RACE 1 - (4) SERRANO VOLO got too hot in her first Yonkers start and made a break - returned a month
later (on Lasix) and was far more comfortable, putting in a big move from the back to finish a close up 2nd
- was just in a bit too tough last time but should find this bunch more to her liking...deserves the nod in
tonight's opener. (2) HAMMER CREEK was very aggressive off the car last week (to seat a couple of
leavers) and that may be why he came up short at the end - might look to cut it again, and will be a threat to
wire these if used a bit less early on. (1) PRESCOTT made a costly break before the start last week but
made a very nice recovery to finish a decent 5th - he had been doing good work out of town, and can be a
player here with a clean trip. (3) TIME OUTA JAIL has a 2nd and 3rd from 3 starts since shipping in from
Ohio (broke in the other), and may be able to rally late for a good piece tonight...assuming he behaves
again. (5) DA BOOGIE MAN debuted for a (hot) new barn last week, landed on a nice trip but came up
just a little flat at the end - eligible to be a bit sharper now, and is worth including underneath in exotics. (7)
CYCLONE MAXIMUS went a big mile last week despite some pretty hard use - unfortunately, tonight's
draw figures to leave him too far back to be the same kind of player. (6) MISS YOU KELLY was short in
her start after the winter break, and has been away for a month since then - sticking with others for tonight.
RACE 2 - (3) KIANNA raced ok in a couple of starts here this summer and hit the wire with some interest
last week, upon arrival from Ohio - catches a short field with camera shy main rivals, and may have a
chance to give his young pilot his first Hilltop victory. (1) IDEAL CHIP has now finished 2nd in SIX
straight starts, and is 1 for 32 lifetime - sure, tonight could be the night she gets over the hump....but hard to
accept a very short price with her on top. (4) BUMP IN THE ROAD was a decent rallying 4th two back,
but a "meh" 4th in last - suppose she'd have a chance here if she brought her best, and a couple of others
falter. (2) HELLRUNNER HANOVER is 0 for 9 at Yonkers but did hit board in 5 of those losses - willing
to use underneath, racing off 2 months. (5) MAGICAL LILY BEAR disappointed in her first local try, then
was "ok" in her last couple - would have given her a longer look had she not drawn outside all her other
rivals. (6) PENNYS NOIR draws outside, looks cheap, and her barn had a disastrous 2021 season here.
RACE 3 - (2) PAPPY GO GO hadn't raced here much over the past few years and his form shipping in last
week was suspect at best....but the 8YO certainly showed up on his game, slingshotting off cover into the
stretch to fly on by to a very easy victory - he'll face some much tougher foes tonight, but last week's effort
suggests that he should be up for it. (1) SOUTHWIND FROST looks like he should be a good fit with the
locals, and the rail draw should provide him with a good trip - solid candidate to land somewhere on the
ticket. (6) KANDY SWEET drops in class and that might result in a much more aggressive try here - she's
a much better horse when on/near the lead, and we may see that tip for her tonight. (7) IM THE MUSCLE
can be pretty inconsistent, but he's more than capable of handling a field like this...even from the outside -
consider if the price is juicy enough. (4) MY BOY CHRISTIAN has been consistent in his last few and
seems to get a little sharper each week - chance to rally for a piece. (3) MUSCLE STAR has been on our
tickets for weeks, so hopefully somebody cashed in with last week's 33-1 upset - faces much tougher now,
and is likely looking at only a smaller slice against these. (8) FASHION FOREVER is actually pretty good
right now, but he'll be coming from last and figures to have a hard time getting involved here. (5) TORKIL
was an upset winner (vs. cheaper) after the winter break...but hasn't races since 1/12, and moves up in class.
RACE 4 - (5) BEST KEEPSAKE had some success up North at 2 and 3, winning $125K - added Lasix for
her first NJ start, left well from Post 10, but the trip just didn't work out after that - gets a big switch to
ZeroN for her YR debut, and looks like a pretty appealing play at that 8-1 ML price. (1) ALTA MADEIRA
N was sent off at 2/5 for her local debut and was the easiest of winners vs. a NW2 field - this group is
tougher, but she's still the one to beat....just figures to be significantly overbet (and she did finish behind the
top choice when the pair raced against each other in NJ on 1/21). (3) GABBYS GIRL was happy to be back
at Yonkers last week but still got a little tired at the end and wound up a close 3rd - live player once more,
but needs to be just a bit sharper. (7) WHOS SMOKIN N won her first 2 starts here easily, then just missed
by a nose bumping up to NW4 last week - would have been rated higher if not for Post 7. (4) CATIE FAYE
HANOVER is a bit below the top ones, but sharp enough for a chance at 3rd/4th with an easy enough trip.
(8) SEA OF LOVE BC returned sharp from the winter break and was a game front end winner on 1/26 - not
quite as sharp when 4th last week, and now gets stuck with Post 8 -- tough assignment. (6) KATHYS
MOMENT took no $$ last week, took back to last and was already going nowhere when she made that
break - another tough spot may mean another conservative effort...leaning towards others. (2) AINT SHE
PERFECT just isn't clicking at all right now.
RACE 5 - (2) SWEET SOUL DAVID just didn't bring his best last week and got beat at 3/5....to a horse
that also faltered on the lead the week before...as the 1/10 favorite! -- catches an overall soft bunch here,
and probably deserves a chance to make things right. (7) MOMMS MY DAD has to figure some way into
the mix but IF Bongiorno can do that, this guy is absolutely sharp enough to make some noise...at a big
price. (4) BROWNIE often figures, and was a solid 3rd at Fhd. in his seasonal debut - he's also just 1 for his
last 22 here at Yonkers, and hard to use on top at a short price. (5) BAZILLIONAIRE fits well with this
bunch, but he was 1 for 31 here last year and another that would be tough to use on top at low odds. (8)
THE IRISHMAN put in a nice brush last week (as the odds on favorite) but couldn't clear to the lead to turn
three (or at 3/4s) and eventually weakened once they turned for home - would have been more likely to
give him another chance tonight had he not drawn so poorly. (3) SHAKE IT OF LINDY used an easy trip
to pick up 3rd last week - chance for a minor piece tonight with a similarly easy journey. (6) AWOL HAN
OVER was no factor here in his last 2, and draws outside once again. (1) TOTAL DIVA hasn't looked good
at all in her 3 starts of 2022.
RACE 6 - Tough race! (2) MARCO BEACH had been racing from behind lately but blasted to the top
from Post 8 last week, then actually did well to hold on for 4th after getting outbrushed by the winner to the
final turn - could land on a nice trip from this spot, and that may be enough to beat some pretty
questionable rivals. (4) SWAGASAURUSREX flopped for his new barn last week but he may need to be
raced far more conservatively to be effective - drops below the level of the claim price, but worth a look IF
the price is right. (1) BRANDON HANOVER seems overpriced at $25K but he draws the pole for his new
connections and does catch a shaky field...eligible to have big say tonight. (3) CINNABAR DRAGON has
been picking up smaller pieces lately, and may be destined for a similar fate tonight. (5) CAROLINA
MAGIC was claimed from $30K from his last start...but that was all the way back on 6/21 - qualified well,
so perhaps a check of the tote board is in order? (6) PLAY THE FIELD just hasn't been sharp for a while -
in need of a big wake up call. (7) OZONE BLUE CHIP was claimed for $30K, finished up the track for
$40K last week and now drops in for $25K - sure feels like a red flag! (8) THISJETSABOOKIN loses
Jordan and draws Post 8 while struggling a bit - pass for now.
RACE 7 - (3) PLUMB made her first start for the Super Siblings last week - went right to the top but was
soon offstride, recovered and caught the pack, then actually rallied late to be a good 4th - puts the trotting
hopples back on for tonight, and we'll try her one more time. (2) JACK VERNON has done some damage
here in the past, and appears to be shipping in from Dover in sharp form - main danger. (8) MAJESTIC
MARVEL has been good most every week recently, but really was sharp in last week's victory - Post 8 will
make things tough, but will also bring a good price...worth considering. (1) CHIEF JUSTICE has been
consistent lately, and that hasn't always been the case with him - rail draw should keep him close all the
way. (5) DC ANNA has gone a couple of decent efforts at this level, but comes into tonight off a sick
scratch, and with just one start in almost 8 weeks -- may come up a little short. (4) LOOK IN MY EYES
throws some good efforts, but may be a touch on the cheaper side - minor piece only. (7) MADHATTER
BLUECHIP was clearly well short in his first start of the year, even if it was in the Open - dropped in for
the $50K tag in his next but was scratched sick, and now lands Post 7 off a bad date - leaning elsewhere. (6)
HENDERSON SEELSTER offered a weak bid upon arrival last week - waiting for better signs.
RACE 8 - (7) ANDRA DAY came up 2nd best to the raging BITTY BITTY in her last pair - avoids that
tough opponent tonight, and does have the speed to at least improve at the start here - worth a shot, even
from out here. (2) COMMANDER CATHY N has hit board in all 6 U.S. starts but is still seeking her first
stateside victory - MAY be able to get it tonight...but don't take too short a price if using her on top. (3)
MOSSDALE LOTTEE N is pretty good right now, hitting board in 4 of her last 5 starts (with a miscue in
the other) - draws inside, and belongs in your exotics. (1) LINE EM UP disappointed off an easy trip last
week but has raced better than that many times - could rebound here, and grab a piece...at a good price. (5)
LARJON LEAH was no factor in her last couple but moves in just a bit. and may be able to find a little
better effort from this spot. (6) MYSTIFYING ships down from Canada off a couple of wins, but would
have liked her chances a lot more a few weeks ago....when this barn was going much stronger. (4) STAR
CAPTAIN showed ability at 3, including a very sharp win here on 9/29 - recent qualifiers make it hard to
gauge her current fitness, so perhaps the tote board can offer some more clues? (8) FLIRTY FORTY has
been ok in NJ with cheaper, but finds a tough spot for her YR return.
RACE 9 - (3) IN MY DREAMS is a streaky horse that's in a good way right now - he's overdue for a win,
and maybe he can pick one up in tonight's finale. (2) BRIDGE WORKS came up a little short in a pair of
local starts, finishing 2nd and 3rd - legitimate threat to get the job done tonight with for the very promising
Mr. Hanners. (6) MASTER MIGHTY arrives from Ohio and would appear to be a good fit with these -
include in exotics. (4) BLUFFINER hasn't really clicked since recently exiting his long time barn- possible,
but does figure to be overbet. (8) DRAZZMATAZZ is a good fit with these types, but another horrible draw
may leave him waiting yet another week for a better spot. (5) OOH RAH cut the mile at ten cents on the
dollar 2 back and faltered late....only to come back last week and win first over....in a higher class, at 13-1!
Hard to gauge from week to week these days, but we'll guess that he's looking at only a smaller piece here.
(1) CON AIR HALL draws the pole, but really seems to need easier in order to be a serious player. (7)
WILLIE B WORTHY moves up and lands outside....and that's usually not a winning formula.