Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 3/22
MEET STATS: 87 - 249 / $487.10 (-$10.90)
BEST BETS: 12 - 25 / $41.30 (-$8.70)
Best Bet: BETTOR MEMORIES (8th)
Spot Play: MAC'S JACKPOT (4th)
Race 1: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap Pace
(5) MCARDLES LIGHTNING moves to a new barn (Pellegrino) off the claim after a long run with Scott DiDomenico and he's been pretty good in most of his starts this season; veteran lands a decent enough post in this handicap race and should be heard from in the early stages. (3) ROCK ON LINE debuts for the Devita barn off the claim and that outfit has been going very well of late; clear contender. (1) CINNABAR DRAGON drops back in for a tag off a blowout win in NW5000 and he lands the innermost post.
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Race 2: $25,000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap Pace
(6) MAGRITTE had been razor-sharp in his last five starts, with four wins and a second, and last week's win was particularly impressive. He goes for another new barn tonight off the claim (Daguet) and this outfit has been firing with most of their stock. (3) FOX VALLEY INFERNO also goes for another new barn tonight after a bit of a disappointing effort last start; prior efforts were all great. (7) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN goes back to Lance Hudson and was a winner in that barn last month; he was Zeron's choice and may try blasting out.
[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!]
Race 3: MGM Borgata Pacing Series
(1) RODEO ROCK saved ground last week and stormed home once clear in the stretch; Cleary trainee gets major post improvement tonight and we know he’s more than capable with this caliber of horses. (5) BACKSTREET SHADOW raced well in his seasonal debut though he had to settle for second after being inhaled by Leonidas A; Burke trainee will be a major force in here. (3) PAT STANLEY N wasn't bad in round one but he lacked a serious late punch; most of the Shane Tritton trainees were off their game last week so take note of how they performed over the last few days.
Race 4: MGM Borgata Pacing Series
(2) MAC'S JACKPOT held stubbornly to the wire after a multiple-move effort last week though he had to settle for third; veteran seems to be rounding back into top form and should offer a decent price in this well-balanced Borgata split. (3) ROCKAPELO was unable to get involved in round one but he gets significant post relief which will help his cause. (5) AFLAME HANOVER is another one who was post-compromised last week but he kept pace with the pack and finished in :27 seconds; Schadel trainee has proven in the past to have serous talent.
Race 5: Preferred Handicap Pace
(3) HEAVEN'S GAIT served notice three back that he was rounding back into form and he followed that up with two strong efforts; Devita trainee can get it done with a smooth trip. (4) KEEP ON ROCKING A was definitely knocking on the door in his three local races after shipping in from Rosecroft so last week's big win was no surprise; import lands a similar spot and can repeat. (5) TWIN B TUFFENUFF stalked the speedy Springsteen last week and edged by late; Burke trainee is sharp but may be looking at a tougher trip tonight; he's capable.
Race 6: MGM Borgata Pacing Series
(5) CHIEF MATE took a little action from the eight hole last week and was relegated to last chasing a soft pace but he paced a big back half and stormed home for third; Four-year-old gets post improvement and should be put in play earlier. (1) LEONIDAS A goes for three straight seasonal win and is clearly the one to beat here (and one of the top horses in the series) but he faces an uncertain trip from this spot and won't offer any value. (4) ANA AFREET N is another in here who closed well from too far back in the first leg and should be more involved here. (2) SAN DOMINO A was a round-one winner going wire-to-wire and cannot be ignored.
Race 7: MGM Borgata Pacing Series
(8) LET IT RIDE N was patiently handled last week then when he needed to he breezed by with ease to keep the streak intact. Those tactics probably won't work tonight from the eight hole, so it comes down to how well Dunn can improve position at the start. Regardless, the import deserves top billing. (4) THIS IS THE PLAN was run over by the top choice in his 2021 debut; Burke trainee should only be tighter and is likely the main threat. (2) HESA KINGSLAYER N sat off the front-end duel then pounced three-wide to score as the even-money choice in round one; Deters trainee hasn't put in a bad effort in ages.
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Race 8: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) BETTOR MEMORIES shipped down to Freehold and got back on the winning track in their featured pace; Burke trainee seems to have a class edge on these. (5) DON DOMINGO N couldn’t get involved from the eight hole facing better last week but he was a good second to Soho Lennon A the start prior. (4) HUNDIE N is back up in class looking for two straight but he'll probably be relegated to a lesser share tonight.
Race 9: NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) CAVIART LUCA is another classy Burke trainee who seems to have found the winning spot; likely short price looming, however. (6) HEISMAN PLAYER came back strong from the holiday break with a couple of wins, then got lost at the back of the pack last out, but he paced home decently; Alexander trainee figures to be a healthy price and could add some value underneath. (3) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP paced steadily last week in a strung-out race; as noted many times recently this barn is going very well now.
Race 10: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) MOHAWK WARRIOR isn't exactly a winning machine but he almost always puts in a quality effort; Stafford trainee figures to be more involved tonight from this good inside post. (5) MACH IT SO takes a needed drop in class and Gingras sticks around to drive the near-3 million earner. (3) GINGRAS BEACH probably needed that last start and he seems capable of landing a piece with smooth sailing.