RACE 1 - (5) PERSIMMON A was an ok 4th shipping in 3 starts back - got parked the mile the next week
and only lost by about 3 lengths, then just missed in his last (to a very well meant rival) after cutting all the
fractions - maybe he can get over the hump tonight? (6) OUR MAJORDAN A drops down off a solid effort
where he paced a big :27 third quarter uncovered, and still held well for 3rd - tough draw, but still worth
considering at that 12-1 ML price. (1) WEONA SIZZLER A doesn't look all that appealing on paper but
he's used to facing better, and does have 8 wins over the past 2 seasons - possible spot for a wake up call.
(2) FIZZING N always "figures" lately, but has been coming up short at the end of his miles - using on the
bottom of exotics only in here. (8) BETTER UP is used to facing tougher, and his barn has a few 8 hole
winners this meet....he's also 0 for 21 here this year, and would have to be a pretty good price to be worth
using on top. (7) CHANTEE ships down from Canada and his form suggests he'll fit with these - off 3
weeks and bad post, however. (3) ZACH MAGUIRE was o for 26 here last year and is 10-0-0-0 to start off
2022 - tough to recommend. (4) TIDAL SHARK has been struggling for some time.
RACE 2 - (1) ON THE VIRG was heavily backed last week (despite some pretty shaky form) and came up
with a major effort to blow away the competition - moves up one notch, but his last suggests he's ready for
it - chance to make it 2 in a row. (2) RISKY MILLION has been too far back in almost all of his recent
starts - he's looking at a much better trip for tonight, and should be able to make his presence felt. (3) MUL
LINAX generally holds his own with better than these, and has to be seen as a big threat off tonight's drop -
he also figures to be overbet, so be careful about falling in love with this guy. (8) QUALITY BUD rallied
for 3rd from Post 7 last week despite not looking all that smooth on the final turn - drops a notch off that
effort, but another bad draw may leave him looking at another smaller share. (5) MAJOR DESIRE was an
even 3rd at this level last week after beating easier 3 lines down - an easy trip would put him in play for a
piece tonight. (6) NOAHS MILL is highly inconsistent but he'll be a big price here and one his "good"
miles would give him a chance at a small share. (7) DARK ENERGY N was a determined winner off last
week's class drop - he'll need a lot of luck to come close to replicating that effort from this spot, however.
(4) FOX VALLEY INFERNO was empty last week and that pair of recent 3rds weren't all that sharp either-
leaning towards others.
RACE 3 - (2) FIRE START HANOVER made her local debut 2 starts back in the Open, and kicked home
full of pace for 3rd from an impossible spot - followed that up with a try in the Breeder's Crown elim. and
was beaten by only about a length....hard to go past with the big class drop. (1) JODY failed to get involved
from Post 8 last week but has otherwise been a very steady performer - rail draw gives her a big chance to
land somewhere on this ticket. (4) DISARONNO HILL seemed to be really struggling coming into last
week but came up with an excellent first over try to just miss (at 40-1!) - she'll still be a decent price here,
and is worth including underneath. (6) TECHYS ANGEL A just wasn't on her game last week but she's
rebounded from tough outings in the past - chance to rally for a share with a live journey. (8) BEST HEAD
WEST isn't the good Open mare she was earlier this year but she's leveled off as a steady player in this
class - the issue tonight is the draw, as she's just not the handiest mare in the world...minor share only. (7)
DC BATGIRL handled a bit easier 2 back then kicked home with good pace for 4th vs. better last week -
there's a chance she can rally for a piece tonight too...but much trip luck will be required. (5) SARAHS
LILLY and (3) ROCKNROLL ANNIE finished on the wire for 1st and 2nd last week but that was vs. much
easier - both figure to have a much harder time against this better group of mares.
RACE 4 - (3) OHIO VINTAGE has found a very comfortable home at this bottom claiming level, picking
up a win and pair of 2nds from his last 3 starts - his barn is going very well right now and while hardly a
"cinch", this guy is definitely the one to beat. (1) ATLANTIS faced better last week and was compromised
a bit on the final turn when caught behind a tiring rival - he drops and draws the pole tonight, and should be
a serious player from start to finish. (4) FARMERS TAN landed on a terrible trip last week and deserves a
pass - traded victories with the top choice in the 2 starts prior to that, and should go back to being a prime
contender once again in here. (7) CASHNCAM came back very strong after being scratched lame on 9/10,
but figures to be coming from a little too far back tonight to threaten for more than a smaller piece. (2) YS
SUNSHINE returns from Monti with a new trainer listed, and the good draw should at least keep him right
there most of the way - has struggled here in the past, however, so we'll just observe with caution for now.
(6) LETTUCERIPRITAA finally drops back down to his preferred level but he also seems to have fallen
apart since the recent claim - sticking with others this week.(5) BIG BAD BILL ships in off a nice 2nd in
PA but wasn't a threat in 3 local starts earlier this year - leaning towards others. (8) RANCOUSY continues
to make plenty of yearly starts at age 11 and does fit with these types....the brutal draw figures to really
limit him in his Hilltop return, however.
RACE 5 - (7) POSH ONTHE BEACH A may be worth a stab in a race loaded with question marks - he's
definitely sharp, he's a good fit in 25s and his barn has been sending out pretty live horses lately - if he can
land on a good journey, he has a chance to pull off an upset. (6) DENMARK SEELSTER was well backed
for his local debut, and came up 2nd best to the well intentioned, classy frontrunner - may be even sharper
tonight, and definitely belongs on your tickets (4) CLASSIFIEDMATERIAL has been better since the
recent claim but has only picked up smaller pieces- may be able to do the same here (1) APEX SEELSTER
is the biggest question mark - he was already dropping to 40s when he was scratched last week, and now
shows up in for $25K the next week - only the connections know if a wheel has fallen off, or if they're just
looking for a spot to pick up a victory. (2) JOJOS PLACE is another big mystery - he struggled ALL year
until joining a barn that was winning at an insane 40% clip...and predictably came to life for them -- he was
claimed from his last, moves up in class, and it's anybody's guess as to whether his good form will hold, or
if he'll rapidly regress. (5) SWAGASAURUSREX got a trip he loves last week and was full of pace at the
end - if he can land on a similar ground saving journey tonight, he can grab another share. (3) BAMSKI got
a needed drop last week but was unable to be a player - we'll see if he can improve a bit tonight, or if
another drop may be needed. (8) MY MIND IS MADEUP is really struggling....Post 8 won't help!
RACE 6 - (7) TAKE ALL COMERS earned nearly $200K at 3 and continued to thrive this year as a 4YO,
already banking $161K - he was a jogburger in his local debut (9/30), and obviously gets a full pass for last
week's disastrous trip (facing top Open trotters, at 1 1/4 miles) - have to believe he can handle these, even
from all the way out here. (1) NEW HEAVEN has lost a step this year, but this remains a level where he's
very potent - had trot finishing last week, draws the pole tonight, and should be able to find a way to pick
up a good piece here. (4) HOOLIE N HECTOR always showed potential but really started to pick up his
game late this summer - had no chance from Post 7 last week but was right there with sharp foes for several
starts prior to that, and could easily be part of the equation tonight. (3) IM THE MUSCLE is at his best on
the lead, but he can also follow pretty well at this level - a good start puts him in play for a piece of this. (5)
VALI HANOVER was a very sharp winner here 2 back, then followed that up with a good 2nd at Chester
last week (taking on older rivals) - a live trip may help him rally for a share against these too. (2) EMPERE
URTHEBEST FR hung in well to the stretch before weakening a bit in his U.S. debut last week - he's
eligible to be sharper tonight, and it would be no surprise to see the import have a bigger say this time. (8)
STARLIT RAMBO has done all good work since arriving here 8 starts back and just missed at this level
last week - he lands in a very difficult spot for tonight, however, and may still go home empty handed even
if he races well. (6) NO MAS DRAMA has been sharp so it was surprising to see a new trainer listed for
this week - been away since 10/8, is up in class, and we're leaning towards others for now.
RACE 7 - (7) THISJETSABOOKIN was very good in his YR return, pacing a strong final half to rally for
2nd from well back - he gets no luck with the draw tonight but he CAN leave the gate, and Stratton may be
able to find him a manageable trip - should offer some decent value here. (5) GIVENUPDREAMING was
wide a long way in his first try off the claim last week but continued to rally in the stretch for a good 3rd -
his young conditioner wins at a very high % at Monti but also does good work at other tracks too (including
Yonkers) - live player! (3) SPORTS BETTOR has drawn Posts 7 or 8 in 4 of his last 5 starts but did finish
2nd the one time he had the rail - chance to grab a piece with the move inside. (4) HAPPY TRIO looked
pretty much done not long ago but does seem to have turned things back in the right direction - not a fan of
that 5/2 ML price, but he can be a player tonight. (6) TEXAS TERROR N jogged vs. the 15s 3 back then
just missed in his last - the classy 14YO tries the 20s tonight and while this group is considerably tougher,
he's still worth using in exotics at that inflated 20-1 ML price. (2) AMERICAN WIGGLE was "ok" in jos
last couple of starts - prefer others for the top spot, but a small share is possible. (1) DAVIDS COMING
HOME turned in his best effort in a while 2 back then was horrible in his last - another form reversal is a
possibility, but we'll stick with others right now. (8) SECRECY was an improved 3rd last week but figures
to really be hampered by tonight's draw.
RACE 8 - (7) MCMARKLE SPARKLE isn't the traditional "Yonkers Horse" as she does her biggest
damage with explosive late rallies - that always puts her in danger of a tough trip (especially from outside
posts), yet she's still managed to win 9 of her 19 local starts this year - willing to go with her tonight (since
she'll be a decent price), hoping they mix things up a bit up front. (6) DELITFULCATHERIN N has been
quite a pickup for her current connections, as she's been a regular visitor to the winner's circle - she MAY
get roughed up a bit tonight, but she's also shown that she can handle that too...hard to leave off your tickets
(4) LUCKY ARTIST A has earned her way back up to the Open level with a series of sharp tries and she's
shown that when on her best game, she can be a player here - good value horse to include in exotics. (5)
MORNING HAS BROKEN has found her game again, and you know she's sharp when she can LEAVE the
gate and still be strong late - she's also moving up in class (like #4), and we'll see if she's sharp enough to
become a threat at this level too. (2) MAN DONTFORGET ME moved back up to the Open last start and
was able to hold 2nd after a two hole trip - just not sure she can land as good a journey tonight. (3) SIESTA
BEACH has been solid, but wasn't up for the tough first over trip in the slop last week - look for a more
conservative try tonight. (1) ANDRA DAY has been good since joining this barn over the summer, but may
be a bit out of her league against these.
RACE 9 - Tough race: (6) LIT DE ROSE returns to Yonkers after 3 months off and a very nice tightener up
in Canada - she's always loved it here at The Hilltop (17-7-3-2), and the short field definitely helps her
situation - assuming Lachance has her ready to go (and gives her a live drive), she may be able to make her
return a winning one. (2) UPTOWN HANOVER has won 3 of her last 4 with the lone loss being a very
solid first over 3rd - this is an evenly matched field, and she's as good as any of these mares right now. (1)
DARBY HANOVER was able to score vs. a bit easier two back - looked like a winner in her last into the
stretch and really had no excuse to get nailed at the end....possible for sure, but wouldn't take too short a
price. (3) JIVE DANCING A hit her stride once the pace slowed into the stretch and zoooomed on by for
the easy victory - she's feeling good these days, and another live trip makes her dangerous again tonight. (4)
LADY DELA RENTAA has been very good for a while, despite some very tough trips and a climb up the
class ladder - would really be no surprise to see her close at the wire. (5) REACHTHRUTHESKY AS is a
quirky mare - she has plenty of ability, but tends to get rough on turns at times, and just seems to race best
for Stratton (who drives #4 tonight) - she's listed on the bottom here, but really can't be dismissed too easily.
RACE 10 - (4) TERRITORY is 0 for 17 here this year but has been getting better lately and his last effort
was actually very good - maybe tonight he can get off the schneid? (3) KIMANI N generally races "ok",
but is pretty camera shy himself - this is definitely a spot where he does have a chance to come out on top,
though. (1) PACING MAJOR N could easily handle these if close to his best but he's off a sick scratch and
did finish "distanced" on 9/16 - just a little too risky to take at a short price right now. (2) SNAP CALL
struggles in many of his starts but does throw a good one once in a while - decent one for the longshot fans
to consider. (6) BLUEBERRY HEAVEN is usually good for some life at the very end - throw in for
3rd/4th. (5) COACH CAL is usually a threat for a piece against these types but he really threw a dud last
week - hard to gauge what to expect from him here. (7) LINCOLN BOULEVARD is 0 for 10 at YR, draws
outside, and seems unlikely to get in play. (8) P H KENNY is 1 for 26 this year and now has to deal with
Post 8 - wait for a better spot.