Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 1/22
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2023 FINAL MEET STATS: Too embarrassing to publish…let’s turn it around this year!
BEST BET: SEMI TOUGH (7th)
SPOT PLAY: ROCK THIS WAY (11th)
Race 1: 3-6YO $50,000 Claiming Pace
Always tough this time of year with many horses off more than a month. (4) RJ SPORTS IMAGE will be heading to the front for the top connections of Bartlett and Engblom and should be able to rate a comfortable pace. (1) STRIKING IMPACT always comes to play, especially from inside posts. Kakaley drives again for the Bako barn and he's a must-use from the rail. (5) POUND FOR POUND and (6) ALWAYS ROCKIN both raced last week at Freehold and the recency edge can help the cause.
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Race 2: 3-4YO $30,000 Claiming Pace
(6) BIG DREAM FELLA looked like a new horse once moving to the Burke outfit and the now 4YO goes for three of four at this conditioned claiming level. (2) JUST ENUFF STUFF blew away the top choice two back then was chewed up and spit out by the same rival in his 2023 finale. Good matchup here. (3) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER has tailed off some but going back four-plus starts ago he had a good run at this level.
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Race 3: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(3) PEDRO HANOVER has proven talent to compete with this type and maybe the extended time off will do him some good; Gingras drives again and he's got tactical options from this spot. (4) OSTRO HANOVER raced last week at The Big M and raced well, just missing. Veteran looms large with the recency edge. (5) ALOTBETTOR N had a solid 12YO campaign with 10 wins and over $121K banked. He's always better off a notch below these but he doesn't face any standouts here and can put his early speed to good use.
Race 4: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) BENHOPE RULZ N basically toured the track last week from the 10 hole at Club Med but now the class import returns locally at a greatly reduced level and lands a reasonable post. (1) LOU'S BEACH gets class and post relief for his seasonal debut. His speed figures to be on display from this spot. (3) THRASHER also drops to a more favorable spot and he's been competitive at higher levels.
Race 5: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace - $10K Gtd. Pick 5
(6) MAJOR SHOW didn't have much to offer in a couple of Yonkers starts last month but he's turned things around in his last two at Monticello and now gets Gingras back in the bike. May need a trip but should be a fair price. (2) CAVIART SARGENT hit the board in his last two facing similar and the $100K earner from a year ago draws well and may be ready to roll. (1) MY ULTIMATE STAR A dropped and popped last start when adding Bartlett and he's driving again.
Race 6: NW5516 in last 5 starts Pace
(7) ADAM CROCKER A stayed fresh over the holidays with two nice efforts at Freehold; recent addition to the DiDomenico barn gets Brennan with an eye on improving position out of the gate. (1) GINGRAS BEACH is another one who returns to Yonkers off a recent race across the river and he was a winner at this level three back. (3) ROSE RUN WOODROW picks up Stratton upon arrival from Monti, and he had hit the board in three of four there.
Race 7: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) SEMI TOUGH spent the last month over at the Meadows for the Burke family and he was a blowout winner there last start. Veteran returns locally at a lower level than he's accustomed to and should have little excuse to fail. (1) SHADOW CAT also returns to Yonkers off two sharp wins at Freehold. (2) BURNHAM BOY N picked up checks in two Open starts back in November. From the inside post he's worth a look.
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Race 8: Winners over $30,000 in last 5 starts Pace
(8) COVERED BRIDGE made 39 starts last year and banked over $500K, and rather than take a few weeks off he went up to Mohawk and looked good in three starts at their top levels. Gillis trainee draws the eight hole here but I have a feeling he'll be put into play. (2) BILLY CLYDE is back with Schnittker after a decent run in Indiana and that recent qualifier should have him sharp for this. (5) WHATS STANLEY GOT A gets Joe B to drive for the Stratton barn and was a nice winner (beating #2) in that Big M qua.
Race 9: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(4) MICKY GEE N had a solid finish this 10YO campaign and may be feeling good as he makes his seasonal debut; Bartlett drives again. (2) SAN DOMINO A may not be as sharp as he once was but should still be plenty competitive at this claiming level. (1) PURPLE POET lacks the class of others in here but he raced well in two recent starts on the big track.
Race 10: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) ROLLING WITH SAM returns locally coming off two solid wins at Monti, both timed in the 1:54 range, not bad for this time of year. Brennan gets the drive and he figures to be on or near the lead. (5) SPEED MAN N is the class of this contest and if ready to go he can beat these without breaking much of a sweat. (3) ALLUNEEDISFAITH N was a good second to a sharp winner to wrap up his 2023 campaign.
Race 11: $30,000 Claiming Pace
(3) ROCK THIS WAY gets a hard-to-ignore barn change here to the Burkes after a 3-plus year run with Wayne Cukerstein, mostly up at Saratoga. Can this veteran win right off the bat? (5) THINKBIG DREAMBIG isn't what he used to be but he can still bring it at this level. I've never been a fan of the "Hurrikane" horses but (2) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES has been razor-sharp for multiple barns and he appears to be a must-use.