Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 6/10
MEET STATS: 188 - 590 / $946.10 (-$233.90)
BEST BETS: 31 - 54 / $131.30 (+$23.30)
Best Bet: CINNABAR DRAGON (2nd)
Spot Play: B NICKING (3rd)
Race 1: $15,000 Claiming Pace
(3) P H KENNY has been pretty decent in all of his recent local starts and he's proven to be a nice fit at this claiming level; veteran can use his early speed here to set up a good trip. (5) HES GONE BADDER is an interesting shipper exiting the amateur ranks at The Meadowlands and this barn has done pretty well with limited starters. (4) CARRACCI HANOVER gets post relief and picks up Bartlett. I'm not using (2) LETTUCERIPRITA A off the barn change, as it appears his former trainer Gillis had the key to his success. If he beats me, so be it.
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Race 2: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(1) CINNABAR DRAGON is back down at the level where he fits best and he rallied strongly from far back two starts ago versus similar; Dube sticks with him over a Garcia-Herrera trainee. (6) TONY TOO TALL has fallen on hard times recently but I wouldn't be surprised to see him blasting from the gate. (4) MAGRITTE probably needs a drop in class but it's hard to ignore anything from these connections.
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Race 3: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot
(4) B NICKING rallied nicely from off the pace last week while facing stronger and maybe he's better off coming from behind, which may be the case here with speed signed on to his inside. (3) JUSTLIKEHIM faltered on the front last start; does Bartlett send the Dowse trainee to the lead again? (1) P L OSCAR tired badly last out but was a solid second the start prior.
Race 4: $20,000 Claiming Pace
(3) TEXAS TERROR N goes back to the Annunziata barn off last week's claim and the 14-year-old was super four and five back for these connections (and with Stratton driving). (1) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N stopped badly last start and now drops below the level of the recent claim. Lots of question marks here, but he is capable of much better. (7) BLUEBIRD RECON has missed almost a month off a sick scratch and his prior two starts were poor; tough to know what to expect tonight.
Race 5: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(3) MARINER SEELSTER has been razor-sharp for these connections and he has a tactical edge on his main competition; 13-year-old is the deserving favorite looking for four in a row. (5) DARK ENERGY N has rallied nicely from off the pace in his last couple and the Gillis trainee appears to be the main threat. (6) BARBADOS has raced well since returning locally and he debuts for the Bako barn off the $40K claim; Bartlett gets the drive.
Race 6: NW21151 in last 5 starts Trot
(4) FOCUS POCUS ships in to Yonkers making his third start since moving to the Cullipher barn and he looked good in his last two down at Philly. (6) FOUR UNDER PAR banked almost $80K as a three-year-old despite only one win but she's come back this season and is already six-for-seven; Lance Hudson trainee does face more seasoned rivals but may be up to the task. (3) BARRY BLACK drops back down to a more effective level.
Race 7: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) TOM ME GUN N is not a prolific winner but he's generally accustomed to facing better than these; he picks up Bartlett coming off the layoff and an effective qualifier. (7) KIMANI N hasn't done much recently and needs some help from the outside post but the Bako/Kakaley connection merits respect. (2) DESIRE'S CAPTION drops to the basement but has no current form; that was a 1:51 4/5 mile he was chasing last week, however.
Race 8: Open Trot
(1) AMIGO VOLO jogged in his last three local races and came off the bench to finish well in the Maxie Lee at Philly; Nifty Norman trainee faces some tough rivals in here but gets the call. (3) HILLEXOTIC also exits the Maxie Lee where he was a good second off a pocket trip; he hasn't put in a poor effort in ages. (2) STORMY KROMER may be overlooked in here despite putting up a solid record this season with almost $100K banked in only 10 starts.
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Race 9: NW30000 in last 5 starts Trot
(3) MELADY'S MONET cruised in his local return and he's amazingly still performing at a high level after all these years; 13-year-old is clearly the one to beat. (4) TOCCOA FALLS went 0 for 24 last year but is already 7 for 12 this season and he returns looking for a third straight; Stratton picks up the drive with Bartlett sticking with the top choice. (5) NEW HEAVEN bounced back from that uncharacteristic break two back with a good second-place effort last week; consider for a piece.
Race 10: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) TIGER BARON is still looking for that first win of the year but he was a solid second last week at a big price and he draws well versus a suspect group; worth a try in the finale. (6) LIFEONTHEBEACH has missed some time off a sick scratch but the Jenn Bongiorno trainee was claimed a couple of months back for $50K so he should be live at this level; Bartlett drives. (5) BLOOD BROTHER was much-improved in his first two starts after moving to the Spaccarelli barn but he hasn't done much recently; he does have loads of back class as he slowly inches towards a million earned.