Race Reviews
Race Reviews For January 24, 2025
Race Review by Ken Warkentin
1
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | SUNSHINE’S FINEST | Fresh off a very productive 2024 campaign he unleashed a hard-charging third by a neck last week & draws a bit better off that revival |
| 6 | FERDINAND A | Emerged from a shuffle with a solid second to an explosive winner in The Opener, had missed 25 days & continues to ramp it up since the late November sick scratch |
| 9 | URBAN RENEWAL | Imagine being just 21 hundredths of a second off a triple deadheat for win, plus he had stretch traffic to deal with, moves outside, but a follow up is anticipated |
Top Contenders: 4-6-9
Driver Choices: Sheridan 3 over 5
2
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | EASY AS THAT | Just two for 31 last year, freshened after a decent run @ Cumberland, qualified with some energy here with Brett Beckwith & draws well for his second start in a new barn |
| 4 | SARGEANT SONNY | Paid off the chalk with a post ten career best here three starts back, slow start & broken equipment last out, gets some class & post relief & note the barn change |
| 5 | ARNIE’S ARMY | Shows a pair of recent wins @ Freehold against TM 72.5 types there & drops off a nonthreatening fifth against TM 74.5 in an acceptable acclimating mile here |
Top Contenders: 4-3-5
Driver Choices: Herschberger 10 over 9
3
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DECOY | Offered a late bid from post eight in a much-needed comeback mile, dips slightly in price & moves inside for his second try with trainer Richard Johnson |
| 6 | TALBOTCREEKWHISKEY | That strong third from post six two starts back was encouraging & now the 10YO veteran gelding drops into a very soft spot |
| 7 | RISKY BUDDY | Went on a recent form spree @ Freehold before a slow start cost him there & draws a challenging post here after missing a month in a pari mutuel puzzler |
Top Contenders: 1-6-7
Driver Choices: Beckwith 1 over 8 | Chisholm 5 over 10
4
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | STARLIT RAMBO | Has been hinting of an overdue win, fresh off a solid third with trot at both ends from post nine & draws better to employ his stalking strategy |
| 5 | GO LONG | Kicked home with :27 + change speed from tough spots in his last two & now makes his third start off the bench for his new barn |
| 7 | JETT RINK | 1:54.3 winner here last season flashed more early speed & finished on the fringe fourth again, that was three weeks ago, post seven is a bit tougher, but he drops a notch |
Top Contenders: 4-7-5
Driver Choices: Irvine 4 over 2 | Beckwith 1 over 10
5
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | SEE YOU FRIDAY | Off a one for 39 season he finished third again behind Johnny Chip three weeks ago, draws inside that rival & seems to be trending in the right direction |
| 7 | JOHNNY CHIP | Kicked off his 2025 season with a rousing repeat fresh off another claim, post seven & three weeks off to consider, but definitely one of the sharpest in this one |
| 8 | AYR PIONEER GB | Set a rated pace & gave way late after a career best romp & winning his first two here, tackles post eight again & hasn’t raced in a month, which complicates matters |
Top Contenders: 7-2-8
Driver Choices: T. Miller 8 over 10
6
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FINITE | Brushed & crushed with an impressive performance as the heavy chalk last week & logically looms large as a serious repeat threat from the rail |
| 4 | CAVIART IRISH LUCK | Was somehow able to turn her game around with an improved second to Finite last week & draws better to take another step up for Noel Daley |
| 10 | QUEEN OF AMERICA | Unleashed an eye-catching rally off cover to capture her US debut, moves outside the other Team Burke standout, but there’s plenty more in her tank |
Top Contenders: 1-10-4
Driver Choices: None
7
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | LYONS MIKI | Pace compromised & rallied stoutly to hit the ticket with a :27.1 last week, trending right recently, draws inside again, so look for her to take advantage with a better start |
| 4 | GOING AWAY | Dropped to the 71.5 TM Rating & blasted down the road to a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2, draws well for the bump back up & retains Mark Herschberger |
| 8 | SWEET CAROLINE IR | Has hit the board in her last three, beaten favorite a lively runner up in her last two, tough draw, but remains in top form for a sharp barn |
Top Contenders: 2-4-8
Driver Choices: Irvine 9 over 3 | Ahle 5 over 10
8
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHASIN’ SUNSHINE | Lightly-raced Greenshoe 4YO lived up to the hype with a strong second fresh off the bench & lands the rail with potential untapped for Team Alagna |
| 8 | FIRST IGOR S | Beaten favorite again stayed flat, set a solid pace & settled for third from post ten, stuck outside, yet remains a hot item who could steal it for Per Engblom |
| 9 | CHUCK | Stormed home from China to blow up the board first time trotting hopples, then overcame a nightmare trip to grab second as the beaten favorite, lightly-raced 4YO continues to find his best stride |
Top Contenders: 9-1-8
Driver Choices: Herschberger 7 over 10
9
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TAKE YOUR PICK | Finally draws inside & continues to drop down the condition ladder, don’t like the three weeks off, but note she was strong in the win column last year |
| 6 | JENDEN STRIKE A | Fired hard from post eight, sat a pocket off a rated pace & outsprinted fifth last week, now drops another notch for her second try off a sick scratch |
| 7 | SPROUT | 8YO mare tripped out to a big upset & new lifetime mark two starts back, then no factor last week, drops back down with tricky post & worth a long look |
Top Contenders: 1-6-7
Driver Choices: Ginsburg 5 over 10
10
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MON AMOUR | Beaten favorite squandered a second over trip, but drops back down to a winning level & lands the rail again to employ his stalking style in a competitive field |
| 5 | TOCCOA FALLS | Was finally able to turn things around with a decisive wire-to-wire score last week, faces a double hike, but owns plenty of back class off that confidence booster |
| 7 | TIPSY MONI | 12-time winner last season dominated the FM Open @ Yonkers for Per Engblom, jogged in her Big M qualifier & can outclass these if she’s ready |
Top Contenders: 7-1-5
Driver Choices: Beckwith 2 over 3 | Boyd 5 over 4
11
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | OUR SHELL BELLE | Tripped out to a confidence-boosting mild upset two starts back, then was pace/trip compromised with a :26.4 & draws better for another shot at this level |
| 6 | MALUKA MISS N | After a much-needed acclimating mile for her new barn she added Justin Irvine & just missed with big effort & now drops a notch into a handicapper’s headscratcher |
| 7 | ILLUSION SEELSTER | Bumps up a notch fresh off a sharp score from the rail last week, that was quite the rebound mile & she’s worth consideration despite a tougher post |
Top Contenders: 6-2-7
Driver Choices: None
12
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | PACK YOUR BAGS | Capitalized on a slick drive from post eight to destroy the toteboard at 86-1 two weeks ago & rewarded with better post off that monstrous bounce back mile |
| 5 | PAPRIKE BLUE CHIP | Offered plenty of late pace in a much-needed re-acclimating mile after missing a month & moves to mid pack off that encouraging effort |
| 7 | ROCKIN ROGER | Has been on the edges fourth in his last two, now makes his third start off a sick scratch & just needs the right speed set up & traffic-free trip |
Top Contenders: 5-2-7
Driver Choices: T. Miller 7 over 3 | Irvine 9 over 5
13
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | USEYOURLOVETONIGHT | Just missed from post six here @ the 74.5 TM Rating three starts back, last week’s mile came after missing a month & lands post two again in a dartboard field |
| 3 | DONATELLO HANOVER | Made some noise here in the MADC Series last month, only one for 24 last year, not liking the 26-day layoff, but the inside draw might give him an edge |
| 5 | HURRIKANE WILLIE G | One for 22 last season & nonthreatening fringe player in his last two, yet lands in a prime mid pack spot for our Trainer of the Week |
Top Contenders: 5-3-2
Driver Choices: Beckwith 1 over 6,10 | Boyd 7 over 9
14
Race
| H | Horse | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | QUEEN SUN RYSER | Exploited a real soft spot with an emphatic romp as the heavy favorite & draws inside again for the bump back up in class, while brimming with confidence |
| 3 | BETTE TINA | Has fashioned a nice three-race form spree, solid runner up to a dominant winner two weeks ago & draws inside as a serious stalking threat |
| 4 | THANEEYA | Used a couple of Freehold miles to revive her form & fresh off a nice effort to chase Queen Sun Ryser for the deuce last week |
Top Contenders: 2-3-5
Driver Choices: Herschberger 5 over 8 | Beckwith 4 over 10