RACE 1 - (2) CHAMPAGNE ON ICE had to work a lot harder for the win last week than she probably
should have, but that also wasn't her best effort - gets another crack at this class tonight, draws inside, and
remains the one beat. (4) BELIEVER has been ultra reliable week after week, and finished a close 3rd
behind the top choice last week - remains a major threat, though Bartlett does stick with #3. (8) SO LONG
HANOVER took a shot at a big price last week, securing a two hole trip but then making a costly stretch
break before he could rally - may just go conservative from Post 8 tonight but at 20-1 ML, might be a good
one to include in exotics. (3) BIZET moves up another notch as he's now riding a 3 race win streak (for a
small barn that's done some damage here!) - Bartlett sticks, and we'll see if he can be as effective against
this tougher group. (5) P L KETCHUP has won plenty of races here over his career, and now debuts for a
barn that gets high marks for its work here over the past couple of years - been away since September, and
MAY need a start before we see his best. (6) HALO ITS ME was just 1 for 32 last year, and draws poorly
for her 2022 YR debut - prefer to wait for a better spot. (1) FULL RIGHTS just stopped badly last week,
and hasn't beaten a single horse in his last 3 starts - wait for a better effort before considering. (7) MUFASA
AS figured to be too far back to have much impact tonight.
RACE 2 - (5) J B MAUNEY N had been struggling for weeks but did finally come alive with the drop to
NW10000 last week, battling hard first over with WESTERN FAME and still right there 3rd at the wire -
drops another peg to NW7500, and that stamps him as the one to beat. (6) STELLAR YANKEE was
handled conservatively off the layoff last week but finished full of pace to just miss 3rd - should be a good
price again, and is definitely worth using in exotics. (3) GRIFFON HANOVER drops in class for a sharp
barn, and looks like an excellent fit with these...he's also just 1 for 24 here at YR over the last couple of
years, and tough to take on top at a short price (but a good one to use underneath). (2) TIGER BARON was
an "ok" 4th last week, but does fit well with these - another worth including in exotics. (1) DING DING
DINGER raced a bit better when 2nd last week (to #4) - still prefer others, but would consider for 3rd/4th
from this spot. (7) FLYINGEVENBETTOR N was a "meh" 3rd off the easy trip last week - he's capable of
better, but also figures to be compromised by tonight's draw. (4) ORILLIA JOE found a soft field and was
able to wire 'em last week - stapes up, loses Jordan, and figures to have a much tougher time tonight.
RACE 3 - (2) R MADDY BLUE CHIP is hard to gauge off all the recent Amateur lines, but he was a solid
4th here in a 3-4YO $30K claimer this fall, and moves to a barn that could probably win with a zebra right
now - with no real stickouts in here, this guy is certainly worth considering. (4) A TASTE OF HISTORY is
another getting a barn change for tonight, and this guy was a blowout winner 2 starts back (albeit with
lesser) - he's worth a look on the same new trainer angle. (3) TEXAS TERROR N has been on a tear for
ages, but exits a very high % barn to join a lower profile operation - perhaps the 14YO can keep the ball
rolling for his new connections, but it may not be the best week to take a very short price on him (same
barn claimed Watkins when HE was 14 years old, last year)! (6) BLUEBERRY HEAVEN is usually good
for some late pace - good one for the bottom of exotics. (1) NEXT BIG THING is hard to like off his
current lines but the same barn did pop CONFIDENCE MAN (at a BIG price) last week, with similarly
uninspiring form - good one for longshot fans. (7) ROCKIN INDY can probably hang with these but may
need a better post to do so. (8) COACH CAL won 4X here last year but figures to be coming from too far
back to have any real say tonight. (5) ASTON HILL DAVE is 1 for 38 over the last 2 years, and his barn
has yet to have a horse finish 1st or 2nd so far this meet.
RACE 4 - (2) BOLT OF LUCK had a useful tightener last week, and seems ready to be handled more
aggressively tonight - he's won several times here in the past, and this is a good week to hop on his team.
(1) CASHNCAM looked like he was heading south but rebounded with a much better effort last week - if
he can build on that a bit, he can be right there tonight. (3) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was going through
a short, terrible 4YO season before coming around at the end of the year - he's become a pretty steady
player at this level, and wouldn't be any surprise in here. (5) RISKY MILLION gave it a solid try on the
front end when 3rd last week against "open" 20s - faces only 3-5YOs tonight and should be a good fit -
chance with the right trip. (4) BARRYWHITE HANOVER was surprisingly aggressive last week, leading
to a 3rd place finish - chance for a piece tonight, as well. (6) KEYSTONE NOLAN flattened a bit last week
but he was also racing off a bad date - goes for a new barn tonight, draws outside, and it's hard to really
know what to expect from him. (7) FOLLOW YOUR HEART has now drawn Posts 7 or 8 in an amazing 8
of his last 9 starts - he's still raced decently in several of them, but he REALLY could use some draw luck!
RACE 5 - (1) WINDSONG JACK ended the year very sharp, hitting board in 7 straight starts (including a
couple of wins) - was away for 6 weeks and still held decently for 3rd at Fhd. last week, and should be that
much tighter with a start under his belt - his main rivals here all come with question marks, so we'll give
this guy the edge. (3) MACH TIME N changed barns 2 back, went from 77-1 the week before to 2-1,
blasted to the top and was a total jogburger - came up 2nd best last week (from Post 8) to the raging
TEXAS TERROR N, and would have been the top choice tonight (even moving up in class) had he not
been claimed last week - still have to give lots of respect, though. (4) TIME OUT IM TIRED gives mixed
feelings - he's been declining, and his last (dropping in class) was terrible...he was re-claimed, however, by
the barn that picked up a win, and a close 2nd to MAGRITTE with him back in December, and we'll see if
a miraculous turnaround is in the cards for tonight. (7) AUTHENTIC HANOVER was a very sharp 2nd
upon arrival from Ohio - draws poorly for tonight, though, and also loses Jordan in the bike...maybe can
still pick up a small piece? (8) OZONE BLUE CHIP is another guessing game - jogged on 1/17 when
claimed for $30k, just didn't function when entered for $40K in his next and now drops in for $20K - while
drawing Post 8 off a bad date - would need a pretty good price to consider! (6) HASH TAG SWAG was a
classic "drop and flop" last week, moving down to 20s and failing to fire at all - will need to be a lot better
to be a player tonight. (2) TOLLY HO draws inside, but just isn't clicking right now. (5) WAVES OF FIRE
A is in need of a wake up call.
RACE 6 - (5) STREET GOSSIP shot up the cones from last on the back side (when others pulled) and was
absolutely loaded heading to the final turn, never really found room into the stretch and appeared to finish
with plenty of trot behind the leaders - he banged out $350K at 2 and 3, and has the look of a pretty nice
trotter - gets top billing. (2) BLUE AND BOLD is feeling good again, can handle any trip that comes his
way, and definitely can be a threat in his current form. (1) ON HIGHER GROUND was handled
conservatively from Post 8 in his first try for the Dynamic Duo, but still was a solid 5th - moves all the way
inside now, and an even better effort is expected. (6) EYE OF A TIGER AS has looked pretty good in both
starts of 2022 - will need some trip luck from this spot, but seems sharp enough to grab a decent piece if he
gets some. (4) WHAT CHAPTER won at this level back on 11/5, and probably needed his last start - one of
many eligible to grab a piece tonight, depending on the trip. (3) GREY battled gamely for a long way last
week, but generally does her best work with a bit easier. (7) NEXTROUNDSONME rallied from the back
to be a close 3rd last week, but he actually looked like he might WIN entering the stretch, only to be a little
flat in the crucial stages - will be coming from way back once more. (8) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN
inherited the lead last week but wasn't able to hang on for the win - he fits very nicely in here, but faces an
uphill battle from all the way out here.
RACE 7 - (5) CONFIDENCE MAN must have built some confidence with that win at Monti because he
raced MUCH better than expected in last week's 17-1 upset - he may get a favorable pace scenario in front
of him again tonight, and his price should actually be pretty good again - worth a shot. (3) ROCKIN JUKE
BOX was a sharp (well driven) winner off the bad date last week, bringing his local slate to 4-2-1-1 - was
claimed that night by a very sharp outfit, and looms a big threat to win once more. (2) ER VEGAS has been
battling some very tough 40s, but now drops down to the level where he just missed in his last 2 attempts -
very dangerous player. (4) MOONLIGHT SHADOW endured a brutal trip last week and gets a complete
pass - he fits nicely with these, but it's hard to predict what trip he'll end up with tonight - maybe use on the
bottom of exotics? (1) BOURBONS COURAGE moves from one of the owner's trainers to another this
week, and has done some good work here in the past (though never finding the winner's circle) - consider
for a smaller piece only. (6) LYONS LIBERTY has some solid NJ form, but may be on the cheaper side -
outside draw won't help either. (7) BEEBEETEE has been unable to get involved in either start since
changing barns, and another outside draw will likely put him in that same boat tonight.
RACE 8 - (7) HERE COMES SWIFTY was claimed back on 10/8 but then took 3 months off - has been
sharpening nicely upstate, and this new owner-trainer/trainer combination has been doing some good work
together - that 20-1 ML price does look appealing! (5) LOTTERY WINNER finally found his first good
effort since joining this barn a few starts back - can logically improve on that, and be a big threat tonight.
(4) ZOEEZ BOY HENRY picked up 3rd last week in a race he figured to need - another that could build on
his last and be a major player in here. (6) BUGGER BRUISER was able to win on the front end in a slow
mile last Friday - moves outside, loses Jordan, and does seem a bit vulnerable now. (8) ROUGH ODDS
was one of the horses in the barn to just explode up the class ladder when his trainer reappeared on the local
scene last year - he's also another that soon came crashing back down to earth, and it's pretty hard to predict
how ready he'll be off the layoff, especially from Post 8. (2) CHACHING HANOVER has picked up a
small check in his last few starts, and is racing a bit better than he did for a long time - seems likely to be in
the same boat tonight. (3) ARI ALLSTAR can grab a piece here and there, but we'll stick with others
tonight. (1) WINNING LINC draws best, but does seem a bit cheap.
RACE 9 - (5) WARRIOR ONE has been a weekly threat in the OPEN for months, so he's going to be
awfully tough to knock off in this field (they adjusted the condition to "NW30550" so that he could become
eligible) - should be a solid front end winner against these. (2) NEW HEAVEN has been freshened up after
a terrific $150K season, and that's a good looking qualifier (against pacers) - his trainer elects to make a
rare Yonkers drive tonight, and hopefully will know to step around the rail horse, and try for a pocket trip -
maybe can complete the exacta? (3) LEAN HANOVER can be a bit inconsistent but he'll be in the hunt for
a big piece in here if he's anything close to his best. (6) HILL OF A HORSE has 2 wins and a 2nd since
adding Lasix recently - will be coming from the back, but still a chance at a piece. (4) KINDA LUCKY
LINDY wasn't quite as sharp at the end of last year as he was earlier on, so perhaps the 2 months off can
benefit him - willing to throw in for 3rd/4th. (1) KASHA V draws best, but does seem a notch below the
top players in here. (8) FANATIC was really sharp for a while, but may have tailed just a bit - regardless,
it'll be hard for him to get involved from all the way out here. (7) BARRY BLACK loses a win off the
bottom of his card after tonight and will start dropping...will give him a longer look at that time.
RACE 10 - Very tough race! (7) PLAY THE FIELD finally started to tail off recently after a long, hard
2021 season - definitely not in top form right now, but lands in a field of very shaky rivals, and MAY be
able to blast to the top and look to wire these - should offer some decent value in an impossible race to
decipher. (4) ST LADS NEPTUNE threw a dull one last time but was racing off a bad date - could be better
tonight, but it's hard to remember the last time he won a race at Yonkers! (5) RETOUR AU JEU has been
very disappointing lately...but he STILL seems more likely to have a chance here than a bunch of the
others! (6) WAR DAN DELIGHT is just 1 for his last 39 at YR, and 1 for 36 (overall) in the past 2 years -
that being dais, he's been racing ok and grabbing some pieces, and may be able to do that here as well. (8)
KIMANI N is 1 for 30 over the past 2 years, and 16-0-0-7 here at Yonkers - draws outside once more, but
at least has an excellent trainer/driver combo on his side, (3) TERRITORY drops down to the bottom but
more than class relief, he needs to actually start functioning again! (1) IWONTDOTHATAGAIN would be
a threat on his best game, but his recent efforts haven't been close to that. (2) BULLVILLE KYLE is
21-0-0-2 here over the past 3 years!