RACE 1 - (2) FARMERS TAN raced from a bad post (off a bad date) to close out 2022 but he did plenty of
damage here at this level last season - very hard to say how "ready" he'll be for tonight, but he'll be a big
threat IF cranked up for his '23 return. (3) KIMANI N has never been a "winning sort", but he did grab his
share of victories after settling in at this level last year - the 1/6 mile should have him ready for action, and
he looms a live player here. (4) LETTUCERIPRITAA finished 1st/2nd 16X last year, including a blowout
to end his season- would be a major threat if on his best game...but the time off makes him just one of many
question marks for tonight. (1) UNDERTAKER was only able to grab smaller pieces vs. 20s, but the drop
(and rail) should make him a player from start to finish - possibility. (5) SETONCRUISECONTROL adds
Lasix and probably fits well in this class - willing to throw in for a small piece. (6) MUDVILLE beat this
class in PA not long ago, but also failed (at 3/5) in his last - tough draw will probably leave him looking at
only a minor share. (8) HEART ON MY SLEEVE has raced well here in the past and does fit with these -
brutal spot for his 2023 return, though. (7) CARRACCI HANOVER isn't the winning machine he once
was, and really figures to be hurt by the poor draw.
RACE 2 - Tough race: (4) LINE EM UP made good use of the winter hiatus, heading over to The Swamp
where she picked up a good looking win...and a new lifetime mark - she's a proven player with these, and
that last effort may give her the edge to beat these tonight. (5) CALLMEQUEENBEE A finished 5th in the
same race as the top choice, but should also benefit from that recent start - she was 3 for 10 here last year,
and is worth considering tonight. (2) KATYS DELIGHT beat cheaper here upon arrival from Canada, then
grabbed pieces vs. solid foes in her next couple - could be a live threat, with the right trip. (7) DRAGONS
LUCKY LADY took a while to get going in 2022, but did end the year winning 3 of her last 4 starts (while
facing much better in the lone loss) - obviously an excellent fit, but will have to overcome both the time off
and poor draw. (3) TOBAGO TIME has a couple of recent front end wins at this level, but this field seems
a bit easier - she tends to get overbet, and may be a bit vulnerable now. (1) NUTTINBUTTHEBEST was
just 1 for 17 here last year - her speed will have her in the hunt from this spot, but it's the latter stages where
she needs to be better. (6) WOODMERE SKYROLLER picked up a (long) overdue victory on 12/13 but
came up empty in her last start of the year - tough spot here.
RACE 3 - Very competitive (at least on paper)! (5) IMA HAPPY FELLA GB arrived from the UK and
really qualified sharply at Monti (with his trainer on board) - his first US start was a winning one in NJ
(with his amateur owner on board), and his last 2 at Chester look excellent - very hard to fault right now.
(1) HP LIS SHADOW has legitimate ability, but can often be his own worst enemy - faces an unpredictable
trip from the pole, but he can be a threat IF he minds his manners (7) VEL LETSROLL SOUTH has looked
promising since arriving from Ohio in October - gets Yannick for his local debut, and may be able to make
some noise here, despite the poor post. (8) HEART OF DIXIE draws worst of all, but definitely has ability -
hard to say how serious he'll be off the layoff, however. (6) RB has raced very well since arriving at YR
this Fall, and definitely fits nicely - the tough post (and bad date) may come into play tonight, though. (4)
VIRGIN HONOR has done good work at Stga since arriving from Michigan - suppose we'll find out
tonight just how well he fits with these. (3) AMERICAN FRONTIER was 1 for 22 when he arrived here
last start but found an easy field and handled them effortlessly - faces much tougher now, and may have to
settle for a much smaller share this time. (2) BRUMBY has been ordinary in his starts since arriving from
The Maritimes but does add Lasix for tonight - keep an eye for future consideration.
RACE 4 - (2) COMET CRUSADER N had some success early on in Australia but hasn't really clicked (so
far) in his 2 U.S. starts - the class tonight was created to fit him in ("NW $27491 Life") and this feels like a
spot where he should be able to start turning things around. (8) C BET HANOVER had a couple of recent
2nds here and was also 2nd last start at Chester (in a race where the top choice faltered) - he has the speed
to overcome the draw but he's also a bit risky, having made breaks in 2 of his 4 recent local tries - the main
danger. (5) AMBITIOUSBEACHBOY ships in from Ohio with a 1 for 18 career slate, but still looks like a
decent fit with most of these - solid connections, but also a bad date off a sick scratch. (1) GEMINI EXPRE
SS looks a little cheap off his Stga. lines, but the same can be said for many of these - the rail and Kakaley
give him a decent chance at a piece. (3) HURRIKANE MON AMI shows a mixed bag of lines to finish out
2022 - can grab a piece if he shows up on his better game. (4) COALFORD BET ALINE is a UK import
but unlike his barnmate IMA HAPPY FELLA GB, hasn't shown the same kind of good form - prefer to just
watch, for now (6) TREVORS HUNT has a couple of ok local tries but draws poorly tonight, and may have
trouble getting involved. (7) SIX TWO AND EVEN qualified a bit better in NJ but has really been
struggling - will just observe, for now.
RACE 5 - (5) TWIN B HEART THROB hasn't won (out of town) in a while but he's generally raced
"well" in most of his starts - catches a questionable field for his YR debut, and may be able to pull it off for
a very dangerous trainer/driver combination. (6) SAULSBROOK HERO is used to facing much tougher,
but he really wasn't traveling all that well in most of his recent starts (even when racing "ok") - he may
benefit from the few weeks off, but definitely insist on a fair price if using him on top. (7) CAVIART
SARGENT is another that's used to tackling much better, but he faces a tough assignment with the poor
draw - that 15-1 ML price does make him look at least a little appealing, though. (1) AIR GUITAR figures
to get a good trip with the rail and Gingras, but he's just 1 for 24 at YR and hard to use for the top slot. (4)
ALI was an ok 3rd making his first start (for a new barn) off a long layoff - Bartlett does opt for #5, though.
(2) TIGER BARON was racing well upstate but shows an iffy qualifier after being scratched sick on 12/27
- seems a little risky right now. (3) OUR MAJORDAN A was just 1 for 20 here over the last 2 years, and
may need to find a bit easier spot.
RACE 6 - (1) SOHO CHELSEAA beat this class (and then one level up) back in early Oct., but then
found himself in a bit too tough for a few starts - came alive with a nice 2nd dropping to NW7500 last start,
and now hits the bottom level for his first start of the new year - will be very tough IF ready. (3)
REBELLIOUS was 3-2-0-1 here in 2021...didn't make a Yonkers start in '22. but he did win 11 of his 34
starts out of town - the main danger! (6) AIR FORCE HANOVER wasn't all that good at the end of last
year so the time off may actually benefit him - worth including underneath at that 20-1 ML price. (7)
SAYING GRACE N picked up a pair of 4ths (vs. better) in his only 2 local starts last year - should fit very
nicely at this bottom level, but will still need to overcome the terrible draw - definitely ok for exotics. (4)
WAIMAC ATTACK N seems good enough for a piece off his current lines, but his 21-0-1-1 local record
(past 2 years) doesn't inspire a lot of confidence! (5) HELTER SKELTER ships in showing some decent
current form at Monti, but may be a little cheaper than the main players. (2) SOUTHWIND MOROCCAN
draws well but is just 1 for 47 at YR over the last 2 seasons - minor piece only. (8) PADUKA N seems
unlikely from out here.
RACE 7 - (3) SHECANDANCE N has hit board in all 5 starts since the recent barn change, including a
close 3rd at The Swamp last week, despite an early miscue - may have a tactical edge over her main rival in
here, and we'll give her top billing. (6) KICKUPYAHEELS N raced here twice in 2021 and picked up a win
and a 2nd - she shows a couple of recent victories in Canada and raced very well (for a new barn) in NJ last
week, despite a bad date and tough spot - figures to be the main danger. (1) PAIGES GIRL owns a couple
of fairly recent wins at this level, and is looking at a nice trip from this spot - next in line should the top two
falter. (2) BOTTOMOFTHENINTH would look better in a little cheaper but she usually is pacing well at
the end of her miles, and may be able to rally for a minor share. (4) BALFAST N can be streaky but she did
finish the year with a trio of board finishes - another who could be finishing well for a share of this. (5)
ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX can be a player at this level when on her best game, but the time off may leave
her a little short this week - maybe 3rd/4th? (7) VELOCITY MCSWEETS does her best work on/near the
lead, but may struggle from Post 7 tonight.
RACE 8 - (1) SMOKIN BY N got really sharp for a while but ended the year a bit off his best - was able to
slip over to The Meadows to pick up a win (vs. cheaper) during the hiatus, and we'll see if that helps him
build some confidence to beat these too (5) SON OF A TIGER N remained active during the break, picking
up a 3rd at Fhd then winning at Monti - he returns at a comfortable level, and should be able to make some
noise here. (6) DIAMONDBEACH throws the occasional miscue and that's what happened in NJ last week
- he's also bounced back successfully in the past, and anything close to his top effort would make him a
very legitimate threat tonight. (3) CAVIART REAGAN raced here twice at this level in 2022 and hit board
both times - would definitely include him underneath. (8) SPEEDY DOMINIC A makes his YR debut and
his lines suggest he should be a good fit here - hard to say if Joe B. will try to send him from this spot, but
he'll have a chance if he does. (7) MACINTOSH N was racing solidly to close out his 13YO campaign but
lands a brutal spot to start his final year of racing - not sure he'll be able to get in play from out here. (2)
SANTAFES COACH draws well, but does seem to be a little cheaper than several of the prime players. (4)
RECORD YEAR just looks overmatched in this field.
RACE 9 - (1) COVERED BRIDGE was a weekly threat in the Open and recently picked up a win and a
couple of 2nds in that top class - his start in NJ on 1/7 should have him plenty tight for this, and he should
be able to handle this group (but at a very short price). (2) CARLISIMO is a classy sort but he's had trouble
getting his picture taken here the past couple of years - he's definitely sharp now, and should be a close up
player throughout from this spot. (4) STOP STARING really upped his game after joining this high % barn
in November - tough spot in his last, but should be able to make his presence felt from Post 4 in his first
start of 2023. (3) SOMETHING BETTOR A debuts locally for a barn that has enjoyed success in recent
years with Down Under imports - he'll be class tested tonight, and it'll be interesting to see how he does
(hard to fault his work (so far) out of town). (5) SO MANY ROADS had only 2 wins in 2022 but he was
2nd or 3rd 15X - always a good one to use underneath in exotics. (7) PRETTY HANDSOME struggled
from a similar spot in his last start of the year and may have trouble getting involved tonight, as well. (6)
JUSTA LITTLE BIT A hasn't clicked yet since arriving in the U.S.
RACE 10 - (1) REAGAN BLUE CHIP beat better than these not long ago, but struggled with some tough
posts/spots after that - if he's tight enough off the winter break, this could be a major wake up spot...but
don't fall in love at too short a price. (3) MOONLIGHT SHADOW just missed in his last start before the
hiatus and the barn had a winner last night - certainly worth a look tonight. (4) MONTY MONO lands in a
spot that should be in his wheelhouse and may benefit from having a recent start in NJ - could be a player
in this difficult finale. (5) DELIGHTFUL JOE is used to facing much better upstate, but is clearly well off
his best form - eligible for some big improvement tonight landing at the bottom level, and getting Kakaley
on board. (2) BLUEBIRD RECON went a lot of big miles in 2021-22 but was paying for it the last few
months (as his form dropped way off) - we'll see if a few weeks off can help him turn things around. (6)
MY ULTIMATE STAR A has been a disappointment since arriving in the U.S. but at least has looked better
as he's dropped in class - would have given him a longer look tonight had he drawn a bit better. Both (7)
KEY ADVISOR and (8) BELTANE A have been well off form....and now land far outside.