Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 3/29
MEET STATS: 87 - 249 / $487.10 (-$10.90)
BEST BETS: 12 - 25 / $41.30 (-$8.70)
Best Bet: BACKSTREET SHADOW (6th)
Spot Play: GRATIAN HANOVER (8th)
Race 1: $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap Pace
(1) BLAYDE HANOVER was a game uncovered winner two back and took another last week coast-to-coast from a good spot; DiDomenico trainee lands in another favorable position tonight and he deserves top billing going for the hat trick. (4) OHOKA JOHNNY N goes for another new barn tonight off the claim after not firing at odds-on last week; he was way overbet in that most recent start but should offer much better value here. (6) MCARDLES LIGHTNING broke at the start in his debut off the Pellegrino claim; hopefully these connections have him figured out and he at least deserves a mention here.
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Race 2: $25,000 Claiming Pace
(4) KEPT UNDER WRAPS A was an interesting claim last week for DiDomenico (with George Brennan listed as co-owner) so obviously they like something they have seen with the veteran to dip in for $20K (and bump him up to $25K). I'm willing to take a swing here. (5) FOX VALLEY INFERNO goes back to Adamczyk on the reclaim but he may be tailing off after a form spree; consider, but use caution. (1) CLASSIC PRO moves all the way inside and Holland sticks with the Stafford trainee.
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Race 3: NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace
(7) SHADOW CAT has been solid since moving to the Fanning barn, including last week's 1:52 1/5 win down at Freehold. He looks like a perfect fit here with the only problem being the outside post. (1) IDEAL WHEEL steps up again off two consecutive second-place finishes and he draws best; board threat. (5) HERRICKROOSEVELT N has taken two straight after I got off his bandwagon; import is back up in class and is clearly sharp enough to take another.
Race 4: MGM Borgata Pacing Series
(4) HESA KINGSLAYER N was looking good coming into this series and has kept it up by winning the first two legs; he can easily take another here with any sort of reasonable trip. (3) NONE BETTOR A was used a bit to the front in round one then rated from there but had nothing left for the stretch drive; Takter trainee skipped last week so he needs to accumulate some points in a hurry. Todd McCarthy figures to be heading to the front. (1) PAT STANLEY N draws the inside post and perhaps Stratton will get more aggressive with the Shane Tritton trainee. (7) THIS IS THE PLAN is a clear player in this series but gets the worst post; how hard will Gingras use him?
Race 5: MGM Borgata Pacing Series
(3) ROCKAPELO gunned down a well-meant Western Joe last week in a sharp 1:51 1/5 mile; no reason he can't repeat with a similar effort. (1) WESTERN FAME was uninvolved last week (in a race where everyone fell asleep at the start) but from the rail post expect Dube to be blasting. (4) SAN DOMINO A released Leonidas A last week and was a game second from the pocket; hard to discount his chances here with a win and a second through the first two rounds.
Race 6: MGM Borgata Pacing Series
(3) BACKSTREET SHADOW went down the road rather effortlessly last week in 1:51 2/5 and he remains one of the top dogs in the series; Burke trainee will be the deserving favorite here to win another. (5) WESTERN JOE was dead-game in defeat last out; classy veteran gets Dunn in the bike tonight and his early speed will set him up with a good trip. (2) LYONS STEEL was a round-one winner then was curiously absent last week; he should come out of this race with some money and points. (8) CHIEF MATE has been very good but unlucky again with another eight hole; Zeron sticks with him.
Race 7: WO $20,000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) PYRO was bet down to even-money at this level two back and broke in the first turn vying for the lead, then never got involved last week from the seven hole in a race with no movement. Garcia-Herrera trainee lands in a spot where he can be aggressively handled. (1) WALKINSHAW N has been on a huge form spree for Lance Hudson, including his last two races up at Saratoga; gelding lands the best post. (8) KEEP ON ROCKING A has been super since arriving locally but now he's assigned post eight, which can quickly put an end to the fun times.
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Race 8: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) GRATIAN HANOVER aborted a leave attempt from the outside facing better last week but he's back down at the NW15000 level, where he was just nipped two back. (2) EHRMANTRAUT was a strong winner here two back and followed that up with a nice try at Pocono; Daguet trainee looks like the main threat. (1) SPEED MAN N was hammered down to 1/9 odds last out and beat lesser but we don't often see back-to-back good efforts from this import.
Race 9: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) DANCIN DRAGON seemed a touch overmatched facing Open foes at The Meadows in his first three seasonal starts but he should be a bit tighter now as he makes his local return; he's more than capable with this kind. (4) THE REAL ONE hasn't been great but hasn't exactly been bad either for Lachance; he’ll win one of these weeks. (5) CAN B PERFECT looks to be an improving four-year-old for Paul Stafford and he's in with a chance here.
Race 10: NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) ROLLWITHPAPAJOE has remained consistently good for an extended period of time and the drop from the Open/Preferred ranks should get the Jenn Bongiorno trainee back on the winning track. (3) HEISMAN PLAYER draws a reasonably better post and he can be more involved. (1) REDBANK BLAZE A was a winner here three back from an inside post facing a notch lower and the veteran will be close to the action throughout. Mention to (8) WORLD OF SECRETS marking the local debut of Northfield's leading trainer Bill Rhoades, and he's treated rudely drawing post eight!