RACE 1 – (1) SPEED MAN N gave it a strong try off the winter break, used hard early then full of pace late,
coming up 2nd best to the sharp winner – he’s the one to catch and beat tonight, though he’ll probably be heavily
backed. (5) JAHAN HANOVER wasn’t sharp off the layoff, but should be tighter now and definitely is in easier –
would be no surprise at all for our leading trainer/driver tandem (7) PRICELESS BEACH was driven conservatively
as the 3/5 choice last week but the trip worked out, and he was able to deliver for a barn off to a very hot start – he’s
classy enough to win from out here, but make sure to get a decent price if using on top. (3) KINGSVILLE comes off
a strong 8 win, $130K season but he’s been away for 6 weeks and may need a start before we see his best effort. (6)
WICHITA LINEMAN had a useful start off the hiatus, rallying steadily for 4th – would have liked his chances a lot
more tonight with a better draw. (2) VENIER HANOVER is capable of big miles at any time but he really didn’t
look good last week, and is a tough take right now. (8) ALTA CLASSIC A was very good last week but faces an
uphill battle starting from Post 8 in this solid field.
RACE 2 – (5) BRONZE OVER N was well backed in her last and able to prevail, despite tiring a bit near the end
(after being used hard early on) – definitely a license to make it 2 in a row in this spot. (4) PLEASURE SEEKER
was in a no chance spot last week and probably deserves a pass – she has several good tries at this level, and is
worth a look if the price is fair. (2) FEELIN RED HOT is always a threat to run and hide at this level but she faltered
in her last 4 starts of the year, and hasn’t raced since 12/19 – certainly feels vulnerable. (1) SUNSET SOPH seemed
a bit cheap coming into her last start but really wasn’t bad – draws the pole with Bartlett, and really would be no
great surprise...if the trip goes her way. (3) PRAY THE ROSARY hasn’t threatened in weeks – hard to back. (6)
DREAM DANCING, like most of barnmates, was well short in her seasonal debut – bad draw for tonight.
RACE 3 – (4) ISHOTTHESHERIFF GB qualified sharply for his U.S. and delivered as the odds-on choice, kicking
home in :28 with Beckwith fairly motionless in the bike – we’ll stick with him once more. (3) TRAIN STATION
hasn’t been able to really elevate his game too much since the barn change and came up 2nd best to the top choice
last week – may complete the (short) exacta once more. (1) FORWARD LOOK shows a pair of very nice qualifiers
for a barn that can definitely have one ready – the 27 days off since that last prep could be a concern, however –
maybe the tote board will offer some guidance? (5) OLYMPIC BLAZE was putting in a nice bid last week when he
was derailed by broken equipment (hopple?) – it’s possible that he can be a player tonight if the trip works out. (2)
HELSINKI seemed to appreciate the time off from August to December and his last start (at Fhd.) was his best –
we’ll see if he’s ready to hold his own with the top ones in here. (6) COALFORD BET ALINE doesn’t win very
often but usually races ok, and does finish well – chance to land on the bottom of the ticket. (7) VALENTINE
HUNTER seems overmatched, especially from out here.
RACE 4 – (4) KARLOO BRADLEY N gets some much needed class relief, hails from a hot barn and figures to be
much more aggressively handled tonight – good week to give him a shot. (1) ANOTHERSTATEMENT A might
have been a player last week if not wiped out on the final turn – draws best in a field with some question marks, and
that may help his chances to land somewhere on the ticket. (3) VINTAGE CHEDDAR N has done some good work
out of town vs. quality stock and might have been given more consideration for the top spot if not for the 30 days off
(sick scratch) – would need a pretty good price to try him on top here. (2) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK was good for
a decent stretch last year, helping grab 6 wins and $140K – that qualifier (after 2 months off) doesn’t look inspiring,
however. (5) IM A POWERPLAY A has picked up his game since the recent barn change but tired on the lead last
week and will likely be looking at a more conservative approach tonight – maybe some minor spoils? (6) SOUTHB
EACH HANOVER has been away 6 weeks, draws poorly, and may need a start– just observing here. (7) MIGHTY
SANTANA N picked up 2nds at BIG prices in his last 2 local starts but lands in a very tough spot tonight.
RACE 5 – Good race: (3) GOLDEN QUEST N had a useful tightener last week after the winter break, finishing
solidly off a conservative trip – she was 1st or 2nd 18X last year, and could offer some decent value tonight in a race
with several possibilities. (5) GET ANSWERS seemed overbet last week but she gave it a big try to be 2
nd from Post 7 – deserves plenty of respect off that mile. (6) LINE EM UP has been a steady player at this level and stayed sharp
racing in Ohio over the break – draws outside a few main foes, but worth a look if the price is right. (2) TERACITA
was a beat at the end of the year after dropping down to 20s but her return try (at this $50K level) was just “ok” –
she can win this for sure, but also figures to be overbet (just based on her connections). (8) BETTERB CHEVRON
N was one of several from her barn to come up short on opening week, but she actually did better than many of the
others – could be tighter now, but will also have to deal with Post 8. (4) WOODMERE HARRIET was scr. sick from
her last and has missed a month – prefer others tonight. (7) PURAMERI never got involved at all in her first start of
the year and lands a terrible post for tonight – sticking with others. (1) CORAL BELLA was struggling to end 2023
and her ’24 return didn’t look any better.
RACE 6 – (2) PINK RUBY shipped in razor sharp and made her Yonkers debut a winning one, continuing to grind
first over until finally wearing down the leader near the wire – she steps up slightly here, but remains a dangerous
threat, seeking her 6th win in 7 starts. (5) ALWAYS B MIMI was well backed off the layoff as she dropped from 50s
to 25s for our leading barn – she just didn’t fire that night, but that doesn’t mean she won’t bring her best for her
new barn tonight – worth considering. (4) LOOKATMYART kept battling last week and was eventually able to take
over 2nd behind the runaway winner – if she can build off that just a bit, she can be a legitimate threat tonight. (1) LA
RJON LEAH did a nice job rallying late for 3rd last week and her barn has been very hot both at the end of ’23 and
to start off ’24 – playable in exotics. (3) MEADOWBROOK JENNY was outkicked by the top three finishers after
sitting the two hole trip last week – needs to find a little more if she hopes to be a bigger player. (6) PARADISE RO
CK L couldn’t hold off the top choice last week in her first start back from the winter break – she was claimed from
our leading barn by a trainer that’s struggled lately, and that has us looking at others. (7) FLIP THE SCRIPT lands
outside after failing to get involved from a similar spot last week.
RACE 7 – (2) WINDSUN MOJITO raced very well in her first local start, outperforming her 18-1 odds to be a solid
first over 3rd – she won her next (in NJ), then was used just a little too hard in her last – worth a look here, assuming
the price is fair. (3) GOLDEN LEADER finished full of pace from an impossible spot in her local debut, for a barn
that has been sending out very live players – her pilot has struggled to win races here at The Hilltop, but maybe this
mare can get the job done. (4) TUAPEKA JESSIE N came up flat in the final 1/16th last week but that was after
being used hard from Post 8, off the winter break – would obviously be no surprise at all from this spot. (1) AINTN
OHOLLABACKGRL squandered a beautiful trip last week, one of several from the barn to be well short in their
first starts of the year – she’s capable of better, and can be right in the hunt IF she brings her best tonight. (5) BROO
KDALE JESSIE came close to breaking her very long losing streak last week – always a chance she can rally for a
minor share. (7) HARMONY OF NOTES appreciated the easy trip last week and finished with good pace for 3rd-
very tough spot tonight, but that 20-1 ML price makes her worth considering for 3rd/4th. (6) ROLL WITH SHORTY
came up terrible after a two hole trip last week – would like to see a good one before jumping back on her team.
RACE 8 – (1) LOUS SWEETREVENGE had trouble gaining on the rim to 3/4s last week but did keep trying hard
and did well to end up 3rd (behind a pair that would be the prohibitive favorite, and 2nd choice in here) – he faces
much easier tonight, draws inside with Gingras back on board and will be tough to knock off...IF he brings his best.
(2) OCEAN RIDGE N couldn’t sustain his first over bid last week but he’s a hard hitter and could grab a better piece
tonight with a kinder trip. (4) PHOENIX OF FLUZZY weakened a bit after a two hole trip last time and he loses
Gingras tonight – still, he’s eligible to be tighter and may be able to pick up a decent share. (3) BILL HALEY N
trailed in 6th all the way last week, as most of his barnmates were a bit short as well – could be tighter now, and may
be able to tow along for a better piece. (6) BRAEVIEW BONDI A hit the wire decently last week despite the bad
date – he could be even tighter now, but he also seems to need to be in easier to show his best stuff (and he drops a
win off the bottom of the card after tonight). (5) STRIKING IMPACT returned ready and was able to score out of
the pocket vs. easier last week – he exits our leading barn, and may have a bit tougher time tonight/ (7) ORLANDO
BLUE A draws worst off a pair of qualifiers – good week to just observe.
RACE 9 – (2) ALL ALONG ships in sharp from NJ/PA and he’s gone good miles here at Yonkers in the past – he
has a significant post edge over his main foe, and that gives him top billing. (7) VICI is 3-2-1-0 here at YR and hard
to fault – he was an easy winner adding Lasix last week, but he faces a bit more uncertain trip as he moves from the
pole to Post 7 for tonight – still has to be respected! (6) CAPTAIN MAX HENRY gave it a good speed try in NJ
when 3rd off the barn change then won both of his local starts after that – he faces tougher tonight, and will have to
overcome both a bad post, and the 6 weeks off. (1) HUNTING ZONE has been away since 12/19 and he’s another
that could be at a disadvantage tonight – chance for a minor share IF he’s ready to roll. (3) FADE TO LIGHT had 3
good starts after a recent barn change but came up short in his last (off the bad date) – chance for a small piece
tonight with that start under his belt. (4) FULL HORSE shows some good Canadian form but came up with a dull
try at The Swamp after shipping down to a new barn – maybe the tote board will offer some clues? Both (5) PINE
BUSH ITALIANO and (8) GDS THUNDER GB seem like they may need to be in a bit easier.
RACE 10 – (3) HEMSWORTH N was way overbet last week and found himself too far back to be a serious threat –
he DID charge home full of pace, however, and he may be ready to do a lot more damage tonight with the move
inside. (2) FUNATTHEBEACH N methodically buried a much easier field last week but the classy 10YO may be
feeling pretty good about himself after that win – willing to give him a shot here IF the price is decent enough. (4)
CRANBOURNE N is a better horse than his 7-1-2-0 record here last year suggested and we got to see a glimpse of
that last week when he was a very sharp front end winner despite 5 weeks off – has to be respected even in this
tougher spot. (1) BOILING OAR was a little disappointing last week despite finishing 2nd (he was clearly tiring
badly near the wire) – needs to bring a sharper effort if he hopes to take advantage of the draw here. (6) SEMI TOU
GH seemed to be in a winning spot last week and did race very well....but his effort just wasn’t enough to knock off
a razor sharp CRANBOURNE N – it’ll be even tougher tonight from Post 6. (7) SHINE A LIGHT was actually
VERY good off the hiatus last week but tonight’s draw may be tough to overcome. (5) BLANK STARE was a solid 3rd last
time and is only listed on the bottom because this field is so solid.
RACE 11 – (1) MC ANGEL finished 2023 finishing right behind SALE EL SOL several times then started off 2024
the exact same way – she finally gets to duck that foe tonight and while she meets other very legitimate mares,
maybe she can find a way to come out on top. (4) SHEIKH YABOOTY N was picked up by the Super Siblings in
December and had delivered a pair of blowout wins since then – she faces tougher here, but is sharp enough for a
chance to pull it off. (3) SUGAR BRITCHES ended the year going 7-5-1-1, showing the ability to win with any type
of trip – she hails from our leading barn, and has to be feared even with the 6 weeks off. (5) SOUTHWIND JAVA
usually doesn’t do her best racing here at Yonkers but she was a good looking winner here on Opening Week – still
leaning a bit more to the top three, but a repeat of last week’s effort could put her in the hunt as well. (7) LOVE TH
AT SMILE gapped on the final turn last week, only able to rally in the lane for 3rd – tonight’s tough post figures to
limit here even more. (6) SHOTGUN PERSUASION looked short in her return from the winter break – could be
tighter here, but she also draws outside all the main players. (2) VIBRANCE was no threat at all on her local debut
and hard to endorse at the moment. (8) PURE SILKY was dull in her seasonal return and Post 8 won’t help her
chances for tonight.