RACE 1 - (4) STANFORD COURT still didn't look good on the final turn last week (he's never been a fan)
but he did charge home with a late kick we haven't seen from him in some time - drops another notch, and
may be ready to get back to the winner's circle. (1) STELLAR YANKEE was holding his own vs. better
here recently in the "Pop Up Series" and returns from Pocono at a winning level - very dangerous player
from this spot. (6) VIRGIN STORM hails from an eternally hot barn and just missed in this class 2 back -
very logical threat, but just doesn't win often enough at Yonkers to endorse at what figures to be a short
price - use in exotics. (2) BETTER UP fits nicely at this level and was very good in his last - the 24 days
off may leave him a little short, however. (8) WHITE HAIR ROCKS was hammered at the windows off
last week's barn change but folded on the front end - hard to back him on top from this even tougher spot.
(5) ABRAXAS BLUES A often outraces his odds - he's winless on the year, but may be able to pick up a
small piece. (3) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES is also winless on the year (0 for 15), but we'll see if the post
relief is enough to help him take home a piece. (7) VIVA LAS VEGAS N could use both a class drop and
much better post.
RACE 2 - (2) PYRO has been a little overmatched in the Open but this class is right up his alley - draws
inside, handles any trip, and has a solid chance in here. (7) CHASE H HANOVER was an excellent 2 and
3YO and is handling the older competition just fine so far at 4, and brings a 3 race win streak into tonight -
would have been the top choice with a better post, but the outside draw could leave him a bit vulnerable. (3)
PEACE OUT POSSE was a sharp winner here 2 back, then followed that up with a win up at Tioga - barn
is clicking right now, and this guy definitely has a real chance to be a serious player once again. (4) DINA
BOLT N races well week after week, but just hasn't been able to get his picture taken lately - use him in
exotics. (6) LOUS SWEETREVENGE has been razor sharp for some time, particularly impressive since
many of his other barnmates had been struggling - moves to new connections for tonight, but the main
concern is that he may find himself a little too far back from this spot - prefer to use him underneath this
week. (1) TRACEUR HANOVER benefited from the confusion off turn two last week but still went a big
mile to win it - gets major post relief, but will also be facing tougher now....we'll see if he can hang with
these too. (8) WICHITA LINEMAN was sitting 3rd behind a pair of Open pacers last week but still
managed to outkick them both, securing a new lifetime in his 195th career start - hard to see him repliating
that from Post 8, though. (5) GINGRAS BEACH threw a dull one last time after a series of sharp tries - this
is a tough field, so we'll see if he can bounce back.
RACE 3 - (1) ROCKAPELO lost all chance last when bothered by a gapper/breaker to the half - rallied
decently from impossible spots in his prior two, and gets to control the action with the move inside tonight -
the road to the winner's circle goes through him. (3) SHADOW CAT is pretty good right now and would be
wise to use his speed here - definitely can be in the hunt from start to finish from this spot. (4) RAUKAP
UKA RULER N has been 2nd in his last 3 starts -- not sure whether to view that as a sign of his sharpness,
or view him as a bit vulnerable, especially in the crucial stages - hard to leave him out of the exotics. (2)
CRUNCH HANOVER rallied for 2 wins in the past 4 weeks, but failed to fire in the other 2 - he can be
hard to predict from start to start, but he does figure to be chasing some sharp ones tonight - maybe a
smaller piece? (5) RHODENA ROAD is just one of several from this barn that has been doing some fine
work over the past couple of months - not sure he'll land on a great trip here, but he can make some late
noise if he does. (6) VELOCITY KOMODO drops to a level that would normally make him pretty
dangerous, but he may be caught a little too far back to use his late kick tonight - wouldn't shock, but
leaning towards others. (7) WINDSUN RICKY has some good recent efforts but figures to be too far back
to make much noise tonight. (8) IDEAL ARTILLERY is the outsider...both literally and figuratively.
RACE 4 - (6) MOTIVE HANOVER had never been a "winning" Yonkers horse in the past but he's hitting
on cylinders right now for the Dynamic Duo, and has taken 2 of his last 4 starts (with a close 2nd and 3rd in
the other two) - tough post, but we'll still give him the narrow edge in this pretty competitive field. (5) ROC
KATHON fits well with this bunch - his barn hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire lately, but he'll
be a good enough price to make him worth considering. (3) EXPLOIT was very good when a tough beat
2nd two back - took plenty of $$ last week, but just didn't fire from Post 8 - the move back inside should
result in an aggressive drive....with a chance to come out on top. (1) CHANGE STRIDE N may have
regained some confidence with a pair of wins over cheaper - the 11YO has been 1st/2nd 22X here over the
past 2 seasons, and can't be ignored with the rail draw tonight. (4) CAPTAIN SLEAZE has really gotten
sharp in his last few at PcD - he's been facing younger rivals, however, and will be tested tonight taking on
tough older claimers back here at Yonkers - we'll see how that works out. (7) LYONS KING draws his first
bad post in a long time and it figures to hurt his chances quite a bit - will need a lot of luck just to grab a
small piece. (2) GUMPTION has 2 wins this year at Chester but he's 6-0-0-1 here at YR (facing lesser) -
prefer others. (8) QUALITY BUD wasn't bad in his return off the layoff last week but he draws another 8
hole, and we'll wait for a better spot before considering seriously.
RACE 5 - (4) BECKHAMS Z TAM finished 2nd twice at this level then finished 2nd vs. the 75s after
being claimed - drops back down to 50s after being in a couple of tough spots, and should still offer some
good value in this wide open affair. (7) ELWELL sports a very impressive 17-5-3-6 local slate this year and
returns from Pocono off a winning effort - terrible draw, but he's overcome bad spots in the past- legitimate
threat. (6) BALLERAT BOOMERANG was able to get the job done dropping to 40s last week and was
claimed by our leading trainer - steps back up to 50s, and deserves plenty of respect. (3) FOREVER FAV
had no chance last week off the re-claim - he's having a tough year, but he can at least be a player here with
a live trip. (1) BETTOR BE OSCAR A finally draws inside for his current connections (after a pair of
horrible draws) and can be a much bigger player - doesn't win often enough for our tastes, however. (2)
KINNDER JACKSON tired badly from the pocket debuting for his new barn last week - he's won 7 starts
this year, so it's possible that he can rebound tonight....would need a good price to try him on top, though.
(8) HEAVENLY SOUND was just 1 for his last 27 starts here before grabbing a couple of wins vs. lesser -
was taken for $40K last week, but draws horribly for his new crew -- not sure he can reach from out here.
(5) BET ON BLAKE was terrible last week off the claim - waiting for better signs before considering.
RACE 6 - (6) PACE N PRIDE had some issue on 5/21 but otherwise is 6-2-2-2 since arriving in the U.S. -
he seems to be getting even better lately, and that 9-1 ML price makes him worth a good look in here. (1)
VIRGIL N was stuck making a long uncovered grind in his local debut (against a sharp, stickout winner)
and still held well for 4th - can be much closer tonight from this spot. (4) CONBOYVILLE was a sharp,
hard used 3rd two back, making last week's "dullish" 3rd a little disappointing - he's capable of better, and
should be a decent price. (2) THE DARK SHADOW is hard to gauge class-wise from his out of town starts
- he certainly has plenty of sharp recent efforts, and his barn has been clicking again....not impossible. (5)
FORTIFY was a big earner as a youngster but like many, had a tough 4YO campaign (just 1 for 15) - came
back sharp at 5 and won his first start in Canada, but did level off after that - could be vulnerable tonight at
a short price. (3) BENHOPE RULZ N ships in sharp from PA, but vs. cheaper - maybe can grab a small
piece? (7) SHANWAY N seems to prefer facing a bit easier - look for him next week in NW10000. (8)
WATERWAY has held solid form for a long time, but probably needs a much better post to contend at this
level - sticking with others.
RACE 7 - (5) BEE TWO BEE was an excellent 2nd to the very talented AMERICAN COURAGE 3 back,
just got brutalized too hard the next week but bounced right back with last week's easy 1:50.2 score -
remains the one to beat. (3) PAT STANLEY N got too hot on the lead last week and that :26.4 third panel is
probably what left him too tired at the end - probably a much better horse chasing, and he'll get that chance
tonight. (4) AMERICANLIGHTNINGN took on older foes here for the first time last week and went home
with a 1:51.2 lifetime best victory - he's now 8-6-2-0 at Yonkers, and we'll see how he does facing this even
tougher bunch. (1) WALKINSHAW N generally does his winning vs. a bit easier, but the inside draw does
give him a chance to rally late for a piece. (6) NONE BETTOR A threw a dud 2 back but rebounded last
week with a solid 2nd behind the top choice - needs some trip luck from this spot, but he can grab a share if
he gets some. (2) SHOOBEE DOO A disappointed as the odds on choice last week, never really looking
sharp right from the start - will need a quick turnaround to be a player tonight. (7) NO LOU ZING is being
listed at the bottom only because of the draw - a live flow gives him a chance to do better than that.
RACE 8 - (4) FUNATTHEBEACH N charged home full of pace from an impossible spot last week - he's
looking at a much better trip this week, and the winner of both the Levy and the Battle of Lake Erie seems
like a good play tonight. (5) PRICELESS BEACH needed his last (8 hole off 3 weeks) but he's been a rock
solid player since arriving here, and a multiple Open winner - dangerous with the post relief. (1) ANOTHR
MASTRPIECE N jumped way up to the Open last week but the classy import proved he belonged, and
might have had a chance to win had he found some stretch room - deserves a lot of respect with another rail
draw. (8) LEONIDAS A has remained "good" since changing barns on May 16, but does seem to have
perhaps lost a little something - can never count him out, but would want a pretty decent price to back him
on top from Post 8. (6) SPLASH BROTHER benefited from the race falling apart in that victory 2 starts
back but that doesn't mean he wasn't pretty good himself - the right trip could put him in pay for a piece. (2)
RED RIGHT HAND has plenty of ability and a fine local record - he just doesn't seem on his best game
right now, and will need to be better to be a major player here. (7) AMERICAN DEALER N has 2 Open
wins and gets along super with Joe B. - tough post off 3 weeks, though. (3) FEELIN WESTERN hasn't yet
proved that he really belongs at this level.
RACE 9 - (4) HEISMAN PLAYER is 19-5-4-5 here this year, and has won 3 of his last 6 starts - always a
threat to beat these from any decent post. (5) DELIGHTFUL TERROR was well meant last week and
looked like a winner....only to be fought off to the wire by the "new" version of KEYSTONE PHOENIX -
belongs on your tickets once again. (8) KEYSTONE PHOENIX didn't really shock anybody when he
started just running away from fields after joining his high-powered barn, but last week he displayed some
extreme gameness (after being tested) at the end of the mile...and THAT's something he was never known
for in the past - can't be discounted here, even from Post 8. (7) BARBADOS was extremely impressive in
last week's victory but now he tries his luck in 75s, and will start from Post 7 - we'll see if his new barn can
get him to overcome this very tough spot. (2) SOMEBADDUDE is a little hard to pin down class-wise
right now, but it seems like he may be a notch below the main players - maybe a small share? (3) PERFEC
TLY CLOSE hasn't been bad (some tough spots), but does seem like he may be in a little tough right now
against some of these. (1) LUCIANO N was very good when 2nd two back but unable to get involved
moving up to this level last week - we'll see if the rail can help him. (6) HERRICKROOSEVELT N was
struggling before the miscue last week - we'll stick with others for tonight.