Pocono: Analysis for Sunday 7/5

MEET STATS: 5 - 14 / $29.60 (+$1.60)
BEST BETS: 1 - 1 / $2.60 (+$0.60)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 1 / $0.00 (-$2.00)
BEST BET - APPLE BOTTOM JEANS (10th)
SPOT PLAY - ZOE ELLASEN (14th)

Race 1 - NW3000L5 Pace

(2) HESALLABOUTDABASS was a solid fourth in a pretty high-quality NW4 event at Yonkers on June 22nd. This looks like an easier spot tonight, and I expect some improvement now that he has a race under his belt. (1) GO SUE ME gained to finish fourth when he dropped to this class last out. He was Kakakley's pick in here, and although he doesn't show any early foot, he'll probably be closer to the pace from the inside draw. (7) BORDER CONTROL A scratched sick out of the race on 6-20, so that contest on 6-29 was his initial effort since racing resumed. He gets some class relief this evening and like with my top pick, he has a tightener to build on.

Race 2 - F&M NW3000L5 Pace

(1) SULKY QUEEN ran into some stout competition at the Meadowlands in her first two tries of 2020, and this appears to be a much more favorable race for her to be a contender. She won a New York Sire Stakes leg and made the final last year, so she has some talent. (5) JUXTA COWGIRL was put into the race last Sunday by Napolitano and produced a strong second-place finish. She drops here and I would expect another aggressive drive. (6) MARYMACISBACK moves from NW6 to the NW3000L5 group tonight, and I think is capable of putting in a better effort against these types.

Race 3 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace

(1) RED RIVER JANE just missed against NW4's locally back in February and improved in her second start off the layoff most recently at Harrah's Philadelphia, coming in second against NW5. (4) PASSPORT HANOVER had the misfortune of running into the talented Party Girl Hill last Sunday and had to settle for fifth, but she's reunited with Bartlett this time and her try two back was very good. (6) TEAL HANOVER qualified fine against some tough mares at the Meadowlands and was in good form earlier this year with a second and a win in her last pair before the shutdown.

Race 4 - NW9000L5 Trot

(9) RIVER OTTER had to settle for second a week ago when Broadway Athena rallied by, but it was still a strong effort. I think he has enough early foot to get positioned from out here, and I'll give him a chance at what hopefully is a bit of a price. (3) MR HOUDINI looks like a potential wake-up candidate in this race as he drops after finishing fourth at Harrah's Philadelphia. His last win came here at Pocono back in early March. (2) KEYSTONE SERGEANT gets some class relief today, and though he's probably more of a win threat against NW3000L5's or NW6000L5's, I think he's usable underneath from this inside draw.

Race 5 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(5) MISTER MIAMI qualified well at Vernon Downs, and I think his connections are showing some confidence in him by shipping him down here rather than racing at Vernon or Saratoga. He was six-for-nine in the win column last season, so he knows how to find the winner's circle, too. (3) ACTON HANOVER got the cold shoulder from a sharp DA Americansky last Sunday and had to settle for second. As you can see by his record, he likes finishing in that position a lot more than he does winning, so I'll try and beat him at what could be a low price. (2) SPORTS CHARM has a barn and venue change tonight, going from the Meadowlands and Tom Shay to Pocono and Gilberto Garcia-Herrera. His horses are still racing well both here and at Yonkers, so we could see improvement with this one.

Race 6 - NW3000L5 Trot

(6) SWISS PLATINUM switches drivers to Matt Kakaley tonight, and when he's piloted this horse in the past, it usually signifies he's ready for a better effort. He certainly catches the right field here on the drop if good enough. (3) GLOIRE DREAM has George Nap in the bike again after he cut the mile and finished third in this class back on June 21. He does draw inside tonight, but I'd expect him to be on or near the lead again regardless. (2) CONMAN CROWN took his life's mark at Pocono in 2019, and he gets reunited with Tyler Buter, who drove him to a win two starts ago at Tioga.

Race 7 - F&M NW3000L5 Pace

(5) PSYCHO CINDY likely has been racing against better fields out of town, and Kakaley has gotten along with her in the past, guiding her to a third against NW5000L5's at Yonkers in February. (7) JK KISSNTELL showed nothing in her last try at the Meadowlands, but she gets George Napolitano's services tonight and has shown speed in the past. (2) SWEET MARTHA LOU owns a decent history at Pocono and should enjoy getting to face the NW3000L5's rather than NW4's. She was Marcus Miller's choice in here.

Race 8 - F&M NW6000L5 Pace

(2) SHEZALLAPPLES A kept George Nap over three others in here. He went down to Harrington to drive her last time where she was third, and she gets major post relief from that race as she was stuck out in post seven on the half-mile track. (1) MALNIFICIENT likely needed that race at the Meadowlands since it was her first start of 2020. She has done pretty well in her career when in this type of class at Pocono, and I'll look for a better performance out of her. (5) BRING ME DIAMONDS came in third at this level last Sunday in a good effort, and like I've mentioned with others, could take a step or two forward getting back on a regular racing schedule.

Race 9 - NW6000L5 Trot

(4) BELLA AVA cruised last Sunday over NW3000L5's, and although she steps back up here, she catches a soft-looking group for the level. She is a definite double-up candidate. (5) SHIVERED draws a slightly better post tonight after coming in third to Bella Ava a week ago. He gets George Nap to drive again. (7) INAPERFECTWORLD made front from post eight at Harrah's Philadelphia but tired. He did win locally over NW3000L5's back in March with Eric Carlson driving, and they team up tonight.

Race 10 - F&M NW17500L5/NW8 or 90000LT Pace

(7) APPLE BOTTOM JEANS continues to work her way down the class ladder tonight and is in a spot where she should stand out. She made over $300,000 racing against the likes of Shartin N and Caviart Ally last season. (4) VORST finished second to a well-meant Baron Remy last Sunday, and her early foot should mean she's somewhere near the pace for the Napolitano Jr./Garcia-Herrera tandem. (1) KIMBERLEE comes out of the same race Apple Bottom Jeans does and moves inside. Her last victory came with Marcus Miller driving in late October here at Pocono, and he is at the controls tonight.

Race 11 - F&M NW6/75000LT Pace

(4) AZREAL AS IT GETS roared home to finish second last Sunday when many of these mares met up, and she gets a great deal of post relief tonight, starting from post four rather than post eight. Tyler Buter drives this time for the high-percentage Huff barn. (3) BLACKWELL RUBY IR has been first or second in all of her U.S. tries and won both times she raced at Pocono. She certainly figures here. (2) FREE EXCHANGE finished with interest after getting a three-hole trip a week ago. Stratton drives most of the Hudson horses at Yonkers and picks up the call here with Morrill Jr. not available.

Race 12 - F&M NW9000L5/NW6 or 70000LT Pace

(1) IN THE NIGHT worked her way up to the open level at Dover this winter and has two races under her belt out of town to ready for this event tonight. She gets the rail and Napoitano Jr., and I will give her a chance. (6) GIGI FROM FIJI came up second-best last Sunday after she took the lead from first-over. She remains in the same class tonight and should take plenty of wagering attention. (5) WESTERN SECRET A slides down a notch after gaining a bit of ground late a week ago. She may get a more aggressive drive tonight.

Race 13 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(5) MAC'S BIG BOY adds Lasix tonight after bleeding in that race against NW5 at Harrah's Philadelphia. He won a couple stakes events and the PA Sire Stakes consolation last year, so I think he's got some class to him and will place on top. (4) KEYSTONE DASH raced against NW4's on 6-21 and was fourth. The winner of that race, Blank Stare, came back to score in the New York Sire Stakes, and the runner-up, Genius Man, was third in the same contest, so I think that was a pretty quality group. (8) WILLIAM MCWHISKERS has won at Pocono before. MacDonald is normally aggressive when driving these McDermott horses, so I expect him to be leaving out from this outside draw.

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

(7) ZOE ELLASEN found deep water against tough fields at the Meadowlands and Harrah's Philadelphia in her last two, but I think can get into the hunt against these with maybe some value to go with it. (5) KOTARE YARRA N qualified well at Pocono on the 13th of June and then raced against better. She drops here and gets Marcus Miller back in the bike. (4) A CRAFTY LADY won last Sunday against NW9000L5's and gets to stay at the same level. She also kept Napolitano Jr. over a few others in here.