Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 2/3

2023 MEET STATS: 26 - 60 / $122.50 (+$2.50)

BEST BETS: 5 - 6 / $14.40 (+$2.40)

Best Bet: LETTUCERIPRITA A (1st)

Spot Play: AMERICAN WAY (10th)

Race 1: $15,000 Claiming Pace

(3) LETTUCERIPRITA A pretty much picked up where he left off at the end of last season with a win and a close third so far in 2022. 13-year-old won't offer much of a price tonight but he is clearly the most likely winner. Most of the rest of these have been major disappointments recently, including (2) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N, who does have speed but hasn't been finishing, and (5) ARTMAGIC, who was claimed for $25K by these connections a few months ago, has done nothing, and now finds himself tagged for $15K.

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Race 2: $25,000 Claiming Pace

(6) STATEMENT MADE A was claimed out of his last start by the Bako barn, which has been firing on all cylinders. He bumps back up a notch and doesn't get the best of draws but he must be followed with the barn change. (2) SHARK PLAY never got close last start but he had been good in all prior starts and the post relief will help his cause. (1) ROLL WITH TIME also didn't do much coming out of the same race as #2 and I expect a much more aggressive try tonight.

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Race 3: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace

(3) TIME TO DANCE brushed and crushed in his debut for the DiDomenico barn and that was a major form reversal; gelding is likely to have more to offer facing a notch better. (7) ALEX TYE has plenty of class and does have some gate speed in his arsenal; I like the change to Bartlett. (1) BLUEBIRD RECON got a long-awaited win last week but will have to work harder tonight in order to repeat.

Race 4: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace

(4) MOMENTARILY arrived from Canada to join the Cullipher barn and was a winner last Saturday in a Big M qualifier; 4-year-old faces a soft field for this class and could be ready at first asking. (3) ROCKNROLL ANNIE was empty last week in her local return but she drops and should be one the move early. (7) ODDS ON NUMBER ONE arrives from Ohio for Virgil Morgan, Jr. and faces a tall task from the outside but she's worth a look underneath at a price.

Race 5: NW7505 in last 5 starts Pace

(1) ROLLING WITH SAM gets much-needed class and post relief tonight and the Alexander trainee should respond accordingly. (6) THEFLYINGROCK also drops in class and has had a number of speed tries with Bartlett driving; I'll assume he's trying for the front. Good to see 14-year-old (3) MACINTOSH N bounce right back from a troubling start with a solid qualifier; he can hit the ticket with smooth sailing.

Race 6: $15,000 Claiming Pace

(4) ODDS ON DELRAY showed some of that back class with a strong win last week and the new addition to the Devita barn faces much of the same tonight; he figures to repeat at a short price. (6) MUSCLE MACH A chased the top one willingly in his first start for Bako; second best again? (2) MUDVILLE figures to be sitting a nice trip close to the front and should land a nice share.

Race 7: F&M NW20191 in last 5 starts Pace

(2) DISARONO HILL is always competitive at this level and has been right there a few times recently at big odds; She figures to be a nice price again and could trip out from this inside post. (5) DRAMA ACT rallied nicely from off the pace in preparation for her 2023 debut and I'll assume the Burke trainee is ready to roll. (4) MCMARKLE SPARKLE tailed off towards the end of 2022 after a big form spree and she wasn't all that good in her seasonal debut; mixed feelings here

Race 8: F&M Open Handicap Pace

(6) DELITEFULCATHERIN N overcame the outside post with a solid two-move effort last week and she's been a model of consistency for the Gillis barn; mare can take her third straight if not too roughed up. (1) UPTOWN HANOVER was right there with the top one two back and last week she came up just a bit short; she gets another cozy post here and is in with a major chance. (7) LIT DE ROSE was derailed by the far outside post in her last two but she finished with good pace in both. Lachance may be relegated to trailing position again but will be coming late.

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Race 9: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace

(1) KEY ADVISOR was much-improved last start when he rallied for third at a price; Erv Miller trainee finally gets the post relief he needs and hopefully will build off that recent effort. (3) AIR FORCE HANOVER was close at the wire coming out of the same race as #1 and he figures to be one of the main players again. (4) BETTOR SUN was never close from the eight hole making his first start for the Devita barn. Gelding drops in class and lands a much better post.

Race 10: $20,000 Claiming Pace

(1) AMERICAN WAY bumps up a notch in claiming price after being taken last out from Lachance by the Daguet barn, which has been going well recently. Stratton picks up the drive from the innermost post. (5) MARINER SEELSTER may be starting to show his age but hopefully will improve facing softer. (2) JOJO'S PLACE has finished second best in his last three and is in line for another good share from this spot.