Pocono: Analysis for Saturday 8/22/26

BEST BET: SOUTHWIND FARGO (3^rd)

SPOT PLAY: DIABOLIC HILL (13^th)

Race 1: $75K Delmonica Hanover Consolation II - $10K GTD Pick 4

(8) ISLANDGIRL HANOVER has the difficult task of overcoming post 8 today. She has flashed the early speed needed to accomplish the feat and is perfect in two starts over the track. (1) SPARKS has early speed and form but isn’t a filly I’m excited to bet at shorter odds. (4) NUANCE has been a new horse since a four-week break and while she doesn’t have a win this year, her recent seconds were to better foes.

Race 2: $75K James Lynch Consolation II

(4) BIG WEEKEND comes with the question mark of more than seven weeks on the sidelines but did qualify back in good order 11 days ago. Her best will win this rest. (5) CAVIART MADRID also too some time away and now makes her third start back. She was much better last out and gets McCarthy for this trip. (2) AMIRA HANOVER seemed to get a bit crooked and lost her stride at The Meadowlands. She’s been hiding in overnight races lately and needs to prove she can behave and step up.

Race 3: $100K Earl Beal Consolation II

(5) SOUTHWIND FARGO rolled to a career best 1:51 win in his lone start with Gingras in the bike. That mile is much faster than anything this group has been able to muster in the past. (1) CREATE ESCAPE isn’t known for his blazing gate speed but should stick close enough from post one; needs right trip. (8) ARDONNE finally put in a good mile in his latest race and maybe that means Svanstedt has unlocked his potential; post eight makes his task difficult.

Race 4: $100K Max Hempt Consolation II

(6) TOAST OF THE TOWN put up a huge 1:48 3/5 win in his last start over the track and Bartlett was at the helm that week. Sweet Lou-sired gelding has been keeping great company and should enjoy today’s competition. (3) SUPERCHAMP HANOVER came up short in the late stages last time after missing five weeks of racing. He’ll be firing off the gate and will give the top one all he can handle. (5) AINTPLAYINNICE has been fairly consistent and might benefit from the addition of Tetrick.

Race 5: $100K Sebastian K FFA Trot - $5K GTD Pick 5

This race is loaded with potential early speed players and that probably plays into the hands of the speedsters on the inside of the gate. (2) NORDIC CATCHER S was no match for Bourbonista and Antognoni last time and the competition doesn’t get that much easier if at all here against (3) LEXUS KODY. That said, he won here in 1:51 two back after missing nearly a year and in theory he could be ready to peak in start three on the year. The latter never tosses in a bad mile and only a ridiculous trip could keep him from being a major trip threat. (1) HILLEXOTIC could be interesting here at least underneath because if Kakaley guns off the gate they may have a difficult time getting around him early.

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Race 6: $125K James Lynch Consolation I

(1) LAVENDER SEELSTER has been keeping very good company in the Ontario Gold races and that has kept her from visiting the winner’s circle very often. McCarthy got a test drive while in town to drive Beau Jangles and that should lift his confidence in her today. (3) P N G SHADOW seemingly is better than her stablemate but lacks much class. If her success versus lesser is real, she’ll be tough. (8) ON HEIR is capable of firing out in this spot and should offer a big price. (6) SPOON FED has won two straight versus lesser and she’s another that I wouldn’t like to take a short price on if she gets bet heavily.

Race 7: $125K Delmonica Hanover Consolation I

(8) SHIMMERING HANOVER has won four straight and she doesn’t mind taking air on the outside during the mile. Last time she went a lifetime best picking up Gingras and she may just be able to overcome the outside. (2) SOUTHWIND CHASKA finally got into the win column last time but she seems more and more like a filly who needs a decent trip to win. That makes her risky at a shorter price. (6) BUSY MISS LISSY looked good winning her Hambletonian Oaks elim but couldn’t repeat that mile in the final. Dunn joining the team today makes her intriguing.

Race 8: $200K Max Hempt Consolation I

(1) TREACHEROUS LOU has been super in his recent overnight starts and ok in the Adios elim. Unfortunately he drew outside in the Adios final. There are no killers in this field and he ranks highly. (4) FRANTIC HANOVER could be 3-5 in here due to the company he has been keeping. I’m just not confident in him after many attempts to win and no success. (3) APOCALYPSEBLUECHIP has won two straight including over this track; capable on best.

Race 9: $200K Earl Beal Consolation I - $5K GTD Pick 3

(1) REQUIEM finally got in the win column last time at Red Mile and that was against a pretty strong group. He should take charge early in the mile here and prove tough. (5) NIX NACKEN may be the most talented horse but he’s better on a big track. He was poorly driven in the Hambo elim and made a costly early break last time. (4) HIGHLAND DESTINY took a step forward last time but really wasn’t facing much.

Race 10: $250K G1 James Lynch - $20K GTD Pick 4

(5) BE PERFECT BG could provide some value here after the defeat last time. I’m not sure what happened in the Shady Daisy – maybe the heat was too much. Expecting a rebound here. (4) SANGRIA SUMMER showed her worth winning the Shady Daisy and you have to love that she outdrew her top rivals. (7) SHACARRI has now won three straight and will be a sweet price here. This girl has always had talent. (6) DARLINS ANGEL hasn’t missed the board this year and is six of seven in the exacta.

Race 11: $250K G1 Delmonica Hanover

(5) LITTLE ROAD looks like an interesting play at 10-1 on the morning line. She’s won three straight and will certainly be on the lead or in the pocket. (1) VICTORIANAS SECRET has been a win machine all year and if not for a break in her Hambo Oaks elim, maybe she’d have won five straight. (2) CUSTOM is better on the big tracks but certainly capable here if Bartlett can save ground and find space up the wide passing lane. (6) SETYOURSIGHTSHIGH is a quality filly but not one I can support at under 5-2.

Race 12: $300K G2 Max Hempt

(4) ODDS ON MR MAMBA is at his best from off the pace and he finally lands in a spot where he can land on cover due to the number of talented horses on the inside of the gate. I’ll take the price and hope MacDonald gets that live flow. (3) AL PAPI was super in the Adios elim and may’ve won the final by more if not for some bad steps on the final turn. After six stakes appearances in seven starts he got a well-deserved four-week break. He’ll be firing out here and should be sitting a good trip. (2) BRANDON BLVD didn’t have it in the Cane Pace for whatever reason. If he rebounds he’ll be tough but I can also see him winding up first-over this week. (1) MELILLO needs the right trip but could be a major threat if he gets it.

Race 13: $300K G2 Earl Beal

(6) DIABOLIC HILL adds Lasix today and I wonder if maybe he’s needed it for a short while but there was no sense in adding it when the Hambletonian prohibits the medication. Either way, this is the perfect spot for him to fire out and sit no worse than a pocket trip. There are no excuses this week. (3) MINOAN has been racing very well for a number of weeks now and he should be sitting top three with a chance to succeed. (1) INEXPRESSABLE is a trip threat and as such I’d need 4-1 or higher to even consider him. (7) MAGIC PUNK could be interesting if able to leave around the top pick and set a rated pace.

Race 14: $100K Always B Miki FFA Pace

(4) DANDY IDEAL is off an eye-popping mile at Hoosier and now he returns to his home track where he’s won eight of 11 races. It’s hard not to like him. (1) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE should be firing off the gate and that leaves him likely in the pocket behind the top pick. (7) CAPTAIN ALBANO was brave in victory last time in the McKee but has his work cut out for him from the outside post today. (5) COACHES CORNER could be a factor with a smooth trip.