RACE 1 - A 5 horse field to start night, with THREE of them having a legitimate chance to come out on
top: (3) PEDRO HANOVER was a wildly overbet 4th when claimed on 2/24 but he raced well in both
starts since then - he may get stuck first over tonight, but that may actually be a winning trip for him - could
end up the best price of the 3 main players. (1) MARTY MONKHOUSER A is still loving his work at age
14, and already has 4 wins this year...he'll either be on top or in the pocket, and he has a chance to win
either way. (5) MACINTOSH N is also 14, and also still giving it his all every start - he'll no doubt be
blasting off the car in this short field, and he pretty much has the same chance to win as the top two. (2) JK
LUCKY CHARMS hasn't been any good in the 3 starts since the recent claim. (4) MY MIND IS MADEUP
has been struggling for a very long time.
RACE 2 - (2) HUNTRESS was the dominant mare in Iowa at 2 and 3, registering an amazing 24-17-5-1
record - she was purchased and shipped East then won 4 in a row (3 here at YR) before going on the shelf
for 4 months - qualified back in NJ last week and that mile suggests she'll be ready to resume her winning
ways right off the bat. (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE just missed last week to a mare currently enjoying a 5 race
winning streak - she's been terrific so far in 2023 (5-2-2-1) and should have a big say tonight, as well. (1)
DOCS DELIGHT loves to "sit and rally" and she'll get her chance to do that again tonight - the easier the
trip, the bigger her piece. (4) CAPTAINS STAR was in the midst of an excellent roll when she was a sick
scratch on 3/1 - came up a little short when 4th last week, and we'll see if she's back to top form with that
start under her belt. (3) CLEAR THE WAY was dull in her last, and seems a bit below the others.
RACE 3 - (4) AFTER ALL PAUL has been very solid in this class for some time, though he's only been
able to pick up ONE recent victory - this week's field is a little softer than usual, and perhaps that'll be
enough to help him get his picture taken. (2) IN MY DREAMS is another that's been close in the 50s for
weeks, but has had some trouble finding the winner's circle - goes back to a barn that had him for a long
time over the years, and should be a major threat tonight. (1) P C FREE WHEELING is the "x factor" here
- was very sharp to close out 2022, and then to start '23....but her last couple haven't been up to par, and she
MAY be tailing -- we'll have a better idea after tonight as to where she stands! (5) SECRET BRO would be
a major threat in here IF close to his best game, but it's hard to get a good feel for where he's at off that last
qualifier (after missing 3 months) - hard to recommend him on top as the ML favorite. (3) YES seems a bit
below the main players but can still grab himself a piece with a good trip. (6) GREG's only win here this
year was in NW4 and he may be ambitiously placed tonight at this $50K level. (7) EMOTIONS RICHES
started the year with a win, but hit the skids right after - draws poorly after re-qualifying in PA, and he'll
likely be happy just trotting a clean mile tonight.
RACE 4 - (3) SWAN FINE LADY has been facing MUCH better in all her recent starts and wired a
NW7500 field (from Post 8!) on 1/25 - should be very tough in this much softer spot. (2) BIG CHARLIE
MORAN has more bad efforts than good ones lately but he should be a lot closer to the action tonight and
COULD be a threat IF he decides to bring his best effort tonight. (1) JIVE NINETY FIVE has a bunch of
clunkers lately but also some efforts that would make him a real player in here - he's another that has to
show up on his "A Game" if he hopes to do some damage tonight. (5) VELVET STYLE might be the "best
horse" in here but he just had to re-qualify (after 3 consecutive miscues) and he would be hard to endorse
on top at that very short 9/5 ML price - too risky! (4) TESLA SEELSTER has a win here this year but just
hasn't been sharp lately - would need others to self-destruct to come out on top tonight. (6) TORKIL raced
better in his last couple, grabbing a pair of 3rds - hard to see him grabbing more than that after drawing
poorly tonight. (7) MY BOY CHRISTIAN is just 2 for 44 locally (last 3 years) and has thrown a lot of total
duds - hard to like from all the way out here.
RACE 5 - (2) CANTKEEPMIASECRET was a struggling 2:00 trotter at VD this summer when she was
incredibly transformed after a private purchase, rattling off 5 straight wins at The Meadows while lowering
her lifetime mark to 1:53.4 - she was sold again and continued to do good things here at Yonkers, until
leveling off after hitting the higher classes - just seemed to fall apart completely around mid-November, but
some time off seems to have helped, as her recent qualifier and start (in NJ) suggest that she's ready to start
doing some good things again - we'll try her on top tonight. (3) BLUEBIRD JESSE has been pretty solid
since changing barns 4 starts back - draws inside, and seems like a good one to use in exotics. (4) FULL
RIGHTS was able to grab a win at the bottom level 2 back the raced ok in his last couple - another solid
threat to land somewhere on the ticket. (1) MEMO has raced well here in the past, and may be ready to start
contending after a PcD qualifier and tightener - certainly fits if ready to deliver his best. (5) MUFASA AS
left from a hopeless spot last week (at 61-1) and ended up 22 lengths back at the finish after a full retreat - a
more conservative trip tonight could help him grab a small share. (6) ANDOVER CONTESSA found
herself too far back to threaten last week and may be in a similar boat tonight - chance for a minor award.
(8) UP HELLY AA just hasn't clicked since arriving at YR despite racing for 2 different top barns - would
need a major reversal to be a player tonight from Post 8. (7) BIG NUDGE won here earlier this year but his
recent out of town form has slumped considerably.
RACE 6 - (5) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN didn't have his typically strong season here last year but it does
look like the 3 months off has served him well, as he just qualified in 1:56.1 right behind a fresh, import
PACER - anything close to that mile would make him very tough tonight. (2) NEWSBOY has been "okay"
out of town lately but he's raced well here in the past, and anything our leading trainer/driver combo sends
out has to be given serious respect. (1) STICK WITH ME KID was a combination of "opportunistic" and
"good" in that blowout win 2 back, then was just too far back to make any noise last week - the move inside
could put him in play for a piece of this. (3) STREET GOSSIP was able to beat a bit easier last week but
much of the credit goes to Bartlett, who somehow kept him flat despite "trotting on eggshells" much of the
way - could be vulnerable if forced to be used harder tonight. (4) STARLIT RAMBO was a dull 4th last
week and has been in and out in general - needs to show up in a good mood for a piece tonight. (6) MYCR
OWNMYKINGDOM has just one 3rd from his 5 starts this year along with four 4th place finishes - drops a
bit, but still needs to be sharper to contend for a bigger slice. (7) OH BOY raced better than expected from
off the pace 2 back but then was unable to sustain his bid into the stretch last week - would prefer to see
him from a better post, and preferably in a bit cheaper too.
RACE 7 - Short field but interesting race: (3) GEMOLOGIST is generally a beast in this class and this is a
particularly weak field - he'd be a legitimate odds-on favorite IF he was 100%...but he made a break on 3/2,
was scratched sick the next week, then lagged at the back last week - the GUESS here is that he'll show up
ready for action and come out on top - but it would be hard to take a very short price to find out! (2) EPOS
OSTERVANG DK is one of the more inconsistent performers from our top barn - he's been freshened up,
his last qualifier is solid, and he'll have a big say here IF he brings his best. (6) LINDSEYS PRIDE hasn't
clicked for his new connections in the 2 starts since the claim - he's capable of much better, but seems a bit
risky off those last 2 tries. (4) VALI HANOVER has gone some good miles here in the past but came up
totally empty in his last pair - another question mark in this field. (1) MUSCLE STAR draws best but has
never looked like he belongs at this level - the "shakiness" of this field may help him land a piece, though.
(5) CELEBRITY PEGASUS has lots of back class but the 11YO doesn't seem to be clicking right now.
RACE 8 - Another wide open race: (1) ZIG ZAG raced well here last year, and beat better than these - took
5 months off, but that's a pretty good looking qualifier (with his trainer on board) - as long as he's a decent
price, might be worth a shot that he's ready to go. (2) BANK BOX TREASURE was used very hard for the
lead the last 2 weeks - couldn't make it last 2 back but was a gutsy winner last week....license to take
another, even up in class. (4) ARABELLAS CADET is always trotting well at the end, and may get a hot
pace to rally into tonight - could be a very live player, but that 5/2 ML price is a bit of a turn off. (5) STEA
LING has three 3rds from him 4 local tries this year (8 hole in the other) - he's sharp enough for a chance
here IF the trip goes his way. (7) SEVENSHADESOFGREY was kept quiet early last week, stayed trotting,
took aim at #2 into the stretch but hung badly on the money and failed as the 4/5 choice - disappointing for
sure, but he'll be a much better price for anybody looking to give him another chance! (8) HAVEHORSWI
LTRVEL N was an even 5th in his U.S. debut and the guess is that he's capable of better - not sure we'll see
it from him from Post 8, though. (3) FASHION FOREVER has actually been racing ok lately - a little too
camera shy for our tastes, but playable underneath. (6) CIEL BLUE is just 1 for 9 locally and figures to be
coming from well out of it - leaning towards others.
RACE 9 - (1) BETTOR SUN saw his streak of three straight 2nds ended last week when he finished 3rd -
gets major post relief tonight, and we'll give him the narrow edge. (4) COALITION HANOVER went out a
winner for these connections on 3/8 then was immediately reclaimed from his last (where he just missed
and finished 2nd) - remains a very real threat. (2) JIM BLUE was forced to come off the gate and relax last
week - the terrible start cost him any chance BUT it did prevent him from getting too hot and losing chance
completely - he CAN pull off the upset here if Boyd continues to get him to behave. (3) MAKE MY DEO
returned from being scratched injured on 1/25 with a nice qualifier and Fhd. victory - he definitely fits here,
but he's also a bit camera shy - good one to use underneath. (6) WHAT ABOUT BOB really elevated his
game after joining our leading barn but seems to have leveled off at this $50K level - prefer others for the
bigger slices. (8) STELLAR YANKEE is pretty good right now but hard to see a way for him to get into the
hunt tonight. (5) DA GHETTO WIZARD pulled off the big upset 4 back but hasn't been a serious threat
since then. (7) JKS CHAMP shows interference last week but he also wasn't nearly as sharp - draws
outside, and also loses Bartlett tonight.