Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 8/24

MEET STATS: 130 - 384 / $797.90 (+$29.90)
BEST BETS: 23 - 39 / $79.30 (+$4.10)
SPOT PLAYS: 8 - 39 / $55.00 (-$23.00)
BEST BET - ARCHANGEL THREE (5th)
SPOT PLAY - WINDSONG PIONEER (8th)

Race 1 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(6) KNOCKING AROUND gets some additional class relief here off a fourth-place finish against NW10000L5's most recently. I don't mind that he picked up Bartlett's services tonight and hopefully he can guide him to a winning journey. (4) WAIMAC ATTACK N draws a slightly better post in his second try at this NW5000L5 level. He did finish with some interest in that mile on 8-7. (1) ALTA LEROY N hasn't been able to win in 2020 but does come off a second-place finish in his last start and gets the pole position to work with.

Race 2 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(8) SUMATRA has a great history at Yonkers, and made it as high as the Open class in December of last year. I know it's post eight, but I think he can overcome it with his class against the bottom level. (3) EXPLOSIVE took all the wagering attention a couple weeks back but made an early break. You're likely to get a better price on him this time if you overlook that miscue. (5) CAVILL HANOVER raced well against better three back at Woodbine Mohwk Park but his subsequent efforts didn't show much. He ships down to Yonkers and into the Mark Harder barn, and we'll see if that gets him going the right way. He has competed here before since he's New York-sired.

Race 3 - NW5000L5 Pace

(2) JET ROCK raced conservatively from post eight most recently but slides inside to post two tonight. He won against NW5000L5's in December 2019 and then beat NW7500L5's in the winter of this year, so this is right in his ballpark. (5) DOCTOR BUTCH dominated a group of NW5000L5's in late February before the shutdown. This is his first chance at the level since racing resumed, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Buter take a more aggressive approach. (6) MACH TIME N is another one in here looking to get back to the form he had in January and February. Stafford had a horse that sort of looked like this one on Thursday, Norman's Madeline, and she took advantage of a drop to the bottom level to win.

Race 4 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(6) CROSSCUT owns a prior victory over NW4's at Yonkers, and that last line is a throwout where he got parked from post eight. (5) BUDDY HILL closed well in that race on August 10 and should be better with that appearance under his belt since it was his first since back in March. (2) DARBIE'S IDEAL topped NW2's at Yonkers in June and has been good against Excelsior A Series company since then, posting a win and a trio of third-place finishes.

Race 5 - NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Pace **$7,500 Guaranteed Pick-5 Pool**

(5) ARCHANGEL THREE slides down from the NW17500L5 level tonight. He was a solid third on the 14th and looks like the main danger in this event. (4) KILLER MARTINI seems overdue for a wake-up call, and it might come here as he gets further class relief. Three of his last four victories have come against NW10000L5's, though they did come in 2019. (1) GOLD RUSH finished third most recently, and I expect Brent Holland to be protecting position for an inside trip from the pole position.

Race 6 - NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Trot

(2) CASINO CUTIE IT won easily against NW10000L5's on 7-13 and has been too high in class since. She drops tonight and was Bartlett's choice over many in here, including an Andrew Harris trainee. (1) MONEY MAVEN drops again off a fourth-place finish against the likes of Obrigado most recently. He's a threat from the rail, as long as he minds his manners. (6) ANDY RAY has a pair of runner-up finishes the last couple times he's raced against NW10000L5's. He wasn't Bartlett's choice, but Brennan is a solid replacement.

Race 7 - NW8/100000LT Pace

(1) THE MOONSHADOW N defeated NW8's on July 27 and has won again since against NW14000L5's at Harrah's Philadelphia. He should be sitting on or near the lead from the pole position. (6) GLOBALDOMINATION N had every chance to beat my top pick in that race on 7-27 but came up second-best, and I see the same thing happening tonight. (3) LYONS JOHNNYJNR went into the Bongiorno barn recently and has a win and a third down at Harrah's Philadelphia. He's raced at Yonkers before, including in the Art Rooney and Messenger last year.

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

(3) WINDSONG PIONEER pulled a big upset against NW4's when he last raced at Yonkers on July 16. His efforts at Harrah's Philadelphia after that were pretty good, and I'll use in a wide-open looking event. (6) CHASIN' DREAMS made up ground through the mile after an early break on August 3. That miscue seems like it was a little out of character for him, and he did win easily against NW10000L5's on July 6. (2) CINNAMON STICK hikes up from the NW5000L5 class off an impressive, rallying win. His one try at this level wasn't as good, but it was from post seven and was his first start since back in January, so I think you can overlook it.

Race 9 - NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Pace

(3) MCCLINCHIE N finished second in a NW17500L5 back on the 14th and slides down a notch tonight. He was not Bartlett's choice, but that might mean a little better price since Shaun Vallee takes the lines. (1) MOONSHINE KISSES was closing his miles at Yonkers quite well in June and July and then had a third and a win up at Saratoga. This looks like a good spot for him to contend, and he gets Brennan to drive. (4) MASTERSON is 0-for-10 on the year but was Bartlett's pick of a few in here, so you have to respect that.