RACE 1 – (3) STONEBRIDGE BRAVO was a “good” 2nd in his local debut (racing off a month) but much sharper
in his 2nd start, and easy wire to wire victory – remains the one to beat for the nation’s leading barn. (4) CASSIUS
HANOVER came up 2nd best to the top choice in his seasonal debut and has now hit board in all 4 local starts – he’s
still looking for his 1st Yonkers win, however, and we’ll see if he can find a bit more and give the top one a real
tussle tonight. (2) CAL MILES N SHELL was a little disappointing in the lane last week, unable to finish the job
and finishing 2nd – the ability is there, and maybe we’ll see a bit sharper try tonight. (1) I GOT THE TAB was no
factor in his first start of ’24 but he was 3 for 4 here last year, and could easily bring a sharper mile tonight– consider
for exotics. (6) ALLSUMMERLONG AS was “ok” in that front end win 2 back but was actually very good rallying
for 4th from a very tough spot last week – may be able to bring some value to the exotics, with some trip luck. (7)
ROSE RUN YANKEE has some legitimate ability but often struggles getting around Yonkers smoothly (and has to
be handled carefully) – insist on a good price if considering for your tickets. (8) INTERVIEW FRA A has just 7
starts over the last 2 seasons and lands all the way outside for his local debut– tough task. (5) SHOPPING IN PARIS
broke off a sick scratch and seems a bit risky at the moment.
RACE 2 – (2) FIX A DRINK arrives from Canada showing some excellent form, and only figures to get even better
after landing in our leading barn (while also getting the services of co-owner, Mr. Gingras) – he’ll face a very solid
field here, but still has to be given top billing. (1) CREATIVE VENTURE is often overlooked but has gone many
strong miles here since last year, and that includes last week’s victory – legitimate player with the rail and Kakaley.
(3) BONTONI DEGATO S has is 4 for 4 this year and WOULD have been the top pick had he not changed hands
(via private purchase) since his last start – he may still come out on top, but he’ll offer no value as the 9/5 ML
choice (4) MANCLANE came up 2nd best to BONTONI DEGATO S then was a winner himself in his last pair –
clearly on top of his game, but may end up with a bit tougher trip tonight. (6) TACHYON turned in back to back
sharp efforts, but will likely have to come from last tonight – demand a good price if using on top. (5) MAHONE
SEELSTER is listed here at the bottom but he’s done nothing but good work since arriving from Canada – nice
field!
RACE 3 – (6) SMOKIN BY N was really just “ok” in a recent win and 2nd but his LAST start was outstanding,
easily his sharpest of the year – catches a very modest group of 15s and anything close to that last effort would make
him very tough tonight. (1) SWAGASAURUSREX was sent off favored last week (off the barn change) but didn’t
lift a hoof – he probably deserves another chance for a wake up call, but he’ll need to be a better price to consider on
top. (7) DAAMERICANSKY usually ships in showing sharp tries out of town but he’s 7-0-1-1 local since 2022 –
still, has to be considered a player against this bunch. (5) SOUTHWIND ONYX really hasn’t been sharp in some
time, but is still listed here as the ML favorite – better value with others for the top slot. (3) FULLBACK has been
limited to minor pieces lately, and will need to be better for a chance at a bigger slice tonight. (4) EDDARD HANO
VER has a few “sneaky ok” tries lately but he’s 0 for 20 locally over the past 2 years, and just 2 for 36 over the last
3 – tough to take on top unless he’s a big price. (8) MACHLICIOUS rallied for 2nds at big prices in his last pair, but
will be hard pressed to pull that off from Post 8. (2) MINGO JOEL was struggling the latter part of 2023 – prefer to
just observe as he makes his 2024 return.
RACE 4 – (1) KEEYANG KAMIKAZE A qualified nicely here on 2/1 but elected to make his U.S. debut across the
river instead – returns after a couple of good looking tries, and seems to have landed in a spot that could see him
pick up his first stateside victory. (4) WESTERN JOE was able to score an “ugly”, overbet victory here 3 starts back
and reunites with Gingras for tonight – may help him find another contending try. (7) KARLOO BRADLEY N
hasn’t been finishing well enough but he adds Lasix for tonight and that could be a difference maker – worth at least
a look if the price is right. (8) GAMBLING TERROR was a sharp, well backed winner last for a hot barn – he HAS
left from these kinds of spots in the past, and isn’t the worth stab you could ever come up with. (2) HES SPECIAL
was a solid 2nd two back but nowhere to be found in his last – he could rebound here with a good trip, and is worth
considering underneath. (3) LYRICAL GENIUS A has been struggling and could really use a wake up call. (5) KEY
STONE DASH comes off a disappointing 1 for 20 season – prefer to just watch as he makes his 2024 return. (6) IB
NOTORIOUS IR was pretty dismal in his U.S. debut – waiting for some better signs before considering.
RACE 5 – (3) MISS MAJESTY was sent off at an absurd 1/20 price for her local debut, worked hard in the pocket
chasing the strong pace and never really cam close to running down the (sharp) winner – she’s clearly the one to beat
once again...but her last start should serve as a warning about taking TOO short a price. (1) NIRVANA HANOVER
ships in showing some decent form at Dover, likely vs. softer foes – she does get a big switch to our leading trainer/
driver combo, and we’ll see if that can elevate her enough to be a serious threat. (5) VARSITY BLUE CHIP didn’t
even pretend to be interested from Post 8 in her first career start, but was pacing well late as she rallied by a few up
into 4th – she was hammered down to 9/5 for her next start and while she was able to use a perfect trip to pick up a
win, she wasn’t anything “great” that night – we should learn more about her after tonight. (2) SILKEN SMILE was
handled conservatively last start, coming out behind #5 on the final turn and following her home for 2nd – chance for
a piece tonight too. (8) YOUCANCALLMEDAISY wasn’t up for a quick mile in her first start of the year but still
held off the others for 3rd – may have to wait for a better spot before we see her best, however. (6) PINE BUSH MA
GA couldn’t sustain her brush last week, tiring to 5th– her YR record now stands at 0 for 19 (4) PASS THE DREAM
was empty in both local tries – needs to show more. (7) TACOS AND TEQUILA feels like a work in progress.
RACE 6 – (2) YOU GOT IT was well backed for his 2024 return and did trot solidly for 3rd behind a pair of horses
that would be heavily favored in here – he’s a better horse than last year’s 1 for 20 record might suggest, and this
definitely feels like a spot he can handle. (3) TOMBSTONE made a break last week but had a win and a pair of 2nds
in the 3 starts prior to that – chance for a good chunk tonight IF he behaves. (8) SOME KINDA CRAZY was pretty
well backed for his seasonal debut (for a new barn) and did race ok, though losing out on 2nd after a two hole trip –
tonight’s draw is an obvious concern, but he still may be able to beat a bunch of these. (4) MR KNOWITALL has
some decent tries at Dover and was 3rd at PcD last week with a new trainer listed – hard to gauge class wise, but may
fit well enough to contend for a piece of this. (5) WISTERIA HANOVER raced ok last week after a two hole trip,
holding on for 3rd – chance for some minor spoils here too. Both (6) BEACON BEACH & (7) A MAJORSMACKIN
fit well enough, but they face major obstacles trying to get involved from their poor posts. (1) TO MY CREDIT
lands the pole, but will need to be better for a chance at even a piece.
RACE 7 – (4) ATLANTIS had to work hard to hang on as the odds on choice last week but found the wire in time
over a sharp tripsitter – he has 2 wins and a neck-loss 2nd from his 3 local starts this year, and catches a pretty soft
field tonight – gets the nod to take another. (1) SHOREVIEW almost never wins, but he does have a few solid tries
lately – an easy trip could help him land on the ticket here. (6) MAJOR DESIRE just missed 2 back and was able to
rally late to grab the show spot last week – has the speed to improve at the start, and that could land him another
good chunk. (8) PRESTIGE SEELSTER was re-claimed by the connections that won with him on 1/31 and he paid
instant dividends last week – hard to say if Holland will be able to find him a manageable trip from out here, though.
(2) OURRHYTHMNBLUES N has picked up lots of pieces lately but really isn’t that “sharp” – the good draw puts
him in play for another slice, but he also figures to be a bit overbet. (5) ZIGGY SKY squandered his pocket trip last
week, fortunate just to be 3rd – his overall form is solid, but he seemingly never WINS at Yonkers, and usually is
pretty well backed. (3) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN used a nice inside trip to grab 3rd two back but has otherwise
been no threat in most of his starts. (7) LIKE CLOCKWORK turned in a massive form-reversing win (at 3/5!) off
the barn change on 1/20 (in NJ) but hasn’t come close to replicating that effort since – tough draw won’t help.
RACE 8 – (2) MIRRAGON A added Lasix last week and finished full of pace, despite getting briefly shut off at
3/4s – he drops, draws inside, but should still be a fair price here. (1) GREAT SOMEWHERE couldn’t quite last on
the lead last week but the winner came back and raced well again the next start – he won 10X here last year, and
may very well be able to make amends tonight. (3) WICHITA LINEMAN was well backed last week, hounded hard
but still able to prevail – faces a tough pair to his inside, but an easy trip could still see him right there at the end. (5)
SARANAC BLUE CHIP has been very good, but an overaggressive try last week resulted in him being 3
rd, rather than 1st or 2nd – he’ll need some luck after drawing outside a few main foes, but he’s sharp enough to do some
damage with a trip. (6) REVOLT didn’t find his best stride until well after the fact last week – he’ll probably be
coming from well out of it again, but he’s worth including underneath at that 20-1 ML price. (4) HIMSELF N was
well backed last week after a promising U.S. debut but didn’t fire at all – jury still out on this one. (8) YNOTTHISH
OS has done all good work since moving to this barn 4 back but faces an unenviable task starting from Post 8. (7)
INDICTABLE HANOVER regressed last time after a couple of sharp tries, and now lands outside in a solid field.
RACE 9 – “Stake Your Claim Series Final” – wide open!: (6) NEVER SAY NEVER N returned from a long layoff
and has won both starts in 2024 – he’ll still be a decent price in this hard to figure affair, and he’s one of several with
a legitimate chance to take this. (7) CAPTAIN T HANOVER was a nose winner 4 back (after a long wide move)
then just missed in all 3 legs of this series – absolutely capable of springing an upset with the right trip luck. (2) IM J
BEE N is 3 for 3 in the series, winning for a different trainer each week – he goes to yet another new barn for the
Final, and clearly deserves plenty of respect! (8) CAMPORA N has found his form in recent weeks, can race on or
off the pace and you know Gingras will give him a chance – at 20-1 ML, it’s not hard to make a case for using him.
(1) NOB HILL FLASH hit board in all 3 legs and is a very solid player at this level – the right trip makes him a
threat. (5) MISTER SPOT A woke up 3 back with a game victory but faltered in his next, then had no chance in his
last – leaning towards others. (3) BEN SOLO seems too one dimensional in a field where he’ll likely get major heat
if he tries to airmail these. (4) STRETCH THE LINE was able to overcome his flaws against a couple of very weak
fields but it’ll be hard for him to do that against these.
RACE 10 – (4) ULTIMATE SPEED is 3 for 4 since arriving from Canada, the lone loss being a close 2nd to the
sharp VIBRANCE – solid chance to pick up another win tonight (at another short price) in the finale. (2) BETTA
WATCH OUT N was bet down to 1/10 for her first U.S. start and had no trouble getting her picture taken – was
favored again in her next, looked like a winner turning for home but was clearly outbattled in the lane, settling for
2nd – she’ll need to be a little sharper tonight for a chance to knock off the top choice. (5) SILKY STRIDE was a
solid 4th off the layoff 2 back but didn’t show up last week – if she can get back to her better effort, she can grab a
piece here. (7) HURRIKANE LADY LOU may have some physical issues (just a handful of starts in her career), but
she DOES have ability – finished well after sitting 8th in her first start off a long layoff, and MacDonald sticks with
her tonight – hard to say how serious she’ll be but that 20-1 ML price makes her worth at least a look. (6) DONTKA
RENIFIDO has hit board in 11 of 12 local starts, including three 3rds from 3 starts this year – tough draw, but it
would still be hard to not include her on the bottom of exotics. (3) BLANK CHEEK had a pair of 2nds here to close
out 2023 but made breaks in her last 2 local attempts – she bounced back with a Swamp win last week, so we’ll see
if she has her act together now (chance for a piece, if she does). (8) DEVILISH DREAMS has been struggling for a
while– Post 8 certainly isn’t going to help (1) EBONY LADY just seems overmatched as she makes her local debut.