Pocono: Analysis for Sunday 8/2

MEET STATS: 24 - 70 / $112.80 (-$27.20)
BEST BETS: 4 - 5 / $10.40 (+$0.40)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 5 / $4.60 (-$5.40)
BEST BET - CAVIART HEATHER (9th)
SPOT PLAY - SMOOTH ACELERATION (6th)

Race 1 - F&M NW4/54000LT Pace

(6) GOLDEN QUEST N defeated a stakes-quality opponent last week in a NW4 event here at Pocono and gets another chance at the level tonight. I'll hope for the same result. (3) SAIL BY improved to two-for-two in 2020 with a triumph over NW4's two Sundays ago and is certainly a big threat as she remains in this class again. (1) MILLWOOD BONNIE N has a pair of runner-up finishes against NW4's at Pocono since racing resumed and gets to start from the pole position this time.

Race 2 - NW9000L5 Trot

(1) WISENHEIMER returns to Pocono after finishing fifth at Harrah's Philadelphia most recently. I think he probably needed that race given the sick scratch on July 9, and it was also from an outside post. He's back on a regular racing rotation tonight, has the pole, and was second against NW14000L5's locally in June. (2) OOH RAH was in a race at Harrah's Philadelphia on the 16th of July that went very fast for the level and he was no match. This is probably more realistic company for his racing chances and he gets additional class relief. (9) GOLDEN SON moves back outside on the gate tonight, but he did show speed from post seven two races ago. I think he remains usable.

Race 3 - F&M NW6000L5 Pace

(3) CLEAR IDEA continues to work down the class ladder tonight. She was fourth as a heavy favorite against NW9000L5's two weeks ago, so I'll go with her in an even softer spot this time. (1) NORTHERN SWIFT drops a notch in her second start for Wallis. She was handled conservatively in that contest, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her more forwardly-placed here. (1) FAITHFUL DESIRE led and gave way as the public's choice last time out at Yonkers, but she's another one in here getting some class relief. Simon Allard drove her to a third two back at Harrah's Philadelphia and has the assignment here.

Race 4 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(7) BEYOND ORDINARY defeated NW2's handily at Pocono on 6-23, then picked up a couple checks in stakes tries at The Meadows. I'll put on top. (3) SOLAR remained in good form last Sunday, going to the lead in the second quarter and winning a division of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series. That was his third win in four tries, and he looks like a threat again here. (4) VIOLET STRIDE exits stakes company after some unsuccesful efforts. She's probably a contender, but I would not take a short price.

Race 5 - F&M NW6000L5 Pace

(1) ANN HILL finished with interest from post eight in that contest at Yonkers on July 23rd, gets to drop two classes from her last appearance at Pocono on the 12th of July, and switches to the pole position. (2) SOMETHING REEL raced better in that NW8 event at Yonkers, finishing fourth behind a very good mare in Kendra N. She was also facing much tougher foes when last seen at Pocono on July 19. (4) JEWELS FORREAL finished third in her return to Pocono last Sunday and moves down from the NW9000L5 class to the NW6000L5 class here..

Race 6 - NW6000L5 Trot

I will give (8) SMOOTH ACELERATION a pass for that break last Sunday when he got jammed up in traffic. He slides down from NW9000L5 company to NW6000L5's tonight and might have some value. (1) CHECKMATE HILL never got involved in his last try from an outside post but moves to the pole this time and is reunited with Marcus Miller. (4) KATKIN AND COKE dropped to this level on July 27th and broke after the start. He was 2-5 that day, so he's likely a contender if he minds his manners.

Race 7 - F&M NW3000L5 Pace

(3) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX is worth another shot tonight, I feel, as she moves down to the bottom level for a trainer who has taken advantage when his horses have found themselves this low on the class ladder in other events recently. (2) TRAFFIC JAM found the NW6000L5's a bit too difficult but couples a drop to thw NW3000L5's with significant post relief. (4) COME GET THE CASH invades from Vernon off a pair of wins as the favorite and looks like she lands in a race where she can threaten.

Race 8 - NW9000L5 Trot

(4) CRAZYCAT grabbed a third against NW12000L5's and slides down to meet NW9000L5's this time. He'll likely need some pace to chase given his preferred off-the-pace tactics. (5) MUSHANA was in a tough race on July 24th at the Meadowlands but won in this class at Pocono by three lengths two back. (1) BEGUIN DUGOUTIER F competed at Pocono around this time of the year in 2019 and was very competitive. He won the last edition of the Open convincingly at Tioga and appears well-spotted.

Race 9 - F&M NW4/54000LT Pace

(5) CAVIART HEATHER came in third against NW5's at Harrah's Philadelphia back on July 8th, and I will look for her to improve tonight since that was her first start of 2020. Marcus Miller drove her in those races last fall at the Meadowlands, so she knows her pretty well also. (2) RED RIVER JANE claimed a third-place finish in that series final at Yonkers most recently. She was favored against NW4's when last seen at Pocono but faded from first-over, so she probably needs a cleaner trip this time. (7) EVEN LOUDER wound up getting parked and stopped on 7-20 at Yonkers but races for a barn that's red-hot right now and could easily rebound.

Race 10 - NW22500L5/NW10 or 110000LT Pace

(2) BETTOR JOY N finds it a little difficult when bumped up to the top level like most recently at the Meadowlands, but if you go back to 6-5 she was victorious in a similar event to this at The Big M. (6) KENDRA N owns an impressive pair of victories at Yonkers since coming to the U.S. and was favored in the Open there two starts ago. (5) SUMMER CHARM hikes up in class from those appearances out at The Meadows but joins the powerful Shane Tritton barn at Pocono and did take a fast mark in winning a stakes race at Harrah's Hoosier Park last fall.

Race 11 - F&M 17500L5/NW8 or 90000LT Pace

(5) BRONSKIMACKENZIE A broke stride in her last start at Harrah's Philadelphia but showed a real affinity for Pocono with two wins in July, including one in this class on the 12th in a career-best cloking. (6) APPLE BOTTOM JEANS could absolutely win this race, but she has burned a pile of cash in her last two and I'm unwilling to give her a third opportunity. (4) WISHY WASHY GIRL has been racing a bunch of good ones out of town, including the likes of Kendra N at Yonkers. This kind of company should be more to her liking.

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

(8) BLACKWELL RUBY IR saw her two-race win streak ended in her first appearance at this class level a week ago, but it was still a quality effort and I'll go back to her with the hope he might be a little better price this time. (4) YOU SHOULD BE HERE was able to chase my top pick down to get the victory last Sunday and gets another chance against NW12000L5's this week. She also has a better post than Blackwell Ruby IR. (3) JUXTA COWGIRL moves up after an very nice victory over NW9000L5's. She's sharp right now and might be able to handle another hike.

Race 13 - F&M NW9000L5/NW6 or 70000LT Pace

(3) J ROCKIN B looked like she won that contest against NW6000L5's with something left a week ago and doesn't meet up with anybody too difficult here. (4) WESTERN SECRET A gained some positions in the final quarter last Sunday after finishing with some interest and was Kakaley's choice in this race. (1) ISLAY N gets more class relief this time as she remains in search of a competitive spot. Maybe she can hit the ticket underneath at a price.

Race 14 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(8) A BETTOR BEACH collected a third on 7-12 in what I think was a pretty high-quality NW4. He does draw outside this time, but I'm hoping Anthony Napolitano can hoax some early speed out of him. (4) MOUNT ROYAL gets a pilot switch to George Napolitano Jr. this week, so that might mean he goes forward off the gate. He did come home with a good final quarter last Sunday. (9) JAHAN HANOVER returns to Pocono after racing in the PA Stallion Series in July. He was second against NW4's at Pocono back on June 28 in a good effort.