RACE 1 – (3) BE DIFFERENT joined our leading barn and promptly won his first 2 starts in this class – he raced
well (for smaller pieces) in his last 3, but may be able to capitalize tonight on the post edge he enjoys over a couple
of other main players. (7) BLUEBIRD BISHOP is a streaky horse and he brings a 3 race winning streak into this –
hard to fault his current stellar form, but he does move outside tonight after a pair of rails and a 2 hole in those 3
victories – MAY be at least a bit vulnerable here. (6) AUSTRAL HANOVER was racing well every week for his
previous barn and has continued to thrive since changing hands in December – he’s more than good enough to beat
these, but some trip luck will be needed starting from Post 6. (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT has been well backed in all
3 starts since returning from PA but has been no better than 4th – minor share? (2) MEADOWBRANCH NOBLE
went a big mile from Post 8 on 1/23 (arriving from Ohio) but couldn’t replicate that effort in his last pair – he’ll be a
nice price if you think he may find his best game tonight. (8) WARRIOR ONE has a ton of class and grabs more
than his fair share of wins...he’s also starting from Post 8, and loses Gingras and Bartlett...tough assignment. (4)
QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP inherited the lead from a pair of breaking contenders last week but couldn’t seal the deal –
prefer others for the top slots. (5) DRACO S probably needs significant class relief to be a serious player.
RACE 2 – NAADA Winter Fun Series: (1) HUNTING AS should be feeling pretty good about himself after last
week’s front end blowout at The Swamp – driver Slendorn has shown the ability to “send one” in the past, and that
could be the winning strategy tonight – won’t offer much of a price, though! (6) ATTA GIRL DANI gets a live pilot
(Beltrami), raced well last start and her barn sent out several winners recently – note that she hasn’t WON a race
since 2023, though! (5) ITSONEOFTHOSE got the switch to Adamczyk last week and delivered what appeared to
be an easy victory...only to be disqualified after the judges noted that he found the room he needed by going inside
pylons – can definitely be part of the equation once more. (3) LIONHEAD has gone off favored in 4 of his last 5
starts and failed to produce a victory – he always “figures”, but it’s getting hard to keep taking these short prices. (4)
JESSIES OUTLAWED has been racing ok at Monti and did some damage in some amateur races (at Fhd.) at the end
of last year – ok for underneath. (2) HOBBS moves inside and that puts him in play for at least some minor spoils.
(7) NEVER MIND N is decent right now but faces another very tough trip with the terrible draw. (8) ZLATAN feels
like the outsider, both literally and figuratively.
RACE 3 – (6) JOHN THE BAPTIST was a good 2nd in his local debut (despite racing off a bad date), was an “ok”
front end winner in his next and a very sharp pocket winner last week – he was claimed by a very live barn, and
we’ll give him the narrow edge, despite the draw. (3) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE had no prayer trying to rally from
8th last week but he’s a proven winner against these, and any live trip makes him very dangerous. (5) THAT DOG
WILL HUNT had a rare opportunity to race from OFF the pace last week and was actually very good – he was just
re-claimed by a barn he’s had success for, and looms a live player again tonight. (1) SPEED SNIP wasn’t bad last
week and gets major post relief for tonight – playable for the bottom of exotics. (7) MONACO HANOVER had
been plagued by a series of very tough trips so it was no surprise to see him come out on top last week after hitting
the front end – tonight’s bad draw will likely leave him looking at a smaller piece, though. (4) MANHATTAN ARTI
ST tends to get overbet, while also under-delivering – minor spoils? (2) BORN BRILLIANT hung in a bit better
than expected last week but still not ready to look his way. (8) ENTRENCH shipped in sharp from Monti but came
up weak off a nice trip – now stuck behind the 8 ball.
RACE 4 – (3) DIAMANTE TRIO IT returned sharp in 2025, winning her 2nd start – she actually was placed on
Lasix AFTER that win, and qualified sharply at Pocono – we’ll stay on board, even if A Nap stays loyal to #2. (6)
TIPSY MONI is hard to fault, as she won 15 of her 24 starts here in 2023-24, and is already 2 for 2 in 2025 – always
the one to beat, but maybe the draw could make her at least a bit vulnerable. (4) P C FREE WHEELING was a very
sharp claim as she gets to race for TWICE the purse in FM Invitational as she was going for vs. the 40s (while
taking on boys) – she was terrific winning off the claim last week, and could be right in the hunt again tonight. (5)
ENO LA just went too slow on the lead last week and that allowed #4 to throw a big back side brush at her, and
ultimately outgame her for the win– she never throws a bad one, and could easily take home a good piece (2) QUEE
N OF ALL is capable of beating these when on her best game, but she just hasn’t found it yet in ’25. (1) YO BETH
D was no good 3 back, finished with good trot in her next but reverted to “empty” last week – definitely risky now.
RACE 5 – (2) WARRAWEE XALT was a solid 2nd behind a streaking TEXSONG SOPRANO in his first start of the
year – he easily wired the field the next week but blew up on the lead (at 3/5) last week, putting in a very nice
recovery after landing – he’ll be a much better price tonight, and may deserve another chance. (6) THE PRINCE
made an early miscue 2 back but other than that has done nothing but good work since arriving at Yonkers, grabbing
a pair of wins and a 2nd from his other 3 starts – Brennan does opt for #3, but this guy should still be a legitimate
threat. (8) WILLY WALTON just obliterated a pair of fields to start off 2025 but has come back to earth a bit in his
last couple – he was just reclaimed by the barn he grabbed those big wins for, and does have the speed to blast even
from out here...belongs on your tickets. (3) BEERTHIRTY K usually races well in this class when he grabs a decent
trip and he should be able to get one tonight – ok for exotics. (5) ROGER RABBIT threw a rare dud 2 back and
while he did rebound with a win last week, he was all out, off a perfect trip, in a race that really fell apart – could be
a little risky tonight. (7) PINEWOOD HANOVER probably needs a better draw to have a chance to be a serious
player in this class. (1) J S HOPSCOTCH would really appreciate some class relief – at least the inside draw gives
him a chance for some minor spoils. (4) LADY JETER has struggled in all 3 starts this year.
RACE 6 – (2) DEETZY hasn’t been close to his top form this year but at least he was involved in the battle last
week – his barn has come to life recently, so maybe this guy will step up his game here. (6) JUST ENUFF STUFF
paced home decently into a very fast final half last week and it’s probably just a matter of time before he finds a way
to pick up a win at this bottom level – maybe tonight? (1) VIVA LAS VEGAS N rarely wins but he’s racing “ok”
now, and a logical threat to land somewhere on the ticket. (3) REIGNING DEO’s race 2 back wasn’t as sharp as it
looks on paper, and he was no threat at all last week – he fits as well as any in here, but not worth taking a short
price right now. (5) BARON MICHAEL picked up a no-threat 4th last time – maybe Bartlett can help him take home
another small slice tonight. (4) COTTON ON N, (7) MY ULTIMATE STAR A, and (8) RAYRAY have all been
struggling, and any of them would be a surprise tonight.
RACE 7 – (1) ALWAYS A LOOK shows a couple of recent wins out of town, draws the pole with Bartlett in a
fairly modest field and may have landed in a spot he can handle. (2) CHANTEE has shown little in his last 3 starts
but was facing much better – could be a wake up spot. (5) MEA CULPA A pretty much stole one last week,
grabbing a slow :59.4 and sprinting home the final half (after shaking off DEETZY) – steps up a bit, but could still
be a player in here too. (4) FESS UP N is hard to gauge as he was a front end winner at Dover 2 back, but tired
badly in the pocket last week – would consider only if the price was pretty good. (6) TWIN B RISENSHINE is just
1 for 22 locally but he raced well in a good chunk of those starts – a good trip is key to his success tonight. (8)
HEART OF DIXIE was a well-backed, good looking winner in NJ last week, debuting for his new barn – he did
show ability here in the past (some time ago), and wouldn’t be the worst stab for longshot fans. (7) GREG THE
LEG has been racing well vs. cheaper, helped by easier trips – could be looking at a much tougher journey tonight.
(3) WARRIOR FOR TRUTH hasn’t done much lately – another class drop could be helpful.
RACE 8 – (7) STORMONT DIVIDE was claimed for $60K on 11/14 and quickly elevated his game, becoming a
legitimate Invitational player – hard to get a good read off those qualifiers but it has to be considered a good sign
that Stratton opts to drive HIM, rather than #1 – worth a try. (1) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS was an upset winner 3
back then finished ok in his last pair from impossible spots – the move inside should make him a very legitimate
threat. (2) I GET IT usually races well when he can grab an up close trip and that should be the case tonight – would
need a fair price to use on top, but definitely can be considered for exotics. (8) BUSY MAKING MONI is 3 for 3 at
Yonkers and it’s possible we haven’t even seen his best yet – on the flip side, he’s been away for 3 weeks, has only
one start in almost 8 weeks and draws Post 8 – insist on a nice price if using on top. (6) TEXSONG SOPRANO
brought a 4 race winning streak into his last but took off the gate and was never in play – maybe he needs to be
facing easier to be at his best? (5) STREET GOSSIP doesn’t usually threaten to win (at least up at this level) but he
usually races well, and can grab smaller pieces. (4) GOLDEN RAIN S won his first 2 U.S. starts at Chester but took
NO $$ at all in NJ last start and finished way back...and that was 3 weeks ago. (3) TACHYON would appear to
need easier to be a player these days.
RACE 9 – (2) BROOKVIEW DARIUS has been a very solid performer in this class, handles any trip, and catches a
fairly modest division tonight – the one to beat. (5) MAHONE SEELSTER is 0 for 20 here the past 2 years but he
was 2nd in HALF of his starts – could add some value to the exotics. (3) INTL BLOCKADE should appreciate the
post relief, and that may be enough to land him somewhere on the ticket. (4) SWEET SOUL DAVID outraced his
odds in both 2025 starts – maybe 3rd/4th? (1) CHINESE WHISPER N feels like he was sharper earlier in the year but
the good draw should at least put him into the mix for a small piece. (7) ICE BREAKERS K had a huge wake up
call 2 back, almost pulling off an 8-1 shocker – wasn’t bad last week (impossible spot), but another bad draw may
limit him tonight, as well. (6) JULA MUSCLE PACK was no factor in either start this year – he’s capable of better,
but may need to wait to land in a better spot. (8) HAT TRICK MARLEAU grabbed 2nd at a nice price 2 back but was
able to get away in the pocket that night – that’s not likely to happen here.
RACE 10 – (4) CLEVELAND B MIKI has been a solid weekly player and now moves to a sharp barn and gets
Kakaley on board – won’t be much of a price, but likely the one to knock off. (6) WOLFTRAX hit board in 4 of 5
starts since returning, with the other being vs. the 25s, from Post 7 – could easily outrace that 15-1 ML price with
any kind of trip luck (7) ROSE RUN X CON was 0 for 33 here last year but has already picked up a win this season,
and comes off a 3rd place finish from Post 8 – he’s another that could outperform his long ML odds. (5) OVER THE
HORIZON was heavily backed last week and kept battling first over, coming up 2nd best to a sharp front end winner
– a live trip puts him in the hunt here too. (1) GOOD INVESTMENT hung in ok from a similar spot last week and
may be able to grab a small with a decent getaway. (2) HARD TO CATCH improved quite a bit 2 back (adding
Lasix) but flattened off a tough trip last week – we’ll see if the move inside can help him produce one of those better
efforts. (3) ON DAYBOO had no prayer from Post 8 last week but moves inside now, and is another that could bring
home a piece, with the right trip. (8) FUNKY BUNCH Is racing better than expected since arriving from Monti but
faces an uphill task tonight.