Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 2/21

Matt Rose|Feb 18, 2022

MEET STATS: 23 - 101 / $124.50 (-$77.50)

BEST BETS: 3 - 9 / $9.60 (-$8.40)

Best Bet: SAVE ME A DANCE (8th)

Spot Play: SOHO WALLSTREET A (1st)

Race 1: $30,000 Claiming Pace

(5) SOHO WALLSTREET A raced well in his last four local starts for the Quevedo barn and now the classy import moves to the Dowse outfit off the $30K claim while staying at the same level. Bartlett drives now and he can do it from on or off the pace. (1) MARTY MONKHOUSER A paid a very generous price last week with Marcus Miller on the catch drive. Stratton is back driving for his brother and you can never count this 13-year-old out. (4) JOJO'S PLACE goes for his fourth different barn in four consecutive starts but he hasn't really lost his form; he's clearly a contender here.

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Race 2: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace

(1) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH was a strong pocket-sitting winner from a similar spot two back, then was stuck in the eight hole last out. He's extremely logical tonight, and it will be reflected in his price. (2) REVELRY moves to the Dowse barn via $40K claim and fits this conditioned event; I suspect he'll be pretty live here. (4) EAST BEACH has raced well in his last three for board spots and he can round out a chalky tri.

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Race 3: $30,000 Claiming Pace

(7) SWEET N FAST N plunges in price tonight as he seems to be tailing off a bit but he faces a much softer group here and can get well in a hurry. (1) RECORD YEAR also takes a needed drop in class and draws best. He should be prominent throughout. (2) AMERICAN REBEL has had a rough start to his 2022 campaign but he seems to have a little more talent than he's been showing and note his last two half-mile starts he was stuck in the eight hole.

Race 4: $50,000 Claiming Pace

(2) BELTANE A made an uncharacteristic break last time out but that was over an awful racing surface (I believe they cancelled after that race) so he can be forgiven. He draws his best post in ages and could offer the best value of the contenders. (1) MACHIAVELLI faces a little better tonight looking to go down the road for his fourth win in five starts. (3) MIGHTY SANTANA N didn't fire in his first start off the Devita claim but he picked up his game over his next three races and now he debuts for the Burke barn.

Race 5: $40,000 Claiming Pace **$10,000 GUARANTEED PICK-5 POOL**

Handle on multi-race wagers has been growing significantly so to their credit YR management added a Pick-5 guarantee on Monday nights. Let's see a nightly guarantee on the early Pick-4 next. (5) IN SPADES could not reach the front from the eight hole last week and had to settle for the fifth-place check; he moves in a few slots tonight and should be able to control the action. (3) CINNAMACK probably needs a drop in class but he never ends up too far back in every start and he can sneak in there at a price with a smooth trip. (7) MAJOR CROCKER A has been battling both sickness and bad draws recently but this barn is always live when they ship in.

Race 6: $30,000 Claiming Pace

(7) BEVANS CULLEN N lands the worst post here after being reclaimed by Cory Stratton but he faces a pretty soft field of $30K claimers and if Jordan can get him away from the gate in good order it would be no surprise if he took this. (2) MARINER SEELSTER is back in the Watson barn and moves back inside; veteran may be cutting this mile. (4) CRUZING HILL has been MIA since last May but he could be ready for action off that winning qualifier.

Race 7: $100,000 Claiming Pace

(4) ALEX TYE has been the King of the $100K claimers having won his last three in game fashion; he draws outside his main competition here but that will help his price. (1) ELWELL just missed from the pocket to the top choice last three and now he has a post edge; I imagine Kakaley will want to cut the mile and he'll be tough if he can rate the pace. (2) SAN DOMINO A has been a bit disappointing in his two starts for Burke but it's obviously too soon to write him off yet.

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Race 8: Open Pace

(2) SAVE ME A DANCE lands a good post in this open draw and doesn't have to contend with Leonidas A tonight. Kakaley should take control early and never look back. (3) RED RIGHT HAND was aggressively put in play from the seven hole in his debut at this top level but came up a bit flat late from the pocket, ending his long winning streak. Tatker trainee has loads of talent and I suspect he'll soon prove he belongs with these. (5) DRAGON SAID was one of the biggest rags-to-riches stories we've seen in quite a while, going from low-level Freehold afterthought to Open winner once he moved to the Jenn Bongiorno barn; he returns off a four-month layoff and may need a start or two to hit top gear.

Race 9: $50,000 Claiming Pace

(6) MAGRITTE was so wide leaving last week he was almost in the shuttle bus traffic circle when he broke, ending his big winning streak. He's back to the Dowse barn and will look to rebound. (3) AIR FORCE HANOVER has been racing well in all recent starts and now he drops in for a tag; Daguet trainee has the looks of a live player here. (2) DARK ENERGY N is off to a slow start this season, like practically all of his barn-mates, but the Garcia-Herrera trainee can utilize his early speed tonight.

Race 10: NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace

(5) FUNATTHEBEACH N gets needed class relief and he jogged when last at this level. (3) DIAMONDBEACH also drops from the top class to a more suitable level. (7) I'M SIR BLAKE A faces a very tough task from the outside post but the Erv Miller barn has been very sharp and Marcus Miller has been driving well; maybe he can sneak into the Tri and/or Super.

Race 11: $75,000 Claiming Pace

(5) I'M SOME GRADUATE was an interesting claim by Dowse after a long run in the Burke barn. I'm not sure what to think about him tonight but I don't really like anyone else in here. (4) GLENGARRY KNIGHT N almost caught the tiring leader after gapping the pocket last week and his prior form versus lesser was pretty good. (3) WHOS BETTER may be a bit overmatched at this level but he does have a little bit of speed and should be close-up throughout.

Race 12: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace

(2) YAYAS HOT SPOT N looked sharp winning off the bench for Shane Tritton and the veteran import may be able to handle the bump in class. (5) WESTERN FAME showed a little stubbornness in that recent loss and the classy veteran can build off that effort. (1) WATERWAY drops from $50K claimers into this softer spot and he lands inside; he should definitely be a contender here.