RACE 1 - Tough opener! (1) PADUKA N broke in the pocket 2 back then raced ok last when handled
conservatively - moves all the way inside, goes from Cory to Jordan and is one of several with a legitimate
chance to take this - guessing the price will be good enough to make him worth a look. (6) BETTERROCK
was a winner the last time he was down at this level and has continued to race well with better in a few
starts since then - tough draw won't help, but he's certainly worth using IF not overbet (the barn has only
been clicking at 10% in recent months, so it's tougher to take short prices with them right now). (2) GINGR
AS BEACH was invisible from Post 8 last week but he drops back in quickly, moves inside, and has shown
that he can hang with these on his best efforts - willing to consider. (5) OAKWOODINITOWINIT IR has
been struggling in many recent starts, although he's capable of much better - he moves from one very high
% trainer to another for tonight, so we'll see if the change of scenery helps his cause. (4) WINDSUN
RICKY has been fairly inconsistent this year but he beat this class 4 starts back, and should be a decent
price tonight - another possibility. (7) SAULSBROOK HERO is being listed here near the bottom, but
that's only because he draws all the way outside, off a bad date - he's been racing very well, and he may be
able to rally for a share. (3) MY CARBON COPY N steps up considerably off that Fhd. win - has to prove
he fits with these.
RACE 2 - (2) SHERIFF N has taken 5 of his last 7 and was close in the two losses (from Posts 7 and 8) -
he steps up a notch tonight, but meets nothing too scary and moves inside after a pair of 8 holes - gets the
nod. (1) AMERICAN BOY N was an excellent 2nd to the streaking B LIKE CRUISER 3 back, and has a
few other close recent 2nds as well - draws best, gets Jordan back, and should make a lot of noise here. (3)
MOONLIGHT SHADOW's only recent win was when he dropped out of the 50s and into an overnight
(8/13) - he's raced well at this level several times, though, and that 20-1 ML price is at least a little bit
tempting. (5) BLUEBIRD RECON left our top barn, moves up in class but was still able to come up with
the sharp win last week - clearly he deserves plenty of respect, but he may be hurt a bit by tonight's draw,
with a much tougher trip a real possibility. (4) TROJAN BANNER N was a winner in his YR debut last
week but was helped by a much easier field than this one - we'll see if he can do as well against this crew.
(6) BALLERAT BOOMERANG has a pair of wins and a 2nd in his last 3 starts but gets a much tougher
post tonight, and would need to be a pretty decent price to be worth a play from out here.
RACE 3 - Another tough race: (4) ZIG ZAG definitely didn't bring his best last week or he certainly would
have at least been 2nd with that trip - that being said, he's rebounded with big efforts several times, and may
be worth a look here, assuming a decent price. (2) GEMOLOGIST moved inside and was handled more
aggressively last week, doing a nice job holding 2nd after giving way to MUSCLE JACK (who just wins
EVERY week) - legit threat once more. (5) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO had license to get a little tired last
week after being used hard early on - he's been very consistent, and Kakaley returns to the bike tonight -
belongs on your tickets. (3) WILLY WALTON is still trying to establish whether he really fits at this level
but note that he just missed to #5 3 starts back, and figures to be a big price tonight - may be worth
considering. (1) PLUMB was reclaimed by her favorite barn two back but made a break off turn three in
her last - lands in another new barn for tonight, and remains a bit iffy....but CAN be a threat if in the right
mood. (7) STEUBEN HANOVER has been racing well every week....but another bad draw may leave him
looking at only another smaller share. (6) HOBBS is much improved in his current barn, but hasn't really
proven that he fits at this level...at least not yet. (8) BLUEBIRD JESSE likely needs a better post to be a
player with these.
RACE 4 - (2) MIKEY CAMDEN was locked in 2 back and may have had more pace than he was able to
show - his last start was very good, holding 2nd (behind the streaking B LIKE CRUISER) despite a first
over trip - decent value play in a race where the likely heavy favorite MAY be vulnerable. (1) KEYSTONE
PHOENIX has enjoyed an amazing run since joining this incredible barn a few months back - he did throw
an unexpected clunker last week, and now drops down from 75s to 50s - he may just control the action and
crush these, OR he may finally be tailing, and be in some trouble at a very short price -- tough call! (4) FO
REVER FAV lands on an easy trip every now and then and ends up right there on the wire - maybe this is
another spot where he can make that happen? (6) ELWELL has been very good for a LONG time, but he's
another that MAY finally be tailing a bit - would be no surprise to see him do damage at this $50K level --
but it also would be no great shock if he was no threat here. (5) APEX SEELSTER hit board in all 3 tries at
this level - definitely one to include in exotics. (8) MANKAT took the inside route from the back last week
to pick up a 3rd from Post 7 - may not be as opportunistic this time around. (7) MACH DORO A charged
home to shock at 37-1 two back but was unable to get involved from Post 8 last week - tonight's spot isn't
much better. (3) WEONA SIZZLER A tired with no excuse last week - pass for now.
RACE 5 - (4) IN SECRET has $960K on his card...and at least a chunk of that was earned here at Yonkers,
racing at the top levels, when on his game (a few years back) - hard to get a good read on his current out of
town form but it's EASY to get a read on his new trainer...who wins with nearly 50% of his new horses -
we'll look for a big mile in his Hilltop return. (3) TESLA SEELSTER struggled in his first local try 4 back
but has raced well in the 3 starts since then - should fit nicely with these, and seems like a very legitimate
player. (5) JUST MAYBE THE ONE really wasn't bad in his last considering it was his first start since
March - eligible to be that much sharper tonight...which could land him somewhere on this ticket. (2)
LINDSEYS PRIDE was a bit overdriven 2 back (1st start off the claim) but still raced very well for 3rd
-just stopped badly last week, however, so it's anybody's guess as to what we'll get from him tonight. (8)
PUBLICITY SEEKER was a close 3rd last week after adding Lasix - he should end up a nice fit at this
level, but has to contend with Post 8 tonight - decent bomb for the bottom of exotics. (7) EMOTIONS RIC
HES came up just a little shy 2 back then made up for it with last week's victory - draws terribly for tonight,
and that 5/2 ML listing makes him a bit unattractive for the top slot. (1) MADHATTER BLUECHIP has
been struggling for a while, and was scr. sick last week- not sure the rail will help enough. (6) DELTASUN
A often ships in with decent lines out of town...but always seems to struggle here at Yonkers.
RACE 6 - (4) CHANGE STRIDE N came up a bit flat last week but had been doing good things for some
time prior to that, and almost always at juicy prices - willing to give him a shot in a race with a lot of
variables. (6) ROLLING WITH SAM was handled conservatively in his last (off 3 weeks) and was able to
finish well for 3rd - he's a legitimate threat at this level, and that 7-1 ML price makes him worth a look. (2)
RUNRUNJIMMYDUNN N is the "x factor" - he was claimed by our (runaway) leading barn back on 4/4
and the 9YO immediately took a new lifetime mark the next week....in his 133rd lifetime start -- followed
that up by beating the OPEN, then raced well twice more at the top level before going on the shelf for four
months - it's anybody's guess as to how ready he'll be for tonight. (7) SHNITZLEDOSOMETHIN always
seems to ship in sharp, but he's winless in his last 7 local starts - Post 7 won't make things any easier here!
(8) DON DOMINGO N is riding a three race win streak, and he paid 7/2, 7-1, and 27-1 in those victories -
hate to ever leave out a razor sharp horse, but this really is a brutal spot. (5) NOWHERE CREEK A has
been racing well for a while, but he jumps up to 75s after last week's claim, and he may find these just a bit
tougher than he'd like - suppose we'll find out tonight. (1) FIZZING N wasn't bad last week, but he's seems
ambitiously placed at this $75K level. (3) TYGA HANOVER drops down from the $100K claimers, but
may find these a bit too tough as well.
RACE 7 - (4) SMOKIN BY N has been a little over his head recently but tonight's drop should allow
Kakaley to get pretty aggressive with him - look for a big wake up call from this spot. (1) BELTANE A
loves to win races (12 right here at Yonkers the past 2 years) and usually is very tough whenever he draws
inside - figures to be a major player from start to finish with both significant class AND post relief. (6) MA
XIMUS RED A has been sharpening in PA as he climbs back up the class ladder - raced well in limited
local action earlier this year, and can have a say here IF some racing luck comes his way. (2) LUCIANO N
quickly found his form after shifting to Tioga, and the classy 11YO may be returning with some renewed
confidence - would definitely include him underneath in exotics. (3) SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL has just one
start in over 5 weeks and it wasn't a good one - the ability is there, but he hasn't won at YR yet (0 for 6),
and we'll stick with others for the top slots right now....maybe 3rd? (5) GUMPTION just seems to race
much better out of town that at Yonkers this year (9-0-1-1 here at The Hilltop in 2022) - wouldn't shock, but
still leaning to others. (8) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH dropped to a level where he usually thrives last week
but was no factor at all - gets another drop tonight, but that will likely be offset by Post 8 - prefer others. (7)
MACHEASY A would look much better from a better post...in a cheaper class.
RACE 8 - (5) SAVE ME A DANCE has a couple of tighteners under his belt after 3 months away -
appeared to have pace in reserve while behind a wall of horses last week, and this would be a logical spot to
look for a more serious effort from him. (4) SEMI TOUGH found his best stride a little too late last week
and like the top choice, is dropping down from the Open - major threat. (2) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N
sat back and was no factor in his local debut but gave it an aggressive try the next week, and took a tough
beat at 10-1 -- surprised he got beat at Tioga the next start, and he can certainly be excused for his last in
PA (tough field)- fits nicely here, and his best effort would put him right in the thick of this (1) HEISMAN
PLAYER has held his form pretty well since the recent claim (and class bump to the 100s) - he may be a
notch below the top trio, but could easily find his way onto the ticket from this excellent post. (3) AMERIC
ANLIGHTNINGN had a pair of sharp wins here in July but saw things go south after that - raced evenly
last week off a sick scratch, and may be ready for a better effort now - ok for 3rd/4th. (6) SHADOW CAT
draws outside all his main foes and that figures to really hurt his chances tonight - maybe he can save
ground and rally for a minor share? (8) GLACIS has been sharp for a long time, but figures to be too far
back to have any impact tonight. (7) ALEX TYE was unable to overcome a similar spot last week.
RACE 9 - (4) JACKS LEGEND N was very sharp in his last 3 local tries, and returns from Pocono after a
tough trip 3rd behind a dominant BACKSTREET SHADOW - he should end up with a nice trip from this
spot, and we'll give him the edge over a couple of other solid Open performers. (5) AMERICAN DEALER
N has a few Open wins under his belt, and definitely pairs nicely with Bongiorno - the right trip would put
him right there on the wire. (1) ILL DRINK TO THAT just missed at this level 2 back and was full of pace
with no place to race in the stretch last week - can't really say why he was assigned the rail, but he'll surely
look to take advantage of the generosity....use in exotics. (2) FUNATTHEBEACH N hasn't been his best
self in a while, but he's come up big too often this year to ever just dismiss him - we'll see if he can wake up
tonight with the good draw. (7) ANOTHRMASTRPIECE N was absolutely hammered at the windows last
week and dominated a lesser Open field - there's no doubt he fits with these in his current form, but the
poor draw may leave him looking at only a smaller share this week. (3) THE REAL ONE has held his form
beautifully as he climbed all the way back up to the Open - feels like he's in a little tough here, but it would
hardly be a shock to see him rally for a piece. (6) CASUAL COOL was a bit disappointing off the pocket
trip last week, despite holding on to 2nd - will need to be better from this spot to be a factor tonight.
RACE 10 - (2) PRICELESS BEACH hit a rough patch after a series of excellent starts after arriving at
Yonkers - he seemed to build back some confidence with a win here over cheaper on 8/16, then raced very
well in a pair of PA starts vs. tougher than these- get stop billing with the inside draw. (6) NONE BETTOR
A moves to a new barn, for connections that have been known to shuffle their stock around among some of
the top conditioners - he's definitely good right now, and can be very dangerous here if not roughed up too
much from Post 6. (3) FORTIFY got stuck sitting behind an absurdly slow pace last week, and was simply
outsprinted in the final quarter of a mile - we'll give him a pass for that (he was still 3rd), and look for a
better effort tonight - use in exotics. (1) PACE N PRIDE was well backed last week despite a miscue the
week before and rewarded his supporters with a sharp victory - seems sharp enough to handle the class
jump without much issue, and is another with a very real chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (4)
ROCK THE DEVIL is sharp right now, but catches a few that may be sharper - definitely in play for a
small share. (5) WESTERN JOE also seemed hurt by that ridiculous 1:27 clip last week and may deserve a
pass - he was good prior to that, and may rebound tonight - maybe 3rd/4th? (8) FAMILY RECIPE drops
from the Open after racing decently the past 2 weeks - would have been rated higher had he not ended up
behind the 8 ball. (7) RED RIGHT HAND has proven he belongs with these, but he may not be on his best
game right now, and also has to contend with the horrible post position.