RACE 1 – (2) SADDLE UP has been saddled with 8 holes in his last 3 starts, leaving him with no chance (but he
did finish up well last week) – he was a winner 4 back from Post 3, and he can be handled aggressively from this
spot tonight – good time for a wake up call. (3) GENIUS MAN hasn’t landed on the best of trips lately but he still
races well every week – he may just be a good trip away from a victory. (1) IM A POWERPLAY A finished 3rd in
his last 3 starts, coming up a bit light at the end each time – he moves to a barn that has enjoyed uncanny success off
the claim this year, but still may be better used underneath, right now. (4) THRASHER hasn’t won in a while but
does get a better draw, and could be a late threat IF things get hot and heavy up front. (5) KOOTENAY
SANTANNA is a solid player in this class – he can race on or off the pace, but his chances would go up if he could
get away to a quick start here. (8) TWIG faces an uphill battle from Post 8 but he was super off the class drop last
week, and could offer some big value IF he could somehow loop at the start. (7) THEFLYINGROCK was way
overbet last week and done in by a terrible trip – another bad draw may leave him in a tough spot once more.
(6)LYONS PEGASUS has really upped his game in his last few starts, but draws poorly while up in class tonight.
RACE 2 – (2) TASTE OF HONEY took command and never looked back last week, rattling off a very sharp 1:51.4
front end score (his 3rd win from the last 7 starts) – legitimate chance to take another. (6) OPTICAL ILLUSION N
paced his back half in a very sharp :54 last week but could only manage 5th (was just too far back) – not an ideal
draw for tonight, but a good price makes him worth a look (he’s a very solid player against these types). (3) TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK tried the 50s last week after beating the 30s three straight weeks and handled those as well – hard
to not give him plenty of respect in his current raging form. (1) KARLOO BRADLEY N moves up from 40s to 50s
but he’s on his game right now, and a good trip could put him right there at the wire. (4) SHAKESPEARE remains
highly unpredictable from week to week – he’s probably worth a shot when the price drifts up, but perhaps one to
avoid when overbet (like last week). (7) SHINE A LIGHT had pace from an impossible spot last week but may have
landed in a spot just as difficult for tonight. (5) PEACE OUT POSSE came up weak dropping in for a tag last week
– drops down to 50s, but others just seem more likely right now. (8) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER is probably
sharper than he looks on paper, but may need to wait for a better spot to prove it.
RACE 3 – (3) HAZEVILLE got incredibly sharp for a while but seemed to get a little sour after chasing some of the
best horses on the grounds for a stretch (and that suicide mission on 9/9 didn’t help either) – he seems to be coming
back around, and he drops yet another peg after last week’s disinterested 8 hole try – we’ll go with him on top here,
but probably not one to bet the rent money on. (7) SPLASH BROTHER finally got the big wake up call last week,
getting brave on the lead as he just outran a soft bunch – he hadn’t been any good prior to that, but we’ll see if he got
a confidence boost from that blowout. (5) GINGRAS BEACH held form nicely for some time but MAY be starting
to show some wear and tear – he’ll attract some attention off the class drop, but he does feel a little iffy right now.
(6) ALL ALONE had no chance from Post 8 last week but his previous 2 starts were good – he’s 5 for 18 at YR this
year, and would hardly be a shock. (2) VIVA LAS VEGAS N is a steady performer with a good chance to grab a
piece here – he’s also just 1 for 26 on the year, and hard to take on top. (4) REAL WILLEY would be a huge threat
against these when on his game, but he’s been struggling lately – would consider if the price got juicy enough. (1)
JUSTASEC moves to a new barn but he hasn’t looked good at all – not ready to hop on board until seeing better
signs. (8) GREAT SOMEWHERE may get a look when he drops to NW5000 after tonight.
RACE 4 – Tough race: (4) TWIN B RISENSHINE climbed the class ladder without the benefit of a win, but
continued to hold good form all along – he finished right behind 3 pretty solid rivals last week, and drops down to
the level where he just missed to DEETZY on 9/9 – one of several with a legitimate chance in here. (6) SURFSIDE
BEACH may be ignored at the windows with the class jump & bad post but he’s back hitting on all cylinders again,
and picked up wins in his last pair – good value horse to consider. (1) GREG THE LEG used a picture-perfect trip to
grab the wake up call victory last week (after a pretty long drought) – he’s classy enough to step up and be a threat
here too, but that 2-1 ML listing is a bit of a turn off. (8) JAHAN HANOVER draws Post 8 again but he DID try to
loop last week, before aborting to last – always a chance Bartlett tries it again, and it wouldn’t be the first time our
leading driver scored from Post 8. (2) LEVINE has raced well almost every start this year but is still winless on the
season – he’s also making his first start in 2 months. (3) KINGSVILLE would be very dangerous in here if on his
best game but his last few have been lacking – waiting for some better signs from him. (5) CASINO ACTION N has
been well off his best recently – another in need of a major wake up call.
RACE 5 – MGM Grand Prix Racing Series – Leg #1: (8) DESPERATE MAN has taken 9 of his 10 Yonkers starts
this year, and MAY have actually been the most impressive in the one race he lost (parked every step in the Borgata
Final, STILL finishing 3rd!) – he’s been freshened up, qualified (twice) sharply, and should be able to find a way to
overcome Post 8. (1) AMERICAN DEALER N has held form beautifully for a long time – ignore his last mile (no
prayer from Post 7), and look for him to be a solid player tonight with the move inside. (7) EL REY only has 2 wins
this year (after only winning 3X in ‘23) but he takes on the best every week, and that’s why he’s banked over $480K
over the past 2 seasons – he was just 3rd in the Breeders Crown Final (at 150-1!), and has the right pilot to help him
work out a trip from Post 7 – should be a player in his Yonkers debut. (3) VENTURESOME ARDEN N appeared to
be tailing off after a LONG hard season but he had some better life finishing last week – decent bomb for the bottom
of exotics. (2) WHATS STANLEY GOT A can be a little in-and-out but he can grab a chunk of this IF he shows up
on his best game. (5) COVERED BRIDGE is definitely showing some wear and tear after a couple of VERY hard
seasons – maybe he can rally a bit with an easy enough trip? (6) HELLABALOU was good at the right time this
year, winning his 2nd straight Borgata Final – he hasn’t been the same since then, however, and that has us leaning
elsewhere. (4) ITS A ME MARIO was disappointing in his last couple, and loses Bartlett this week.
RACE 6 – (2) OAKWOOD PADDY IR returns from PcD off a pair of very sharp victories, including last week’s
score over #3 (and a few other pretty nice horses) – he’s done good work here in the past, and looms the one to beat
in his current (raging) form. (3) BACKSTREET SHADOW raced hard cutting the mile in PA last week, coming up a
little short at the end (#2 sat to his back, and rolled by in the lane) – he’s struggled to maintain “peak” form this year,
but he’s still managed to ass $185K to his impressive lifetime total ($1.7M) – remains the main danger. (1) EVER
HOPING N is a little hard to gauge off his current out of town form but he’s thrived here in the past, and lands the
rail with Bartlett for his Hilltop return – an easy trip puts him in play for a nice chunk. (4) SOUTHWIND PETYR
hit board in 4 of his last 5 starts (7 hole in the other), but picked up no wins and faces tougher tonight – looking at
another smaller slice. (8) ULTIMAROCA appreciated the class drop and front end on the way to victories in his last
pair– he’s battled better in the past, but he may struggle a bit tonight, spotting a few main foes a major post edge. (6)
WINDSUN RICKY sat pocketed behind #8 in his last pair, picking up a 2nd and a 3rd – probably looking at a much
tougher trip tonight, though. (5) CYRUS N grabbed a win and a 2nd in his last pair, but with pocket trips vs, easier –
will have trouble replicating that success against these. (7) BENHOPE RULZ N is good right now, but faces a tough
task starting from Post 7 against these.
RACE 7 - MGM Grand Prix Racing Series – Leg #1: (7) COACHES CORNER (an amazing 20-10-8-0 at Yonkers)
was freshened up after finishing 2nd to DESPERATE MAN in the Aria and returned in top form, winning last week’s
Invitational in impressive fashion (and giving his trainer his 1,000th training victory) – he’ll need some trip luck to
win from out here, but his versatile style does give Bartlett multiple options. (3) SEVEN COLORS was struggling
mightily BEFORE crushing a cheaper field here on 9/17 – he was freshened up for the Breeders Crown, and almost
pulled off an 86-1 shocker last week...deserves major respect in his current form! (4) CHASE H HANOVER
changed hands before the Dayton Derby but never got involved that night – freshened up, qualified nicely, and did
have some success here a couple of years ago – would hardly be a shock. (6) ROCKNROLL RUNA A has been
very unreliable lately, but the threat of a BIG effort always exists – never a bad one to consider if the price drifts way
up. (1) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR hasn’t embarrassed himself at the Open level but hasn’t proven that he can
beat them, either – maybe a small piece with an easy trip? (5) BLUE HUNT has ability, but his tendency to get lazy
during the mile often hurts him...and that could happen here too. (2) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A is having a fine
year but comes into this very tough spot off a tiring try and sick scratch. (8) ACT FAST raced better last week, but
still not ready to consider him from a brutal spot like this.
RACE 8 – (1) NIGHT HAWK has been holding form very well and was just in tough spots the last couple of weeks
– he’s looking at a very good trip tonight, and we’ll give him the narrow nod. (6) SPORT SECRET almost got by
VENTURESOME ARDEN N 2 back (after that one grabbed an easy half) then wore down the classy COVERED
BRIDGE last week, scoring very impressively – has to be given major respect, even from Post 6. (5) SHAZAM BL
UE CHIP was in a good field off a bad date last week bit still won easily, his 4th victory in his last 6 starts – another
that deserves major respect right now. (2) ROCKIN JUKEBOX disappointed last week, one of several in the barn to
struggle recently – very dangerous here IF he can bounce right back. (4) FINVARRA A was a good earner Down
Under, qualified very nicely for a sharp barn and is worth considering IF the tote board suggests he could be live in
his U.S. debut. (3) LOUS SWEETREVENGE will be coming late...but probably for a smaller share. (7) FUNATTH
EBEACH wired 3 softer fields but was unable to rally from 4th last time – may be too far out to do much damage
here. (8) WHY NOT perked up off the barn change to beat lesser here on 10/15 – hard to gauge his last Breeders
Crown mile (too far back) but he may just be too far out tonight to really strut his best stuff.
RACE 9 - MGM Grand Prix Racing Series – Leg #1: (3) VERDUN comes into this series riding a 6 race winning
streak...and the scariest part is that he can win from ANY spot (he wired the field from Post 8 two back, then circled
them from 7th, last week!) – faces a few very solid foes in here, but remains the one to knock off. (6) PLEASELETM
EKNOW is a little light in the win column this year but he’s still banked $233K, highlighted by an upset in the
Dayton Derby 3 starts back – he can never be counted out, but will need to really bring his best to knock off #3 right
now. (7) HIMSELF N took a while to find his from in the U.S. but he’s blossomed into a very solid Open performer
– he’s shown the ability to leave quickly from the outside, and a good start would help his chances to be a player
here. (8) DUNKIN seemed to be feeling the effects of TWO very long seasons but did bounce back with a very nice
effort for 2nd last week – never a bad one to consider at a big price (as he LOVES to win races). (1) TYPHOON BA
NNER N toured the oval from Post 8 off the freshening last week but look for a more serious try tonight – his best
effort could land him a good piece. (4) ADAM TWELVE recently rattled off 3 sharp wins but vs. easier – not sure
he’s at his best against this caliber. (5) HEMSWORTH N picked up a 3rd last week, but mostly thanks to the trip –
needs to pick his game up a notch to be a serious player. (2) NANDOLO N has plenty of good efforts recently but
did come up flat last week – he’s certainly in tough tonight, even with the inside draw.