Yonkers: Analysis for Saturday 7/19

MEET STATS: 117 - 535 / $867.80 (-$202.20)
BEST BETS: 29 - 54 / $122.50 (+$16.60)
SPOT PLAYS: 5 - 54 / $56.50 (-$49.50)
BEST BET - JAMAIS VU (7th)
SPOT PLAY - SAWYER'S DESIRE (8th)

Race 1 - 15000CLM Pace

(7) RECORD YEAR drew poorly but was racing well in this class prior to one unsuccessful try against $20,000 claimers. I think he'll be put in play and I'll slot him on top. (1) TIN ROOF RAIDER A won at this level back on 6-7 and was a closing second last Saturday. He also kept Colin Kelly over two others. (2) KILOWATT KID N slides in from post six to the two-hole and gets reunited with George Brennan. He's another horse who shows prior success against $15,000 claiming company last month.

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Race 2 - F&M Winners of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Pace

(1) ALWAYS B PRAYING is a first-timer for a stable that often does well with them and had bad posts in her last two attempts down at Harrah's Philadelphia and Harrington. She drew the pole tonight and picks up Kelly in the bike against a wide-open group. (4) KNOCK TWICE makes her second start on Lasix and gets post relief after having two seven-holes and one six-hole in her last three appearances. (3) BETTOR'S TICKET was a closing second when last seen at Yonkers on 6-28, and she owns a win at this level on 6-7.

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Race 3 - F&M 20000CLM Pace

(2) EBONY LADY hasn't been able to get involved from post seven in back-to-back tries but drew the two-hole tonight and was third the last time she had an inside slot back on 6-26. (5) PINE BUSH MAGA has hit the board in three straight tries and won at this level on July 3. She was re-claimed last Saturday by trainer Ricky Bucci, who had her when she was victorious, and she gets reunited with Brent Holland. (4) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT is on a lengthy run of finishes in the top three and has been popular at the claim box as well as she's with new connections again. Brennan stuck with my top pick, which puts Kelly aboard this one.

Race 4 - Winners of 5 but not more than 7 PM Races or 90000LT Trot

(5) GO HAVE FUN debuts for trainer Cory Stratton here in good form from The Meadows and off a solid qualifier at Pocono. She picks up Brennan here and got the nod from him over another one. (1) BEAT BOBBY BAYOU had a lot of success at Yonkers in May and June and closed well from post seven last Saturday. Tonight, he moves all the way inside to the pole position. (2) PREMIER VICTOR ran into a well-meant rival a week ago and saw his win streak end. However, it was still a solid performance, and he slides in a couple of notches on the gate.

Race 5 - F&M Winners of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Pace

(2) JORDANNA HANOVER wound up fifth from first-over last Saturday but slides in on the gate from post six to the two-hole tonight and retained Holland's services in the bike. I also think she might be facing a bit softer group this time. (4) PUSSYCAT DOLL GB was racing well prior to an eight-hole try a couple of weeks ago where she never got involved. I expect her to be back in the hunt tonight from post four. (5) CHARLOTTE STATION ships south from Canada with three straight on-the-board results at Grand River and Georgian. She also shows a pair of victories at Woodbine Mohawk Park back in May.

Race 6 - 3-6YO 20000CLM Pace

(1) ARMED BANDIT took a bunch of wagering attention last week but came up empty in the race. He makes his second start out of this stable tonight from the pole and gets to team up with a catch driver, so I'll hope improvement is ahead and give him a shot against a blank field. (6) TWIGGS PUB is just one-for-24 in the win column this year but has hit the board in three of his last four tries, including a gaining second against open $20,000 claimers most recently. (8) CONTACT ZONE drew post eight but is definitely the sharpest horse in here and I expect Brennan will have him in play.

Race 7 - Winners of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT / NW2 PM Races LT Draw Inside Trot

(4) JAMAIS VU drops out of stakes company over at the Meadowlands and won two straight overnight races prior to that one appearance against the likes of top Hambletonian contender Go Dog Go. (5) FLIGHTLINE shows a pair of breaks since he came to Yonkers but he did win handily when he stayed flat on June 28. (8) JAKEY JUMPUP pulled off a massive upset from the eight-hole last Saturday, so he's familiar with starting from out here. I doubt he'll be 71-1 again, but don't be surprised if Holland hustles him out of there again.

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Race 8 - 20000CLM Pace

(2) SAWYER'S DESIRE tallied handily at Tioga on 6-22 and has closed ground from posts eight and seven at Yonkers since then. He drew inside tonight and appears usable given that form. (4) BETTOR MEMORIES rallied to win at this level last Saturday and moves in on the gate from the seven-hole to post four this time. (1) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N didn't have a smooth journey a couple of weeks ago and predictably tired. He was very sharp prior to that, though, and debuts for new connections after being claimed again.

Race 9 - 15000CLM Pace

(2) VIVA LAS VEGAS N doesn't have a great win record over the last two years, but when he's been victorious it's been at Yonkers, and he comes in off an effort where he gained positions to finish third last Saturday. He also gets some post relief, moving in from the six-hole to the two-hole. (1) ON THE VIRG starts from post one but wasn't able to make up any ground a week ago. I'll try to beat him as he's the morning-line favorite and I could see him taking wagering support. (6) REAL PEACE appears to be the sharpest horse in here and comes in off a win, but that was his first tally in a while and he moves back out on the gate.