2025 MEET STATS: 187 - 612 / $1,054.30 (-$169.70)
BEST BETS: 31 - 57 / $108.50 (-$5.50)
BEST BET: WALKIN ON SUNSHINE (4th)
SPOT PLAY: TRUE BLUE HANOVER (1st)
Race 1: F&M NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) TRUE BLUE HANOVER hasn't won a race yet this year and steps up a notch off a second and third-place finish but she's proven with this type and better; picks up a new driver in Gingras and I'm thinking they can head to the front from this spot. (5) UPTOWN HANOVER just got up late to score last week at 20 cents on the dollar and clearly the price goes way up as she looks to repeat. (4) KATIES UP is another "o-fer" on the season but she's hit the board in three of her last four and is reunited with Bartlett.
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Race 2: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) TALENT TO SPARE A gets significant post relief and drops back down a notch in class. Three back at this level she was stubborn in defeat at a big price. (3) BLUE POINT rallied stoutly for second at The Meadowlands in the first start of her 4YO campaign and Bartlett drove that night as well. Cullipher trainee looks like she's bravened up recently up at Tioga. (4) KISS MY CHEEK always takes money but doesn't always deliver the win; two back from a similar spot she was odds-on and finished fifth. That said, she's plenty fast enough to handle these.
Race 3: F&M NW22501 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) CHIAPANECAS is reunited with co-owner Gingras and from the rail she figures to be controlling the action. (3) COACHELLABOUND N has underachieved a little this year with just one win and four board finishes in 14 tries but she clearly finds a better spot tonight and is classy enough to be a big threat. (6) LIT DE ROSE lands another outside post and she's been too far back to threaten recently but with the right setup we know the Lachance veteran can sweep by them all.
Race 4: F&M Invitational Pace
(6) WALKIN ON SUNSHINE put in her usual good effort last week but was unable to repeat out of the eight hole; she's assigned outside again but this time she faces only five rivals and also she returns to Bartlett. Mare gets the call to resume winning ways. (3) SILK CLOUD A rolled by from the pocket to win last week's Invite and her early speed always sets her up in a live spot. (4) TALK CURDY TO ME bounced back with a nice win recently up at Plainridge and she's not too far removed from her third-place finish in the Matchmaker final.
Race 5: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot
(4) BROOKVIEW DARIUS has looked much better in his last two after having little to offer in four prior starts after being claimed by these connections for $40K. Kakaley picks up the drive tonight with Siegelman on #2 and they don't face the strongest field here. (5) P L OSCAR raced pretty well last week coming off the month break in action and he figures to be trying for the front with Holland. (1) HOOLIE N HECTOR was caught by #4 in his last try after cutting the mile and he's also up in class but should be in line for a good trip from the rail.
Race 6: MGM Grand Messenger Pace 1st Elimination
(2) MANOLETE has come back solid as a 3YO and he's the most accomplished here despite only one win over five seasonal tries. Connections give the half-mile a try for the first time and he's got a post edge on his main rivals. (6) TWISTED DESTINY is another from the live connections of Chris Ryder and Dexter Dunn; homebred looks ready to go here coming off a recent life mark and good freshener. (5) FAST CHOICE is lightly raced but must be respected coming off his rallying third in last week’s North America Cup. Worth mentioning that he did break here in the NYSS final last year.
Race 7: MGM Grand Messenger Pace 2nd Elimination
(1) THIRSTY THURSDAY banked over $228K as a freshman and recently cruised from the rail in 1:52 1/5 in a NYSS event making his 3YO debut. Driver Tyler Buter looks to have a live one here for the Hunter Oakes barn and they can control the action in the second Messenger elim. (8) PAPI'S ROCKET is the lone Burke representative in the Messenger and he's been close in four seasonal starts despite failing to win one. Have to believe Gingras won't be content sitting last in here and he'll be trying to improve position off the gate. (3) HOLT HANOVER is just 1 for 12 lifetime but he's proficient over the half for the Schnittker barn and he can sit close up to make the final.
Race 8: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot
(2) OPTRIX dominated two back in an easier spot then followed that up with a game effort in defeat. Brennan drives again from another good post and seems sharp enough to beat these. (1) LOUS GAMBLER has been a consistent sort for Lachance since arriving at Yonkers and does seem better than his last try. Two back was a nice win. (4) BLACKHAWK ZETTE returns locally and was a winner in his last Yonkers race; Kakaley is back driving.
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Race 9: F&M NW5471 in last 5 starts Pace
(8) TWIN DELIGHT made his debut for the Engblom barn last week from the eight hole and was unable to get involved. Tonight he draws another horrid post but Bartlett is back in the bike and he crushed with this mare in a qualifier last month. Have to assume he'll be trying to get off the gate quickly. (1) NIKASA has been a workhorse this year with 19 starts and it's her second down at this lower conditioned level; Stratton trainee should go well from the rail. (5) MACHS LEGACY was third from a similar spot at a big price last start.
Race 10: NW55560 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) CHANTEE is 0 for 17 this year and has only hit the board twice but this is one of the better spots the Lachance trainee has seen recently and he's capable with a trip. (2) JIMMY CONNOR B just missed from the pocket when starting from the same post two back and last week he also raced well. DiDomenico trainee seems overdue. (3) WARRIOR FOR TRUTH has class and post relief in his local return and also picks up the leading driver.