RACE 1 – Good opener! (2) GREG THE LEG hasn’t been at his “best” in his 2 starts this year but it’s not like he’s
been “bad” – he was 1st or 2nd an incredible 22X last year, and just may be the one to trip out in this wide open affair
– one of several with a legitimate chance in here. (1) GROOVY JOE gets a pass for weakening a bit after a first over
try in last week’s Open and could be looking at a kinder trip for tonight – more than sharp enough to take this if
things go his way. (4) ROLLING WITH SAM is moving up in class and likely to be ignored here but he’s in top
form right now and IF things get testy enough up front, he’ll have a chance to make some noise...at a nice price. (3)
POINTOMYGRANSON comes off a mile that’s almost impossible to believe, but that was in an easier spot and for
a different barn – there’s no doubt he COULD repeat with that same effort, but he won’t offer much wagering value
as the ML favorite tonight. (6) CRANBOURNE N has shown Open-type ability at times – he starts from a very
tough spot, but is another that can be there at a big price IF things go his way. (8) WHATS STANLEY GOT A
shows much more good than bad lately but was a bit dull in his last, and has to contend with Post 8 tonight. (5)
OCEAN RIDGE N won an incredible 17 starts last year and only took 2 tries to get into the win column in ’24 –
faces tougher now, however. (7) CERTIFIABLE comes off an outstanding $195K season but hasn’t started since
11/27.
RACE 2 – “Stake Your Claim” Series: (2) AS ALWAYS shipped in sharp from The Swamp and jogged vs. a bit
easier 2 back (with the place horse coming right back to win himself) – he got nipped at this level last week (at
1/10!) but the winner is a classy horse that can be a handful when sharp– gets a chance to make amends in this fairly
soft division. (3) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES is a beast in 30s and while this is a $40K field, most are “pretenders”
– very legitimate threat. (5) KOOTENAY SNATANNA rallied very nicely in his last pair – if he’s within striking
distance when they turn for home, he could be right there on the wire tonight. (1) REIGNING DEO ships in sharp
from Monti for a top barn but will be facing much tougher now – he was unreliable in 2023, and does figure to get
overbet tonight. (4) SWEET TROY is good right now but may be a bit ambitiously placed for $40K – small piece?
(6) STATEMENT MADE A hasn’t been “sharp” in a long time – the poor draw doesn’t help. (7) RANDOM HANO
VER was dismal here in ’23 and lands all the way outside returning from NJ.
RACE 3 - “Stake Your Claim” Series: (3) THRASHER is feeling good these days and should appreciate the post
relief – faces a few sharp ones in here, but he still deserves top billing. (6) FULL SUPPORT changed tactics in his
last pair and was a different horse, winning easily both times (after being allowed to relax early on) – much tougher
scenario tonight (up in class, bad post, new barn & driver), but still worth a look at the right price. (2) JUST ENUFF
STUFF has been VERY sharp, albeit vs. easier – has to be considered a legitimate threat even against these tougher
foes, but note that the normally (very) high % barn is currently 0 for 17 since a suspension necessitated a new listed
trainer. (5) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER hasn’t won in quite a while but he continues to race well in 40s in many of his
starts – very playable in exotics. (1) HEART ON MY SLEEVE did win in this class not too long ago but really does
his best work vs. a bit easier – willing to include underneath. (4) URIEL BLUE CHIP does try hard but he REALLY
struggles to get around Yonkers and seems very vulnerable at that 5/2 ML price. (7) ALEX TYE was 3
rd in his last pair but failed to finish well enough each time, and now lands all the way outside.
RACE 4 - “Stake Your Claim” Series: (2) SAILBOAT HANOVER is getting the tepid vote here – he really
disappointed off the claim last week, but the blazing clip just may have been too much for him – deserves a chance
to bounce right back in this much easier spot, though there won’t be much of a price. (5) DON DOMINGO N clearly
has some physical issues but that didn’t stop his previous barn from RE-claiming him for $10K more than they lost
him for – the classy 12YO is one to fear! (3) BALLERAT BOOMERANG may not be on his “best” game right now
but he’s enjoyed a ton of success vs. these types and is eligible to find a big one at any time. (4) EMINEM HANOV
ER is a dismal 13-0-0-1 here at Yonkers but he does get a switch to Kakaley, and did win in NJ 3 starts down – ok
bomb to consider. (1) MACH N CHEESE hasn’t really been clicking (or even LOOKING too good) lately – goes
back to a previous barn, and we’ll see if that can help him perk up. (6) WAR DAN DELIGHT rarely wins (and
hasn’t won in a long time) – would need things to really fall apart for a chance to be a threat. (7) LONG WEEKEND
has also been camera shy here at YR, and lands all the way outside.
RACE 5 – (2) QUALITY BUD was hard to read off his qualifier but he was absolutely flying late in his first start
back, after sitting well out of it most of the way– Holland figures to be more aggressive tonight...and this guy seems
ready for it. (8) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK came up a little short last week in a race he surely needed – has the
speed to blast even from out here, and the class to handle much tougher– could be a bigger threat now. (1) VULCAN
STAR N really disappointed last start but it’s possible that he disliked the off going – he’s much better than that, and
a wake up call is definitely possible. (7) LOUS BEACH was outgamed late in his last pair but vs. some very solid
foes – he definitely fits, but Post 7 will leave him hoping for some trip luck – still, a good value horse for exotics. (5)
BIG SIR seemed overbet last week but he hit the top and never looked back vs. easier – not sure he can have the
same success against these. (6) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N was a winner off the barn change 4 back but then
showed little in his last 3 starts – tough post here, and that has us leaning towards others. (4) ROCKAPELO makes
his first start in 5 months and the guess is that he’ll need a race or two – check the tote board, though. (3) IMSTAYN
ALIVE has really been struggling and returns tonight off a sick scratch – waiting for some better signs before using.
RACE 6 – Tough race: (4) DEETZY has a couple of tighteners under his belt and wasn’t bad in either of them –
catches a well matched field tonight, but he did win 11 races last year and figures to be a good price for a barn that’s
heating up – one of several possibilities. (3) BUDDY HILL moves up in class but comes off a well earned victory
last week – wouldn’t be shocked if he was able to repeat (with a good trip). (1) PRICELESS BEACH looked super
in that win at Chester on 12/1 but was subsequently disqualified (for an illegal bleeding medication) – no real chance
in his last pair but we can assume he’ll be aggressively handled tonight – possibility. (5) NIGHT HAWK was a big
earner as a youngster but comes off a highly disappointing, winless 4YO campaign – his qualifier was sharp, though,
and he has the talent to turn things around in ’24 – would consider at the right price. (7) HIMSELF N has a terrific
Down Under resume, winning 14 races (for $229k) and recently competing in top events – check the tote board for
clues as to his readiness for his U.S. debut. (2) BENHOPE RULZ N has been solid lately but does seem to do his
best work with a little easier – the right trip could land him a piece of this. (8) JAHAN HANOVER hasn’t been at
his best to start the new year – Post 8 isn’t going to help. (6) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A double jumps after a
“meh” performance vs. much easier.
RACE 7 - “Stake Your Claim” Series: (4) SETH HANOVER doesn’t get his picture taken very often but he does
race “well” in many/most of his starts – he catches a pretty iffy group tonight, and may be able to get it done for a
red hot barn. (6) OSTRO HANOVER was able to prevail over the top choice 2 back, then simply had no prayer last
week – would really be no surprise if he was able to win here too, though the draw could make things more difficult.
(5) SAN DOMINGO A really isn’t overly sharp right now but he’ll likely be handled aggressively for his top shelf
connections and that at least gives him a chance – don’t take too short a price, though. (2) MICKY GEE N has
disappointed far more often than he’s delivered lately but his barn is heating up, and this is the type of spot where his
late rally MAY come into play if things get hotly contested up top. (1) PRETTY HANDSOME has only one recent
win and it was vs. much cheaper – still, the rail draw puts him in play for at least a piece. (3) MAXIMUS RED A
was 1 for 31 last year and has lost repeatedly to much easier – hard to consider for more than minor spoils. (8) GOT
HIC ROCK hails from a hot barn and has won at this level before – the draw seems like a massive obstacle for
tonight, though. (7) KOUNT BLASTER has gone some solid miles here but is another that is post compromised.
RACE 8 – Good race! (5) STRIKING IMPACT wasn’t effective off the claim last week but he was also facing
tougher – he may benefit from a contested pace tonight, with a chance to use his typically strong finish to cash in
late. (8) RJ SPORTS IMAGE loses Bartlett and lands Post 8 but he can leave with the car and may be able to just
loop the other leavers – way too sharp to leave off your tickets, even from out here. (3) FULSOME was overbet last
week but he went right to the top and safely wired ‘em – depending on tonight’s trip, he’s more than sharp enough to
repeat. (2) WORLD FOR TWO is jumping in class for another new barn but is hitting on all cylinders at the moment
– we’ll see if he can be as effective against these tougher foes. (6) SHAKESPEARE disappointed off the claim last
week but does move back to his favorite barn for tonight – the draw makes his trip somewhat unpredictable, though.
(1) TWIN B DELUXE landed on a beautiful trip last week but was still oufinished – will need to be better to grab a
better slice tonight. (7) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK came up with a better effort when 3rd last start but the draw may
limit him this week. (4) COALFORD BET ALINE seems ambitiously placed, to put it mildly.
RACE 9 – (1) NANDOLO N shows a pair of qualifiers across the river that suggest he’ll be ready to roll – he won’t
have the services of Mr. Bartlett tonight, but Mrs. Tritton has won with him in the past...and may be able to do so
again tonight. (3) FUNATTHEBEACH N has probably lost a bit off his fastball and can’t “bring it” reliably on a
weekly basis anymore – he can still go some big miles when in the right spot, however, and this may be one of those
scenarios. (2) CARABAO A seemed ready to start hanging (again) in the lane last week but did respond when urged
on to the wire – Siegelman knows him now, and a repeat of last week’s effort could make him a very live player here
(5) FAMILY RECIPE could only offer even pace off an easy trip last week – he’s capable of a bit better, but drawing
outside 3 solid foes may leave him looking at a smaller slice again tonight. (6) ALL ALONE is undeniably sharp for
our top barn but is also unproven against these types – we’ll see how he does here, especially from this tough post.
(7) SPLASH BROTHER qualified okay off a couple of months – he’s capable with these, but we may not see his
best tonight. (4) WINDSUN RICKY was well meant last week but ran into a sharp winner and had to settle for 2
nd – he faces tougher now, and may be looking at only minor spoils.
RACE 10 – Short field but ALL sharp horses! (3) SIMON SAYS HANOVER went some HUGE miles in 2023 and
has started off 2024 in similar fashion – he handles any trip, Kakaley has supreme confidence in him and he may be
able to 3 for 3 on the year, even against these very sharp foes. (4) LEONIDAS A was handled conservatively in his
’24 return and kicked home full of pace – may be more aggressive now, and he’s won way too many times here to
ever be taken lightly. (6) COVERED BRIDGE delivered an incredible season in 2023 yet somehow didn’t need any
time off, already 4-3-0-1 to start off the new year – suppose he remains the “one to beat”, but he may be a bit
vulnerable with tonight’s draw (he was fortunate to hold off the tripsitter LAST week, after having things his own
way). (1) ADAM TWELVE is just another of a zillion horses that have been thriving seemingly forever for our
leading barn – he finished 2nd to the top choice in his last, and would be no surprise even in this tougher overall field
(2) SONNY WEAVER N is listed here on the bottom but he’s very sharp, and comes off a blowout win – an easy
trip could help him land a decent piece, even in tonight’s Invitational.
RACE 11 – (3) PAT STANLEY N served notice last week that he may be ready to win soon, putting in a long,
strong first over bid before finally tiring – he was moved after that start to a barn that has done well with him in the
past, but it’s surprising to NOT see his new trainer listed to drive (perhaps due to the unfortunate incident the pair
had together in NJ, in 2021) – at any rate, we’ll give him a shot tonight. (1) ROCK THIS WAY seemed all done by
the final turn last week but found renewed life into the lane and was right there at the wire – the right trip makes him
dangerous tonight. (2) ALOTBETTOR N is always dangerous at this level and draws well off last week’s claim –
belongs on your tickets. (6) BIG DREAM FELLA was absolutely loaded in the lane last week, but tried to go
between horses when there was no room and made a break (resulting in a suspension for Bartlett) – he’s facing
tougher tonight, but he’s absolutely playable at that 12-1 ML price. (7) ARTIST BEST is capable at this level for
sure, but may have trouble overcoming the draw – would need a big price to use on top. (8) MY ULTIMATE STAR
A was a solid winner last week, but made an easy lead with Bartlett – he’s looking at a much tougher journey
tonight. (5) LUCIANO N rarely wins, but can grab pieces when the trip goes his way. (4) FOX VALLEY PATRIOT
has been better lately, but vs. easier.
RACE 12 – (2) CRUNCH TIME A crushed a high-class field in NJ in Dec. 2022 but started to completely unravel
right after that – he was away for 8 months, but returned racing as poorly as when he left – he changed barns after a
disastrous start here on 12/12 then qualified nicely at Fhd., and had a very useful (8 hole) tightener here last week –
it just may be time for him to start turning things around. (6) ARDEN MESSI N is hard to gauge right now – his
form does seem off, but he’s also used to facing much better than these – could be a spot for a wake up call. (4)
FOREVER FAV looked better in his 2nd start of the season, gets Gingras tonight and his barn has sent out their share
of live ones – possibility. (3) R CAPTAIN HANOVER shows mostly decent tries at Fhd., won here last year and
gets Brennan for his Hilltop return – wouldn’t shock. (5) C BET HANOVER is more than capable against these
types but does seem to be in a bit of a rut – if you think he’s going to bring a good one tonight, he’s worth a look. (1)
KERFORD ROAD A landed on a easy trip last week and converted it into a 2nd place finish – he rarely wins, but
could be considered for the bottom of exotics. (7) ICE HOUSE and (8) ISLE COACH are the outsiders...both
literally and figuratively.