RACE 1 - (7) MUSCLE STAR hit board in his last 3 local tries at this level, racing very well each time -
would be very solid in here from a better post, but seems sharp enough for a chance to get it done even
from all the way out here - hopefully his new pilot will have as much confidence in him as we do. (1)
PREACHER MAN has faced (much) better in many of his local starts, and figures to be handled very
aggressively here by Bartlett - he'll also likely be overbet (he was just 2 for 30 last year), and may be a bit
vulnerable at a short price. (5) WILLIE B WORTHY has raced well here in limited local appearances, and
is racing "ok" at Monti in recent starts - definitely has a chance, but he's hard to really love at that 2-1 ML
price. (4) DEW CAN DEW throws some good miles from time to time, but is also notoriously camera shy
and comes into tonight off a break last week - would consider only if the price was pretty juicy. (6) THAN
KS FOR LEAVING was terrible here for most of her career starts but was a bit better in her last try of '21,
and wasn't bad last week either - tough draw, but maybe can grab a piece? (2) CYCLONE MAXIMUS has
gone some good miles here in the past but his current upstate form seems dullish - we'll see if he can perk
up with the switch to Brennan. (3) CHECKMATE HILL has struggled here in most of his starts the past
few years - in need of a major wake up call.
RACE 2 - (5) WHOS SMOKIN N was sent off at 1/2 in her YR debut and didn't disappoint, delivering a
pretty easy front end score - not really sure what her upside is, but she's clearly the one to beat back in this
NW2 class. (3) IDEAL CHIP suddenly found gate speed at Chester and used it to pick up 2nds in 3 straight
starts - brought that speed back with her to Yonkers, and was able to chase the top choice from the pocket
all the way last week - seems to be the one with the best chance to knock her off tonight. (1) SWEETEST
IDEAL was no factor upon arrival from Stga. but she was racing off a month - eligible to be tighter now,
and end up closer at the end. (2) BYTHEWAY HANOVER was hurt by poor cover last time and is capable
of better with a smoother trip - chance to pick up a small piece from this spot. (4) BOTTOM BLUES ended
2021 with a win and three 3rds in PA - been away for 3 weeks, and draws outside her main foes for her YR
debut - maybe a minor share? (7) BUMP IN THE ROAD is just 1 for 18, but does seem like a decent fit
with this bunch - she also lands Post 7 after missing 33 days, so that might render her an outsider for this
start (keep an eye for the future). (6) MAGICAL LILY BEAR shipped in off a Stga. blowout, but came up
weak in her Hilltop debut - will need to do a lot better for a chance at even a small piece here. (8) PINEBU
SH SWEETIE was 3rd behind the top pair last time, but the move outside figures to limit her chances here.
RACE 3 - (2) MY BOY CHRISTIAN was off a month to his last start and was content to just sit last
behind a gapper, always well out of it - he's facing a MUCH softer crew tonight, moves inside, and any of
his "typical" efforts would make him a very dangerous player - not a bad week to give him a look. (4) CON
AIR HALL is a good fit with these, as he makes his 3rd start off the recent claim - he's also been away
since 12/15, and that makes him hard to back with any real conviction tonight. (1) MANHATTANUP NO
ICE was a winner in NJ last week, but that was one mighty slow final quarter - that 8/5 ML price insures
that he'll be overbet here, and he has a fairly spotty local history - not one to fall in love with at a short
price. (7) CR BLAZIN BEAUTY struggled in many of her 8 local starts last year, but she's returning from
Monti in sharp form, and does catch a pretty shaky crew...at 20-1 ML, she's worth at least considering. (5)
HOBBS was a disappointment for his entire (winless) 4YO season, and his first of 2022 was more of the
same - hard to keep waiting for him to "find his game". (3) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN went a bunch
of big miles in 2021 but that was for a barn that bursted onto the scene last year and won at a very high % -
that barn is currently on the shelf, and this guy is trying to find that better form for his current trainer - goes
without the hopples tonight, and we'll see if that helps. (6) PETERS EXPRESS has been away since 12/15 -
prefer to just watch, for now.
RACE 4 - (7) BLUFFINER was our pick last week (when scratched on a minor technicality), and we'll
stick with him tonight, even from Post 7 - he's getting a barn change to a trainer that has won HALF of his
races since the beginning of December, and also adding Lasix - he may even be a decent price from this
spot. (2) BLUE AND BOLD never got involved in his first start of the year but should benefit from the
work - moves inside, and anything close to his best effort will make him very dangerous. (5) IN MY DREA
MS was tailing at the end of 2021 but wasn't bad off the winter break - good one to consider for exotics. (3)
FASHION FOREVER was a 62-1 upset winner over cheaper 4 starts back - seems a bit below the main
players here, but perhaps can rally for a small piece? (4) MISTER MUSCLE just hasn't been strong enough
at the end of his miles lately, and will need to find a bit more stamina if he hopes to remain a player in the
latter stages tonight. (1) KING CAST has raced well here at times but his 22-1-2-0 YR record (last 2 years)
is hard to overlook - may need to find an easier spot. (6) TOTAL DIVA was up the track in her seasonal
debut - wait for better signs before considering.
RACE 5 - (7) COMMANDER CATHY N is still looking for her first U.S. win, after hitting board in all 4
starts - she definitely has legitimate ability, and may be able to get over the hump tonight with just a bit of
trip luck. (3) SWEET PINK was a nice 3rd in her local debut on 12/15 - raced conservatively off the hiatus
last week, but look for a more aggressive try tonight - logical player. (5) LINE EM UP has held her own in
this class several times, and is usually a decent price - good one to include in exotics. (4) HEAVENISSOF
ARAWAY won her YR debut on 10/27 but hasn't hit board in 6 tries since then - she does fit well enough
with these, and her barn is going well right now...but she doesn't seem worth that 2-1 ML price. (6) MOSS
DALE LOTTEE N has been consistent lately, and just missed last week - will need some racing luck from
Post 6, however, to be a serious player. (2) FASTERTHANARUMOR landed on a terrible trip in her only
YR start and did race ok to be 4th - has been idle since 12/15, though, and may need a start before we see
her best. (1) AINT SHE PERFECT hinted at ability when last seen here in July, but she also was a hard
horse to drive - she's been away since 9/10, and this seems like a good spot to just observe.
RACE 6 - (4) OOH RAH came up 2nd best to a sharp winner after a very game first over try last week - if
he's anywhere as good tonight, he's going to be a handful against these...but note that he's 0 for 23 here (last
3 years) before betting the rent money at a very short price. (2) PILGRIM CAVIAR shows a mixed bag of
recent Monti tries after shipping in from Ohio - one of his better efforts could land him someplace in the
exotics in his YR debut. (3) SEVEN KNIGHTS had a rough 2021 season (1 for 34) but he drops to the
basement tonight and this is probably a field where he can be competitive - ok for a piece. (5) FREDDIE
MAC has always been camera shy at The Hilltop, but this is a spot where he can certainly contend for a
piece - use underneath. (1) TIME OUTA JAIL hasn't raced here in a long time but he used to come up with
some big efforts and did win some races - hard to like off his current Ohio form, though. (7) DA BOOGIE
MAN battled hard last week but came up a little short in the crucial stages, and had to settle for a place DH
- moves all the way outside, and he may have trouble replicating that last effort from this spot. (6) TAX
SAVINGS hails from a top barn, but just hasn't clicked at all lately - needs to be a lot better.
RACE 7 - (1) BITTY BITTY won 4 of her 5 local starts before the winter break then came back from the
hiatus breathing fire, effortlessly crushing her rivals by nearly 5 lengths - bumps up a notch to NW8 tonight
but if she's feeling as good as last week, it may not matter. (3) ANDRA DAY was content to just tour the
oval from the back last week after drawing Post 7 - moves inside tonight, has that tightener under her belt
and figures to have much more say this time. (4) THEBEACHISCALLING debuts for new connections
tonight, and has been away since 12/16 - she's a proven player here (6-3-3-0), but it's hard to know just how
tight she'll be wound for this start - perhaps the tote board will offer some clues? (5) TRIZZLE TRAZZLE
shipped in from Michigan and took her first start at Chester, following that up with a very game first over
win here at Yonkers - we'll see how she handles this tougher crew tonight. (2) FIGHTING EVIL ships in
from NJ and has been away since 12/17 - wasn't bad in her only local try this summer, but may need a start
after missing over a month. (6) VIOLETS RAINBOW used an easy trip to rally for 2nd behind the top
choice last week, but may have a harder time repeating that effort from this much tougher post. (7) LARJO
N LEAH has been away for almost 5 weeks, lands outside, and we'll just watch her for now.
RACE 8 - (1) MAJESTIC MARVEL was handled very conservatively last start (off a month, and with a
break in his prior start) but he finished with alert trot at the end - may land on a very nice trip tonight, and a
mild upset may be possible. (4) LUCKY MATTER disappointed on the front end as the 2/5 choice last time
but may be better racing from off the pace - he's beaten this class in the past, and we couldn't blame anyone
looking to give him another chance. (3) VAINQUEUR R P NO has won all 5 YR starts since arriving from
Ohio and deserves plenty of respect - that last "ugly" win does suggest that he may be a bit vulnerable,
however, and this may not be a bad week to take a shot against him. (7) ON HIGHER GROUND seems to
find a way to be right there every week, regardless of trip - draws all the way outside tonight (while
debuting for a new barn), so we'll see if he can still be a threat. (6) HAT TRICK MARLEAU has done
plenty of good work since being purchased in Nov., and that includes last week's close 3rd place finish -
may have to race from further back than he's used to from this spot, and that may leave him looking at a
smaller share this time around. (5) DC ANNA has proven she can compete at this level (2nd two starts
back) but she's been away since 12/15, and that may leave her at a disadvantage for tonight. (2) CHIEF
JUSTICE may need a bit easier to be a serious player.
RACE 9 - Tough race! (3) I GET THAT wasn't involved last week (after missing over a month) but he had
a couple of sharp tries at this level before the winter break, and may be more serious tonight from this
better post - one of many who could come out on top here. (6) MY MIND IS MADEUP hasn't raced since
12/15 and his local win % over the past few years is pretty weak - on the flip side, he was racing well right
up to the end of the year, and he'll be debuting tonight for a barn that has won 50% of their starts since the
beginning of December (and has now attracted an owner with a good history of hooking up with hot barns)
- playable IF the price is decent. (2) CINNABAR DRAGON toured the oval from Post 8 off the 6 week
layoff but may be ready for a much better effort with the move inside - possible. (4) JOJOS PLACE won
off the claim on 11/10 but has struggled a bit since then - drops below the claim price for his first start of
the year, and it's hard to know what to expect from him tonight. (1) BRANDON HANOVER is a proven
player vs. the 20s, but a little more questionable against these 25s - the rail may help him enough to land
him a board spot. (5) PLAY THE FIELD has been away since 12/19 but comes off a 32-5-9-3 $105K
season, and is listed at 20-1 ML...can't blame anybody for giving him a shot. (8) GO WEST GO FAST may
fit with these, but he draws all the way outside for his YR debut, and may need to wait for a better spot to
show what he's got. (7) LIFEWITHJOHN has really been struggling for an ice cold barn.
RACE 10 - (8) STICK WITH ME KID was facing MUCH better when here last - been doing solid work at
The Meadows the past 5 starts, and lands in a field he can handle in his YR return - will need some luck
from out here, but the price makes him a worthwhile play. (5) LOOK IN MY EYES has also battled better
here previously, hails from a barn that's off to a good start in 2021, and was a NJ winner 2 starts back - live
player. (7) IT AINT THE WHISKEY was a very solid 2nd to a sharp winner last week - would like him a
lot better from an inside post, but may be sharp enough to still do some damage from Post 7. (3) VOLARE
seems to be getting sharper each week - definitely one to include underneath. (4) MUFASAAS was able to
control things with the drop and rail last week and scored as the odds on choice - he can hold his own at
this level too, but would need to be a decent price to be worth using on top. (2) TIDQUIST seems a little
cheap and has been away since 12/8 - will keep an eye on him for the future. (1) MOMMS MY DAD has
just one start in 7 weeks and really looks like he needs to be in easier to be a threat. (6) HAMMER CREEK
has gone some good miles here in the past but right now looks like he needs to be in a bit cheaper to be a
threat - outside post doesn't help his cause either.