RACE 1 - (1) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER was sitting right behind last week's insane :54.2 half and that
left him empty at the end of the mile - he drops back down to the level he crushed 2 back, and that makes
him a very solid threat to take tonight's opener. (2) KING JAMES EXPRESS can be pretty unreliable from
start to start but he can be a legitimate threat from this spot IF he brings his "A Game" tonight. (4) THE
REAL ONE definitely hasn't been on his best game lately but this is a spot where he can rally for a good
piece even in his current "meh" form. (3) WAR DAN DELIGHT hasn't really been clicking for some time
now, but may still be able to beat out a few of these for some minor spoils. (7) ROLLING WITH SAM
hasn't had the best year and he draws poorly for his last local start of the season - will need some trip luck
for even a small slice. Both (6) ROCKNROLL ANNIE and (8) GAITWAY GAL are mares facing boys,
and seem to just be looking to race SOMEWHERE before Yonkers takes their winter break!
RACE 2 - (4) DON DOMINGO N's comeback this spring started off well for a couple of starts but
deteriorated rapidly, landing back on the shelf after just 4 starts - he resurfaces now at the bottom level, and
it seems unlikely that his connections will look to "race him into shape" - guessing he'll be ready to go right
out of the box, as his starts do figure to be limited. (1) HEEZ OURPERSEUS N was ok here on 12/6 then
ok in his next off the claim - logical one for exotics. (7) MISTER SPOT A has been plagued by terrible
draws and tonight is no exception - still may be able to beat a bunch of these, even from out here. (3) OUR
RHYTHMNBLUES N has done little before OR after that win 4 back, but this field is soft enough where
he can at least contend for a spot in the exotics. (5) TEAM MAC is 0 for 7 this facing cheaper out of town -
getting Kakaley back MAY perk him up enough to at least hang in there for a piece. (2) MACHLICIOUS is
on the cheaper side but the post relief may be enough for him to land a minor share. (6) LETTUCERIPRIT
A A just has way more weak efforts than decent ones these days.
RACE 3 - (3) LOVELY HEART was delayed in getting his 3YO campaign underway but he put together a
sharp win and a 2nd at Hoosier right off the bat - likely bled in that 11/26 start at Chester, then raced well
(adding Lasix) to be a close 3rd in his next - certainly meets nothing scary for his YR debut. (5) CANDY
BOMBER doesn't seem to be on his best game right now and is 1 for 33 lifetime - he does go back to Dube
tonight, and looks better than a bunch of these. (4) NAANDA AS won 2 back at Chester but was no factor
at all in his Hilltop debut - gets a better post for tonight, Kakaley drives, and some improvement is possible.
(6) TO MY CREDIT has trouble finishing his miles but he can leave the gate and stays trotting - chance for
a piece. (7) LUKA didn't really impress in a pair of local starts and now draws Post 7 - minor share only.
(1) QUEEN CABAL ships in showing some discouraging lines and would be hard to endorse. (3) HIGH
LIFE is a 2YO that seems to still be trying to figure this game out.
RACE 4 - (2) MARINER SEELSTER has 433 career starts and he'll be making his last ever Yonkers
appearance tonight (as he'll have to be retired from racing after his 14YO campaign) - not sure he's the best
in here, but he HAS to be listed on top, even if for sentimental reasons...hopefully he can pick up career
win #70 tonight! (5) FULLBACK was no good for a long time but has actually been fairly consistent lately
- could offer some decent value in this pretty evenly matched affair. (3) ALWAYS CLOSE sat the pocket in
his Yonkers debut and was able to charge on past the heavy favorite to win it - legitimate chance to take
another. (1) BARRYWHITE HANOVER has had success at this level and tonight's draw should leave him
close to the action - chance to grab a piece. (7) SOUTHWIND ONYX has been good ever since changing
barns back in October- tough post, but still worth including in exotics if the price is good (4) SHOREVIEW
is now 0 for 33 on the year and running out of time to get that first victory - doesn't seem likely that it'll be
tonight. (6) ZIGGY SKY picked up HIS first victory of the year last week (at Monti) but seems a unlikely
repeater facing better, from a tough spot.
RACE 5 - Tough race: (6) SECRET GARDEN was racing well up to a recent barn change then was sharp
for her new connections last week as well - tough draw tonight, but a live trip would give her a chance in a
field with several possibilities. (1) PRINCESS ARONA looked like a potential threat turning for home last
week but flattened into the stretch - draws the pole for the hottest team around and has to be respected. (3)
CANNERY ROW just missed adding Lasix 2 back but threw a dud last week - if she can bounce back to
that better form, she can have a big say tonight. (8) DONTKARENIFIDO is 8-4-1-2 here at Yonkers and
might have been listed on top if not for Post 8- would still consider IF the price was good enough (5) JAVA
has some ability when 100%, but lost action (and a lot of ground) in 2 of her last 3 starts - another to
consider IF the price is right. (7) EXCITING TIMES A was sent off as the odds on choice in her U.S. debut
but was a disappointing 3rd- missed time due to sickness after that, and it's hard to gauge how serious she'll
be tonight - perhaps the tote board can help out? (4) ALEXAS HUNTER has been pretty mediocre out of
town - we'll see if the change of venue helps. (2) DEWITT THIS MOMENT was way up the track in her
local debut then scratched sick last week - sticking with others.
RACE 6 - (3) TWIN DELIGHT was stuck facing MUCH tougher older mares in her 2 local starts and
really didn't embarrass herself - should be ready for a more aggressive try off the class drop, and we'll see if
she's up for it. (6) TWIN B ECHO was in a no chance spot last week but still finished alertly for 4th - if
Bongiorno can find her a decent trip here, she may be able to do some damage. (2) YS SENSATIONALCI
TY had legitimate excuses in several local starts so the only thing surprising about last week's victory was
the generous payoff - steps up a bit, but can still contend for a decent chunk. (7) FAVORITE BEACH raced
well in BOTH local starts, coming up 2nd best both times - the only real knock here is the draw, leaving her
outside a few main rivals. (5) ON THE MONEY GB has a solid 8-2-1-2 local slate but just may be a slight
bit below a couple of the others - would hardly be a shock, though. (4) IM PRINCESS BELLA A is forced
to race in NW6 tonight because barnmate EXCITING TIMES A has the slot in NW4 (Race 5) - leaning to
others. (1) ANNELIESE HANOVER pops off a good one here and there but MOST of her efforts would
leave her short against these. (8) HUNTRESSVILLE A was up the track at 67-1 from a similar spot in last.
RACE 7 - Pretty solid NW4 Trot: (3) BONANZA is a late bloomer (1 start at 2, none at 3) that has won 7
of 9 starts as a 4YO for our leading trainer - he has to get top billing with that impressive record BUT note
that one of his losses came here at Yonkers when he made a break - be careful about accepting a very short
price! (4) MANCLANE has won 2 of 3 local starts and debuts tonight for the nation's leading barn - would
not think twice about taking a shot with him if the price is generous enough. (2) CASSIUS HANOVER put
in a big rally from last to 3rd in his local debut and finished up well from an impossible spot in his next
start as well- gets major post relief, and has license to show up late for another big chunk (6) DARK MIND
was sitting a close 3rd last week when he made an untimely miscue - at that 20-1 ML price, he's not a bad
one to use underneath, looking for some value in the exotics. (1) SHOPPING IN PARIS is 11-2-5-2 here at
Yonkers, figures to sit an easy up close trip and could easily get towed along for a piece of this. (7) BEAC
ON BEACH's overall recent form is solid, but he faces an uphill battle starting from Post 7. (5) MISTER
LEWIS was well backed and raced better than expected when he jogged in his first local start - tired on the
lead vs. better in his next, and is an even tougher field tonight.
RACE 8 - (8) FINAL STING gets stuck outside yet again but she showed the last 2 starts that she CAN
leave well enough to overcome it - came up a solid 2nd best to the 1/20 favorite last week, and is listed at
12-1 ML for tonight - worth a stab. (2) SILKEN SMILE didn't show much in her debut qualifier (in a very
fast 1:54.2 mile) but she was obviously ready for her career debut, crushing a Fhd. field by 10 lengths -
hard to say how that will translate against these, but the 2YO has to be given a serious chance in her YR
debut. (4) BOSTON JIVE ships in off solid Stga. tries and raced well here at Yonkers a couple of times in
the past - definitely playable in exotics. (5) BLUEBIRD CRUSH impressed Siegelman enough at Fhd. for
him to dip in and buy her after her last start - willing to consider underneath. (3) URSULA BLUE CHIP
has a couple of 3rd place finishes here from her 5 local starts - maybe 3rd/4th tonight? (1) TWO STAR MA
GIC has only managed minor pieces in her 2 local tries and will need to be better for a chance at a larger
slice. (7) KALYPSO used an easy trip to pick up a 2nd two back but may need to start from a much better
post to have the same kind of result. (6) J M SPEAK EASY has yet to hit board in 5 Yonkers starts.
RACE 9 - (8) CHEZACTIC makes his YR debut but he's trotted around the half with no issues in the past
(at Freehold) and with Brennan driving - the poor draw could make him a decent price...and worth a play.
(6) IRISH COFFEE was just road tested last week (first start for the Dynamic Duo, off qualifiers, from Post
8) but he did look good coming across the wire - may be a lot more serious tonight. (2) TOMBSTONE
definitely didn't bring his best last week but he's capable of better - draws well, and could have a big say
tonight. (1) NEWTOWNS BLACKGOLD crushed last week, but in NW2 after a half in 1:01.1 and in a
race where nobody else showed up - may have a much tougher time with this better bunch. (4) HOLD ME
CLOSER got parked from Post 7 last week but wasn't beaten all that badly considering the trip - could have
a say here with a better journey. (3) HL BALLERINA rallied late for 2nd last week to #1 but is another that
will be facing much tougher tonight. (5) WANDAS WONDER broke before the start in her Hilltop debut -
would prefer to see a clean mile before considering. (7) BAR KEEP DE VIE figures to be stuck too far
back to have much impact this week.
RACE 10 - (4) HEAVEN ON HIGH N (sent off at 1/5 last week) was incredibly parked by a 30-1 shot
through insane :26.3 and :54.2 fractions, yet still wasn't far back in 4th at the wire - definitely deserves a
chance to make amends. (7) IM A POWERPLAY A changed barns on 11/24 and hasn't lost since - much
tougher spot tonight, but too sharp too ignore, even from out here. (3) IMA HAPPY FELLA GB gave up a
chance to cut the mile last week then came up 2nd best to #7 - no reason he can't be right in the hunt tonight
as well. (5) CAVIART SARGENT doesn't win too often but he does rally for pieces when the trip goes his
way - ok to include underneath. (2) LOUIE THE HORSE N is winless here in 10 starts this year but he
does have 4 seconds - seems a notch below a few main players, but may be able to pick up a minor share.
(8) CADILLAC BAYAMA drops, goes with Lasix for the 2nd time and is definitely better than he's shown
so far - not sure this is a spot where we'll see his best, however. (1) GENIUS MAN tends to do his best with
easy trip in (much) softer fields - not sure the pole is enough to make him a player. (6) BLUEBIRD
RECON drops a peg but still seems to be in a bit too tough right now.
RACE 11 - (4) SMOKIN BY N is 2 for since returning to his favorite barn and meets nothing too scary
tonight - solid chance for the threepeat. (2) SWAGASAURUSREX showed his best life in a while last
week- if he can build off that mile, he may be able to land somewhere on the ticket tonight (1) SHANWAY
N missed some time off a sick scratch but qualified back decently and will start from the pole - playable in
exotics. (6) PRESTIGE SEELSTER took 12 starts to pick up his first Yonkers win then took another in his
next start - he did weaken after cutting the mile in his last pair, however, and tonight's draw won't help his
cause- maybe can race OFF the pace tonight and rally for a share? (5) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL drops a
bit but is 0 for 14 here this year and may still struggle a bit in 20s. (3) ROCKATHON is highly
unpredictable from start to start, as a quick look at his last pair will quickly confirm - leaning towards other
more reliable players. (8) NOB HILL FLASH fits well with these and won at this level in NJ 4 back - not
sure he can find a way into the hunt from out here, however. (7) TWIN B SPEED DIAL continues his run
of terrible posts!