Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 8/19

Matt Rose|Aug 17, 2022

MEET STATS: 277 - 814 / $1,394.00 (-$234.00)

BEST BETS: 42 - 76 / $169.20 (+$17.20)

Best Bet: AMBASSADOR HANOVER (6th)

Spot Play: RISKY MILLION (10th)

Race 1: $20,000 Claiming Pace

(2) KEYSTONE DASH picked up his game significantly off the Garcia-Herrera claim with a solid uncovered win. He bumps up again but is sharp enough to take another. (1) DAVIDS COMING HOME was a good second last week from a similar spot. (6) AWESOMENESS was odds-on again last week but refused to budge; he's reunited with Bartlett tonight.

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Race 2: $15,000 Claiming Pace

(5) HENRICO shipped in for his last start and was second best to an odds-on Dowse dropper who jogged. Jenn Bongiorno trainee can hopefully build off that effort as he faces a pretty soft field here. (3) FARMER'S TAN arrives from Mohawk for the Auciello barn and we saw one of these win the other night with a similar M.O. (2) BET THE LIMIT closed well to be third two back, his first off the DiDomenico claim. Last start he bumped up in class but was stuck outside and never got involved; with the move inside and the drop back to the $15's he deserves a serious look.

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Race 3: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot

(1) JOHAN PALEMA made over $500K as a three-year-old (including winning the YR Trot) but has had a little trouble this year transitioning to the aged overnight wars. Trotter now goes second start for the Per Engblom barn, picks up Bartlett and draws the rail; we'll see if he can bring his 'A' game. (2) BARRY BLACK drops, moves inside and can easily be best of the rest. (5) MADHATTER BLUECHIP gets Holland in the bike tonight and has always had good speed.

Race 4: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace

(4) ALOTBETTOR N hasn't been awful since being claimed by Ruiz for $40K but he hasn't earned much money which enables him to drop to this conditioned level. Veteran switches back to Siegelman and seems capable of awakening big-time. (2) ROCK LIGHTS has been on my radar for some time now and he finds his best spot in a couple of months; Joe B is subbing for the out-of-town Jordan Stratton. (6) HEAVENLY SOUND jogged two back at this level for Bartlett but tired badly last start; mixed feelings.

Race 5: $40,000 Claiming Pace

(5) NOWHERE CREEK A was stuck in the eight hole in his first start off the Devita claim but he did rally for a fifth-place check. Tonight he moves in a few slots and picks up Siegelman. Interesting option in a competitive race. (7) BLUEBIRD RECON was a gift last week at 5/2 and may offer a similar price starting from the outside going for six of seven. (6) DESIRE'S CAPTAIN was strong two back, okay last week when taking some play. Closing threat at a price?

Race 6: NW30000 in last 5 starts Trot

(3) AMBASSADOR HANOVER returns to Yonkers for Svanstedt and he enlists Dan Dube to drive. That combo clicks at a ridiculously high percentage. (5) KENZIESKY HANOVER also returns locally and has had plenty of local success with Bartlett driving. (4) NEXTSROUNDSONME battled bravely last week but the winner (a Svanstedt/Dube trotter) was too tough.

Race 7: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace

(6) MY MIND IS MADEUP hasn't done much recently but has been facing much tougher at the $40K claiming level. Boyd drove this guy to a 110/1 victory a couple of months back, and while we won't see that price tonight, he can offer good value if he works out a live trip. (1) GINGRAS BEACH loses Brennan but Simon Allard takes over and he clearly looms large from this spot. (2) TOPVILLE OLYMPIAN also has a new driver in Dube and he closed with plenty last week.

Race 8: NW20121 in last 5 starts Trot

(2) MISSISSIPPI STORM was the easiest kind of winner on last week's dropdown and he's an Open-caliber horse so I'm confident he can win another. (4) ON HIGHER GROUND also jogged for Team Bongiorno last week and he'll probably be pointed to the front again. (3) TOCCOA FALLS closed well to snap second in the race On Higher Ground won; board threat again.

Race 9: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace

(5) REMEMBER THE BEACH is second-time out on the barn change to Devita and he meets a field with very shaky favorites. At 20/1 on the morning line I'll consider him. Give me a reason to bet anyone else in here. I liked (4) CINNABAR DRAGON last week at a price but he gapped with nothing. This race doesn't figure to go 1:52 4/5, however. (1) PRINCE MCARDLE N gets Bartlett in the bike tonight but there isn't much else to get excited about. His lone win this season was against $75K claimers, however.

Race 10: $25,000 Claiming Pace

(2) RISKY MILLION was up against a sharp Provocativeprincen in his two starts since the Alexander claim. Gelding moves inside and gets Bartlett, while the aforementioned rival is stuck in post eight going for new connections. (5) MACHIAVELLI was a 'jogburger' last start and is now back up in class off the Camilleri claim; maybe. (3) TEXAS TERROR N is back from a little time on the bench and the oft-claimed 14YO has had a solid season.