RACE 1 – Good opener! (7) ROCKNROLL RUNA N is listed at 12-1 ML and could be worth a stab here – he’s
won multiple Opens at Yonkers and won a pair of early Borgata legs not long ago – he qualified sharply after a 5/27
sick scratch, and his connections usually come to race when they do ship in...here’s hoping MacDonald handles him
aggressively tonight. (1) COVERED BRIDGE is the “x factor” in here – he’s won a zillion races at the top level and
he can certainly get a pass for his effort in the Borgata Final (where there was clearly some issue) – the concern is
that he wasn’t quite at 100% even before that mile, and his Monti qualifier may or may not have him tight enough
for tonight – would want a “fair” price to use him on top. (6) HEMSWORTH N can be somewhat inconsistent but
does throw big miles at times – worth a look if the price is high enough. (3) NANDOLO N puts in a solid effort
every week, and always pacing well at the end – he also has to settle for smaller pieces most weeks, and that may
happen again tonight. (2) SUMOMENTSOMEWHERE gets a class drop but so some of the others in here – just
hasn’t been on his good game lately. (5) KINGSVILLE has been VERY sharp, but will taking on much tougher
tonight – likely looking at a smaller prize here. (4) JAHAN HANOVER is racing well, but is probably a bit below a
few of the top players.
RACE 2 – Another good race: (5) ALL CLASS finished up a strong 3YO campaign with an excellent 2nd to a raging
SIMON SAYS HANOVER – he was freshened up and has continued to excel at 4, recently finishing 2nd in the
Juravinski (after winning his elimination), then a close 5th in a hot Graduate mile at Woodbine last week– Bartlett
stays loyal to #3, but we’ll give this guy a try anyway. (1) DUNKIN comes into tonight off a win and a pair of close
2nds – he gets to pick his trip tonight, and will be very dangerous whether he cuts the mile (most likely) or sits the
two hole. (3) ITS A ME MARIO has won 7 of his 11 starts this year but has only one win from his last 4 starts
(though always a big player) – he’ll surely have a major say once more, but we’re leaning a little more to the top
pair. (2) DUVAL STREET benefited from the easiest of the trips and was able to scoot up the cones to nip both #1
and #3 last week (at 14-1) – he’s won 3 of his last 4 and certainly has earned plenty of respect...include in exotics.
(6) PLEASELETMEKNOW certainly hasn’t been “bad” this year but his 1 for 8 record is definitely disappointing –
he did finish full of pace at the wire last week, but tonight’s bad draw may leave him without too many options. (4)
MY ULTIMATE BYRON A is hard to knock form-wise...but the class jump may slow him down a bit.
RACE 3 – (6) POUND FOR POUND lost his first 11 starts this year but then won 5 of his last 6, with a 2
nd to NANDOLO N in the other – his last 2 wins were simply eye-popping (1:51, followed by last week’s 1:49.4!), and it
would be tough to go against him right now...even from Post 6. (1) JUST ENUFF STUFF delivered a pair of sharp
6 hole victories 3 and 4 starts back, and that was right after an excellent 2nd to the top choice (on 4/29) – he had NO
chance in his last pair (8 holes), but now moves all the way inside...and may be waiting in the winds should the top
one falter. (4) BIG DREAM FELLA has handled the jump from 30s to 50s beautifully for his new barn, picking up a
2nd and a 3rd behind #6 – remains very playable in exotics. (2) HOPNROLL HEAVEN moves inside and may end up
with a decent trip in a string out field – chance for a small share. (5) SHAKESPEARE was a very good 3
rd three back, an excellent winner in his next and finished with good pace from an impossible spot last week – the concern is
that he may also end up in an impossible spot tonight. (3) TWIN B DELUXE hasn’t been “bad”, but it just feels like
the others have been better lately.
RACE 4 – (2) BARON MICHAEL reunites with Kakaley, and the pair recently teamed up for a win and a 3
rd in the 30s, along with a victory at Pocono – faces a camera shy bunch, and is worth a shot tonight. (5) BLOODHOUND
has been ok vs. similar at PcD, and did pick up a win from his 5 local starts here last year – he’s a fresh face, and
worth a look. (3) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N figures to be in the hunt with the class drop, good draw and Bartlett,
but he’s just 1 for 13 this year (0 for 7 at YR), and was just 2 for 33 last year – tough to take a short price on top! (4)
MISTER DONALD A raced well from a tough spot last week but he’s currently 0 for 18 this year, and 0 for 11 at
YR over the past 3 seasons – ok for underneath. (6) HAZEVILLE had no excuse at all last week, and hasn’t been
able to cash in despite the class drops – he’ll win eventually, but not worth a short price from this spot. (1) HEART
ON MY SLEEVE towed along for 3rd last week and may be able to grab a minor share here too. (7) MIGHTY SAN
TANA N drops down to the basement and we can start looking for him to show improvement...but maybe not from
out here.
RACE 5 – (2) OZONE BLUE CHIP was ultra well meant last week but came up just a little short at the end after
being used hard for much of the mile – we’ll give him the narrow edge tonight. (4) MAJOR DESIRE was able to
knock off the top choice last week, coming first over and prevailing in very game fashion – he’s been sharp for some
time, and it would certainly be no surprise to see him repeat. (1) PAT STANLEY N landed on an awful trip in his
first start off the most recent claim (vs. 40s) – the classy 10YO drops back down to 30s, and has to be considered a
threat to pick up his 6th win of the season. (5) KB MAC is winless on the season and 0 for 25 at Yonkers – he does
usually race pretty well, though, and never a bad one for 3rd/4th. (7) SULLIVAN made a nice recovery after an early
miscue 2 back and finished well from an impossible spot last week – he’s sharp enough to be a player, but another
bad draw may leave him waiting for a better spot. (3) ODDS ON PICK SIX seems better suited with cheaper –
minor spoils only. (6) ARRHYTHMIC SURGE was a nice 2nd off an aggressive try 2 back but that was from the
pole – not sure he can replicate that from Post 6. (8) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER could use a class drop and better post.
RACE 6 – (3) CAPTIVATE HANOVER has raced well almost every week, and that includes his last (battled first
over a long way with FUNATTHEBEACH and still a very game 2nd best) – he lands a good draw, his barn has been
heating up, and we’ll give him top billing here. (5) ULTIMAROCA is a streaky horse and clearly he’s in a good way
right now – he saw his 2 race winning streak snapped last week, but it’s no shame losing to the sharp/classy LOUS
SWEETREVENGE – remains a major threat. (8) WHATS STANLEY GOT A drops out of the Invitational and
might have been listed on top had he not drawn Post 8 – he may be able to win from out here anyway, but he’ll need
to be a decent price to be worth using on top (and Stratton did opt for #5). (1) CADILLAC BAYAMA has been a
favorite of ours this year and his last victory was VERY impressive – he steps up in class here, but he just may be
sharp enough to still be a big threat (wishing Pat Lachance and speedy recovery, after being injured in a freak
accident on Friday night). (4) NIGHT HAWK was winless in 2023 but having a good year so far in ’24 (14-3-4-3) –
he fits well here, and a good trip can land him somewhere on the ticket. (7) ROLLING WITH SAM is sharp now but
the move from the rail to Post 7 may really slow him down tonight. (2) WINDSUN RICKY has missed 3 weeks
after a sick scratch – sticking with others. (6) SPEED MAN N doesn’t seem sharp enough at the moment...and the
draw will only make things even tougher.
RACE 7 – Another excellent race: (6) BOILING OAR has been hitting on all cylinders all year, and moving up to
the Invitational level hasn’t slowed him down at all – he’s razor sharp, can handle a variety of trips, and should end
up a fair price in a field with several very live players. (3) BIG GULP just got better and better with every start (after
shipping in from the Midwest and joining our leading barn) – he’s established himself as a very legitimate Open
player, and a good trip here could see him end up in the winner’s circle. (7) ENERGETIC HANOVER has been in
career form since arriving from Dover in April, sporting a 6-3-3-0 local slate – he’s won 3 of his last 4 starts, but did
suffer a nose loss to the top choice on 5/13 – the only “knock” is the draw, but he still belongs on your tickets.., if
not overbet. (2) MOONSHINE KISSES finally looked like his old good self with last week’s sharp front end score –
he did win 8 of 20 local starts last year, so don’t overlook him, even moving up a bit in class. (4) BACKSTREET
SHADOW needs no introduction but note that he exits a very sharp barn here, and MAY not be his best self (and
even his “best” might not be enough against a couple of these very sharp horses). (1) TAKE A GAMBLE may be
overlooked here, but note that only a few starts back he traded victories with BOILING OAR – rare opportunity to
get a good price on this guy...especially from the pole. FUNATTHEBEACH N was a very well meant winner in
back to back starts over cheaper – has he built up enough confidence to handle these too...we shall see.
RACE 8 – (3) AIR FORCE HANOVER usually isn’t known for his consistency but he’s actually strung together a
nice series of excellent starts – he’s been finishing just behind some pretty sharp horses, and now it feels like his
time to get back to the winner’s circle. (5) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A has raced well in most of his local starts,
and definitely is a good fit with these – logical player. (2) C BET HANOVER was one of the barn’s two big-priced
winners last Saturday – he steps up a notch, but he’s good right now and may be able to land somewhere on the
ticket. (1) MY CARBON COPY N loves to sit and rally for pieces – he hasn’t WON here since 2022...but he’s still
a good one to include underneath. (4) EMINEM HANOVER gets a pass for tiring in last week’s insane 1:49.4 mile
– his overall form is okay, and a small share is within reach. (7) BILL HALEY N absolutely flew home here (3rd)
on 5/17 but failed to replicate that effort in either of his last 2 starts in PA – a little too inconsistent for our tastes. (6)
ARDEN MESSI N was a dullish 4th off an easy trip last week – tough post tonight. (8) MACH N CHEESE failed to
threaten from a similar spot in his last.
RACE 9 – (4) OPTICAL ILLUSION N has been racing in the Opens and Buffalo and Saratoga and now lands in a
very reasonable spot upon joining the nation’s leading barn – willing to hop on board in his YR debut. (5) GAMBLI
NGTERROR was off nearly 4 weeks to his last (after being scratched injured) but he was handled surprisingly
aggressively and put a scare into the favorite coming to the wire – anything close to that effort puts him right back in
the hunt tonight. (3) HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE was a very successful 2YO but has gone just 1 for 22 at 3 and 4 –
the ability is still there and does pop up at times – probably the other possible winner in here. (1) FULSOME landed
in a soft spot and was able to hold off his 2 main rivals in the 3 horse battle to the wire last week – he’s not the same
horse he was earlier in the year, but his speed gives him a chance for a piece in this tougher spot. (2) PETER PETRI
FY N hasn’t clicked in his local starts but drops again and draws inside – small piece? (7) CASINO ACTION N was
sent off at 3-1 for his U.S. debut and rallied well for 3rd – took NO $$ at all for his 2nd start, however, and was never
close – check the tote board? (8) KIMBLE A had no excuse last week and now moves up in class and gets stuck all
the way outside. (6) HEISMAN PLAYER may get a look when he drops to NW5000 next start.
RACE 10 – (2) SURFSIDE BEACH got used pretty hard last week so we’ll give him a pass for tiring – he’s been a
player most weeks this year and while his 1 for 13 local record does seem concerning, it’s also true that he finished
just behind some prolific winners on several occasions – we’ll go with him on top for his new barn. (5) LAZ was a
little disappointing when he couldn’t get by #7 last week but he still finished 2nd (after winning his previous 2 starts)
– legitimate threat IF the trip goes his way. (1) TWO FACED is a “steady” sort, that can land somewhere in the
exotics with a decent trip (very possible with the rail, and Bartlett). (7) HUMAN COCKTAIL improved when 2nd
two back then was a game front end winner in his last (over #5) – if he makes the front easily tonight, he can
definitely be part of the equation. (3) CENTURY IGLESIAS tends to lag, then finish decently – good candidate for
3rd/4th. (8) LYONS PRIDE generally needs to be part of the action to have success but he did race well from way
back last week – unfortunately, he may find himself in another tough spot tonight. (4) AIRY SHADOW had a few
good starts here but does seem to be tailing a bit. (6) HURRIKANE HUNTER may need some class relief.
RACE 11 – (7) LEONIDAS A may be worth a stab tonight – he clearly hasn’t been a top Open pacer in some time,
but he finishes close regularly behind some pretty nice horses – if ever Siegelman was going to handle him
aggressively, this would bet the spot...good value play. (6) SAMHARA N charged home to just miss to the very
sharp DUVAL STREET two back then made up a ton of ground in his last after an early miscue – he may have
trouble getting in play from this spot, but a big price makes him worth a look. (1) THIS IS THE PLAN wasn’t able
to hang on after cutting the mile in his last pair but the uber-classy 9YO is eligible to show up sharp on any given
week and handle these types – wouldn’t fall in love at a short price, however. (2) HUNTERS HERO throws some
good miles and draws inside for an always dangerous barn – not impossible. (3) VICI finally got it done last week
after a long streak of closes and left no doubt about it – facing tougher now, but still can make his presence felt. (8)
SONNY WEAVER N has 15 wins from his last 38 local starts but faces an uphill battle trying to beat these from
Post 8. (4) THE REGULATOR finds his share of winning miles every year but may find a few of these a little
tougher than he’d like. (5) VEL MR NICE GUY has been successful out of town recently but had just one win and
one 2nd from 20 Yonkers starts over the previous 2 seasons.