Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 3/8

2024 MEET STATS: 37 - 136 / $239.60 (-$32.40)

BEST BETS: 7 - 11 / $23.10 (+$1.10)

BEST BET: BRAVE BY DESIGN (11^th)

SPOT PLAY: GLACIS (5^th)

Race 1: F&M NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace

(5) ALEXA SKYE is back from The Meadowlands after a decent showing in their F&M feature and she was good in defeat in her prior Yonkers starts. Gingras gets the drive tonight and if she can get on or near the lead she'll prove tough. (2) MILLWOOD BONNIE N has successfully made it back from NW5000 to the top levels and she should be right there again. (3) KARMA SEELSTER drops back down from the Invite level after going a no-chance trip last week. Classy mare is more than capable here but faces an uncertain trip with legit talent surrounding her.

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Race 2: F&M NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace

(1) VILLAGE JADE beat three levels higher back in December than she meets tonight, and has the rail in this short field to boot. Race goes through her. (3) ALWAYS B SOMEWHERE is an interesting horse as she shipped from Michigan to Freehold and joined the Nifty Norman barn despite not much of a resume, however she was a solid second in that race and may fit well here at a price (6) SILENT CROSSING and (5) HALLELUJAH HANOVER both are accustomed to facing higher classes than they meet tonight. Both merit consideration.

Race 3: F&M NW10021 in last 5 starts Pace

(2) JENDEN STRIKE A was a winner in her U.S. debut up at Saratoga, then was aggressively handled over at Pocono. Cushing's recent imports have been reasonably live. (7) A GIRL THAT TWIRLS arrives from Northfield, where she's been "ok" recently. Switches to Engblom and gets Bartlett, both positives. (6) TWIN B SUNKISSED returns off a win across the river and the Burke entrant finds a decent spot for the potential repeat.

Race 4: NW5000 in last 5 starts Trot

(2) DOO WOP KID rallied for third last week and now draws an improved post while facing a soft field. Zeron picks up the catch drive on the Alan Schwartz trainee with some tactical options. (5) B MEDITHREE has been terrible lately but isn't that far removed from multiple good efforts facing much better. Brennan likely heads to the front. (1) MACMORRIS HANOVER also faces much softer and also figures to be showing early speed.

Race 5: $30,000 Claiming Pace

(8) GLACIS exits the Lachance barn via Quevedo claim and gets a new set of hands in Gingras. It wouldn't shock me if he was a major player here despite the eight hole. (4) ALOTBETTOR N has been alotworse since the Bako claim. 13YO stays at the $30K level however and figures to be leaving the gate; gets one more look from me. (2) SHARK PLAY was a good second last week; connections cannot be ignored.

Race 6: NW10000 in last 5 starts Trot

(2) CLEOPATRA AS hasn't been a major player recently for the Lorentzon barn, which statistically has gotten off to a slow start this year. Mare gets a new driver in Kakaley and lands another good post while facing a bit softer. (4) SWEET SOUL DAVID has absorbed plenty of front-end pressure in his last two and folded both times. Maybe Brennan keeps him off the pace tonight. (5) UNEVERGONNAGETTHIS drops for the Gillis barn but hasn't done much recently, including an odds-on loss last month. Don't take too short a price.

Race 7: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace

(3) OKINAWA BEACH A offers up late pace in most starts and she shouldn't be too far back from this spot. Bako trainee could offer a little value here. (1) ULTIMATE SPEED faces some more seasoned foes but she's been solid in every local start since arriving from Canada. (4) RACEY RICH N finally put it all together last week for the Burke outfit and she'll try to repeat facing better. Don't ignore (5) MAGICAL MAYA A from the Stalbaum barn, who has a proven track record with imports. Mark Macdonald gets the catch drive.

Race 8: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot

(3) PERFECT VIXEN has looked better this year after a low-earning 2023. Bako trainee now goes second-time Lasix and may be ready to show more to get over the hump. (4) THE LAST CHAPTER returns to Bartlett, who drove him to a win and a second a few starts back. (5) MALIBU KID added the hobbles two back for Stalbaum, always a favorite angle of mine, and he's looked good up at Saratoga.

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Race 9: NW5601 in last 5 starts Pace

(2) NINETEENTH MAN A is accustomed to facing better than he meets tonight as he returns locally. Having a post edge on his main rivals makes him the one to beat. (6) AIR FORCE HANOVER has loads of back class and has looked better since dropping to this level. (5) DRAGON SAID finally came down to earth after that huge run he went on in the Bongiorno barn and after a decent ground-saving trip does Kakaley resort to more aggressive tactics?

Race 10: F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace

(3) NO WIN NO FEED A has been a major player in her recent Yonkers starts but has been unable to seal the deal. I'll give the Gingras co-owned and driven mare one more chance. (1) AVF CLAIRE should benefit from moving back inside. Alagna mare was a winner two back with Holland in the bike. (7) TREACHEROUS PENNY makes her 4YO debut now in the Linda Toscano barn and she may need a start or two to hit high gear. Maybe she can save and close well late.

Race 11: NW7500 in last 5 starts Trot

(1) BRAVE BY DESIGN was a good second last start in the Stake Your Claim series at the $40K level and now dropping and landing the rail clearly makes her the one to beat in the finale. (2) X O X O also drops from the claiming series and gets the leading driver in the bike. (3) BEERTHIRTY K does a good job of always picking up money and he's in another spot where he figures to be saving ground and can hit the ticket.