Race Reviews

Race Reviews For July 18, 2026

Race Review by Ken Warkentin

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	WHAMMER JAMMER	Wow, that was some wake up call last Friday, running up the score with a well-meant 1:51.2 sizzler, so logically we'll witness a similar attempt from the rail, shall we?
3	BUGABOO LOU	Sweet Lou gelding owns a bit of back class, flashed some sneaky late pace from post ten in his comebacker, look for more in his second start of the season adding The Judge from an improved post
7	MARSHALL ZHUKOV	Finally, I mean, finally snapped his losing skid this season by recovering from some early missteps & crushing a weak MADC division, now he could be even better third try off a sick scratch

Top Contenders: 3-1-7

Driver Choices: none

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	GOBSTOPPER	Sweet Lou 11th foal from a daughter of Sanabelle Island, 1:50.4 ($1,641,676), paid off the chalk with a sharp winning rally @ Pocono & draws inside pointing skyward
4	CRUNCHSTYLE	$7,500 Captain Crunch second foal from Ideal Lifestyle A, 1:50.3 ($292,076) crushed his latest pair @ Pocono & draws well here fresh off a 1:52.4 romp
5	CAPTAIN KANGAROO	Captaintreacherous sixth foal from a sister to Drop The Ball, 1:48.2 ($1,427,265), pace compromised in his PA All-Stars debut off sharp baby races here

Top Contenders: 4-1-5

Driver Choices: Beckwiht 7 over 3

Race

H	Horse	Comments
2	IDIOSYNCRATIC	Romped away to upset these three starts back, off a no-chance trip from post ten he finally draws an inside post to play a prime stalking role
5	CURBSIDE PICKUP	That post ten career best 1:50.2 back on June 11 jumps off the page, chased the chalk for the deuce last out & draws better for the raging Team Bongiorno
6	CHALK HANOVER	Chalk delivered the chalk with an ideal pace/trip set up & convincing score in a nifty 1:50.3 & Brett Beckwith can engineer something similar in a short field

Top Contenders: 2-6-5

Driver Choices: none

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	BLANK STARE	Has been knocking on the door in his last three @ Tioga Downs, has loads of back class & the rail facilitates a smooth stalking trip in a real tricky puzzler
6	BET ON MAC	Added Lasix & steamrolled first over to a career best 1:51.3 upset in the Pace Night finale & could wheel right back with a confidence boost to build on
10	LMC PEANUTS WATCHN	Gets a class hike & slammed with post ten off a career best 1:51, then a sick scratch, yet he might still be sharp enough to overcome

Top Contenders: 6-1-10

Driver Choice: None

Race

H	Horse	Comments
3	QUANDOQUANDOQUANDO	Lightly-raced 4YO clearly outraced his odds, parked out & paced home in :26.4 in his comebacker, draws post three again & look for more in his second start off the bench for Geovany Hernandez
5	CAPTAIN UNDERHAND	Chased Haughton winner Lou Hill in the qualifier before he finished in :25.3 from post nine & has major license to step up for Team Alagna in only his seventh career start
8	CORVETTE STINGRAY	3YO has been pretty steady since coming back this season, solid runner up to a 1:49.2 chalkola last out & his gate speed can put him in play again

Top Contenders: 3-5-8

Driver Choices: None

Race

H	Horse	Comments
2	DANCING LEW	Has been basically overmatched recently chasing 1:50 & change winners, now he drops to face a field begging to be beaten & can work out smooth sailing with another inside draw
5	DREAMLANDCAPPUCINO	Two mysteries: How did he come up with that sharp narrow loss two starts back & what happened on Pace Night? Now he gets some class relief to possibly rebound
9	MANSERTIVE	Saddled with another post nine, yet drops back down to the rock bottom condition & note how aggressive he was handled two starts back to grab the deuce @ Harrah's Philadelphia

Top Contenders: 2-5-9

Driver Choices: Beckwith 1 over 5

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	DIVIDED WE FALL	Consistent 4YO rallied for a new mark of 1:53.2 as the heavy favorite two starts back, then a solid third with another strong finish & draws inside again on her toes
3	PRINCESS ARONA	Fresh off a new mark of 1:53 two starts back she was outsprinted fourth behind Divided We Fall & draws better to take another shot at this higher TM 74.5
8	YOUCANCALLMEDAISY	She's hit the board in her last two against TM 74.5 stock, almost blew up the board with a game effort after missing three weeks & rates highly despite a tougher post

Top Contenders: 1-3-8

Driver Choices: Bongiorno 10 over 4, 9

Race

H	Horse	Comments
5	AVANTI	Freshened with a decent qualifier @ Gaitway, previous form was sharp, switches to The Big M's leading barn & will be monitored closely from mid pack
7	DIVINE RIGHT	Seems to be just getting warmed up on the comeback trail elsewhere, challenging post for the mile-track transition, yet matches up class-wise & owns a big kick
8	SOUTHWIND GENDRY	Ultra classy Team Burke trainee sharpened his sword in his last two in PA & returns to The Big M in field riddled with question marks

Top Contenders: 8-7-5

Driver Choices: None

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	CHECKMATE HALL	Been tracking this mare for awhile, showed signs of life in her last two starts in June, then tried speed & stopped @ Pocono, look for a more patient stalking trip back here
2	JAKEY JUMPUP	Jakey jumps up to TM 74.5 fresh off a well-rated wire-to-wire/bounce-back & career best 1:54.2, draws better & any semblance of that mile could spell repeat
4	GO LONG	Rebounded by staying flat & rallied stoutly for the deuce after missing a month, draws better to stalk close to the pace, while seeking an overdue win

Top Contenders: 2-4-1

Driver Choices: None

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	STOP THE SHOOTIN'	Did well here at this TM 80.5 Rating before he ventured to Tioga Downs, returns to The Big M fresh off a wire-to-wire with the rail in a wide-open affair
4	GOODBYE STRANGER	Trip compromised in his last two, he was pretty sharp in early June, not liking his one for 17 record this season, but look for a more energetic effort from an improved post
10	CAPTAIN UP	Beat these with a wide/vicious rally in 1:50.2 three starts back, well-driven to a solid second on Pace Night & deserves serious contender status despite post ten

Top Contenders: 10-4-1

Driver Choices: None

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	SOUTHSIDE BAR	Acclimated nicely with a much stronger finish for minor spoils & has license to show even more with a smooth rail ride
3	LOVE THIS BAR	Shipped back to The Big M & lived up to the even money hype with a lively score, sprinting off in :27.3, draws inside again & can't rule out a repeat
4	YANK MY HALO	Regrouped with a sharp Gaitway qualifier for Team Burke, then trip compromised in his last two, draws better & gets another shot at this rock bottom condition

Top Contenders: 4-3-1

Driver Choices: Bongiorno 4 over 9

Race

H	Horse	Comments
2	OLLIE'S Z TAM	Tripped out to a pretty convincing upset after fading as the beaten favorite, lit up the board in 1:51 before that & draws inside again to stalk n pop once more
3	CRUNCHY	Found new life last month, rallied off a hot half to a career best 1:51.2 two starts back & returns to The Big M with a better post & possibly more in the tank
5	DEAN B HANOVER	Has been hinting strongly with some eager-to-please speed efforts recently, fresh off a narrow loss he'll launch from mid pack again & go as far as he can

Top Contenders: 3-2-5

Driver Choices: Ryder 2 over 1, 4 | Beckwith 5 over 8

Race

H	Horse	Comments
1	SELECT FRIDAY	Took some tote action & got shuffled fourth in his return to The Big M, note that thunderous rally from way back to just miss on June 20 & he's back on the rail
2	B SIRIUS	Held for the show despite a tough trip two stars back, then blitzed by a 1:50.2 winner @ Pocono, back at The Big M he makes his fourth start off a sick scratch with an inside draw
7	BIONIC	Added Jason Bartlett, took charge & paid off the chalk by repeating in style, hikes up to TM 74.5 & draws a tougher post, but his speed & sharp form make him a threat again

Top Contenders: 2-1-7

Driver Choices: Beckwith 6 over 5

Race

H	Horse	Comments
3	SHORE OF HIMSELF	Sparked his form with a AHDC upset @ Harrah's Philadelphia, finished a solid third in his return to The Big M & draws better off that inspiring effort
5	CAPTAIN CARTER	Sports a pair of recent blowouts against TM 71 stock, got parked & gave way last out & has a chance to rebound if he can somehow wrestle control
6	MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING	Just missed by a neck when aggressively handled by Jason Bartlett three starts back, just one for 22 this season, yet watch out if this 14YO is on his game

Top Contenders: 3-5-6

Driver Choices: Bongiorno 5 over 8

Race

H	Horse	Comments
2	SOCIAL THEORIES	Added Brett Beckwith & crushed first over from post eight enroute to a long overdue win two starts back & draws better off a no-chance tour of Yonkers
4	MIDNIGHT THUNDER	Has struggled on the comeback trail, while flashing a bit of late life, now he drops further to the rock bottom TM 68 & draws well in a wide-open finale
5	ROJAN'S WAY	Only the racing gods know how on earth he turned things around with a sudden narrow loss with a vastly improved :26.4, so how does he follow up?

Top Contenders: 2-4-5

Driver Choices: Borjas 6 over 1 | Chisholm 7 over 8