BEST BET: LASTING DREAM (1st) SPOT PLAY: ONAJETPLANE (13th) Race 1: $75K Delmonica Hanover Conso. II - $5K GTD Pick 4 (1) LASTING DREAM jumps off the page on paper, not just because of her ability and form but the speed she can deliver to get her away in good order from the pylons. She’ll be the chalk here and deservedly so. (5) CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS was hurt by an outside post in the Oaks but did herself in as well when making a break. The ability is there but there are questions to answer as well, including how she’ll do racing on a five-eighths for the first time. (7) LADY LANDIA seems to be having some gait issues and that kept her well off the pace in the Oaks elim. Unless she warms up fast like she has things corrected and might leave, avoid her. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: $75K James Lynch Memorial Conso. II (3) SIMPLY PERFECT gets a weak call in here as I have more questions than answer when it comes to trip and potential early speed. The certainty is that this gal likes the track and will be firing to the front. She should be in position to win. (7) FAZE could be the most talented of this group. She’s certainly been keeping better company. Does she find the early speed needed to get involved? (8) LILY WHITE HANOVER has hinted at ability but really never put it all together. It’s hard to believe today will be her day from a tough post to overcome. Race 3: $100K Earl Beal Memorial Conso. II (2) CHEERS HANOVER seems likely to make the top here and work out no worse than a pocket trip. He’s far from a standout but has been keeping good company in PASS. (4) FRANK LEAHY also comes out of PASS and while his finishes haven’t been as good, notice that his last two tries versus those types came in 1:52 and change miles, faster than what the top pick is exiting. (8) MANOAH took plenty of air in his last and was in too tough prior to that. If Tetrick can figure out the trip this guy has a shot. (3) BLANK is capable of winning but seems like a bad play as a horse that will take action, has shown no early speed and is winless. Race 4: $100K Max Hempt Memorial Conso. II (1) SUGAR MAN lands in the sweetest spot he has seen in a few starts as he gets away from the division leaders this week. Tetrick figures to settle him down and make one move to the front. (7) WILD BILL WYATT hasn’t really lived up to his potential just yet but I’ve been encouraged by his last two starts against older with Lasix added. Gingras picks up the drive and I can see him taking a shot for the front. (2) JOEL AND THE JETS has turned in some decent efforts but seems likely to be overbet in my opinion. (5) WORLD OF WISHES adds Lasix off a start where he stopped for no apparent reason. A rebound is very possible on a track he has done very well over. Race 5: $100K Sebastian K Invitational - $5K GTD Pick 5 (3) WARRAWEE MICHELLE only has one win on the year but is certainly facing an easier overall field from top to bottom. The post is ideal to race from on or off the pace. (8) SECURITY PROTECTED would be my pick from a better post. He’s been super in his last two starts and really hasn’t been unleashed yet. I just doubt that will happen this week, so a trip may be required. (1) SIR PINOCCHIO hasn’t been on his game in quite some time. That said, all of his miles were on the big track, which doesn’t really suit his early speed style. I wouldn’t be shocked if Bartlett tried to park everyone out and go down the road. Race 6: $125K James Lynch Memorial Conso. I (5) GIGGLINGONTHEBEACH left and took a shuffle against much better at The Meadowlands last time. Prior to that she was a good second behind Miki And Minnie (racing later on the card). This appears to be an ideal spot for her to exert herself early. (4) PILAR HANOVER has been fairly versatile but seems to be in a great spot to flash her early speed and work out a trip near the action. (3) WESTWINDS got some confidence last time. She’s another who has faced better and could enjoy the more even competition. Race 7: $125K Delmonica Hanover Conso. I (5) R DUTCHESS was racing great heading into the Oaks elimination where she came up flat. Then she scratched sick, so maybe that affected her in the Oaks as well. Assuming everything is cleared up now this looks like a decent spot. (1) HIGHLANDSTARBURST has been right there each week since the barn change but her lone win came when she raced from behind. Do we see those tactics now? (7) MISS BELMAR is the most talented filly in the field but one that may not show the early speed necessary to win. I’d play her at 3-1 or higher. Race 8: $200K Max Hempt Memorial Conso. I (8) PAPI’S ROCKET has been an also-ran in most of his recent races while taking on a number of horses who would be considered favorites or contenders in here. Gingras will almost certainly send him hard off the gate and has a reasonable chance at pulling off an upset. (2) RAILROAD STATION should get around #1 easily enough. He was super closing in the Adios elim but showed nothing in the final. Underachiever may’ve landed in a good spot to get a nice piece. (6) LITE UP THE WORLD is far and away the most talented horse in the field. That said, he’s never shown early speed and broke in his lone start on a five-eighths. I think you have to bet against him as the heavy chalk and if he beats you, tip your hat. Race 9: $200K Earl Beal Memorial Conso. I - $5K GTD Pick 3 (4) FASHION GREEN could be one of those horses that is super-fast on small tracks and simply doesn’t move up on the big ones. He’s back on his preferred track size and should prove very tough to beat. (6) GIVE ME A YANKEE went a gigantic mile last week in what I believe was a stakes record time. Colt seems to be getting better and better. (3) HEY PORTER has been unable to win in 2025 but he’s only been worse than third one time. Race 10: $250K James Lynch Memorial - $10K GTD Pick 4 This is the race everyone has been waiting for going on almost a year now. The two best 2-year-old fillies of 2024 meet for the first time in their career midway through their second year on the track and I have to give the slight edge to (2) MIKI AND MINNIE. The bottom line is that she has consistently put up faster miles and defeated better foes than her rival. Now I wouldn’t take 2-5 on her but if the odds are within a couple of ticks, she’s the pick. (6) CHANTILLY doesn’t have the flashy times of the top pick but notice the nearly undefeated record. Don’t fault the defeat last time, she was very conservatively driven versus older foes and got locked in traffic while loaded with pace. (1) RODEO DRIVE DEO is a very nice filly that simply isn’t as fast as the top pick. Race 11: $250K Delmonica Hanover (7) YO TILLIE is perfect in five starts this year and simply hasn’t had an equal in the division. The post isn’t ideal but it won’t matter unless another horse finds a gear they haven’t shown in 2025. (2) WHAT A BID HANOVER has been “acting like a teenager” according to her connections and that has led to consecutive breaks. At this point most people are going to jump off the bandwagon but the situation is a bit different here in that she draws inside on a new surface. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Svanstedt aired her out from the start to give her a new look at things. (3) CONVERSANO has been almost as unblemished as the top pick. She turned in a sharp mile in the Oaks to win and certainly merits respect. (6) DELANEY HANOVER might be up against it here unless she can muster some early speed or get the perfect flow. She’s extremely talented but might prefer the big track. Race 12: $300K Max Hempt Memorial (5) DANDY IDEAL seems like a worthwhile value play in a field where he’ll be fourth choice, even though he missed by just a head to #3 back in June in his one Grand Circuit start. Hunter Oakes trainee has won four straight versus lesser, the last three at 1-5 or lower odds. Now he lands on the track where he set a career mark of 1:48 2/5 and should have a number of viable cover escorts to his inside. (1) PRINCE HAL HANOVER is clearly the horse to beat off back to back stakes wins on smaller tracks. He’ll be firing out hard from the pylons and might take a “no prisoners” approach. (6) CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC could offer better value than normal given the competition and that Dunn chose off. Drivers are wrong all the time, so don’t let that deter you. This guy is back in form and a serious contender. (3) TWISTED DESTINY certainly has a chance to win but is a horse I’ll fade due to poor value and the somewhat likely possibility of a first-over trip. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 13: $300K Earl Beal Memorial (1) ONAJETPLANE regressed some in terms of time with the shoes back on last week but remained very sharp in winning his second straight. In the Hambo elim he dealt with traffic trouble that kept him from the big dance. The inside post is a good advantage for him here and should allow McCarthy to work out no worse than a pocket trip as the second or third choice. (4) SUPER CHAPTER is clearly the one to beat after finishing second in the Hambletonian, his only loss on the year. My main question is whether he has the early speed on the smaller track to make the front or if he’s going to be stuck first-over. (2) GAP KRONOS S gets all of the attention now that his stablemate Nordic Catcher is sadly out for the year. He raced well in the Hambo and he’s capable of getting a nice piece here at a price. (5) EMOTICON LEGACY hasn’t appeared quite as sharp as earlier in the year and the smaller track may not suit his style. That said, he’s very capable of winning. Race 14: $100K Always B Miki Invitational Pace (2) MAXIMUS MIKI clearly had an off day in the McKee last time. Every prior effort was solid and you have to think he’ll revert to form at what will be a much better mutuel. (5) CAPTAIN ALBANO hasn’t been able to shine thus far in his 4-year-old season but should be helped in a big way by the switch to the smaller track as it suits his “near the front” style. (3) KEN HANOVER is clearly the horse to beat and the divisional leader right now. That said, he’ll likely be an underlay in a field with talent.