Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 5/7

MEET STATS: 133 - 369 / $692.40 (-$45.60)

BEST BETS: 18 - 37 / $57.90 (-$16.10)

Best Bet: PEMBROKE JOEY (2nd)

Spot Play: ONLY FOR JUSTICE (9th)

Race 1: $12,500 Claiming Pace

In a field overloaded with question marks, (2) MY SPIRIT SOARS returns locally off a decent effort facing $10K claimers at Philly and he did win two races here last year; barn does reasonably well with these lower-level types. (1) GRAND MASTER moved to the Jenn Bongiorno barn, took all the money then failed miserably on the front end. He's right back in to go so maybe he'll be better this week. (4) BLACKTREE broke well before the start last week but he's also right back in and now facing cheaper; he's 8/5 on the morning line but what price is he really worth?

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Race 2: $12,500-$15,000 Claiming Pace

(3) PEMBROKE JOEY has been much-improved off the Ruiz claim and he lands the best post of those entered for the higher tag which makes him the one to beat. (6) VILLAGE CHAMP moved into claimers and promptly took two straight for the team of Jordan and Cory Stratton. Post hurts a bit here so we'll see if he can generate some early speed. (5) ZOEEZ BOY HENRY sometimes lands in bad spots and fails to get involved but he does drop back to a more appropriate level tonight.

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Race 3: $20,000 Claiming Pace

(2) MARINER SEELSTER drops back in for a tag, drew well and was Brennan's choice of three here, as he sticks with the DiDomenico trainee. (3) REAL LUCKY N hasn't exactly impressed since being claimed by Jenn Bongiorno a few months back but he did have a bit of an excuse last week; he can be forwardly placed from this spot and work out a live trip. (8) TAP TAP TAP was very good in his last couple but he's drawn outside again and needs to get moving earlier.

Race 4: W.N. Reynolds Memorial Pace 3YO C&G

(3) WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH had a solid freshman season and overall he hasn't missed the board in nine career starts; Pelling trainee was ready to go in his seasonal debut down at Philly and is clearly the one to beat here, assuming he handles the half-mile surface. (5) COALITION HANOVER looked pretty good in the preliminary legs of the Weiss at Pocono and arrives off a solid score in a Stallion series event at The Meadows. (2) HE'S A SNOB also performed well in the Weiss for the Schnittker barn and Mark MacDonald returns here for the drive.

Race 5: W.N. Reynolds Memorial Pace 3YO Fillies

(1) HEART OF MINE picked up over $130K as a two-year-old despite only registering one win so that made the Toscano trainee eligible for a NW2 event here last week, where she won easily at 1/9 odds. That trip over the Yonkers surface should benefit her greatly here. (3) NATCHEZ BELLE had an effective 2021 debut with that runner-up finish at Philly; filly should land a nice chuck with smooth sailing. (5) ROLL ON MAMA was good early on in the Weiss at Pocono and she recently added Lasix which could help her cause.

Race 6: W.N. Reynolds Memorial Pace 3YO Fillies

(2) PODIUM GIRL was a little short in her 2021 debut but that was a pretty quick mile she was caught up in over at The Meadowlands. Chris Ryder trainee has a 1:54 3/5 mark as a two-year-old at Freehold so the half-mile track shouldn't be any concern. (7) DC BATGIRL was a NYSS finalist and picked up a minor award; qualifiers at Hoosier suggests she's more than ready and has a driver that can get her in play. (3) CARRINGTON missed a neck in the Weiss final and overall has done little wrong.

Race 7: W.N. Reynolds Memorial Pace 3YO C&G

(6) AMERICAN COURAGE was undefeated through his freshman campaign until that debacle in the NYSS final. Travis Alexander trainee has two qualifiers under his belt in preparation for the lucrative three-year-old season. (4) I'LL DRINK TO THAT also showed promise in last year's NYSS for Dunn/Ryder. (8) TOWN GOSSIP is a talented Jenn Bongiorno trainee but the eight hole likely spoils his chances tonight; good price looming, however.

Race 8: Open Handicap Trot

(3) MELADY'S MONET returns to Yonkers after breezing in two straight in Freehold's top class. Ultra-classy veteran lands a favorable post here with the two-through-eight draw. (2) ARABELLA’S CADET never got involved last week but the move inside makes her a player. (7) LEAN HANOVER is feeling good again but may have too far to come.

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Race 9: Preferred Trot

(6) ONLY FOR JUSTICE is an interesting newcomer who showed solid improvement in his second start at Philly for Andrew Harris after arriving from Canada; worth a try if the price is decent. (2) MAGICAL JOURNEY was "okay" last week with his third-place finish; he's had his moments here this year with almost $50K banked already. (3) TWO AM has raced well here in the past and could hit the ticket with smooth sailing.

Race 10: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace

(4) JACKAMINO was a decent second in his local return and now Todd McCarthy gets the call; he could offer a slightly better price here than (2) MY MIND IS MADEUP. The latter resurfaces locally now in the Jenn Bongirono barn and he'll attract plenty of attention off that angle. (7) REPEAL OR REPLACE dominated in his last two at Monticello earning him a trip back to the Hilltop; Bartlett picks up the catch-drive.