Yonkers: Analysis for Saturday 6/8

MEET STATS: 116 - 387 / $686.40 (-$87.60)
BEST BETS: 23 - 38 / $87.00 (+$11.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 7 - 38 / $88.40 (+$12.40)
BEST BET - FINAL CHEESERECIPE (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - MAJOR MAKOVER (10th)

Race 1 - F&M NW1/16825LT Pace

(4) I'M ALL YOURS makes her second start out of Scott Di Domenico's barn, and I'm going to overlook her fourth-place down at Freehold on 5-24 as she had a gap of a month coming into that event. I think she could be sharper this time and doesn't face anybody imposing. (1) SHANGHAI STAR went down the road to pull an upset in a NW2 tilt a week ago and is certainly a threat again as she starts from the pole. (3) URSULA BLUE CHIP remains winless in her career but raced well in a second-place finish to SHANGHAI STAR and has been hitting the board with some regularity.

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Race 2 - 40000CLM Pace

(2) FINAL CHEESERECIPE gained a bunch of ground in the final quarter in his fourth-place finish on 5-25 and gets significant post relief here off that mile. (3) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK turned in an improved effort last week, posting a rallying second-place result. He shows two wins at this level back in April. (1) GINGER TREE PETE slides inside to the pole position this time and has hit the board in two of his last three outings in this class.

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Race 3 - F&M Winners of 2 but not more than 6 PM Races or 60000LT Pace

(2) OAKWOOD DYNASTY IR tired last week after getting parked but moves in from post seven to the two-hole and won in this class two back. (3) HURRIKANE LADY LOU finds what should be a softer spot here than the NW15000L5's she faced most recently at Yonkers and was third at this level on 4-24. (6) AMBUSHED just missed by a neck after setting the pace last Saturday and was Mark MacDonald's choice over HURRIKANE LADY LOU.

Race 4 - NW2/25000LT / NW1/12500LT Draw Inside Trot

(1) CHECKMATE HALL was second behind an older foe in her last race down at Freehold in just her third lifetime start. I think she has some room to improve given her limited appearances, and she starts from the pole against a wide-open group. (4) CUSTOM FIT has been facing way tougher foes than this since his win over NW1's down at Harrah's Philadelphia on 5-3 and is probably the one to beat. (3) JAKEY JUMPUP is just one-for-17 in the win column but has hit the board in three straight, including against NW2's and NW3's at Yonkers in May.

Race 5 - 40000CLM Pace

(5) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK continued his winning ways last week for the blistering-hot Travis Alexander barn, and I don't see any reason that should change here. (1) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES is very sharp as well and landed another inside post. He gets a driver switch to Austin Siegelman. (3) NOWHERE CREEK A saw his run of on-the-board results end last Saturday but did race well. Brent Holland takes over the driving and trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. has been having a solid season.

Race 6 - Winners of 2 but not more than 5 PM Races or 60000LT Trot

(7) BELLISSIMO FACE S qualified very well behind two Ake Svanstedt stakes horses at the Meadowlands on May 25, and I'll bank on him being ready in his U.S. debut for trainer Per Engblom. (2) FRENCHY HANOVER picked up a check in this class from post seven last Saturday and moves way inside on the gate here as she makes her second appearance out of Alexander's barn. (3) EL MISSION GODDESS has been racing well for several weeks and returns to Yonkers off a win against NW4's over at Pocono. She was second in two tries at this level at Yonkers back in April.

Race 7 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(7) JIMMY CONNOR B drew an outside post but has been facing much tougher company than this in recent weeks and was second the last time he was in this class back on April 19. (4) PANETTONE HANOVER won handily from first-over against bottom level rivals last Saturday and was George Brennan's choice over my top selection. (1) SAILBOAT HANOVER hasn't made much noise since a second against $50,000 claimers on April 29 but he continues to work his way down the ladder and starts from the pole tonight.

Race 8 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) BIG SIR returns from Pocono at the bottom level and adds Brennan. I'll hope for an aggressive approach against this beatable group and swing with him. (3) VIVA LAS VEGAS N has hit the board in two out of three against NW5000L5 foes and trainer Pat Lachance has been sending out his share of live horses lately. (4) LOORRIM LAKE A was facing optional $60,000 claimers when last seen at Yonkers but isn't always the most reliable horse given he makes miscues, and I'll try and beat him for the win.

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Race 9 - 20000CLM Pace

I think (6) DA GHETTO WIZARD owns a bit of hidden form given his solid final quarters recently both here and in Pennsylvania and meets up with a group I think he can threaten. He also moves in a couple notches on the gate after having the eight-hole last Saturday. (3) SMOKIN BY N scored at this level last Saturday and also shows two prior wins against $20,000 claimers. I think he'll be favored and the one they'll have to beat. (1) B COOL FOOL was facing $30,000 claimers when last seen locally and returns from Harrah's Philadelphia for leading trainer Engblom.

Race 10 - 15000CLM Pace

Nobody in this contest is in raging form, so I'm going to back (7) MAJOR MAKOVER since his trainer continues to send out many, many live horses on the East Coast, and hopefully this will be one as well. (3) LIBERTY N FREEDOM drops and moves inside on the gate in his third try for Alexander and did defeat $15,000 claimers back in mid-April. (2) RJ SPORTS IMAGE disappointed as the favorite in a $20,000 claimer last Saturday but slides down a notch in his fourth start back after a layoff tonight.