RACE 1–(4) FRONTPAGESTORY shipped in sharp from PA and has held that form beautifully here at YR she’s in a spot where she can control the action tonight, and looms the one to beat…though at a pretty short price. (1) ULTIMATE SPEED is a little risky (off 3 weeks after a disappointing try) but she hails from our leading barn, drops and draws the pole, and most of her efforts this year would make her a very serious threat. (3) TRUE BLUE HANOVER landed on a picture perfect trip (dropping in class) last week and was able to cash in– she fits well here too, but had been struggling to WIN at this level in recent starts. (5) BETTER WATCH IT steps up in class off a no factor try but her overall recent form is solid, and a live trip would give her a chance to at least add some value to the exotics. (6) HUNTING LINDY lands in a tough spot but her barn has been humming lately, and she’s at last worth considering for the bottom of exotics. (7) DIXIE DREAM figures to coming from last, and that will probably see her looking at only minor spoils this week. (2) TECHYS ANGEL A has been away since October– good week to pass, and observe.
RACE2–(1) PURESILKY has been racing super for some time, and even holding her own in the Invitational the last 2 starts– she drops, draws the pole, and the road to the winner’s circle goes through her (4) FREESTARFLIGHT saw her 5 race winning streak ended last week when she landed in a tough spot, up in class– it would seem that she can be handled more aggressively from this spot, and that should result in a much better trip…making her a solid player. (2) HURRIKANE LADY LOU has been racing well for weeks, and seems more than capable of holding her own with these– an easy trip puts her in play for another good piece. (5) IDEALINFUN has a similar profile to the winner (sharp for a long time, and getting a drop from the Open)– her trip is a little more iffy, however, so make sure to get a fair price if using her on top. (3) LISA LANE has been more consistent lately, and always finishing strong at the end of a mile– another very capable of rallying for a piece tonight. (6) SOMWHERUNDERHEAVN raced well in all 3 local starts, even with a couple of bad draws– she’s only listed on the bottom because of Post 6, but the right trip could see her do much better than that.
RACE 3–(3) MASTANDUPGUY is hard to gauge off his local debut (off 3 weeks, bad post, and an amateur race) but he did offer a decent brush past the stands before being pushed wide on the third turn– he gets Brennan tonight, a good draw, and may be worth a play in a fairly soft spot. (2) BANK BOX TREASURE took a while to kick in last week but did rally late for 3rd in his Hilltop return– logical player here, but not a fan at that 8/5 ML price. (6) LIKE A WARRIOR was no factor in is local debut but he was stuck in the back (while racing off 3 weeks) and never had a chance– he may be a lot more serious in his 2nd try for a new barn, and he’s worth using in exotics tonight at what figures to be a good price. (5) BIG CHARLIE MORAN fits for sure but he’s just 1 for 26 at YR over the last 2 years, and gets a young pilot for tonight– willing to use underneath. (1) LIMERENCE is just 1 for 34 locally over the past 3 years and may be in too tough, even from the pole (and getting a catch driver for the first time in a while). (4) EMPEREURTHEBEST FR returns in poor form, and is 0 for 27 at Yonkers.
RACE 4–(6) COACHELLABOUNDN has hit board in 8straight, but has just one win– a major reason is because she’s been stuck facing the razor sharp SILK CLOUD A every recent week, but she avoids that rival tonight…and looms the one to beat, despite the draw. (2) LLOYDS LOVES was labeled here as a very astute claim when taken for $30K on 6/14– she toured the oval from Post 8 for a couple of starts but has since gone on a tear, winning 5 in a row– no reason she can’t be a serious threat once again, though it won’t be easy to knock off the top choice. (4) TW IN BSUNKISSED takes a double class jump off last week’s (easy) victory but she may be sharp enough right now to handle– one to consider for exotics. (1) UPTOWN HANOVER has plenty of strong efforts this year but she’s also become a bit inconsistent…her best mile puts her right in the hunt, but hard to know for sure if we’ll get that from her tonight. (3) ATREACHEROUS A has done good work since returning from Ohio but does seem better suited to facing a bit easier. (5) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY had been back on the upswing so it was no surprise to see her wire the field last week, especially off a :58.1 half– big step up tonight, and also loses Bartlett.
RACE 5–(5) GOLDEN QUESTN landed on a horrible trip last week and actually did well just to grab 4th– she may not be on her “best” game right now, but she’s more than sharp enough to handle this field, off the class drop. (4) TALENT TO SPAREA has been coming up a little light at the end of some of her recent miles, after using her speed to work out good trips– remains a solid contender to land somewhere in the exotics. (7) FAVORITE BEACH kept grinding last week and eventually was able to move into 2nd, behind the blowout winner– she’s had a rock solid year, and the only real knock here is the draw– she can pick up a good piece with even a bit of trip luck. (3) MISSDOTTIE MAE hasn’t been on top of her game for some time, punctuated by the fact that she got run down last week by a mare who is as camera shy as they come– still, she has a chance at a piece in here, with any decent trip. (2) HA LLELUJAHHANOVER struggled for a long time, got sharp for a few starts but now her form is a bit questionable– would consider for 3rd/4th because of the good draw. (6) PURAMERI is okay right now but may need a better draw to contend at this higher level. (1) BEE OKAY N was a winner in her 2nd U.S. start but didn’t look good at all in her last 2 starts– inclined to stick with others, even with the inside draw. (8) ROCKNROLL ANNIE picked up her first win in ages last week when she was able to run down #3– tough spot tonight, however, as she moves up in class while drawing Post 8 with a fairly inexperienced pilot.
RACE 6–(3)TWINBRISENSHINE went on an insane little run after first joining this barn last spring but like most of his barnmates, started to go the other way from mid May– his trainer seems to breaking out of that 2-3 month slump recently, and this guy did just miss in PA 2 back– willing to give him a try in a race with a few legitimate contenders. (1) GREAT SOMEWHERE was “sneaky ok” last week and that could be a good sign as he gets a class drop tonight, with an opportunity to be handled aggressively– could be primed for a big effort from this spot, but that 8/5 ML price does temper enthusiasm for a wager. (8) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N changed barns 2 back and gave it a big try from Post 8, blasting from the car and ending up 2nd best (at 30-1)– he was scratched injured from his next, and likely needed that last start at Chester (off 5 weeks)– maybe he takes a shot at blasting again tonight? (6) EUPHORIA N is listed at 20-1 ML but he CAN bang heads with these types, especially with a fast start– will Smith at least try to go forward off the wings? (2) SON OF A TIGER N can hang with these with a good trip– decent one for 3rd/4th. (4) CAVIART SARGENT drops back in quickly after failing to function last start he's been almost impossible to predict from week to week for some time! (5) CERULEAN HANOVER was just “meh” in his last pair (after returning from PA).
RACE 7–(5) DIRESTRAITS was a big earner at 2 but had a bit of a disappointing season at 3 (just 1 win, and $95K)– he’s racing well so far at 4 (when in a reasonable class), and certainly is an excellent fit with these deserves top billing for his YR debut. (3) CREATIVE VENTURE went a big try last start, just missing at 30-1 (in 2nd start on Lasix)– he’s missed 3 weeks, but could be a decent value horse to consider. (2) NO DRAMA PLEASE could only manage minor pieces in his last few local tries but was facing a bit better– could have a bigger say tonight. (1) VALI HANOVER steps up off a hard fought win over cheaper, but he fits well here too…especially with a good trip– playable in exotics. (6) AIRMANS JACKPOT was doing good work with better here not long ago but does seem to have slipped at least a bit– gets a tough draw for tonight, and that has us leaning a bit more towards others. (4) DRACO S is another that fits well at this level, but he’s been pretty camera shy the past 2 years– ok for the bottom of exotics. (7) FOR A DREAMER lands outside after missing 3 weeks– prefer to wait for a better spot (and maybe a class drop too). (8) PAPA DOC can throw big ones at any time but does seem unlikely to find one of those efforts from a spot like this.
RACE 8–(5) MASONSDELIGHTN ended up with an impossible trip here 2 back but was still a close 4th, despite being out every step of the mile– he was (rightfully) well backed in his last, but ended making a break after a weak rival (who ended up finishing last) inexplicably tried to seat him to the quarter…better price tonight, and worthy of another chance. (2) AUSSIE HANOVER never clicked after being claimed for $40K on 6/22 but he’s in a soft spot, from a good post, and may be able to make a lot more noise tonight. (7) KARLOO BRADLEY N is more than good enough to beat these but he recently had to re-qualify (after a pair of sick scratches) and may be handled somewhat conservatively tonight under the circumstances. (4) BELTANE A has earned $245 from his 8 starts this year and has been “bad” or “terrible” every time– he does get a barn change for tonight so IF he suddenly takes a lot of tote action, perhaps it would make sense to give him a look?(1) RULE OF LAW has never really thrived at YR (13-0-1-1) but the rail draw at least puts him in the conversation for a piece. (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR finally showed some life 2 back but may have been helped by the close up trip into the VERY slow fractions– not really sure what we’ll get from him tonight. (6) NOME HANOVER just hasn’t really fired enough in a while, and gets no help with the draw tonight– minor spoils? (8) DIAMONDBEACH hasn’t been any good in a long time.
RACE 9–(2) MADRIDA looked like she was going to be an Open mare when she first arrived in the U.S. but she quickly leveled off, and then started to tail– she didn’t function at all this May (after a barn change), but recently started to find her form again (in NJ) after moving to another new barn– gets a big switch tonight to Bartlett, and we’ll give her the edge. (4) VILLAGE JADE was claimed for $50K 4 starts back and has raced well for her new connections (though she probably should have been able to hold on to 2nd last week)– the main danger. (1) ELISES DELIGHT got hammered at the windows last week (off some dullish form) and did come up big, toughing out a first over victory– faces tougher now, but an easy trip could see her grab a piece with these too. (6) HOW SWEET IS THAT drops down to a more comfortable level, but the poor draw may have her looking at only a smaller slice this week. (5) BADDITUDE has been “ok” and as noted, her barn is starting to come back around– tough spot tonight, though. (3) LINE EM UP just hasn’t been on her game in some time.
RACE 10–(3) CHERYLSSHADOW got bothered (pushed wide) 2 back and never could recover– she did have pace finishing from a hopeless spot last week, and she’s otherwise been having a very good year– may be a good spot to get aggressive…with a chance to pull off the upset. (4) FADE OUT took a while to find her best form this year but she’s certainly hummin’ right now– steps up in class while putting her 3 race winning streak on the line, and she does deserve plenty of respect! (6) LIT DE ROSE obviously isn’t at her best right now but if Lachance keeps dropping her in to go, we’ll assume it’s nothing serious– hard to like on top from this spot, but that doesn’t mean she won’t rally for a good piece. (5) VIBRANCE landed on a tough trip last week and wasn’t as sharp as in her previous few starts– we’ll see if she can bounce right back with an easier journey tonight. (1) OKINAWA BEACHA has her moments, but will need to be at her absolute best for any chance against this bunch…even from the pole. (2) EASY TO PLEASE has disappointed too many times this year (and last) to endorse against these, even with the inside draw– a smaller slice is always possible.
RACE 11–(1) COMMANDERCATHYN is the reluctant selection- she’s still winless on the year (and camera shy, in general) but her last couple in PA are encouraging, she catches a soft field for her YR return and (possibly) her biggest threat lands all the way outside– now or never? (7) HELLO YES HI is used to tackling better and this class was re-written just to fit her in– that being said, he starts from all the way outside, and MAY not be sharp enough to overcome what could be a tough trip– don’t take too short a price if she’s your play. (5) GAME OF SHA DOWS seemed to lose momentum when rivals pulled in front of her the last 2 weeks– it’s been ages since she’s been “sharp”, but she’s at least eligible for a wake up call here. (3) COWGIRL LILLY remains winless in 2024, and her good efforts have become somewhat sporadic– needs to bring her best for a chance at a piece. (2) BETTERB CHEVRONN has been away since April and hard to gauge off her qualifier– the tote board may offer some clues. (4) IRON MISTRESS is struggling out of town– leaning elsewhere. (6) JILLIAN JESSE figures to have trouble trying to get into play from out here.
RACE12–(8) DONATOPATRIOTK maybe worth a stab in a pretty competitive finale– he almost stole one on the lead 2 back, then finished with “sneaky” trot from a no-chance spot last week– if Siegelman can improve position at the start, he may have a chance to upset these. (6) MORNING EDITION was dull in his first local try (off 3 weeks) but finished very alertly last week to be right there late– another that would be helped by an aggressive start. (7) IMMANUEL K S is another that drew poorly, but CAN have a say with a good trip– Bartlett is never shy about looking to leave from tough spots. (5) WILD WAY has a mixed local history but her recent PA form suggests she can hang with these right now– would need a good price to try her on top, though. (4) HOOLIE N HECTOR has just one win this year but he’s been 2nd six times, along with a couple of 3rds– willing to include him underneath. (3) STRONGERWITHLINDY was sent off at an absurd 1/20 last week but at least he delivered for the faithful faces tougher now, and seems destined for a smaller slice this time. (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE just requalified after being scratched lame on 6/28– prefer to just watch this week. (1) AUSTRAL HANOVER makes his first start since being scratched on 12/7– sticking with others, since he’s listed as the 2-1 ML favorite.