2025 MEET STATS: 369 - 1203 / $2,011.98 (-$394.02) BEST BETS: 61 - 117 / $199.74 (-$34.26) BEST BET: STERLING CHOICE (5th) SPOT PLAY: MATAI PHIL N (10th) Race 1: F&M $20,000 Claiming Pace This is a particularly weak $20K claimer, so the consistent (3) STONECOLD GIRL gets the call despite missing a month of action. The qualifier is fine and she picks up the leading driver for a top-five barn. (4) EBONY LADY has two wins in her last five starts at this level, last two were nothing to write home about, however. (1) PINE BUSH MAGA stopped last out and has missed time, but the rail and switch to Holland are a couple of things to consider. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace (2) HAZEVILLE dropped to this class last week and managed to pick up a check from the eight hole. Veteran now moves inside where he's always a factor. (4) DREAM BIRD is fresh stock from Burke and he picks up Gingras upon arrival. Not much of a seasonal record but the 4YO has been solid of late, including a win in his latest at a huge price. (1) LEVINE draws best and has Bartlett but at just 1 for 44 over the last two years and up in class a notch he's impossible to use on top. Maybe use to fill out tris/supers. Race 3: F&M $30,000 Claiming Pace (1) YS SENSATIONALCITY drops back to the level she should be more competitive at and lands the rail and picks up Holland, who may be looking to send this mare down the road. She's overdue. (3) VIBRANCE is back in for a tag and switches to Gingras; Burke trainee is eligible for an improved try. (4) KATIES UP was third last week in a $50K claimer; drops to a better class for the leading driver/trainer. Race 4: F&M $50,000 Claiming Pace (3) MISS PERIGNON N paced a solid back half to score last week versus similar and that win was at the tail end of a nice form reversal; Alexander trainee picks up Buter with her regular driver Kakaley out of action tonight and can repeat with a similar effort. (2) AMBUSHED lost by a neck, a head and won by a neck in her last three so from another good post she's an extremely logical contender. (4) ACCESS GRANTED returns from a couple of KYSS tries for Engblom and the 4YO was an easy winner in her prior two local races. Race 5: 2-5YO Winners of 2-4 races or $60,000 LT Pace (2) STERLING CHOICE recently hit town from Canada and won at first asking as the overwhelming favorite. Now in the Bako barn and co-owned by the Bartlett family this talented 3YO looks poised to repeat. (1) NO TRESSPASSING is back at Yonkers after a couple of minor stakes engagements in PA where he was not a serious player, despite being odds-on in one of them. Note he also burned money in his last Yonkers try, so I will use him underneath only. (5) FEDERER raced perfectly well last start and was a close third; he's been good in most local starts for Pelling. Race 6: F&M $25,000 Claiming Pace (3) STORMY SERENA fired down the road last week for the overlay score and now with the improved post she's a serious candidate to repeat. (4) LADYCORONA has some ugly-looking lines since the most recent claim but last week she moved to a new barn and though eighth throughout it looked like an improved effort; with the post relief maybe she's ready to get back on track. (1) KAT steps up a class off a series of solid efforts. Race 7: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace (2) PINNY TIGER A figured to be tough to beat in his second start after arriving from Australia and he jogged at six cents on the dollar (still seems strange to say). Moderate bump in class doesn't figure to slow him down any. (1) NIGHT HAWK is back down in class to a level he's more competitive and like other Burke trainees on the card he now switches to Gingras. He's in line to complete a chalky exacta. (6) PEACE OUT POSSE figured to appreciate last week's class relief. Maybe he bravened up after that effort and can race well again from a much tougher spot. Race 8: NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace (2) CURLY JAMES A is another recent import for the Engblom barn and though he failed to win last out and now steps up a notch the race still seems to go through him. (1) DANCIN SANCHO draws the rail for the fifth time in the last six starts and has been right there on the wire in all recent efforts. This race has the looks of another chalky exacta. (3) ROCK THE BELLES figures to save ground in the three or four hole and can hold the rest off. Race 9: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace (4) POP IT has some early 'pop' for the Schnittker barn, which has had some winners recently. Holland catch drives again against a field not all that imposing. (3) HUNGER STRIKE was second best to a tough import last out and he draws well again. (5) SURFSIDE BEACH has been rather dull recently but he moves back out of claimers and maybe he can land a piece. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: 2-5YO Winners of 2-4 races or $60,000 LT Pace (6) MATAI PHIL N looked like a new horse in his last two when he was paired with Holland and he's got the call again. Despite the unfavorable move outside a couple of slots there's plenty of question marks inside of him and I look for forward progress off the gate. (5) CURRYS FLURRY has been pretty good over the last couple of months; threat with a live trip. (8) QUOTE ME NOT N has taken two straight for the top driver/trainer but he graduated from NW2 and moves all the way to the eight hole after a couple of cozy pocket trips leaving from post two. Bartlett needs to generate enough early speed to avoid sitting last. Race 11: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace (3) TWIN B POWERBALL drops to the basement conditioned class and draws a much better post for Lachance. He figures to be involved in the action tonight after a couple of no-chance tries. (4) OZONE BLUE CHIP is a rugged veteran who woke up in a big way upon dropping to NW5000 and looms large, especially with Bartlett driving. (2) VICI is due for a better effort and the move back inside helps.