Race Reviews
Race Reviews For January 16, 2026
Race Review by Ken Warkentin
1
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | SPEED WRITER | Just one for 21, but the noteworthy rally for second to Cutting Humor two starts back & inside draw make her a contender in this wide-open curtain raiser |
| 6 | CUTTING HUMOR | Certainly cut loose for her lone win of 2025 on December 19, going wire-to-wire on a frigid night & drops back into a soft TM 68 affair |
| 8 | EA MUSHU | We know what The Mushu can do on her best day, seven-time winner last year faded as the beaten favorite & tries to rebound from post eight after missing 42 days |
Top Contenders: 6-8-4
Driver Choices: Ginsburg 5 over 3 | Beckwith 6 over 8, 9
2
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | CHIPLOSIVE | Freshened & regrouped with a strong/confident qualifier here, upset these on December 4 & draws well to flaunt his class |
| 5 | PRINCE ARCHIE | Returns to The Big M off a no-chance mile @ Monticello, remains on a form spree, while going third time Lasix & landing mid pack |
| 8 | AARDIES PEAK N | She decided to stay flat & tripped out to a lively career best of 1:55.3 to kick off her new season & looks to step up further from a tougher post |
Top Contenders: 4-8-5
Driver Choices: None
3
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | ALMOST KAREN | Karen abruptly went all the way when she dipped down to TM 68 two starts back & has a big chance to rebound with an inside draw despite missing 27 days |
| 3 | JOB CRUNCH | New barn & venue for this 4YO, who took her mark here in a qualifier last year, recent form dismal, but a wake up mile is not out of the question in this pari mutuel puzzler |
| 9 | PEARL HARBOUR N | Tripped out with a two-move upset in a sparkling Big M debut, that was almost a month ago, now she steps up a notch from post nine & worth a long look |
Top Contenders: 3-2-9
Driver Choices:Chisholm 9 over 1, 10
4
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | MARE OF THE CITY | Pace/trip compromised in her last few, did overcome to hit the board three starts back, tough to gauge after a 35-day layoff, yet draws well in a wide-open field |
| 5 | MO MO | Two for 38 last season, fringe player in both starts here, launches mid pack & after missing 36 days we're trying to figure her out in an Ouija Board Special |
| 8 | COUNTESS MARA | Two for 89 & winless last season, but she comes off a couple of encouraging efforts here, draws another tough post, so she's looking for some speed to shoot at |
Top Contenders: 8-4-5
Driver Choices: Chisholm 7 over 1
5
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CATNAP | Caught a few of us napping with that classic drop n pop perfect trip upset last week & lands the rail for the bump back up |
| 5 | SO DIVA | Stormed home from a tough spot to just miss by a nose with a huge rebound effort, that was 35-days ago, so we have to somehow calibrate that into our handicapping |
| 7 | BELLA ARTISTE | Seven-time winner of $130k last year, freshened off a nice three-race series @ Dover Downs, challenging post here, yet might've found a field to her liking |
Top Contenders: 7-5-1
Driver Choices: None
6
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | COVER THE CROWN | Capitalized on a big class drop with a decisive wire-to-wire career best of 1:52.2, lightly-raced 4YO with upside lands in even easy spot & looms large as repeat threat |
| 6 | ODDS ON SARA SARA | Sara has been on a nice roll recently, beaten favorite committed to a late lead & barely outsprinted third after back-to-back wins |
| 7 | TH RIZZO | Beaten favorite forced into a wide menacing rally & just missed last week, tougher draw this time, yet remains a razor sharp threat for Per Engblom |
Top Contenders: 3-7-6
Driver Choices: Beckwith 7 over 6 | Symington 9 voer 8
7
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | SEIZE CONTROL | Has been hinting of an overdue win since the mid-December claim & after some impossible trips he finally moves inside to set up his serious rally |
| 3 | FRAZIER HANOVER | Wheels right back after delivering a knockout punch as the heavy favorite last Sunday, stays on his toes & draw inside again to be forwardly placed |
| 7 | MARSHALL ZHUKOV | Seems to be trending in the right direction, catapulted off a hot pace to just miss to an inexplicable Lincoln Boulevard last week & banks on another speed target |
Top Contenders: 2-3-7
Driver Choices: Lee 5 over 10
8
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | FULL OF MUSCLES | Steamrolled first over full of trot to just miss in the feature two weeks ago & draws better to follow up on that encouraging effort for Noel Daley |
| 6 | SUPER DUPER COOPER | Cooper remains a constant factor, twice beaten favorite fell a buck shy last week when he tried speed & might revert to an off the pace strategy from post six again |
| 9 | MAHONE SEELSTER | Lived up to the favorite's hype with a convincing/well-driven score from post ten, off that career best he deals with a double class hike & another outside draw |
Top Contenders: 4-6-9
Driver Choices: Beckwith 6 over 1 | Ahle 5 over 3 | Kelly 8 over 7
9
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | SEEYOU AT THEBEACH | Off a two for 42 season, has shown more competitive signs in his last two @ Harrah's Philadelphia & draws inside a field with several easy toss outs |
| 5 | BLUE JEAN BABY | Moves to mid pack off a couple of no-chance miles against TM 71 stock & has big chance to rebound in this very soft MADC affair |
| 8 | BUILDMEUPBUTTERCUP | Has repeatedly paid the price for slow starts, draws a tougher post & lands in a dartboard MADC division banking on pace & trip |
Top Contenders: 3-5-8
Driver Choices: Lee 6 over 1, 10 | Baker 5 over 2 | Beltrami 9 over 3
10
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | QUEEN OF AMERICA A | The Queen rallied to finish a close second in her latest @ Harrah's Philadelphia & she returns to The Big M at a greatly educed level |
| 7 | CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS | Has hit the board in both starts here, fresh off a solid second when he stepped up from the same post & makes his fourth start off a sick scratch |
| 9 | BE DIFFERENT | Off a seven-win/$117k season, he moves outside, but gets some class relief after chasing a 1:52.4 winner & just missed from post ten before that |
Top Contenders: 9-6-7
Driver Choices: Beckwith 8 over 7 | Kelly 2 over 9
11
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | AVF CLAIRE | Now has a couple of needed tighteners under her after a long layoff, draws inside for her third start with Per Engblom & has a winning history here |
| 3 | MY AUGUST MOON A | 1:51.2 performer @ The Big M last season, took three qualifiers to get it right, now drops & draws well again off a much-needed start |
| 6 | CRUISE ALERT | Flashed some late pace for a piece in her latest @ Harrah's Philadelphia, continues down the class ladder with a chance at an overdue win |
Top Contenders: 6-3-2
Driver Choices: Beckwith 2 over 6, 10 | Tritton 3 over 9
12
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | NET WEIGHT | Tripped out to romp in his comeback, then just missed to Exquisite Taste & this lightly-raced 4YO draws inside that rival with substantial potential to turn the tables |
| 6 | EXQUISITE TASTE | Paid off the chalk in his Per Engblom debut @ Harrah's Philadelphia & looms large off a solid third to give his barn a 1-2 punch |
| 9 | TRUMP THE WARRIOR | Lived up the hefty tote hype with a sterling rally & new lifetime mark in his second start for Pat Lachance & stuck outside off that impressive Big M debut |
Top Contenders: 2-9-6
Driver Choices: Beckwith 1 over 4, 6 | Borjas 3 over 7
13
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEFAMATION | Fresh off an overdue win @ The Meadows she picked up minor spoils in a fast final quarter for her new barn & moves inside off that excellent acclimating mile |
| 3 | ALWAYS BE CITY | Off a one for 41 season, she flashed some late pace in a decent acclimating mile & draws better second time Lasix for a barn going well |
| 8 | WON'T BACK DOWN | Off a winless 2025 campaign she stormed home to just miss a 90-1 shocker at the bottom condition, so we're looking something similar from a tougher post |
Top Contenders: 1-3-8
Driver Choices: Beckwith 1 over 4, 7 | Miller 9 over 5
14
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GIRL ALMIGHTY | The Girl offered more vigor to grab the deuce last week, this 10YO lands the rail & can trip out for a long overdue win |
| 6 | MULLIGAN PHILLY | Seven-time winner last season made the mile-track transition with another solid on-the-board finish despite a tough trip over an off track |
| 9 | HD LABBATOY | Moves outside, but drops back down to where she trounced TM 68 types & ran up the score with a new mark of 1:55.4 |
Top Contenders: 9-1-6
Driver Choices: Beckwith 7 over 6, 9