RACE 1 - (7) 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, and
he should be offering a good price with the outside draw - worth a shot in a race with no stickouts. (2)
RISKY MILLION was 3 for 13 here last year, and show a couple of recent 2nds at this level in PA - legit
threat if he shows up on his best game. (3) WINDSONG JACK was battling in the bottom claiming class
not long ago but the classy 12YO is feeling good right now, and capable of threatening vs. the 20s as well -
possible. (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 20-1 ML price makes him worth at least a look. (6) LITTLE
BITASWAGGER 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. (4) CASHNCAM hails from a barn that's off to a good start this
year, but his own form is a bit lacking - would like to see a better effort before endorsing. (1) BEACH FIRE
K has been losing vs. 12.5s and seems to be in this race just to avoid having to qualify - prefer others. (8)
TOLLY HO hasn't clicked since the 12/10 claim AND draws Post 8.
RACE 2 - Tough race: (6) REVELRY really perked up in his last local start of 2021 then grabbed a win
and a 2nd at Chester - was no factor last week, but can definitely be a player with these if the trip goes his
way - decent value horse to consider. (7) SMOKIN BY N was 2nd to the top choice at Chester and has
remained sharp since then - ships in off a win at The Swamp, and is another that could offer some value in
this tough race to decipher. (3) HESPOISEDTOPOUNCE A was amazingly unaggressive at Fhd. in his first
U.S. start but was still sent off at 1/2 the next week, when he delivered a very easy looking victory - he'll be
facing much tougher tonight, and we'll see if he's ready for it. (2) SON OF A TIGER N qualified nicely a
couple of times after arriving from Down Under but has been a disappointment (so far) in a pair of NJ starts
- we'll see if this group is more to his liking. (4) NOME HANOVER hasn't had the greatest of success in
his local tries but may be returning with confidence off those last two tries across the river - another
possibility in this wide open affair. (5) FABRICE HANOVER was well backed last week despite racing off
a 6 month layoff but he certainly showed a lot of rust - may be sharper now, but that 5/2 ML price makes
him tough to consider on top. (1) IM BENICIO A was struggling before the winter break, and returns
tonight after missing almost 6 weeks - maybe the tote board will offer some clues?
RACE 3 - (6) QUALITY BUD was the choice here last week and he did well to be 3rd despite a terrible -
catches a pretty ordinary crew tonight, and we'll stick with him one more time. (4) ST LADS NEPTUNE
was an ok 3rd last time and has to have a chance here....even if by default. (2) DAVIDS COMING HOME
finished ok (after the fact) from well out of it last week - gets major post relief, and he did win 4 of 15 starts
here last year....possible spot for a wake up call. (5) SIR PUGSLEY was an ok 2nd after joining this high
powered barn on 10/29, but he's struggled since then - maybe he can come to life against these? (1) SIX
DAY WARS has been struggling for some time and has been away since 12/13 - in his favor, he drops and
draws the pole...still leaning to others, though. (3) 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. (8)
DERECHO tired after sitting the 3 hole last week, and now gets stuck with Post 8 - seems like an unlikely
spot for a wake up all. (7) BULLVILLE KYLE is 20-0-0-2 here over the past couple of seasons.
RACE 4 - (7) 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 poorly again but has the speed to overcome it,
and definitely deserves a chance to make amends. (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! (4) 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. (5) TIGERS WAY had really been struggling
at the end of last year but did deliver a better effort in his last start of the season - was an ok 4th in his first
start of 2022, and may be able to take home a small piece here too. (6) STELLAR YANKEE was a nice 2nd
at this level to end his 2021 campaign, but hasn't raced since that night (12/7) - entire barn is now starting
to come back for the new year, so see how a couple of his stablemates do earlier...and rate this guy
accordingly. (3) YAYAS HOT SPOT N had a brutal 2021 season, with his only win coming on the lead, all
out, at the bottom level - we'll see if a few weeks off helps him a bit. (2) IWONTODOTHATAGAIN was
dismal in his seasonal debut, and hard to recommend off that effort. (8) RETOUR AU JEU seemed to give
Siegelman trouble from early on last week, leading to a ridiculous trip - draws all the way outside tonight,
and just getting a "normal" mile is probably all the barn (and driver) will be hoping for.
RACE 5 - (6) 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 to beat these too IF Miller can work
out a manageable trip. (7) APEX SEELSTER was a little short off the winter break but was racing "ok"
prior to that - good bomb to use in exotics. (1) ROGERTHAT BLUECHIP is 0 for 14 here over the last
couple of years but has raced well at times, and should be able to be an up close player from start to finish
tonight. (5) 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 tonight.
(3) PANTHEON HANOVER is hard to consider for a top spot as he moves up from 12.5s to 20s but he is
racing well enough right now to at least have a chance at a small share. (8) WELL DONE SON is very hard
to predict from week to week - ended 2021 on a sour note, and now starts from Post 8 after a month away -
guessing he won't be all that aggressive from this spot. (2) CONFIDENCE MAN went a couple of good
miles here last fall but his current form is questionable - leaning towards others. (4) MAJESTIC KIWI N
exits a sharp barn while moving up in class tonight - not sure he'll be up for this.
RACE 6 - (1) 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 all the way inside, and gets a major switch to
Bartlett - worth a play here. (3) ALTUS HANOVER rallied nicely for 2nd from well back last start, and can
be a late threat once again with a similar effort - logical player. (7) GREY battled a long way with the
classy winner last week before finally tiring near the wire - should be able to get away to a decent start even
from Post 7, and that would give her a chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (4) 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 - assuming he's a good price, he's worth including underneath. (5)
NEXTROUNDSONME had a perfect trip last week but couldn't find enough to grab the win....but may
have been a little short off the bad date - not sure if he'll be close enough when they turn for home to do any
serious damage tonight. (2) HALO ITS ME was just ok at the end of 2021, and that was vs. easier - inclined
to pass tonight, and keep an eye for next time (when she'll likely be dropping in class). (6) FULL RIGHTS
seemed well short off the winter break - will just watch, for now.
RACE 7 - (6) 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. (1) 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) - very logical threat from the
pole. (2) 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.
(3) REMEMBER THE BEACH ships in from Ohio/PA and will probably be a good fit with these - willing
to include in exotics, at what figures to be a decent price. (4) BARRYWHITE HANOVER was no factor
off the bad date, but may be sharper this time around - chance for a minor share. (8) MOONLIGHT SHAD
OW grabbed a win here on 11/12, then stayed very sharp over the winter break at Chester (a win and two
2nds) - not sure how serious he'll be tonight, though, after missing 3 weeks and drawing Post 8. (7) KEYST
ONE 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. (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.
RACE 8 - (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. (2) 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. (1) 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...use in exotics. (5) SECRET BRO beat this class back on 11/12, then
was an even 3rd at this level last week - wouldn't be surprised if he beat these, but a couple of others do
look a bit more attractive for the top slot. (6) 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, and Post 6 won't help his
cause -- we'll see if he's up for this. (7) 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. (3) HUNTING AS has been
away since 12/17, and would probably prefer to be in a bit easier - just observing, for now. (8) MADHATT
ER BLUECHIP tired in his 2022 return, and now draws Post 8 - don't think the class drop will be enough to
make him a player.
RACE 9 - (3) 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 could be enough to get him back to the winner's circle. (6) 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 - not sure he can beat the top choice, but a mile similar to
last week's would at least give him a chance to. (5) 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. (7) GOTHIC ROCK was reclaimed by a barn that
recently did very well with him - terrible draw, but a good bomb for 3rd/4th. (1) 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. (4) BUGGER BRUISER does his best work one level down, but an
easy enough trip might give him a chance at a small piece. (2) ARCANE SEELSTER did well after a
purchase this summer and definitely fits well at this level - hard to gauge off that Monti qualifier, so
perhaps the tote board will offer some clues to his fitness? (8) COACH CAL wasn't at his sharpest off the
layoff last week - could definitely be tighter now, but will also be coming from way back.