Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 7/10

MEET STATS: 96 - 263 / $532.80 (+$6.80)
BEST BETS: 15 - 25 / $47.30 (-$2.70)
SPOT PLAYS: 5 - 25 / $29.00 (-$21.00)
BEST BET - WINNING SHADOW (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - ITALIAN DELIGHT N (6th)

Race 1 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 or NW7500L5/Starters for a Base Claiming Price of $20,000 in 1 of Last 2 Starts Pace

(8) KIMANI N gets some class relief tonight off his comeback mile at Pocono on June 20. He was in the $75,000 claimers when last seen locally, so this would be appear to be a good spot for him to put in a competitive performance, even from the outside draw. (2) SPORTSKEEPER also ships in from Pocono where he was fourth in a NW12500L5 contest. He beat NW7500's back in January here at Yonkers and put in some decent performances against NW15000L5's after that. (1) JET ROCK usually does his best racing at a little bit lower level, but I respect him from the pole position with the Brennan/DiDomenico combination, and this doesn't appear to be the stoutest group of NW10000L5's.

Race 2 - NW17500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/Starters for a Base Claiming Price of $30,000 in 1 of Last 2 Starts Trot

(5) WINNING SHADOW triumphed fairly comfortably in this class on the June 25th and gets another crack at it tonight. I will go back to him again. (6) VALLORIA N drops after finishing fourth against NW25200L5's in his U.S. debut. I wouldn't be surprised to see a better performance tonight for the Stratton/Tritton duo. (1) CASH ME OUT dominated the open class at Saratoga in his return to the races on 6-21 and looks like he should fit against these types at Yonkers. He doesn't race down here often, but he did score by 5 1/2 lengths in a NW21500L5 contest locally last summer.

Race 3 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 or NW7500L5/Starters for a Base Claiming Price of $20,000 in 1 of Last 2 Starts Pace

(5) YOU SAID IT ships down from Tioga after a private purchase by trainer Carl Tirella. Tirella's been pretty strong this year when teamed with driver George Brennan, and this horse has won in the past at Yonkers. I'll give him a shot. (3) PERFECTLY CLOSE kicked home with a strong last quarter in that mile on the 23rd of June and draws a much better post tonight after starting from post position seven in that contest. (2) KENRICK N has had many opportunities to win in this class and come up short. He did keep Bartlett and has another inside draw, but I will try and beat him.

Race 4 - Open Handicap Trot

(4) RICH AND MISERABLE aimed pretty high in the Cutler and had zero shot from post ten. His win at Pocono was two back was great, and he has a strong history at Yonkers that includes a win in the open last September. (8) SWANSEA picked up right where he left off from back in February on June 25, rolling to another win in the Open at Yonkers. He catches a bit of a break as a scratch allows him to start from post seven instead of post eight, and I think Siegelman will continue to be aggressive with him. (2) ELYSIUM LINDY showed speed but made a break in the same race that Swansea comes out of. He won an Open in March and was second in another one before that, so I think he remains usable with the hope he doesn't make another mistake.

Race 5 - Open Handicap Pace

(5) MICKY GEE N absolutely stormed home to miss by just a nose in the Open on June 25. He has a good mid-pack post tonight instead of post eight, and hopefully he will be something like second-over instead of stacked up on excess cover. Tyler Buter takes over the drive with Zeron at the Meadowlands tonight. (1) SILAS SEELSTER was third from the pocket in the same Open Micky Gee N competed in, and he had the good fortune of drawing the rail again this time. He should be able to get well positioned and has shown the ability to close off stalking trips to win before. (7) NONE BETTOR A finished a game second in the Roll With Joe at Tioga from first-over. He's had a good bit of success at Yonkers since joining the Andrew Harris barn, but I'll hope he has to work a bit from the outside post and look for a better price elsewhere.

Race 6 - NW25000L5/3&4YO NW10 Pace

(6) ITALIAN DELIGHT N turned in a huge mile from post ten in his last effort at the Meadowlands to finish second, beaten just a head, and was good here at Yonkers before the racing shutdown, topping a group of NW30000L5's and finishing as high as fourth in the Open. (4) OUR MAX PHACTOR N has improved in each of his races since coming back, culminating in a win at Harrah's Philadelphia most recently. He's another horse who has raced well at Yonkers before as well and can certainly contend tonight. (1) HEAVEN'S GAIT got on a real form spree in January and February and impressed in his qualifier at Yonkers on June 29. Siegelman usually takes the Garcia-Herrera horses when listed but hopped off one tonight to drive this guy, so I think that's a pretty key vote of confidence.

Race 7 - NW25000L5/3&4YO NW10 Trot

(6) WARRIOR ONE prevailed in this class on 6/25 and races in it again tonight. Brennan has driven this horse plenty of times in the past, so I don't think the switch from co-owner Gingras is a big impediment, and I look for him to be on or near the lead. (5) THE LAST CHAPTER is in a much more favorable spot tonight than when he was in the preferred at the Meadowlands on June 12. He was in good form at Yonkers before racing had to cease and has shown the ability to race both on the lead or from behind. (7) ARABELLA'S CADET drops after a great third-place effort in the Open where she attacked Swansea from first-over. She moves outside on the gate tonight, and I think might have to race from behind, but she's definitely a threat.

Race 8 - NW17500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/Starters for a Base Claiming Price of $30,000 in 1 of Last 2 Starts Pace

(1) SECRECY switches from post eight to the pole position tonight, and I'm hoping that puts him in the hunt for a win. He was racing well back in February and March, and maybe he can get a pocket trip tonight. (2) BIG BAD BILL won two straight at Yonkers in February and was third against NW15000L5's in his last appearance before the shutdown. He was Brennan's choice. (3) PROVOCATIVEPRINCE N was well-rated on the front and scored in a lower class on June 23. He draws well again this time, and Stratton might try to wire this bunch too.