Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 2/5
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2024 MEET STATS: 16 - 54 / $121.00 (+$13.00)
BEST BETS: 3 - 5 / $11.00 (+$1.00)
BEST BET: BRUTALLYHANDSOME A (11th)
SPOT PLAY: TAKE A CLOSER LOOK (6th)
Race 1: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) TWIN B HEART THROB gets much-needed post relief after starting from posts 8, 7, 6, 8 in his last four races, both here and at Philly. Last two races he paced sub-28 last quarters. (6) BURNHAM BOY N took the money last week and was driven accordingly but could not last. Definitely a contender again despite drawing outside his main competition. (5) COMMANDING OFFICER jogged in his Burke debut and clearly can have more to offer.
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Race 2: Invitational Pace
Five horses here...I guess some invitations got lost in the mail. (5) COVERED BRIDGE had no problems out of the eight hole in his local return and he deserves top billing again. (1) COACHES CORNER is in career form but the 4YO still has plenty to prove. (4) LEONIDAS A is back for his 9YO season and even if he isn't 100% cranked up he should still be right there at the wire.
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Race 3: $50,000 Claiming Pace
(1) SAILBOAT HANOVER was razor sharp in two recent starts for Laterza and now bumps up a notch off the claim by the Joe Bongiorno barn (yes that's correct, draw your own conclusions). Similar effort can take this. (6) RJ SPORTS IMAGE has blastoff speed so hitting the top isn't a problem. Finishing is. (3) POINTOMYGRANSON is also sharp as can be and goes for his third barn in as many weeks.
Race 4: 3-6YO $50,000 Claiming Pace
(2) UP THE CREEK tried a different class last week and powered home to score at a very generous price. He's back in for a tag and from this post he may be able to save and shake free for Joe B. (4) FULSOME has raced respectably in all recent tries at this level and Yannick drives again from an improved post. (5) SHAKESPEARE got claimed yet again out of last week's start, where he failed to pick up a check. Needs a trip.
Race 5: $40,000 Claiming Pace - $10K Gtd. Pick 5
(6) SAN DOMINO A managed to hold third last start after leaving for a tuck then coming first up into a rated pace. Classy 11YO has been racing well enough to win and now just needs better racing luck. (4) AS ALWAYS hit town for Engblom and crushed at 5 cents on the dollar. He's up in class but doesn't face the strongest bunch. (1) HEART ON MY SLEEVE should be able to land a share again departing from the rail.
Race 6: 3-5YO $30,000 Claiming Pace
I thought (3) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK raced very well last week in his second start for the Alexander barn as Kakaley left aggressively to sit close up. He should be the best price of the main contenders. (1) URIEL BLUE CHIP grinded his way into second in his local return for Engblom. Co-owner Gingras drives the 4YO again and he has a legit chance but won't offer any value. (6) BIG DREAM FELLA moves into another new barn off the claim after tiring without much excuse last week. Bartlett drives again.
Race 7: NW22221 in last 5 starts Pace
(7) BILLY CLYDE gets to face a bit softer tonight after finishing second best last week. Schnittker trainee has speed and could be a bit tighter now. (1) FAMILY RECIPE also gets needed class relief and should be able to protect position from the rail and work out a trip. (3) FEARFUL INTENT makes his first start in three months and that qualifier was good, as he cut the mile and got nipped by a stakes-placed mare.
Race 8: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) WINDSUN RICKY got hopelessly shuffled last week and finished fifth. I'm not sure how live he would have been late in that mile but he does deserve another chance here. (7) KIMBLE A is an interesting Australian shipper who gets a driver upgrade in his second U.S. start. DiDomenico trainee deserves a serious look at his 20/1 morning line. (5) MIND HUNTER returns from The Meadowlands for Engblom and he was a winner in his last local start, albeit against easier.
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Race 9: NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) KING JAMES EXPRESS never made an impact last week but two back he finished alertly from the eight hole. This is a more realistic spot for the Laterza trainee. (1) MACHEASY A gave it a try in a conditioned series at Northfield for trainer Rob Harmon which I found to be a curious decision. Anyway that didn't work out and now he's back here starting fresh at the basement level. (5) LIKE CLOCKWORK was a winner at first asking for Engblom at The Big M then burned money in his second start. Veteran does have back class.
Race 10: $30,000 Claiming Pace
(5) ALOTBETTOR N took no money last week from the rail, offered no speed and no rally when sent to the rim; however tonight it should be a different story as the 13YO takes an important drop in class and meets a field without much current form. (4) MY ULTIMATE STAR A moves from conditioned races to claimers for trainer Lance Hudson. Bartlett is back driving; can he show more? I am adding (2) PAT STANLEY N in the third spot but I'm done with this guy and won't get sucked into him anymore. With that said he'll probably revert back to his old Borgata-type form and bury these.
Race 11: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace
(6) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A made his local debut a winning one as the recent import pissed on the field at 1/5 out of the eight hole. Stratton trainee is surely ready to climb the ladder. (4) SPORTY M THREE disappointed last week as the old "big drop with no form" favorite. What do we do this week with the Burke gelding? (3) BETTER SUN had the eight hole at Freehold in a much-needed start after being off four months; now the Engblom trainee picks up Bartlett.