Hilltop Helper

EARLY PICK 4 PLAY (RACES 1-4) - $1 1&5 WITH 1&3 WITH 2&5 WITH 4&7 = $16

PICK 5 PLAY (RACES 5-9) - 50¢ 6&7 WITH 3 WITH 1&3 WITH 1&6 WITH 1&3&6 = $12

LATE PICK 4 PLAY (RACES 7-10) - $1 1&3 WITH 1&6 WITH 3&6 WITH 2&7 = $16

Race 1: $25,000 CLAIMERS – EARLY PICK 4 (1-4) – EARLY DD (1-2)

1 – JOJO’S PLACE – Winner one level down three back (for GB); held

for 4th when 1st up in last; moves to high % Berkley; speed/rail

5 – STATEMENT MADE A – 4-1-1-2 this level for Bako; got in gear late

to run down #8 (who is 2-44 in 2022-23); Kakaley’s choice (#1)

3 – PROVOCATIVEPRINCE N – Unusually good close for 3rd behind #5

in last; on board 5 of 6 this level in 2023; second time Boyd

2 – ROBBIE BURNS – Decent 7 hole try after win in 1st for barn 2 back

Race 2: $15,000 CLAIMERS – PICK 3 (2-4)

3 – MAAJAACKKOBE – Win and 2nd in 2 tries for barn; run down late

by pocket sitting #6 in last; can take this if favorite stumbles

1 – MINGO JOEL – 2-2 this level for top barn; 2nd for $20k 2 back;

offstride when pulling 1st up in slop in last at Pocono; short price

6 – LETTUCERIPRITA A – Been sharp for a long time and was winner

this class in last (beating choice); changes barn & moves outside

5 – TOATSMYGOATS – Two pocket seconds from 7 hole last two

Race 3: N/W 5,000 L5; AE $12,500 CLAIMERS – PICK 3 (3-5)

5 – DARK ENERGY N – Nailed late in last at this level in a well-meant

try; deserves another chance at this level (was racing vs. $40k)

2 – GIVE US AWAVE A – Left in last at Swamp, surrendered lead and

was resurgent for win once he had room; major factor

3 – GENTLEMANJIM II IE – Edged by #2 in solid 2nd over Swamp try

4 – MEMPHISTENNESSEE N – Faded from pocket in last one level up

Race 4: BLUE CHIP MATCHMAKER (1ST DIVISION) – PICK 3 (4-6)

7 – RACINE BELL – 2022 series runner up (to #4) edged again by #4

in last after bringing her speed; might be ready for her best

4 – DRAMA ACT – 2022 Champ is solid & overcame a tactical

disadvantage to reel in #7 in last; 3 wins & 2nd in 2023; overbet?

3 – MORNING HAS BROKEN – 2 thirds in last four Open tries; enters

off win at N/W $30,000; tri/super behind two good ones

5 – INCASEYOU DIDNTKNOW – 2 prior Hilltop tries were from bad

spots; Dover form is good, but draws into a tough division

Race 5: BLUE CHIP MATCHMAKER (2ND DIVISION) – PICK 5 (5-9)

7 – EASY TO PLEASE – Solid mare enters off 3rd behind last year’s top

two (couldn’t gain in swift last quarter, but was a perfect prep for

series); post compromises her chances, but this is soft group

6 – AMAZING DREAM N – Millionairess earned over a quarter of million

last year; 4th in Breeders Crown; makes 2023 debut off three solid

Swamp qualifiers and can bring speed; ready for first leg?

2 – MABALENE N – Flashed talent here last year, but she was sidelined

and was clearly short at Swamp in last; lots to prove in this series

3 – LIT DE ROSE – Won 3 straight Opens in December; figures to be

close enough to be a factor underneath in tri/supers

Race 6:– F&M N/W $30,000 L5/AE 3-5 YO F&M NW 12 PM LT;

AE $75,000 CLAIMERS – PICK 3 (6-8)

3 – ROCKN PHILLY – 3 2023 wins & was sharp on front end in

last; likely pacesetter steps up, but has back class

4 – MILLWOOD BONNIE – Pocket sitter blew by easily in last,

snapping 4 race winning streak; Gingras/Bako/ample speed

5 – JIVE DANCING A – Sharp 2ndslast 2, including last this level

when he sat in 3rd & had late pace; draws outside key rivals

2 – TUGGINGONCREDIT – 1st up move in last (4th behind #3)

Race 7: F&M N/W $20,000 L5/AE 3-5 YO F&M NW 10 PM LT –

PICK 4 (7-10)

3 – MIKI ROSE – Sharp both 2023 tries for Engblom; returns at

same level after pocket 2nd in last & figures for big effort

1 – MAN DONTFORGET ME – Last win came 1 level down, but

was 2nd in two tries since this level; will get good trip

2 – LADYBELUCKYTONITE – Won 1 level down 2 back; no shot

double jumping in last; but can hit board from inside post

6 – VILLAGE JADE – Winner this level 5 back; tri/super?

Race 8: BLUE CHIP MATCHMAKER (3RD DIVISION) – PICK 3

(8-10)

1 – DELITFULCATHERIN N – On board five straight Open tries,

including one win; enters series in form & can use rail

6 – KARMA SEELSTER – Open 2nd 2 back (edged by DRAMA ACT,

who she beat week prior); outside draw is main concern

3 – GIA’S SURREAL – Last year’s Consolation winner makes 2nd

2023 start after track tour in 1st; classy & solid connections

5 – LUCKY ARTIST A – Sharp Open scores from pocket and on

front end; barn’s been sharp and she can be put in play

Race 9: N/W $15,000 L5/AE WINNERS LAST IN N/W $10,000

L5/AE 3-5 YO NW 9 PM LT – LATE DD (9-10)

6 – VIOLETS RAINBOW – Parked in last from 7 hole when

dropped to this level in last; Kakaley bails (#1), but 8-1 ML

3 – DARBY HANOVER – Second last two, including last this level;

will be very tough if he can be put in play early; 5-2 ML

1 – WESTBEACH – Held on in last one level down; was racing

well vs. much better last year, but 2-1 ML is unattractive

7 – REACHTHRUTHESKY AS – Dominant wakeup speed try in last

two levels down; another who faced better in 2022

Race 10: N/W $7,500 L5/AE WINNERS IN LAST IN N/W $5,000

2 – WARDAN EXPRESS A – Winner one level down when he

repelled stiff challenge in stretch; speed and draws well

7 – CAVIART SARGENT – Pulled pocket & wore down leader one

level down; faces weak group on step up; no value (5-2 ML)

3 – BARON MICHAEL – Late move for distant third this level

6 – MOMENTSTHATMATTER – Age-restricted claimers to condition

“This sheet is prepared by the

Standardbred Owners Association of

New York, which is solely responsible

for its content & selections. Empire

City at Yonkers Raceway by MGM has

no connection with the preparation of

this sheet, & its selections are

handicapping aids only”

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