RACE 1 - (2) CREATIVE VENTURE had been putting together a good year until landing in some terrible
spots, vs. much better- he dropped a bit for his last and finished full of trot, and now drops even more while
drawing inside - look for an aggressive effort tonight. (4) DOUBLE DEALING is 0 for 21 here this year
but he's used to facing better, and has hit board 8X - may be able to add a little value to the exotics. (6) DC
ANNA was unable to get involved vs. the 50s from Post 8 but she lands in a softer spot for tonight, and gets
a little post relief - definitely a chance to outperform that 12-1 ML price. (8) HUNTING AS was sent off
favored vs. tougher last week but tired after being used in the hot clip - won't be easy to overcome Post 8,
but he has the right pilot to at least give him a shot. (1) BANK BOX TREASURE has been camera shy all
year but does tend to race pretty well in the losses - can probably sit close enough for a chance at a small
slice tonight. (3) REIGN OF HONOR is just 1 for 20 this year, and that includes plenty of losses vs. easier -
he has a few ok efforts sprinkled in recently, so he's another for a chance at a small share. (7) PERRON was
a winner last week but he barely survived vs. cheaper with a :30.4 final quarter - seems pretty vulnerable at
that 3-1 ML price. (5) FULL RIGHTS had a couple of improved efforts recently but struggled in his last,
and has now missed 3 weeks after a sick scratch.
RACE 2 - Good race: (2) CHUPPAH ON has drawn horribly in 3 of her last 5 starts but was a solid 2nd in
the other two- she has plenty of options tonight, and may have found a winning spot (4) COWGIRL LILLY
isn't on her best game right now but she has been 3rd in 4 straight starts - if she shows up a little sharper,
this is a field she'd have a chance to beat. (3) COMMANDER CATHY N doesn't win all that often but she
has a zillion 2nds and 3rds (often vs. better) - never a bad one to include in exotics. (6) WESTBEACH has
plummeted through the classes recently but did find a (cheaper) field she could handle at PcD last week - if
she built some confidence with that mile, she'd have a chance to do better here that that 20-1 ML would
suggest. (5) SPORTS FLIX has been "ok" prior to the recent claim, and also for her new barn - certainly
playable underneath. (7) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL was just 2 for 26 at YR this year before her last start,
but she landed in a very soft spot and won handily - not sure she can replicate that from Post 7, vs. these
tougher ones. (1) TOBAGO TIME seems too far off her best form to be a serious threat here, even from the
pole. (8) SQUARE DEAL is a 3YO filly taking on older mares, from Post 8 - prefer others.
RACE 3 - (5) KILIMANJARO N was a good earner in Europe, banking nearly $150K - he lands in the
U.S. with our leading trainer, and his first stateside start (in NJ) was a good one, just missing in 3rd despite
being away for 6 months - has to get top billing for his Hilltop debut. (1) B MEDITHREE came up a bit
disappointing last week but he did get used a bit early on - barn has been pretty cold lately, but this still
feels like a spot where this guy can grab a big piece. (7) MISSISSIPPI STORM has over $100K on his card
this year but he's clearly not the Open-type trotter we're used to seeing - he's still a threat at THIS level,
however, and can land on the ticket even from out here. (3) BULLY BOY HILL qualified nicely last time
but that was after making breaks 3 straight times - the ability is there, but obviously he's a little risky at the
moment. (2) X O X O drops a notch but still may be facing a little tougher than she'd prefer - maybe she
can grab a small piece with an easy trip? (4) EMPEREURTHEBEST FR made his first start for a new barn
a winning one in a Fhd. amateur race - he's never been a fan of Yonkers, however, as he sports an 18-0-2-1
local slate. (6) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO has certainly been better lately but lands in a tough spot, up in
class from a bad post.
RACE 4 - (4) C BET HANOVER went south for a few starts after a solid form spree here earlier this
summer - his last at The Swamp suggests that he's ready to turn things back around, and he'll be a very
tough customer in here if that's the case. (6) GENIUS MAN was sent off favored in NJ last week but could
only manage a 4th (in the same race where the top choice was 2nd) - he's very unreliable, but one of his
better efforts would put him right in the hunt. (8) PAT STANLEY N is a question mark tonight - he had no
luck here in 2 starts after returning from Ohio, was scratched sick, then took some time off before
re-qualifying for a new trainer - if the tote board suggests that he's ready, you may want to pay attention. (1)
LONG WEEKEND A took a couple of months off before last week's blowout qualifier at Fhd. - he's just 2
for 30 this year, but may be able to grab a piece tonight with the good draw. (3) GINGER TREE PETE has
been way off form for a long time, and in need of a major wake up call. (3) WILLIAM HANOVER spent
the last 3 months at The Meadows and was as inconsistent as he was previously here at Yonkers - on the
flip side, his barn has been quite hot, if looking for an angle. (7) HES SPECIAL drops again but hasn't been
sharp at all, and draws poorly. (5) CANT SWAY ME likely needs an easier spot to be a player.
RACE 5 - (2) CREDARENA may have benefited from some time off as his last effort was his best in some
time (just missed to LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO, who is pretty good right now) - one of several players
with a chance in this totally wide open affair. (6) TIMONIER actually put in a nice effort at a huge price
last week and figures to be long odds once more - not the worst bomb you could come up with. (7) STICK
WITH ME KID goes for a new barn after a dud in his last but he's gone way too many solid efforts here to
not deserve a look at that 20-1 ML price (though he'll probably take some more action than that). (1) KOSH
ER MAHONEY raced well for a few starts after arriving on the local scene but has progressively gone the
wrong way over the last couple of months - he just missed last week, but had dead aim into a :30.4 final
quarter and couldn't go by - may be way overbet tonight. (3) LUCKY WEEKEND is just 1 for 29 locally
over the last 3 years but he's very eligible to at least grab a piece...especially with the red-hot Kakaley on
board. (5) TORKIL is hard to endorse after managing NO wins and just one 2nd from 32 starts this year -
but note that barnmate SQUABLE did win on Wednesday while just 1 for 76 lifetime (at an astonishing
even money)! (4) PROMISE FOR LIFE has been struggling for some time, including his first try for a new
barn last week - pretty hard to recommend at that 9/5 ML price! (8) NEWSBOY just hasn't been any good
in a long time, and now is stuck behind the 8 ball.
RACE 6 - (4) SWEETEST BELLE had a strong 3YO campaign in Canada and finished it off in her best
form - she debuted for new connections at Chester last week and despite missing 6 weeks, only lost by a
nose facing older mares - we'll give her a try in her Hilltop debut. (1) STAY HAPPY (like so many before
her), was a very easy winner in her first start for the Dynamic Duo - she stepped up to face older rivals last
week and finished with solid pace after sitting 7th most of the way - no reason she can't have a big impact
tonight, from the pole. (3) IRON MISTRESS has really upped her game since the recent barn change - she
did as well as possible from Post 8 last week, and can have a much bigger say tonight with the move inside.
(6) KELE KELE had a good 3YO campaign, but only made 14 starts - she's had even more trouble getting
to the gate as a 4YO (just 5 starts so far), but she was 3 for 3 here at Yonkers - had a nice NJ tightener after
her most recent layoff, and could make some noise here if cranked up for a top effort. (2) EASY TO PLEA
SE is having a very tough year, and the former Open performer has just one win in 2023 - she can never be
counted out at this level, but she's also hard to play on top at any kind of short price (5) PARADISE ROCK
L continues to improve since joining our leading barn 4 starts back - she's in a bit of a tough spot here, but
an easy trip could see her land a decent piece. (7) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL needs a better post in an easier
field to be a serious player. (8) BENICIO faltered here in NW6 on 10/4 then just re-qualified after a month
off - good week to just pass, and watch.
RACE 7 - (7) ABRUZZO has no shortage of ability but he's had trouble minding his manners at times - he
should have built back some confidence with those last 2 wire to wire victories over cheaper, and we'll see
if he can continue to do good things tonight. (2) VINNY DE VIE never got involved last week but on the
positive side, his 6th place finish allowed him to get tonight's class drop - could be a big threat from this
spot. (4) BLACK TIE BASH is an interesting Canadian shipper for a barn that always does well with these
types - he's been the king of the Ottawa trotters for some time, but it's hard to say just how well he fits with
these- the fact that he's been off for a month suggests he may be pretty conservative here. (1) B NICKING
would normally be a big threat from a spot like this but he hasn't been finishing well enough lately, and
could be a bit vulnerable at the moment. (6) VELVET STYLE hasn't been at his best all year but suddenly
crushed a field in NJ 2 back (new lifetime mark), and was even more impressive in last week's 1:56 local
romp - could he be good enough right now to give these a tussle too? (5) BARRY BLACK was a sharp 2nd
to the top choice last week, but he's had trouble stringing together good efforts all year - no clue if he'll
show up nearly as sharp tonight. (3) MACMORRIS HANOVER has been stuck on smaller pieces in PA for
a while, and is probably facing even tougher tonight. (8) WINDSONG PIONEER seems unlikely to get
anywhere near contention from out here.
RACE 8 - (3) OAXACAN DREAM N has been solid since arriving here in late Sept. and is always pacing
well through the wire - if a few of the main players can bang heads a little bit, it may allow her to rally by
late for a mild upset. (1) TWO PROUD flopped in her one start in KY but delivered a pair of sharp wins in
PA after returning - it feels like she should be a good fit here, and she certainly has a post edge over the
other main mares - could be a very live threat. (6) TWIN B SUNKISSED has been very good for weeks
and the only real knock here is the draw - if the trip goes her way, she's one of a few with a legitimate
chance to come out on top. (8) DELITFULCATHERIN N fell apart this summer and it was starting to look
like it might be happening again...but she turned in a solid performance for 2nd two back followed up with
last week's victory - still a very tough spot tonight, but she's definitely capable of overcoming it IF she
remains on the upswing. (2) MAN DONTFORGET ME has been a bit off her best game lately but the
bigger issue for tonight is that her owner is hopping in the bike - would only consider if there's a late driver
change. (4) SILENT CROSSING has been holding her form nicely after a recent climb up the class ladder -
she does seem better suited with a bit easier, however. (5) GOT THE GOLD had a strong year at 3 and
avoided the "4YO Blues" as well, banking $86K this year - hard to say how those Rosecroft lines will hold
up against these, however. (7) MCMARKLE SPARKLE just hasn't been sharp, and draws horribly - she
may be able to beat a few with a good trip, but just doesn't feel like a major threat tonight.
RACE 9 - (2) VOELZ DELIGHT was racing well vs. better in Canada before shipping down - added Lasix
at Dover last week and turned in an effort that would make her a big threat in this shaky field - note that
she's 0 for 22 this year before falling too much in love. (6) THUNDRA is as camera shy as they come but
her barn had a winner on Wednesday, and this mare seemed to have pace in traffic last week - decent value
horse for exotics? (4) LADY NEWTON beat the 50s not too long ago but has struggled in every start since,
including last week's drop to NW7500 - maybe the drop to the basement can perk her up? (1) TARGARYE
N EMPRESS was leveling off in her last few local starts and has been racing similarly in PA - draws the
pole for her return, and can probably grab a piece with an easy trip. (5) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N is way
off form right now, and backed up badly at even money last week - seems pretty vulnerable at the moment.
(7) SEZANA N showed up with a much better effort last week but she's wildly inconsistent, and draws
terribly for tonight. (3) SHELLIE DE VIE has been limited to smaller pieces facing some soft fields out of
town - she's 0 for 15 on the year, and just 1 for her last 23 here at Yonkers. (8) B ON THE HUNT is the
outsider, both literally and figuratively.