RACE 1 – (2) MILLWOOD BONNIE N certainly wasn’t on her game to close out 2023 but most of her barnmates
have come back fresh and fit after the winter break and she may do the same – has a ton of back class, and she won’t
need to be all that sharp to win at this bottom level. (7) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL threw a lot of clunkers last year
but also came up with big miles at times – she should be feeling pretty good about herself after last week’s NJ
blowout (racing off a month), and she could offer some good value from Post 7. (1) MONEYMAKEHERSMILE
ships back in showing some less than stellar form across the river but she’s also been dealing with a slew of bad
posts – she draws the pole with Bartlett here, and a wake up call may be coming. (3) ON THE MONEY GB was on
the dullish side to close out 2023 and her barn has been just “ok” here to start the new year – ok for a piece, but may
end up overbet. (5) MEADOWBROOK KRISTA may be on the cheaper side but she ships in sharp and picks up
Brennan for her YR debut – we’ll see if she fits. (4) WESTERN ROSIE was a no threat 2nd behind #7 last week and
seems destined for only a minor share tonight. (6) GAME OF SHADOWS draws poorly after missing 6 weeks.
RACE 2 – (1) BLACK TIE BASH hasn’t been worse than 4th in his 4 local starts, racing very well in a couple of
them – he faltered at The Swamp in his last, but may have landed in a winning spot for his Hilltop return. (4) HIGH
LAND MOWGLI tired badly across the river in his last (off 3 weeks) and now has been away for another month –
still has to be considered a legitimate threat to take these coast to coast. (5) BRAVE BY DESIGN has been away for
5 weeks but his barn has come back ready for action in 2024 – a good trip makes him a very live player here. (2) HU
NTING AS often “figures” but was just 1 for 23 here last year, and has been away for 6 weeks after a poor effort to
close out 2023 – prefer others tonight. (3) GRINDER has also missed 6 weeks, and drops a win off his card after
tonight – keep an eye for next time. (6) YES ended the year poorly, and draws outside for his seasonal return.
RACE 3 – (1) LAURIE LEE comes off a solid ’23 season and raced well (in NJ) in her first start of the new year –
draws the pole with Kakaley, and that stamps her as the one to catch and beat. (2) CASH ROLL has been close
several times across the river lately, but hasn’t won in some time – legitimate player here, but may have to settle for
a smaller piece once more. (4) LADY NEWTON was racing ok to close out the year but has been idle for 6 weeks –
really just a guessing game as to how serious she’ll be for tonight. (6) IRON MISTRESS has also missed 6 weeks
but her barn has sent out several very live players, and this mare does return at a very comfortable level – if she’s
live on the board, you may want to give her some extra consideration. (5) THUNDRA lost her first 26 starts here last
year before winning on 12/15 to close out the year – feels a bit overmatched for tonight. (3) ITTY BITTY failed to
thrive in all 4 starts after returning to the local scene.
RACE 4 – (4) PROBERT has raced very well here in the past, vs. better – she returns from NJ in fine form, gets a
decent draw and seems worth a play tonight. (3) DELTA THREE N makes her U.S. debut off a nice qualifier and
gets Bartlett to stay on board – would be no surprise at all. (5) GOT SEXY SCARS won 2 of 7 here last year and
returns off a win out of town vs. slightly cheaper – no reason she can’t land somewhere on the ticket tonight. (2) MO
RNING HAS BROKEN finally was able to pick up a long overdue victory (barely!) to close out 2023, but she’s
been away 7 weeks since then – many of her barnmates have come back sharp, so we’ll see if this mare can also
overcome the layoff (still leaning towards others, though). (1) BE MY ROSE raced very well in NJ for her new barn
last week but will face much tougher tonight – may be looking at only some minor spoils. (6) COWGIRL LILLY
gets a pass for her last (parked at The Swamp) but she lands a tough post for her YR return and may have to wait for
a better spot to shine. (7) MINI ROSE draws poorly while really stepping up in class – very tough spot for her.
RACE 5 – (5) TIMESTORM can still throw big miles and beat much better than these, but he was pretty unreliable/
inconsistent last year – he ships back over off a nice rallying try in NJ and would be hard to go against at this bottom
level– it would also be hard to take a very short price on top! (1) SWISS HOUSE ON FIRE will surely use his speed
to work out a good trip from the pole and his barn has had a solid start to the year (after finishing strongly in 2023) -
include in exotics. (8) DRACO S tailed off here at the end of the year but his last couple at The Swamp are more
promising – if Bartlett can improve position at the start without using him too hard, he can be a part of this. (2) MA
KE IT EASY disappointed in his last NJ start but most of his PA efforts could put him in the hunt for a piece of this
– maybe 3rd/4th? (4) EVERLASTINGFASHION was 2nd off the barn change 3 back but no factor in his last pair – he
was just 1 for 35 last year, and we’ll just keep an eye on him, for now. (7) GEMOLOGIST has a mixed bag of recent
tries, but may be hard pressed to get in play from out here. (6) BLUEBIRD JESSE struggled here late in the year –
tough draw, but a new listed trainer and Gingras – leaning elsewhere. (3) TORKIL was 0 for 34 last year.
RACE 6 – (1) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL A endured a long run of horrible posts at the end of last year but still raced
well in most of those starts (her last “good” draw resulted in a close 2nd to RACINE BELL) – she end the year with a
win at Chester, and could be very tough tonight IF her connections have her ready off the bad date. (4) OKINAWA
BEACH A is always good for a late rally, and as noted, her barn has come out strong to start the new year – worth a
look if the price is decent. (2) TWIN B SUNKISSED tired badly in her last NJ start (finished with broken equip.)
but she’s been a reliable player here whenever she lands a decent trip – could easily be part of the equation tonight.
(7) TALENT TO SPARE A was a close 3rd in her U.S. debut (behind the top choice) but has been idle since 12/22
and lands a terrible post – may be a good week to just observe, for future consideration. (5) I LOVE ONGAIT found
some better form here at the end of the year but vs. easier – she returns from NJ showing mixed efforts, and seems a
bit of an underlay at that 2-1 ML price. (3) EASY TO PLEASE had a very disappointing ’23 campaign, registering
just 2 victories – the former Open mare is a question mark here, even with the decent draw. (8) DRAGONS LUCKY
LADY has her moments at this level (when things go her way) but seems unlikely to be a serious threat starting
from out here. (6) COMMANDER CATHY N draws poorly in a tough field off a slowish Dover qualifier.
RACE 7 – Tough race: (1) FADE OUT loved her time at Yonkers last year, winning 6 of 16 starts – her barn has
shown no drop off with a new trainer listed, and has sent out some live players so far...one of several possibilities in
here. (2) VILLAGE JADE is one of several from the nation’s leading barn to show a dull try in NJ during the hiatus,
but that doesn’t mean she won’t be ready tonight – good spot if she brings her best. (5) MAN DONTFORGET ME
turned in back to back stellar seasons, banking $333K at Yonkers alone – has to be considered a threat tonight, even
off 6 weeks. (4) BOORAA N was a decent 4th here at a big price on 12/15, and won at The Swamp 2 starts later– she
can be a legitimate player here, but that 5/2 ML price is a bit of a turnoff. (3) ONEDERFULBEACH was a wire to
wire 8 hole winner in her first start for our leading trainer then raved ok in NJ as well – she’s been away for 7 weeks,
though, and takes on tough older mares...could be a tough spot tonight. (6) LUCKY ARTIST A was super through
the Matchmaker Series but did tail badly soon after – she was coming around at the end of the year, but has missed 6
weeks and may need a start. Good to see (8) OAXACAN DREAM N back after that bad accident on 11/17 – nice
qua. at Monti and barn going very well...but figures to be conservative this time around.
RACE 8 – Another tough race: (4) BARRY BLACK didn’t have his best season in “23 but he still came up big at
times – he’s been away since 12/15, but his barn has shown they can have one ready off the bench – narrow edge in
an unpredictable affair. (3) VALI HANOVER had an outstanding 2023 that ended from a couple of impossible spots
– anything close to his best would beat these, but he’s missed 7 weeks and is listed at 8/5 ML...hard to get excited
about using on top. (1) ROSIES WAR BONDS is a little cheaper on paper but he was purchased by Yannick & Co.
and debuts tonight for our leading trainer...making him an automatic possibility. (2) PERFECT VIXEN hit board in
3 straight upon arrival from Stga. And hails from a hot barn – worth a look at that 8-1 ML price. (5) HAVEHORSWI
LTRVEL N has more than enough ability to beat these but he comes off a break last week and broke here on 12/21
as well– worth using if you think he’ll behave. (7) SKRILL won 4 of 5 after moving to Monti but will be class tested
tonight, from a brutal post. (8) B MEDITHREE would be a threat here under normal circumstances but he’s missed
a month off a distanced line. (6) BEERTHIRTY K is off 6 weeks and may need this start.
RACE 9 – (8) BRUTALLY HANDSOME A improved nicely in his 2nd U.S. start (Cory to Jordan) then was a sharp
(DH) winner in NJ last week – gets the worst draw for his local debut, but also catches a very soft field – deserves
top billing. (4) CAVIART ROCKLAND was off form to close out 2023 so perhaps the time off will help – license to
show up sharper tonight. (2) FOX VALLEY PATRIOT disappointed far more often than he delivered last year but he
does have a recent start and that could help his cause tonight – piece? (7) KERFORD ROAD A didn’t have a great
’23 and draws poorly tonight – still, may be able to beat a few of these in here). (1) HEEZ OURPERSEUS N is hard
to like off his last 2 starts but the rail draw may be enough to help him grab a minor check. (5) EDDARD
HANOVER was 0 for 16 here last year and not really clicking at the moment. (3) NOWHERE CREEK A beat
cheaper 3 back but was no threat at all in his last 2 Fhd. tries. (6) MAXIMUS RED A was just 1 for 31 here last year
and has been away for 6 weeks – good week to just observe.
RACE 10 – (5) ICE BREAKERS K should be tight off last week’s win upstate and he held his own in the 50s here
not too long ago – catches a vulnerable field in tonight’s finale and may be able to come out on top. (1) BLENHEIM
has beaten much better here in the past and most of his current lines are ok...it’s the 6-0-0-0 local record over the
past 2 years that is a cause for concern – would use on top only if the price is fair. (2) FULL RIGHTS picked up a
2nd in NJ 2 back then drew Post 10 last week – he’s not the most reliable trotter in the world but he should be able to
have a say tonight, in his current form. (3) THE LAST CHAPTER caught a very soft spot and romped on the lead
here on 12/15 – he’s been away ever since, so it’s hard to say how tight he’ll be coming out of the winter break (he
did have barnmate CREDARENA win earlier this week). (4) WINDSONG PIONEER is more than capable of
winning down at this level, but he’s been away for 6 weeks – perhaps the tote board can offer some clues? (7) BAR
ABOBBITT S was hammered at the windows in his 2nd local start but came up 2nd best – came up weak in his next
then broke at Fhd. before getting the job done last week – tough draw for his YR return. (8) LUCKY WEEKEND is
an infrequent winner that figures to have trouble overcoming tonight’s awful draw. (6) LOUS LANCELOT was just
29-1-1-5 last year and seems a bit overmatched in this spot.