Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 5/19
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2023 MEET STATS: 157 - 428 / $738.70 (-$117.30)
BEST BETS: 25 - 40 / $82.00 (+$2.00)
BEST BET: DRAGONS LUCKY LADY (3rd)
SPOT PLAY: GRATIAN HANOVER (4th)
Race 1: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) THE REAL ONE took care of business when dropped to the NW7500 level and the bump up a notch should not be too difficult for this classmaster. Note that Stratton is catch-driving tonight, definitely a rare occurrence. (4) PACE N PRIDE N has behaved himself recently and has two nice front-end scores to his credit. Pete Tritton trainee is the one to catch again. (1) B LIKE CRUISER lands a rare inside post and I expect Holland to aggressively protect position. A pocket ride seems likely.
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Race 2: $30,000 Claiming Pace
(4) KEYSTONE DASH finally broke through into the win column last week and he has the feel of a horse that can string a few together when he's going well. Garcia-Herrera barn has been very live recently. (5) DIVISION BELL was game in defeat upon stepping up to this level and he looms large with this type but he hasn't shown much early speed which may put him at a tactical disadvantage. (1) OURRHYTHMNBLUES N was claimed by Bako two back for $40K and was promptly dropped in for $30K, then folded up weakly on the front end. Hard to endorse him with these recent circumstances in effect.
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Race 3: F&M NW30000 in last 5 starts; Opt $75K Claiming; NW12 Races lifetime Pace
(1) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY gets some class relief as she drops from the Open and she's hit the board in her last three starts at this level, including a win. Engblom trainee seems like the one to beat in here, especially from the inside post. (6) MILLWOOD BONNIE N already has eight wins and over $107K banked this season racing for a tag every week. Only concern is the missed time as she hasn't raced in three weeks. (3) CHERYLS SHADOW is forced to step up to face tougher off a tiring effort and she's tested for class here but she figures to sit a comfortable trip near the front and the Dilloian trainee can pick up a share.
Race 4: NW5141 in last 5 starts Pace
(6) GRATIAN HANOVER tried leaving two back in his local return but ended up taking back to trail, and last week he rallied steadily for a small share. Siegelman catch-drives the Jenn Bongiorno veteran again and finds a field without much form. (4) ROCK LIGHTS was no match last week but he drops back to the basement level; Stratton trainee is logical. (1) SILAS SEELSTER hasn't been bad but also hasn't hit the board in six tries this year. From the rail Boyd can work out a close-up trip and land a piece.
Race 5: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) GENIUS MAN was aggressively handled last week on the dropdown but was collared by the classy The Real One; Bucci trainee figures to take control here looking to go the distance. (6) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was claimed out of his last start for $30K by the Berkeley barn and could make some noise as Kakaley's choice. (4) BETTER B SWIFT finally paid some dividends from that recent claim with a 1:53 win last week. Bartlett drives again looking to double up.
Race 6: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) LISBURN now has six starts under his belt after the long layoff and he drops to the bottom level. Clearly this is the most realistic spot he's seen and I'll expect him to be put in play. (5) GINGRAS BEACH woke up with a better effort last week at The Meadowlands and he can build off that race. (1) VIVA LAS VEGAS N missed a neck from a similar spot in his last start.
Race 7: F&M Open Handicap Pace; 1 assigned, 2-7 drawn
(4) RACINE BELL returns to Yonkers after a brief stint at her home base for her first local start since that unfortunate break in the Matchmaker final. She meets up with many of her regular rivals here in this solid Open field and her tactical speed could set her up with the winning trip. (2) DRAMA ACT lands inside of her main competition and can obviously win again. (3) LIT DE ROSE took last week off after sweeping from a seemingly impossible spot in the May 5 Open.
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Race 8: $15,000 Claiming Pace
(4) STATEMENT MADE A moves back to Kakaley looking for three straight at this level. (3) MARTY MONKHOUSER A drops a notch to the $15K level as he's nearing the midway mark of his 14YO campaign; oldtimer is always a threat. (5) HEARTLANDBANYSBRO powered off to a sharp score last week and Bartlett sticks with him; off-the-pace candidate again, especially if he has some numbers to close into. Depends if the top two are stung at all.
Race 9: $25,000 Claiming Pace
(4) ALWAYS BETTER closed well last week and draws a decent midpack post in this highly competitive finale; Kakaley is back driving. (7) SEAFARER scored impressively in his first start back from a long layoff and he could have more to offer. (3) DESIRE'S CAPTAIN was never involved in his first start for Stratton; he gets needed post relief tonight.