RACE 1 – (3) URIEL BLUE CHIP hinted at ability but never really clicked in his local starts (after moving to our
leading trainer) – he did put it all together at The Swamp last week, scoring from Post 10 (on a night the barn sent
out FIVE winners) – catches a couple of main rivals with question marks of their own, and maybe he can make his
return to YR a winning one. (6) JUST ENUFF STUFF attacked on the final turn last week and was easily collaring
BIG DREAM FELLA when he suddenly lost action – Bongiorno did a good job smoothing him out and picking up
the win anyway, and a clean effort tonight would make him very tough. (2) BIG DREAM FELLA had a chance to
pick up the win last week when #6 broke on the final turn but still couldn’t get it done – goes for a new barn tonight,
and does have the ability to be a legitimate threat IF he brings his best. (4) BOOM TOWN BOY went an improved
effort off the winter break to be 3rd last week – chance for a piece tonight too. (1) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER was
tailing to end 2023 and was well short in his ’24 return – needs to step his game back up. (5) TAKE A CLOSER LO
OK drew Post 8 for his local debut and was never close – we’ll see if a better post helps produce a better effort
(2nd time for a new barn). (7) FINALLY FRIDAY has been hurt by slow starts and now begins from Post 7.
RACE 2 – (2) POINTOMYGRANSON went out a winner in 2023 and got his picture taken to start of 2024 as well
– goes for a new barn tonight, but we’ll look for him to keep on rollin. (7) SAILBOAT HANOVER was full of pace
in the pocket in his seasonal return then blew right on by to the decisive score – lands in a much tougher spot here,
but still worth a look IF the price is juicy enough. (1) HEART ON MY SLEEVE was stuck outside off the layoff last
week and never got into the hunt – gets major post relief now and while he does seem a little bit cheaper, he did win
7X last year and could land on an easy trip tonight– ok piece. (4) MICKY GEE N found himself in unfamiliar
waters on the lead last week and was all done as soon as they turned for home – barn is off to a slow start so far, but
maybe this guy can rally for a piece with his more typical off the pace style tonight. (5) GOTHIC ROCK landed in a
modest $30K field last week and was a 4-1 first over winner for a barn that finished 2023 strong, and is off and
running in ’24 as well – he moves up in class here, and may not land on the best of trips tonight. (3) PINEBUSH
LIFESAVER had a quick start and parlayed it into a 2nd last week (behind #7) – we’ll see if he can build off that
tonight.
RACE 3 – (6) HEAVEN ON HIGH N ended the year with a sharp win (as the 1/5 choice) and was very good off the
winter break as well, charging home from 7th to be right there 3rd on the wire – the barn has been sending out live
ones, and this guy may be able to get it done with the right trip. (3) ROLLING WITH SAM shipped in off a pair of
sharp Monti wins and was super here as well, putting in a LONG first over move before finally taking over for good,
and holding on for the win – license to step up and take another in his current raging form. (4) THE REGULATOR
was used hard to make the top last week then was hounded mercilessly on the back side by #3, only giving way
grudgingly in the lane – an easier trip makes him dangerous tonight. (5) SHADOW CAT wasn’t sharp enough last
week but he also was facing a VERY strong NW15000 field – wouldn’t count him out too quickly. (1) LYRICAL
GENIUS A was well supported last week but disappointed a bit after landing a good trip – not impossible, but he’ll
need to be a bit better to be a serious threat tonight. (2) WINDSUN RICKY needed his last and moves in from Post
8 – look for a better effort, but still leaning towards others for the top slots. (7) NINETEENTH MAN A ships in off
a nice win in NJ but lands a brutal post – will look better next week with a class drop, and better draw.
RACE 4 – Good race: (3) SETH HANOVER hit board in his last 3 starts off 2023 and rallied well for 3
rd in his ’24 return – he’s had some trouble WINNING races for a while, but he catches some shaky foes tonight and may have
found a spot where he can prevail. (2) OSTRO HANOVER was well backed last week but got away to a slowish
start and could only rally for 4th – gets Bartlett tonight, and may end up with a lot better trip. (5) BALLERAT BOO
MERANG failed to menace last week but did pace home steadily in a race he likely needed – Pantaleano sticks with
him (over #2), and this guy is no stranger to the Yonkers winner’s circle – worth a look. (7) SAN DOMINO A gave
it a good try first over last week, but was clearly outkicked home by the sharp POINTOMYGRANSON – make sure
to get a square price if using from Post 7. (1) ALOTBETTOR N gave it a shot on the front end last week but was
clearly short off the bad date– eligible to be tighter now, and could easily land somewhere on the ticket. (6) PURPLE
POET used an easy trip (from the rail) to be 4th last week, but may struggle a bit with the move outside. (4) PEDRO
HANOVER was well backed last week but never really looked sharp at any point – prefer others right now.
RACE 5 – (8) THRASHER struggled to gain on the back side last week but kept trying hard, and wasn’t too far
back in 4th at the wire – it was his first start in 6 weeks, and he was facing a much better field that night...chance to
beat these, even from Post 8. (5) BLUEBIRD RECON had no prayer after getting away 7th last week but he did have
some pace finishing – he’s in a much better spot tonight, Bartlett is back on board, and he may be able to do some
damage with an aggressive steer. (1) HYPNOTIC DREAM is 0 for 18 here over the last 3 years but he was a decent
4th last week, and should be able to work out a decent trip from this spot – playable in exotics. (2) IMSTAYNALIVE
hasn’t clicked at all in his last 3 starts, now racing for the leading barn in the nation – we’ll see if the move inside
can trigger a wake up call tonight. (3) CAVIART SARGENT was one of many from the barn to come up well short
in the first week of the new season – he’s capable of much better, but hard to try him on top off that last effort. (6)
GOOD INVESTMENT can throw a decent mile at times but he’ll have a tough time threatening from this spot, even
if sharper this week. (7) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N does his best work at the bottom level (and from a better post).
(4) ON THE VIRG has been away since 12/15 and has just one start in the last 9 weeks.
RACE 6 – (8) TWIN B HEART THROB went a big mile from Post 7 last week, finishing right there 3
rd behind a couple of Open-types – gets no luck with the draw once more, but retains Bartlett who will surely give him every
chance to succeed – hopefully Post 8 will at least boost his price. (5) BURNHAM BOY was in the same race last
week as the top choice and finished up well for 4th after being handled conservatively – could be a very live player
tonight with that start under his belt. (3) BENHOPE RULZ N was used early last week then kicked in powerfully
late to win it after angling free into the lane – steps up a bit but he’s more than capable at this level, and does draw
inside his main rivals – not impossible. (7) ALLUNEEDISFAITH N was used too hard early last week and that left
him short at the end – the switch back to Kakaley should help, and the barn was 6 for 15 last week (to start the new
meet) – worth at least a look. (2) UP THE CREEK came up short last week but he’s capable of better – willing to
consider for 3rd/4th. (4) MY ULTIMATE STAR A was overbet and underdelivered in his first start back – could be
tighter now with a chance at a minor slice. (6) GENIUS MAN used a perfect trip to beat (much) easier last week for
a hot barn – not sure he can be the same threat from this spot, however. (1) GAMBLINGTERROR has been away
since 12/12 and likely to need a start or two.
RACE 7 – (4) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES has been 1st or 2nd every start for what feels like an eternity – he goes for
a new barn tonight (after coming up 2nd best in his 2024 debut) and he draws inside a couple of main foes – deserves
top billing. (8) ROCK THIS WAY debuted for top connections last week and was right there 3rd despite 6 weeks off
– has to be seen as a legitimate threat even starting from Post 8 (7) BARON MICHAEL was 2nd to the classy SPEED
MAN N in his last local start of the year and stayed active in NJ over the winter break (winning his last at Fhd.) –
will need some racing luck to be a serious player from out here, but it’s not impossible. (3) PAT STANLEY N wired
cheaper here on 12/4 but was no threat in his next pair – may need a start after being idle since 12/18. (6) LUCIANO
N picked up a rare win on 12/15 but wasn’t close in NJ in his next and was no factor returning here last week- minor
scraps only. Both (1) STATEMENT MADE A and (2) COALITION HANOVER has over terrific 2023 seasons, but
both tailed off dramatically at the end of the year – waiting to see better signs from both of them. (5) MISSILE SEE
LSTER has missed 45 days and is probably better vs 20-25s anyway.
RACE 8 – (3) LOUS BEACH was bet down to 3/5 last week (despite the time off) and just wasn’t able to hang on
after being used hard during the mile – chance to make amends tonight at a better price. (1) BUDDY HILL has lost a
bit off his fastball but he drops and draws the pole, and that could produce a quick wake up call – guessing he’ll be a
live player tonight. (2) SPORTY M THREE was on an outstanding roll not long ago and a weekly threat at some
high levels – he started to go the other way late in the year, though, and it’s hard to gauge his 2024 return try – could
easily bring a winning effort down at this level, but it would be hard to take a very short price on him right now. (5)
KING KAMES EXPRESS turned in a good one from Post 8 off the winter break but he was also helped by an inside
trip, and slow final quarter – willing to use in exotics, at a good price. (6) MOTIVE HANOVER was no factor (in
Ohio) in his first start off a long layoff – guessing he’ll probably need another start or two, but he’s done enough
good work here to at least merit a look at a big price. (4) SAMHARA N was hard to steer last week and his barn has
been dull so far in ’24 – sticking with others. (8) HEART OF DIXIE was too dismal last week to even consider from
out here. (7) SWEET TROY will get a look when entered in NW5000...from a much better post.
RACE 9 – (5) SONNY WEAVER N went a ton of big efforts in the last few months of 2023 – he drew poorly and
was handled conservatively in his ’24 return, but definitely finished with alert pace...look for a much more serious
effort tonight. (3) CARABAO N showed little in his U.S. debut (at 26-1) and was sent off at 41-1 last week as a
result – he WAS putting in a nice stretch rally when he went offstride, however, and perhaps that’s a hint that we
may see a competitive effort from him tonight – good value horse to consider. (2) FAMILY RECIPE overachieved in
many of his starts to close out last year – he paced home evenly from a hopeless spot after the inter break, and he
could easily be in the hunt tonight with a live trip. (4) TYPHOON BANNER N showed some ability last fall/winter
but he did disappoint just a bit overall – he’s been away since 12/18, and perhaps the tote board will offer some clues
as to his current fitness. (7) BILLY CLYDE was just “ok” for 4th in his first start of the season and draws poorly
tonight – would consider using for a small piece IF the price is decent. (1) LOUS THE ATTITUDE catches a tough
spot for his 2024 return and the 6 weeks off could leave him at a serious disadvantage. (6) DEETZY is another that
could struggle a bit after being away since 12/19.
RACE 10 – (1) SHAKESPEARE won 6 of 7 to close out the year and while he didn’t win his 2024 return, he did
put in a big one from Post 8 – figures to be very tough with the rail draw tonight. (4) RJ SPORTS IMAGE came up
just a little short in the latter stages last week, getting nailed late by the tripsitter – he won 8 of 20 starts here last
year, and it would be no surprise at all to see him get back to the winner’s circle tonight. (5) TUGGIN ON MY
HEART was sharp here to end the year and remained sharp during the winter break, competing in Ohio – drawing
outside the top pair may hurt his chances a bit, but he still can’t be taken lightly. (6) FULSOME was only 1 for 9
here last year but did race well in a bunch of the losses – he returns off a win at The Swamp, but gets a very
unfavorable draw – insist on a good price if considering him on top. (2) STONEBRIDGE REX has shown that he
can hang with these but he hasn’t raced since 12/18 and that figures to put him at a disadvantage against the main
players. (3) POUND FOR POUND paced home evenly for 4th last week, and was one of the barn’s better performers
– maybe he can pick up another small slice? (7) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK had only even pace finishing last week
and now gets stuck outside – may have to wait for a better spot. (8) EMINEM HANOVER took his last in NJ but
faces much tougher here, and starts from Post 8 – would certainly be a surprise.