Best Bet: CHRISTEN ME N (1st) Spot Play: PRAIRIE PANTHER (5th) MEET STATS: 444 - 1224 / $2,394.10 BEST BETS: 60 - 105 / $194.70 Race 1 (5) CHRISTEN ME N obviously enjoyed that two month vacation as he charged home from third over to just miss last week; veteran clearly seems like the one to beat from this spot. (1) BETTOR'S PROMISE took care of business against one notch lower and he draws best here for the Ruiz barn, which has been hot recently. (3) MACH TIME N has not shown much recently but we know he's capable of better and this is the most realistic spot he's seen in some time. [DRF BETS: Get a 15% rebate on all Yonkers International Trot Day wagers on October 13 + the Belmont-Yonkers Pick 4.] Race 2 (1) UHLAN NOIR raced reasonably well in the French American series and was a very good second to the odds-on winner in his last; Bongiorno should be able to work out a winning trip in this added-distance event. (3) ADAGIO DE LA TOUR has raced very well for Banca, finding a home at the optional $30K claiming level, and he looks like the one to beat as one of the favorites. (4) DEO added the hobbles two back, has behaved himself since, and put in two solid efforts; player. Race 3 (2) ROLAND N ROCK went through the motions from an impossible spot in his return from the Iowa fair circuit; this is a much more legitimate spot today and he's certainly playable. (1) ABNER THE GREAT missed a month with a couple of sick scratches but he qualified back effectively and looms a threat for Team Bongiorno. (8) BETTOR MEMORIES returns locally in good form, was Bartlett's choice but may be done in by the eight hole. Race 4 (1) DOCTOR BUTCH has been racing well lately, but just not well enough to strike. Landing the best post could solve that problem. (4) AMERICAN BOY N has proven to be a touch overmatched at the Open class, but this level suits him just fine. Does he need the front to be most effective? (2) GOKUDO HANOVER steps up in class for his third consecutive local start looking for his third straight at Yonkers and fifth overall but he faces some tough ones here. Race 5 (6) PRAIRIE PANTHER hit town last week and was a most impressive winner, gunning down two good rivals; Mike Deters trainee has something to prove here but could be sharp enough and should offer a decent price. (4) PHOTOBOMBR HANOVER didn't fire last week from a tough spot but all prior efforts were super and he lands a nice post here. (8) MAC'S JACKPOT was sent to the front and proved gamest late but it's likely he'll be coming from the back of the back today; will he have too far to come? Race 6 (2) CAVIART LUCA hasn't been at his absolute sharpest recently but he may make up for that with the very nice inside draw; Burke trainee should have a tactical edge on most of his rivals. (3) MILITARY MASTER A stormed home from a tough spot last week and seems sharp enough to contend here. (1) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN is clearly feeling good again and should be a player landing the best post in this open draw. Race 7 - Harry Harvey Invitational (10) HOMICIDE HUNTER has a bit of a tricky starting spot from the second tier but he's clearly the most accomplished here and has a solid local history; the horse he's following on the gate does have some early speed which could help. (3) GUARDIAN ANGEL AS was a big second to the top choice in Lexington in a sub 1:50 time (I know, every race there sizzled) and the 4-year-old has really matured nicely; big player. (1) WARRAWEE ROO has had his moments and he'll be charging late off what hopes to be a favorable trip. Race 8 - Yonkers International Trot (1) MARION MARAUDER has matured into a world-class trotter and could not be coming into this event any sharper. 5-year-old was second best in the International to the runaway winner last year and earns another invite based on the solid body of work this season. Scott Zeron has plenty of tactical options from this spot. (5) PASTORE BOB is reported to have a ton of speed off the gate which should serve him well firing from this midpack post. That can make him dangerous if he's set up with a live trip. (6) CRUZADO DELA NOCHE came over to the U.S early and had a couple of very productive qualifiers over at Pocono. Perhaps that strategy will work in his favor. (4) RINGOSTARR TREB was the Elitlopp winner and comes in with arguably the best credentials for the trainer who won last year's event. Will he be ready to go off a subpar effort and a qualifier? We will see, but I do expect him to take plenty of action in the commingled pools. Race 9 (8) LEAN HANOVER may be a major stretch from this post in an oversized field but he hails from the Marion Marauder connections and was visually impressive last week taking his local debut. (1) DAYSON has been slow to get underway this year for Burke but has looked better in recent efforts. (3) BOFFIN raced well enough last week to be second best after escaping a shuffle; Gingras drives. Race 10 (3) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN is clearly trending in the right direction and was a solid second last week to a tough rival; Stratton is back driving and they look best here. (9) ALWAYS A GOOD TIME is a steady commodity for Allard and he's hit the ticket in five of his last six. (5) DON DREAM gets some needed class relief after being a bit overmatched at the upper levels. Race 11 - Dan Rooney Invitational (4) BIT OF A LEGEND N hasn't been at his best on the Grand Circuit trail this season but he bounced back last week with a solid two-move win and he does have the home-field advantage. Could he be a touch overlooked here with much of the focus on the Mcwicked/Lazarus matchup? Post could work to his advantage as well. (2) MCWICKED is having arguably a career year at age seven and he just went over the million mark for the season with his scintillating win at The Red Mile; he does have plenty of experience over the Yonkers oval and Sears should be within striking distance throughout. (6) LAZARUS N's appearance truly makes this Invitational a world-class event; talented import has tangled with Mcwicked four times so far with the score even. Can Gingras generate enough early speed to overcome what could be a tactical disadvantage? (1) NUCLEAR DRAGON has much to prove with this type but he's got tons of speed from the best post and Tetrick may try to seat everybody and go down the road. Race 12 (7) MISTER DAYTONA N didn't fire with his best last week in his local return but he drops in class today and gets Stratton in the bike; top billing despite the outside post. (3) SHANE ADAM gave it all he had last out before getting rebuffed by a classy rival; Banca trainee is sharp now. (4) TECHTOR HANOVER was collared on the wire by the trip-sitter after cutting the mile upon dropping to this level; he looks like a player again. [DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]