RACE 1 - (2) SAILBOAT HANOVER has been outstanding since being claimed by connections that
certainly have opened some eyes with their return to the local scene - he goes for his 6th driver in the last 6
starts, but he's razor sharp and it doesn't seem to matter who gets the assignment these days - faces some
legitimate competition here, but is still the one to beat. (6) BLUEBIRD RECON was 1st/2nd in about a
zillion straight starts before landing in an impossible spot last week - tonight's draw isn't much better, but
he does drop back down to the 50s...hard to say how many might leave inside of him, but he's still worth a
look if the price is decent. (3) BENJIS BEST was off a month to his last start but appreciated the easy trip
and finished well for 2nd - he's 8-4-2-1 at Yonkers this year- and could be a major threat tonight with the
right journey. (4) EL JACKO N hails from a barn that has been winning at an unfathomable 40% rate for
months so he can never be discounted...but he's 0 for 4 since the claim, and may be just a hair below a
couple of the others in here right now. (5) TROJAN BANNER N was able to wire a $50K field in his first
local start then raced ok for pieces in his last pair - will need some things to go his way to pick up more
than a smaller share tonight. (1) KERFORD ROAD A returns from Tioga and seemed a bit ambitiously
placed in this class. (7) DARK ENERGY N was ok in his last couple, but faces a tough task from out here.
RACE 2 - (1) NANDOLO N was tightened up in NJ with his "co trainer" in the bike and was certainly
ready for his return to YR last week, scoring the sharp first over win with Bartlett now on board - the classy
import remains in the same class, draws the pole again, and remains the one to beat in this short but solid
field. (2) PACE N PRIDE N had to swing wide around sluggish cover on the final turn last week then
charged home full of pace to finish 2nd behind the top choice - may be the one with the best chance to
knock him off tonight. (4) BUDDY HILL had this class opened for him ("NW31401 L5") and is certainly
feeling pretty good right now - another logical one to use if trying to play against the very short priced
favorite. (5) FORTIFY hit board in 5 of 6 starts since joining this barn with the lone blemish when facing
BULLDOG HANOVER, etc, in the DAN PATCH - he fits for sure, but he's missed 3 weeks and lands
outside some sharp foes - a live trip would help him grab a good piece, though. (3) PRETTY HANDSOME
might be a notch below these right now, and his normally high % barn is just 2 for their last 31.
RACE 3 - (1) DIAMONDBEACH really hit a rough patch for a while but he looked good wiring the
bottom class 2 back, then a bit better wiring NW7500 last week - tonight's class jump is more significant,
but he should have some confidence right now and when he's "right", he's capable of beating better than
these - we'll give him the narrow nod. (3) KINGSVILLE had a very good summer but the 3YO was really
moving up in class last week (tackling tough older foes) and was definitely way overbet - he probably raced
better than the line looks (he paced a :26 third panel just trying to get into the race) and he could definitely
be a player tonight....but look for him to get overbet once more. (2) CAN BE PERFECT pounced on the
perfect two hole trip last week and basically gets a free ride tonight as the class was opened up to fit him in
- a similar trip would make him a threat to take another. (7) DELIGHTFUL TERROR was racing off a sick
scratch last week and looked quite short - he's right back in the box and eligible to be sharper this week -
decent value horse to include underneath, despite the tough draw. (6) SHANWAY N has been facing lesser
in most of his recent starts but his overall form isn't bad - another bomb with a chance at a minor piece. (4)
SARANAC BLUE CHIP had no chance from Post 8 last week but at least the possibility of finding a trip
does exist from Post 4....still prefer others, but a decent try isn't out of the question. (8) FAMILY RECIPE
came up empty 2 and 3 back from tough spots - gave it a big go in a well meant try last week, but
succumbed to pressure and tired to 4th in the lane - drops, but hard to back from Post 8 in his current form.
(5) TUGGIN ON MY HEART returns to YR where he broke in his last 2 local starts - will just observe, for
now.
RACE 4 - Good race: (3) BALLERAT BOOMERANG has taken 3 of his last 5, finishing 2nd to the
eternally sharp BLUEBIRD RECON in the other two - he deserves top billing off that current form, but
there are a few other sharp ones in here and this race could go a few different ways. (5) B LIKE CRUISER
saw his 5 race win streak snapped 2 back after drawing Post 8 - rebounded with a nice try last week (cutting
the mile and finishing 3rd, behind the top choice) and goes back tonight to a barn that won with him 3 starts
down - worth considering at a fair price. (7) SHERIFF N had no chance last week (sat last all the way) but
still flew home full of pace for 4th - he's another that's been sharp for ages, and MAY be able to do some
damage if things get a little heated up front. (1) MACH DORO A has a couple of recent wins and was 2nd
to a razor sharp SAILBOAT HANOVER last week - can never count him out from a spot like this. (2)
MANKAT is probably a bit sharper than his lines look - would need some things to go his way for a shot to
win here, but a decent piece is certainly within reach. (6) WICHITA LINEMAN dropped to 50s last week,
never pulled and was a dullish 3rd in the stretch - draws poorly for his new barn, and will need to be a lot
sharper to be a threat tonight (but not impossible). (4) MACINTOSH N hasn't been bad by any means, but
the 13YO lands in a tough bunch and may need to find an easier spot.
RACE 5 - (3) BETTOR BE OSCAR A went a strong mile after being claimed by our leading trainer,
coming up 2nd best to favored HICKFROMFRENCHLICK despite the first over trip - catches a pretty
modest $40K claiming field tonight, and looms the one to beat (just 1 for 20 here this year, though, so
maybe not the best one to bet the rent money on at a short price). (4) BLACK CHEVRON N beat the 30s
on 8/6 and has had several excuses facing the 40s here ever since - went a nice effort for 2nd at Chester last
week, and this is probably a field where he can make his presence felt. (7) BECKHAMS Z TAM was no
factor last week but that was vs. 50s, off a bad date - drops right back in the box and drops into a much
easier field, and may be able to be a threat despite the terrible draw. (1) WEONA SIZZLER A reunites with
Boyd and the pair did team up to spring a 120-1 shocker back on 8/5 - hasn't done much since then,
however, so a big wake up call would be needed. (6) SULLIVAN was our pick last week and he ALMOST
pulled off the 14-1 upset - he jumps up to 40s off that mile, draws outside, and may have a harder time
being the same kind of threat with these (2) WAR DAN DELIGHT N is 0 for 27 this year and impossible to
consider on top....he does have 7 seconds, though, so he can at least be considered for a lesser piece. (5)
GOTHIC ROCK used a highly opportunistic trip to beat the 25s last week - the double bump to 40s seems a
bit over-enthusiastic, however.
RACE 6 - (1) VENIER HANOVER couldn't beat a fat man to a buffet for a long time but after joining our
leading barn in August, he seemingly can't LOSE anymore, riding a 5 race winning streak into tonight (and
now beating some pretty good horses!) - there's a pretty good chance he can make it 6 straight from this
spot but IF you're looking for some reason to take a shot against him, he did bobble briefly on the 2nd turn
last week. (7) DON DOMINGO N comes into tonight with 4 wins in his last 5 starts, finishing a close 3rd
from Post 8 in the only loss- he was just reclaimed by the barn that got him this good, and the bad post
means he'll be a good price here - clearly a good helping of trip luck will be needed, though. (3) SMOKIN
BY N took a couple of starts to get back on track after a recent claim but he comes into tonight having won
his last pair, and is another viable choice if looking to go against the top choice. (2) NOWHERE CREEK A
has held form for a few different barns as he's recently climbed from 40s to 75s - may end up with a good
trip here, and that would put him in play for a spot in the exotics. (5) UNCLE JORD A may be on the
cheaper side, but he certainly has a few very good recent efforts, and could grab a chunk of this with the
right trip. (4) MIKEY CAMDEN handled the jump from 50s to 75s nicely last week, but was also helped
by a very nice trip - not sure he can land such an easy journey tonight. (6) OZONE BLUE CHIP was razor
sharp for several weeks but failed to get involved at all from Post 8 in his last - would have been more
likely to ignore that effort if the barn wasn't currently struggling a bit (just 2 for last 31).
RACE 7 - (5) VELOCITY KOMODO had to search for room into the stretch last week but was loaded
with pace once he found it - drops a peg to the level he beat on 8/8, and he's held his own with better than
these as well - a live trip gives him a solid chance in here. (1) WALKINSHAW N wasn't bad last week...he
was just incredibly overbet - always has a legitimate chance from a good spot like this. (2) OAKWOODIN
ITO WINIT IR is 0 for 11 here this year and burned quite a bit of $$ this summer - was able to pick up a
win at PcD last week vs. cheaper, and we'll see if that helps his confidence a bit - would still want a decent
price to consider him on top tonight, though (7) BARON MICHAEL is sneaky good right now, but lands
another terrible post - maybe some trip luck can help him grab a piece of this. (4) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH
was pretty disappointing on 8/30 and the fact that he was scratched sick from his next may explain why -
came back to re-qualify nicely last week, but he would be hard to endorse on top with that 2-1 ML price.
(3) GINGRAS BEACH can be pretty inconsistent but his barn has been sending out some good ones lately,
and he's not a bad one to consider for underneath. (6) CANTSTOPLYING finished ok for 4th off an easy
trip last week but figures to have a tough time getting play from Post 6. (8) GALANTE A has been dead
short off the long layoff and now draws Post 8.
RACE 8 - (1) LEONIDAS A qualified back nicely after a brief freshening and had a very useful tightener
last week, charging home full of pace to be a close 2nd after moving around stalled cover entering the
stretch - mega-classy import gets to call the shots tonight, and the road to the winner's circle goes through
him. (2) NONE BETTOR A had already been sharp so it was no surprise to see him win his last pair after
joining a barn that seems to improve horses no matter whom they get them from - he was able to beat the
top choice last time, but it'll be tougher to pull that off tonight. (3) IGNATIUS A has been good in his 3
starts since adding Lasix, including last week's close 2nd behind AMERICAN COURAGE - little tougher
spot tonight, and he also loses Bartlett (to #5) - still has a solid chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (4)
SEMI TOUGH was a lot sharper in his last pair, and seems more than capable of handling the jump back up
to the Open - another one to include underneath. (5) JOESSTAR OF MIAA has missed a month, but that
may only be because the $100K claimer hasn't been filling - he's shown that he can hold his own at this top
level too, but the bad date may really hurt him a bit tonight. (8) SPLASH BROTHER can throw some
pretty big miles at times, but this doesn't seem like one of those spots - a win drops off the bottom of his
card tonight, so look for him next week, in an easier spot. (6) SPEED MAN N finally gets in to go after
qualifying back on 9/9 - draws poorly for his return, and this is a good week to just observe...for future
consideration. (7) COVERED BRIDGE used a ground saving trip to pick up a 4th for his new connections
last week - may not be as fortunate from all the way out here.
RACE 9 - (5) RUNRUNJIMMYDUNN N was claimed by our leading barn back on 4/4 and went out to
establish a new lifetime mark the next week (in his 133rd career start) as he beat the 75s - stepped up the
Open the following start and beat them too, before finishing 2nd and 3rd in his next pair - went on the shelf
for almost 4 months after that but is now 2 for 2 since returning, and stays in the same $75K class tonight -
solid chance to be a short priced winner in the finale. (1) BELTANE A came into his last race very sharp,
but turned in a disappointing effort - he drops right back in the box, draws best, and definitely has license to
bounce right back with one of his better efforts - could be the main danger if that happens. (4) THE REGU
LATOR was sent off at 81-1 last week but kept on trying first over on the rim, eventually moving into 2nd
in the stretch to finish behind the streaking VENIER HANOVER - if he can replicate that effort here, he
can pick up another good piece. (2) CHIEFS BEACH has a mixed bag of recent efforts but if he can just sit
close and save ground, he can pick up a small slice of this. (3) PADUKA N is another that is prone to
inconsistency, and has just 1 win and 1 second from his 14 local starts this year - maybe 3rd/4th? (6) RAU
KAPUKA RULER N took off the gate for a couple of starts but he left again in his last pair, finishing 2nd
after cutting the mile both times - this is a bit tougher spot, and he'll probably have the top choice leaving
right inside of him - leaning towards others. (7) QUALITY BUD almost beat this class 3 starts back but
was dullish off an easy rail trip in his last - hard to feel good about his chances from Post 7 tonight. (8) AIR
FORCE HANOVER lands Post 8 after throwing in a somewhat disappointing try from the rail last week.