Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 4/25
MEET STATS: 102 - 318 / $514.10 (-$121.90)
BEST BETS: 19 - 29 / $66.90 (+$8.90)
Best Bet: MR DS ROCK (3rd)
Spot Play: CHASE H HANOVER (6th)
Race 1: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]
(2) DANCIN DRAGON left sharply from outside posts in his last couple to set up good trips; that tactical speed should serve him well again and maybe he can reach this week. Dexter Dunn picks up the drive. (4) STANFORD COURT steps up a notch off a nice victory, and the horse he beat came back to win. Ohio bred has always had talent. (1) CAN BE PERFECT moves all the way inside and gets Bartlett back in the bike.
Race 2: $75,000 Claiming Pace
(1) FEELIN WESTERN added Lasix for last week's start and he charged home to nail the well-rated favorite. Burke trained 4-year-old can repeat. (4) DINA BOLT N has raced pretty well since bumping to this level off the Blackler claim and he should offer some value. (2) I'M SOME GRADUATE faltered in two starts facing conditioned types but the Dowse trainee moved back to claimers and tallied a game uncovered score; obvious contender.
[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!]
Race 3: NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) MR DS ROCK had loads of late pace to nail the favorite on the wire in his last local try and he returns off a close third-place finish at Pocono; Kakaley has the option to control this race. (4) GENIUS MAN has looked razor-sharp in his last two wins and could be good enough now to handle the class hike. (5) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH has a win and a third the last two times Dunn drove.
Race 4: MGM Borgata Pace Eligibles
(2) OSTRO HANOVER lost touch to Tattoo Artist from the pocket last week but he finished well the start prior and don't forget he beat This Is The Plan in round two of the series. Jenn Bongiorno trainee looms large from this spot. (6) AMERICAN DEALER N is the only other one in here with a win in the series but he was unable to follow that up with anything of significance; Toscano trainee lands outside of his main competition but that will certainly help his price. (4) DIAMONDBEACH has raced pretty well in every series start. Brennan sticks with this one despite being listed on a Burke trainee.
Race 5: Blue Chip Matchmaker Consolation - $10K Gtd. Pick-5 Pool
(2) BOLT OF BEAUTY picked up a second and a couple of thirds in the series, certainly proving that she belongs with this type. At 20/1 morning line with the main contenders mostly outside I'll take a shot that she can trip out. (6) GIA'S SURREAL got a late start to the series, likely costing her a spot in the final; she looks like the one to beat here, but may be overbet. (5) MAN DONTFORGET ME was just a bit short in her last two but rallied well in the first two legs of the series.
Race 6: MGM Borgata Pace Consolation
(5) CHASE H HANOVER hasn't had the best of luck throughout the series but he has flashed serious ability and that start two back was especially good. Four-year-old does have sharp speed which could be on display from this spot. (4) COVERED BRIDGE had one sub-par outing in the series but the other three legs he contested in were pretty good. Gingras sticks with this gelding over the other Burke trainee. (3) POSEIDON SEELSTER exploded home for the upset three back but his other races where he was on or near the lead were a bit underwhelming. Brennan does have options here.
Race 7: Blue Chip Matchmaker Final
(2) RACINE BELL has been the most consistent mare we've seen here in quite some time and she did exactly what everyone expected of her throughout the series. Dave Dewhurst trainee faces some talented foes but off the strength of her last three open-length wins she gets top billing. (5) MISS YOU N was nipped on the wire while cutting the mile in two of her last three but I think she may be better from off the pace, which is likely to happen here. With some sort of live cover trip she can be charging late. (1) DRAMA ACT did falter in the late stages in the final preliminary but otherwise she's been super. Leaving from the pole position it will be interesting to see if Brennan is intent on controlling the action.
Race 8: MGM Borgata Pacing Series Final
(1) TATTOO ARTIST got his act together with sharp wins in the final two preliminary legs and the Chris Ryder trainee should be on top of his game heading to the final. Drawing the innermost post clearly makes this speedster the one to catch, and if nobody presses the pace too hard in the early stages, he'll be able to rate a reasonable half and blow out a third quarter to keep his rivals at bay. If this is how the race sets up, it will be an interesting stretch drive with Dexter Dunn pleading for the wire! (5) THIS IS THE PLAN may not be as sharp coming into the final as he was last year, when he cleared the field from the eight hole and never let up. Does Gingras blast with all he's got again? (7) NANDOLO N has been super throughout this series but is now on the outside looking in with the bad post draw. He may end up with excess cover, but the good news for his fans it that he'll be a healthy price. (6) LEONIDAS A has added the speed dimension this year but he also figures to be compromised by the draw.
Race 9: Winners over $30,000 LT Pace
(7) PRICELESS BEACH has closed powerfully from off the pace in his two local starts and he may be able to reach in this slightly watered-down overnight feature. (6) JOESSTAR OF MIA A was unable to get involved in his last race but he's in a better spot to try reverting to speed tactics. (5) TOWN GOSSIP found it a bit too tough in the Borgata and the 4-year-old will appreciate the class relief.
Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter
Race 10: $75,000 Claiming Pace
(5) ELWELL has come up second best in his last two but still gets top billing from a spot where it seems like he can clear the front. (2) VELOCITY KOMODO has been pretty consistent since bumping to this level off the Burke claim and he does move back inside. (3) BELTANE A is back in with claimers after a failed try at the Open level.
Race 11: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) ALTA BLUES A is more fresh Down-Under stock from the successful Dilloian outfit and he picks up Bartlett as he enters the pari-mutuel wars; deserves a long look. (7) HIGHLANDBEACHSBEST blew away an age-restricted field in 1:50 1/5; Stratton sticks with him despite facing better from an outside post. (3) SAVE ME A DANCE is back up a notch off a confidence-building victory.
Race 12: $50,000 Claiming Pace
(1) JESSE DUKE N takes a needed drop in class and goes from the AE list to the best post; wakeup call is likely. (4) OUR CORELLI N is a legit speed threat from the Bongiornos. (2) KINNDER JACKSON goes to another new barn (Sheena Cohen) off the claim and he gets Bartlett back in the bike, who has had plenty of recent success with the gelding.