Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 3/1
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2024 MEET STATS: 37 - 136 / $239.60 (-$32.40)
BEST BETS: 7 - 11 / $23.10 (+$1.10)
BEST BET: COACHELLABOUND N (9th)
SPOT PLAY: SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE (3rd)
Race 1: NW5521 in last 5 starts Trot
(1) HOOFBEATS DE VIE has raced well in most Yonkers starts over the past year or so and he returns off some live efforts at The Meadowlands. From the rail Kakaley has tactical options but regardless he'll be close to the front. (3) HUNTING AS has been knocking on the door and is a clear contender. (4) DOO WOP KID was overmatched last time he shipped from Monticello but this is a more reasonable level; no reason he can't hit the ticket with a reasonable trip.
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Race 2: F&M NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace
Another one of these five-horse affairs to get the juices flowing...(1) LUCKY ARTIST A and (4) DELITFULCATHERIN N have a clear class edge on the others as they are both proven Open-level mares. #1 projects to be a much bigger price so I'll give her a try. (2) MILLWOOD BONNIE N didn't take long to go from the basement to nearly the penthouse; I'm pretty sure I called that when I had her on top in NW5000.
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Race 3: NW7500 in last 5 starts Trot
(2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE has speed and is generally well-mannered; drop in class and return to Brennan (who won with him back in January) makes him a logical win candidate. (3) PAPA DOC also faces a bit softer and gets an improved post; Gingras has the drive tonight. (4) WILY WALLY managed to find the wire last week off a pocket ride; Engblom trainee steps up looking for another.
Race 4: F&M Invitational Pace
Another short field in the feature but this is a solid grouping of mares. (4) VIOLETS RAINBOW was having a good season in 2023 but was shut down at the end of July and now returns off a respectable qualifier with the trainer in the bike. Kakaley gets back aboard and I think from this spot it's possible she's live at first asking. Price should be good. (2) LIT DE ROSE has seemingly done everything right so far this year as she makes her second return start from a much better spot. Only problem is the Lachance trainee figures to get crushed at the windows. (6) TONY'S MOM lands outside but she's left sharply in every Yonkers start and has a stellar in-the-money record.
Race 5: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK drops to a new low and is capable of steamrolling this field. Schnittker veteran is clearly the one in here. (8) JUSTASEC N also drops and if not for the eight hole he would be a major threat. Hopefully Siegelman can get him out of the gate. (2) AIR FORCE HANOVER does have plenty of back class but hasn't been a major player in a long time.
Race 6: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot
(2) DW'S POINT MAN swept the field from last two back then showed solid speed to work out a pocket trip and was second best; Lachance trainee steps up in class but he has a post edge and seemingly a tactical edge on most of his rivals. (4) SOUTHWIND ARTURO raced decently facing much better in his first two 2024 starts and now he drops to a winning spot; dangerous. (7) FRANK THE ELDER was a winner first out for the Bongiorno barn after coming over from the Burke outfit; deserves respect despite the outside post.
Race 7: $30,000 Claiming Pace
(4) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL was a game front-end winner last week, his second start off the DiDomenico claim. He can repeat here. (5) ALOTBETTOR N has really tailed off in his two starts for new connections. May be off the pace tonight and he's got too much class to ignore. (3) ROCK THIS WAY hails from Burke and Gingras drives again; deserves consideration despite being shut out of the win column so far this year.
Race 8: F&M NW10501 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) GOLDIES ADELIGHT A was outfinished after an aggressive try last start at Saratoga and now the recent import ships in to Yonkers probably facing comparable to what she saw upstate. Cushing mare dug in for a qualifying win here back in January. (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE blew away a NW7500 field last week and steps up a notch looking to repeat. (2) MORNING HAS BROKEN is better than she's been showing; perhaps the barn change from Bako to Adamczyk wakes her up.
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Race 9: F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) COACHELLABOUND N did not rally in last week's F&M Invitational but the Bucci trainee drops to the level where she won two back. I expect Holland to be aggressive here. (3) CHERYLS SHADOW gets some post relief in her second start back from the layoff and she figures to be more involved. (1) CRUISE ALERT makes her 2024 debut off solid 2 and 3YO seasons where she banked almost $400K in Ohio. She comes out east and joins the Cory Stratton barn, and Buter keeps the drive after being behind her in the qualifier.
Race 10: NW18881 in last 5 starts Trot
(2) HIGHLAND MOWGLI woke up with a better effort last week at Pocono and the trotter from the Burke outfit has won 10 of 26 races at Yonkers over the last couple of seasons. (3) WINDSONG PIONEER is a reliable local trotter and he'll close up, maybe in the pocket. (4) DONATO PATRIOT K barely got the job done against a bit lesser last start at 1/5 odds; has a chance with a smooth trip.
Race 11: NW10353 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) BEREAVED HANOVER moves all way the back inside and was aggressively handled against better from the rail two back. Perhaps he can trip out here at a decent price in this tough-to-figure finale. (3) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER was a solid winner last week and likely gained some confidence with that effort. (5) FEELIN WESTERN was a $100K winner from a year ago and he showed major signs of life with that 1:53 2/5 score in his last start.