Best Bet: AMERICAN HISTORY (12th) Spot Play: MUSCLE DIAMOND (10th) Race 3 - $25,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool Race 8 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool CHAMPIONSHIP MEET STATS: 50 - 150 / $238.80 (-$61.20) BEST BETS: 10 - 15 / $31.80 (+$1.80) Race 1 (6) DON’T LET’EM blitzed down the road and dug in for a win in his first qualifier and followed it up by just missing versus the highly regarded Greenshoe in his next preparatory race. Half-brother to Zack’s Zommer ($169k, 1:54 4/5) seems ready to show what he has. (5) PROSPECT HILL finished just behind the top pick last time out. He is the first foal from a mare with a decent 1:54 4/5 lifetime mark. (4) STAR TRACK HANOVER has shown speed in the morning but you can’t love that he got beaten on the wire twice. While this is her first by Chapter Seven, this colt is the eighth from She’s A Blizzard, who has produced one big winner in first foal Mymomsablizzard ($480k). Race 2 (3) LOVE LOVE ME TOO raced well from post eight in her lone start behind the gate while coming home in 28 4/5. First foal from Too Soon To Tell gives me less reason than some of the others to avoid them. (4) MOLLYDOOKER looked completely uninterested for most of her last mile but got racy when a foe came alongside. Once clearly the lead her gate got sloppy and she broke. She might not be worth the risk as the possible chalk. (2) HURRIKANE LORI ANN is the fifth foal from a mare that hasn’t produced much. Her morning efforts have been good enough to think she can go with this crowd. Race 3 (4) GLOBAL REVOLUTION came up with two big efforts when last seen here in the amateur ranks and since then has been racing up in class in Pennsylvania. He should be away close to the front and take care of business. (7) FUJI has been racing very well of late and also has the good early speed necessary to secure position and avoid trouble. (5) TECH TITAN can take plenty of air on the rim and might benefit if the top two get needy for the lead. (6) HOT SUMMER KNIGHT won his last two amateur races but has tailed off of late. Race 4 (6) GREENSHOE is the first foal by $656,166 earner and 1:51 3/5 winner Designed To Be. He’s looked spectacular in both morning qualifiers and although he only won by a neck last time, was confidently handled. (4) SHEENA’S BOY dealt with a bit of traffic in the stretch but finished up willingly well behind the top pick. I get the feeling there is more in the tank here and that this son of Trixton could be a surprise in the making. (3) MEMO overcame some adversity when a foe broke in front of him last time. I like that he didn’t let the issues get to him. Race 5 (7) ZERO TOLERANCE has looked like a star in the morning and trainer Joe Holloway can certainly get a young horse ready at first asking. From the first crop of Heston Blue Chip, this gal could get him off on the right foot. (1A) LOVE AMERICANSTYLE qualified in good order before being scratched out of her debut at Buffalo. There could be some talent here. (2) SEA PRINCESS raced well to start her career at Philly and clearly has some go. (3) ST SOMEWHERE didn’t do anything wrong in her morning works at Gaitway; mom was OK with a 1:52 4/5 lifetime mark. Race 6 (6) BATTENBERG tried to rate in his last qualifier and was out-sprinted home. First foal from Coffeecake Hanover ($422,861, 1:52 4/5) will likely be set free a bit more on the engine this time. (7) HUDSON RIVER has looked quite good in the morning and now adds Gingras to the bike. From the first crop of Father Patrick, he is a half-brother to $1.1 million winner The Bank (1:50 4/5). (3) NO DRAMA PLEASE uncorked a strong final quarter at Gaitway to win his lone qualifier. Team Miller and owner Story Inc have been doing good things together. Race 7 (6) HANNELORE HANOVER is the best older trotter in North America taking on more of the ‘B’ squad. Even if she is raced conservatively, she should get the job done. (1) DOUBLE L LINDY figures to sit a good trip behind his speedy stablemate and has the form to step up with this group. (5) PINKMAN looked like his old self last time out. Could the former Hambletonian winner be ready for a strong run in 2018? Race 8 (6) SAMO DIFFERENT DAY has flashed speed without being able to close out his miles lately. Perhaps the switch to Gingras can shake this Hambletonian contender up. (3) DONATOVER was done in by a tougher trip last time. There is some ability here. (7) SIGNAL HILL faces mostly younger foes in his debut for the Wallin barn. (8) HELPISONTHEWAY comes off a big win versus Fourth Dimension but figures to be handled conservatively from the outside post. Race 9 (3) SPECIAL HONOR exploded in the lane last week with a 27 3/5 final quarter. Homebred from Brittany Farms, Katz and Libfeld appears to have some ability. (4) GIVEN raced well in her career debut and now gets Gingras at the helm. (8) STARITA was cruising along on the front when she broke in her pari-mutuel debut. Can she behave? Race 10 (7) MUSCLE DIAMOND gets some nice class relief this week in his fourth start back from nearly a year on the sidelines. Classy 6-year-old could be ready for a big mile. (5) YOU KNOW YOU DO hit a bit of a snag on his road to the Hambletonian last time at Pocono. Back on the big track he could turn things around in a hurry. (10) MISSLAROSE has the early speed to gain position from the outside. Race 11 (8) WHISPERING OAKS blew up at 2-5 in her pari-mutuel debut but Gingras sticks here. Mom set her career mark of 1:55 4/5 as a 2-year-old. (5) FRENCH CAFÉ has put in two solid morning miles in preparation for this event. She is a Father Patrick half-sister to $652k earner French Laundry (1:52 4/5). (3) ATONEMENT kicked home in 27 3/5 most recently and only other foal from Swan Hot Mama was decent (Repentance, $86k, 1:53 3/5). Race 12 (1A) AMERICAN HISTORY came up flat in the North America Cup for some reason. He should perk up against this field. (5) HAYDEN HANOVER comes out of the same race and had no shot from post 9 that night. He’s the clear main danger. (1) CAPTAIN DEO doesn’t seem to have as much talent as the top pair but could be involved if either falter. (8) ALL IT TAKES has come to life in recent weeks but drew into a tough race. [DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]