RACE 1 – “Italian Invasion Friendship Pace” – (3) PLEASURE SEEKER was an excellent 2nd the last time she
raced at this level, and has been 1st or 2nd in 5 of her 11 local starts this year – Minore has options with the good
draw, and we’ll give her the slight edge. (4) MARATHON MARY is finally racing well on a consistent basis after a
tough start to the year – she’s a very logical threat, but can SOMETIMES be a little difficult to drive...big chance to
be right there if Calabrese gets along with her. (1) CLEAR THE WAY draws the pole for an accomplished Italian
pilot – should be able to be in the hunt, but note that she hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since 2022! (2) TUGGIN
GONCREDIT has shown little this year but the good draw could keep her close enough to the action to at least grab
a piece. (8) EVAS SPORTS CZECH faces a daunting task from Post 8 but she’s listed at 20-1 ML (after winning her
last pair!) and that makes her worth at least a look! (7) PINK RUBY has won 2 of her last 3 starts but gets a poor
draw for a somewhat inexperienced pilot and is listed as the ML favorite – could be some better value with others.
(5) TUAPEKA JESSIE N has come up weak in the stretch in too many of her recent starts to endorse tonight –
needs her new pilot to somehow spark a much better effort. (6) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has struggled all year,
and will be coming from well out of it – very tough spot.
RACE 2 – (6) POINTOMYGRANSON pretty much conceded last week when he took back to last but really had his
fate sealed when wiped out on the final turn – hard to say if he’s on his best game right now but this is a field he can
handle if even close to 100%. (1) YNOTTHISHOS is on the cheaper side but he’s sharp, has the pole, and has the
speed to grab a good trip – not impossible. (4) QUALITY BUD was sharp when he rallied for 2nd last week, even if
helped by an opportunistic trip – he’s the type that can never be counted out...but also can never be relied upon. (2)
TRAIN STATION has been away for 3 weeks and elects to drop into a claimer – definitely some red flags here, and
he’d be hard to endorse as the ML favorite, especially taking on tough older foes. (3) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK
gets a pass for last week (wiped out by #5) but he’s still a big question mark at this level regardless. (5) LOORIM
LAKE A reverted to bad habits with last week’s miscue – prefer to stick with others tonight.
RACE 3 - “Italian Invasion Friendship Pace”- (4) MISS MAYCEE shipped in sharp for a barn that has been
winning at a very high rate (at multiple tracks) then just missed in a pair of local starts – gets one of our best amateur
pilots at the lines tonight, and may be able to pick up her first local victory. (2) ROLL WITH SHORTY was in the
right place at the right time to pick up that upset victory 2 back, but found herself trapped in the lane with no chance
last week – the good draw makes her a legitimate threat tonight. (3) SHEIKH YABOOTY N has been inconsistent
this year, picking up 3 wins but also coming up short on other occasions (like last week, when she tired from the
pocket as the favorite) – chance if the “good” version shows up tonight. (6) LARJON LEAH has been good since
the recent claim, though she had no chance last week – she’ll need some trip luck after landing another tough post.
(1) BROOKDALE JESSIE picks up her share of good pieces but she hasn’t won a race since ‘22 and would be hard
to recommend on top, for tonight. (5) SUNSET SOPH has one win this season but is generally limited to minor
spoils – could be looking at a similar scenario here. (7) DANDYS SHOWTIME hit board in 3 straight at this level
but her pilot is tasked with finding her a manageable trip from Post 7 – won’t be easy! (8) AINTNOHOLLABACK
GRL has struggled in her recent starts and will probably need things to fall apart to reach from out here.
RACE 4 – Tonight’s much tougher division of this class: (4) SAILBOAT HANOVER did all the heavy lifting last
week but had to settle for 2nd best when MICKY GEE N was able to outkick him to the wire – he’s very good right
now, always thrives for this barn, and that 6-1 ML price is very tempting! (1) ROCK DIAMONDS N steps up to
face a bit better off a pair of sharp front end wins – he has the back class to handle it, and the speed to control the
action – very live player. (7) MICKY GEE N has found some of that old stretch magic since moving to this barn in
February – he was able to outkick ‘em all last week, and it really wouldn’t be a big surprise if he was able to do it
again. (3) REIGNING DEO has enjoyed an excellent year so far, but has been facing a bit easier – he’ll have to
prove that he can make his late kick work as well against these tougher ones, as it has vs. softer. (5) SHINE A LIGH
T was a solid first over 3rd last week but may not be quite on his best game right now – maybe a small piece? 92)
CAVIART SARGENT is never a bad bomb to throw in for 3rd/4th.
RACE 5 – (3) GREG THE LEG faces his easiest assignment in ages, and is sharper than he might look on paper –
he really should be able to beat these, but let’s hope that tonight’s pilot (Zeron) realizes that this guy does need some
motivation, at times! (2) UP THE CREEK steps up a bit but is still a good fit, especially in his current form – use in
exotics. (4) SHADOW CAT has the race conditions opened up to fit him in (“NW12806L6”) and he should be able
to contend for a decent piece. (5) MY ULTIMATE STAR A was coming hard late to be right there 3rd in his first start
off the claim – as noted here several times, his barn has a sone complete 180 since the beginning of April! (1) DIAM
ONDBEACH has been struggling vs. easier so he does feel like more of a “field filler” tonight – the inside draw
may help him grab some minor spoils. (6) GAMBLINGTERROR has his moments but may need a better draw to be
a player at this level. (7) BETTOR ROLL ON A ships in sharp, but move way up in class from Post 7.
RACE 6 – (1) SOUTHWIND PETYR finished just behind a pair of talented barnmates 2 and 3 starts back, then
raced as well as could be expected from an impossible spot last week – look for a very aggressive try tonight, with a
chance to pick up his first win of the season. (3) THUNDER HUNTER JOE gets some class relief and the talented
4YO will surely appreciate it – should be a very live player from this spot. (2) TWIN B HEART THROB was a
winner one level up 4 back, then landed in no chance spots the last 3 weeks – could be sitting a very nice journey
here, with a chance for a big chunk. (4) KINGSVILLE can be a little unpredictable from week to week but can
throw big efforts when on his game (like last week) – another live player for exotics. (7) LOUS SWEETREVENGE
has really picked up his game since the recent barn change, charging to home (like old times!) to take his last – he’ll
PROBABLY be coming from too far back tonight, but he’s still a solid bomb for longshot fans. (6) CADILLAC BA
YAMA has been good all year and does fit at this level – may just be coming from too far back to do any damage,
though. (5) HAZEVILLE got parked the mile last week – he’ll probably come off the gate here, but not sure that’s
going to work either.
RACE 7 – (3) JIVE DANCING A wasn’t at her “best” last week but was still good enough to get it done (after
winning a Matchmaker Leg this year, as well as the Consolation) – she’s not “reliable” enough to call her a cinch in
here, but she still deserves top billing. (4) MISS CHANTILLY was 3 for 6 here in 2023 and has a win and a 3rd from
her 2 local starts this year – could prove the main danger. (2) NO WIN NO FEED A finished right behind the top
choice last week but she’s developed a habit of finishing right behind the winner EVERY week (11-1-5-2 here this
year) – always a good one to use underneath. (1) NUTTINBUTHEBEST continues to race well week after week but
really does seem better suited to be in a bit easier. (5) CRÈME DELIGHT hails from always-dangerous connections
but her local tries have been mixed, at best – wouldn’t shock, but still leaning towards others.
RACE 8 – (3) PARADISE ROCK L drops back down to 50s after a very good try vs. better – she’s won 6 of her 19
local starts, hails from a barn that has sent out some sharp winners lately, and should still be a pretty fair price. (1)
BADDITUDE beat the 25s here upon arrival and has continued to hold that form vs. the 50s, picking up a sharp win
last week – remains a very solid threat for a very high % barn. (8) LA BELLA VITA drops back down to 50s after a
weak try vs. better last week – she has 3 recent wins at this level, and is worth considering...even from out here. (2)
LINE EM UP is winless in her 7 local starts this year but does pick up good pieces – an easy trip could land her
somewhere on the ticket. (4) ONEDERFULBEACH has multiple wins this year at this level but came up dull in her
last, and missed 3 weeks since then – better value elsewhere as she’s been installed as the ML favorite. (7) ON THE
MONEY GB delivered the 30-1 upset last week when she landed in a perfect spot – won’t be easy to replicate that
tonight, however. (5) IRON MISTRESS has grabbed a few smaller pieces this year, and would be ok to consider for
3rd/4th at a big price. (6) DREAM DANCING has 5 wins here this year but struggled for her new barn moving up to
this $50K level last week.
RACE 9 – (7) RENAISSANCE DEO wasn’t close in either of his first two lifetime starts in NJ but quickly turned
things around here at Yonkers, winning 3 in a row – tougher post tonight, but meets nothing too scary and will be
heavily favored to keep his streak alive. (1) YANKEE CLOUT may be the “best” 1 for 44 horse racing right now, as
he was right there in 2 of his local starts this year (and has hit board in HALF of his career losses) – he’s the
“logical” main threat, but is always a tough one to use on top. (3) TIN CUP CHALICE was right there in a couple of
his Weiss starts at Pocono, and should be a very good fit here – certainly belongs in exotics. (8) FIREARM was a
winner in his first start back at 3, then came up 2nd best to the top choice in his last pair – it’ll be hard to reverse that
decision tonight starting from Post 8. (4) LYONS TREACHEROUS was sent off at 60-1 (in PA) for his first start
back at 3 – could be sharper tonight, but still leaning towards others. (5) CHOICE IS YOURS picked up some small
pieces over in the Weiss Series – maybe a minor share here too? (2) EURO STEP was a dullish 5th in his first start
back at 3 – waiting for some better signs. (6) CANTFINDMYWAYHOME was well back in his only other YR try.
RACE 10 – (4) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL was used hard last week but that didn’t stop her from registering the
blowout win for her red hot barn – she certainly deserves top billing off that very sharp mile but don’t bet the rent
money at a very short price, as she hasn’t always been the most consistent mare on the planet. (1) TERACITA was a
well beaten 2nd to the top choice last week in her debut for a new barn – we’ll see if she can narrow the gap between
them tonight. (6) CALLMEQUEENBEE A races well pretty much every start but a multitude of horrible draws has
limited her production just a bit – would still consider her tonight IF the price is juicy enough. (2) PRINCESS
ARONA blasted from Post 8 off the claim last week but was outbrushed by the top choice to 3/4s, then gave way
and tired – could come up with a much better mile tonight...with an easier trip. (3) JUST ROSAS LUCK has been
limited to smaller slices lately and seems headed for a similar outcome tonight. (6) COALFORDSNSHINE GB has
struggled to get things going so far in 2024.
RACE 11 – (2) SINBAD N hit a couple of snags as he began his U.S. career but he qualified sharply on 4/19 then
was an excellent 2nd (behind the better trip winner) last week – feels like a spot where he can pick up his first
stateside victory. (1) ONTOP RAINMAN, like a few others from this barn, usually races well in his local starts...
even if having to settle for more smaller pieces than victories – could be the case tonight, as well. (3) FANTOME
EN JOIE has been solid almost every week, and is another good candidate for a spot somewhere in the exotics. (4)
STATESIDE DEUCE GB has won 5 of 9 local starts but does seem to have leveled off a bit – still, hard to not
include him underneath in exotics. (8) ESCAPE TO AMERICA must have impressed Bartlett in that last qualifier as
it got him to jump off #4 to drive this guy – it may be more of a long-term strategy, however, this 3YO has his stakes
season in front of him, and draws Post 8 (in an overnight) for his first start back in 2024. (6) GRETZKY THE GRE
AT got way too hot on the lead for his new barn last week and ended up giving way and backing through the field –
look for a much more conservative approach tonight. (5) PEETIE acts like he may need to be in a bit easier to be
effective. (7) PINE BUSH ITALIANO was a little better with Lasix last week...but not “better enough” to consider
him from Post 7, against these types.