Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 7/29
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2024 MEET STATS: 224 - 753 / $1,246.10 (-$259.90)
BEST BETS: 32 - 65 / $120.40 (-$9.60)
BEST BET: POUND FOR POUND (11th)
SPOT PLAY: TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK (3rd)
Race 1: $50,000-$60,000 Claiming Pace
(3) MICKY GEE N drops in price so he gets away from Rock Diamonds N and he also lands back inside, which is where he needs to be to show his best. (8) REAL WILLEY is another Bongiorno veteran claimer on a win streak, and this one also has the speed to hopefully overcome the post. (2) SURFSIDE BEACH has been right there in all recent races in age-restricted claimers for Cory Stratton and he has a post edge on his main rivals.
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Race 2: 3-5YO Open Pace
(2) VENTURESOME ADREN N saw his win streak snapped last start when he was a victim of the outside post and never got involved. Now with an open draw he lands the two hole and looms a major threat likely from just off the pace. (1) TIP TOP CAT cut the mile two back from a similar spot but tired to third, then followed that up with a big effort to just miss. Burke trainee looms large again. (5) STAY GROUNDED is lightly raced for Noel Daley with just four starts this year and now he gives Yonkers a try. Needs a pace meltdown to win but could be a late factor for a share at a price.
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Race 3: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(4) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK was hung the mile last week from post eight and understandably tired but all prior efforts for multiple trainers were sharp and he's back with Laterza on the reclaim. Teamed up with Holland for a win last month. (2) LORRIM LAKE A finished well last week and he's been steadily improving; chance with the improved post. (5) TWO FACED has been on a roll recently for a few different barns and now he steps up a bit off the Forte claim; Joe B. picks up the drive.
Race 4: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(1) DANCE ON THE BEACH has done nothing wrong since being claimed for $30K by these connections, and a repeat of last week's effort where he grinded by late can get the job done again. (2) BECHERS BROOK A was odds-on in the race won by #1 and that was a scant nose defeat. Maybe tonight he gets revenge. (3) BIG DREAM FELLA dug in by a nose to hold off (5) OZONE BLUE CHIP last week and either of these are capable of winning with a favorable trip. Good race here.
Race 5: $30,000 Claiming Pace
(2) GENIUS MAN was able to make one late run to roll by for the win last week and the Bucci trainee can repeat with a similar trip facing similar foes. (3) TWIG shipped in to Yonkers and tried rolling down the road but came up leg-weary late. Holland drives again and maybe with the benefit of that trip over the track he can be a bit better. (7) WON LAST FEELING drops from the $40's to the $30's and if drawn better would be a big player here. Tough spot here but a big price looming.
Race 6: 3-5YO $30,000 Claiming Pace
(5) CAPTAIN T HANOVER has taken two straight in game off-the-pace fashion and the DiDomenico trainee is clearly sharpest in here. He draws reasonably enough here to be able to reach again. (4) SURFRIDER was used hard last out and gave way when the top choice came calling but he can be excused for that effort; Kakaley is back driving and they teamed up from a similar spot two back for a big win. (1) LAST POUND ran second from the eight hole in his debut at this level and the move all the way inside makes him a logical contender.
Race 7: NW20621 in last 5 starts Pace
(2) BOILING OAR looked like a lock in last week's return to Yonkers and he got the job done at 20 cents on the dollar. Alexander trainee faces better here but has the class to repeat. (1) BIG GULP was more aggressive last week and almost lasted to the wire; Mark Macdonald gets the call for Engblom with Bartlett not here and he figures to be pushing hard from the onset. (3) SONNY WEAVER N is back from a stop at Philly where he was third in their winners-over and he was second best his last two tries at this level.
Race 8: 3-5YO Open Pace
(2) DUNKIN' misbehaved again before the start (for the third time this year) and obviously lost all chance. I'll assume he gets away cleanly tonight and resumes winning ways. (5) ADAM TWELVE has hit the board in all 13 races this year with three wins for the Engblom barn; he's at a post disadvantage here but should offer value. (3) COMBUSTION was a close second to Dunkin' in his last two races.
Race 9: Invitational Pace
Another six-horse feature going for $39K on tonight's card. (2) DESPERATE MAN was a good fourth in the Auger, a flying third after breaking in the Battle at Northfield, and most recently a tough-trip fourth from the eight hole in the Gerrity. Sprinkled between those races was a solid two-move score in the Invite here from the seven hole. Now he lands the two hole with this open draw and clearly gets top billing here, but will face a test from (1) HELLABALOU. 2x Borgata champ will likely be the one to catch as he also ends up with a very generous post. (5) HEMSWORTH N was odds-on last week and fourth best. Was a winner last time Siegelman drove.
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Race 10: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
Five-horse affair where they all get paid...yes I know there were two early scratches but still...(1) KINGSVILLE has been solid pretty much all season for DiDomenico and he wired similar two back. Gelding moves back inside and figures to be controlling these. (4) JAHAN HANOVER has been a bit dull recently and he loses the services of the leading driver but he does face softer here and has early speed in his arsenal. Maybe Dube can work out a trip behind the favorite at a price. (5) CASINO ACTION N was a good second last week to a tough winner; Bucci trainee can build off that effort.
Race 11: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) POUND FOR POUND has failed to hit the board in five starts after the $75K reclaim by the Laterza barn but tonight he drops to a spot where he can control these wire-to-wire. (5) FULTON has raced well in his three local starts this year but overall the Toscano trainee is still trying to recapture his 2 and 3YO form which saw him bank over $500K. He may be the other speed in here. (3) KIMBLE A gets post relief after a no-chance try.
Race 12: NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) NONE BETTOR A was last throughout from the seven hole in his latest race but prior to that the classy millionaire was a major speed player; move back inside gives him the chance to make the front. (2) WHATS STANLEY GOT A was second in last week's Invite and looks like the main threat to the top one despite losing regular driver Brennan to the Burke trainee. (8) BIRTHDAY has been competitive at the 3-5YO Open level since arriving from Northfield but the eight hole here probably limits him to a smaller share.