RACE 1 - (6) RJ SPORTS IMAGE went a big mile last week, coming up 2nd best to the sharp, perfect trip
winner - he's been on his best game again the last few starts, and his barn is coming off an almost
unfathomable week (32-13-8-2) - gets top billing, even with the bad draw. (1) DP REALORDEAL may be
winless here in 2023 but he's raced well in many starts, and could be in line for a good trip tonight - could
add some value to the exotics. (4) STRIKING IMPACT shook free a little too late last week for a good shot
to run down the favorite- gets another decent draw. and a live trip could land him a nice chunk. (2) STONE
BRIDGE REX moves back inside after a no chance trip last week and that puts him in the mix for a decent
piece - it'll all come down to trip. (3) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE finished steadily behind the top ones last
week and has a chance for a minor share tonight if things go his way. (7) KOUNT BLASTER is good right
now but he struggled from bad posts 3 and 4 starts back and may have that same issue tonight. (5) TWO
FACED may be a notch below the main players in here - probably looking at minor scraps only.
RACE 2 - (1) GOTHIC ROCK drops down to 30s and he beat this class a couple of times not long ago - he
gets big tome post relief, and his barn picked up an impressive four-bagger on Thurs. night - lots to like. (4)
THINKBIG DREAMBIG blew up before the start last week but was a winner the week before, over a solid
foe - logical threat vs. these. (3) LOORIM LAKE A was a good 3rd vs. 25s off the claim but landed in
tough spots trying the 30s the last 2 weeks - could be a much bigger player tonight. (2) PAT STANLEY N
got to control the action vs. a soft group 2 back and picked up the victory - not nearly as good taking on 40s
last week, and no guarantee that he'll thrive vs. the 30s either. (5) GLACIS was 1 for 25 here last year and
only 1 for 18 this year - tough one to endorse on top. (6) AMERICAN ZEST A seems a bit on the cheaper
side and draws poorly upon arrival from Stga.
RACE 3 - (1) MICKY GEE N finished with good pace to just miss 3rd after being hurt by poor cover last
week, and probably gets 2nd the week before if not blocked through the lane - at 1 for 26 he's tough to take
a short price with in here, but this does feel like a winning spot (vs. a pretty soft bunch of 40s). (5) BALLE
RAT BOOMERANG is in a good spot to be handled aggressively tonight and the classy 10YO has been 1st
or 2nd in 17 of 37 local starts this year- worth using if anything close to that 12-1 ML price (2) HEART OF
DIXIE has been stuck settling for smaller pieces since returning from PA - a decent trip gives him a good
chance to grab another. (3) SAN DOMINO A is a terrific 29-9-3-4 out of town this year but for whatever
reason, is a weak 8-0-0-1 here at Yonkers - would need a pretty good price to consider him on top. (6) REI
GNING DEO was a solid rallying 3rd last week but he's having a tough year overall (22-1-1-3) - bad draw
for tonight may leave him battling for only a smaller slice. (7) OSTRO HANOVER was a good trip 2nd off
the qualifier but then came up with a pair of dullish 5ths - poor draw won't make things any easier tonight.
(4) LONG WEEKEND A failed to beat a single horse in his last 2 starts and seems overmatched for tonight.
RACE 4 - (6) DESPERATE MAN looked like an Open pacer from his first start here in October so it's no
surprise that he's 2 for 2 since making it up to the top level - gets the post assignment he deserves, but can
still overcome it to take another. (5) COVERED BRIDGE has had an amazing year (17 wins, over $500K)
but was no match for the top choice last week, and will need to crank it up a notch if he hopes to reverse
that decision tonight (also, his barn has gone cold for some reason, losing 24 straight races over the past 5
weeks). (4) SONNY WEAVER N has been very sharp for a long time, and simply stuck in an impossible
spot last week (when the top pair were somehow allowed to draw for inside posts) - could have a bigger say
tonight. (1) PEACE OUT POSSE is a candidate for "mile of the meet" with his insane victory 2 back - was
an ok 4th trying the Open last week, and probably looking at another small piece tonight. (2) LOUS SWEE
TREVENGE rallied nicely for 2nd vs. easier last week but may get lost a bit vs. these. (3) CARABAO A
seems to have some misinformation about his Down Under lines but it's safe to assume he's a pretty nice
horse (and been pacing all along) - would still like to just watch this week, however.
RACE 5 - (2) JUST ENUFF STUFF was a winner in his first start for the Super Siblings - was used harder
the next week and tired but bounced right back with a perfect trip win over BIG DREAM FELLA last week
- clearly a threat to take another. (5) BIG DREAM FELLA was used very hard in his local debut (for new
connections) and tired - got a much easier trip the following and jogged but then failed on the lead (at 1/5!)
last week, gobbled up in the lane by the top choice - still the main danger! (4) PEPPERMINT MAN put it
all together in a very sharp win 2 back but landed on a nightmarish trip last week and deserves a full pass -
decent value play, hoping the top pair mix things up a bit. (1) ALL ATTITUDE has hit board in 4 of 5 local
starts and is definitely one to include in exotics - hard to justify him being the ML favorite, however. (3) VI
CTOR CRUISE hasn't been bad since arriving 3 starts back, but his finishes have been lacking - minor
share only. (6) FINALLY FRIDAY has been solid at PRc but may be facing tougher tonight for his new
barn - a tough draw for his local debut won't help his cause. (8) BEN SOLO hit board in all 8 starts this
year before tiring badly in his last - has missed time, draws Post 8, and seems shaky for tonight. (7) PINE
BUSH MONSTAH draws outside after a pair of dismal efforts.
RACE 6 - Tough race: (6) SHAKESPEARE has won 5 of his last 6 starts (4 for 4 for his current trainer)
and paid a fair price in all but one of them - will need some trip luck to win from this spot, but could be
dangerous if he gets some. (5) LOUS THE ATTITUDE wasn't the same "dominant" winner last week as he
was the start before, but still got the job done - hard to NOT include anything this incredible barn sends out
right now. (2) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK has been sharp for a while, and always has a good late kick -
might have listed him on top if his barn wasn't having so much trouble winning race right now. (3) AMERI
CAN CLASSIC was rough from early on last week but Gingras was still able to make the top at the quarter
(:26.4) - he paid a price for the hard use and tired late, but an easier trip could make him a threat here. (4)
FULSOME has raced well overall since arriving at YR but seems more likely to battle for a smaller piece
than a bigger one. (1) RB seems a notch below the main players here, even starting from the pole. (7) TJS
INDY PACER probably had more pace than he was able to show last week but gets hit with another bad
draw - may need to wait for a better scenario.
RACE 7 - (2) GROOVY JOE came up flat at Chester last week but his prior 2 starts (here at Yonkers) were
excellent, just missing to DEETZY 2 back, and digging in for 2nd behind HEMSWORTH N (in a 1:51.3
mile) the start before that- if he brings his best tonight, he can be a very tough player. (5) SHINE A LIGHT
felt like he may be starting to tail just a bit but he had no problem picking up the win last week after going
to the half in :58.1 - his always hot barn has been INSANELY hot the past week, making it hard to ignore
any horse they send out. (1) JUDDY DOUGLAS A tired last week but just missed the week before and was
a very powerful pocket winner the start before that - barn can be unreliable, but this guy can be a threat if
he shows up in the right mood. (3) ALLUNEEDISFAITH N had a useful 3rd off the qualifier 2 back but
was dull in his last - which version tonight? (6) HAMMERING HANK was a big earner at 2, only made 4
starts at 3, and has been just "ok" as a 4YO - he's just 2 for 23 on the year, and has settled for smaller shares
too often to get excited about his chances here for the top spot. (4) SLING SHOCK is another 4YO having
a disappointing season at just 2 for 18 - goes for a new barn tonight, and we'll see how that works out. (8)
WALKINSHAW N finished strong the past 2 weeks but faces a tall task starting from Post 8. (7) WINDSU
N RICKY wired cheaper in his last, but may have trouble getting into the mix tonight.
RACE 8 - (2) COACHES CORNER is now 7 for 7 since joining our leading barn and if there were any
remaining questions as to whether he's "for real", they should have been answered with last week's two
move, 8 hole jogburger - he'll lose eventually and maybe even tonight...but it's pretty tough to make a case
against him right now. (1) BIRTHDAY cut the mile last week, met up with the winner at 3/4s and was
simply no match, though he did safely hold 2nd - perhaps the main danger should the top one have an off
week? (4) AMERICAN MERCURY is just one of several in the barn that have turned in outstanding
season's after being acquired by the Dynamic Duo - he tailed considerably in his last pair, but that doesn't
mean he can't turn things around and suddenly be a big threat again tonight. (6) CRANBOURNE N came
after the leader THREE times last week, and was rebuffed every time - he's a solid performer, but may be in
a tough spot tonight. (8) HEMSWORTH N is a bit of an enigma, throwing big miles at times then failing to
fire when seemingly in a good spot (like last week!) - not sure how serious he'll be from all the way out
here. (3) BURNHAM BOY N did some fine work for several starts after the October barn change but may
be starting to wear down just a bit - would consider for a small piece tonight. (5) NINETEENTH MAN A
was a dullish 4th last week and may need a class drop. (7) CHANTEE seems too far out to threaten.
RACE 9 - (2) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A is getting the lukewarm vote here - he's just had too good a year
NOT to list on top in this field, but it's also possible that he's just not at peak form after all those hard miles
- would be careful if the price is too short. (8) ROCKNROLL RUNA A is also having a tremendous season,
both overall and his Yonkers appearances - his young pilot is actually very talented, and almost won the
Open a couple of times with this guy earlier in the year - don't dismiss too quickly, even from Post 8. (1)
JAHAN HANOVER suddenly got sharp again this fall and has been holding that form very nicely - the
draw makes him a very legitimate player tonight. (1) FAMILY RECIPE was a winner in this class last week
and since a win dropped off the bottom of his card as well, he remains eligible to this class - losing Gingras
could hurt, however. (4) TYPHOON BANNER N is just 1 for 7 at YR but has raced well in most of those
starts - moving up in class, but worth a look if the price creeps up. (7) JACKS LEGEND N hasn't had a
"great" season but his current efforts have been very good - would need some major trip luck to win from
out here, though. (6) SEMI TOUGH got lost at the back last week and the same may happen here, even
dropping in class. (5) KARLOO BRADLEY N needed his last after missing time - may need another.
RACE 10 - (5) TUGGIN IN MY HEART was one of the barn's three fire-breathing winners last Monday -
he's been a threat almost every start for weeks, and would seem to be in a good spot tonight to make it 2 in
a row. (4) BILL HALEY N was hurt by a tactical error from Stratton last week (and then some bad luck)
and it left him settling for a crisp rallying 2nd- the right trip would give him a chance tonight (with Bartlett)
(1) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER went downhill for a while but has bounced back lately, picking up a pair of
2nds to the very sharp RJ SPORTS IMAGE in his last pair - could find a winning trip from this spot. (2)
THRASHER has been very solid lately but he's not all that handy, and that sometimes leaves him settling
for smaller pieces. (3) SAILBOAT HANOVER disappointed on the lead off the qualifier (at 2/5) but then
charged home from the back (at 15-1) to win the next week after a claim- never got involved in his last, and
remains a bit of a guessing game for tonight. (6) SETH HANOVER has been doing some good work lately
but the move outside is going to hurt. (7) HEART ON MY SLEEVE landed on a dream trip last week, got
a jump on BILL HALEY N and pulled off the upset - seems unlucky to be as fortunate tonight, however.
RACE 11 - (1) PRINCE MCARDLE N really came to life after shipping east to his current barn - hard to
gauge his current "class" from his NJ lines but he's been razor sharp for amateur pilots and lesser drivers,
and gets the rail and Bartlett tonight - could be tough to catch. (5) ALOTBETTOR N seemed to be tailing a
bit but the drop to 30s last week resulted in a front end jogburger - has to be considered a big threat to
repeat. (3) GENTLEMAN JIM II IE raced well in most of his starts here in the past but could never find the
winner's circle - ships in sharp, but make sure to get a fair price if considering him on top. (2) SULLIVAN
went a bit sour for a while but his last couple have shown better signs - ok to use underneath. (6) ARTIST
BEST is highly unpredictable from start to start but this is a tough spot even if he brings his better game.
(7) TIN ROOF RAIDER A gets a barn change for tonight but also gets Post 7 off a month. (4) HUDSON
PHIL fell apart badly right after being claimed on 10/16.
RACE 12 - (1) STAY HAPPY was caught in the back last week with no chance, but finished with pace in
stretch traffic - she gets to call the shots tonight if she wants to, and may have a tactical edge over a pair of
less handy foes. (2) PANETTONE HANOVER landed on a terrible trip last week (thanks to being caught
behind an erratic URIEL BLUE CHIP) and deserves a pass - when things went smoothly he crushed this
class 4 back, and just may do the same tonight. (4) URIEL BLUE CHIP was Gingras' surprise choice last
week, was well backed for his YR debut but had trouble keeping up from the start, looking erratic at times
and clearly not quite "right" - if our leading trainer has worked out the bugs he could be dangerous tonight,
but would need to be a fair price to be worth using on top. (5) WE SHALL SEA goes back to Cory S. here
but they've hooked up for small pieces in the past - perhaps tonight too? (7) DEMPSEY HANOVER lands
in a tough spot for his local debut but for connections that always deserve respect - maybe 3rd/4th? The trio
of (3) BOOM TOWN BOY, (6) VANDALISM, and (8) CONTROL GROUP all seem a bit overmatched,
and would be surprises, for sure.