R-1
Willie U the New York bred kicks off the card for us. Should get a nice forward trip under John McKee. Solid performance on New Year’s Eve last out. Repeat of that has him close in a competitive lid lifter for this Saturday night card. 4- Bang was a solid closing 3rd last out just beat neck. With a better break today he could be tough. 1- Brews Toonie Toss should get a ground saving trip from the rail under Franklin and is a solid win candidate on form and speed figures.
R2-
7- Ian Smith projects to set the pace. He’s was a solid second last out at this level and if he can clear this group to set an uncontested lead, then he should be double tough. 1a- Man of Blues drops back down to the $8,000 claiming company after three races against protected starter allowance company. Last time at this level at TP in November he was a winner. Prescott in the saddle helps the case too on this one. 5- Mansour should be closing and if the top two picks get caught up in a duel creating a fast pace, then this is the top closer in the race in our opinion.
R3-
1- Calanddave ran a clunker last time. Not much excuse we can find. Hoping he runs to the two back performance. If so he’s a worthy co-favorite with the 8. 5- Infinite Magic comes in off a long layoff. He drops down in class into claiming company, which is a concern. We hope the trainer has him entered in a competitive spot where we can win off the layoff instead of trying to get him claimed away. If this one is taking a lot of money at window take note it’s probably live. 8- Big Iron was an impressive winner last time for $15,000 N2L company and steps up to N3L company today. We think he can handle the class test…… FWIW the Wesley Ward looks beatable here and could create value as a bad favorite possibly.
R4-
1- En Hanse has some back class as a three year old at TP. He needs to find that form from a few years back to win this. But with the seemingly solid work tab on paper and barn he comes out of, we’ll pick he’s ready to fire a big race back at his favorite track TP. 8- Mount Calvary was a solid second last time for $18,000 company. He gets in this allowance race being entered for the option $25,000 claiming price. If he get a hot pace to close into as projected, then McKee could find himself cutting down the frontrunners nearing the wire. 3- Hallie’s Halo was a solid second for allowance non winners of two lifetime last out. A step up in grade as conditions go, but this is not the best OC$25/N1X group, so the entrants stepping up on class on paper we don’t think are facing that much tougher on the track.
R5-
Jackson Chrome mad a wide closing rush first start of the meet on 12/29. Should get a better trip today from the 5 post. Also should move forward second start of the meet. 9- Hugh B. was a solid second in both of his last two races versus similar company today. He’ll be there at the wire again. 10- Barrister Jim will need to be fit off the long layoff to win. He’s got natural speed so with the short run to the far turn in a 5.5 furlong race today hopefully he can clear the field and not get hung wide around the turn. Hustle rider Victor Lebron in the saddle should get him forward early, which is the trip he needs to win.
R6-
2- Heavenly Hill should get a nice tracking ground saving trip from the 2 post. Goes second off the claim for the high winning percentage Mike Maker barn. Expect a big race today. 6- Straightouttapopcorn ran a big speed figure that is 4 lengths better than anyone else entered in the race. Big win shot if that speed figure is repeated today. Do note he had a nice pace setup in that race by getting the opportunity to close into a fairly fast pace. Either way he’s a big win threat from off the pace under McKee. 8- Dial Me will probably open up a big favorite owned by the 200+ person Churchill Down Racing Club. Trust me if he opens up favored early, that’s not any ‘in the know barn money’, that’s just the fact the early pools at TP are not that large in the early betting of a race and there’s so many owners with this horse that all those small bets combined can dominate the early wagering. Do note that regardless of early wagering in this race, Dial Me fits on from with these and can win.
R7-
Cora Anne is the top pick who projects to stalk the inside speed and get first run on the closers. Solid performances in the last two both on form and speed figures. With the projects favorable trip, we’ll make this one the choice to upset 6- Vida Leva Eu. ‘Vida, our second choice, does her best running on the lead and has some speed to her inside to deal with. If she can negotiate a comfortable trip given the other speeds in here, then she’s going to be tough to run down. 3- Play for Play makes her first start of the meet shipping in from Presquile Downs in Pennsylvania. If she’s fit off the layoff she’s a threat to go gate to wire under the veteran hustle rider Perry Outz.
R8-
7- Let It Go Indigo- Is the top pick off that solid race just getting gathered in late at this level back in mid-December. We’ll pick today he’s going to relax some and get a nice tracking trip off some layoff and first time starter horses who project to take money at the window because of their trainer. 5-1 is a solid price here. 8- Strike Play will be a heavy favorite in the Saturday nightcap. Ward and Garcia team up here. Has been off since July when hitting the board going 5 furlongs on the turf at the Meadowlands. Gelded and dropping down to maiden claiming $30,000 company today. We aren’t entirely sure he’s going to get the mile today off the layoff, but he’s the second choice out of respect for the connections. 4- Super Clear rounds out the tri to close out the day.