Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 5/16
MEET STATS: 168 - 523 / $859.00 (-$187.00)
BEST BETS: 28 - 48 / $121.30 (+$25.30)
Best Bet: I'M SOME GRADUATE (2nd)
Spot Play: DON DOMINGO N (7th)
Race 1: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) ALTA BLUES A was bet down to favorite in his U.S. debut and was caught uncovered into a 1:51 2/5 mile and wasn't all that comfortable. Import gets Stratton to drive while facing a bit softer and he could go better here. (8) ANOTHRMASTRPIECE N is another recent import for Shane Tritton who scored easily at first asking; he keeps Bartlett but has to overcome the eight hole. (6) PYRO is best of the "regulars" but he's had his problems from less-than-ideal posts in the past.
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Race 2: $75,000 Claiming Pace
(1) I'M SOME GRADUATE came from nowhere to snatch second last week and now he moves back inside, where he's had the most success. Dowse trainee won't offer much value but does appear the one to beat. (3) LYONS KING was a winner two back from a similar spot, and he beat a rival who came back to win; Stratton trainee can pick up a large share. (4) MACH DORO A is a proven commodity at this level with two recent wins (though DQ'ed after the fact in one of them).
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Race 3: Excelsior A 3YO Filly Trot Leg #1
(2) RHEIA ROSE added Lasix for her 3-year-old campaign and raced well at Pocono in her initial start. Filly was a winner over this surface last season and this barn has been going well of late. (3) JE SUIS SI BELLE tired in her first start as a 3-year-old after coming off a winning qualifier but the Julie Miller trainee is the most accomplished of these. (1) IMPACT JANE had a productive freshman campaign but did break late in the mile up at Saratoga last start.
Race 4: NYSS 3YO Filly Trot Leg #1
(5) JOVIALITY S was a dominating force as a 2-year-old, going 9 for 12 and banking almost $900K. Marcus Melander trainee breezed in a recent Meadowlands qualifier and seems impossible to go against here, likely at 1/9. (6) LITTLE PINK LIES obviously is hurt by drawing outside of the top one but the Svanstedt trainee is already a winner this season, taking the Lady Suffolk at Freehold. (4) CASH INFUSION was a NYSS finalist last year, along with the top two, and she picked up a small share. She can land a piece here as well, assuming the quarantine issues aren't a problem.
Race 5: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace **$10K GTD Pick-5 Pool**
(1) ROCKAPELO lands his first good spot since the barn change to Harder and expect Bartlett to take full advantage of the opportunity. (4) MIGHTY SANTANA N hasn't been on his best game of late but he was second best two back to a classy winner. (8) DRAGON SAID finds his softest spot in recent memory but that is offset by the eight hole. We'll see how aggressive Bongiorno is at the outset.
Race 6: NYSS 3YO Filly Trot Leg #1
(1) PURE COUNTESS raced just twice as a freshman in Europe and now she arrives state-side under the care of Svanstedt. Filly was a willing second in that Meadowlands qualifier and I hope for her to be fully geared up for this. (5) PIONEER AS has the benefit of a recent local start and the Lorentzon trainee looked really good winning. (4) VALENTINA BLU has already earned almost as much as the rest of the field combined and the Alagna trainee should be ready off those two qualifiers.
Race 7: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) DON DOMINGO N was unable to reach last week as the big favorite Mysweetboymax cruised up front but the veteran closed crisply in his prior two and he could be looking at a favorable setup from this spot. (3) MACH N CHEESE had little to offer in his first start for the Cory Stratton barn but he did finish in :27 2/5; shows more tonight? (6) MYSWEETBOYMAX gets a free ride here under the NW9 lifetime condition but will probably have to work harder from this spot.
Race 8: Excelsior A 3YO Filly Trot Leg #1
(3) PERFECT VIXEN is already having a tremendous season for Scott Mongeon and driver John Stark, Jr, with seven wins in 9 starts up at Saratoga. Filly figures to be the one to catch. (5) SHE'S A SCORCHER had a modest 2-year-old season and she added the hobbles for this year while now moving to the high-profile Alagna barn. (1) ADJURE HANOVER has plenty of Excelsior experience and qualified effectively for Andy and Julie Miller.
Race 9: NYSS 3YO Filly Trot Leg #1
(4) GETTINMYSTEPSIN went winless as a freshman for Team Orange Crush but she's got two wins and a second in the Weiss final already this season; after a couple of week's freshening she should be good to go starting her NYSS campaign. (1) LA VIE EN BLANC was a modest stakes player at two for Alagna and she qualified sharply in her second try after breaking in the first; leaving from the rail can be tricky but if she minds her manners she may be tough. (2) SEVEN ON THE ROCKS picked up a check in last year's final and is perfect so far this season.
Race 10: Open Handicap Pace
(1) JOESSTAR OF MIA A gets lucky as not only does he get to draw for posts 1-5 he lands the rail. Sharp Dowse trainee figures to have a tactical edge on his main rivals. (7) LEONIDAS A makes his first start since his brave second-place finish in the Borgata final and he has to be considered the one to beat despite having the outermost post; not sure what to make of his owner being the listed trainer, however. (6) SPEED MAN N was last week's winner when left alone to rate the action; does Joe B blast?
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Race 11: $50,000 Claiming Pace
(6) BIG RICH was a winner at the $50K claiming level last start and in this very tepid field going for $28K he gets the call to repeat. (2) KEYSTONE BLADE shipped up from Pompano, joined the Andrew Harris barn and raced well in two starts at The Big M. (7) KANDY SWEET was second last week, has good early speed.
Race 12: $50,000 Claiming Pace
(2) KINNDER JACKSON was taken off the pace in his first start for Laterza and ended up sweeping by for the upset; he lands in a good spot tonight and will have every opportunity to repeat. (7) BETTOR BE OSCAR A goes to Dowse, picks up Bartlett and merits an automatic look. (1) OZONE BLUE CHIP seems to be tailing off a bit but he does move all the way inside.