2026 MEET STATS: 27 - 79 / $207.26 (+$49.26)
BEST BETS: 6 - 8 / $20.30 (+$4.30)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 8 / $31.14 (+$15.14)
BEST BET - VLAHOS (6th)
SPOT PLAY - ROSE RUN ASTRO (7th)
Race 1 - F&M 20000CLM Pace
(3) STAY HAPPY tired last week but that was her first start since 11-25. I think she'll get a lot of out of that race given how aggressively she was driven, and she debuts for new connections off a claim tonight. (2) SEA STORM has a second and a win in her last two appearances at this level and was Jason Bartlett's choice over three others. (1) HOLI STARZZZ A performed well in a runner-up result to a well-meant foe last Thursday and starts from the pole position again here.
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Race 2 - NAADA Winter Series Leg #5 Trot
(1) KAMERAN HANOVER comes in off a third-place finish in the Open at Monticello most recently, and that class usually translates well to the amateur series at Yonkers. Add in that he starts from the pole, and I'll give him top call. (3) BIG LIMO won handily the last time he was in an amateur contest back on 12-7 and owner Pete Kleinhans is coming in to drive himself, which can often mean a good performance is expected. (6) TARPON SPRINGS S came in second in his division of leg #4 of this series a week ago and gets to partner with Tony Beltrami again.
Race 3 - F&M 20000CLM Pace
(4) CATCH SOME SUN shows a couple of recent victories and a third over at the Meadowlands and gets to team up with a catch driver here in Colin Kelly from an improved post compared to what she's had recently across the river. (1) DISARONNO HILL is no doubt the one to beat, but she's not bulletproof as she showed on 12-9 and 1-20. She debuts for new connections off a claim and adds Bartlett in the bike. (2) PINE BUSH MAGA could improve tonight with a start under her belt from a bad post last Thursday, and she's shown the ability to be competitive in this class before.
Race 4 - NW20000L5 / Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5 / NW10 PM Races LT / 60000CLM Trot
(4) HOT FLASH KIMMY came up a little flat and was an even fourth in this class last week, but she was third in the Invitational prior to that and will hopefully offer a better price in this event. (3) KEWPIE DOLL turned in another strong effort to finish second at this level a week ago and has the powerful tandem of Bartlett and trainer Per Engblom behind her. (1) PEDAL ON METAL downed my top two selections for his third straight victory last Thursday and starts from post one again.
Race 5 - NAADA Winter Series Leg #5 Trot
I'm going to bank that (2) SOUTHWIND MAC needed that start last week as he had missed time and broke at Woodbine Mohawk Park prior to that, making his last clean line back on January 12. He moves in from the seven-hole to post two also. (4) HEY DUDE has a similar profile to his stablemate Big Limo from back in race two as he exits what appear to be tougher spots and has Kleinhans coming in to drive. (1) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE starts from post one but will need to get off quicker than he did a week ago as he wound up on poor cover and couldn't threaten.
Race 6 - 40000CLM Trot
(2) VLAHOS landed an inside post here off two outside draws, and I think that makes him the one to beat. I expect they'll go back to aggressive tactics with him as well. (8) CHULO starts from the eight-hole and hasn't been seen since September but was facing much tougher company before he went on the sidelines, and I anticipate he'll be put in play for Bartlett & Engblom. (5) PREMIER VICTOR couldn't be caught on the front-end in an upset victory a week ago and takes a second crack against $40,000 claiming company tonight.
Race 7 - 3-6YO 20000CLM Pace
(3) ROSE RUN ASTRO was unable to threaten last week from a bad post but did close in 28 and change. He moves back in on the gate here, hit the board in four straight tries from 12-21 through 2-5 and switches drivers to Joe Bongiorno. (2) BROOKDALE MIKI has a win and a second since he came south from Canada for these connections and recently went on Lasix. (1) ON DAYBOO has a trainer change to Cory Stratton and Jordan Stratton takes over the driving. He slides in from post five to the pole position off a runner-up effort a week ago.
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Race 8 - 40000CLM Trot
(2) SKY BOX invades from the Meadowlands where he's been in what's their top trotting class. I think this should be a softer spot than that and he gets reunited with Colin Kelly. (3) WILLY WALTON was boxed in through the stretch a week ago and never found room. He was a good second prior to that and gets post relief tonight. (7) WARRAWEE WHISPER tallied against $40,000 claiming company last Thursday and gets reunited with Bartlett for a high-percentage stable.
Race 9 - 15000CLM Pace
(1) COLD CREEK FELIPE turned in a good runner-up effort behind a well-meant winner on 2-9 and gets further post relief tonight as he starts from the pole. (4) HANK THE HUNK put in a first-over grind and got the job done at this level a week ago. He teams up with Jordan Stratton again this time. (5) HE'S SPECIAL tired from the pocket last Wednesday but had a couple of on-the-board results prior to that and drops a notch here.