RACE 1 – (5) EMBRACE THE FUTURE was no factor in her last start in PA but that was off 5 weeks (after a sick
scratch), and facing much better...she drops back down to face the types she beat at 1/5 back on 11/21, and looms a
very tough customer tonight. (6) WHEELZABLAZIN shows a lot of miles that would make him a big player in here
but he struggled in his only LOCAL try, lagging most of the way before going offstride – we’ll see if he’s better in
his 2nd Yonkers appearance. (2) CHASING CRYSTALS raced “ok” in a couple of local tries, draws inside and may
add some value to the exotics. (1) ALEXANDER was “meh” in most of his 5 Yonkers starts, and has been away
since 12/11 – the rail draw does put him in play for a piece, though. (8) HL OLMAYA has some ability but faces an
uphill battle trying to rally into serious contention from out here. (4) BO SILAS had success at the Michigan fairs
but has struggled since coming east – needs to find some of that better form to have any real say here. (3) BARN
CREDIT was just 1 for 24 last year, and 0 for 10 at YR – leaning elsewhere. (7) HONOLULU was a no threat 5th
debuting for a new barn on 12/4 but was scratched sick from his next and not seen since.
RACE 2 – (5) B COOL FOOL made an unexpected pocket miscue dropping to this level on 12/4 but rebounded to
win his next, then was 3rd the following week – he won’t offer any value as the 7/5 ML choice, but he still deserves
top billing. (4) THE WILL TO PLAY had fallen apart in Ohio but quickly righted the ship after being acquired by
his current barn on 11/23 – those 2 recent amateur wins suggest he can be a serious player in this spot. (3) GINGER
TREE PETE was finally finding his form again when the 2024 meet came to an end – hard to say if he’ll show up at
100% off the 5 week layoff. (1) ON THE VIRG was no good at all for an extended period before suddenly coming
to life on 11/6 and winning 3 in a row – his season did end with a clunker in 20s, however, and he’s another that has
to be considered a big question mark off the hiatus. (2) LUCIANO N stayed active at Monti during the break and
draws a good post with Gingras – he IS camera shy, however, so insist on a good price if trying him on top. (6) QUA
TRAIN BLUE CHIP picked up a 2nd in his final start of the year, but mostly thanks to a great trip – he had a rough
’24 season overall. (7) BIG SIR can throw a good one from time to time but this doesn’t feel like the spot for it.
RACE 3 – (4) RECORD YEAR finished up the year strong and stayed sharp with that maintenance qualifier at
Monti on 1/4 (finishing right behind a pair of classy rivals) – could be a decent value play in this fairly wide open
affair. (2) SMOKIN BY N won 10 races last year, but only one over the last 3 months of the year...he drops down to
20s for his seasonal debut, and a good price makes him worth considering. (6) SHADOW IN RED was a close 2nd in
his first try at this $20K level then was a winner in his final start of 2024 – tough draw, but the barn has definitely
been sending them out live to start off the new year. (3) OSTRO HANOVER was racing “ok” here at the end of last
year then picked up a win (vs. easier) at The Swamp over the winter break- would be no surprise at all. (1)
MIGHTY SANTANA N finished 2nd to close out ’24...and it was the 10th time he was a runner-up last year...never
a bad one to include underneath/ (7) BETTORBUCKLEUP turned in a form reversing victory in his final start of the
year but with an easy trip in a weak field – much tougher spot to start off 2025. (5) WAR DAN DELIGHT had a
rough 2024, finding the winner’s circle just once in his 39 starts.
RACE 4 – Totally wide open! (7) CENTRAL PARK has raced well in virtually all of her local starts, can handle a
variety of trips and figures to be a pretty long price tonight – one of several worth considering in a race that could go
a lot of different ways. (8) IM AN ANDOVER tired badly in his last Chester outing but had been on a serious roll
prior to that (after the recent barn/driver change – another juicy bomb with a chance to light up the tote board. (2)
WIN TOGETHER S won 3 of 5 local starts and stayed sharp with that close 2nd in NJ on 1/10 – possibility. (3) LUC
KY MUM N was never overly “dominant” but did win 5 straight local starts before coming up 2nd best on 12/18 –
she weakened in NJ in her last try, but could easily bounce right back here to one of her better efforts. (6) GREEN
PASTURES jogged (vs. easier) in his first local try, then just missed to a solid rival in his final start of 2024 – yet
another with a legitimate chance. (4) FULL SCALE has done plenty of good work for this barn, but did end 2024 on
a sour note – we’ll see if some time off actually benefits him. (1) ENERGY KING was consistent for most of 2024
but did take a long time to finally graduate from the class below this one. (5) NOTTINGHAM is listed on the
bottom here but shows three local wins right on his program lines...and that’s how tough this race is!
RACE 5 – (3) SALE EL SOL had a terrific 2023 season but ’24 was much more modest – she did find much more
consistent form late in the year (after moving down to this $20K level), and we’ll give her top billing for tonight,
largely thanks to staying active out of town during the winter break. (4) ITTY BITTY had a very rough year but was
definitely turning things around a bit in the last part of 2024 – barn has been sending out live ones the first couple of
nights of this new meet. (2) JILLIAN JIGGS would throw a good one from time to time so that 30-1 upset to close
out 2024 wasn’t completely shocking...hard to take a much shorter price tonight, though, after missing 5 weeks. (7)
CHILLIN BYTHE POOL was winless in 30 starts last year so it was pretty surprising to see her take her first start of
2025 (in NJ), passing the entire field after getting away 10th – willing to include her on the bottom of exotics. (6)
EBONY LADY had a few good starts in this class last year but gets a bad draw after missing time. (5) EILEENS
WISH also had a couple of nice local efforts but her last pair (across the river) weren’t nearly as good. (1) LYONS
SHELLBY ships in sharp from Fhd. but does appear to be on the cheaper side. (8) RAISE THE ANTE arrived from
NJ in Dec. and promptly rattled off 3 straight – she did falter in her last pair back at The Swamp, and figures to be
hurt badly by tonight’s terrible draw.
RACE 6 – (6) SNOUZE U LOUZE can probably just get a pass for that last start in NJ – most of his recent LOCAL
tries would make him a solid player here, and the price should be pretty decent. (3) ROCK THIS WAY always
seems to be coming hard late, and that style helped him put together a pretty good 2024 season – legitimate threat in
this spot IF ready off the hiatus. (4) BARON CHANCEY may be a little on the cheaper side but he has some recent
efforts that could at least land him in the hunt, especially with Bartlett at the controls. (1) IM J BEE N won 6 of 15
starts last year but seemed to fall apart completely in the latter half of the season – hard to seriously consider him on
top at that 9/5 ML price. (7) ROSE RUN X CON was winless in 33 starts last year but he’ll grab a small piece at a
big price from time to time. (2) DEEDENUTO A had some good efforts out of town last year but was 9-0-0-1 here
at Yonkers – prefer others. (5) SHAKE IT doesn’t seem to be functioning too well at the moment. (8) OUR COREL
LI N would look pretty overmatched here even without getting stuck with Post 8.
RACE 7 – (7) KOVU AS was away from last February until November but certainly found his form quickly after
returning – he was a sharp winner in his only local try, and we’ll hop back on board tonight, even with the very
tough draw. (8) CHIPPER DALE just missed to the top choice in his final start of the year, and now has to deal with
Post 8, after 5 weeks off – make sure to get a fair price if trying him on top. (3) IDITAROD may be on the cheaper
side but the Canadian invader moves to a barn that routinely improves fresh stock dramatically, so that 20-1 ML
price does give him some real appeal. (5) PISCES RISING ships in off a blowout win across the river and his overall
form is very solid as well– could be a big player here if he can navigate the half-miler successfully. (4) FAST APPR
OACH has more than enough ability to be a serious player here ...but he made miscues in both local tries, and that
stamps him as at least a bit risky. (1) SHIV feels like he’s on the cheaper side but he’s 3-2-1-0 here at YR and that
makes him hard to just dismiss. (2) MUSICAL RIDE was a winner here to close out 2024 but vs. a bit easier – has
to prove he can hold his own with these tougher ones too. (6) STOCKHOLM HANOVER just hasn’t been clicking
in some time – we’ll see if the time off helps him.
RACE 8 – (2) ROSE RUN ZEKE quickly took to his new barn, just missing (in NJ) on 12/14 before winning 2 in a
row, the last one as the odds -on favorite – seems perfectly classified for his local debut, and remains the one to
knock off. (1) SPEEDY DOMINIC A appreciated the move to our leading trainer, winning very easily on 12/11
upon arrival from Ohio – he finished a couple of lengths back in 4th behind the top choice in NJ last start, but we’ll
see if he can reverse that decision tonight...with the big switch back to Bartlett. (5) JUST PLAIN LOCO shows a
couple of recent amateur wins in NJ, and did do some damage here in years past...could add some value to the
exotics. (4) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES ended the year with 3 straight local wins but those were at the $20K level –
may be looking at a smaller prize up here in 30s. (6) RICARDOSHILYSHALLY has some good recent miles vs.
easier but will have to prove he can be as effective against these...especially starting from a tough post. (3) WARRI
OR FOR TRUTH has a couple of recent Monti wins over softer, but may not have that same success in this much
tougher spot. (8) JET ROCK definitely fits with these but he’s also racing from Post 8 after being away since 12/10
(and ending last year with a sick scratch). (7) MOONLIGHT SHADOW has definitely tailed off since being claimed
for $25K back on 11/7.
RACE 9 – (5) BEN SOLO was “sneaky ok” in a couple of Dec. starts here so it was no surprise to see him run off at
Monti last week – maybe he can beat these too? (3) ITALIAN DELIGHT N won a gazillion in a row here last year
before tailing just a bit to close out the year – tough call as to how he’ll respond to the 5 weeks off! (1) HECANDA
NCENCRUISE has more than enough ability to beat these but he’s also feeling pretty unreliable right now – that 6/5
ML price is definitely a turnoff. (8) REAL LUCKY N has some ok tries out of town, gets a switch to Dube but also
lands Post 8 – maybe 3rd/4th? (2) YOUR BROTHER had some success here last year but tailed at the end of the year
– needs a wake up mile off the layoff. (4) QUICK SNAP was 1 for 40 last year but the switch to Gingras may give
him a chance at a small slice in his YR debut. (7) DELIGHTFUL TERROR won his last, but it was a fall-apart race
– no spot for his seasonal debut. (6) HURRIKANE GEORGIE was winless in 18 starts last year.