MEET STATS: 227 - 640 / $1,269.60 (-$10.40) BEST BETS: 31 - 63 / $100.30 (-$25.70) Best Bet: SPLASH BROTHER (10th) Spot Play: BOURBONS COURAGE (5th) Race 1: $12,500 Claiming Pace (2) AMERICAN NITRO was used to the lead last week but that was no real excuse for stopping as badly as he did; he goes for Devita now off another claim and I'm willing to forgive that last race. (1) VILLAGE CHAMP has been okay of late for Garcia-Herrera and he looms an obvious player from this spot. (3) LITTLE BEN ships up from Harrington where he's been racing well in mid-level claiming events and that form should translate well here. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot (5) SUMATRA drops in class to face considerably softer here and the veteran can still bring it with this type; price should be okay too. (2) WINDSONG PIONEER drew his third consecutive eight hole last start and new driver Holland sent him from the gate for the big upset; he's up a notch but lands inside. (4) WHAT CHAPTER doesn't have a particularly good local record so keep that in mind as he'll be one of the betting choices. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: $15,000 Claiming Pace (1) SHOREVIEW returns locally and has always done well here from inside posts; veteran should be a live player here from on or just off the pace. (3) MACHING TIME dropped below the level of the claim last week and was a no-match second best to the strong winner; a similar effort will land him a nice share here. (2) SLUGGEM N goes for a new barn now off a tough beat in 1:52 3/5 and he's up in class a notch off the claim. Race 4: $20,000 Claiming Pace (1) RUTHLESS DUDE never got close last out facing better but the start prior at this level he just missed with an eight-hole speed effort; he lands the best post here and keeps Dube over a Garcia-Herrera trainee. (2) OCEAN COLONY returns to Yonkers for the first time in a few years after facing some decent stock at Plainridge; he's got class to him and figures to take plenty of tote action. (7) ROCK ON LINE has been bouncing around the claiming levels for Devita and he lands at the lowest level in quite some time but the outside post may prove troublesome. Race 5: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace (3) BOURBONS COURAGE arrived locally last week from Pennsylvania for a new barn (Blackler), added Lasix, got Bartlett in the bike and ran well to be second best. He's still seeking his first seasonal win but the 4-year-old finds a pretty good spot here in this soft field. (2) BIG BAD BILL has fallen out of form recently and is tough to take as the 9/5 chalk but he's capable with the right trip. (6) SECRECY is certainly capable his best day for the live Stafford barn. Race 6: NW15200 in last 5 starts Trot (3) BLUFFINNER graduated from the NW lifetime classes and faced much tougher stock last week, racing well to be third best out of the eight hole against two standouts (who completed a very chalky exacta). Smedshammer is back driving and he can roll by with a well-timed move. (2) FASHION CREDITOR has loads of class and is clearly feeling good now. (4) TAD KRAZY HANOVER had no chance coming out of the same race as the top choice but she can reach for a share tonight. Race 7: Open Handicap Trot (1) MELADY'S MONET took care of business on last week's dropdown and he got to draw for the three inside slots tonight, landing the best one. Ultra-classy 12-year-old gets the catch-driving Bartlett and is more than capable of beating these. (5) HEY LIVVY brushed and crushed last start, but that was almost a month ago. If ready to go he can clearly repeat. (4) PATRIARCH HANOVER has proven that he can go with the top level and the 4-year-old Burke trainee has looked good in practically every Yonkers start. Race 8: MGM Springfield Stakes Finals 2YO Pace (7) PLEASELETMEKNOW had solid speed at both ends in last week's elimination and looked very comfortable drawing clear late. I'm sure the connections would have preferred a better draw here but the American Ideal offspring deserves the top billing despite the seven hole. (3) THEBIZNES BLUECHIP had a very productive career debut, charging home to just miss in his elim. Gillis trainee could be even better tonight and that 10/1 morning line certainly is enticing. (1) AMERICAN ARTIST K chased the top one from the three hole and could not dent the margin late but he made the final with his 1:54 4/5 finishing time and he draws inside again. Race 9: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace (3) HERRICKROOSEVELT N couldn't fire off cover last week but from the improved post he can be on the move earlier to the front, or can be close enough to the pace to grind by late; Stratton sticks. (5) WAR DAN DELIGHT N has definitely paced fast enough in his last three local efforts to prove competitive here. (8) FLAMING FLUTTER N dropped to the bottom conditioned class last start and jogged for the Tritton barn. Does Bartlett get aggressive from the gate here? If not, he'll likely have too far to come. Race 10: 3&4YO Open Pace (4) SPLASH BROTHER paced in 1:47 4/5 in last week's Graduate and that only translated into a sixth-place finish. His prior start here he was run over by Dragon Said, who came back to win the Open. Schnittker trainee is clearly the one to beat here. (1) LEVINE has been a solid earner for Zeron and Scran. 4-year-old should fit perfectly here in this age-restricted event. (5) GRAY DRAGON easily beat NW15000's at 15 cents on the dollar but drawing outside of the top choice may make things difficult for the Butenschoen trainee. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 11: NW30000 in last 5 starts Trot (4) BLUE AND BOLD does his best work a level or two below these but there's no standouts in this competitive event and he should offer up a good price. (2) EYE OFA TIGER AS is probably the one to beat, and an effort similar to the one two back would be plenty good enough to get it done, but he's not the most consistent type and won't be much value. (6) ROCK OF CASHEL has plenty of class and the 11-year-old is still going strong; he's hit the ticket in his last five out of town. Race 12: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace (7) BRANQUINHO has come back strong from the layoff for the Schnittker barn and I'm not sure there's anything preventing him from repeating last week's effort (and his backers may actually get paid this week!) (4) ISLANDSPECIALMAJOR beat a very soft field at 5 cents on the dollar last out and wasn't all that impressive. Don't accept too short of a price. (8) THE REAL ONE deserves a mention at the NW7500 level, doesn't he? I suppose he could be a closing threat. (1) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP had an adventurous trip last start and he showed nothing in his prior three, but that was against much better. If he's ever going to get well, this is the spot.