RACE 1 - (4) MAXIMUS RED A finished alertly in his 2nd start of the year and his barn really came to
life last week, registering a 10-4-2-0 slate - picks up Yannick (as Dube sticks with #7) and should be able to
have a big say tonight. (8) THE REGULATOR gets Bartlett to choice off a couple of others and should be
able to work out a fairly reasonable trip, despite Post 8 - barn is winning at an insane 33% to start the new
year, and anything they send out demands attention! (3) JUSTA LITTLE BIT A struggled badly in his first
few U.S. starts - wasn't "as bad" 2 back, and actually raced ok for 3rd last week - we'll see if he can go on
improving, and perhaps be a serious player tonight. (5) FOREVER FAV threw a disappointing mile 2 back
but rebounded with a better effort last week (from an impossible spot) - maybe he can rally for a piece? (7)
PYRO would be mighty dangerous at this level if even close to 100% but he hasn't shown anything so far
in '23, and his barn is winless to start the new year - major wake up call is needed. (2) SAYING GRACE N
raced well in 2 starts with cheaper but struggled moving up to this level last week - leaning towards others.
(1) REDBANK BLAZE A lands inside but just hasn't been on his game lately - maybe he can perk up a bit
here? (6) JKS CHAMP raced well in his local debut 2 back but disappointed in his last, despite losing by
only a nose - tough spot here (congrats to driver Lauren Tritton, who picked up her first Meadowlands
victory with Down Under star Lochinvar Art A....who we'll hopefully see plenty of here at Yonkers).
RACE 2 - (3) BARBADOS never got involved from the back in his first start of the year but quickly
returned to "beast mode" the next week, and comes into tonight having won 2 in a row - he's now taken 19
of his last 47 local starts, and remains the one to knock off in here. (2) LONG WEEKEND A just missed to
the top choice 2 back then came up 2nd best to the razor sharp OZONE BLUE CHIP the next week- clearly
the main danger! (5) PURPLE POET was really good from Post 8 in his first start of the year but
disappointed in his next couple - was a "meh" 4th last week, but a return to his better form would give him
a good chance at a small piece of this. (6) DELIGHTFUL TERROR used a perf4ect trip to beat cheaper on
1 /23 but did follow that up with a pair of nice efforts for 3rd - chance for a similar prize tonight. (1) OUR
MAJORDAN A is on the cheaper side, but the rail draw could help him pick up a small share. (4) FULLB
ACK just hasn't been sharp in his last few.
RACE 3 - Tough race! (3) LOVE THE BLUES N was heavily backed at the windows here on 1/18 and the
public was right on the money, as he effortlessly buried the field with a 5 length front end blowout - came
back to race super again the next week vs. the 25s, coming up 2nd best to the streaking UPTOWN FUNK -
drops in for $30K tonight and just may be sharp enough to beat this field full of question marks. (7) BETT
OR BE OSCAR A was a close 3rd last week and might have done even better with some more room in the
lane - draws terribly for tonight but we've seen Bartlett create trips from tough spots so many times in the
past - chance, with some racing luck. (2) BETTER B SWIFT kicked home full of pace at a big price 2 back
but then failed to fire in his last - if the "good" version shows up tonight, he could have a legitimate chance.
(1) RICKYBOBBYNTHEHAUS was sent off favored vs. the 40s in his YR debut but had some issue and
just didn't function that night - dropped to 30s last week but drew outside and just paced evenly at the back
- moves all the way inside, and a big wake up call is possible. (8) LYONS JOHNNYJNR was a winner last
week but really wasn't overly impressive - lands all the way outside now, and that 2-1 ML price would be
tough to swallow. (4) AUDI HARE N missed a year but wasn't bad in either of his recent return tries -
wouldn't be stunned if he was able to be a serious player some time soon. (6) ONE OFF DELIGHT A was
dull last week and draws poorly for tonight -- he also adds Lasix, so it's possible that we'll see a much better
effort here. (5) GINGER TREE PETE went a "strange" effort last time, giving way to 3/4s, looking all
done, but then sticking around for 3rd - prefer others, but he would hardly be a shock.
RACE 4 - (1) STRETCH THE LINE was very well meant from Post 8 last week but was hurt badly when
his cover stalled out on the final turn, then he got pretty rough trying to get around that one - he still
finished up with pace, and his barn sent out some very live ones last week - the 4YO may be able to handle
his elders from this spot. (5) SOHO LENNON A had good pace finishing from tough spots in his last pair,
and gets some class relief for tonight - he may get a more aggressive try here, and the veteran looks like he
may be up for it. (2) THE REAL ONE hasn't been "great" in his last few, but he hasn't been bad either - the
mega-classy 13YO can never be counted out from a spot like this. (3) HYPNOTICDREAM finished better
than expected last week and is playable in exotics tonight - definitely seems like he'd be better used
underneath, rather than on top. (4) GALANTE A was up in class from Post 8 last time so he can be
forgiven for not getting involved - he may be able to stick closer and grab a small share with the move
inside tonight. (6) SON OF A TIGER N failed to get involved from a similar spot last week, and faces the
same dilemma tonight. (7) NVESTMENT BLUECHIP was ok with a good trip vs. cheaper 2 back but did
struggle last week - tough spot again.
RACE 5 - (5) TIN ROOF RAIDER A charged home for 3rd in his 2023 return then followed that up with
back to back victories - can't say he's a "cinch" here, but he's certainly the one to knock off. (1) FLOW
WITH JOW cut the mile last week before coming up 2nd best to the top choice - he should be looking at
another good trip tonight, and may prove the main threat once more. (6) BRACKLEY BEACH saw his
form tail for a couple of starts but was well backed for his last and he did race a lot better - figures to be
hurt by the draw here, but still can grab a piece with a decent trip (7) OSTRO HANOVER should really
appreciate the class drop, but he likely won't be too fond of the poor draw - still deserves consideration for
exotics. (2) ROCKIN JUKEBOX found his form quickly up at Monti and he'll be handled tonight by the
young pilot that has been doing well upstate - a sensible steer could land him a nice piece. (3) AINT HE
SPECIAL moves up from the age-restricted claimers to take on his elders - been "ok" lately, but may need
to find more to be a contender here. (4) EL JACKO N hasn't been clicking lately and this $40K class seems
a bit ambitious right now. (8) LUCIANO N has some good recent efforts, but the post is a killer.
RACE 6 - (6) COVERED BRIDGE was a sharp winner here 3 starts back - was used very hard the next
week and was still a close 3rd behind a couple of pretty nice horses, then kicked home with plenty of pace
from an impossible spot in his last - not a great post here, but he seems sharp enough to find a way to
overcome it. (1) MOONLIGHT SHADOW is on the cheaper side for sure but he's in raging form, and has
really teamed up beautifully with Gingras - may be sharp enough to handle the big jump and be a player.
(2) SMOKIN BY N hit a rough patch but bravened back up at the lower levels and has held that form right
back up the ladder - can be a threat once again. (4) DELIGHTFUL DUDE has hit board in 7 straight but
only one was a win - good one to use underneath. (5) MOTIVE HANOVER was sent off favored moving
up to this level last week but faltered on the lead - guessing he'll race from off the pace tonight, but he's
comfortable with that as well - consider for exotics. (3) SETH HANOVER raced better last week but it was
probably still not his "best" - needs to get back to that top form of late last year if he hopes to be a serious
player tonight. (7) MADELINES BLK JACK ships in with some questionable current form and lands a bad
spot for tonight - keep an eye, as he'll be dropping in the class the next couple of weeks.
RACE 7 - (5) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A moves up in class once more as his winning streak now stands at 3
- he's been the prohibitive choice each time, scored effortlessly in each race and Stratton sticks with him
over #4 - we'll stay on board the hot team too, but there won't be much value to be had! (2) BILL HALEY
N gets a bit of class relief and may be able to work out the pocket trip from this spot - could be the main foe
(4) DEAN B HANOVER took some $$ from Post 8 two back and rallied nicely for 3rd - came up a no-
threat 2nd to a very impressive recent import in his last and should be able to have a big say tonight as well,
with any decent trip. (6) EUPHORIA N picked up a pair of 3rds at Fhd. after arriving from Australia and
wasn't bad here last week in his YR debut - he looks like a nice horse, but may need a little easier spot
before he can contend for the top prize. (7) TIGER BARON has been sharp in general and that last effort
was pretty big...the draw may limit him to a smaller slice tonight, however. (1) REIGNING DEO loves a
trip and was able to convert a perfect one into a victory over cheaper last week - may be a notch below the
top ones in here, however. (3) BENHOPE RULZ N was able to wire lesser 2 back but is another that may
be a bit below the main players tonight.
RACE 8 - (5) NOWHERE CREEK A is capable of going big miles with better than these but he's also
been extremely camera shy here at Yonkers (1 for25) - he's more than sharp enough to beat these and we'll
list him on top...but not one to fall in love with at a short price. (2) VESPA N was aggressive from Post 7
last week but it's hard to say if he ever really had room in the lane to pace - his previous start was a win
across the river, and he may be able to come out on top here with his best effort. (4) VIVA LAS VEGAS N
had no chance in his '23 debut when coming from the back after a slow opening half - his barn is off to a
poor start this year, but this guy does fit with these - decent value horse to consider? (6) BETTORBUCKLE
UP was pretty good off the winter break and his barn was very hot last week - he's also a bit camera shy
and draws poorly for tonight, but could be worth a look at the right price. (1) MAJOR DESIRE seems a
little bit cheaper but he draws the pole with Bartlett and that makes him a threat for at least a small piece.
(7) CAVIART REAGAN wasn't bad dropping to this class last week but he draws poorly tonight and hasn't
raced in 3 weeks (canceled card) - maybe a minor share? (8) MANKAT drops off a couple of decent efforts
but is another that figures to be hampered by the bad post. (3) THOR AND DR JONES was struggling at
the end of '22 and we'll wait for better signs before considering.
RACE 9 - (4) ARDEN MESSI N was a very good 2nd behind a sharp winner 2 back and might have been
even closer last week had he been put in play earlier - may just land on a winning trip tonight in what
should be a good race. (1) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N ships in off a series of sharp NJ tries that saw him
come up a just a bit short after battling every week - he'll be rolling as far and as fast as he can here and will
have every chance to come out on top...but he'll also likely be overbet. (3) VELOCITY KOMODO needed
that first start back but was much sharper last week, keeping up well into a hot pace and finishing alertly at
the end - eligible to pull off the mild upset if things go his way. (2) ROCK CANDY hasn't been on his best
game for some time, but still fits well enough with these - may end up with a golden trip, and that would
give him a chance at the end. (7) CHANTEE has been very good ever since arriving last Fall but a series of
bad posts has hurt his recent production - he draws another tonight, but he's not a bad bomb if you think
things may fall apart here. (5) DIAMONDBEACH behaved off the qualifier last week and was able to hold
on to 2nd behind the dominant winner - doesn't feel like a great spot for him, but his barn did send out some
very live ones last week. (6) JD was a big NY earner at 2 and 3 but seems up against here as he makes his
2nd start as a 4YO.
RACE 10 - (2) BAD TO THE BONE N was a razor sharp winner 2 back and may have even raced better in
his last, despite getting collared late by a fresh-legged FUNATTHEBEACH N - Brennan will handle the
driving tonight, and he'll have a chance to grab a victory with a decent trip. (3) ITALIAN LAD N has really
upped his game since arriving at YR and while he's technically racing in the same class as last week, that
was more of an "Open" field - good value horse to consider in his current form. (4) FUNATTHEBEACH N
landed on a perfect trip last week and was able to rally on by for the win (over a VERY hard used #2) - the
classy import can never be counted out at this level, but he does figure to be overbet this week. (7) BUDDY
HILL caught them napping when he blasted right to the top at 48-1 last week and wasn't far back in 4th
after a two hole trip - chance for another good piece tonight if he can get away with another fast start. (6)
BLANK STARE came up 2nd best on 1/23 to a rival that has proven to be a very nice horse - no chance
from Post 7 in his next, but last week's long first over victory was definitely impressive - could add some
value to the exotics. (1) PRETTY HANDSOME was a game front end winner over lesser last week, and
may be a notch below a couple of these...hard to just dismiss with the rail and Gingras for a perpetually hot
barn. (5) TITO ROCKS rallied nicely for 2nd 2 back but had only even pace in the lane last week after a
final turn blindswitch - leaning towards others, but can see him racing well here. (8) JAHAN HANOVER is
a riding a 3 race winning streak - Bartlett stays on board, but he does figure to struggle from Post 8.
RACE 11 - (3) TIME TO DANCE beat easier in his local debut but the ease with which he did it suggests
that he can step up and beat better - gets the narrow nod in a pretty competitive finale. (5) OUR CORELLI
N looked to have a good chance going into his last start but an overly conservative drive left him with no
chance for better than 3rd - connections go for a new pilot tonight, and we'll see if that ends up with a more
aggressive try (and if so, if he's up for it). (4) KING TRITTON A perked up facing cheaper at Fhd. last
week, delivering a "brush and crush" victory - if he gained some renewed confidence from that start, he can
be a player here too. (8) INDICTABLE HANOVER surely fits with these, but he's stuck all the way outside
- Bartlett has never been shy about sending one, and certainly not for this high % barn - possibility, with the
right trip. (6) ONTO EL DORADO N didn't function in his first local try but his last 2 were much better
(from impossible spots) - not the worst bomb you could come up with! (1) SANTAFES COACH rarely
wins, and his barn is off to a rough start in 2023 - hard to endorse on top, even from the pole. (2) CONBOY
VILLE was Siegelman's choice of several, but probably more due to barn loyalty - been away since Sept.
and figures to need one. (7) ADAM CROCKER A moves outside after squandering a beautiful trip last
week - maybe a minor share?