RACE 1 - (7) I GET THAT has been good in all 4 starts since the claim, and was a rock solid 2nd to a
logical winner in his last - the obvious knock for tonight is Post 7 but the upside is that his price will be
much better - definitely worth using in tonight's opener. (3) SWAGASAURUSREX has been on our tickets
in most recent weeks (at big prices) and has juiced up the exotics a few times - draws his best post in ages,
and may finally be ready to contend for the top prize. (4) MISTER SPOT A raced well in his last pair,
rallying for 3rds - definitely a chance to be a player if the trip goes his way. (2) ROLLING WITH SAM
looks like he should fit well at this claiming level but he's 1 for 29 at Yonkers, and probably one that's best
used underneath! (5) MY MIND IS MADEUP was really good 2 back off the claim, almost grabbing the
win - was a solid 3rd in last, but moves to a new barn now and also sports a 1 for 38 record here over the
past 3 years - another that should probably be used on the bottom of exotics. (8) MCNULTY Z TAM was
already in a bad spot after NOT leaving last week, then lost any chance after joining a "flow" that was
going in reverse - hard to like his chances from all the way out here. (1) LIFEWITHJOHN raced for a new
barn last week and failed to function - hard to consider for a wager here at that 5/2 ML price! (6) DING
DING DINGER has underwhelmed in his 3 local tries.
RACE 2 - Tough race: (1) MACHIAVELLI was all kinds of pumped up for his new barn last week and just
went too fast early to stay alive late - barn is really hitting on all cylinders right now, so maybe this guy can
be a little tougher tonight if allowed to relax a bit more. (4) OZONE BLUE CHIP is definitely at home at
this level, and picked up 2nds the last 2 weeks - goes for his 3rd barn in 3 weeks, but he can be a player if
he holds his current form. (2) ROCK N TONY benefited from what turned into a very nice trip last week,
and scored the 7-1 upset - license to repeat with another good trip. (3) REAL LUCKY N got parked last
week after drawing horribly in prior 3 starts - he certainly has legitimate recent excuses, and he just may be
a big player here with a kinder journey. (7) TIME OUT IM TIRED went 2 big miles for his previous crew
(win and a 2nd), but now moves to a new barn, jumps up in class and lands all the way outside - harder to
like his chances tonight. (5) MARTY MONKHOUSER A gets a bit of post relief here but it still doesn't
feel like a great spot for a wake up call - prefer others. (6) BAMSKI was no threat in his last couple, and
tonight's draw may leave him as an outsider once again.
RACE 3 - (5) BELIEVER has held his own with much better in many starts this year, gets a big driver
change to Bartlett, and definitely looks like the one to beat in his Hilltop debut. (4) TRUMP THIS went a
few good miles here earlier this year - looks like he raced pretty well off the barn change last week (in an
amateur race at Fhd.) and may be able to add some value to the exotics. (2) SERRANO VOLO has been
facing decent stock over in PA recently, and shows 5 wins and $52K on her card this year - should fit nicely
with these, and has a shot at a decent piece in her initial Yonkers start. (3) MOON BRIDGE has burned $$
here in the past, but usually vs. tougher - he does have three 2nds from his 7 local tries, and is definitely
one to include underneath in exotics. (1) VOLARE was sent off favored off the layoff last week but came
up well short - faces a much tougher field tonight, and is likely looking at only a minor piece. (8)
PRESCOTT lands in a very tough spot upon his return from Florida - moves to a hot barn and gets Stratton
in the bike, but we'll just keep on an eye on him from this brutal post. (6) THANKS FOR LEAVING was
totally empty last week, and is now 10-0-0-0 here over the last 2 years. (7) BINGO QUEEN hasn't been a
player in a very long time.
RACE 4 - (7) COMMANDER CATHY N looked very good here in her first U.S. start, rolling a little too
late for the win but a very promising 2nd - followed that up with a close first over 2nd at Chester (facing
older mares), and we'll give her the nod tonight, despite the outside draw. (5) NUTTINBUTTHEBEST
wasn't quite ready for prime time when she started her career at PcD this Spring - took 5 months off after
her 3rd start and came back a new horse, picking up 5 wins and 2 seconds from her 7 starts (including a
pair of wins and a 2nd right here - might have been tonight's top pick had she not missed a month since her
last start. (6) FASTERTHANARUMOR has been racing well in PA lately and is clearly the other main
player in here - would hardly be a surprise if she came out on top. (1) ROLL WITH SHORTY is one of 4
NW2 fillies in here and despite her 1 for 29 record, might be the "best of the rest"...helped by the rail. (4)
NEVER NOT DANCING beat a weak NW2 field two back but seems well below the top trio. (3) LOVELY
LADY MAN picked up an ok 3rd in her YR debut but is another that seems overmatched vs. the top three.
(2) CANDY PAINT looks like the outsider among these.
RACE 5 - (7) BLUFFINER left wide outside a few others last week and had to make a full retreat, ended
up out the entire way but didn't really weaken until into the stretch - takes a big drop here, gets Bartlett at
the lines and is the one to beat...even from out here. (3) SHOWMEYOURGUNS has been a little better in
his last few - an easy trip could help him land a decent piece of this. (2) EMOTIONS RICHES was very
careful at the start last week (after making a break the week before) and had no prayer after that - he
definitely fits okay with these, but he's missed a month and that may leave him a little short. (5) MUFASA
AS figured to come alive with the class drop last week but threw a dull effort instead - maybe we'll see the
wake up call tonight? (1) ZOOMING may be feeling pretty good after wiring cheaper last time - the 13YO
may be able to grab a piece here. (6) MOMMS MY DAD gets Brennan on board tonight and the last two
times he had a catch driver he picked up a win and a 2nd - those efforts were against cheaper, however, and
he just may be a bit overmatched here. (4) LIMERENCE threw a major clunker last week, just backing up
badly - glad to see him right back in the box, but it would be hard to use him off that line. (8) MISS YOU
KELLY figures to get away in the back tonight - wait for a better spot.
RACE 6 - (5) BABS JANSEN was off a month to her start on 12/1 (sick scratch) but actually had plenty of
pace with nowhere to go - went a big mile in her last, but had the misfortune of running into a very sharp
winner who was on the lead - meets a couple of solid foes here, but we'll give her top billing. (8) GINGER
TREE LIZ jogged at Chester in her first start off the purchase, then was right there 3rd last week against
classy older mares - if Bongiorno can find her a manageable trip from Post 8, she CAN be a legit threat. (2)
BITTY BITTY started off her Yonkers career with 3 straight wins but gave way to pressure last week and
tired to 4th - barn has been going strong lately, so there's definitely a shot she can bounce back with a big
effort tonight. (4) SWEET PINK looked like an interesting newcomer on 12/8 but she was scratched sick
that night, and will have missed 26 days since her last - will probably just keep an eye on her tonight. (7)
LINE EM UP has shown that she can hang with these, and had pace before ending up inside pylons in the
stretch last week - just not sure she'll be able to get involved from this spot. (3) TIAMOGONEDANCEN N
just missed in her first 2 starts here but regressed badly in her last pair, not looking too good in either -
would prefer to see a solid try before hopping back on her team. (1) CATIE FAYE HANOVER seems a bit
overmatched against several of these - rail could help, but still likely looking at a minor piece at best. (6)
HEAVENISSOFARAWAY was a winner in her first local try but has lacked stretch pop in her last few tries
- this figures to be a difficult spot for her as well.
RACE 7 - Very tough race (1) FREE EXCHANGE ended up in a no chance spot last week (trapped inside)
but was 1st or 2nd in 7 straight prior to that - draws the pole for her new connections, and faces a field full
of question marks - we'll go with her on top, just on the consistency factor. (2) CHUPPAH ON hasn't
clicked yet since the $50K claim but she did at least put in a move last week before folding - maybe this is
the week she puts it all together? (5) FOX VALLEY CHARLIZ drops back down to the level she tripped
out and beat 2 back - if things get testy up front, she may be able to show up late and be a threat (4) IDEAL
HANNAH had to crash out last week to avoid a disastrous shuffle, and was fortunate just to get back
pacing and salvage 3rd - not impossible here. (6) PURE COTTON is another that hasn't clicked yet for new
connections, but does figure to perk up at some point...maybe tonight? (3) EYE POPPING has disappointed
in the majority of her starts this year, and it's hard to predict that she'll turn things around tonight. (7) SAN
DYS BEACH should appreciate the drop, but she hasn't been sharp and draws all the way outside.
RACE 8 - (3) CON AIR HALL drew Post 8 off the claim and was content to get away last, never entering
contention - this is clearly a much better spot, and an aggressive try is expected - note that he dropped down
to this level on 9/22 and was a winner for a previous barn. (8) HOMER HALL ran over the top of a rival as
the field jammed up at the quarter last week so we'll give him a pass for that miscue - he's incredibly
unreliable AND draws Post 8 for the 3rd straight week....but he's also dropping significantly in class and
just may come alive here at a nice price. (1) TORKIL is a tough horse to use on top (2 for 52 last 2 years)
but he just missed last week, and is line for a good trip tonight - not impossible (2) P C FOREIGN AFFAIR
was an okay 4th last week racing for a new barn - doesn't win very often, but he does grab his share of
pieces. (7) HOBBS' nightmarish 4YO season continues as he remains winless on the year after earning over
$300K as a 3YO - failed from the pole last week, and now gets stuck with Post 7. (4) TOTAL DIVA is just
1 for 23 at YR this year, but does have 7 seconds - would consider including underneath. (6) FASHION
FOREVER sometimes comes up with a late rally for a piece - maybe 3rd/4th at a big price? (5) SEVEN
KNIGHTS is 1 for 33 this year - prefer others.
RACE 9 - (1) MAGRITTE is a streaky horse and his barn is streaky as well - BOTH are really clicking
right now, and that bodes well for this guy as he looks for his 4th straight victory (2) VENIER HANOVER
was super in his brush and crush win off the claim 2 back, then just got unlucky when trapped and shuffled
in his last - look for him to rebound with a good one tonight. (3) ITSGOODTOBEDAKING gets major post
relief and he's been very solid when he draws inside - definitely one to include in exotics. (5) JIMS PERFE
CT was sent off at 30-1 last week and gave his backers a good root, challenging hard to the top of the lane
before weakening a bit to 3rd - definitely can land somewhere on the ticket again with the bright trip. (7)
HAPPY TRIO is pretty good right now but he'll look a lot better with a class drop, and better draw - ok
bomb for 3rd/4th. (6) THISJETSABOOKIN saw his 3 race win streak end with a thud 2 back - his last line
LOOKS better, but he crawled home in :59 seconds on the lead and his 2nd place finish is a bit deceiving -
prefer others tonight. (4) TREASURE MACH moves to a new barn - we'll see if that helps him to elevate
his game a bit. (8) MARINER SEELSTER should have been forced to qualify after just backing through
the field unexpectedly last week, and losing by 20 lengths -- but it seems that the old "poor performance"
rule (used to protect the public) is no longer is use - hard to back him tonight (especially from Post 8) after
last week's debacle.
RACE 10 - (3) VAINQUEUR R P NO has beaten these 3 straight since arriving from Ohio and we'll stick
with him on top...but he'll be going for a new barn tonight, so we don't have the same confidence we had
heading into the last couple of wins...don't go overboard if he's a very short price! (2) HAT TRICK
MARLEAU was overdriven by his owner last week (Yannick!) and turned a perfect trip into a tiring 5th
place finish - a more patient steer this week could see him stronger at the end. (6) ON HIGHER GROUND
is a rock solid threat at this level, and did the best he could for 4th last week from a tough spot - the issue
tonight is the outside draw, but he's worth using as long as the price is decent. (7) BLUE AND BOLD
rebounded from that unexpected clunker 3 back with a pair of 3rds in his last 2 starts - doesn't seem to be
on his absolute best game right now, and also has to contend with the poor draw - ok to use underneath. (5)
DC ANNA took a big jump up to this level last week but landed on a beautiful trip, and converted that into
a nice 2nd place finish (behind the top choice) - not sure she'll be as fortunate from this spot, but wouldn't
be surprised if she was still able to grab a decent piece. (1) MAGIC VACATION failed to hang on off the
class drop last week, and just hasn't been close to his best lately - his speed puts him in the mix, but it's the
final quarter that has been a problem lately. (4) IN MY DREAMS may be tailing a bit after a nice form
spree.
RACE 11 - (2) MAJESTIC MARVEL started behaving himself and picked up wins in his last pair,
including a very sharp one last week over HAT TRICK MARLEAU - if he continues to stay trotting, he has
a good chance to extend his streak to 3. (6) GREY went the mile of her life when she somehow beat the
classy Thankful No back on 9/18, but hasn't won since then - Stratton opts for #3 tonight, but this mare
drops to a level where she should be able to have a big say. (3) SUMATRA drops and moves inside and
while he'd probably like to be in even a little cheaper, he should be able to at least grab a decent slice vs.
these. (7) BIG BAD SWAN continues to draw outside and his lack of early speed keeps putting him in very
tough spots - maybe he can rally for a piece? (5) RESITA drops to a level where he can do some damage
when sharp...but it does feel like he's fallen way off his game at the moment. (1) FREDDIE MAC rarely
wins, does his best work with cheaper, and is off a bad date due to sickness - definitely prefer others. (8)
CAVALIER GEORGE would be okay from a better post, but doesn't figure to be able to do much damage
from out here. (4) PETERS EXPRESS will get a look when he drops back down to the bottom level.