Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 8/17

MEET STATS: 127 - 372 / $764.80 (+$20.80)
BEST BETS: 22 - 38 / $79.30 (+$3.30)
SPOT PLAYS: 8 - 38 / $55.00 (-$21.00)
BEST BET - BUDDY HILL (6th)
SPOT PLAY - IN MY DREAMS (8th)

Race 1 - F&M NW2/25000LT Pace

(4) FRILLS N LACE has stepped up since joining Nick Devita's barn and makes her third start for him tonight. That was a strong second-place finish in the Excelsior A Series last time out, and I'll look for her to build on that. (2) LEAVE'EMINSTITCHES finally had a draw go her way tonight as she moves inside after a series of outside slots. She had picked up three straight runner-up finishes in the Excelsior A Series until August 3 when she couldn't get involved from post seven. (6) SPECIAL GRADUATE is two-for-two at Yonkers this year with both victories coming in the Excelsior B Series. The win on 8-3 gave her a new lifetime mark.

Race 2 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(5) KING CAST was bet down to favortism on 8-4 but came up second-best. He remains at the bottom level tonight, and I'll use in the hopes he might offer a little better price this time. (1) THISISSHE wore down King Cast from first-up in that same event on August 4 and went on to a pretty facile victory. She is in for the optional claiming tag tonight, so she gets to stay in the same class and has the pole position again, too. (3) MUZZY'S MUSCLES gained a couple spots in the final quarter in the same dash my top two picks exit, and he gets some post relief. Brent Holland gets a shot with the DiDomenico trainee with Brennan not here.

Race 3 - F&M NW2/25000LT Pace

(6) SENDMETOTHESTARS returns to Yonkers tonight after a third and a second against NW1's at Pocono and Harrah's Philadelphia. I'm going to hope Siegelman sends her out of there tonight and can control this one on the engine. (1) DEE DEE KAY gets away from the Excelsior A Series types tonight for a shot in this overnight race from the pole. She also gets Jordan Stratton to drive. (2) JOE'S SIGN hasn't had the best luck at Yonkers with a break in her first Excelsior A Series appearance and then a fifth on 8-3. She does race out of the hot Linda Toscano barn, and Marohn Jr. might want to take advantage of the shot he's getting to drive her.

Race 4 - NW2/25000LT Pace

(1) SUMTHINBOUTIM shifts to the pole position after having post seven in both of his Yonkers starts so far. He was a rallying second two back and then finished well from off-the-pace in the subsequent appearance. (2) BREAKOUT SESSION was stuck in post seven at Batavia and wasn't a factor, but he was the runner-up in an Excelsior A Series split at Yonkers on July 28 and gets an inside starting spot tonight. He was also Tyler Buter's choice. (7) PLAY THERAPY finished third in his Yonkers debut when last seen. He does draw worse tonight, but Siegelman and Height did team up for a win together on Thursday (August 13).

Race 5 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace - **$7,500 Guaranteed Pick-5 Pool**

(3) EVEN LOUDER bounced back with a much-improved performance behind two quality horses at Pocono on August 9, and I'll hope she retains some of the price she offered that time. She owns a win at Yonkers over NW2's back in July. (2) WIGGLE DELIGHT never got close from post eight in that same race at Pocono that Even Louder is coming out of. She did defeat NW3 two back at Harrah's Philadelphia, though, and her connections thought enough of her to take a couple shots in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series back in June and July. (1) LOOKATMYART knows her way to the winner's circle, having scored in six of her 11 starts and was a closing second in the Excelsior A Series at Yonkers in her most recent effort. Brian Sears takes over in the bike.

Race 6 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(2) BUDDY HILL likely needed that race last Monday as he hadn't made a pari-mutuel start since back in March. He was good, closing well for third, and I suspect he may be on or near the lead tonight like in the qualifier on July 24. (1) MACHING TIME moves from post seven to the pole position this week, so he should be closer to the action like in his third-place effort on 7-27. Bartlett gets a shot with the DiDomenico pupil as Brennan is not here tonight. (4) TREVOR ONE scored a win over Excelsior A Series foes last time out at Batavia, and if you overlook that start from an outside draw at Yonkers on 7-28, he has two straight solid efforts.

Race 7 - F&M NW8/100200LT Pace

(2) SOMETHING REEL won two straight over at Pocono and just squeezes into this class by a few dollars. I expect her connections will be looking to take advantage. (1) AZREAL AS IT GETS looked like a winner through that last race on August 6 but got tagged right on the wire. She moves to post one this time and has shown the ability to race both off-the-pace and on the lead. (5) ALII NUI finished second to the good mare Kendra N when last at Yonkers on 7-27, and Holland might have her closer to the front again.

Race 8 - NW10000L5/Winner in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Trot

(1) IN MY DREAMS lost all chance with an early break when dropped to this level on August 3, but did make up ground in the last quarter. He did win in July against NW10000L5's, and I think is worth another shot with the shift to the pole position. (2) CASINO CUTIE IT was victorious over a group of NW10000L5's on 7-13 and drops back down this time. She was Bartlett's choice of several in here. (5) WINDSONG PIONEER scored an upset victory over NW4's at Yonkers on the 16th of July, and his subsequent performances down at Harrah's Philadelphia weren't bad. He gets reunited with Brent Holland.

Race 9 - NW8/100000LT Pace

(6) GLOBALDOMINATION N worked a little hard to get the lead back on the 27th of July and came up second-best. I'm going to go back to him tonight in the hopes he has a little smoother journey on or near the front. (5) THE MOONSHADOW N defeated Globaldomination N in that race on 7-27 and went on to prevail again at Harrah's Philadelphia. He's certainly logical here and has Sears to drive again. (1) LYONS JOHNNYJNR recently joined the Bongiorno barn and has a win and a third at Harrah's Philadelphia for Jenn. Daniel Dube gets a chance to drive this live-looking horse with Joe Bongiorno not competing here tonight.