RACE 1 – (2) UNITY has taken 4 of her last 5 in this class and was parked the mile in the lone loss (but STILL a
close 4th) – the only thing stamping her as a “cinch” in this spot is the move to a new barn...but she would still be
pretty hard to go past in tonight’s opener. (1) SUNSET SOPH does have 3 wins here this year and just missed 2 back
– if the top choice comes up short tonight, maybe she can be the one to score the upset? (3) TYRA MAKES BANK
was first or 2nd in her first 6 local tries but got parked the mile in her next, and was just an “ok” 3rd last week – she’ll
have a chance if the top one falters, but probably won’t be all that great a price herself. (4) TERACITA can be solid
in this class when on her game, but she’s also frustratingly inconsistent – she may also have trouble finding a good
trip tonight. (6) MICHELLES JAZZ picked up a 2nd last week but it was with an easy trip in a 4 horse field – bad
spot tonight. (5) WHATINEEDISAMAN was good earlier this year but has really been struggling lately. (7) LYONS
MIKI will be lagging in last most of the way – faces a very long haul from out here.
RACE 2 – Short field, but tough race: (6) HARPER SEELSTER has raced well overall since arriving on the scene
and obviously gets a pass for last week (parked the mile) – if Stratton isn’t afraid to handle her aggressively from
this spot, she may be able to come out on top in this fairly soft field...at a decent price. (1) EVAS SPORTS CZECH
hasn’t gotten back to her best form, but at least she’s becoming more competitive again – she has 4 wins here this
year, and that alone makes her worth considering. (2) JEANSNJELLYBEANS was able to get it done on the front
end 2 back but gave way to pressure and tired while cutting the mile again last week – which version will we get
tonight? (4) PROVE EM WRONG improved last week to pick up a distant 2nd, after failing to hit board in her first 4
local tries– possible here, but hard to justify that 3/2 ML price. (3) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX continues to
struggle in 2024, now 21-0-0-2 – sticking with others. (5) KATHYS MOMENT has been no better than 5th in her last
5 starts.
RACE 3 – (1) REAL LADY SADIE elected to just park HARPER SEELSTER through some vicious fractions last
week but still was able to hold easily to 2nd behind the perfect trip, $2.10 winner – the one to catch and beat tonight.
(2) PLEASURE SEEKER has been invisible the last 3 starts but it’s hard to say if she’s tailed off OR just the victim
of a trip of terrible posts – logical spot to look for a wake up call. (5) PINK RUBY hit board in 5 straight without a
win before grabbing the lead in last week’s 4 horse field and safely prevailing – remains a very logical threat, but
looking at a tougher trip tonight. (3) PRINCESS ARONA would be a player here on her best effort – but we just
haven’t seen that from her in some time – small piece? (7) TUAPEKA JESSIE N finally had SOME life 2 back but
failed to fire nearly enough last week – tonight’s draw won’t make things any easier. (4) LADYZAR ships in
showing a 2 for 24 slate this year...which is at least better than last year’s 0 for 26 – sticking with the locals. (6)
GEORGIA THOMPSON was clearly short off the layoff last week – may need another start or two.
RACE 4 – Another short field/tough race: (3) FINAL CHEESERECIPE has been solid in most of his starts in this
class, though often hurt by tough trips – he was handled very aggressively last and responded, picking up an overdue
victory – maybe he can land on a nice journey tonight and take another? (6) GENTLE GIANT has really upped his
game since first being claimed on 7/18 – he was just re-claimed last week by the barn that got 2 big efforts out of
him and he may have a chance to pick up another win tonight...despite moving up in class and drawing outside. (4)
OZONE BLUE CHIP wasn’t at his “best” last week, but having to back off at the start may have hurt him a bit – he
loves to win races, and has to be considered here. (1) OAKWOODNITOWNIT IR was claimed on 3/11, scratched
the next week then went on the shelf for almost 5 months – his qualifier looks fine, but it’s anybody’s guess whether
he’ll be ready to fire right off the shelf. (5) COLOSSAL STRIDE A was an ok 3rd here at this level 4 starts back then
suffered an impossible trip the next week – he returns off a win (at 1/10!) at Stga. last week, and could be worth a
look here if the price is right. (2) MOVIN ON UP may have gone off form OR maybe just has been suffering from
some bad spots – regardless, he’s missed 25 days and has to be considered risky for tonight.
RACE 5 – (5) BELMONT MAJOR N has never had a lot of success here at Yonkers but to be fair, he’s usually
faced much tougher – he recently changed barn, and went a big effort from Post 8 in his last start (cut the mile, then
finished 2nd to the sharp winner) – may have found a winning spot. (7) GDS THUNDER GB missed some time but
his return try (7/30) was sharper than it looks on paper – he was very well backed in his last, but ran into a bad trip
and could only manage 3rd (DH) – lands in a terrible spot for tonight, but a good price makes him worth a look. (1)
ALEX TYE has just 2 wins this year but has raced well in a decent % of his starts – he was a pocket 2
nd last week, and a similar effort puts him right back into the hunt tonight. (3) BRUTALLY HANDSOME won here earlier this
year, fits pretty well with these, and seems a logical player for exotics. (4) GAMBLING TERROR took no $ and
was no threat dropping to the bottom level 2 back but he was hammered at the windows last week, and was able to
score the wire to wire victory – faces a much tougher task tonight. (2) PAT STANLEY N is capable of reversing
form at any time but would be hard to back off most of his recent efforts. (6) MY CARBON COPY N used a dream
trip last week to pick up his first local win since 2022 – doesn’t figure to be as fortunate here, however.
RACE 6 – (5) DANDYS SHOWTIME raced “well” in a bunch of her local starts but picked up just one win (so far)
– she returns from Pocono and will be racing on Lasix for the 2nd time...perhaps that can get her over the top here?
(2) SHOTGUN PERSUASION threw a clunker off the claim last week but was quickly RE-claimed by the barn
she’s had success for – very dangerous here if she can bounce right back. (6) SHEIKH YABOOTY M has been 1st or
2nd in her last 7 starts (and 8 of 9) but she draws poorly tonight and goes for a new barn – obviously deserves plenty
of respect, but she MAY be at least a bit vulnerable tonight (at a short price). (1) PHELGON is winless in her 11
local starts this year but has picked up several decent pieces – she should be looking at a good trip, and may be
worth a look at the right price. (4) PINK QUARTZ has raced “ok” in all 4 local starts but has managed just one 2nd –
willing to include underneath. (3) BEAUTY OF THE SEA may be a bit better than her lines suggest but still seems
destined for only minor spoils in here. (7) BROOKDALE JESSIE lands post 7 after 3 weeks off – brutal spot.
RACE 7 – (4) WIN TOGETHER S qualified sharply for his U.S. debut then jogged in his first Yonkers start – got
stuck with a less than stellar trip last week but was still trotting strong at the wire, a close up 4th – look for a much
more aggressive try tonight with (co-owner) Zeron on board...and a solid chance to return to the winner’s circle. (3)
FULL SCALE was a no-threat 2nd to the top choice two back, debuting for his new barn – he was even sharper when
2nd to NYMERIA last week, and looms the main danger tonight. (5) CUSTOM FIT was handled aggressively from
post 8 last week, made the top, but did weaken a bit to 4th (after getting worn down by the heavily favored winner) –
logical player for exotics. (2) STARLITCRESENTROLL was a big overlay (at 58-1) last week and used an easy trip
to pick up 2nd (while no threat to the easy winner) – his overall recent form is okay, and he has a shot at another
small piece tonight. (7) MAGIC MELVIN used an opportunistic trip to pick up a 3rd last week, but may have trouble
doing as well tonight from this difficult spot. (1) WALLOFMUSCLES AS makes his local debut for a solid barn but
his out of town lines are a bit shaky – prefer to just watch, for now. (6) HIGH LIFE figures to be stuck in the back -
wait for a better spot to consider.
RACE 8 – (2) GENIUS MAN finished well from a hopeless spot last week and that was after delivering
back-to-back sharp victories – he goes for a new barn tonight, but will be a handful if his form holds up for his new
crew. (4) WON LAST FEELING raced “ok” in a pair of starts since dropping back down to 30s, picking up a couple
of 4ths – his best effort could make him a threat here. (3) WICHITA LINEMAN drops down from the 40s and just
missed the last time he raced for the $30K tag – he doesn’t seem all that sharp right now, but still worth a look if the
price is decent. (5) ON DAYBOO rarely wins, but often can get in play and pick up pieces – playable in exotics. (1)
CAVIA RT ROCKLAND jogged at Monti on 7/31 but was just “ok” locally in his last, a “meh” 3rd – will need to be
sharper if he hopes to threaten at all for the top slot. (7) SWEET TROY was terrible 2 back but bounced right back
with a good try last week – not sure he’ll be able to make his way into the race from out here, however. (6)
TUXEDO BAY has a few recent tries in PA that suggest he fits here, but he may need a better draw to be a serious
player.
RACE 9 – (5) LOUS THE ATTITUDE was very successful here last season (16-6-6-1) but has struggled (so far) in
2024 – he definitely was well meant last week but he ended up parked the mile from Post 7, doing very well just to
stick around for a close 4th – maybe he’s ready to build off that, and perhaps grab a win (if an easier trip comes his
way). (1) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER was 2nd to the classy ROCKIN JUKEBOX 2 back then held on for the wire
to wire score last week – he manages to stay in the same NW5000 class (despite having over $10K in his last 5
starts) and draws the rail as well – legitimate threat to take another. (6) TACK ROOM CHATTER tired off an easy
trip 2 back then was wildly overdriven last week, tiring badly once more – he does drop in class significantly, so
we’ll see if that can make him a much bigger player. (7) URIEL BLUE CHIP really wasn’t bad last week despite
racing from Post 8, off a qualifier – he has some ability (when “in the mood”), and isn’t a bad one for longshot fans.
(2) JACKS LEGEND N finished 3rd last week (placed 2nd) but would have jogged off his trip if “sharp” – seems
likely to be overbet tonight. (3) DONT JUDGE A BOOK kicked in late 2 back to just miss but his other recent
efforts haven’t been all that exciting – minor spoils? (4) SEAFOOD TOGO seems overmatched vs. the locals.
RACE 10 – (6) GOTHIC ROCK was a nice 2nd dropping to 20s two back – had no luck last week (left hard then
parked), but a live trip may give him a chance to pull off an upset in the finale. (4) B COOL FOOL was in a similar
spot last week, got hammered at the windows, made the top then parked out #6, and was able to hold on for the wire
to wire score – legitimate chance to take another, but will likely be way overbet. (1) SNOUZE U LOUZE picked up
a win and a 3rd in PA after the recent barn change and probably fits fine vs. these 20s – a “fair” price makes him
worth a look. (2) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP was an easy trip 3rd last week, but gets 2nd if “sharp” – playable in
exotics. (7) HUDSON PHIL is just 1 for 15 this year and just 1 for his last 18 at Yonkers – still, if looking for a last
race “bomb”, he’s not an absurd stab (in this field). (5) BIG BAD BILL failed to fire nearly enough off a good trip
last week – needs to be better for a chance at a decent piece. (3) HEART ON MY SLEEVE is 20-0-0-3 here this year
and continues to struggle.
