Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 8/3

MEET STATS: 114 - 327 / $675.60 (+$21.60)
BEST BETS: 19 - 33 / $56.80 (-$9.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 7 - 33 / $45.00 (-$21.00)
BEST BET - MCWICKED ONE (1st)
SPOT PLAY - DESIREE HANOVER (5th)

Race 1 - NW2/25000LT Pace

(4) MCWICKED ONE is the first offspring of former Horse of the Year McWicked to make the races. He won his debut over NW1's at Pocono with a flashy last quarter, and I'll use while not expecting any price. (5) WESTERN VACATION came in third against NW3's most recently at Pocono, and the winner of that race, Genius Man, was victorious in a New York Sire Stakes split at Yonkers on the 28th of July. (7) SUMTHINBOUTIM was a good second in his Yonkers debut on July 20. I think my top two picks are a little tougher than the ones he faced that night, but you have to respect the Brennan/DiDomenico tandem.

Race 2 - NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Trot

(7) IN MY DREAMS wasn't Stratton's choice, as expected, but he drops back to the level of his win on July 6, and I expect Buter to put him in play in the early stages. (5) PILGRIMS TIDE drops after being in the same event as my top pick on July 24. I'm just tossing that race both my exacta selections given Stormy Kromer's amazing performance, and this guy looks very logical given the third locally and the second at Pocono. (2) P L JERICO looks like to me that he's a notch too high on the class scale to be a win threat but did take a third against NW10000L5's on the 22nd of June and has Bartlett from an inside post.

Race 3 - Excelsior A Series 3YO Filly Pace

(5) TURNTHEFROWNAROUND made a miscue when she raced at Yonkers on July 2, but meets up with a very beatable group here off that nice rallying effort at Vernon most recently if she minds her manners. (2) TIPPERARY HILL was fourth to my top selection's second in that common race on 7-23 at Vernon. She did make the early lead in that event, so maybe Buter will look to send again. (4) CLEMMIE HANOVER has been bouncing between the fair circuit and the Excelsior A Series. She was third in her division at Vernon and didn't race poorly against NW2's at Yonkers on the 29th of June.

Race 4 - Excelsior A Series 3YO Filly Pace

(6) CHEEK PLEASE recovered well to finish a rallying third in the Excelsior A Series leg at Yonkers on 7-2 and has won two straight since. Buter rarely takes off an Okusko horse but did here to drive this filly. (7) LEAVE'EMINSTITCHES has come in second in all three rounds of the Excelsior A Series thus far, and I guess I'll look for her to complete the grand slam tonight. She has been racing very well and was able to make front from post eight last time at Vernon. (4) LADYBOSS took a tough beat at Yonkers on July 2nd, coming up a head short, and hasn't been able to hit the board since. I still respect that effort three back and maybe a new set of hands in Matt Kakaley will get her going in the right directions.

Race 5 - Excelsior A Series 3YO Filly Pace - **$7,500 Guaranteed Pick-5 Pool**

(5) DESIREE HANOVER joins one of the hottest barns in harness racing right now, shipping down from Grand River Raceway in Canada to Travis Alexander. I like that she comes off a win up north and the second-place finisher in that race came back to win as well. I guess we'll find out how she stacks up against these types, but maybe I can get some value. (3) JOE'S SIGN was heavily favored at Yonkers on July 2 but broke before the start and was never a factor. She was pretty good in subsequent efforts, and Linda Toscano has been winning her share with Scott Zeron. (2) COCONUT BEACH hasn't been in the winner's circle so far in 2020 but has missed the board only once in her five attempts and draws inside after having post seven in her last pair.

Race 6 - Excelsior A Series 3YO Filly Pace

(1) ACROBATTA displayed quite a bit of improvement in her second start back in the Harris stable, finishing a good second in a quick NW2 contest over the oval. She picks up Bartlett tonight and has the pole. (4) HIDDEN COVE had a solid campaign as a 2-year-old and picked up a check in the sire stakes final and was fourth against NYSS company at Yonkers on the 2nd of July. She drops to the Excelsior A Series here but comes off a sick scratch, so I'll put underneath. (5) WANNASHAKEYOURTREE closed with a swift last quarter at Vernon in her last effort and gets a new driver with Jordan Stratton in the bike. She was also fourth in her sire stakes division the last time the sophomore pacing fillies competed here.

Race 7 - New York Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Pace

(2) RACINE BELL scored the victory in her sire stakes split at Vernon most recently and draws into what appears to be the softer of the two flights tonight. I can't see her ending up positioned any worse than the pocket from this inside slot, and hopefully she can double up. (5) ALLEYESONME AS finally gets away from Hen Party tonight after finishing second twice and third once to the current scourge of the NYSS fillies. Maybe she can take advantage of that. (6) MERGA HANOVER appeared to be rounding into form after winning in the sire stakes at Tioga but then was a sick scratch at Vernon. She offered good value in her Tioga triumph and might retain some of it here with the gap in her schedule.

Race 8 - New York Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Pace

(5) HEN PARTY will be looking for her fourth straight sire stakes win tonight. Driver Andrew McCarthy will have to play it smart given the speed to the inside, but I trust him to make the right moves and for this filly to deliver again. (1) SO RUDE tried some different off-the-pace tactics at Vernon and they didn't work out. I expect Bongiorno to be quite aggressive from the pole and look to protect the inside position from outside leavers. (4) EYE POPPING was a sire stakes winner on 7-2 at Yonkers and is the one horse Tim Tetrick is coming in to drive tonight, which might be a key vote of confidence in her.

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

(1) ZOOMING performed well again on July 20, finishing third behind the classy Buen Camino. This veteran has come back strongly since racing resumed, and I'll put him on top from the inside draw. (5) ANDY RAY raced against better in that mile on 7-18 at Pocono, so I can excuse him fading in the lane. He was second to a razor-sharp Hashtagmadeyalook at Yonkers on June 29, which I think makes him logical tonight. (8) P L KETCHUP beat NW8's locally back in the winter and drops in class from those recent Pocono appearances. That victory at Harrah's Philadelphia in early July over NW14000L5's sticks out, but I will go against from post eight.