Pocono: Analysis for Sunday 10/11

MEET STATS: 57 - 210 / $318.20 (-$101.80)
BEST BETS: 9 - 15 / $23.80 (-$6.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 15 / $33.40 (+$3.40)
BEST BET - SCOOTNROLL (10th)
SPOT PLAY - NORTHERN SWIFT (5th)

Race 1 - 10000-12500CLM HCP Pace

(3) AUTOTUNE HANOVER finished in 27 and change after getting shuffled back last week. I'm willing to give him another shot based on that and hopefully he'll continue to have some value. (4) ASCARYONE HANOVER ended up further back in the field last Sunday and couldn't rally. Napolitano might have him closer to the pace this time, and I could easily see him rebounding. (2) CATCH MY SHADOW finished a gaining second at this level a week ago and is drawn well to get a similar stalking journey.

Race 2 - 10000-12500CLM HCP Pace

(1) SPRINGBRIDGE PROUD had an impossible trip last Sunday as he got parked all the way. He gets a driver change to Napolitano and moves to the pole position to help him out this time. (8) ALWAYS B MAGIC is in solid form for the high-percentage Susan Marshall barn and was able to overcome post nine a week ago to finish second to a well-meant Fernado. (7) XPERT BAYAMA drops down from the $15,000 claimers in his second try for trainer Tee Wine. He's another one coming off a trouble line as he went a 25 4/5 first quarter on October 3 and predictably tired. Marcus Miller handles the driving on this occasion.

Race 3 - 10000-12500CLM HCP Trot

(4) NOBLE PRIZE gets a trainer change to Tom Wine II here and also switches drivers to Napolitano. He picked this one over another he won with in this class last week, so he must be expecting a good effort. (7) STOP RESISTIN had to do the heavy lifting from first-up last Sunday and gave way in the last quarter. His prior two performances were both solid, and I'll look for a better trip to get him back to that kind of showing tonight. (2) MEETMEINTHEMIDDLE has a win, a fourth, and a second in this last three appearances and gained strongly in the lane a week ago.

Race 4 - 7500CLM Pace

(3) NEEDLESS TO SAY defeated $10,000 claimers at Pocono back on 8-31 and slides down a notch off a fourth-place finish against that class at Harrah's Philadelphia most recently. (2) SPECTACULAR ROCK was second-best to runaway Cole Porter N last Sunday in a $7,500 claimer and was Wallis's choice in this contest. (6) NEWS WATCH gained positions in the last quarter to take third in that same event Spectacular Rock comes out of and could add some value in tris and supers.

Race 5 - F&M 10000CLM Pace

(4) NORTHERN SWIFT prevailed over NW3000L5's on the 20th of September and lands in a more reasonable spot here after facing better since that win. (9) ALWAYS BE LUCY gets away from Shes Sporty A tonight, and her connections may be keen to take advantge of that since that foe has been the terror of this class lately. (2) MARYMACISBACK moves down to face $10,000 claimers and gets post relief. Jim Taggart Jr. gets a chance to pilot the Garcia-Herrera trainee.

Race 6 - 7500CLM Pace

(7) DAFINATY is reunited with Napolitano tonight. He drove him to his last win on 9-7 at Pocono, and I will hope more aggressive tactics like he used then are coming. (2) FOOL OF IDEAS has hit the board in three of his last six races and is back in the Susan Marshall barn tonight. (5) R GAUWITZ HANOVER pulled a big upset when he rallied from well off-the-pace to win last Sunday. He likely won't have the same value, but he could get some speed to chase again.

Race 7 - NW3200L5 Trot

(8) DARTY should be tighter tonight after getting that start under his belt last Sunday. He had been idle since 8-9 prior to that, and he didn't race badly, finishing third. (3) BIGBOY ROSCO was Napolitano's pick in here, and thought he is winless in 2020, he exits a second-place finish in his last effort. (1) MANDELA BLUE CHIP raced a little better last week and does show the ability to hit the board against better NW6000L5's in his lines, so maybe he can do that here.

Race 8 - 7500CLM PAce

(8) MYSTERY ISLAND overcame post eight to defeat $7,500 claimers back on 8-17 and has been worse than third only twice in his last six. (1) MAGIC TRICKS hasn't been showing much of anything since late August but does move inside and adds Tyler Buter for the solid Mike Watson barn. (6) CHANCELLORCULLEN N was unable to take advantage to dropping down to the $7,500 claimers a week ago but gets another shot at them here and has shown the ability to race well in this class before.

Race 9 - NW3200L5 Trot

(4) CELEBRITY MASERATI picked up a confidence-building win down in Virginia and returns to Pocono here. He was fourth against NW6000L5's when last seen locally on 9-22, so he gets to drop down from that. (1) HANOVERS BEST ended up first-over last Sunday and didn't do as well as she had the week prior to that. Maybe Buter switches it up and goes to the lead on this occasion. (3) WHOUCALNCRAZY was not Napolitano's selection in this race, but he moves down a notch from the NW6000L5's and posted a second against these types back in August.

Race 10 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(2) SCOOTNROLL saw his undefeated streak end last Sunday, but it was still a fantastic effort as he kept digging all the way to the wire from first-up. I'll bank on him being able to turn the tables tonight. (4) BILLY LINCOLN N was the one who took down Scootnroll after being well-rated on the engine by Marcus Miller. He stays aboard tonight and remains in the same class. (1) JAHAN HANOVER was fourth at this level most recently. That was a tough group that included the red-hot Nicholas Beach and a stakes-caliber horse in Tito Rocks, but I don't think this bunch is quite as salty.

Race 11 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(2) PEMBROKE YOYO led and was able to hold on for a win at this level last Sunday. He could be even sharper tonight since that was his first race since 9-9, and Shane Tritton takes over the training. (3) CUPID HANOVER scored in the Stallion Series at Pocono in late July and exits stakes company tonight. (1) LAZER JET trotted home in a good final quarter to finish fifth in the same event Pembroke Yoyo comes out of. He moves to the pole position here and I'll include in the hopes of spicing up exotic wagers.

Race 12 - F&M NW6000L5 Pace

(1) SOMTHNGABOUTMARY N grabbed her most recent win the last time she got to compete in the NW6000L5 class on August 23 and moves down off a good fourth-place effort in a NW9000L5. (3) JUSLIKEAQUEEN took one shot against NW9000L5's and now drops back to the level where she was second two back. She was also Napolitano's choice in here. (5) PERSISTENT BETTOR was not Napolitano's pick but was third behind the classy Alexis Faith in her last appearance, and the Hallett barn has been doing well.

Race 13 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(4) REDDING HANOVER wound up first-over last Sunday and couldn't sustain his move in the final quarter. I'll look for Buter to grab some cover this time and hopefully finish up like he did two back when he beat NW2's. (6) WARRAWEE VELOCE didn't really have much excuse last week when he led as the heavy favorite and Ben Rockin swallowed him up. I'll play against off that. (1) GOLD STAR YODER gets Napolitano to steer tonight and did close in 28 seconds flat a week ago.

Race 14 - NW6000L5 Trot

(3) ABBIE'S CELTICLASS visited the winner's circle on 9-3 when she raced in the NW7000L5 class at Harrah's Philadelphia. She's been facing better at Pocono since that, but maybe the drop can get her back in contention tonight. (6) DYNAMIC EDGE set up shop on the lead on 10-3 but couldn't hold off Archibald. I think he'll probably be the favorite again, and I'll swing against. (2) GLIDE IN THE WIND moves up off a win last Sunday versus NW3000L5's. He did tally comfortably and doesn't face the toughest field here, so I think he can hit the ticket.