RACE 1 - (2) HEZA REAL DIAMOND got off to a terrible start upon arrival last week, was stuck in the
back most of the way but did finish with good energy at the very end - he can be a much bigger threat with
a better trip tonight, and is one of several with a legitimate chance to take tonight's very competitive opener
(1) LOUIE THE HORSE N is definitely off his best form but he's in cheap enough that he can be a major
player here, especially with the rail draw...just don't take too short a price if using him on top. (6) BARON
MICHAEL is sharper than his lines look - he lands in another terrible spot but he'll be a big price, and isn't
a bad one for longshot fans. (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR is another that's off his top form, but he did show
some better life last week and gets both post and class relief - very eligible to have a wake up call tonight,
but also likely to be overbet. (4) WATERWAY was having a very solid year before hitting a rough patch in
September....his last was better, so perhaps he's ready to start heading back in the right direction - possible.
(5) ADAM CROCKER A was well backed at Chester for his 2nd U.S. start, handled aggressively to make
the lead but got shuffled behind a tired foe on the final turn and lost any chance - it's hard to say what he
did have in the tank, but we'll learn more tonight. (8) ALEX TYE failed on the front end in his last pair -
does drop, but hard to like his chances from out here. (7) WHITE BELLY arrives from Ohio and just looks
a bit cheaper than these (and draws Post 7).
RACE 2 - (5) NAUTICAL HANOVER has been tackling stakes company all season - he only has THREE
overnight starts, and he came out on top all three times...we'll look for him to make it 4 for 4. (1) DRAGON
CITY was much improved in his 2nd local start and even better in his last - draws best, and is a prime
candidate to land on the ticket. (6) TWIN B DELUXE is 3-2-0-1 here this year including a sharp Post 7
victory on 7/5 - he was a legitimate NYSS player all summer long, and can be close at the end IF he lands
on a manageable trip. (7) DP REALORDEAL is 5-3-2-0 since arriving at Yonkers with the 2 losses coming
to the fire-breathing BB LUCKY BOY - the obvious knocks here are the draw and the tougher competition
this week...and both are real concerns. (3) DYNOMITES PEAK had a rough 3YO campaign in Canada -
lands in a barn that figures to improve him, but still seems to be in a little steep tonight. (4) BAY BRUTE
started the year 0 for 15 before winning his last 4 at the Maine Fairs - has to prove he can hang with these.
(2) FORREST BLU had a very promising 2YO season but has been a bust (so far) at 3 (9-0-0-1) -- prefer
others right now.
RACE 3 - (5) COALITION HANOVER isn't all that reliable and sports a 1 for 17 career slate at YR....but
he was very good last week (in a quick mile) and will be tough tonight if he can match that effort...wouldn't
take a very short price, though! (2) BETTER B SWIFT has been finishing with good pace more often than
not from a lot of tough recent spots - gets post relief here, and a live trip could make him a dangerous late
threat. (3) SANTAFES COACH is another that can be pretty unreliable, but his "best" effort would make
him a legitimate player - that 15-1 ML price makes him worth a look. (1) ROCKIN JUKEBOX picked up a
3rd last week and that's the best finish he's been able to manage in his 4 starts at this level - suppose he's a
player here by default, but he's almost certain to be overbet for a barn currently at 1 for 73 this year. (4)
HEAVENLY SOUND does have 4 local wins this year, and becomes a bigger threat when he can hit the
front end - would consider if the price was good enough. (8) SOUTHWIND MOROCCAN is as good as
any of these but he draws post 8, is just 1 for 18 this year and 1 for 40 locally over the past 2 years! (7)
TOM ME GUN N will probably wake up and win at this level one of these weeks....but it's hard to make
the case that tonight is that night. (6) GLENGARRY KNIGHT N was ridiculously overbet last week and
came up with yet another dud - another waiting for that wake up call that never seems to come.
RACE 4 - (5) SUPERVISETHEMOMENT shows a series of sharp speed tries up North (over the half) for
low % connections - ships down to one of the leading barns, gets Brennan on board, and is listed at 7-1 ML
- definitely worth a play. (3) BETTER ROLL ON A made his local (and U.S.) debut a winning one, then
was a close 2nd best the next week to the hot DP REALORDEAL -- figures to be very tough here, once
again. (2) HUNTSVILLE PLACE paced a sharp :27 third panel battling the leader/winner last week and
can be excused for tiring a bit in the lane - he fits nicely here, and an easier trip can put him much closer at
the end. (4) EXOTIC SAND has been a steady player at this level for weeks, though his only win was when
he placed first (via DQ) - leaning to others for the top spot, but still wouldn't be all that surprised if he made
it to the winner's circle. (1) COLD CREEK FELIPE took 3 weeks off after folding up badly in his last -
even if he comes back 100%, he still may be a notch below a few of the top ones. (6) WHISKEY BREAK
has been better in his last couple of starts but he steps up to NW4 tonight after not coming close to beating
NW2 - minor share only. (8) SPORTS ADVISOR was no factor at all from a similar spot in his local debut
- hard to make a case for him tonight. (7) DOCTOR BB arrives from PcD and just looks a little cheaper.
RACE 5 - (6) ALWAYS WATCHING ships in from Stga. in fine form, would seem to fit with these and
gets a big switch to our leading driver - we'll give her the narrow edge in her Hilltop debut. (7) PURE COT
TON found room a little too late last week or she might have reversed that nose loss - she can hold her own
with better than these, and looms a very dangerous threat...even from Post 7. (2) NUTTINBUTTHEBEST
got a little tired after cutting the mile 2 back, then raced from Post 8 (off a month) in her last - drops in for a
tag, moves inside, and may be sitting on a big mile for tonight. (3) TOBAGO TIME has been pretty
consistent since joining her current barn, though her only recent win came vs. easier - good one to include
underneath in exotics. (5) SO FIA LOLITA raced very well last time, losing by a nose to a mare that came
back to race very well in her next - the concern here is that she's stepping up to take on tough older mares
tonight....and we'll have to see how she handles that assignment. (1) BOTTOMOFTHENINTH made a
good impression in her YR debut, finishing crisply through the lane to rally up for a close 2nd - this is a
much tougher field, however, so we'll see if she can be as effective against these. (4) SHEIKH YABOOTY
N was scratched sick from her last and comes into tonight having missed 3 weeks - leaning towards others
here. (8) ALWAYS B MIMI held her own nicely vs. better after moving way up from the bottom levels -
she drops a bit for tonight, but the terrible draw will be hard to overcome.
RACE 6 - (2) ALTA BLUES A wasn't quite hitting on all cylinders after arriving from Australia this spring
- hit a low point with a break here on 9/26 but found his form right after that at Fhd., finishing 2nd (by a
nose) the next start, followed by a blowout win last week - seems ready to start doing some damage here
and we'll give him top billing...but don't go overboard at what may be a short price. (5) GINGRAS BEACH
was a nice 2nd from Post 7 last week in a very fast mile for that night - he fits very nicely with these, and
figures to make his presence felt in a big way. (3) CAMPORA N is winless here in 13 starts this year but
has faced better, and his current form isn't bad at all - legitimate player, (1) SIMPLE KINDA MAN has
raced well here in the past but came up disappointing in his YR return last week - goes for a new barn
tonight, draws best and we'll see if he can find one of his better efforts. (8) BOBCAT BAY looped right to
the lead last week (at 25-1), yielded, then finished well to be 2nd - maybe he can try that again from Post 8,
at another big price? (6) ROCKINMYSHOE improved in his 2nd local try, and was solid the next week as
well - tough draw here, but would certainly use for 3rd/4th at a nice price. (7) WAR DAN DELIGHT N was
totally blocked in the lane last week or he could have been closer - that being said, he lands in a very tough
spot for tonight, and is just 1 for 63 over the past 2 years (0 for 44 here at Yonkers) - another possible bomb
for a minor piece. (4) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER has been better lately and had a tough trip last week - he's
being listed on the bottom but a good trip could see him grab a minor share.
RACE 7 - (1) CLEVER CHARACTER shipped down from Canada (to an excellent barn) showing some
strong lines but just came up terrible in his local debut - he was racing off a bad date that night, and the fact
that his connections drop him right back in the box suggests that he may be ready for a much more serious
try tonight - one of several possibilities in here. (4) SOHO LENNON A was really helped by scratches and
a couple of main rivals just not racing well in last week's easy victory - that being said, it would hardly be a
surprise to see the classy 12YO come right back and take another. (2) PASS A GRILLEBEACH was a very
game first over 3rd in his return to Yonkers last week - draws inside, and retains the services of a young
driver who has really penetrated his way right into our top driving colony this year. (6) MICKY GEE N was
struggling this year before going on the shelf for several months - he's actually looked pretty good since
returning recently, and seems headed in the right direction - chance to show up late if the pace gets
contested a bit. (5) MOHAWK WARRIOR does his best work with easier, but there's a chance he could just
save ground from this spot and pick up a small share. (3) ROCKATHON hasn't been on his game lately,
throwing a few duds while running out and making breaks - he's eligible to just reverse form at any time,
though, so at least look for a good price if you think tonight might be his night to turn things around. (7)
LUCIANO N is one of the few horses from this barn that is NOT clicking right now - Post 7 seems an
unlikely spot for him to just reverse course and deliver a big effort. (8) PADUKA N comes off a very nice
win last week, but that was vs. easier and helped greatly by a stopping leader - Post 8 figures to make it
hard for him to get involved this week.
RACE 8 - (4) LOUS SWEETREVENGE beat a NW30000 field with Bartlett on 8/8 - the pair were
reunited last week and this guy paced a third quarter in an eye popping :26.3 to go by the leader, before
pacing home in :27.3 to seal it - moves up in class, but remains the one to knock off. (3) IMSTAYNALIVE
has good pace finishing from an impossible spot last week after a pair of 2nds (behind nice horses) in the
two starts prior - absolutely worth using in exotics at that 12-1 ML price. (1) AMERICANLIGHTNINGN
didn't lift a hoof the last 2 weeks but he's 7 for 15 at YR this year, draws the pole, and just may come up
with a different kind of effort this week - the tote board may offer some guidance. (5) ODDS ON OSIRIS
had a disappointing 4YO campaign and wasn't doing much better at 5 -- his form did start to turn around
after a barn change in September, and it's hard to say how well he'll fit here....the guess is that he'll be a part
of the action in his YR debut. (2) BILL HALEY N was away for 4+ months and can be forgiven for tiring
in the 1:49.4 mile he caught in his PcD return - another that may be worth checking the tote board for. (6)
VELOCITY KOMODO figures to be coming from too far back to do any serious damage here, but a minor
piece could be within reach. Both (7) GENIUS MAN and (8) TELL THEM LOU are pretty good right now,
but neither figures to be close enough to be serious contenders this week.
RACE 9 - Tough race! (6) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY returns from Pocono and her recent form is solid -
she's had some success here in the past, figures to be a pretty good price, and she's worth considering in a
field with plenty of contenders, but no real standouts. (4) CHUPPAH ON has 3 starts since dropping down
to this level....one win, and a pair of close 4ths from Posts 7 and 8 -- logical threat with the good starting
spot. (1) CALLMEQUEENBEE A couldn't sustain her first over bid last week but she picks up Bartlett
tonight, draws the pole, and may land on an easier trip - possibility. (2) LAURIE LEE "figures" every
week, almost always gets overbet but has only win to show for it in recent starts - can't dismiss her chances
here, but there's almost certainly going to be others offering better value. (5) LOOKATMYART is a terrific
18-4-6-2 at Yonkers this year - her 43-1 price from Post 8 last week gave a strong indication that she wasn't
going to be too serious, but she gets post relief for tonight and may have a different approach - check the
tote board for clues. (3) ASHTINI has been in a good groove, picking up a trio of 3rd place finishes - make
sure to include her for 3rd/4th on your tickets. (7) ENGLISH ROSE N isn't bad right now, but faces a tall
task trying to reach from out here....and (8) POPPY DRAYTON N is in the exact same predicament!