Yonkers: Analysis for Monday 9/2
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2024 MEET STATS: 300 - 975 / $1,621.70 (-$328.30)
BEST BETS: 43 - 84 / $152.60 (-$15.40)
BEST BET: AMERICAN DEALER N (8th)
SPOT PLAY: PURPLE POET (11th)
Race 1: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(4) BECHERS BROOK A has been bouncing around from barn to barn recently but the oft-claimed pacer now goes back to DiDomenico for the third time and has won twice for these connections over the past month; Brennan is back driving. (6) WICHITA LINEMAN was a well-rated winner first out for Bongiorno and faces similar here; problem here is the post disadvantage but that makes this capable veteran a price option. (1) GENTLE GIANT is another in here going to a new address as he's now in the Daguet barn and picks up leading driver Bartlett from the rail. Problem is he's been heavily favored in his last five and will likely be the chalk again.
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Race 2: $50,000 Claiming Pace
(1) JUST ENUFF STUFF was held at bay last week by the well-rated winner and had to settle for the runner-up spot for the second start in a row; tonight he lands the rail and can turn the tables with an alert getaway. (3) JUSTASEC N has been very sharp in two starts since returning from Pocono and there's no reason to think he won't be right there again. (4) BIG DREAM FELLA got the best of #1 last out but goes from the rail to the four hole. May not win but will be in the picture, like he is every week.
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Race 3: $30,000 Claiming Pace
(2) SAN DOMINO A woke up in a big way with the drop from $40's to $30's as he drew off to an easy score; classy veteran can repeat for Bartlett/Tritton. (3) KOOTENAY SANTANNA was also an easy winner last out when he had major post relief and while he draws well again the task may be a bit tougher to catch the top choice. (1) KB MAC currently seems a notch below the top ones in here but he'll be close up from the rail and catch-driver Steve Smith has done well with these Garcia-Herrera trainees.
Race 4: $40,000 Claiming Pace
(2) FINAL CHEESERECIPE could not dent the margin last start when the winner went in 1:51 4/5 but he was a winner the start prior and overall has been a consistent sort the last few months. He's been off a couple of weeks which may be a concern but should offer a bit of value as the third or fourth choice. (5) OZONE BLUE CHIP is as a post disadvantage but talent-wise he stacks up perfectly with these and just needs a smooth trip. (1) UCANTTOUCHTHIS is an interesting barn change here as he goes to Lachance off the claim and stays at the same level.
Race 5: NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) OHOKA LE BRON N successfully transitioned from the NW lifetime condition to this class with his 1:51 2/5 heater. That was from the rail and he does move to the middle of the pack tonight but he's shown ability from off the pace as well. (2) NIGHT HAWK was right there in the top one's win and the Burke trainee should be looking at another live trip. (8) OPTICAL ILLUSION N comes from claimers to this condition in his first start for the Alexander barn and though he only has three wins on the season he hits the board with consistency; potential big price looming here but maybe Kakaley takes a swing from the gate.
Race 6: 3-5YO $30,000 Claiming Pace
(1) BAD BOY TOO has been first or second all but once in his last nine starts and he's back with the Laterza barn off last week's reclaim. Bongiorno gets the catch drive and he's a strong candidate to go wire to wire. (6) J B GRAM came up just short last start after wiring the field in his prior race; Engblom trainee gets Bartlett back in the bike and he has the early speed to overcome the poor draw and settle close up. (5) SOUTH POINT debuts for DiDomenico off the claim, picks up Brennan and earns a look.
Race 7: NW20681 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) LAYTON HANOVER returns from a stint in Delaware and the gelding has had plenty of local success in the past with 9 wins in 27 starts over the last three seasons, many of them with Kakaley driving. Top call here with the class relief. (1) BIG GULP moves back inside and will undoubtedly be on the lead or in the pocket from this spot. (3) THE REAL ONE is still bringing it at age 14 and he can pick up a nice piece with a ground-saving trip.
Race 8: NW30000 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) AMERICAN DEALER N dropped and popped last week at five cents on the dollar. Toscano trainee won't be quite that short tonight in his quest to repeat. (2) SEMI TOUGH has a series of near-misses recently and the classy veteran should be right there again with the post relief. (5) ROCKIN JUKEBOX has been rock-solid recently for Joe Bongiorno with three wins and a couple of narrow defeats in his last five. Bump in class and drawing outside the main contenders may derail his win chances but he's still capable of landing a piece.
Race 9: 3-5YO Open Pace
(7) VENTURESOME ARDEN N has been a model of consistency all season and the most successful of these with nine wins and almost $240K banked. Bartlett is listed tonight and while the outside draw may make things tricky the import still deserves the call. (5) MAMBA finished with pace last week but getting away last from the five hole is not the recipe for success. 4YO gets another chance from the same post with Stratton driving again and hopefully he'll be kept a little closer to the frontrunners. (1) VERDUN has raced pretty well in all starts since the claim and move to the Lachance barn. Ground-saving opportunity from this spot tonight could land him in the exotics.
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Race 10: NW10181 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) REIGNING DEO gets some much-needed class relief tonight and the Alexander trainee should take advantage of the situation. (2) EUPHORIA N steps back up a notch off a gritty front-end score and Bartlett drives again. (1) SAMHARA N drops back to the level where he finished second twice last month and he figures to show some improvement.
Race 11: NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace
(1) PURPLE POET made no offering last week from the outside facing better but it was likely a needed start after missing some time with a sick scratch. Tonight he drops in class again, moves in to the rail and figures to be primed for a sharper effort. (7) GREAT SOMEWHERE gets a driver change to Bartlett and did just miss two back, though that was from the rail. Worth using if he projects to be a good price. (4) THE IDEAL DANCER A lands a midpack post again which gives driver Dube options. He can go on or off the pace.