RACE 1 - (7) THE GOOD DOCTOR has been facing light years better in his 4 career starts (in NJ) and
hardly embarrassing himself - he paces home in :26 and change every week and assuming that he can get
around the half decently, he should be able to overcome the draw and pick up his maiden victory. (1)
HUNTING ZONE really wasn't bad from an impossible spot last week and hit board in his 3 previous tries
- moves all the way inside now, and should take home a big piece of this. (2) EVERYBODYLOVESLOU
was racing well against some decent stock towards the end of his 2YO season - has come up a little short at
the end of the mile in his first few starts at 3, but should be able to have a big say against this bunch. (4)
HOLD MY DRINK beat a soft field in PA 3 back, and has raced ok in his 2 local starts as well - another
small piece is within reach. (3) FUGLEMAN hasn't really picked up his game all that much since joining
our leading barn for his 3YO campaign - minor piece only. (6) JUDICIAL seems to be improving a bit (so
far) at 4, but may have trouble getting involved from out here. (5) ONE CRAZY GUY was able to relax a
little better last week and just missed 2nd - we'll see if he can keep improving.
RACE 2 - Tough race filled with currently inconsistent mares! (6) NUTTINBUTHEBEST just wasn't right
from the start 3 back and we'll give her a pass - raced much better in her next but was inexplicably taken off
the gate last week and never had a prayer - goes back to Brennan tonight, and the outside draw should help
her price...one of several with a chance to take this. (3) WILDCAT ANTONIA lacked room in her last or
might have been able to rally a bit more - she should end up closer to the pace than she has been lately, and
she's worth a look if the price is decent. (1) LARJON LEAH perked up last week, showing unexpected
speed and doing a nice job holding 2nd after the winner drew off by 7 - very logical spot, but note that she's
0 for 11 here this year after going 1 for 18 in 2022! (2) KAITLYN N has some decent tries recently both
here and across the river - she's no better or worse than any others in here, but she's just 1 for 15 this year
and hasn't won at Yonkers since 2020. (4) TUGGINGONCREDIT was facing (and even beat) better not
long ago, but her current form is really just "meh" - certainly has a chance against this bunch, but don't
accept too short a price. (5) NORMANS MADELINE seems unlikely but she's been known to just reverse
form on a dime - if the tote board suggests she may be ready for a good one, you may want to take note.
RACE 3 - (6) DOWNRIGHTDELICIOUS had an impressive $177K campaign at 2 and started off with a
powerful win here last week to begin his 3YO season - this is a tougher field and he also draws outside...
but still deserves top billing. (1) TO THE HUNT hit board in 8 of 9 starts at 2 which included a win in the
Excelsior A Final - had a very useful tightener at PcD to start off his 3YO campaign, and draws the pole
tonight - could be a serious player here. (2) BOSTON didn't show much in his 2 starts here last year but
they were in the Messenger elim. and Final - he definitely has plenty of speed, and a pilot not afraid to ask
him for it - has to be respected. (5) JK GOING WEST earned over $300K as a youngster but suffered
through a 1 for 31 season at 4 - he's racing for a new barn (now 5), and his first couple of starts this year
really weren't bad - chance for the upset? (3) MY MIKI BEACH was away for 10 months and was still able
to come back last week and win right off the bench - barn deserves a ton of respect for that, but this is
definitely a much tougher assignment -- we'll see if he's up for it! (4) TWO FACED has been a solid player
week in/week out all year, but may find a few of these a bit tougher than he'd prefer.
RACE 4 - (6) HOT SHOT JOE (a winner here last year) was an even 4th two back in his first start for a
new barn, then raced very well for 3rd last week (behind a pair of horses that would both be prohibitive
favorites in here) - feels like a field he can handle, even with this less than stellar draw. (3) PINE BUSH IT
ALIANO was 5 for 6 last year, the lone loss coming here at Yonkers (at 2/5) in what was his last start of the
season - was an ok 5th from an impossible spot in his seasonal return last week, and he figures to be a lot
more aggressive tonight - his trainer/driver team do some good work up at Monti! (5) WE SHALL SEA
also raced ok from a no chance spot last week, and figures to be much more involved tonight - he's been
facing better out of town recently. (7) BARBOSSA HANOVER probably fits well with these but he gets
stuck outside for his 3YO return and does figure to be handled somewhat conservatively tonight. (1) BEST
BETTOR drops right back in the box after a terrible effort from the pocket last week - he's usually better
than that....maybe he can bounce back and pick up a minor piece? (2) ALLSTAR CHEDDAR has yet to hit
board in 5 local tries and comes off a pretty terrible performance. (4) BARRETT HANOVER finished way
back in his qualifier for a new barn.
RACE 5 - "CAN YOU GO THE DISTANCE" Final - 1 1/2 miles: (4) BETTER WATCH IT is razor sharp
right now and has always had a ton of stamina - in a race that's hard to predict (because of the 1 1/2 mile
distance), this mare just may be the one best suited for it. (7) TONYS MOM was a sharp 2nd in her first
start for our leading trainer and has since won 5 straight - in a MILE race she'd be the standout choice... but
be careful about taking a very short price in a race with a significant new variable! (1) LADY DELA RENT
A A has one big brush in her that she often fails to time just right - it'll be Stratton's job to figure a way to
keep her relaxed for most of this race before cutting her loose at the right time. (6) COWGIRL LILLY is
8-3-4-1 since arriving from Canada and pretty hard to fault right now- add her to the list of (very) live
players (3) CHUPPAH ON just missed in her last couple and has hit board in 4 straight - could prove to be
the right one if things go her way. (2) SEZANA N hasn't won in a while but we know she can beat these on
her best effort - worth a look IF the price creeps up there. (5) GOLDEN QUEST N was able to easily wire a
weaker bunch 2 back but faltered badly when first over as the favorite last week - seems vulnerable once
more. (8) VEL DONNA feels like the outsider, both literally and figuratively.
RACE 6 - (1) HUMAN COCKTAIL showed potential at 2, winning an Excelsior A race here at Yonkers,
and even winning a NYSS event at Batavia - was a little slow to come around in his first couple of starts at
3 but he added Lasix last week and just missed at Pocono - may have found a winning spot for tonight. As
good as (7) YO AJ was in winning here 2 back, that's how disappointing he was in his last -- he does add
Lasix for tonight, and that may explain last week's surprisingly weak performance - deserves a chance to
make amends, and definitely one to consider for your tickets. (5) HUNTSVILLE PLACE failed to fire last
week after a pair of 2nds in his previous starts - could easily rebound and be a player again tonight. (2)
BUCKEYE EMERY may be a little cheap (hard to know for sure off his Ohio lines) but the same barn
change he's getting worked out well recently for ER NO MORE - would consider underneath. (4) PINK
FLOYD HANOVER could manage only smaller pieces at PcD and figures to be in the same boat as he tries
his luck here at Yonkers. (6) AMBITIOUSBEACHBOY lost all chance with that miscue before the start
last week but was still right there at the end - he's a pretty steady performer, and eligible to pick up a minor
share. (3) HOUND ON THE BEACH has missed 19 days after being scratched sick last start - prefer to just
watch for now. (8) HURRIKANE CHUCK draws Post 8 after missing a month - leaning towards others.
RACE 7 - (2) HEY HEY DBAY has been solid all year, doing some damage whenever she lands in the
right spot - gets major post relief, meets no killers and may be able to pull off a mild upset. (3) CORAL BE
LLA got roughed up pretty good the last 2 weeks and had no prayer- as long as her feelings weren't hurt too
badly in those outings, she should be able to be a dangerous frontrunner tonight - logical spot for a quick
bounce back mile. (4) LIGHTNING LEIA woke up at a big price last week, finishing a close 3rd at nearly
40-1 -- if she can build off that, she may have a chance to be a late threat. (1) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX
has finished 4th in 4 straight starts, racing "ok" each time - would never be much of a surprise from a good
spot like this, but she WILL need to be a little better tonight to take home the top prize. (5) MIKI ROSE is
listed at 9/5 ML despite her less than stellar recent form - the connections always have to be respected, but
it would seem that better value may be found elsewhere tonight. (6) ALWAYS B MIMI seems the least
sharp of all in here AND gets stuck all the way outside - sticking with others.
RACE 8 - Interesting race: (5) JOHNNY SACK was winless in 10 starts at 2 but hit board a few times and
did show some potential - qualified back sharply for his 3YO campaign and looked very good effortlessly
demolishing the competition in his first start of the year - this is definitely a MUCH better field, but he may
be able to handle these too . (4) BEN SOLO was a NYSS winner at 2 and started off his 3YO season with
an excellent 2nd in the Revere (at Plainridge) - he definitely disappointed here last week, however, when he
was unable to hold of METAL MAN after cutting the mile - maybe he's a better horse from OFF the pace?
(6) CAPTAIN Q had an excellent local debut on 4/11 when he was right there on wire behind the talented
ITS A ME MARIO - was scratched sick from his next, though, and just re-qualified (nicely) at PcD last
week - IF he's ready to go, he can be a legitimate player in here. (8) METAL MAN seemed to be his own
worst enemy at times but was beautifully forced by Kakaley to relax last week, and was able to charge
home in the lane to collar BEN SOLO - clearly the ability is there, but it may be hard for him to overcome
the draw tonight. (2) ON DAYBOO built some confidence facing cheaper (older) foes in NJ but it's a bit of
a question mark as to how he fits with these - suppose we'll find out tonight! (3) ONTOP RAINMAN sat
last with no chance last week but did finish with good pace - chance to rally for a small share tonight, even
against this better field. (1) THAT DOG WILL HUNT came up a bit short in his seasonal debut, losing to a
BIG longshot - figured to be better in his last, but just never fired - he seems capable of better, but others
just look more appealing right now. (7) LIVONJAXANDQUEENS may have been hot last week as that
might explain why Siegelman got antsy and moved him so early - he actually held pretty well (considering
the trip), but lands in a very tough spot for tonight.
RACE 9 - (6) SHAKE IT had the misfortune of catching ROCKIN WITHELVIS A in BOTH starts after
shipping in from Chester and was an excellent 2nd best both times - gets his chance to make the others
chase HIM tonight. (1) MICKY GEE N took too long to find his gear last week and was no factor - his
previous few were very good, however, and the classy 10YO is looking better (so far) in 2023 than he did
in '22 - can definitely grab a good piece of this. (5) IMA HAPPY FELLA GB was a prolific winner in the
UK and he's thrived here in the U.S. as well, going 11-5-4-0 this year - he takes on a field of tough older
horses here, but seems ready to hold his own. (2) MULLINAX has been racing well so it was disappointing
to see him squander his good start last week - maybe he can bounce back with a better effort with an easy,
up close trip. (7) SLING SHOCK put together back to back strong seasons at 2 and 3, banking $358K - was
freshened up and qualified nicely down in Florida, but was scratched here on 5/9 in what would have been
his 4YO debut - re-qualified sharply at PcD and does seem ready for a strong 4YO campaign...but he may
be handled a bit conservatively tonight, under the circumstances. (4) SO MANY ROADS was way too far
back to threaten last week but has otherwise been picking up small pieces regularly - chance for the same
tonight. (3) STRAIGHT UP COOL has been overachieving this year, and continues to pick up small pieces
when the trip is favorable - could happen here too. (8) BRAEVIEW BONDI A is actually pretty good right
now, but a lot would have to go his way to reach for even a good piece from all the way out here.