Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 5/3
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2024 MEET STATS: 102 - 331 / $559.10 (-$102.90)
BEST BETS: 17 - 28 / $62.30 (+$6.30)
BEST BET: CELIA B MONEY (3rd)
SPOT PLAY: MAN DONTFORGET ME (8th)
Race 1: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot
(4) MISSISSIPPI STORM is winless on the year through four starts but the class relief tonight figures to get the near-millionaire pointed in the right direction. Being reunited with Holland also helps the cause. (2) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS almost always puts in a respectable effort and he finished well in his last two from outside posts while facing better. (3) AIRMANS JACKPOT arrived from Pocono for the Alexander barn and upset at 24/1; mare could be ready for more.
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Race 2: F&M Invitational Pace
(2) COACHELLABOUND N is one of three mares making their first start after the Matchmaker final and collectively they represent 60% of the entrants in this $35K cash grab. Bucci trainee has the tactical edge over a couple who may not be pushed too hard. (5) LIT DE ROSE is assigned all the way outside in the five hole. Will Lachance try to improve position in the early going with the Matchmaker champ? (3) DOUGS BABE A made money for her connections through the six week series but burned up many gambler's bankrolls in the process.
Race 3: F&M NW10241 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) CELIA B MONEY set a hot pace last week facing better and gave way badly; Burke trainee drops into a very soft spot tonight and a repeat of her effort three back will crush these. (2) ELISES DELIGHT also disappointed in her last start but she figures to be chasing here where she may be better off. (6) BETTER WATCH IT drops from $50K claimers and has back class based on her $150K-earning season a year ago.
Race 4: NW5000 in last 5 starts Trot
(5) BANK BOX TREASURE returns locally off a win down at Philly and the Garcia-Herrera trainee was a winner the last time we saw him at Yonkers; trotter can be a value option in a race with shaky favorites. (1) TOCCOA FALLS wasn't close last week at 2/5 and is now 0 for 12 and counting. Engblom trainee will be favored again dropping to the basement. (3) FANATIC has been behaving better with the hobbles added and he did close for third last week.
Race 5: F&M NW5786 in last 5 starts Pace
(6) SWEET ALI LOU is a fresh face arriving from Indiana and joins the Engblom barn. Lightly-raced mare won her Hoosier finale easily and now fits the bottom conditioned class. Bartlett drives at 12/1 on the ML. (2) BIG BIG PLANS wasn't bad in her last two and now drops again but she's 0 for two years and counting. (3) SWEETEST BELLE is the other logical one in here and she's also an 0-fer this season.
Race 6: F&M NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) DELITFULCATHERIN N made the Matchmaker Final then had a nice view of the field as she trailed from post eight. Classy Gillis mare is 6 for 13 on the year and Stratton can send her to the front if he desires. (5) GOLDEN QUEST N has been razor sharp and goes for three straight; Bartlett picks up the drive. (1) ROCKN PHILLY is also streaking as she faces better looking for her fourth consecutive score; not impossible.
Race 7: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) ULTIMATE SPEED got hung to dry last week but her prior two starts resulted in solid second-place finishes, both at double-digit odds. Alexander trainee should offer some value again with #2 likely getting most of the attention. (2) FAVORITE BEACH closed with plenty from nowhere in the same race that the top choice got baked. She's been consistent in all prior starts and is a deserving favorite. (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE has proven that she can hang with these and she can pick up a nice share.
Race 8: F&M NW16311 in last 5 starts Pace
I just can't resist sticking with (7) MAN DONTFORGET ME as I know she's as good as any in here, can leave or close, and will be a big price. Wouldn't shock me if new driver Holland took a flyer off the gate. (3) UPTOWN HANOVER was shuffled last week and was just 'okay' in that effort. Prior start she went down the road at odds-on. (2) OKINAWA BEACH A and (1) OAXACA DREAM N are very similar horses and both have closing ability. I'll lean towards #2 on the bottom of my tickets for more value.
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Race 9: NW5776 in last 5 starts Trot
(1) FOR A DREAMER gets impossible to ignore post relief and he faces easier. Laterza veteran is the one to beat. (7) YO BETH D is a very interesting shipper going first time in the Lachance barn, and she's got plenty of speed. If only we knew what Pat was planning here...(3) WILY WALLY has Bartlett back driving the Engblom trainee in his local return.
Race 10: NW11731 in last 5 starts Trot
(1) BARRY BLACK is an ageless wonder who still brings it at 13YO and the French import is usually live when drawn inside at this level. (5) WARRIOR ONE is a legit Open trotter who has been facing much tougher but the Burke trainee has been a complete non-factor in his last three. Bartlett picks up the drive on the Yannick Gingras-owned gelding. (3) NO DRAMA PLEASE steps up again in very sharp form.