasix & draws inside with Brett Beckwith |
| 7 | ENRICO PALLAZZO | Came to life when hammered down to 8-5 favorite & just missed last week, tougher post this time, yet gathering momentum since an early-season sick scratch |
Top Contenders: 3-2-7
Driver Choices: Herschberger 8 over 9
2
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROCKET MAN HILL | Consistent Muscle Hill 4YO clearly second best chasing a well-rated Chipper Dale last week, draws inside that rival, which gives him a chance to turn the tables |
| 3 | THE BRODSTER | Lightly-raced 3YO tripped out to a new mark of 1:54.4 in an inspiring comeback, draws inside his stablemate Chipper Dale & has something positive to build on |
| 8 | CHIPPER DALE | Lived up to the hype & made a prompt adjustment to The Big M with a convincing career best of 1:54.1 last week & no reason to not expect a similar effort |
Top Contenders: 3-8-1
Driver Choices: Bartlett 8 over 4
3
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | OUTCRY | Has been a nice roll in his last four, including a game score two starts back, left with a bit too much to do & still rallied to hit the ticket again last Friday |
| 6 | LOCKDOWN LOUIE N | Louie is one for his last 27 & winless this season, but showing some positive signs in his last two, blocked behind a fading pocket sitter & finished well once clear last week |
| 7 | THE OPENER | Dismiss last week for a tough trip on an off track, pretty steady & versatile before that, so has license to bounce back in a field that is a combined three for 81 this season |
Top Contenders: 6-5-7
Driver Choices: Herschberger 10 over 8, 9
4
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | BEACH BABE | Flashed sharp speed & nosed out in an energetic Big M qualifier for Team Burke, hence she looks ready for her 3YO debut & draws inside her more seasoned stablemate |
| 4 | PLEASE BE YOU | Lazarus N filly was eager to please for Team Toscano, delivering the chalk with a mighty late surge in a sparkling Big M debut & draws better with plenty of upside |
| 8 | SHE'S A STREAKER | Homegrown winner in 1:52 & solid third in the Three Diamonds last Fall, finished well in her morning trial for Team Burke, tackles post eight & commands respect |
Top Contenders: 8-3-4
Driver Choices: Beckwith 1 over 4 | Gingras 8 over 2, 3
5
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | BULLDOZER | $100k Tall Dark Stranger colt from the family of Pure Country, solid runner up to heavy favorite Always B Colour IR & draws well for Team Takter off that encouraging effort |
| 5 | ODDS ON BROWARD | Converted a tailor made trip & rallied stoutly to light up the board last week, making only his fifth career start for Team Alagna, so there's logically more ahead for him |
| 9 | SMOOTH DREAM | Cattlewash brother to $1.5M winner Desperate Man, steamrolled to win his qualifier for Noel Daley & might be ready to make an immediate impression |
Top Contenders: 4-5-6
Driver Choices: None
6
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | PRIMARY COLORS | Constant threat brings his work boots every time, has been knocking on the door, gets away from the raging Mac's Delight & lands post two again |
| 3 | MAXIM HANOVER | Forced into a first grind chasing a revved up Mac's Delight, tripped out for the mild upset beating Primary Colors before that & draws inside again in top form |
| 4 | IGNATIUS A | Here's another persistent veteran, who was able to catapult off a hot pace & romp over an off track last week, draws well again & sharp enough to handle the class hike |
Top Contenders: 2-3-4
Driver Choices: T. McCarthy 7 over 1
7
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | HANDSOME STRANGER | Tall Dark Stranger 3YO just missed with a game grind from post eight last week & draws a bit better for his third try off the bench with plenty of speed to shoot at |
| 7 | ALWAYS B COLOR IR | 4YO with his own fan club more than lived up to the hype & became the fastest Pinto in history with a dazzling US debut & his connections have high hopes |
| 9 | T H TYSON | $100k yearling by Captain Crunch uncorked a sterling rally to pull a 12-1 upset in his 4YO debut, tough draw, but it appears Team Ryder have finally found the key to this one |
Top Contenders: 6-7-9
Driver Choices: A. McCarthy 1 over 3, 10
8
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | FULSOME | Hit the board back-to-back with strong finishes before a recent sick scratch & returns to The Big M off a needed start @ Yonkers with a mid pack launching pad |
| 6 | SWIMWITHTHECURRENT | Revived some of that 1:50.3 form he displayed as a 3YO with a hard-charging win over Gazoo two weeks ago & has license to show more on the comeback trail |
| 10 | TARANAKI | Was dropping major hints before adding Dexter Dunn & unfurled a scintillating career best 1:50.4 from post ten over an off track, had lots in reserve so can't rule out a repeat |
Top Contenders: 6-10-5
Driver Choices: D. Miller 6 over 5 | Kelly 3 over 8
9
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | PAIGE PERFECT | Definitely going in the right direction, fresh off a narrow loss to Always In Flight with pace at both ends of that mile last week & draws well with a distinct liking for The Big M |
| 6 | ALWAYS IN FLIGHT | Bounced back off an equipment issue @ Saratoga with her second straight win here despite missing 26 days, took a new mark of 1:50.4 over an off track & deserves top billing |
| 10 | MY AUGUST MOON A | Left in the wake of a sizzling 1:50.3 winner last week, overmatched by the boys before that, slammed with post ten, but this is a more realistic assignment |
Top Contenders: 6-4-10
Driver Choices: Tritton 5 over 10
10
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | BUILD THE WALL | Came roaring back fresh off the bench with a gritty new mark as the heavy favorite last week & draws better with a hefty 13 for 23 record |
| 5 | ITS SATURDAY NIGHT | Unleashed a meaningful stretch kick to just miss to Build The Wall in an eye-catching 4YO debut & he's no doubt got some serious upside |
| 7 | ZEPPOLE HANOVER | Tackles post seven off a sick scratch, hasn't raced in three weeks, but note that 1:50.4 career best with a :25.3 back on March 15 |
Top Contenders: 5-4-7
Driver Choices: Dunn 2 over 5 | Beckwith 1 over 6
11
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE | Consistent gelding whose best weapon is speed, shuffled behind Dean B Hanover & angled with late pace in stretch traffic, just missed before that & draws better |
| 6 | DEAN B HANOVER | Used way too hard, took more than half a mile to clear in a sharp :54 & still held second over an off track last week, only his fourth start of 2025 & gets another shot at this level |
| 7 | DE LA HOYA HANOVER | Fired into a fast pace, got shuffled behind Handlelikeaporsche & cleared with late stretch kick, post seven again, but gathering momentum & tries this reduced level again |
Top Contenders: 7-6-4
Driver Choices: D. Miller 1 over 7 | Ahle 5 over 8 | Beckwith 2 over 9 | T. McCarthy 6 over 10
12
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | I'LL HUNT YOU DOWN | Has reeled off five in a row, mostly against bottom claimers, resurfaces after two weeks off with an inside post & might be tough to knock off in career form |
| 4 | WARRAWEE TOTAL | Rebounded with a solid rally to hit the board as a 4-1 favorite last week, draws inside, retains Brett Beckwith & on the verge of an overdue win |
| 10 | HERVEY HANOVER | Has caught fire since shipping south into his new barn, fresh off back-to-back dominant scores he steps up another notch & draws outside, but his form is heading skyward |
Top Contenders: 4-3-10
Driver Choices: None
13
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BOLD SPIRIT | Picked up minor spoils in his first start for Team Culllipher, lands post two again off that decent acclimating mile & note that 1:51.1 mark @ Mohawk last season |
| 3 | JOJO'S PLACE | Lost all chance with a slow start from post eight last Friday, was doing pretty well before that & gets an improved post to set up his stalking style in a pari mutuel puzzler |
| 4 | FOX VALLEY REN | Finished third to a runaway Hervey Hanover two starts back, shuffled after an alert start last week, draws a bit better, makes only his fifth start of the season & could step up |
Top Contenders: 2-3-4
Driver Choices: A. McCarthy 9 over 1, 4 | Beckwith 2 over 3
14
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLUEBIRD TIME | Aggressively handled in the slop & nailed by Irresistable as the beaten favorite last Friday & looms large from the rail in his fourth start off a sick scratch |
| 3 | NATIONAL SPORT | Bounced back with a perfect trip score over a relentless Captain Planet last week & draws better to resume a stalking role in a very competitive finale |
| 5 | CAPTAIN PLANET | Has acclimated nicely with three solid starts here, grinded gamely to just miss to National Sport last week, moves to mid pack & figures to have ample speed to shoot at |
Top Contenders: 5-1-3
Driver Choices: Beckwith 3 over 1, 6 | A. McCarthy 9 over 2 | A. Miller 8 over 4