Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 3/28
MEET STATS: 87 - 282 / $427.20 (-$136.80)
BEST BETS: 16 - 26 / $56.90 (+$4.90)
Best Bet: THIS IS THE PLAN (7th)
Spot Play: DINA BOLT N (6th)
Race 1: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN finally earned a long-awaited victory facing the bottom condition and he's classy enough to handle a bit better. Veteran is a live entrant from a mostly struggling barn. (6) GLOBALDOMINATION N returned locally and likely gained some confidence with that hard-fought win. Like the top choice, this Pete Tritton trainee seems to have the talent to be competitive with better. (3) GLACIS always finishes well for Lachance but usually doesn't get there, so it's tough to take a short price on him. He should hit the ticket, however.
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Race 2: Borgata Pacing Series Open FFA Pacers Leg #2
(5) NANDOLO N got away fourth from the rail in the first round but that didn't bother him as he ended up a strong uncovered winner. Shane Tritton trainee lands in a pretty soft division and deserves to be the heavy favorite. (7) ELVER HANOVER was passively handled last week but held well after a long uncovered trip. Burke trainee lands all the way outside and maybe we'll see some speed tonight; Gingras gets the call. (1) MACH N CHEESE has found his stride again beating much lesser two straight and don't forget he finished third in last year's Borgata final.
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Race 3: $75,000 Claiming Pace
(6) ELWELL was coming up a bit short facing the $100K claimers so he dropped back to this level for his last start and he overcame being jammed on the rail to score; veteran has plenty of speed to overcome the outside post. (4) VELOCITY KOMODO has been a solid earner since the Burke claim, with three seconds and a win in four starts; he should be right there again as the likely favorite. (5) RUNRUNJIMMYDUNN N was overdriven last start and wilted on the lead; he's back at the level of his last win and Bartlett's back driving.
Race 4: Borgata Pacing Series Open FFA Pacers Leg #2
(3) SEMI TOUGH finished willingly last week as no threat to Leonidas A and Tattoo Artist but he faces no such foes tonight and therefore gets the call. Burke trainee should be close enough to grind by. (7) CAPTAIN BARBOSSA has been kind of hit-or-miss so far this season but he's a legit talent in here and figures to offer a square price from the outside post. (4) TOWN GOSSIP had no chance in his 4-year-old debut but he finds a live spot here to flash some early speed.
Race 5: Borgata Pacing Series Open FFA Pacers Leg #2 - $10K Gtd. Pick-5 Pool
(3) FUNATTHEBEACH N does have something to prove facing the upper echelon of pacers but he does have a post edge on a couple of the top contenders who could be mixing it up early. Gillis trainee should be double-digit odds and may be worth a try. (6) CHASE H HANOVER was a very willing second to This Is The Plan in his debut as a 4-year-old. I think he's talented enough to handle a potential change in tactics if he has to come from off the pace. (5) DRAGON SAID took all the money and delivered in round one and the Jenn Bongiorno trainee would be no surprise here.
Race 6: $50,000 Claiming Pace
(6) DINA BOLT N was claimed by the Spaccarelli (Alexander?) connections after winning in solid fashion for the second straight week. He doesn't face a strong field on the move up in class and the sharp sort can take another. (1) DARK ENERGY N debuts for the Gillis barn off the claim and he draws best. Pacer has just one board finish in six races this year but it was a second-place finish from a similar spot three back. (2) MAGRITTE may need a drop in class since his insane run has come to an end; he does draw well, however.
Race 7: Borgata Pacing Series Open FFA Pacers Leg #2
(4) THIS IS THE PLAN looked like he was in midseason form with last week's easy win to kick off his 7-year-old campaign. He did get away with murder on the front end with that soft quarter and half, but he could have gone faster if needed. Hard to go against him tonight. (6) TATTOO ARTIST was second best to Leonidas A after a big speed try last week. Drawing outside of the top one will probably relegate him to chasing from off the pace tonight. (2) NONE BETTOR A was a good second in his seasonal debut; Kakaley picks up the drive with Tetrick driving #1.
Race 8: Borgata Pacing Series Open FFA Pacers Leg #2
(4) JACK'S LEGEND N seemed to lose interest at the back of the pack after he was restrained leaving from the eight hole in round one. It should be a completely different story tonight for the 14-time winner from a year ago. (1) COVERED BRIDGE was collared by Western Joe last week after a solid speed try; big chance here. (7) LEONIDAS A faces some obvious adversity tonight departing from the seven hole. I think he would have to come up with an insane effort to win this.
Race 9: Open Pace
(1) ALL HANDS ON DECK has closed alertly in his last two local starts and we saw last week's Open winner successfully transition from the $100K claiming level. Jenn Bongiorno trainee could trip out from this spot. (2) SPEED MAN N was done in by the seven hole last week but now is back inside and is a major threat to take these wire-to-wire. (7) MOVIN' ON UP invades from Dover, where he's been a model of consistency lately at the top levels there; Tetrick drives again.
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Race 10: NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) AIR FORCE HANOVER had traffic issues last week in a tough-luck try as the favorite; Daguet trainee deserves another look. (1) WATER SPORTS TEEN had some big moments as a 3-year-old in the Jenn Bongiorno barn and he looks ready to go off those two winning qualifiers. (5) REVELRY was a sick scratch last week but he's right back in the box; recent Dowse claim looked very good in his prior three starts.
Race 11: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(4) SHOREVIEW has grinded out a nice career with almost $450K banked and everything from the Camilleri barn has been looking live. (1) VENIER HANOVER is the one to beat going for another new barn trying for five straight while up in class again. (5) BALLARAT BOOMERANG was a good second when last at this level; consider for a share.
Race 12: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) THE WILD CARD had been racing well for a live barn leading up to last week's race but then he threw in a total clunker. The good news is that he's right back in to go and doesn't face a particularly strong field. (3) GINGRAS BEACH drops in class, gets post relief and returns to Brennan; logical. (1) THINKBIG DREAMBIG was good last start but was run down by a very sharp rival.