RACE 1 - (6) QUALITY BUD hasn't shown much lately but he's been facing better, catches a pretty
modest bottom condition field in his YR return, and moves to a barn that really came to life in the latter part
of 2021 - decent value play in a race with some vulnerable favorites. (4) MIGHTY MR SHARKEY N
shows a mixed bag of efforts over the past few months but his good miles would make him a solid player
here - hard to love at a shortish price, though. (1) ORILLIA JOE will surely attract plenty of attention with
the class drop, rail draw, and move to one of last year's most reliable trainers....may very well take these
wire to wire, but he's also certain to be way overbet. (5) LOTTERY WINNER was horrible in his YR
debut, and just "no factor" in his next - he hails from a very high % barn, so it's not impossible that he could
show up with a better effort tonight. (2) ROCK THE NITE has way more "bad" efforts than "good" ones
lately - just too unreliable right now to endorse. (3) EXTRADITE N jogged vs. cheaper at Monti 2 back,
but does seem to be a bit below these. (8) DAVIDS COMING HOME was facing MUCH better in all his
most recent YR starts but he was also struggling most weeks - he'll be coming from way back, and this just
doesn't seem like the right spot to look for a wake up call. (7) BUNGALOW BILL N was 8-0-0-0 here last
year, and 0 for 22 over the last 2 seasons.
RACE 2 - (6) PARMESAN N faced much better in his only local start - he should find this crew much
more to his liking, and we'll look for a much improved effort tonight. (5) ROCKATHON won 2 of 8 starts
here last year, and fits well with this type - been away for 5 weeks, though, and hard to get excited about
using him on top as the 9/5 ML choice. (3) IWONTDOTHATAGAIN was just 1 for 33 last year, but did
race well in several starts at the end of the season - could add some value to the exotics. (2) KIMANI N
was just 1 for 36 in 2021, and tired badly here on Monday night - chance for a small piece. (4) MOHAWK
WARRIOR struggled in his last couple when overmatched vs. the 50s - has only 1 start in 9 weeks, and
we'll just keep an eye on him, for now. (1) FABRICE HANOVER fits ok class-wise, but he's making his
first start in 6 months, and figures to be a little rusty. (7) RETOUR AU JEU will look more appealing with
a better post, and a class drop.
RACE 3 - (2) MAJESTIC KIWI N was no match out of the pocket against IN THE HUDDLE when 2nd
best on 12/17 but he does have the benefit of that Monti start (on 1/4), and that might give him a chance to
run down his main foe this time around. (1) IN THE HUDDLE was a very sharp winner to close out 2021,
easily wiring the field in a sharp 1:53.4 mile - he's clearly the one to beat, but he'll also be a very short price
despite being away for a month. (5) COACH CAL throws some strong efforts at this level when on his
game - chance to make some late noise if ready off the hiatus. (6) BUGGER BRUISER ended the year
strong, with a win an a nose loss - steps up to face better here, and we'll see if that form can hold up as well.
(7) BLUEBERRY HEAVEN was sharp for a long time to close out 2021, but he does better work at the
bottom level, and will be coming from well back off a bad date. (4) DENVER SEELSTER is just 2 for 33
here over the last 2 years, and has missed a month (after a sick scratch at Monti) - leaning towards others.
(8) RYCROFT N beat better on 10/8, and is definitely a good fit at this level - tough assignment from Post
8 off a month, though. (3) SPORTY DRAGON has been ok with cheaper in PA, but may be a little
overmatched here.
RACE 4 - (2) FANATIC has been ultra consistent since arriving from Ohio in October, holding his own at
the top levels - last week's NJ start should have him plenty tight for tonight, and we'll give him the edge
over a couple of other tough foes. (5) SECRET BRO was unable to win in 5 tries at the Open level, but
drops back down to the level he beat on 11/12 - major danger. (1) SO LONG HANOVER was 1st/2nd in 20
of 35 starts last year, and that includes a couple of "Winners Over" wins at Dover late in the season - draws
best, and should be a player from start to finish. (3) PATRIARCH HANOVER really hasn't been on top of
his game in some time, but perhaps last week's Chester win will help him build some confidence - no value
at that 2-1 ML price, however. (4) KASHA V does his best work vs. easier, but may be able to rally for a
piece if things get testy up front. (8) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN draws Post 8 off a month and the guess is
that he'll be handled pretty conservatively tonight...but keep an eye for next week. (6) EYE OF A TIGER
AS tripped out to beat cheaper 2 back, but his overall recent form was definitely below a few of the top
ones. (7) FULL RIGHTS draws poorly off the hiatus - will just observe, for now.
RACE 5 - (4) SOUTHWIND ONYX clearly had some issue when debuting for his new barn on 12/3 but
that last Monti qualifier suggests that it wasn't a major problem - meets nothing too scary in here, and is
definitely worth a shot. (3) SULLIVAN raced better in his last couple than his lines might suggest - if he's
ready off the hiatus, he might be able to make a lot more noise tonight (2) DERECHO gave way to pressure
after cutting the mile 2 back, and was ok from a no chance spot in last - definitely a chance to be a player
throughout from this spot. (1) TEXAS TERROR N closed out his 13YO season with 5 wins, two 2nds and
a 3rd in his last 8 starts - tries to ump from 12.5s to 20s to start off his 14YO campaign and may find things
a bit tougher against these - seems a bit risky as the ML favorite. (7) ALLGONOWHOA is very capable vs.
20s, but may have some trouble getting involved from all the way out here - willing to include underneath.
(5) SEAFARER tripped out and picked up the pocket win 2 back, but his overall form is pretty inconsistent
- would need a pretty big price to consider him on top. (6) CASHNCAM is unproven at this level - sticking
with others, for now. (8) MISTER HAT ended the year with a win and a 2nd, but with up close, easy trips
both times - figures to have a much harder time getting in play from out here.
RACE 6 - (1) REDWHITE N GOO only made 13 starts as a 3YO but just got better and better throughout
the season, and really has the look of a very nice trotter - we'll give him a try in his Hilltop debut. (6) HILL
OF A HORSE was dull in 2 local tries after a layoff but really perked up adding Lasix in NJ last week - he's
beaten much better than these, and has to be seen as a serious threat...even from Post 6. (2) MAGIC VACA
TION was purchased privately during the winter break by an owner that is currently building a sizeable
barn with a trainer that has been winning at an absurd rate since the beginning of December - like most of
the barn's new additions he'll be adding Lasix for tonight - and we'll see if can improve enough to be a
contender. (5) NEXTROUNDSONME would normally be a good fit with these but he's missed a month
(after a sick scratch), and may not be on his best game tonight. (8) STONE IN LOVE has raced well here in
the past, and ships in off a win at Stga. - not a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (4) GREY was able to hang on off the
class drop to close out her 2021 season - faces better here, and may be hurt by the time off. (7) SKY CAST
LES is probably too far out to do any real damage upon arrival from Ohio - just watching, for now. (3) IM
THE MUSCLE will look better with a class drop, next week.
RACE 7 - Tough race! (5) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was a successful youngster but struggled to get
anything going for most of his 4YO campaign - finally started to find some better efforts at the end of the
year, then finally grabbed his only win of the season on New Year's Eve (in NJ) - wouldn't play him on top
as the favorite but assuming he's a fair price, he's worth a look. (1) KEYSTONE DASH threw way more
duds than good ones here in 2021, but he debuts tonight for a white-hot barn, and that may help him find
his "A Game" - dangerous IF ready off the bad date. (2) TERRITORY disappointed at this level in his last
start of the year but he's capable of much better - worth considering at a juicy price. (3) CENTURY GRIZZ
LY was very consistent to close out 2021, winning his final start after hitting board in the previous three -
can't be counted out. (4) KEYSTONE NOLAN was solid in his last 3 outings of the year, grabbing a win on
12/10 - certainly can be included in exotics. (6) BARRYWHITE HANOVER was wide a long way in his
last start and kept coming to the end - he's a bit unproven at this level, but we'll see if he can build off that
last effort. (8) IMMA BE just fell apart after being claimed on 11/12 - waiting for better signs before
hopping back on his team. (7) FOLLOW YOUR HEART seems a bit cheap at the moment.
RACE 8 - (6) AMIGO VOLO opened eyes on 12/10 with his first Yonkers start, crushing the field in
1:52.4, while establishing a new record for 4YO geldings on a half mile track - jogged again the following
week in the Open, then won another Open at Dover before coming up a little short when 3rd there last week
- clearly the one to beat in his Hilltop return. (4) HAYEK has been doing excellent work since switching to
off-the-pace tactics, and was 2nd to the top choice on 12/17 - the main danger? (2) LEAN HANOVER hit
board in 6 straight before finishing the year with a pair of lackluster efforts - the time off may benefit him,
and the inside draw could help him pick up a piece here. (3) BARRY BLACK does his best work with a bit
softer, but can still grab a piece tonight with an easy enough trip. (1) MADHATTER BLUECHIP got very
sharp for a while, even winning an Open back in September - shows a pair of Monti qualifiers after some
time off, and we'll see if that has him tight enough to be a legitimate player here. (5) YANKS DUGOUT
has been doing good work, but has to prove that he can bang heads with these.
RACE 9 - (5) PICARD A was VERY good for a while before going in the opposite direction this summer -
was able to grab a win at the bottom level on 11/12, and returns to YR off a pair of upstate qualifiers - can
handle the class jump, and is worth a shot in here. (1) ONE OFF DELIGHT A was an opportunistic winner
one level down in his last, but he's another capable of contending at this level too....if ready off the winter
break. (3) SOMEBEACH BARON was 2nd at this level to a sharp one 3 starts back - may be able to be a
player tonight as well. (7) MACH LE MORE A showed some potential at Stga after arriving from Australia
but now has just one start in 7 weeks, and draws outside for a barn that's been struggling here - leaning
towards others, but will definitely keep an eye on him. (2) SAILBOAT HANOVER was non-functional for
a while before that form reversing win on 12/3 - shows mixed form since then, and remains hard to gauge
from week to week. (4) SIR PUGSLEY just hasn't clicked since joining his high-powered barn - not writing
him off just yet, but not ready to endorse him, either. (6) AVATAR J throws some decent efforts at times,
but he draws poorly off a bad date. (8) TREASURE MACH figures to have a hard time reaching from all
the way out here.