RACE 1 - (4) OUR MAX PHACTOR N was hammered down to 6/5 from Post 8 despite the bad date and
still managed to get 2nd despite a very unlucky trip - draws much better tonight than he did for last week's
canceled card (had Post 7), and absolutely deserves top billing. (1) FLYINGEVENBETTOR N seemed to
race well against better several times last year...so it was surprising to see that he was 0 for 12 here at
Yonkers - qualified back decently in NJ, and figures to be a very live player from this spot....but hard to
take on top at a short price! (3) WALTER MITTY was a solid 2nd at this level to a sharp winner on 11/30,
but then was dull in his last 2 starts of 2021- started off the new year with a perfect trip victory (beating the
top choice), and his barn has been solid so far in 2022- belongs in exotics. (8) RETOUR AU JEU seemed to
give Siegelman trouble from early on last week, leading to a ridiculous trip - much better draw here, and
can rally for a piece...with a more "normal" journey. (6) SOMEBEACH BARON seemed to be tailing a bit
at the end of 2021, and weakened badly into the stretch in his 2022 return - will need to get back to his
better form if he hopes to have any say tonight. (7) KIMANI N was 1 for 36 last year, and he's 0 for 15 in
the last 3 years at YR - lands all the way outside, and we'll stick with others. (5) IWONTDOTHA TAGAIN
was dismal in his first start of the year - waiting for a better effort before considering.
RACE 2 - (6) FASHIONONTHEBEACH was no match last week for the barn changing, incredibly well
meant winner....but was still easily 2nd best - won't offer any value here, bit he's clearly the one to beat in
this spot. (1) BUGGER BRUISER drops down to 12.5s and this is where he's most dangerous - should be
an up close player from start to finish. (8) EFFRONTE A changed barns (to the trainer of the top choice)
and went from zero to (super) hero last year...only to come crashing back down dramatically - has changed
barns a couple of times since then, and that last qualifier hints that MAYBE he's ready to start functioning
again - at the right price, he MAY be worth a stab. (2) OUR REGAL IDEAL N has been dull in his last few
but did compile a 42-9-9-3 record last year (out of town) - maybe he can find a better effort, and land in the
exotics, somewhere? (4) CHACHING HANOVER has been an "autotoss" for some time, but wasn't really
too bad in his last couple - maybe include for 3rd/4th tonight? (3) ARI ALLSTAR remains unreliable from
week to week, as a quick look at his last pair can attest to - always a chance he can save ground, and rally
for a small share. (5) WE THINK ALIKE failed to fire off the bad date last start - he's just 1 for 38 here
(last 3 years), and hard to be enthusiastic about tonight. (7) LOTTERY WINNER just hasn't thrived since
joining this high powered barn 3 starts back.
RACE 3 - (5) RYCROFT N was still pacing ok at the wire last week despite a tough 8 hole trip - gets a
better draw, has Kakaley at the lines, and that 12-1 ML price makes him worth at least a look in this pretty
modest $20K claiming field. (1) WINDSONG JACK was battling in the bottom claiming class not long ago
but the classy 12YO is feeling good right now, and quite capable of threatening this bunch - legitimate
chance, but hard to get too excited about a wager when he's been away for a month, and listed at 7/5 ML.
(6) MISTER HAT was no factor in his first start of 2022 but that was from Post 8, off the bad date - he
picked up a win and a 2nd to close out 2021, and could have a much bigger say in the outcome here - hard
to not at least consider him at that 20-1 ML price. (4) LITTLEBITASWAGGER raced ok in 3 NW5000
starts before taking some time off after a sick scratch - that qua. suggests he may be a little short, though, so
insist on a good price if using him on top. (2) TERRITORY ended up "distanced" after backing through the
field in his first try of the year - may just shrug that off and bounce back with a big effort, but he'd be hard
to endorse in here at that 2-1 ML price! (7) ROGERTHAT BLUECHIP is 0 for 14 here over the last couple
of years but has raced well at times - we liked him a lot more LAST week (canceled card), when he drew
the rail, though. (3) TOLLY HO hasn't clicked since the 12/10 claim - waiting for better signs. (8) CONFID
ENCE MAN had to work very hard to beat much cheaper at Monti last week, and now lands Post 8 vs.
much better - just observing, for now.
RACE 4 - (6) STREET GOSSIP earned over $350K at 2 and 3, and has been holding his own against Ohio
Open trotters in his last few starts - should be a good fit here, with a legit chance to come out on top in his
Hilltop debut. - (2) SKY CASTLES was on the move way too early last week, or he might have been even
closer at the wire - goes for a new barn tonight, moves inside and gets a major switch to Bartlett - worth a
look here. (3) HILL OF A HORSE added Lasix 2 back and missed by a neck, followed up with a win here
last week - steps up in class but he's beaten this kind in the past...must use in exotics. (1) ALTUS
HANOVER rallied nicely for 2nd from well back last start, and can be a late threat once again with a
similar effort - chance for a piece, despite class hike. (5) HAT TRICK MARLEAU proved to be a fine
purchase for his previous owners, but goes for a new barn tonight after being claimed for $50K last week -
may be a notch below a couple of the primary players in here, but a decent piece is still within reach. (4)
FULL RIGHTS seemed well short off the winter break - will just watch, for now. (8) GREY seems to need
to be near the front end to do her damage, and that may prove impossible from this spot tonight - prefer to
wait for a better scenario for her. (7) CAVILL HANOVER has been away since 12/17, lands outside, and
this is probably a good week just observe.
RACE 5 - (3) QUALITY BUD was the choice here last week and he did well to be 3rd despite a terrible
trip - catches a pretty ordinary crew tonight, and we'll stick with him one more time. (1) ST LADS NEPTU
NE was an ok 3rd last time and has to have a chance here....even if by default -- rail draw should have him
in the hunt from start to finish. (7) DAVIDS COMING HOME finished ok (after the fact) from well out of
it last week - gets no luck with tonight's draw, but he did win 4 of 15 starts here last year....possible spot for
a wake up call, at a nice price...worth including in exotics. (4) WAR DAN DELIGHT is just 1 for 38 here
over the past 3 seasons, but he does fit well enough with these for a chance at a small piece - ok for the
bottom of exotics. (8) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN changed barns 4 starts back and has elevated his game
dramatically (at Monti) since then - he's moving well up in class and draws terribly here, but his current
barn is on fire all over the Northeast - interesting bomb. (2) ROCK LIGHTS tired as the favorite shipping
down from The Maritimes, then went on the shelf - hard to get excited about his chances off that last
qualifier. (5) DING DING DINGER just hasn't clicked since arriving here in Nov. - waiting for better signs.
(6) BULLVILLE KYLE is 20-0-0-2 at Yonkers over the last couple of seasons.
RACE 6 - (4) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN wasn't serious last week (Post 8 off a month) but he came
across the wire with plenty of energy once finally cut loose at the end - he won 9 races and $171K last year,
while also taking a new lifetime mark (at age 8) - look for a big effort tonight. (5) ON HIGHER GROUND
just had too far to come last week, but he's been delivering sharp efforts on a weekly basis for a long time -
debuts tonight for the Super Siblings, and there's no reason he can't pick up a good chunk here. (1) BLUE
AND BOLD hadn't been on his best game for a while, but looked much better in last week's wire to wire
score - eternally hot barn has been especially on fire lately, so look for another big effort from this guy. (3)
BIG NUDGE has been a tear for some time, and that includes a powerful victory here on 11/18 - he'll be
tested for class moving up to this level, so we'll see if he's up for this...especially having been away since
12/17! (2) ALL CHAMPY has shown in the past that he can trot with these, but he's been away since 11/26
and it's hard to know how tight he'll be for tonight - could go either way. (6) EYE OFA TIGER AS used a
ground saving trip to pick up 4th last week, and will need another opportunistic trip to grab another piece
tonight (with the outside draw).
RACE 7 - (2) ROCKIN JUKEBOX raced here 3X in December, picking up a win, a 2nd, and a 3rd - we'll
ignore that last Delaware effort and look for him to bounce back to his top form - one of several possible
winners in here. (3) KEYSTONE NOLAN tripped out and was a winner off the hiatus (at 12-1) and also
came out on top 3 starts back (at 16-1) - the price will come way down now, but he does have a chance to
take another. (1) MOONLIGHT SHADOW grabbed a win here on 11/12, then stayed very sharp over the
winter break at Chester (a win and two 2nds) - didn't like his chances on last week's canceled card (Post 8),
but tonight's rail draw changing things considerably - month off still a concern, however. (6) KEYSTONE
DASH just missed last week off the barn change but that was from the rail, with a pocket trip- may struggle
to get himself in play from out here, and he's also not known for his consistency. (4) FOLLOW YOUR
HEART wasn't bad from a hopeless spot last week, and that was on the heels of a couple of improved
Chester efforts - not a bad bomb for the bottom of exotics. (8) CENTURY GRIZZLY exits a top barn but
lands with a trainer that suddenly started winning races in bunches late last year (and has continued to do
well in 2022) - the issue here is that he had the rail when the card was canceled, and is stuck with Post 8
tonight! (5) BOLT OF LUCK did a lot of good work after being claimed by his current connections, but it's
hard to gauge his readiness off his upstate qualifiers. (7) ) BARRYWHITE HANOVER was no factor off
the bad date, but may be sharper this time around - chances figure to compromised by the draw, however.
RACE 8 - (1) HAYEK was sent off slightly favored against WARRIOR ONE in NJ last week, engaged in a
good battle with that rival and was just beaten by that one for 2nd, as both were run down to the wire by a
fresh foe - we'll give him the narrow edge back at Yonkers tonight. (2) WARRIOR ONE has been a model
of consistency for months, and as noted, comes off a good battle across the river with the top choice - could
easily be the one to come out on top tonight. (3) HEY LIVVY was absolutely scary when she first arrived
here from Canada last summer, but tailed badly after a few starts - has struggled to regain that form up
North, so we'll see if the barn's local team can get her back to her best game again. (5) FANATIC has done
some excellent work here since arriving from Ohio, but is probably a peg below the top ones. (4) LEAN
HANOVER was able to hang on for 2nd in the Open on 1/14, but broke in NJ last week - willing to use
underneath at the right price. (6) BARRY BLACK figures to be trailing most of the way, and may not be
able to do much damage from this spot.
RACE 9 - (1) SOUTHWIND ONYX couldn't find enough of a 2nd move to threaten the top 3 last week
but that was a quick mile for that night, and he was racing off a month - he's eligible to be tighter now,
draws the pole (had Post 7 for the canceled card!), and we'll give him the nod. (3) RISKY MILLION was 3
for 13 here last year, and shows a couple of recent 2nds at this level in PA - legit threat if he shows up on
his best game. (8) SEAFARER caught a quick mile off a month last week but was still able to kick in late
and rally for 2nd - he beat this class 3 starts back, and has a decent chance for a good piece tonight IF
Miller can work out a manageable trip. (6) APEX SEELSTER was a little short off the winter break but
was racing "ok" prior to that - good bomb to use in exotics. (2) TIME OUT IM TIRED drops below the
level of the 12/8 claim price, and that MAY be a red flag - on his best he can definitely beat these, but hard
to really be certain what to expect from him tonight - maybe the board will yield some clues? (5) CASHNC
AM hails from a barn that has been thriving, but HE just hasn't been looking too sharp lately - prefer others.
(4) CARRACCI HANOVER was able to take advantage and win a "fall apart" race last start - steps up, and
may not be so fortunate tonight. (7) MAJESTIC KIWI N exits a sharp barn, move sup in class and lands
Post 7 - wait for a better scenario.
RACE 10 - (2) MACH TIME N got a surprising barn change last week, was absolutely hammered at the
windows and went his best mile in ages, the easiest of front end winners - if he's as sharp tonight, he'll have
a chance to make it 2 in a row. (8) TEXAS TERROR N was a terror in 12.5s over the last few months of
2021 - tried to start off his 14YO campaign against the 20s, and actually went a big effort before weakening
just a bit to 3rd - drops back down to 15s for tonight, and that may be enough to get him back to the
winner's circle....even from Post 8. (1) BLUEBERRY HEAVEN was handled conservatively off the bad
date, but had some life finishing - he was a rock solid performer the last few months of the year, and might
perk up with a big try tonight - use in exotics. (6) GOTHIC ROCK was reclaimed by a barn that recently
did very well with him - terrible draw, but a good bomb for 3rd/4th. (5) COACH CAL wasn't at his sharpest
off the layoff last week - could definitely be tighter now, and maybe can rally for a small piece? (4)
DERECHO tired after sitting the 3 hole last week, and just hasn't been all that sharp for a while - needs to
be better. (3) NEXT BIG THING went some nice miles here last year, and won 2 of 8 starts - hard to gauge
off his current form, though, and the drop in for $15K could be a red flag. (7) WELL DONE SON is very
hard to predict from week to week - ended 2021 on a sour note, and now starts from Post 7 after a month
away - guessing he won't be all that aggressive from this spot.