Yonkers: Analysis for Saturday 5/7

MEET STATS: 73 - 316 / $382.60 (-$249.40)
BEST BETS: 22 - 32 / $73.80 (+$9.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 31 / $14.70 (-$47.30)
BEST BET - KEYSTONE PHOENIX (1st)
SPOT PLAY - JUST PLAIN LOCO (3rd)

Race 1 - Pop-Up Leg #2 5,000 Pace

(8) KEYSTONE PHOENIX turned things around in a big way in his first start for Gareth Dowse a week ago. I'll hope he offers a little bit better price than he would ordinarily since he has the eight-hole. (1) UNCLE JORD A was another winner in the first round of this event last Saturday and has the pole position tonight. (5) REMEMBER THE BEACH finished up his mile pretty well to get a fourth-place result in the race won by Uncle Jord A. I'll include.

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Race 2 - NW12890L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(4) ANOTHRMASTRPIECE N is making his U.S. debut here. He won a local qualifier on April 29 and was a Group 1 winner back in his native country a few years ago. He races at a reasonable level, and I'll give him a shot. (3) MAXIMUS RED A drops out of the NW20000L5's and was a rallying second the last time he raced in this base class on 4-5. (1) GINGER TREE PETE makes his third start out of the high-percentage Jared Bako barn and has the pole after having posts six and seven to close out the month of April.

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Race 3 - Pop-Up Leg #2 7,500 Pace

(2) JUST PLAIN LOCO missed out on the first leg of this series when he came up sick last week. Trainer Dan Morrissey has sent out six winners from just 25 starters so far this year at Yonkers, and this horse was a game third after doing the first-over work on April 26. I'll bank on him being ready despite the scratch and put on top. (5) BETTORBUCKLEUP won pretty handily in the first round in his initial try for Paul Stafford and drew a similar post. (4) IM A POWERPLAY A made a huge first-over move from last to get into contention last Saturday and held on to finish fourth. Have to think a smoother trip is coming tonight with an improved draw.

Race 4 - 30000CLM Pace

(3) KEYSTONE DASH starts from an inside post for the first time since back in late February and scored a win and a second in his last two tries against NW5000L5 base class rivals. Throw in the Jason Bartlett/Gareth Dowse driver/trainer combo, and I'll go with him. (1) OUR CORELLI N double-drops out of the $50,000 claimers. Given he was second at that level two back, he should be a factor. (7) MAJESTIC KIWI N drew outside tonight, but he did make up some ground in the last quarter on April 21. He should offer some value underneath if he can hit the board.

Race 5 - Pop-Up Leg #2 7,500 Pace

(2) HEAVENLY SOUND paced a strong 27 and change last quarter a week ago in an improved effort and is worth a shot at what should be a decent price. (3) GAMBLINGTERROR went down the road to win in leg one of this event at 7-1. I'd anticipate being on or near the front again. (1) MARK WITHA K backed up his win against bottom level foes on April 22 with a victory in the first round of this series last Saturday. He starts from the pole to help his cause here.

Race 6 - 40000CLM Pace

(1) VENIER HANOVER found the $50,000 claimers too difficult, but he was also hampered by outside posts. Tonight he landed the pole and slides down to the $40,000 claiming level. (2) DARK ENERGY N went up to Plainridge to get a confidence-boosting victory on April 25 and now returns to Yonkers where he had been racing against $50,000 claiming company. (3) AMERICAN BOY N kept Matt Kakaley's services over my top pick and gets some class relief after competing against NW20000L5's and $50,000 claimers lately.

Race 7 - Pop-Up Leg #2 5,000 Pace

(6) THE DOWNTOWN BUS makes his second start back after a layoff here. He finished with pace from post eight at Plainridge on 4-25 and was facing way tougher company at Yonkers back in the winter. (1) MACHEASY A won in the first round of this series after a pocket trip and is certainly a danger again tonight from post one. (4) CAPTIVATE HANOVER rallied to finish second in an improved effort last time out, and Jim Marohn Jr. seems to be getting along well with the Lance Hudson horses he's been driving lately.

Race 8 - NW10000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(1) IM THE MUSCLE hikes up from the NW7500L5 base class but is doing so off an easy win on April 27 and catches a group here where many lack form. (4) SUMATRA makes his second start of 2022 tonight and gets post relief to go with it. At his best he's often a threat at this level. (5) KASHA V continues to work his way down the ladder and is the morning line favorite, but given his winless record so far this year, I will take a shot against.

Race 9 - Pop-Up Leg #2 7,500 Pace

(5) GUMPTION was racing NW20000L5's when last at Yonkers in March and April and continued to race in higher classes at Harrah's Philadelphia after that. He missed leg one of this event, so a good performance would help him make the final in a couple of weeks. (4) TRACEUR HANOVER is two-for-two since joining the Ron Burke barn and was a opening round winner in this series. (2) PACE N PRIDE N has finished third and second in his first two tries in the U.S. With Jordan Stratton over at the Meadowlands tonight, Austin Siegelman gets a shot with him.

Race 10 - NW10350L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(3) PICARD A went off form for a while but he's turned it back around with wins in his last two tries. (2) AIR FORCE HANOVER competed in the Open as recently as April 4, so this is a really soft spot for him. I'm going to take a stand against since he'll probably be 1-5 or so. (6) AINTNOBETTOR A has hit the board in two of his last three chances in this class and hails from the Bako barn.

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Race 11 - Pop-Up Leg #2 5,000 Pace

(7) BLUEBIRD RECON invades from Ohio and joins the Dowse barn. That usually results in improvement, and it looks like this horse was facing way better than these in the Buckeye State anyway. (1) HE'S GONNA GETYA gives this event a try after facing NW4 company lately. He kicked home in 27 and change in his last start, and I like that he gets a driver switch to Kakaley. (2) TYMAL PEACEMAKER picked up his third straight on-the-board finish in leg one of this event a week ago and drew an inside post.

Race 12 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(6) HOBBS came to life with a romping win the last time he was at the bottom level and has a driver switch from trainer Ray Schnittker to Tyler Buter. (2) TIMESTORM turned in an improved effort when he got to face NW5000L5's on 4-27. He gives this class another shot here and was Dan Dube's choice. (1) DC ANNA is probably either going to win or break. I have to go against given her recent struggles to stay trotting.