RACE 1 - (4) WHOS SMOKIN N was scratched sick from her U.S, debut (at Chester) on 12/1 but did jog
when she went behind the gate 9 days later - ran into a tough trip (with a young pilot) in her next start (fin.
3rd), and we'll give her the edge in her Hilltop debut. (1) MAGICAL LILY BEAR put in a nice rally to win
for new connections on 12/7 at Stga. - appeared to have some issue in her next, but rebounded with a sharp
score (at a BIG price) the following week - draws best for her local debut, and may be able to make some
noise here. (3) SWEETEST IDEAL has a win and two 2nds since changing barns 3 starts back - very
playable in exotics for live barn. (5) BYTHEWAY HANOVER picked up a win and a 3rd at big prices in
her last 2 starts in PA - the price figures to drop considerably tonight, but she still has a chance to land
somewhere on the ticket. (7) IDEAL CHIP picked up a trio of 2nd place finishes at Chester, and has rallied
for pieces here in the past - ok bomb for 3rd. (2) PINEBUSH SWEETLIFE just missed at Stga. 2 back then
grabbed a win in her last - looks a notch below some of these, however. (6) PACIFIC DELIGHT beat lesser
at Monti last week....we'll see if she can build off that, and contend with these too.
RACE 2 - Tough race: (5) ANGRY EYES raced ok in 4 starts vs. similar in PA - catches a very iffy group
for her local debut, and may be able to trot on by them late if the trip goes her way. (3) BIG BAD SWAN
was a decent 3rd to close out 2021 - he's been a disappointment overall since the purchase this summer, but
does have a chance against these....if ready off the winter break. (4) MISTER MUSCLE would be a big
threat to wire these if on his best game...but his recent out of town efforts suggest he may not be hitting on
all cylinders at the moment - consider only if the price is decent. (1) OOH RAH had a pretty disappointing
2021 season, but the veteran could be looking at a pretty good trip here...and that would at least give him a
chance at the mild upset. (2) BAZILLIONAIRE rallied well a bunch of times last year but ended the season
with just one victory - consider using underneath only. (7) SWISS HOUSE ON FIRE has enough ability to
beat these, but lands in a very tough spot off the bad date - maybe if the price is really juicy? (6) SEVEN
KNIGHTS struggled for most of last year, and draws poorly for his 2022 debut - will just watch, for now.
RACE 3 - (6) SERRANO VOLO got too hot in her YR debut and ended making an early miscue - she adds
Lasix for tonight, figures to be a pretty big price, and is probably worth a stab in a very tough race to
decipher. (5) MOVEOUTOFMYWAY K has been doing good things when he behaves lately...but still
remains a very shaky proposition - has a chance to win here for sure, but it would be hard to take too short a
price with his tendency to go offstride. (2) DA BOOGIE MAN went a few good efforts here but started to
fall apart later in the year - ended his season with a couple of "ok" tries in PA, and we'll see if he can start
off 2022 on the right foot. (1) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN did some fine work here last year for a barn
that suddenly arrived on the scene and was winning races in bunches - that crew has disappeared, however,
and this guy's current form seems questionable, at best - another that seems risky at a short price. (3) TORK
IL throws a decent mile every now and then but he was just 2 for 52 here over the last 2 years, and that
makes him hard to consider on top. (4) TAX SAVINGS hails from a barn that usually sends them out very
live, but just doesn't seem nearly sharp enough right now to be a player. (7) THANKS FOR LEAVING
raced ok in his last start of the year, but sports an 11-0-0-1 local slate - hard to like from all the way out
here off the bad date.
RACE 4 - (1) VELOCITY MCSWEETS moved to a barn known for improving fresh stock, and delivered
an excellent effort for 2nd to close out 2021 - if she's ready to go off the hiatus, she may be able to pull off
the mild upset. (4) YS TALLIA figures to be the heavy favorite off the significant class drop - she's clearly
the one to beat...but she figures to be way overbet, and just may be a bit vulnerable right now. (2) ER HILA
RY is rock solid one level down, but can still do plenty of damage at this level too - may be a notch below
the top two, however. (6) FOX VALLEY CHARLIZ made a break 2 back but has otherwise been very
consistent lately - chance to rally here for a small piece. (7) BULLVILLEKARLA was 0 for 16 here last
year, and just 3 for 42 overall - maybe can save ground and pick up a minor share? (8) HIGH ROLLING A
was struggling to finish well in most of her starts late in the year - hard to like her chances from Post 8,
after missing time. (5) BACI BACI seems a little cheap, and is also prone to miscues - prefer others.
RACE 5 - (3) BITTY BITTY was 4 for 5 after arriving at Yonkers last October, the lone loss coming when
worn down by a pretty nice mare - catches a few solid rivals tonight, but we'll gamble that she's ready to
return off the winter break with another big effort. (1) BABS JANSEN was way overbet for her last (2/5),
and came up short in the latter stages - she'll be a better price tonight, and it would hardly be a surprise to
see her come out on top. (4) COMMANDER CATHY N has been second in all 3 U.S. starts, including two
right here at YR - she's going to win one soon...but not sure that'll be tonight. (2) VIOLETS RAINBOW
has won 3 of 6 here at Yonkers, but does seem a tad below a couple of the top ones - definitely ok to use
underneath, though. (6) NUTTINBUTTHEBEST has won 6 of her last 7 starts, with the lone loss being a
2nd to the top choice - the big knock for tonight is that she has just one start since 11/17, and may be at a
conditioning disadvantage vs. a few of the top ones. (7) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY is a notch below these
AND will be coming from last - tough spot. (5) TIAMOGONEDANCEN was not clicking at all in her last
few before the break - waiting for better signs before considering again.
RACE 6 - (6) TRIZZLE TRAZZLE shipped in from Michigan and promptly picked up a new lifetime
mark with a sharp score at Chester - not a great draw for her Hilltop debut (and she does face a few solid
foes), but we'll still give her the narrow edge. (5) SWEET PINK was a promising 3rd in her local debut,
after showing ability up North - if she's primed for a big effort off the hiatus, she can definitely make some
noise here. (7) ANDRA DAY has shown more than enough ability to beat these, but she lands Post 7 after
not racing since 12/8 - hard to say how serious she'll be for tonight. (1) EXTRILLA HANOVER has been
very inconsistent, but did finish 2nd in both of her local starts - can be a major threat from this spot, but just
isn't all that appealing as the 9/5 ML choice. (2) MOSSDALE LOTTEE N had a lengthy rough patch but
may be starting to work her way back into form - not sure this is a great spot for her, but she's worth
keeping an eye on for the future. (3) LINE EM UP has outraced her odds on several occasions - not a bad
bomb for 3rd/4th. (4) EYE POPPING used a well timed brush for a wake up call win to close out 2021 -
not sure she can have that kind of success against these, however.
RACE 7 - (3) LUCKY MATTER added hopples at The Meadows (after a break, 3 back) and scored at a
huge price - he's beaten better here in the past, and looms the one to beat returning to Yonkers. (2) EMOTI
ONS RICHES was handled very conservatively 2 back (after a break the week before) but was all business
in his last, delivering a very impressive victory - steps up a notch, but still looks like he can be a very legit
player. (1) IT AINT THE WHISKY gets the powerful combination of post AND class relief, and that could
be enough to land him a spot on the ticket. (5) FASHION FOREVER does his best work with easier, but
may be able to rally late for a small piece, with the right trip. (7) MY BOY CHRISTIAN is actually a
decent fit here, but he draws all the way outside after a sick scratch, and it's likely that he'll be handled
conservatively from this tough spot. (4) INNISFALLEN usually ships in with decent looking form, but then
always seems to struggle here at YR - will wait for a solid local effort before hopping on his team. (6)
TOTAL DIVA was just 1 for 24 here last year - pass from this spot.
RACE 8 - (4) BLUFFINER has struggled at this level but tonight marks his first try for a barn that is 13 for
21 since the beginning of December, and he's adding Lasix as well - probably won't offer a lot of value, but
major improvement is absolutely expected. (1) VAINQUEUR R P NO won all three starts after being
purchased by the same outfit that now owns the top choice - he took his 4th straight after being claimed,
then tired just a bit at Dover after being used for the lead from Post 8...obvious threat from the pole. (6) ON
HIGHER GROUND has been rock solid for weeks, but will have to contend with both a tough post, and
time off - would need a pretty good price to use him on top tonight. (2) MAJESTIC MARVEL won 2 in a
row but made a costly break when looking to extend that streak to 3 last week - a clean effort tonight would
give him a chance to be there for a piece at the end. (3) HAT TRICK MARLEAU has been a nice purchase
for Yannick and Co. , but still has to prove he can beat the 50s - willing to include underneath. (5) OUR
WHITE KNIGHT disappointed vs. cheaper after cutting the mile in his last - definitely prefer several ahead
of him tonight. (8) BLUE AND BOLD was definitely tailing before the winter break, and landing Post 8
isn't going to help him get back on track. (7) IN MY DREAMS is another looking to get back on track after
struggling in his last few.
RACE 9 - (1) MUFASAAS is used to facing better than these, and finds himself in what should be a
winning spot to start off the new year - won't offer much value, but he's definitely the one to knock off. (3)
HOBBS was probably happy to see 2021 come to an end, as the year proved to be incredibly disappointing
for his connections - he gets to start off 2022 at the bottom level, and we'll see if that helps him find a better
effort. (6) MUSCLE STAR went some big miles here at this level back in Oct/Nov - he'll be a big price, and
is definitely a decent one to try to slip into the exotics. (4) MISS YOU KELLY throws some solid tries
down at this bottom level - another that's very usable underneath. (5) VOLARE disappointed here in 2
starts off the layoff but did pick up a win at Chester on 12/29 (vs. easier) - we'll see if he can build some
confidence off that win. (8) DEW CAN DEW has a terrible win %, but does throw some decent tries at big
prices - ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (2) CHECKMATE HILL seems overmatched, even with the inside draw. (7)
PRESIDENTE ZETTE was 0 for 15 here last year, and draws poorly after being away since 12/1.
RACE 10 - Wide open finale: (1) SWAGASAURUSREX has done some good work since being claimed
early October, usually finishing well from tough spots - may finally get to sit a much closer trip tonight, and
perhaps that will give him a chance to get his picture taken. (6) I GET THAT was sharp to close out the
meet, and definitely looks appealing at that 15-1 ML price - worth considering! (2) TIME OUT IM TIRED
was claimed the night he beat this class 2 back - faced better from a bad post in his last, but drops and
moves inside for tonight - legitimate threat. (5) APEX SEELSTER had pace finishing in his last 2 - moves
up to start off 2022, and we'll see if he can continue to race well against these. (7) LETTUCERIPRITAA
has been a model of consistency lately, but will have to deal with a bad post, off a bad date, moving up in
class - could be a bit vulnerable this week. (4) STARK HANOVER had been struggling, but came up with a
much better effort last time (after being claimed by a hot barn) - moves up a notch for tonight, and that 2-1
ML price makes it tough to get excited about a wager. (3) LIFEWITHJOHN was no good at all in his last
pair before the winter break - pass for now. (8) CINNABAR DRAGON starts from Post 8 after being away
since 12/1 - just observing this week.