A lot of rain was dumped in the North Jersey area last weekend as a result of the Nor’easter that rolled through town. Racing was cancelled on Saturday, but it’s been a dry and warm week so racing should be ready to go again at the Big M. There’s another six race, all-turf card starting at 7:00 (EDT).
| Race | Top Pick | A | B | C | Exotics Menu |
| 1 | 9 | 9,6 | 1 | DBL, PK3, PK6 | |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 3 | 3 | 3,1,6 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | ||
| 4 | 2 | 2,4 | 10 | DBL, $3 Late PK3 | |
| 5 | 9 | 9,4 | 6 | $5 Late DBL | |
| 6 | 7 | 7,4 |
Race 1:
The night begins with a $10K maiden claiming race for fillies and mares going five furlongs over the turf course. The rails will be set at 0 feet tonight for all of the races. Don’t Do It (#9) is the pick from the outside stall in this race. She’s getting class relief and cutting back to a sprint after three straight route races on the grass. Her line sprint effort wasn’t terrible and a little improvement off that effort, which was her first start in six months, should put her in play here. Good Bianca (#6) was not good when she debuted here last fall, but her only other try on the turf was better. She faltered on the synthetic and the dirt and has been on the sidelines since February. She joins Juan Avila’s barn and he has great numbers with his new acquisitions. On deeper tickets, Via Via Via (#1) did nothing in her two dirt starts last summer at Monmouth. She came back at the end of the meet there and showed a little bit of improvement. I do like that she flashed some early speed before fading in that race, so perhaps she’ll be more brave today.
Race 2:
The horse i like the best on this card is Big Lous Messenger (#4). She feels like the most likely winner in this $7,500-$6,500 N2L claiming race going 1 1/16 miles. She faded late on a softer course at Delaware when facing starter allowance types in her last start. She makes her third start off the layoff while dropping to the bottom today. She has tactical speed that likely puts her just off the pace and ready to strike at the top of the stretch. The clear alternative feels like Light de Night (#8). Paco lopez rode her to victory last weekend Jorge Duarte turns to Rajiv Maragh to pilot her while facing winners for the first time tonight. She has been consistent, but she’ll likely need to improve just a bit before beating the top pick.
Race 3:
The Pick-4 begins with a $7,500-$6,500 N3L claiming race going five furlongs. Seasonal Love (#3) is the top pick for Brett Brinkman. He ran okay on the dirt in his last start at Delaware after a dull try on the turf two back at Colonial. He has some sharp efforts at this distance though and should be right in the thick of things in this wide open contest. Just Comply (#1) cuts back to a sprint where he’ll have to navigate the rail. He was sharp in his last two turf sprint tries with better at Monmouth this summer. The rail is a tricky draw for him at this distance, but I do think he’s the class of this field. Horses coming from off the pace have done well in the first few nights of racing. If that seems to be holding true tonight, I’ll want Heavy Timber (#6) on some tickets. He just missed at Monmouth two starts back, but he came up empty in his last try. He ran a credible race on this course last year.
Race 4:
Fillies and mares will sprint five furlongs in the featured allowance race tonight. Lidia Rose (#2) is cross-entered in a state bred race at two turns tomorrow night. However, I think she’s a better fit in this open race tonight. She is at her best when sprinting on the turf, and I’ve been looking forward to seeing her back on this course after scoring for me at a nice price on debut last fall. She was excellent when clearing the first level allowance condition on the grass at Monmouth two back and if she can bring that kind of effort while getting back on the turf tonight, she’s going to be right there. Parametric (#4) takes a trip up I-95 for Cathal Lynch after a pair of solid efforts at Delaware in first level allowance races. Early speed is the name of her game, so I assume Christopher Elliot will be hustling hard for the front. If speed is not holding on, Peony (#10) would be the one I’d upgrade here. She clearly needed her first start back from a layoff when she faltered against a good field at Monmouth. She came back with a more competitive effort in a starter allowance race there at the end of their summer meet. She was forward in both of those races, but she sat a perfect stalking trip when winning an allowance race here last fall.
Race 5:
New Jersey breds will go 1 1/16 miles in this optional $15K claiming/N1X allowance race. There are 12 runners in what feels like the best betting race of the night, assuming the field holds together. Giant James (#9) is looking for his first win since scoring at this level on this course last fall. He’s had some strong efforts against better fields where he’s been close. He had a rough trip as he was buried behind runners in a 13 horse race at this level at Monmouth. I can ignore that race, but Chantal Sutherland will have to avoid the same fate in this crowded field. Grouch (#4) gets back on the turf for the first time since the end of the 2025 Monmouth Meet. He doesn’t have a ton of experience at this distance, but he can get the trip. He’s been in career best form this summer on the dirt, so there’s reason to believe he can continue to thrive on the grass. On deeper tickets, I’ll look at Spiritinthenight (#6). He ran a huge race when going one mile in the Irish War Cry Handicap three starts ago at Monmouth. He wasn’t as effective on a softer course in his last race. The firmer surface could be to his liking here.
Race 6:
Let’s close things out with this maiden allowance race for two year old fillies going 1 1/16 miles. Michael Stidham trains the top pick in the second race and I like his horse in this spot as well, He’ll send out Winterscape (#7) for the second time tonight. She debuted in a 5 ½ furlong maiden special weight race at Colonial where she ran an even 5th. Her dam was well bred and she was a winner at two turns on the turf. I think this filly will improve here. La Patronne (#4) has the experience at this distance, debuting at Saratoga last month. Miguel Clement recognizes that she probably doesn’t belong at Belmont at this point, so he’ll bring her across the river. The experience might be what gives her the edge, but I do think the top pick has the higher ceiling. On deeper tickets, I’ll toss another New York shipper and use Instant Stardom (#2) for Rudy Rodriguez. She debuted in a maiden auction race at Saratoga in August. She showed some speed before backing up late. While I’m not sure about the grass, I do think she’ll be better at two turns.
