Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 3/31

2023 MEET STATS: 0 - 0 / $0.00

BEST BET: MAJORCA N (3^rd)

SPOT PLAY: SO MANY ROADS (7^TH)

Race 1: Non-winners $15,000 in last 5 or 9 races life - Pick 4

(1) TWIN B SUNKISSED is a new arrival to the Burke barn who shows previous half-mile experience from on or off the pace. She should be gunning out here to secure position, likely winding up in control of her destiny. (4) I LOVE ONGAIT got a nice easy mile in her first start back from winter vacation, which is no surprise from this barn. Looking for early speed this time. (2) PURAMERI should get away in close order while saving ground most of the mile; using underneath. (5) BELLADONNA GIRL A is going to find it difficult to make the front this week and she hasn’t started since early December.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: Non-winners $21,751 in last 5 or 10 races life

It is difficult to make a case against (1) PURE SILKY unless one of these other mares decides to fire off the gate and test her early. Could (4) JIVE DANCING A or (3) PROBERT take a shot? Yes. Will they? I have no idea. We'll stick with Pure Silky unless one of the other two score down hard and look the part. If that happens and the price is right, we’ll pivot.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3: Blue Chip Matchmaker 1st Division

(1) MAJORCA N had missed time before the first leg and got an easy race. Last time she was the victim of bad cover and then getting trapped on the cones. Corey Callahan has been driving three hours each way for this one drive the last couple of weeks while waiting for a spot like this one. Expect speed! (4) DOUGS BABE A is another who has been the victim of timing and circumstance. She's the one mare to fear. (8) MABALENE N is stuck with a difficult assignment but perhaps she's fast enough to gain a good tuck from post 8. The ability seems to be there.

Race 4: $15,000 Claiming

(2) TOATSMYGOATS rolled down the road in his initial start for this barn. As the seemingly lone speed in the field, he could prove tough to beat again. (5) AWESOMENESS also changed barns last time but had no chance after chasing pedestrian fractions. He has a shot with the right trip. (1) KINGSTON BAD BOY chased the top pick home last time from the pocket and he's probably the most likely exacta candidate again. (4) IDEAL LINER N returns from a long layoff with a solid qualifier. Veteran could be ready as he drops in for a tag.

Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5 - Pick 5

(1) PACE N PRIDE N finished up steadily in the lane in his first start since November and figures to show much more with that start under his belt in what looks like a soft spot. (5) SON OF A TIGER N went a huge mile last time and he'd prove tough to beat if he can somehow repeat it. (2) ROCKIN JUKEBOX was stuck outside in his last two starts and without a catch-driver prior to that. He's worth a look here. (4) VESPA N has some early speed and is dropping in class, though his previous attempts at this level weren't exactly successful.

Race 6: Blue Chip Matchmaker 2nd Division

This is by far the deepest of the three Matchmaker divisions. (1) HOT MESS EXPRESS got a serviceable mile and finished willingly with no shot in the second leg, her first start of the year. Classy 5-year-old should be a great price here and figures to improve in start two. (5) RACINE BELL has to be the horse to beat as the likely pacesetter in the race. At the very least she's a lock for first or second. (2) AMAZING DREAM N rolled in leg one and came back again off a sweet pocket trip last time. She's a clear threat with any decent trip. (6) DRAMA ACT could be in line for a change of tactics here with plenty of early speed to her inside. Whether she leaves or not, she'll need luck to go along with her sharp form.

Race 7: Non-winners $5,000 in last 5/Opt. $12,500 Claiming - Pick 4

Driver/trainer Pat Lachance picks his spots and reads the program as well as anyone in the game and there is no doubt that (2) SO MANY ROADS has found the easiest spot he has seen in a long time. His lack of early speed is slightly concerning, but none of the potential early players scare me enough to think Lachance can’t move first-over and power away. (7) DESIRE'S CAPTAIN hasn't been in this cheap since December and he won that night, albeit from an inside post. He could be put in play here. (1) MAXIMUS RED A has missed some time but fits well in here.

Race 8: Blue Chip Matchmaker 3rd Division

(5) INCASEYOUDIDNTKNOW struggled a bit as the pace picked up into and on the final turn last week but no horse was moving faster in the final sixteenth of the mile. If you dig down a few starts there is a wire-to-wire effort at Dover and now that McCarthy knows the horse better, I'm hoping we see those tactics. (1) KARMA SEELSTER looked good from behind two starts back but could not handle doing the heavy lifting on the engine last week. She should fire out some here and look for a pocket trip. (7) LUCKY ARTIST A is clearly the sharpest horse in the race and the only question becomes trip given the outside post.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]

Race 9: Non-winners $15,041 in last 5 or 10 races life

(5) MILIEU HANOVER went a nice steady mile in her first start back from vacation. You’d expect her to be sharper now. Her class, as well as the early speed to her inside to set up her late rally, seem to work in her favor. (2) VILLAGE JADE gets class and post relief, though a bunch of horses are dropping in company in this event. (4) MIKI ROSE failed at 2-5 two weeks back but certainly fits with this group. (7) MISS DOTTIE MAE switches conditions in fine form. Is she ready to beat her elders?

Race 10: Non-winners $5,000 in last 5/Opt. $12,500 Claiming

(4) GINGRAS BEACH finally lands a good post and the last time he was in this class the result was a win. (1) BETTORBUCKLEUP is another who has seen success in this class, with a pair of seconds in his last two appearances. (2) SANTAFE'S COACH draws on the inside of the gate and should stick close for an exotics slot.