Hilltop Helper 3.20.23

                                                                                 THE YONKERS HILLTOP HELPER 

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

PICK 5 PLAY (RACES 5-9) - 50¢ 2&4 WITH 1&3&5 WITH 2&4 WITH 2 WITH 2&4&5 = $18

LATE PICK 4 PLAY (RACES 8-11) - $1 2&4&5 WITH 1&2&3 WITH 1&7 WITH 3 = $18

MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023 – FIRST POST 7:00 PM

Race 1: N/W $10,000 L5/AE WINNERS LAST IN N/W $7,500 L5

 5 – RAUKAPUKA RULER N – Only 1 2022 win, but racing very well for new barn, with pocket rocket win one level down; B²!

3 – BRAEVIEW BONDI A – Front end 3-5 winner one level down in last; still shows 2^nd at N/W $20,000, so hike is not an issue

1 – BLUEBIRD RECON – Earned $129k last year; drops, rail & speed

6 – BENHOPE RULZ N – 9YO owns 2023 win this level & drops off 3^rd

Race 2: OPEN HANDICAP – PICK 3 (2-4)

5 – PYRO – Won 3 straight, including last over two Borgata entrants; outside key rivals, but has class edge over two inside speeds

2 – OZONE BLUE CHIP – $75k win machine tries diluted Open ranks; will battle with #1 for trip in a showdown of two top barns

1 – THE REGULATOR – Easy win in last; been facing MUCH softer, but lands rail for Engblom and has speed to secure good trip

3 – WINDSUN RICKY – 4 race win streak snapped; share for hot barn

Race 3: BORGATA (FIRST DIVISION) – PICK 3 (3-5)

5 – LOCHINVAR ART A – Down under millionaire has been as good as advertised; confident drive in last by talented Tritton; tough

3 – ROCKIN WITHELVIS A – Poor posts last 2 for recent import, but prior 2 tries showed his talent; better post & lures Miller

1 – SOARING NOW – 4YO makes 3^rd 2023 start; goes 7 hole to rail

2 – BAD TOTHEBONE N – Beat #3 in #3’s NA debut; rail win v. lesser

Race 4: BORGATA (SECOND DIVISION) – PICK 3 (4-6)

2 – JIMMY FREIGHT – Millionaire makes 3^rd 2023 start (Swamp 1^st & 3^rd); draws well & Pelling & Zeron have a serious series force

1 – HELLABALOU – Burke trainee away since January, but qualified impressively; high speed & driver that knows how to utilize rail

4 – BELMONT ROYALE N – 1^st up when edged by #5 last at Swamp

5 – BACKSTREET SHADOW – 3-6 on year, including 2^nd over win last

Race 5: N/W $30,000 L5/AE 3-5 YO N/W 10 12 PM LT/AE $75,000 CLAIMERS – PICK 5 (5-9)

2 – CERTIFIABLE – Rolled by #4 from pocket in 1^st try for Engblom; finished behind 2 good ones in last two & lands good spot

4 – GREAT SOMEWHERE – Was good for Engblom & Stafford, and is now good for Bako; 6-7 on year & may handle tougher company

7 – MOONSHINE KISSES – 2023 debut was win this level; poor post

1 – FOREVER FAV – 2^nd try for Holland; use in tri/super at 12-1ML

Race 6: BORGATA (FOURTH DIVISION) – PICK 3 (6-8)

3 – NONE BETTOR A – Aria winner was very sharp in latter stages of 2022; enters off 2 sharp qualifiers & draws inside other speeds

1 – PRICELESS BEACH – Win & 3^rd in 2 Open tries; has advantage of having had 4 starts this year for Bako; Kakaley to choice; Miller

5 – FUNATTHEBEACH N – 2023 Champ is already in midseason form (beat #7 3 back); can certainly pounce if #3/#4 are not ready yet

7 – LEONIDAS A – Last year’s runner up has returned in excellent form, with 2 straight wins; tough field/post for big series threat

Race 7: $30,000 CLAIMERS – PICK 3 (7-9)

4 – SHARK PLAY – 1^st up at $25k level in last and tired to 4^th; goes  from one good barn to another; fits well despite the hike             

2 – MACH DORO A – Earned $119k as 11 YO; 2023 debut, but has    won twice off qualifiers; faces weak field with speed/good post

5 – PICARD A – Compromised early in last; prior tries at $25k ok

7 – GOTHIC ROCK - DH for win 1^st this level; barn sharp; poor post

Race 8: N/W $7,500 L5/AE WINNERS LAST IN N/W $5,000 L5 –  PICK 3 (8-10)

2 – CENTURY HANNIBAL – Front end try from 8 hole in 1^st for Engblom, but lost to classy pocketsitter; speed and inside

1 – IM A GIGOLO N – Win & 2^nd last 2 from 8 holes vs. softer; should be well-positioned again with complete post relief

4 – TIGER BARON – Good 3^rd last; 2^nd last try level; drops again

6 – STATE SENATOR – Good try for new barn in last; drops

Race 9: BORGATA (FIFTH DIVISION) – PICK 4 (9-12)

2 – AMERICAN COURAGE – Yonkers scourge was 3^rd in Aria;      2023 debut off 3 qualifiers; threat to take these all the way

5 – IDEALSOMEMAGIC A – Stratton motionless in 5 race win streak;  rallied for 2^nd (LEONIDAS A) in snow storm in last; respect!

4 – NANDOLO – Solid win at Swamp in last; impressive in 2022 series and lands in a good spot for Bartlett/Tritton; beware

1 – BURNHAM BOY N – 2 2023 wins vs cheaper (here & at Swamp); close 4^th in Swamp when 3^rd over behind #4/#5 in the 4^th

Race 10: $40,000 CLAIMERS – PICK 3 (10-12)

3 – CAPTIVATE HANOVER – Good 2^nd last; poor win profile, but he’s legit $40k claimer & earns checks; over the hump here?

1 – OURRYTHMNBLUES N – Nipped on front end in last, snapping    2 race win streak; speed/rail/Brennan/Scotty D; tries claimers

2 – MONGOLIAN HERO – No speed; definite late threat from inside

5 – CHANGE STRIDE N – Bad trip last; 1-5 for Berkley (0-2 for $40k)

Race 11: $50,000 CLAIMERS – LATE DD (11-12)

7 – TOWNLINE ALL GOOD – Winner of 3 straight, including 1^st for Engblom (at this level); can be put in play despite post

1 – BALLERAT BOOMERANG – Won 2 straight for top barn this  level before fading after claim; speedster in another new barn

5 – TIN ROOF RAIDER – Strong 2^nds behind choice last two tries

3 – PRETTY HANDSOME – Last win at N/W $20,000 level, late share

Race 12: N/W $15,000 L5/AE WINNERS LAST N/W $10,000 L5

3 – BUDDY HILL – 3^rd in last when closing from last; sharp while facing much better (Open tries); can control action on drop

5 – TWIN B HEART THROB – 2^nd (clear of choice) at 39-1 to good  one in last with powerful 3^rd over close; also drops tonight

2 – ESCAPETOTHEBEACH – Speed + Holland = good trip

4 – ROCK CANDY – Off board both this level; use underneath

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Prepared by the Standardbred Owners Association of New York

“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"