RACE 1 – (1) BEN SOLO has more “speed” than most 15s but he often fails to finish well enough – he gets Bartlett
at the controls tonight, and that may help him find some better energy at the end– willing to give him a try here IF he
doesn’t end up overbet. (5) ON THE VIRG has finished 6th in his last 3 starts vs. 20s...but he’s won FIVE straight
when at this $15K level...hard to leave him off your tickets! (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR has been thriving at this
bottom claiming level, already 5-2-1-1 to start off the new year – a live trip puts him right in the mix once more. (7)
ROCK THIS WAY has also enjoyed plenty of success at this level but he does his damage at the end of the mile, and
he may find himself too far back to threaten for one of the bigger pieces tonight. (8) QUICK SNAP has done well
since arriving from NJ but he’s another facing a tough task here thanks to the draw. (6) THE WILL TO PLAY gets a
pass for his last (no chance trip) but grabbed 3rd at a big price 2 back – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (4) IM J BEE N reversed
form in that win 3 back (incredibly as the favorite!) but quickly reverted to his weak efforts. (2) DEEDENUTO A is
now 13-0-0-1 here at Yonkers over the last 2 years.
RACE 2 – (3) ZUMA BEACH was really thriving last Fall at the end of her 3YO season – she returned in a new
barn for her 2025 campaign, added Lasix for her qualifier and raced super, beating the classy IN THE SPOTLIGHT
N (who won HER first start after that)– hard to go past in here. (2) SHES EPIC should benefit from her season debut
at PcD, gets a good draw with Kakaley and raced here in the NYSS last year – should be right at home with these.
(6) BETTA WATCH OUT N would be a threat for a big piece if on her best game but note that she’s missed a month
since her last start, and has just one start in the last 10 weeks – at least a bit iffy. (4) DO ME BETTER is a bit below
the top ones but at least she’s been racing every week, and that may help to at least grab a share. (5) LADY BLUE
JAY raced ok here last year when she made 8 starts for this barn – the bad date is definitely a concern, though. (1)
FOREVER A FLIRT had success at 2 and 3 at the Michigan fairs but has struggled since arriving east – waiting for
some better signs before hopping on her team.
RACE 3 – (3) GINGER TREE PETE was handled more aggressively with the switch to Bartlett last week and the
classy 9YO dug in for the dead game victory – Bartlett sticks with him for tonight...and we will too. (4) TWIN B SP
EED DIAL came back razor sharp off the layoff last week, scoring at 16-1 for his hot barn – Bartlett does opt for #3
tonight, but this guy still has a serious chance IF he’s as sharp as last week. (1) ITALIAN DELIGHT N looked like a
winner after his first over challenge last week but was run down late by #4 – he may not WIN every week any more,
but he’s still a very live player most every start. (6) FOREVER FAV just woke up out of the blue at 51-1 to just miss
2 back, then proved it was no fluke after giving the top choice all he could handle last week – tonight’s draw may
make things a little tougher on him, however. (5) MIKEY CAMDEN just missed to DELIGHTFUL TERROR at
35-1 three back then just missed to that same rival at 40-1 last week – clearly he’s earned a lot of respect, and can’t
be taken lightly. (2) KERFORD ROAD A dug in for the win 2 back but others in here just seem sharper, overall,
right now. (7) YOUR BROTHER is the outsider, both literally and figuratively.
RACE 4 – (2) HELSINKI is certainly on the cheaper side but he has solid form out of town and moves to a barn
that can pick one up in a hurry – he also gets Bartlett, and that may be enough to get him home in front against a
suspect field. (4) ALOTBETTOR N has his issues but he’s also a winning machine when feeling good...his last start
wasn’t all that encouraging, but it could be a good sign that he drops right back in the box – would never be a
surprise. (1) METAMAN is winless in 6 local starts and just 2 for 22 lifetime– still, he fits with these and has the rail
and Gingras (7) KNOCKIN OUT may have trouble reaching from out here but he was “sneaky ok” 2 back and a
decent 3rd last week – not a bad race to try a bomb. (3) MASTER MIKI used an easy trip to pick up 3rd last week –
maybe he can build off that and be a player here too? (6) REAL LUCKY N draws poorly and hasn’t been 1st or 2nd in
his last 16 local tries. (5) SWEET TROY returns for his first start since Sept. at a greatly reduced level, and his
qualifier doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence.
RACE 5 – (6) FULL SUPPORT has come back solid in 2025, racing well in all of his starts – he has more than
enough speed to get in play (despite the bad draw), and has to be worth a look at that 8-1 ML price. (3) DIAMOND
BEACH is a tough call – he takes a big drop to 20s (he beat the 25s in NJ 4 back) and gets Bartlett back, but he
looked terrible in his last pair and is listed at 3/2 ML- be careful about taking too short a price. (1) RECORD YEAR
raced well off the claim 2 back then came up dull last week – his best effort makes him a legitimate threat here – but
will he bring it? (2) PRETTY HANDSOME had no prayer off the drop last week (7 hole) but could come alive with
the move inside – would consider if the price is right. (7) CONTACT ZONE has some good recent efforts but will
need major trip luck to get involved from out here – good bomb for 3rd/4th. (5) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N has been
struggling, and that last 3rd was really thanks to the easy trip – just needs to be better. (8) WAR DAN DELIGHT N
went a better effort 2 back but was no threat again last week, and now gets stuck out here. (4) MOONLIGHT SHAD
OW seems to be back in struggling mode.
RACE 6 – (7) FURST IGOR S scared his backers when he galloped to the gate for his local debut but he settled
down before the start and had no trouble wiring the field in a solid 1:57.2 – he’ll be hard to knock off tonight (even
from Post 7), assuming he avoids any mishaps. (1) MEETMEATTHEBAR has some ability and now has a couple of
tighteners under her belt – could be ready for a better effort tonight with move inside. (2) CHASE MATED has lines
out of town that suggest he could be a decent fit here – wish his connections had opted to list a catch driver, though.
(3) NAUTILUS B feels like he’s in a spot where he can contend for a decent piece – include underneath. (4) HIPPIE
SHAKE finally broke his maiden 2 back, and wasn’t a bad 4th last week – chance for another small piece. (8) BAR
KEEP DE VIE makes his 3rd start back (after the LONG layoff) and may be ready for a bigger effort...he may also
need to wait for a better draw before showing what he’s got. (5) GAMING QUEEN qualified slowly at Monti (after
arriving from Canada) and will need to prove that she can go with the locals. (6) DONATELLO HANOVER made
breaks upon arrival last week, and is 4 for 86 lifetime.
RACE 7 – Feels wide open: (3) KOPI LUWAK has been a little disappointing lately (compared to some of his
barnmates) but he’s been facing better, and may appreciate the drop into this modest $40K claiming field – perhaps
it’s a good sign that Bartlett takes him over the razor sharp MUSIC HALL. (1) CAPTAIN T HANOVER had an
outstanding 2024 season, but much of that damage was done vs. easier – he did race very well in this class last week
(off the claim), and has to be respected from the pole tonight. (5) KARLOO BRADLEY N never got in the hunt last
week but did beat this class 2 back– barn is off to a strong start this year, and that 10-1 ML price does look appealing
(8) MUSIC HALL is up in class (and draws Post 8) but he’s won 3 straight for a barn that’s been red hot, and that
includes last week’s 6 length blowout – has to be considered, even if Bartlett opted for #3. (6) TUFFENUFTOWEA
RPINK shrugged off the bad trips 2 and 3 back to wire ‘em last week – he already has a couple of wins this year
(after winning 9X in 2024), and can never be taken lightly. (4) ITALIAN LAD N may not be a major threat for the
top slot, but he’s outraced his odds many times, and never a bad one to consider underneath. (7) DONTBOTHERME
NONE had been very sharp for a while, making last week’s clunker really stand out – he drops off that effort, lands
outside, and does seem a bit risky right now. (2) IM A POWERPLAY A is an often-claimed hard hitter, but most of
his success has come vs. a bit easier.
RACE 8 – (6) FAST APPROACH seemed to dislike Yonkers for his first few starts but he just missed to the heavy
favorite 2 back, then was a sharp front end winner last week – we’ll give him the edge in his current form. (4) CHIP
PER DALE has a strong 6-1-2-2 local slate but he seems to have leveled off a bit lately – remains very dangerous if
he decides to bring his absolute best effort. (2) BO SILAS was having trouble finding his good Michigan Fair form
here on the east coast but it feels like he’s starting to get sharper– very playable in exotics. (1) KELLYS GREATEST
is just 3 for 32 lifetime but she’s shown that she can hang with these, and remains a candidate for the bottom of
exotics. (3) ALEXANDER has done no better than smaller pieces in his 9 local tries and likely looking at only
minor spoils for tonight. Both (7) HL OLAMAYA and (8) CHASING CRYSTALS fit well enough, but both will
have a hard time getting into the hunt after drawing so poorly. (5) SHIV is having trouble getting underway so far in
2025.
RACE 9 – (4) KOVU AS never goes a bad one and uses his quickness off the car to set himself up with live trips –
could offer some value as others figure to take a good chunk of $$. (2) LUCKY MUM N finished off the board for
the first time in the U.S. last week, though only because she was hopelessly trapped in the lane – remains a very
dangerous threat, and hard to leave off your tickets. (6) WHEELZABLAZIN has come up 2nd best in 3 straight starts
and feels ready to win one...tonight’s draw may leave him looking at another smaller piece, though. (1) STOCKHO
LM HANOVER had no chance from Post 8 last week but was racing well prior to that – moves all the way inside
with a chance to outperform that 15-1 ML price. (5) DRAW THE LINE was aggressive in her 2nd start off the layoff
but came up short – she’s capable of better, but hard to say if she’s ready to show it. (3) KORIANDER SISU S has a
win and a 2nd to start off the year but wasn’t overlay sharp in either mile – he’s listed as the ML favorite, and could
be vulnerable tonight. (7) CHEF ROCCO has the ability to battle with these but he draws Post 7 for his first start of
the year and his connections may opt to take a conservative approach this week.
RACE 10 – (1) FINITE shipped in sharp from NJ and was a sharp, game winner in his local debut – he was derailed
by an early miscue last week, but can be very tough tonight with a clean mile. (2) NOTTINGHAM is good right
now for a barn that’s really been clicking – chance even if #1 behaves, and obviously even more so if that one fails
to stay trotting. (3) FULL SCALE has been very good so far in 2025, moves inside, and looms another live player
with any decent trip. (4) TEQUINI HANOVER didn’t seem all that serious in her first local start of the year but
gets Bartlett back for tonight, and may be rallying late for a piece of this. (6) WIN TOGETHER S may prefer to be
in a bit easier, and the draw doesn’t help either – minor share? (5) ENERGY KING is a notch below the top ones but
a ground saving trip could help him squeeze out a small slice. (7) MUSICAL RIDE beat easier last week but figures
to struggle a bit vs. these tougher ones...especially after drawing so poorly. (8) SAPPHIREAINSTAR (adding
hopples tonight) was handled conservatively from a similar spot last week in her first start off the layoff – may be in
for a similar trip tonight.
RACE 11 – (4) LINE EM UP was no factor on 2/12 but bounced with a sharp try for 2nd off the claim last week – a
live trip tonight gives her a shot at the top prize. (1) ONEDERFULBEACH cut the mile the last 2 weeks and ended
up 2nd and 3rd, behind a couple of sharp mares – eligible to come out on top tonight either on the front end, or
perhaps from the pocket. (5) MIKI THE CLOWN has had no chance in her last few but gets Gingras tonight, and a
better trip could give her a chance at a mild upset in the finale. (2) SPLIT POT finished up decently for 4ths in her
last pair – chance to add some value to the exotics with an easy trip. (7) IRON MISTRESS has been good for weeks
but may have a tougher time finding a manageable trip from Post 7 – still worth considering if the price creeps up
high enough. (8) SHEIKH YABOOTY N had struggled for a long time before last week’s form reversing 19-1
victory – but even if she’s ready to go on a little form spree, she may need to wait for a better draw. (3) BROOKD
ALE JESSIE has been ok, and never a bad one for 3rd/4th, at a big price. (6) DASH N CACHE just folded way too
badly last week to look her way tonight.