Race Reviews
Race Reviews For August 07, 2026
Race Review by Ken Warkentin
1
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | CERTIFY | Steady 10YO with a nose for the charmed circle has romped in two of his last three in the Pocono amateurs & draws well to take charge |
| 6 | BRAVE BY DESIGN | Added trotting hopples & Tim Tetrick, stayed flat & rallied for the upset here last week, so this looks like a live item in a wide-open field |
| 9 | CRYSTAL FASHION | 2018 Hambo elimination winner now at $2.4M recently switched barns, racing well @ Harrah's Philadelphia, tough draw here, but could pick up the pieces |
Top Contenders: 4-6-9
Driver Choices: Polansky 4 over 8
2
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | MIDWIND MERCEDES | $160k Captaintreacherous first timer won both baby races for Team Takter, her latest on the engine here & draws well for an anticipated debut |
| 5 | JK SIMCHA | This $125k Bulldog Hanover yearling cruised uncontested in her Kindergarten debut as the heavy favorite for Team Takter & the sky's the limit |
| 6 | GIFT OF FAITH | Captaintreacherous sister to 2021 Horse of the Year Test Of Faith just missed in her first two starts & she looks on the verge for Brett Pelling |
Top Contenders: 6-5-4
Driver Choices: Herschberger 6 over 1, 7 | Beckwith 4 over 3
3
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VELVET DITCH | Trending right & just missed to a hard-charging Aintmyfirstro Deo in Leg 2, then another close second with a :25.4 last week & now a prime stalking threat from the rail |
| 2 | AINTMYFIRSTRO DEO | Talented & versatile gelding easily made it three-for-three when he stole an uncontested :57 half last week, draws post again & figures to dictate his own terms again |
| 5 | JERZY GEORGE | Lazarus N gelding attempts the jump to Platinum off a pair of serious rallies/wins against Silver foes & no doubt his arrow is pointing up |
Top Contenders: 1-2-5
Driver Choices: tetrick 4 over 2
4
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | LOVE'S PASSION | Landed on the fringe fourth in her first two chasing undefeated Wall Of Fame in the Platinum Division & lands in a softer spot for Team Melander |
| 7 | I'M A HUGGER | Solid runner in three of her four outings, a close second in her last two @ Pocono, challenging draw in a wide-open affair & continues to gain confidence |
| 9 | HL KAPARA | Impressive winner from post seven in her career debut, then just missed in NYSS @ Tioga Downs, tough draw back here, but certainly on her way up |
Top Contenders: 6-9-7
Driver Choice: Dunn 6 over 2, 5 | Gingras 1 over 10
5
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLBIA | Dead heat winner in her debut, then a solid runner up in her next two, just missed to a well-rated Day One Dandy in Leg 3 & lands the rail for Team Melander |
| 4 | MRS RATTIGAN | Since that opening round win in her debut she's bounced back off a Leg 2 miscue with two straight on the board finishes with trotting hopples added & draws better for TOC |
| 5 | DAY ONE DANDY | Took three starts to gain her confidence & went all the way in a superbly rated mile by Scott Zeron & this Walner filly is still peaking for Nifty Norman |
Top Contenders: 1-5-4
Driver Choices: None
6
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | SPARKS | Bluegrass winner @ two has regained steady form against older mares elsewhere, draws inside here fresh off a narrow loss @ Pocono for Team Svanstedt |
| 5 | SUGAR PACKET | Sports a mark of 1:53 @ The Big M back on June 26, wasn't up to the Jailbird Jog types in the Tompkins-Geers, yet was right there in a Reynolds division on July 4 |
| 6 | CONCISE | Lightly-raced Gimpanzee filly reeled off a four-for-four sweep in the Weiss Series @ Pocono & her latest Big M qualifier caught some eyes |
Top Contenders: 6-3-5
Driver Choices: Gingras 3 over 5, 6, 7 | A. McCarthy 4 over 8
7
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | MAXMAN | This Walner colt has quickly gotten his act together to jog in his last two with plenty to spare & stands out with an inside draw for Team Toscano |
| 4 | DELTA | Rebounded big time to crush his Leg 2 division, then broke again, draws a better post & with Team Melander tinkering he could bounce back again |
| 7 | WYOMING | Second as the beaten favorite in Leg 1, then he really stepped up to upset Aston Kemp in Leg 3, moves outside, but Team Svanstedt has a diamond in the rough |
Top Contenders: 2-4-7
Driver Choices: Gingras 7 over 8 | T. McCarthy 1 over 9
8
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | BAROLO | Son of 2022 Cashman winner Alrajah One IT jogged in his lone Big M baby race, draws well, could be anything for Team Takter & might be worth a swing |
| 8 | NEW HOPE | Greenshoe colt almost tripped out & just missed a huge upset in a sharp debut, moves outside, yet his potential is evident for Team Toscano |
| 9 | SOUTHERN HANOVER | Took charge in a soft pace & outsprinted the favorite Seven Pledges in his second start, slammed with an outside draw, yet he carries high hopes for Team Toscano |
Top Contenders: 4-8-9
Driver Choices: Svanstedt 7 over 5 | Tetrick 9 over 8
9
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | MOTHER'S MONI | Has won three of four on the comeback trail @ Plainridge & arrives here brimming with confidence with a steady stalking style in a field ripe for the taking |
| 6 | GUSTAV | Liked the way this Tactical Landing gelding qualified against Conversano, set a decent pace & blitzed by a 1:51 winner in his comebacker & lands in a soft spot for Team Takter |
| 7 | CAPTAIN JORDAN | Captain Corey colt won back-to-back in June, ships in fresh off a narrow loss @ Pocono last Saturday, tricky draw here, but we'll watch for him with the right set up |
Top Contenders: 5-7-6
Driver Choices: Tetrick 7 over 1
10
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | BUTTERFLY EFFECT | Beaten favorite bothered early & trip compromised last week, she was hinting in her previous two & draws inside the main concerns |
| 8 | PERFECT BODY | The Body rallied for an eye-catching 1:51.4 Leg 2 win, just missed in :26.4 last week, moves outside, yet remains a top contender |
| 9 | PERFECT HOPE DEO | Surprised a few when she suddenly tripped out & stepped up to nail Perfect Body with a :26.3 last week, draws outside, but her arrow is pointing up |
Top Contenders: 4-8-9
Driver Choices: T. McCarthy 1 over 4
11
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLUE COLLAR MAN | The Man has hit the board in three of his last four, has been very good in his last two, lands the rail & might be the sharpest of this bunch |
| 2 | SEIZE CONTROL | Has paid the price for repeated slow starts, yet has kicked home with some significant vigor at times & perhaps a much better draw will help his cause |
| 5 | MEET THE CREEPER | The Creeper is just one for 20 this season, might've tailed off in his last two, but if you go back to form in June that makes him a contender in this wide-open affair |
Top Contenders: 1-2-5
Driver Choices: None
12
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | NEVADA VACATION | Invades from the south with a barn change & strong in the win column with a pair of blowouts at this price @ Harrah's Philadelphia on view |
| 7 | JM MANDAMIN | 10YO with plenty of back class sprung the inexplicable upset with a well-driven 1:51.4, draws a more demanding post, yet his gate speed makes him a player again |
| 9 | CURBSIDE PICKUP | Very steady customer in this class, off a chalky 1:50.4 score two starts back he was a hard-used third from post eight & remains a serious contender for Team Bongiorno |
Top Contenders: 6-7-9
Driver Choices: None
13
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | ROCK ON LINE | 12YO put together one of his patented late charges & just missed with a wicked :26.2, draws better & might be on the verge |
| 6 | WARRAWEE YANKEE | Beaten favorite ventured into a TM 74.5, added Brett Beckwith & came up a buck shy of going all the way & that might've sparked a long overdue win |
| 8 | BUGABOO LOU | Stormed home from a nearly impossible spot to get nosed out as the beaten favorite again, draws another tough post, but ramping up for only his fourth start back |
Top Contenders: 4-8-6
Driver Choices: None
14
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | CLEAR FOR LANDING | Fresh off a confidence-building win elsewhere he carved a rated pace & just missed last week, so look for him to take command again for Per Engblom |
| 7 | CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS | Beaten favorite was caught full of trot behind Clear For Landing last week, solid runner up with trotting hopples added before that & now she can show her class for Team Takter |
| 8 | GREENMA | Added Lasix & shook loose with plenty of late trot, tackles post eight again, yet she owns a strong closing kick & Trond has her back in top form |
Top Contenders: 7-8-6
Driver Choices: None