Pocono: Analysis for Sunday 7/19

MEET STATS: 14 - 42 / $62.20 (-$21.80)
BEST BETS: 2 - 3 / $5.40 (-$0.60)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 3 / $4.60 (-$1.40)
BEST BET - INSTA GLAM (10th)
SPOT PLAY - ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX (9th)

Race 1 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(5) ARCLIGHT HANOVER had a win and a second in NW3's at Harrah's Philadelphia and gave the PA All-Stars a shot where he was fourth in the fastest division. He shifts back to overnight company tonight, and I'll put on top. (3) CUPID HANOVER beat NW2 locally two back and then also stepped up to take on PA All-Stars company where he faded from first-over. Like with my top pick, I think this is a more reasonable spot tonight, and he's usable. (1) BELLA AVA found her form against NW3000L5's and NW6000L5's recently and slides into this class under the career earnings cap. A definite threat, but I was hoping for a better price elsewhere.

Race 2 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(4) COLUMBO makes his third start of 2020 tonight and gets to stretch out on Pocono's five-eighths-mile track after being up at Saratoga. He had a productive 2-year-old campaign, and I'll hope he's ready for a good performance in this wide-open race. (3) BEN ROCKING gets an inside post tonight after a series of outside assignments, and I think he also gets into a softer edition of this class rather unlike the one last week that went in 1:50 3/5. (5) SUNSETBOOZECRUISE exits the Excelsior A Series in New York for this event. That 26 and change last quarter at Vernon most recently catches the eye.

Race 3 - Pennsylvania All-Stars 2YO Filly Trot

(8) KAYLA'S PLAYMATE competed in a high-quality baby race at the Meadowlands and then was first-up in her PA Sire Stakes division at The Meadows. I'm going to hope for an easier trip tonight, and she should have some value. (2) PANTERA vacated the pocket early in that race at The Meadows and was given the cold shoulder by the pace-setter. I still think it was a fine effort, as was her second qualiifer at The Meadowlands, and Gingras has the drive again. (4) MAZZARATI switches drivers tonight to Tetrick after a third in the same PA Sire Stakes contest that Pantera comes out of. She showed a lot of heart in that race as she dug in and wasn't passed until very late in the mile.

Race 4 - Pennsylvania All-Stars 2YO Filly Trot

(2) PUB CRAWL scored a sire stakes victory at The Meadows from post eight and now draws inside. She definitely looks like the one to beat, and I will use also. (7) DERAILED HANOVER qualified impressively both at Pocono and at the Meadowlands. This is her pari-mutuel debut tonight, and I think the ones who have made a start might have an advantage on her. (8) DD'S DIAMOND is reunited with Gingras tonight and gets away from the likes of Insta Glam, who we'll be talking about later.

Race 5 - Pennsylvania All-Stars 2YO Filly Trot

(5) INEFFABLE came up a little short as the favorite at the Meadowlands, but it was her first pari-mutuel appearance, she had an outside post, and the track was off. Both of her qualifiers were very good, and I'll look for improvement in her second effort. (8) TREND kept Gingras over the Burke starter in here off an even fourth in her sire stakes flight at The Meadows. Yannick put her on the lead two back at Harrah's Philadelphia, and may try to do the same here. (2) FORTITUDE FASHION had breaking issues in a couple of her qualifiers, but did show the ability to rally when she stayed flat. I'll hope she minds her manners here and include.

Race 6 - F&M NW3000L5 Pace

(5) OOH REAL GOOD starts for the third time off the shelf here. She had no shot against NW4's from an outside draw two Sundays ago, but I think this is much more like the race at Harrah's Philly where she was third back in June, and I don't mind Andrew McCarthy picking up the drive either. (6) YES DOUBLE DOWN didn't threaten against NW6000L5's in her last pair but was second in this class on the 21st of June. (2) JUSLIKEAQUEEN returns to Pocono tonight after being at Running Aces in Minnesota. She was in the NW9000L5 when last appearing locally, so she probably figures here, but I didn't want to take another low price after she disappointed in her last out west.

Race 7 - NW3000L5 Pace

(2) P H HIPPIE finished evenly when dropped to this level on the 4th of July but races for a trainer capable of turning one around at any time, and that's what I'll bank on here. (1) CHILLAXIN AWAY battled from first-over and was third in this class on June 22. He gets the pole position tonight, so maybe he can sit a trip this time instead of having to do the hard work. (6) THUNDER SOME WHERE closed with some interest in the same race my top selection was in last time out. He gets Marcus Miller to drive tonight.

Race 8 - NW9000L5 Trot

(7) KATKIN AND COKE ended up first-over last Sunday and had to settle for third. He gets Yannick Gingras to drive tonight, and I'll hope he's on the lead or in the pocket this time. (1) OPTIMIST BLUE CHIP is another Maier horse coming back to Pocono from Minnesota. He won locally this winter against NW6000L5's and then missed by less than a length when favored against NW9000L5's before the racing shutdown. (2) NEWCASTLE was Napolitano Jr.'s choice in here and was a solid second to a good foe in Sweet Chapter last time out at the Meadowlands. This horse hasn't won yet in 2020 and has burned some money along the way, so I prefer others.

Race 9 - F&M NW6000L5 Pace

(4) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX continues to drop down the class ladder tonight and races for a trainer in Dennis Laterza who is on a good roll since racing resumed in the Northeast. I don't mind that she gets Scott Zeron back to drive either. (6) WESTERN SECRET A rallied from far back to finish third against NW9000L5's on July 5 and now slides down to the NW6000L5 level and adds Gingras. (1) ZOE ELLASEN is also in search of a winning spot as she lands in an easier spot and gets post relief too. Maybe that's enough to get her headed in the right direction.

Race 10 - Pennsylvania All Stars 2YO Filly Trot

(1) INSTA GLAM is probably the most-impressive rookie fily trotter I've seen thus far. She romped over that group at The Meadows and will likely be 1-9 here. (4) EVENING STROLL was a good second in an overnight race at the Meadowlands on July 10 in her career debut, and you have to respect trainer Jim Campbell's ability with 2-year-old trotters. (9) YOU ATO DREAM came in second to Insta Glam at The Meadows from an outside draw and faces the same dilemma here as she has the nine-hole again. Hopefully she can find a spot somewhere and doesn't get away last.

Race 11 - F&M NW17500L5 / NW8 or 90000LT Pace

(7) ALEXA'S POWER hasn't made the same sort of impact at the top level as an older horse that she did when she was a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, but she was a regular threat in the open at Yonkers in 2019 and lands in a winnable spot here in her third attempt of 2020. (5) VORST has turned in back-to-back strong efforts in this class and gets a third shot at it tonight. Expect her to be on or near the lead again. (6) SHECANDDANCE N hikes up a notch, but that was a lifetime mark last Sunday and she did it in brave fashion, digging in through the lane. She'll probably go forward off the gate as well.

Race 12 - F&M NW12000L5 / NW7 or 80000LT Pace

(5) SHE'S ALLRIGHT never gives you a great feeling when you pick her given her occasional breaking issues, but she did win in this class two back and might offer a better price than she usually does coming off the miscue. (9) QUEEN LOSTRIS N was 2-5 against NW17500L5's last Sunday and was fifth from first-over. Given she got bet so strongly against better, maybe she's worth another shot tonight on the drop, even from the outside draw. (3) ALII NUI finished second behind Shecandance N in that battle to the wire last Sunday. She sticks at the NW12000L5 level again tonight.

Race 13 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace

(1) FIREFLY put forth a great performance last Sunday to finish second behind a Grand Circuit-quality filly in Marloe Hanover. She gets away from that type of rival tonight and switches drivers to George Napolitano Jr. (5) SAIL BY defeated NW3's at Harrah's Philadelphia in her first start of 2020 on July 8. She picked up a fast record at The Red Mile as a rookie and races for the top tandem of Andrew McCarthy and Tony Alagna. (2) SILK Z TAM also exits that Marloe Hanover race from a week ago and might be ready for a stronger effort in her third appearance off the layoff.

Race 14 - F&M NW9000L5/NW6 or 70000LT Pace

(3) GIGI FROM FIJI worked hard to clear to the lead last Sunday after being first-over the Sunday prior to that. Jim Marohn Jr. won with her up at Tioga, and maybe he can get her a winning trip tonight. (1) CLEAR IDEA was fourth in this class on July 5 when she shipped down from Canada and gets significant post relief this time, moving from the far outside to the pole position. (2) ROLLING GOING GONE has hit the board in her last three and should have every chance to do the same from an inside draw.