Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 2/25

Matt Rose|Feb 23, 2022

MEET STATS: 47 - 170 / $223.10 (-$116.90)

BEST BETS: 6 - 16 / $22.40 (-$9.60)

Best Bet: MOONLIGHT SHADOW (7th)

Spot Play: RETOUR AU JEU (1st)

Race 1: NW7955 in last 5 starts Pace

(4) RETOUR AU JEU totally turned things around last week with a solid front-end score so maybe his erratic days are behind him; Siegelman and Devita are hot. (1) MYKINDACHIP plummets from the $75K claimers and lands inside; 13-year-old is an obvious contender here. (2) STELLAR YANKEE gets some post relief in his third seasonal start for Garcia-Herrera, who figures to fully snap out of his slump soon.

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Race 2: $20,000 Claiming Pace

(4) AUTHENTIC HANOVER was a good second in his first local start upon arrival from Northfield then never got involved last week from the outside post with Cory Stratton doing the driving; Jordan is back in the bike and figures to be aggressive with the gelding. (5) MACH TIME N has looked like a new horse in his last three and he remains at a winning level. (1) WINDSONG JACK took control last week, faced hard pressure and gave way; veteran lands inside again and can't be totally dismissed.

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Race 3: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot

(4) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE had no realistic chance last start from the outside but he gets post relief while facing a bit softer; Bucci trainee figures to be pointed to the front. (2) EMOTIONS RICHES did flatten a bit in the late stages in last but overall the 4-year-old has been solid recently for the Laterza barn. (6) ETHAN T HANOVER makes his seasonal debut now in the Sheena Cohen barn and he was a winner at a similar level to end 2021.

Race 4: $12,500 Claiming Pace

(1) LOTTERY WINNER put in a very promising effort two back then never reached last week in that strangely-run race where nobody picked up an inch despite the slow pace and 1:59 1/5 final time; he's back inside and should be close enough to strike. (3) TASTE OF HISTORY was dull in his first start for new connections and now drops below the level of the claim but Bartlett chose him over a Dowse trainee. (2) ARI ALLSTAR seems to have forgotten how to win but he was right there on the wire last week and he figures to be prominently placed throughout.

Race 5: $15,000 Claiming Pace

14-year-old (6) TEXAS TERROR N was reclaimed last week by the Bako barn which means he's probably ready to start a new winning streak. (2) R MADDY BLUE CHIP wasn't bad at all in his initial start for the Dowse barn and he draws well again. (3) BLUEBERRY HEAVEN gets some needed post relief and was second best four and five back when drawn on the inside half of the gate.

Race 6: NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace

(1) EUROBOND put the trotting hobbles back on and responded with a blowout score at Pocono; when right he's an Open-type trotter and he can take these a long way on the front end. (3) LEAN HANOVER dropped from the top level last week and closed well for third; Toscano trainee drops again to the NW20000 class and is clearly a top contender. (4) BARRY BLACK was pretty much invisible in his last couple but does look the best of the rest here.

Race 7: 3-5YO $30,000 Claiming Pace

(5) MOONLIGHT SHADOW was taken off the pace last start and rallied well off tiring cover to be second best; he draws inside that rival tonight and may be able to turn the tables. (7) ROCKIN JUKEBOX was reclaimed by Peter Tritton off last week's win and goes for three straight overall; only problem here is the poor post but I don't expect Stratton to be passive early. (2) KEYSTONE DASH can be erratic at times, like last week where he went backwards, but he just missed two back in his initial start for the Dowse barn.

Race 8: Open Handicap Trot

(6) STORMY KROMER returned from a lengthy layoff to win the Open at first asking, not an easy feat to do. Classy trotter can do it from on or off the pace and deserves the call to repeat. (8) WARRIOR ONE jogged last week on the drop in class and now he gets the worst of the handicapped draw (he could have landed post four) but he is too sharp to ignore. (5) HAYEK chased the top one home last week with good strides.

Race 9: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace

(3) KIMANI N got the worst of the draw when dropped to this level but he picked a few of for fourth money. Bako trainee moves back inside and figures to be very live. (4) J B MAUNEY was caught in a poor spot last week and never had a chance to get close; he's got ability but is also becoming a money-burner. (6) MACH N CHEESE makes his second start at this basement level after tiring badly last out; hard to believe this is the same horse that finished third in last year's Borgata final.