RACE 1 – Good opener! (5) RENAISSANCE DEO recently hit a rough patch but perked up nicely here on 1/27
and dimply had no chance last week – he fits well with these, and could be a serious player tonight if the trip goes
his way. (3) SPLASH BROTHER was an easy front end winner 2 back and can be forgiven for NOT holding out
NAN DOLO N at 3/4s last week (despite pacing a sharp 3rd panel) – could bounce right back with a big one tonight.
(4) WINDSUN RICKY was far more serious in his 2nd start of the year and finished very alertly – this field is within
his comfort zone, and he’s another that could come out on top with the right trip. (1) TWIN B HEART THROB
came up 2nd best to #3 two back and crushed easier last week (though the final margin is a little deceiving) – hard to
ignore his chances from the pole, but he also figures to be somewhat overbet. (2) WICHITA LINEMAN fits
beautifully with these and there’s nothing wrong with that qualifier – hard to know if he’ll be primed for his best
after being away since 12/1, though. (7) KINGSVILLE had a solid 2025 return, finishing a no-threat 2
nd to the dominant winner – not sure he’ll be able to work out a manageable trip from out here, though. (6) FIZZING N
hasn’t been terrible, but this is a very tough spot for him. (8) CHANTEE draws Post 8 after failing to threaten in his
first 2 starts of ‘25.
RACE 2 – Tough race: (4) MACH N CHEESE had a very useful tightener on 1/27 then turned in an excellent 8 hole
try for 2nd last week – moves inside, and will try get his barn into the win column for 2025. (2) SHINE A LIGHT is
hard to fault right now, rallying very nicely for a close 3rd 2 back, followed by last week’s sharp front end score –
hard to leave off your tickets. (3) HAMMERING HANK just caved in the pocket as the odds on choice last week –
he does drop right in the box, though, so perhaps whatever was wrong has been corrected – much better price if you
want to give him a shot at redemption. (5) SADDLE UP was reclaimed by a barn for whom he raced super late in
the year – he may prefer to do his battling in 30s, but can still be a threat at this $40K level as well. (1) DELESTON
doesn’t seem to be on his best game right now but he drops back down to 40s and did win in this class last October –
wouldn’t shock. (6) FULSOME wasn’t bad off a tough trip last week but gets a very tough draw with a bunch of
sharp ones to his inside. (8) CENTURY ENDEAVOR had a nice wake up call off the claim last week but faces an
uphill task from Post 8. (7) SANTAFES COACH could use a drop...and better post.
RACE 3 – (4) NANDOLO N was uncharacteristically on the lead in NJ 2 back and that surely had him ready for his
dominant first over score here last week– he’s one of THREE sharp players in here that all lose Bartlett off winning
efforts, but we know that Tritton is capable of getting the job done with him too. (6) VENTURESOME ARDEN N
had been off his game for some time but looked more like his “good” self in last week’s easy front end score – he’ll
have to do it without Bartlett tonight, however, but at least that will come with a better price. (7) ALL ALONE is
razor sharp and is the 3rd player in here that will be losing JB this week...a big price makes him worth a look, even
with the awful draw. (1) ULTIMAROCA hit board in his last couple, finishing 2nd behind the top choice last week –
he’s looking at a good trip here, should the top ones falter. (2) MOMENT IS HERE just got nipped on the wire 2
back by a promising import, then chased #6 in vain last week – another that will be waiting in the wings to capitalize
with the right trip. (5) VICI just hasn’t looked his best the last couple of weeks – needs to up his game a bit. (3) SA
MHARA N had to re-qualify after a sick scratch on 1/20, and hasn’t raced since 12/17.
RACE 4 – (2) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A just never looked comfortable 2 back but he was able to relax last week and
that allowed him to charge home from well back to be a close 4th at the wire – he has no shortage of back class, and
just may be coming back around to peak form. (3) THE IDEAL DANCER A has really upped his game since the
move to our leading barn (in Nov.) and finally gets some post relief for his 3rd start of the year – could be a very
dangerous player here. (1) DUVAL STREET looked short in his 2025 return so it’s hard to say if that start will have
him tight enough for an aggressive try tonight – on his best he can certainly be a big threat from this spot. (6) CHUR
CHVIEWFRANKL N couldn’t sustain his long first over move last week and may still not be in peak form – the
tough draw will force him to rely on some trip luck to be a bigger threat tonight. (4) FAMILY RECIPE was never in
play last week but still only lost by a couple of lengths – he’s good right now, but may be a notch below a couple of
the others. (5) TWIN B POWERBALL is just 1 for 11 at Yonkers and seems a bit more comfortable one level down
– minor piece? (7) SPEED MAN N showed some better signs last week but the outside draw may leave him waiting
for a better spot before showing his best.
RACE 5 – (6) LYONS SURFING is a completely different horse in THIS barn, capable of big miles (like the one
we saw last week) – gets a tough draw while up in class, but may be able to handle these too. (1) ROLL WITH THE
FLOW sharpened with cheaper in NJ and built off that in his Hilltop return, a strong first over winner – he’s looking
at a good trip here, and very dangerous right now. (2) SHAKESPEARE held ok for 4th in his last pair after first over
trips vs. tough $50K claimers – he’s not as reliable as he once was, but hard to ignore with tonight’s class relief. (5)
JETT STAR N was able to win TWO starts at the basement level (he was eligible at time of entry for the 1/28 win)
and now will try to step up a notch and keep his streak going – not impossible, but could be a tougher task tonight.
(7) ROLLING WITH SAM rarely throws a bad one but also has trouble finding the winner’s circle – could rally late
for another one of his good pieces. (3) CASINO ACTION N is just 1 for 25 locally, and seems destined to content
for just a minor share. (4) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N appeared well short for his 2025 return – not ready to consider
just yet. (8) JUDDY DOUGLAS A is an infrequent winner, and now has to deal with Post 8, up in class.
RACE 6 – (2) SHAZAM BLUE CHIP was much more serious in his 2nd start of the year, though just a little short at
the end – he gets an aggressive pilot to fill in for Bartlett tonight (Holland), and may be ready to bring his best. (1)
BONDI LOCKDOWN A backed off at the start last week and was never a factor after that – he’s capable of much
better, and we may see it from the pole tonight. (5) ROCKMYSTER N took some $$ for his U.S. debut but never for
into the hunt– way too early to write him off, especially with his barn off to such a great start this year (4) BOILING
OAR loved the two hole trip 2 back and finally got back to the winner’s circle – he wasn’t able to sustain his long
move last week, though, and his current “sharpness” remains a bit of question – would want a decent price to use on
top tonight. (3) WALKINSHAW N has been sharp so his 2nd place last week was NOT a surprise...though his 28-1
price certainly was – could grab another share tonight if the trip goes his way. (6) BE DAZZLED LOU A was a
game winner here on 1/21 but he’s been away for 3 weeks and gets a tough draw – leaning more towards others. (7)
FUNATTHEBEACH N hasn’t been “great”, but he’s been competitive in all 3 starts this year – not sure this is the
spot where he can up his game enough to pick up a win. (8) BENHOPE RULZ N is a solid performer, but really in a
tough spot here.
RACE 7 – (1) HEISMAN PLAYER charged home to win here on Opening Night...was a little disappointing when 3rd
in his next, but kicked home full of pace from an impossible spot last week – could be very tough with any
decent trip. (6) IM A POWERPLAY A is a rock solid performer in this class, and comes into this off a win and nose
loss 2nd – tough draw for his new barn, but does have the speed to overcome it...logical threat. (4) SAN DOMINO A
finished ok from an impossible spot last week and his barn sent out a couple of “wake up call” performers recently –
not a bad bomb to at least consider. (7) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES has been sharp since November but faces a
tough assignment starting from Post 7 vs. 30s– could still be in the mix with some trip luck. (5) THEFLYINGROCK
was a good 2nd (behind #1) in his first start of the year but he’s missed 3 weeks, and has only 1 start in 8 weeks –
hard to take a short price right now. (2) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N has done little lately but the good draw may
keep him close enough for a shot at a share. (8) LAZ landed on a perfect trip last week and was able to eke out a
nose win over #6– A. Nap stays loyal and sticks with him, but may have a hard time reaching tonight (3) WARRIOR
FOR TRUTH hasn’t embarrassed himself in this class...but hasn’t been a threat, either.
RACE 8 – (2) DONTBOTHERMENONE N has won 4 of his last 5 starts, the lone loss coming on 1/20 when he
came up 2nd best after a tough trip, off a bad date – gets his trainer back in the bike tonight, but that also means a
better price than if Gingras was on board – we’ll give him the slight edge. (1) CUT N RUN N dropped in for a tag
after winning his first 2 starts of the year and came up 2nd best to a very sharp winner – he also loses Gingras, but
does get Stratton and the pole...major danger. (7) MIND HUNTER just came up terrible on 1/20 but was a much
different horse last week, bouncing back to top form when 2nd best to the streaking ORLANDO BLUE A – definitely
at a disadvantage starting from out here, though. (8) PEACE OUT POSSE started off the new year with a pair of
solid 3rds but will need some major trip luck to be as successful starting from Post 8. (3) GENTLE GIANT had an
encouraging try 2 back but disappointed when he followed that up with a (very) well-backed 3rd – needs to find that
“A Game” to be a bigger threat with these. (4) I DRAINTHESWAMP A was a solid winner vs. the 40s two back but
remains a bit of a question mark at the $50K level. (5) AMERITRIC was a no threat 5th last week but still raced
better than expected – may need some class relief to be a serious player, though. (6) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER
wasn’t terrible last time but still feels a bit overmatched with these (right now).
RACE 9 – (5) BLAZING HOME N shows a pair of qualifiers that suggest he could be a VERY nice horse, for a
barn that has enjoyed more than their share of success with imports in the past – the fact that Matt Athearn is making
the long trip down just to drive him suggests that he won’t just be out for air in his U.S. debut – willing to give him a
try. (1) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE hit board in all 4 local starts and now returns from The Swamp, where he went
7-4-3-0...very dangerous from the pole! (4) BINGE ON YANKEE was no threat in his 2nd start of the year but did
race better than his line might suggest – could see him making some noise tonight. (3) ROCK DIAMONDS N will
probably be ignored in the wagering tonight after an extremely disappointing effort as the odds-on choice last week
– which makes him worth considering, at least for a piece. (2) TICKERTAPE HANOVER won his last 2 starts of
2024 but has yet to get untracked in ’25 – maybe an easy, up-close trip can help him get some confidence back? (6)
LAYTON HANOVER came up 2nd best 2 back when he moved a little too late – made amends with a front end
score last week, but finds himself in a tough spot here...small piece? (7) BLUE LOU can go some big miles when
on his game but he’s making his first start since 12/2 and may not be fully cranked just yet. (8) SMIFFYS TERROR
N acts like he can be a pretty nice horse, but seems destined to just sit back and rally late thanks to the awful draw.
RACE 10 – (7) FINAL CHEESERECIPE suddenly found gate speed to start off 2025 and that helped win his first 2
starts – he was quickly reclaimed from his last and while he gets a terrible draw (while also moving up in class), he
DOES have a chance to get the “threepeat” – good value option in a race with a few strong players. (2) MUSIC HA
LL was hammered at the windows last week and delivered the very sharp first over score – major threat to come out
on top once more. (5) J B GRAM has been sharp for ages, and that mile 2 back (where he had to overcome a break
at the start) was especially outstanding – he couldn’t survive a tough trip in his last, and we’ll see how he does
tonight in yet another new barn. (4) IM THE PRINCE got a big barn change for his local debut and raced very well
to be 2nd to #7 – could improve even more the 2nd time around, and that would give him a chance at the upset. (3) TA
KE A CLOSER LOOK is a streaky sort that has been OFF form for some time – his last wasn’t “as bad”, though,
and he’s not the worst choice if looking for a big bomb. (6) HARD TO CATCH added Lasix last week and raced
much better than expected for 3rd-we’ll see if he can build off that even more. (1) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL never
wins, but the rail draw does give him at least a chance to contend for a minor share. (8) CAPTAIN T HANOVER
had an outstanding 2024 but hasn’t quite clicked so far in 2025 – awful draw tonight off the claim.
RACE 11 – (2) REAL PEACE had been sharpening across the river and gave it a nice try from Post 7 in his
seasonal Yonkers debut, coming up 2nd best to ROLL WITH THE FLOW – moves inside, and the classy 10YO may
be able to pick up his first win since 2023. (5) OCEAN RIDGE drops from 40s for a small barn that has sent out a
couple of live performers so far this year – could have a big say with these. (4) QUALITY BUD was one a few from
the barn to start to come around last week, outracing his 25-1 odds to rally nicely for a board spot – would be no
surprise at all. (6) VULCAN STAR N was caught in and shuffled badly last week, losing all chance – this may not
be a spot for him to strut his best stuff, but he’s worth at least a look at a big price. (1) YNOTTHISHOS was given a
silly drive last week (well up in class vs. the 40s) and was predictably parked – drops, can be handled more
realistically from the pole, and could easily be part of the equation with a good trip (he won in NW5000 two starts
back). (3) STRENGTHFROMABOVE was 0 for 11 here last year and just 2 for 22 overall – he could be tighter after
that NJ start last week, but still not ready to hop on his team. (7) EUPHORIA N is racing “ok”, but draws poorly
tonight while moving up in class. (8) BUCHANNON HANOVER is 1 for 36 at Yonkers (last 3 years) and lands Post 8.