RACE 1 - (2) IGNATIUS A is 0 for 10 at Yonkers but generally has faced much better and did hit board in
6 of those starts (including last week's 2nd place finish) - feels like a good spot for him to grab that first YR
victory. (4) MAJOR DESIRE was a steady 4th last week in the same race the top choice was 2nd - he's
been good overall lately, and may prove the main threat tonight. (3) STRIKING IMPACT had NO impact
in his first try off the big barn change last week - he's clearly capable of better, but it's anybody's guess as to
whether we'll see that from him tonight. (1) BLUEBIRD RECON seems a notch below the main players
but he'll be sitting an up close trip, and that may help him take home a share. (6) HES GONNA GETYA
was off 5 months to his last and really didn't race that bad - maybe he can rally for a share in his 2nd start
off the layoff? (5) JIM BLUE is having a tough year, unable to get into any kind of groove - maybe a minor
share? (7) WARDAN EXPRESS A has some good starts this year but seems unlikely to find one from this
tough spot. (8) GALANTE A will look a lot better next week with a class drop...and maybe a better draw!
RACE 2 - (2) POINTOMYGRANSON has been very good in his 4 starts since arriving from Canada, the
last pair being sharp victories - he steps up a notch to 40s tonight, and may end up with the best trip of the
main players - give him the narrow edge. (3) FLOW WITH JOE drops in for $40k and he was a winner in
his last 2 tries at this level - very capable tonight if the trip goes his way. (1) PEDRO HANOVER is
enjoying a terrific 2023 season, currently at 13-5-4-2 -- he goes for a new barn tonight, and also bumps up
in class after finishing a close 2nd in his last 4 starts - has to be feared, but won't offer much value after
being listed at 8/5 on the ML. (4) GINGER TREE PETE was claimed for the 4th straight time last start and
will try it for a new barn tonight - he draws outside 3 main foes, but he definitely loves to win races - add
him to the list of possible winners. (5) THEFLYINGROCK was probably sharper earlier in the year, and
lands outside 4 tough foes as he drops in for the $40K tag tonight - leaning a bit more to a few others. (6)
SHERIFF N just hasn't been on his best game for a while - the outside draw isn't going to help his cause.
RACE 3 - Tough race: (2) FEELIN WESTERN comes into this with legitimate excuses in his last pair
(tried to cut it 2 back vs. a very good field, then was stuck in the back with no prayer last week) - he drops,
moves inside, and may be able to get it done with the right trip. (4) SETH HANOVER has just one win this
year but it came when he raced at this level - drops back down tonight, and an aggressive try is expected -
we'll see if he's up for it. (1) MY ULTIMATE STAR A landed on a very live trip last week and knew just
what to with it- steps up a notch but he can definitely go with these too, especially from the pole- legitimate
player. (5) MARLBANK ROAD is just 1 for 15 this year but raced very well in a lot of his starts - he'll
probably be a nice price tonight, and you should at least give him a look. (6) KINGSVILLE recently won 4
in a row but MAY be tailing a bit now - the class drop should help his cause, but he also has to deal with
Post 6 - not a huge fan at that 5/2 ML (favorite) price. (3) JAY BRACKEN A raced well at 9-1 two back
but was just a "meh" 4th last week - he's playable here, but only if the price is decent. (8) CHANTEE does
fit with these but lacks speed and figures to be too far back to seriously threaten. (7) ALWAYS ROCKIN
failed to beat a horse at Monti in his first start off 5 months.
RACE 4 - (3) CHANGE STRIDE N was sent off favored last week but was too far back to have any real
impact - he moves to our leading barn for tonight, and we'll give him the slight edge in this short, but well
matched field. (2) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER was 0 for a zillion here at Yonkers...but is now 2 for 4 since
being claimed by the Dynamic Duo - pounced on a perfect trip last week, and is a threat to do the same
tonight. (1) JOJOS PLACE has been on an excellent form spree but he moves to a new barn and did flop
miserably the last time he was taken from his previous trainer - some mixed feelings about his chances for
tonight. (4) CONBOYVILLE came up 2nd best for his new connections last week (behind #2) after putting
in a strong front end effort - his current form suggests that he can be a legitimate threat here, but his 1 for
34 Yonkers record (last 2 years) also suggests insisting on a good price if using on top. (6) MINGO JOEL
has been very sharp for a long time, but definitely wasn't at his best last week - tonight's draw figures to
make things a bit tough on him, even if he bounces back to top form. (5) DA GHETTO WIZARD will be
handled by his trainer tonight....inclined to pass, but may reconsider if a catch driver is named.
RACE 5 - (3) ROCKIN WITHELVIS A beat this class as the heavy favorite the last 2 weeks and since he
was eligible at the time of entry, gets to stay at this level one more time...pretty hard to go against him right
now. (2) LOUS BEACH debuts for a new barn tonight after just missing in a 1:49.3 mile at PcD last week -
he gets reunited with Gingras, and the pair won their last 3 starts together here at Yonkers...may be next in
line. (1) BETTORBUCKLEUP has been better than his last couple of lines might suggest - assuming he'll
just look to sit the cones relatively close to the pace here, he may be able to add some value to the bottom
of the exotics. (5) WALKINSHAW N has good pace finishing for 3rd last start (behind the top choice) and
his overall current form is solid- just hard to say what kind of trip he'll land on from this spot. (4) SECOND
BRUISER debuted for our leading barn last week and the Canadian invader promptly scored the trip-sitting
victory over the sharp frontrunner - he'll be facing tougher now, and we'll have to see how he holds up
against these. (8) DELIGHTFUL TERROR rallied very nicely from tough spots in his last 3 starts, and he'll
be coming from even further back tonight - may still be able to squeeze out a small piece. (6) LONG WEE
KEND A threw a clunker last week after a few sharp efforts - even if he bounces back quickly, this is still a
very tough spot. (7) MACHEASY A will be hard pressed to find his way into the hunt from out here.
RACE 6 - (4) BETTOR SUN had no chance in his first start for a new barn (Chester, 5/5) but still paced
his final half in :53.4 - he shipped back in to YR last week and rallied full of pace for 3rd, not far off 2nd...
may have found a winning spot for tonight. (3) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH steps up off a very sharp front
end score but he probably fits very well with this bunch too - could be the main danger. (1) WAR DAN DE
LIGHT N was recently claimed 4 weeks in a row despite being 0 for 54 here over the last 3 seasons- his
current form is actually pretty good, though, and it wouldn't be a shock if he was right there at the wire
tonight. (6) STATE SENATOR has been hot and cold lately but did race well last week - would have liked
his chances a bit more had he drawn better. (2) CAPTAIN SLEAZE has struggled to get into a good groove
this year though he did shock here at nearly 50-1 back in March, and did win upstate last week - still seems
a notch below the main players. (5) NOWHERE CREEK A wasn't sharp in his last pair and does feel like a
horse that may be tailing off right now. (7) MAXIMUS RED A picked up a win at Chester last week after
starting the year 0 for 10 here at Yonkers - very tough for his return, however.
RACE 7 - (5) SHAKESPEARE raced well from impossible spots in his first 2 starts after arriving from
Dover but he's really hitting on all cylinders right now, and comes into tonight off a pair of wins and a 2nd -
if he can find just a bit of trip luck, he has a decent chance to pick up another "W". (2) COALITION HAN
OVER is having a terrific season so far (16-6-4-1) and comes into tonight off a good-effort 2nd to the top
choice - could easily reverse that decision if the trip goes his way. (1) STELLAR YANKEE is a different
horse when he can race on/near the lead and he should be able to have that opportunity as he debuts for a
new barn tonight - certainly worth considering if the price is decent. (3) MAKE MY DEO was a nice 4th
from Post 8 two back then raced very well last week, offering good pace at both ends of the mile when 3rd
(right behind tonight's top 2 choices) - probably a better horse for underneath, though, as he has far more
2nds and 3rds than wins! (4) SOUTHWIND BRONN raced well in a few starts after arriving from NJ but a
series of bad posts has sullied his form - chance to come up with a much better try tonight as he lands much
further inside. (6) COPPER TEEN hasn't been "bad" by any means, but the top bunch just seem a bit
sharper right now - the outside draw also figures to hurt, and he just doesn't seem worth that 3-1 ML price.
(7) UMBERTO was a nice 3rd in his 2nd start for a new barn last week - not sure he can have that same
success from out here, though. (8) SILENT SPLENDOR has been racing well but a lot would have to
happen for him to reach from all the way out here.
RACE 8 - (3) PRICELESS BEACH was a crisp 2nd in the Borgata Consolation behind the very well meant
winner - he followed that up by ALMOST beating the outstanding COVERED BRIDGE in his next then
raced very well again last week, just missing 2nd despite a brutal trip - gets a terrific draw for tonight, and
may have found himself a winning spot. (7) LEONIDAS A wasn't at his best last week but he was off 3
weeks, and also bothered coming to the half (which may have hurt his performance, a bit) - uber-classy
import could easily rebound with a big one tonight. (5) CAPTIVATE HANOVER has gone some big miles
lately, and last week was one of them (parked :26.4 for the lead and never stopped, scoring in the fastest
mile of the night) - still has to prove he can beat THIS caliber, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he could, right
now. (2) THE REGULATOR has 5 starts at this Open level and has outraced his odds to finish 3rd each
time - definitely a good one for the bottom of exotics. (4) FAMILY RECIPE steps up off a pair of wins over
lesser - may be sharp enough right now to pick up a small piece after grabbing a decent draw. (8) HEL
LABALOU came up with a stunning, form-reversing victory in the Borgata Final but reverted to his lesser
form last week, tiring after cutting the mile - things won't get any easier from Post 8 tonight. (1) SPLASH
BROTHER acts like he needs a bit easier to be a threat again - look for him as he starts dropping back
down the ladder. (6) ON ACCIDENT finds himself up at the Open level after a pair of victories...and he
may quickly find things a LOT tougher than he's used to!
RACE 9 - (5) ODDS ON CAPITALISM had a terrific 3YO season and was even banging heads
(successfully) with older foes here at the end of the year - returned from a 5 month layoff with a useful
tightener (in the Open), but ran into a horrendous, no-chance trip last week -- this feels like a spot where he
can be a major threat. (1) FEARFUL INTENT was a sharp front end winner 2 back, then 2nd best to a
sharp tripsitter last week - gets to call the shots once more, and remains a threat to go wire to window. (7)
HECANDANCENCRUISE became the latest horse to improve dramatically upon entering the Dynamic
Duo's barn with that eye-popping victory on 5/1 - wasn't quite as good when 2nd best to #1 in his next but
he returns on Lasix for tonight, and is eligible to deliver another big effort...even from out here. (6) TOWN
LINE ALL GOOD hit board in 4 of his last 5 starts and has 5 wins this year on top of that - he's been a
solid threat for months, and should never be overlooked. (2) THRASHER and (3) PRETTY HANDSOME
don't feel like major threats to WIN tonight, but either is capable of rallying for a piece IF the trip goes their
way. (4) SARANAC BLUE CHIP shows quite a few sharp tries at Freehold but his local efforts this year
have been disappointing (9-0-1-0) - leaning towards others. (8) AIR FORCE HANOVER was rejuvenated
after re-joining his old barn but his 2 race winning streak was snapped last week, and now he draws Post 8
while moving up considerably in class - very tough spot!
RACE 10 - (1) OAKWOODNITOWNIT IR can be a tough horse to gauge as he can beat Open fields when
on his game, but also lose to much easier when "not right" - he SEEMS to be pretty good right now and
can't help but get a great trip from this spot....we'll give him a shot tonight. (4) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN
N really overachieved in the Borgata Series, going respectable miles week after week - he returns to a much
softer spot BUT he's also been away for a month - perhaps the tote board will offer some clues as to his
readiness? (2) SHINE A LIGHT was in a tough spot last week and finished up well just to grab 4th - he
should get a pretty good trip here, and could easily be around at the wire under the right scenario. (6) QUA
LITY BUD gets a poor draw but he's been having a very good year and has found a way to race well from
some tough spots in the past - not a bad bomb to consider for exotics. (3) WICHITA LINEMAN landed on
a terrible trip in his first start off the claim and deserves a pass for that - he's still a bit of a question mark
against a couple of the top ones in here, but he's certainly been hitting on all cylinders in most of his recent
starts - suppose we'll get a clearer picture after tonight. (5) EUPHORIA N has been doing great work lately,
winning 3 in a row - this is a MUCH tougher spot, however, and he may find a few of these a bit more than
he can handle. (7) GREAT SOMEWHERE took advantage of a class drop and quick start to score as the
"pocket rocket" winner last week - he faces much tougher now, and seems unlikely to be able to land on a
similarly good trip. (8) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK draws Post 8 off a sick scratch - pass for now.