RACE 1 - (1) RANSOM DEMAND would have probably been a closer 4th if not for vacating the rail and moving out into final turn traffic at Monti last week - has always been a steady performer here at this level, goes for the 2nd time for a high % barn and gets to call the shots from the pole, with Holland - the one to beat. (4) GRAND MASTER was horrible off the big barn change 2 back (as the favorite) - tired again in last, but not nearly as badly....probably gets to sit the pocket tonight, and that should put him right there at the end. (5) LODI MACHETTE MAN ships in showing consistent (overall) form at Monti, and was 2nd to the top choice 5 starts down - could easily outperform his 20-1 ML price. (6) THEREISAPACEFORUS finished ok once free last week for his new connections - tough draw tonight, but may be able to take home a piece, with a half decent trip. (7) CINNABAR DRAGON doesn't look too bad "on paper", but he just hasn't looked good "visually" in his last few starts - will also need plenty of racing luck to overcome the poor draw. (2) COOL BLUES MAN just hasn't been any good in ages - only real asset here is the inside draw. (8) WILD WEST has a few "ok" tries recently, but faces an uphill challenge from all the way out here. (3) AMERICAN SONIC was 12-0-1-0 last year - we'll just pass and watch off the two qualifiers.
RACE 2 - (4) KINDA LUCKY LINDY charged home to beat a similar group 3 starts back - held very well after a long uncovered move in the Open in his next, then lacked room to ever stretch his legs in last - drops down into a field with no overly sharp players, and may be able to rally by them at the end. (3) MAGICAL JOURNEY isn't as sharp as when he was in "peak form", but he was right there in his last 2 starts and figures to be a major player once again - just not sharp enough to be worth that 2-1 ML price. (5) THE LAST CHAPTER finished much better than usual when 2nd two back but reverted to his more typically weaker finish in last - always a contender for a piece, though. (2) GUILTY DESIRE would probably like to be in a bit cheaper, but the move inside should at least put him in play for a better piece - note that the barn has a couple of winners this past week. (1) STINGLIKE A B K was a winner 3 back, broke on the lead in his next but rebounded quickly with a nice 2nd the next week - comes into this off a sick scratch, however, so it's tough to gauge how sharp he'll be...especially moving up a bit in class. (7) AFTER ALL PAUL lands Post 7 off a break, weak effort, and a sick scratch - sticking with others, for now. (6) TAD KRAZY HANO VER is a bit cheap, and off a miscue and a sick scratch - will just watch this start
RACE 3 - (2) PEMBROKE JOEY jogged in 2 of his last 3, and it took a pretty tough trip to get him beat in the other - moves up a rung on the class ladder tonight, but seems more than sharp enough to handle it - the one to knock off, with any reasonable trip. (1) MARINER SEELSTER was caught behind a tiring leader last week and lost any real chance to be a bigger player at the end - overall recent form is pretty solid, and the 12YO should be able to take home a good piece starting from the pole. (4) BLACKTREE broke at the start upon arrival from Monti but got away cleanly in his last, and crushed a cheaper crew - should be able to hang in there with these better ones too, assuming he continues to behave himself. (6) REAL LUCKY N got shuffled all the way back to last in his most recent, but still was able to charge home late to be a close 3rd - eligible to pick up another piece tonight. (5) JUST PLAIN LOCO sat last in NJ off the barn change but was able to charge home in the stretch to move all the way up to 2nd - has a mixed local history, and he's a bit tough to gauge for tonight - playable in exotics IF the price is decent. (7) CONTROL TOWER moves to his 6th barn in the last 10 weeks....but he also moves to Post 7 (after 4 rail draws) while looking a bit lazy in his recent starts - may find himself too far back to do any serious damage here. (3) TONY TOO TALL arrives from Cleveland and just looks quite a bit cheaper than these
RACE 4 - Tough race: (4) PLAY THE FIELD goes for his 4th barn in the last 5 starts...making him a pretty popular horse considering he's 0 for 11 on the year - finally gets some post relief, probably has a clear path right to the top, and that 15-1 ML price just makes him too appealing to NOT use on our tickets (6) TASTE OF HISTORY failed on the lead vs. 20s last week but this field is definitely a bit easier - should be a decent price, and is another worth using. (7) MAJOR BUCKS still hasn't won since the 3/8 claim but he's become a very reliable performer against this type - may be able to leave and find a good early seat...and that would at least give him a chance. (3) ROCK ON PRECIOUS has 2 big-priced wins this year when the pace up front fell apart and he was able to sweep by as the leaders tired - that's actually a possible scenario here. (8) ZOEEZ BOY HENRY has been rock solid for weeks (months?) but will need lots of trip luck to overcome the terrible draw - he's playable, but not if anything close to that 3-1 ML price! (5) WAVES OF FIRE A was stuck too far back to have any real chance in his last couple - he could grab a piece here if the trip ends up going his way. (2) SLUGGEM N missed all of 2020 and has just 4 starts (so far) in 2021 - been "ok", but prefer to stick with some of the more proven locals. (1) DO YA THINK ships in to a winning outfit but was racing for a high % barn in PA prior to the barn change - has missed nearly 4 weeks (scratched lame), and just seems a little too risky to take a short price
RACE 5 - (4) TAP TAP TAP isn't known for his consistency but he's put together a string of 3 very sharp efforts - hard to say how he'll respond moving to a new barn for tonight but IF his form holds (or improves) he'll be a major threat. (6) VICTORIAS MAVERICK has won 3 of his last 4, with one clunker squeezed in between - he's handled the class hike to 20s nicely, and will have a chance to take another if the trip goes his way. (3) KEPT UNDER WRAPS A was used really hard for the lead last week and tired as a result - an easier trip tonight would make him a legit speed threat. (2) GUMPTION hasn't clicked in either local try but he's a better horse than that - maybe can try a more patient trip tonight and see if that produces a better finish? (1) TOWNLINE FLIGHT is a little hard to gauge class-wise, but he wasn't terrible here 2 back, and has since added Lasix - may be able to have some say from the pole. (8) KINGSTONS BAD BOY worked out a beautiful trip last week, rallied by the leaders but was then outfinished from behind, settling for 2nd best - he fits well enough, but faces a tough task from Post 8. (5) MACHING TIME was a sharp winner in his last but was claimed away from a top barn, and also moves up in class here - prefer others. (7) GRAND PRIORITY did his best work here in the past on/near the lead, and that doesn't seem possible from this spot
RACE 6 - (1) EPIC ACE has been facing MUCH better recently and not really embarrassing himself - he beat this class the only time he was in this cheap (back in January), and also beat a NW7500 field on 3/19 - the road to the winner's circle goes through him tonight. (5) SPORTS BETTOR gets a drop to the level he beat on 3/26....and also on 2/19 -- clearly the main danger, and would be no surprise at all. (2) NOX VEGAS BLUECHIP never wins, but this is the kind of spot where historically he could just tow along and pick up a piece - decent chance for that to happen tonight. (4) VANQUISHED N had a couple of tighteners at Fhd. off the layoff, but didn't fire at all in his YR return - he's better than that, and is eligible to have more of a say tonight. (3) REDDING HANOVER paced evenly from the back in his last couple - gets some post relief now, and that may help him grab a small share. (6) DARK ENERGY N usually comes to life at this bottom level but just doesn't seem all that sharp at the moment - drawing outside won't help his chances, either. (7) TITANIUM N doesn't figure to get close from this spot - wait for a better scenario. (8) ROZEWOOD throws a good one here from time to time, but this is definitely an unlikely spot for it.
RACE 7 - (8) MISSISSIPPI STORM is the choice, despite Post 8 - he's been outstanding in his 4 starts since returning from a 2 month freshening, and this is a fairly modest Open group - as long as he doesn't land on an atrocious trip, he may be able to beat these... even from all the way out here. (2) HILL OF A HORSE wasn't bad at all 2 back (off a sick scratch), then was right there with Meladys Monet in his last - has a major post advantage over the top choice, and we'll see if he can make that pay off. (7) NOWS THE MOMENT lands Post 7 but does have the speed to erase that bad spot in a hurry - if he makes the front easily enough, he could be tough to overhaul...just like last week. (4) LEAN HANOVER doesn't always bring his best, but he has a knack for finding ways to grab his wins every year - wouldn't be a shock, and he deserves a look if the price is long enough. (3) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN picked up a (trip) 2nd two back but in general, does his best work vs. a bit easier - he also made a break last time, and that's a concern as well. (5) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN climbed his way back up to the Open and somehow beat these last start, despite a snail-like :31.3 final quarter - he'll need to be a LOT sharper to beat this bunch. (6) NEW HEAVEN is very good right now, but the combination of the jump to the Open and the poor draw figure to slow him down considerably. (1) BULLY BOY lands the pole but was he really needs is a class drop - tough spot
RACE 8 - (4) IMSTAYNALIVE is really on his game right now, and just kept coming last week to collar a sharp rival, in a very fast mile - steps up a notch, but when he's sharp, he can beat better than these - barn is also going pretty well lately. (7) ANTHEM N seems to be in a tough spot, but it wouldn't be a shock if Stratton took a shot at leaving this week (there's not a ton of speed inside of him) - could be a decent value horse to include. (2) MY MIND IS MADEUP gave it a big try off the barn change last week, but came up 2nd best at a very short price - no reason he shouldn't race very well once more...but he hasn't won here in 3 years, and he'll likely be heavily backed again - will continue to use him underneath. (2) EGOMANIA seemed to be tailing a bit before the recent claim - raced well in his first try for the new barn, but came up short in his next couple - needs to find his better form if he hopes to contend for the top prize here. (5) MOTIVE HANOVER used a good trip to pick up a solid 2nd last week - another live trip (very possible) could land him another good share tonight. (3) RAPTORS FLIGHT N pulled off a big upset here on 2/16 but threw 2 duds after that then took a couple of months off - prefer to just watch tonight, off the qualifier. (6) ABERDEEN HANOVER just hasn't been sharp, and lands outside - wait for an easier spot. (8) ART SCENE was good in his last pair, but faces much tougher here while drawing Post 8 - tough spot
RACE 9 - (3) ARMAGEDDON SEELSTER was 2nd to mega-classy Meladys Monet at Fhd. 2 back, then was a very solid 3rd here last week when first over in a modest Preferred Trot - he's always loved Yonkers (20-8-2-2 last 3 years), and should offer some decent value here...we'll look for him to pull off a mild upset. (1) LINDSEYS PRIDE didn't function off the trainer change 3 back, was a well beaten 4th the next week, but was able to wire a softer bunch last week - he may just gain confidence from that win and wire these as well...but he'll also be a very short price once again, and there's a chance he could be a bit vulnerable right now. (6) PATRIARCH HANOVER made a break here as the favorite 3 starts back but did bounce right back to win the next week - he followed that up with a nice 2nd at Chester in his last, and he can definitely make some noise tonight...even from Post 6. (2) STICK WITH ME KID shows some solid Florida form but it's hard to say just how well he fits with these locals - at 20-1 ML, he's certainly worth using in exotics. (5) BLUE AND BOLD had been underachieving lately but was able to use a very nice trip to grab a 2nd behind #1 last time - we'll see of he can build off that improved mile, or if it was just a one shot deal. (7) FASHION CREDITOR has always been a reliable performer but he's still winless here over the past 2 seasons (0 for 13) - would rather at least wait for a better spot before considering. (4) IN MY DREAMS reverted to bad habits and killed his chances with an early miscue in last - has to move up off that mile, and we'll wait until he's back in with softer. (8) SECRET BRO figures to be a spectator from Post 8.
RACE 10 - (1) RETOUR AU JEU hit a rough patch after several excellent starts early in his season but finally rebounded with a nice effort for 2nd at PcD, then was a sharp winner last week returning to YR - catches a soft NW7500 field tonight and has a good chance to take another. (6) FOREVER FAV was sharp before the recent claim and has raced well in both starts since he changed barns - has the speed to get right into the hunt tonight, and should be able to bring home another good piece. (2) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N may not have ever won a race here at YR (at least not recently), but he can definitely race well enough from this inside post to land somewhere in the exotics - include him underneath. (5) FIREBALL was very well backed 2 starts down and responded with a form reversing blowout win - was unable to replicate that effort in his next start, though, and it's hard to say what we'll get from him tonight. (3) BLACK CHEVRON N was already struggling even before the rest of his barnmates all started to crash - dull try in NJ off the qualifier, and hard to recommend for more than a minor share tonight. (8) NEPTUNE has always been a decent sort and is definitely better than some of these....he also lands Post 8 after missing 25 days (shipping up from PPk), so this is probably a good week to just observe. (4) GRIFFON HANOVER was no good with lesser the last times he raced here - pass for now. (7) KILLER MARTINI has thrown very few good ones the past couple of years - Post 7 just makes it even harder to like his chances.