RACE 1 – (2) LINE EM UP moved inside last week and ALMOST was able to take ‘em wire to wire (she got
nailed right near the end)– looking at another good trip tonight and may be able to get it done this time. (7) TYRA
MAKES BANK had a useful tightener on 1/21 and raced ok for 4th vs. much better last week – obviously not an
ideal starting spot, but Gingras can certainly get one to fly off the gate...could be a threat if the trip ends up
reasonable. (4) THUN DRA tends to be camera shy but she’s a good fit in this class and may be able to be a late
threat if things go her way. (1) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL is a complete “in-and-outer” – she threw a dud last week
(off the sick scratch), but that doesn’t mean she won’t fire a much better effort tonight. (3) DANDYS SHOWTIME
won her last, largely because she had things all her own way in a much weaker field– figures to end up overbet
against this much better group. (5) JILLIAN JIGGS has her moments and did pull off a 30-1 upset 2 back – not a
bad one for longshot fans. (6) TERAC ITA has been away since 10/1 and the guess is that she’ll need a start or two.
(8) TUAPEKA JESSIE N has struggled for a long time and now has to contend with Post 8.
RACE 2 – (3) GENIUS MAN possesses some back class and he certainly was able to find some of it in his last 2
starts at The Swamp, delivering a pair of sharp victories (including a very impressive lifetime best 1:50.4 score on
1/18) – he’ll be very tough in his Hilltop return if anywhere near as good tonight. (1) MOONLIGHT SHADOW
regressed significantly after being claimed back in October but he feels like he may be coming back around – he was
ok finishing last week, and may be able to build off that mile starting from the pole tonight. (7) DIAMONDBEACH
remains ever unpredictable but he reunites with Bartlett and the pair teamed up for a lifetime best 1:51.1 blowout 2
back (in NJ) – would consider IF the price is right. (2) KOUNT BLASTER likely needed that last start and gets
some post relief for his 2nd start of 2025 – may be able to have a bigger say this week. (5) SIP OF BOURBON failed
to get in play last week but he’s picked up some pieces since arriving here last fall and may be able to grab some
minor spoils tonight, as well. (8) PRINCE OF TIDES just missed (at 1/5) last week and now gets stuck all the way
outside after being claimed that night – still leaning towards others, but can definitely see him outperforming that
20-1 ML price. (4) PRETTY HANDSOME wasn’t sharp in his ‘25 return – waiting for better signs before endorsing
(6) SAILBOAT HANOVER ended the year on a bad note and his qualifier was less than stellar.
RACE 3 – (4) KOOTENAY SANTANNA feels a little risky as he drops down a notch off a weak try at Dover – but
he’s also returning to the hot barn that he was thriving for (here at Yonkers) at the end of the year, and will be tough
with anything close to his best effort. (5) BETTORBUCKLEUP reversed form with that sharp win here to close out
2024, and his 2025 return try was definitely promising (finished solidly from an impossible spot) – could be a live
player at a decent price. (8) RECORD YEAR looked very good winning here on 1/22...making last week’s poor
effort all the more surprising – he was claimed from that start and while he gets a horrible draw for tonight, he’s still
worth using...IF the price is fair. (6) OSTRO HANOVER usually hurts his chances by lagging early but if things get
testy enough up front, he may have a shot to make some late noise...at a big price. (1) ROSE RUN X CON was
winless in 2024 but only took 2 starts to get his picture taken in ’25 (even if helped greatly by a perfect trip in a “fall
apart” race0 – not looking for him to repeat, but willing to include underneath/ (3) EL LE TISSIER N could be a
player here on his best effort but his last few in NJ leave a lot to be desired – would need a pretty good price to try
him on top upon arrival. (2) WAR DAN DELIGHT N was just 1 for 39 last year – minor spoils only. (7) ST LADS
BEAT IT draws poorly after a no-factor try last week – wait for a better spot to consider.
RACE 4 – (8) KERFORD ROAD A was claimed for $30K last May but immediately started to fall apart, going on
the shelf in July – he finally resurfaced in a qualifier last week, and his effort looks like it might be good enough to
make him a player tonight (dropping to 15s), even from out here. (3) ROCK THIS WAY can be counted on for a
good late rally almost every start – if he’s anywhere close turning for home, he can be a big threat here. (7) B COOL
FOOL battled hard last week but just couldn’t sustain his bid through the stretch – he’s been very solid at this level,
and could rebound quickly...worth using if the price is fair. (4) HECANDANCENCRUISE overcame an early break
(uncharted) to win 2 back, but came up terrible last week – hard to know which version we’ll see tonight, making
him a serious question mark! (6) THE WILL TO PLAY was even 5th here on 1/22 (racing off a bad date) but then
was scratched sick last week – leaning elsewhere. (1) DEEDENUTO will likely use his speed from the pole but his
10-0-0-1 local slate is hard to overlook. (2) HURRIKANE GEORGIE went winless in 2024 and hasn’t shown much
in a couple of 2025 starts. (5) YOUR BROTHER was scratched on 1/22, and hasn’t started since 12/29 – prefer to
just observe this week.
RACE 5 – Good race: (5) FULL SCALE seemed to be tailing right at the end of last year but he’s come back strong
after the winter break, picking up a 2nd and a 3rd – his price will come down a bit tonight (50-1 and 20-1 last two
starts), but he should still go off at decent odds – one of several with a chance in here. (1) LUCKY MUM N still
hasn’t hit that “top form” she was showing Down Under, but it’s hard to fault her 7-5-2-0 local slate – has to be
feared starting from the pole tonight. (4) IM AN ANDOVER had been doing excellent work since the recent barn
change but never got into the hunt in his last pair (8 holes) – moves inside, and could have a much bigger impact
tonight. (6) KOVU AS was a winner here on 12/18, raced ok in NJ during our winter hiatus then returned to take
another here on 1/22 – faces better from a tough post, but too sharp to just ignore right now. (3) HANKINS HANOV
ER shipped in sharp from NJ but was unable to make it hold up on the front end last week – too soon to write him
off, and he could easily bounce back with a sharper try. (8) NOTTINGHAM put it all together in his 2nd start of the
season, delivering a sharp first over score – he’s likely looking at a much tougher trip tonight, however, starting from
Post 8. (2) WHEELZABLAZIN broke in his first local try but stayed trotting last week and held on for 2nd after
getting run down by the sharp winner – moves up in class tonight, and we’ll see how he handles it. (7) ENERGY KI
NG likely needs a much better post to be a serious player against these types.
RACE 6 – (4) MIKILOB ULTRA is just 1 for 13 at Yonkers but has raced well in a bunch of her starts (and usually
at big prices) – she usually finishes with pace, and MAY have a chance to upset these if the contenders to her inside
can duke it out a bit in front of her. (1) BEANTOWN BABE moves to her 3rd (sharp) barn in 3 weeks, picking up a
nose win and a 2nd in her last 2 starts – she remains the one to knock off, but it would be hard to say that she “stands
out” over the other main players. (2) PLEASURE SEEKER was much closer in her 2nd start of the season, and did
visit the winner’s circle 8X last year – a good price makes her worth using from this inside spot. (3) IRON MISTRE
SS was solid to close out 2024 and has returned just as sharp, a winner last week after a tough trip 4th the week
before – another that would be no surprise tonight. (8) SHOOTING BROOKE was handled aggressively by Bartlett
last week in her local debut but she broke on the first turn, pacing evenly in the back after recovering – she’ll go
back to her usual pilot tonight (also her trainer), but faces a very tall task starting from Post 8 – decent bomb for 3rd
or 4th, hoping for some trip luck at a big price. (7) WHATINEEDISAMAN can throw some good miles, but hasn’t
been sharp (so far) to start off 2025. (6) EXOTIC DRAGON was a close 3rd in her local debut but like a few others
from her barn, just wasn’t very good last week – tough draw tonight, even if back on her better game. (5) SHEIKH
YABOOTY N has thrown too many clunkers the past few months to ever back with any confidence.
RACE 7 – (2) EMBRACE THE FUTURE was sent off at 2/5 for her local debut and was the easiest of winners –
meets nothing too scary in here, and looms a very short priced favorite once more. (1) MEETMEATTHEBAR held
her own in some smaller stakes last year and raced well in most of her Yonkers starts – a little short in her qualifier,
but may be tight enough after that to be part of the action tonight. (5) IDEAL PACK tailed dramatically last Sept.
and ended up on the shelf after a few rough outings – she was freshened up, and her qualifier suggests she may be
able to come up with a competitive effort tonight – chance to add some value to the exotics. (3) THE THING IS
(hopples back off tonight) tends to lag early on, but can finish ok – playable underneath. (4) FAST APPROACH put
in a decent recovery last week (after an early miscue) but he’s struggled overall in his local starts and figures to be
overbet tonight. (8) PARTY AT SEVEN fits ok with the locals but probably will need a much better draw to be any
kind of serious player. (6) BAR KEEP DE VIE missed ALL of 2024 and his 2 recent qualifiers suggest he may need
a start or two before we see his best. (7) JEANNIES ACTION would be a surprise from out here.
RACE 8 – (4) J M MANDAMIN shrugged off that rare disappointing try in NJ (two back) with his usual sharp
effort last week, even if 2nd best to a VERY sharp winner – good spot for him to get back to the winner’s circle. (1)
JUSTASEC N has come back solid off the winter break, is looking at another good trip, and has a solid chance to
land somewhere on the ticket. (8) TWO FACED did blast from Post 8 two back (in his first start off the layoff) and
was a close up 4th – if Marohn can hustle him away to another fast start tonight, he’d have a chance to make his
presence felt...at a good price. (3) BILL HALEY N remains ever inconsistent, making a break last week after just
missing the start before – possible, but make sure to get a decent price if trying him on top. (2) BECHERS BROOK
A has been just “ok” recently – he gets a good draw for a new barn, but a few others just look more appealing for the
top slot. (7) JD CAMDEN GB ships in for top connections but may be in a little steep, especially with the bad draw.
(5) SCRIBBLERS won in this class last week, but vs. a much easier field – not sure he can have that same success
tonight. (6) LOUS THE ATITUDE makes \his 2nd start of the year and it’s a bad sign that Bartlett opts for #4.
RACE 9 – (4) SHAKE IT hinted that he may be ready to turn things around 2 back, took some $$ last week and
responded to aggressive handling with a sharp pocket score – may be able to make it 2 in a row. (2) ITALIAN DELI
GHT N was a mind boggling 25-18-5-2 here last year so it was a little shocking to see him fold badly in his seasonal
return...the classy 12YO was able to bounce right back, though, and delivered a hard-fought victory last week...can
never count him out. (6) GINGER TREE PETE was hammered down to 4/5 last week, made the top, and battled
right to the wire before coming up 2nd best to #2 – would be hard NOT to at least consider him at that 12-1 ML price
tonight. (5) SNOUZE U LOUZE picked up a pair of decent 3rds in his last 2 starts and remains a player tonight –
needs to find just a bit more, though. (3) IM J BEE N hadn’t been any good for a long time but was hammered down
to favoritism 2 back and sure enough, was able to deliver the victory – couldn’t match that performance last week,
however, tiring badly after working out a trip from Post 8...very hard to predict right now. (1) QUICK SNAP raced
“ok” in his 2 local tries and would have a chance for a small piece here with an easy trip. (8) BEN SOLO has speed
(and usually a good move) but his stamina is usually a question mark – maybe 3rd/4th? (7) THREE GRAND figures
to be at a serious disadvantage with no starts since 12/18.
RACE 10 – (7) FINITE has been rock solid in NJ, gets Yannick for his local debut and we’ll try him on top, despite
the bad draw. (1) MUSICAL RIDE failed to retake from a 40-1 shot last week and that probably cost him a chance
for an even better finish – should be able to be a player tonight from start to finish. (3) CHIPPER DALE was sent off
at 1/2 last week but was just an “ok” winner despite what turned into a perfect trip – he’d surely be no surprise here,
but that 9/5 ML price is a turnoff. (2) CHASING CRYSTALS has a couple of decent local efforts, including last
week – he’ll be a good price, and may be able to add some juice to the exotics. (6) VOSS BLUE CHIP has ability,
has raced here in the past and even beat out the top choice by a nose on 12/27 (in NJ) – tough draw off a sick
scratch, however. (5) NAUTILUS B finished up poorly last week but was racing off a bad date – we’ll see if he can
turn in a better one tonight. (4) PAPA JOE LOZITO has been idle since 12/20 – good week to just observe. (8) KEL
LYS GREATEST has just one start since 12/20 and lands Post 8 for her first local try of the year.
RACE 11 – (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR got a big wake up call when he won his final start of 2024 – he’s come
back sharp to start the new year, rallying well late from difficult spots in his first 2 starts...he may have found a
winning spot here. (5) TREY ROCKETTE got very rough on the final turn last week but then paced home nicely
once smoothed out into the homestretch – could be a threat tonight with a cleaner mile. (4) LUCIANO N finished up
ok last start after shaking free of traffic – candidate for a minor share. (2) MIKEY CAMDEN was no factor last
week but gets a better draw now with a license to show some improvement. (7) REAL LUCKY N rallied for 3rd last
week but it’s a bit deceptive as many of the others were tired, and the final quarter was :31 seconds – may not be
able to replicate that effort here. (8) VALENTINO OF LEDA may try to leave from Post 8 but his issue is usually
finishing poorly...hard to see him lasting at the end, even with a quick start. (1) MASTER MIKI lands the pole but
with no starts since 12/29, it may not be enough to make him a player. (6) Y S BETTORS LEGACY moves up in
class while shipping in off a dismal try.