Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 12/18

MEET STATS: 234 - 910 / $1,543.20 (-$276.80)

BEST BETS: 38 - 88 / $170.20 (-$5.80)

SPOT PLAYS: 16 - 89 / $203.70 (+$25.70)

BEST BET-GOTHIC ROCK (2nd)

SPOT PLAY-BURNHAM BOY N (8th)

Race 1 - 3-5YO 50000CLM Pace

(2) STONEBRIDGE REX moves back to an inside post here after being stuck in the seven-hole last week. He had a recent run of a win and then two thirds in this class. (6) RJ SPORTS IMAGE hasn't been outside the top two in his last four outings and has the leading driver/trainer tandem of Jason Bartlett and Per Engblom in his corner. (4) STRIKING IMPACT just missed by a head last week at this level, and the only two dull efforts he has in his lines came from outside draws, which he doesn't have tonight.

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Race 2 - 30000CLM Pace

(1) GOTHIC ROCK gets to drop in class and move inside on the gate here for a barn that sent out four winners on Thursday night (December 14) at Yonkers. (4) THINKBIG DREAMBIG broke before the start last Monday but won prior to that and gets reunited with Matt Kakaley tonight. (6) AMERICAN ZEST A comes down from Saratoga where he shows racing in their Open a couple of times. His best recent performances have come with Matthew Athearn in the bike, and he's here to pilot him.

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Race 3 - 40000CLM Pace

(2) HEART OF DIXIE landed an inside post tonight after being stuck out in the eight-hole a week ago, and his final quarters in his last two tries hint that he's got some sneaky form. (3) SAN DOMINO A has had plenty of success at Yonkers before and comes over from the Meadowlands in his third start back after a layoff. (6) REIGNING DEO owns just a single victory in 2023 but did close from seventh to third in the final quarter at this level last Monday.

Race 4 - Open Pace

(5) COVERED BRIDGE has had to settle for second- and third-place results in his last three starts in the Open but is concluding a banner season and gets an opportunity to team up with Bartlett tonight. (6) DESPERATE MAN is the current king of the top level as he has back-to-back victories. He does move outside on the gate but had no issue with poor draws before stepping up to the Open. (4) SONNY WEAVER N tallied in the Open at Harrah's Philadelphia on December 1 and gets post relief here after having to start from the seven-hole last Monday.

Race 5 - 3YO 30000CLM Pace

(5) BIG DREAM FELLA lost at 1-5 last Monday but won comfortably prior to that, and I'll hope he offers something like the 9-2 he did on that occasion rather than the ultra-low price. (2) JUST ENUFF STUFF defeated my top selection a week ago in a big effort and also tallied against NW4 company back on 11-21. (1) ALL ATTITUDE has hit the board in his last three outings and starts from the pole. Bartlett took him over two other options in this event.

Race 6 - 3-5YO 50000CLM Pace

(2) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK comes into this race with back-to-back on-the-board results and also moves inside on the starting gate. Brett Beckwith is slated to take over the driving. (5) LOUS THE ATTITUDE has tallied in two straight and also had a pair of victories down at Harrah's Philadelphia in October and November. He's another contender for the Bartlett/Engblom combo. (6) SHAKESPEARE returned to his winning ways a week ago after a fifth-place finish on 12-4 and, for a rare time, wasn't claimed.

Race 7 - NW15000L5/NW9 PM Races LT Pace

(2) GROOVY JOE didn't fire last time out at Harrah's Philadelphia but performed well against NW20000L5 base class foes at Yonkers prior to that, and drew post two tonight after having the seven-hole in his last two starts. (5) SHINE A LIGHT picked up some confidence with a win over NW10000L5 base class company last Monday and was second and third at this level prior to that. He's another Bartlett/Engblom collaboration. (6) HAMMERING HANK led and was third against NW15000L5's back on Halloween and was the runner-up to SHINE A LIGHT a week ago.

Race 8 - NW20501L5/NW10 PM Races LT Pace

(3) BURNHAM BOY N continues to work his way down the class ladder here and hopefully he can have a better trip tonight than he did last Monday where he wound up first-over. (2) COACHES CORNER has just a single defeat since late June when he was still racing in Indiana and is perfect since coming east into Engblom's barn. (8) HEMSWORTH N drew poorly here but won by open lengths the last time he was in this class back on November 13.

Race 9 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Pace

(8) ROCKNROLL RUNA A overcame the eight-hole to win two straight up at Saratoga, and he had plenty of success at Yonkers earlier this year, too, including a victory from a bad draw in this class in mid-October. (2) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A got bothered early and had to settle for a fifth-placed-fourth result as the favorite last Monday. He gets post relief off that effort here and is likely the one to beat. (5) KARLOO BRADLEY N didn't threaten in the Open Handicap last week, but that was his first pari-mutuel start back after a layoff, and he hit the board in two chances at this level in October.

Race 10 - 40000CLM Pace

(3) SAILBOAT HANOVER should appreciate moving inside on the gate tonight after having posts eight and seven in his last two appearances. He did overcome the seven-hole to tally a couple weeks ago. (5) TUGGIN ON MY HEART went down the road to score in this class a week ago as a heavy favorite and is certainly a threat to double up here. (1) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER drew the pole and is riding a three-race streak of on-the-board results. He has a driver switch to Jim Pantaleano.

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Race 11 - 30000CLM Pace

(2) SULLIVAN worked out a pocket trip from post seven last Monday and wound up second. Hopefully the better draw and another chance to team up with Joe Bongiorno will result in a win like he took back on October 9. (5) ALOTBETTOR N defeated my top choice when they met a week ago and kept Kakaley over another horse in this race. (1) PRINCE MCARDLE N invades from the Meadowlands in sharp form and picks up Bartlett in the bike.

Race 12 - 3YO 30000CLM Pace

(4) URIEL BLUE CHIP makes his second start for Engblom tonight and gained a bunch of ground in the final quarter of his race a week ago. He gets a driver switch to Bartlett here. (7) DEMPSEY HANOVER hasn't won since joining the Burke Brigade last month but did just miss two back at Harrah's Philadelphia and makes his Yonkers debut. (1) STAY HAPPY is a filly taking on the boys, but her form is good and she goes from post eight a week ago to the pole position.