RACE 1 - (3) CAPTAIN Q shipped down from Canada off a blowout win and brought that good form with
him, finishing a close 2nd behind the 2/5 ITS A ME MARIO last week - draws inside that rival tonight, and
will have every chance to reverse that decision. (6) ITS A ME MARIO showed plenty of promise in his
first few starts at 2 before his season was cut short in August - he returned ready at 3, wiring the field last
week (and holding off #3 in the process) - he did look a little green at times, so perhaps he'll be just a bit
vulnerable tonight, especially with the move outside. (4) SAULSBROOK BOOMER picked up a close 3rd
2 back then was 4th from Post 8 last week (behind the top pair) - could be next in line should either of them
falter tonight. (2) BEST BETTOR has been a "steady" player lately, picking up a series of small pieces -
more of the same tonight? (1) GETAWAY shows just 1 third from his 11 starts this year but the Ohio
shipper lands in a new barn, draws the pole with Holland and is eligible to improve. (5) DAVIDS IDEAL
arrives from Canada with an 0 for 32 career slate...we'll just watch, for now.
RACE 2 - (2) TWO FACED has hit board in all 9 starts this year (4 wins), doesn't seem to mind any trip
and last week, showed that he's fine pacing in a "fast" mile as well - unless #1 returns with a big mile off
the layoff, he's really supposed to be able to win here. (1) HUMAN COCKTAIL started his 2YO career at
Yonkers last year, was sent off at 1/2 in an Excelsior A race and came out on top - took another race in that
class then bumped up to the NYSS level, where he quickly picked up a win and a 3rd - his season did seem
to go the wrong way from there, however, and he went on the shelf after a disappointing try in the Excel A
Final on 9/12 - he raced for our leading trainer last year, and now returns for another very high % outfit to
begin his 3YO campaign - the qualifiers suggest he may be ready to roll right off the bat. (3) AMBITIOUS
BEACHBOY has developed into a solid performer at this level, and comes into tonight off a 2nd and a win
- we'll see if he's good enough right now to give the top pair a tussle. (4) HURRIKANE CHUCK started off
his 4YO campaign strong, had a couple of off weeks but has been solid again in his last few - may need to
find a little more if he hopes to beat the top ones, though. (5) COUNTER OFFER is 2 for 57 to start his
career and will need to prove he can hang with the locals.
RACE 3 - (3) MIKI ROSE has struggled a bit lately (vs. better) and her connections opt to drop the 4YO in
for the $50K tag - this is definitely an easier spot for her, and she seems the one to beat against these. (2)
HEY HET DBAY has had a solid season (so far) for a barn having a decent year - if she can step around the
rail horse, she may land herself a very nice trip...with a chance for a big chunk. (5) CHUPPAH ON was
never involved from Post 8 last week but recorded a trip of 2nds in her 3 prior starts - look for her to be
much more involved tonight from this much better post. (8) LIGHTNING LEIA raced as well as she could
last week (off a tough trip) and her overall recent form is strong - not sure if she'll be able to get in play
from all the way out here, but that 15-1 ML price makes her worth considering for exotics. (1) KATYS
DELIGHT got away 3rd from a similar spot last week and was able to tow along for the show spot - may be
looking at a similar scenario for tonight. (4) BOTTOMOFTHENINTH hasn't been able to win in 14 local
starts but she can pick up pieces with the right trip- ok to use for 3rd.4th. (6) PAIGES GIRL is winless on
the year and will be coming from well back tonight - maybe can rally for a minor share? (7) MAGICAL
MISTRESS draws Post 7 off a sick scratch - we'll likely just watch her, for now.
RACE 4 - Tough race: (4) KEYSTONE DASH started the year strong with a trio of 3rd place finishes, but
the move up to claimers (and some tough trips) have left him empty handed the past few starts - drops to an
easier spot, and this feels like a group where he can have more success (and his barn has started to really
perk up too). (1) ROSE RUN X CON hasn't been on his best game in some time but he drops, draws the
pole, and could easily be a big factor against this suspect crew. (5) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N was well
backed/well meant here 4 & 5 starts back but came up light at the end both times - he picked up a win in NJ
since then, but it's hard to gauge how he fits with these - possibility. (2) VIVA LAS VEGAS N had been
finishing strong against better not long ago, but was no factor in his last pair and is just 1 for 22 at YR -
worth a look IF the price is good enough. (3) AINTNOBETTOR A is just 1 for 33 locally over the last 2
years and hails from a low % barn...he did finish ok last week, and does get Gingras for tonight...maybe one
to include if spreading a bit? (6) LETTUCERIPRITA A is a beast in "straight 15s" but faces much tougher
tonight while dropping in for the optional tag - Bartlett opts off (for #5) and we will too. (7)
MOMENTSTHATMATTER seems unlikely to have much say from all the way out here.
RACE 5 - Sometimes this class comes up soft....but not the case here (lots of sharp mares, and possible
winners)! (3) COWGIRL LILLY took her first two starts for her current barn after arriving from Canada,
then was an excellent 8 hole 2nd last week behind the classy winner - the move into 50s makes sense, but
this is a much tougher field than her connections probably figured they'd find - she's very versatile, draws
well, and we'll give her the slightest of nods. (1) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX started to come out of her
rough patch 3 starts back, culmination with last week's sharp front end score - draws best for tonight, and is
an obvious threat to repeat. (7) CORAL BELLA blasts to the top every week, and that has yielded 2 wins,
three 2nds and 3rd from her last 6 starts- hard to NOT consider her at that 12-1 ML price. (2) LADY DELA
RENTA A is an enigma, always hinting at more than she usually delivers - at 20-1 ML, she's another worth
serious consideration. (8) LINE EM UP is yet another in razor sharp form, with 4 wins, 2 seconds and a 3rd
from her last 7 starts - she may be ignored from this spot....and that makes her worth using! (6) BETTER
WATCH IT goes a strong mile in this class every week - she has more stamina than sprint, and a hot pace
up front makes her chances go up considerably. (5) NUTTINBUTHEBEST has been sharp for weeks for
one of our top barns...and the fact that she's listed this far down is a great indicator of just how sharp most
of these are! (4) NORMANS MADELINE is listed on the bottom, but SHE just wired this class 2 starts
down - wouldn't be any real shock.
RACE 6 - (5) CYRUS N arrives from NZ showing a 4th in a Grade 1, $168K race in his last start (in Dec.)
- lands in a barn that knows how to handle these imports, and his qualifier suggests he'll be ready to go
right off the bat - we'll hop on board in his first stateside start. (4) RB is really on his game right now, and
comes into tonight off a pair of close 2nds and a win last week - would have been the top pick if not for the
newcomer. (2) SOUTHWIND BRONN hit board in 6 of 7 starts since joining his current barn, including a
game 2nd behind runaway LAYTON HANOVER last week - in line for another nice piece tonight. (3) HU
NTANOVER weakened in his local debut after cutting the mile but did rally nicely in his last, just missing
2nd - Bartlett opts for #5, but this guy should still go well for Stratton - small piece. (6) TWIN B JAMMER
feels pretty equal to both #2 and #3 but also figures to be at a disadvantage from Post 6. (1) OHARE HAN
OVER had some success racing here last year but has started of 2023 in Canada with a 10-0-0-2 slate.
RACE 7 - (1) MOONLIGHT SHADOW didn't click in his first couple of starts off the claim but raced
better than the line might look on 4/4, then was VERY good in his last, charging home from a tough spot -
gets top billing tonight with the move all the way inside (but he'll be a very short price)! (2) FOREVER
FAV is used to facing much better (and holding his own) - moves inside, and any half decent trip should
help him grab a big piece. (6) POINTOMYGRANSON hasn't raced much here in recent years but he's
gotten around Yonkers just fine in the past, and lands in a very strong barn upon arrival from Canada - he
may be able to use his speed here, and that would give him a shot to outperform that 15-1 ML price. (7)
SHAKESPEARE was really just road tested after drawing Post 8 upon arrival from Dover - gets another
poor draw for tonight, but he did look good finishing last time and Kakaley may be a little more aggressive
this time - another good value horse to try to get into the exotics. (4) SHADOW CAT just hasn't found his
best game so far in 2023 - he drops a bit, so do a couple of his main foes - probably looking at only a
smaller piece. (5) SHANWAY N picked up a couple of smaller checks in his 2 starts since returning from
the layoff - leaning towards others, but will at least peek at the tote board for some clues. (3) SOHO CHEL
SEA A probably needs a softer spot before we see his best.
RACE 8 - (3) SPORT SECRET was a talented 3YO, banking $200K - he's started off his 4YO season in
fine form for his new connections (going 2 for 2 at PcD) and now will try to take on older foes in his YR
debut - he gets Bartlett to bail off his best account (#4) and that seems like a significant vote of confidence -
we'll follow his lead. (4) SHINE A LIGHT raced well from no chance spots in his last couple and MAY
have been the choice here had Bartlett stayed on board - he still feels like he can have a big say here, now
for Buter. (6) KING JAMES EXPRESS was a big earner as a youngster but had the "4YO Blues" in 2022,
earning only $38K - he seems to be doing better this year at 5 (for a new barn), and should definitely
appreciate dropping out of the Open- if Gingras can find him a trip, he can be a player here. (1) THE REAL
ONE is still doing his thing at age 13, after already banking $1.5M for his career - the classy veteran can
stay close enough to grab a piece from this spot. (7) HEART OF DIXIE has been solid all year but now
takes on older foes and will have to do it from Post 7 - maybe he can rally late for a piece? (2) JUDDY
DOUGLAS A inexplicably refused to let DIAMONDBEACH go to the quarter last week, resulting in a
wild :54.3 half (his rival cleared eventually, and almost won; HE fell apart to 3/4s after taking on the
suicide mission) - hard to gauge his form right now, but he could do a lot better tonight with a kinder trip.
(5) JM DELIGHT drops, but may need to be in even a little easier before he's a serious threat0/ (8) ALEX
TYE threw a rare dud last week and now moves from the pole to Post 8 - prefer others.
RACE 9 - (4) DIAMONDBEACH (realistically) expected to take the lead from JUDDY DOUGLAS A last
week but was deliberately left out by that one and forced to pace his 2nd quarter in an insane :27 just to
make the lead - kept rolling from there and did super to actually still be a close 3rd at the wire - deserves a
chance to make amends tonight...hopefully with a MUCH easier trip! (1) STATE SENATOR is really
clicking for his new barn right now - takes a big class jump here, but the rail draw may help him still be a
big part of this. (5) NOME HANOVER seemed like a risky claim for $40K on 1/7 but he raced well twice
for his new connections before taking a couple of months off - like so many from this barn, he delivered a
blowout qualifier to be prep for this, and a big effort is expected...but this guy is 0 for 12 here at YR, and
that's a concern. (2) BRAEVIEW BONDI A seemed to be back on a good trajectory before throwing a bit
of a dull one last week - hard to know which version we'll see tonight. (3) CHANTEE has been doing well
just towing along and then finishing well for good pieces - may be able to do the same tonight. Both (7)
FAMILY RECIPE and (8) FEELIN WESTERN are good fits here, but the bad posts figure to limit both of
them tonight. (6) SAN DOMINO A hasn't looked all that great in his 2 starts since arriving from Ohio -
tough draw, and we're leaning elsewhere.