2025 MEET STATS: 242 - 817 / $1,353.80 (-$280.20)
BEST BETS: 41 - 79 / $137.20 (-$20.80)
BEST BET: ELEKTRA A (8th)
SPOT PLAY: BULLY BOY HILL (1st)
Race 1: NW7500 in last 5 starts Trot
(1) BULLY BOY HILL returns locally after a failed try upstate and gets the hot Colin Kelly back in the bike from the best post. He was close up in his last two from inside posts against some tougher rivals. (4) BRODEUR was empty in his one Yonkers appearance a couple of months back but that was against much better and he's raced well in his last three at Pocono. Lorentzon trainee picks up Kakaley and is deserving of morning-line favoritism. (3) STREET GOSSIP has never been a prolific winner but at this level he can always be counted on for a share.
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Race 2: NY Excelsior 3YO Filly Pace Leg #7
(3) BEANTOWN DEUCE has hit the board in all nine starts as a sophomore including wins in her last two Excelsior events with Kakaley in the bike. Post edge on one of her main rivals may entice her driver to be more aggressive in the early stages to set up a winning trip. (5) FASHION TERROR is a nice-looking youngster from the Mark Ford barn and she's 6 for 12 this year and 10 for 20 lifetime. With Bartlett again she may be the one to catch. (2) BRONX MIXER broke before the start in her last up at Monti which may scare some people off. If you assume that was a fluke then the Schnittker homebred is an obvious player.
Race 3: NY Excelsior 3YO Filly Pace Leg #7
(5) TIME TO STRIKE paced a big-time back half to win at Monti in her last Excelsior race and a repeat of that effort can be more than enough to sail by the pacesetters. (4) CHANCEOFLIGHTNING just missed in a NYSS test after cutting the mile earlier in her season and she's been one of the major players this season in the Excelsiors for Cory Stratton. She and (1) MARTINI STAR are likely to line up and sit 1-2 in here. Only problem with #1 is her 1 for 18 lifetime record.
Race 4: F&M Invitational Pace
(6) SILK CLOUD A shipped over to Pocono for a couple of starts at their top level and wasn't a serious player but she's back at Yonkers and in a spot to flash some of that early speed despite landing the outermost post. This field is a little lighter than she's accustomed to and I can envision Stratton wiring these. (1) LYDEO gets major post relief and is fast enough to be a pace player and work out a live trip. (5) LIT DE ROSE is a legit top-class mare for Lachance and she can leave the gate effectively. Will that present a problem for #6? It didn't the last couple of times they met up.
Race 5: NYSS 3YO Filly Pace Leg #7
One NYSS dash for the cash on the card worth a fat $174K. (3) THE LAST MARTINI is clearly the most accomplished in here as she was the NYSS champ as a freshman and finished second in both the She's A Great Lady (to Chantilly) and the Breeders Crown (to Miki And Minnie). Jared Bako trainee has followed that up this season with multiple NYSS wins and a third in the Fan Hanover. Clearly she's the one to beat here as the deserving favorite. (6) MRS CHEESE didn't race as a 2YO but has looked good though her 10 lifetime starts this season, including winning the Park MGM Pace at YR back in June. She'll be chasing and should be live for a good share. (7) SHES A STREAKER is a legit talent for Burke and has flashed speed on the bigger tracks for Burke, but not the half milers. Opposite is true for (8) SEND IT DOWN SLIM, who may look to get in play early at a huge price for driver Mark MacDonald.
Race 6: F&M NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) KATIES UP drops back to the level of her last win and also returns to Bartlett; top call. (2) MALUKA MISS N has been more involved recently since dropping in class and those were from outside posts; move inside makes her dangerous. (1) HUNTING HULA has also been racing well and moves all the way to the rail for Lachance; only 2 for her last 28 so I'll use underneath.
Race 7: NW10000 in last 5 starts Trot
(1) AARDIEBYTHEHILL N is the latest Down-Under import and this trotter arrives for the Engblom barn with a win in his lone qualifier at Philly. He's an automatic selection here. (5) OLIVER THE GREAT is hard not to like considering how well he's raced in his last couple. (6) SISTER MARY MAUDE has been finding life as an "aged" trotter to be a bit of a challenge so far but the Burke trainee gets major class relief tonight.
Race 8: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) ELEKTRA A drops in class, moves in to a much better post and picks up the leading driver. She's the most accomplished in here this year (by money earnings) and the Cullipher trainee seems to have found the winning spot. (4) KISS MY CHEEK was a winner when last at this level and figures to be more involved here. (1) IDEAL COVER was boxed in last week after sitting the pocket; prior starts were good.
Race 9: F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) FRONT PAGE STORY dropped and popped last week; step up a notch shouldn't be a major problem as she tries to repeat. (1) YS SENSATIONALCITY is right there practically every start and actually steps up from $50's to $60's but draws the rail with Bartlett and is in line for a juicy trip. She is off three weeks, however. (3) UPTOWN HANOVER would be a bigger win candidate if not for drawing outside the top two but is still a threat.
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Race 10: NW5000 in last 5 starts Trot
(3) B NICKING can be frustrating for me at times but it's hard to pass up on this DiDomenico trainee at the bottom level. (5) THE PRINCE also drops in search of a wakeup call; she is a $76K earner this year so the ability is there. (8) SWAN SO FINE has underwhelmed in two starts since shipping over here from Hoosier and now she's got the eight hole but it is the top trainer/driver in play so perhaps she's coaxed off the gate trying to get into play.
Race 11: F&M NW5981 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) VIOLETS RAINBOW gets needed post relief in her fourth start since returning to the Bako barn while facing a rather flat field and she will undoubtedly offer a better price than (5) ATREACHEROUS A. The latter drops again in her second return start and gets Bartlett back; overdue for an aggressive effort. (4) THUNDRA gets away from the eight hole so she can pick up a share at a price.