RACE 1 – (1) NIKASA N dropped down to this level last week and charged home to just miss to prolific winner
UNITY – she catches a pretty modest bunch tonight, and has to get top billing. (1) REAL LADY SADIE looked like
a winner turning for home last week but hung a bit in the lane and had to settle for 2nd – she has a couple of victories
here this year, and may prove the main danger. (4) HARPER SEELSTER was a solid 4th in her local debut then hit
board in her last pair – another very logical contender. (3) TUAPEKA JESSIE N actually flashed a little life at the
end of the mile last week – maybe she can add a little value to the exotics? (6) TERACITA could be in the hunt if
she brings one of her better efforts– unfortunately, she tends to disappoint more often than she delivers. (5) JILLIAN
JIGGS has only managed one 3rd from her 5 local tries.
RACE 2 – (3) UNITY has posted a strong 17-6-3-1 record here this year, comes off a very game win in her last and
moves to a barn that has enjoyed an outstanding meet with their claiming game – remains the one to knock off. (1)
SHOTGUN PERSUASION has taken 2 in a row and may even get sharper off last week’s claim – the main danger
from the pole. (2) FRONDEUR has been doing outstanding work up at Tioga, taking advantage of the Optional
Claiming tag – she did struggle to WIN races here last year (21-1-6-5) and would need to be a decent price tonight
to be worth trying on top vs. the sharp locals. (6) EVAS SPORTS CZECH raced a bit better last week but would
probably need things to just fall apart up front to reach from Post 6 – okay for a piece. (4) GEORGIA THOMPSON
spent 8 months on the shelf after winning here on 11/15 – guessing she’ll need a start or two. (5) PROVE EM WRO
NG has shown little in 4 starts since arriving on the local scene.
RACE 3 – (3) CHARMING VIXEN gave it a good try first over last week, finishing just behind a couple of sharp
ones – she has 3 wins here this year, and figures to be the best price of the 3 “main players” – worth a look. (4) SHEI
KH YABOOTY N continues to create excellent trips with her early speed and comes into tonight with 3 wins and 3
seconds from her last 6 starts – she also goes for a new barn, so it’s hard to know for sure how she’ll respond – hard
to leave out, but also hard to take too short a price. (1) JEANSNJELLYBEANS was well backed last week, and was
able to dig in very gamely through the lane to pick up her first local win – has to be taken very seriously from this
good spot. (2) SUNSET SOPH got good for a few starts, failed to threaten in her next 3 but did rebound to just miss
in her last – would be worth considering at the right price. (5) DEVILISH DREAMS took way too long to find her
best stride last week, struggling on the final turn – another that could at least be worth a look at a big enough price.
(6) PLEASURE SEEKER draws outside again after finishing well back in her last pair from similar spots.
RACE 4 – (5) GDS THUNDER GB took a month off (after a sick scratch) then qualified back sharply upstate – he
landed in a VERY strong field for his first start back but hardly embarrassed himself, beaten less than 5 lengths after
sitting in the back – drops in for a tag tonight, and is worth a stab at a decent price. (6) OZONE BLUE CHIP has
been outstanding for some time, and still only lost by 6 lengths last week despite being parked every step in a fast
mile – any decent trip should make him a very live threat for his new barn. (4) FINAL CHEESERECIPE is almost
always good for a strong late rally and there may be some action up front tonight – possible, at a good price. (3) PAT
STANLEY N showed some better life last week after a stretch of disappointing tries (for a variety of reasons) – he’s
not impossible here, but hard to justify him being the ML favorite! (1) PASS A GRILLEBEACH has speed from the
rail and he does grab his share of local victories – that being said, several others in here just have a bit more appeal,
at least on top. (2) SWEET TROY was “meh” 2 back and dismal last week – leaning towards others right now.
RACE 5 – (3) STRONGERWITHLINDY charged home on 6/1 to score an upset then proved it was no fluke with a
pair of 2nds right after that – returns from PA off a couple of lines that would also beat these, and he looms the clear
choice in a very modest field. (2) SWEET SECRET seems to have improved since a recent barn change and makes
her YR debut off a victory at PcD over the off going – guessing she’ll fit well with this group. (8) CUSTOM FIT
was pretty good last week, especially since he was bothered early – he’s already won twice here this year, but the
obvious concern is the terrible draw. (1) STARLITCRESENTROLL has been fairly competitive in a few recent
starts, draws the pole, and has a license to land somewhere on the ticket. (5) HIGH LIFE has raced “ok” here a
couple of times – maybe some minor spoils? (4) MARINOS PRIZE has some decent tries out of town and adds lasix
– he feels a little cheap, however, and that 5/2 ML price is a turnoff, to say the least. (6) MAGIC MELVIN returns
off some mixed recent form in PA – he struggled here earlier this year, and tonight’s tough draw won’t help his
cause. (7) PARTY AT SEVEN raced ok here a couple of times last fall but has been away since early November and
lands Post 7 for his first start back – figures to need a start or two.
RACE 6 – (2) PINK RUBY was a winner 6 starts back then finished 2nd or 3rd in her last 5 outings – she’s really the
only one in this field with any kind of decent current form, and would be hard to go past...even at a very short price.
(5) MICHELLES JAZZ was well supported last week but still no threat – she’s certainly no worse than any of the
others, and may at least get an aggressive try with Bartlett on board. (1) CANNERY ROW was a “meh” 3rd two back
then a weak 6th after a pocket trip last week – she’s only listed this high because of the good draw. (3) AINTNOHOL
LABACKGRL is having a rough year, with just one win and one 2nd from her 25 starts – minor share only. (4) ACE
FOURTYFOUR ALEX still hasn’t been 1st or 2nd in 20 tries this year. (6) LYONS MIKI tends to lag and get lost
during her miles – starting from the outside won’t help her cause!
RACE 7 – Very tough race! (2) MARLBANK ROAD hasn’t done much of anything since winning 2 in a row back
in May – he’d be hard to recommend off his current (weak) form, but a lot of the others in here are just unplayable –
maybe this can be a wake up spot? (7) LOUS THE ATTITUDE has hardly impressed in his 3 tries since returning
from the layoff but at least he’s had success with better, when on his game – and Bartlett is a master at “stealing”
wins in these formless fields. (3) JACKS LEGEND N hasn’t looked anything like the horse that earned over $1M in
any of his recent starts...but he’s another with at least a chance at a wake up call tonight. (4) MY CARBON COPY
N usually takes home a minor share and is generally competitive – he’s also listed as the ML favorite despite being
winless on the year, and 0 for 28 at Yonkers over the past 2 seasons! (1) LINCOLN BOULEVARD shows a win in
an amateur event in NJ back in May but little else – he was last seen here in 2022...when he went 13-0-2-2. (5) COI
N FLIP showed little in either start since the recent barn change (and was dull before that). (6) FRANCO NANDOR
N has just one 5th place check in his last 7 starts- he’s also 18-0-1-3 here at the Hilltop.
RACE 8 – Another pretty formless field: (5) B COOL FOOL picked up a win (NW5000) 5 starts back then drew
Post 6 the next 4 starts – more options tonight starting from Post 5, in a blank field...wake up spot? (4) QUATRAIN
BLUE CHIP finally dropped down to 20s 3 back and hit board in his next 2 starts – never got close last week, but
this could be a field where he can have a say. (7) GOTHIC ROCK appreciated the drop to 20s last week and picked
up a 2nd – much tougher spot tonight, however, especially because he doesn’t always stick around so well when used
hard early on. (1) BIG BAD BILL is hard to gauge off his NJ form but he does have a couple of recent wins and
may fit here ... .even if by default! (2) ROSE RUN X CON hasn’t been first or 2nd in 20 starts this year and has been
installed as the ML favorite – would be hard to consider him on top under those circumstances. (3) HEART ON MY
SLEEVE is 20-0-0-3 so far in 2024 – another that would be hard to endorse. (6) BRUSHING UP is 0 for 22 on the
year, and just 1 for 27 locally over the past 2 seasons – minor share only. (8) URIEL BLUE CHIP raced ok in his
first start off the barn change then started to fall apart quickly – draws Post 8 for his start back off the qualifier.
RACE 9 – (1) CAVIART ROCKLAND returned sharp from a few months off and jogged at Monti last week – he’s
always been somewhat unreliable, but also capable of big miles – may be sharp enough right now to replicate that
win upstate with one here at Yonkers. (6) BENHOPE RULZ N is an obvious threat as he WON at this level last
week, and gets to stay in the same class tonight (eligible at time of entry) – tougher post, however, and also loses
Gingras. (2) RIFLEMAN ships in with solid PcD form and is looking at an up close trip – legitimate threat should
the top ones falter. (5) AUSSIE HANOVER will appreciate the drop from 40s but he’ll still need to up his game a
bit to threaten for one of the top slots. (4) ALEX TYE has been unpredictable most of the year – he does have some
solid efforts, and any of his better miles would give him a chance at a piece here. (7) THRASHER just hasn’t been
as sharp since the 6/22 claim, and will be coming from well out of it tonight – would need a nice price to try him on
top. (3) CLEVELAND B MIKI is still looking to be 1st or 2nd after 14 tries this year– leaning elsewhere (8) BARON
MICHAEL figures to be well back most/all of the way.