Yonkers: Analysis for Saturday 8/16

MEET STATS: 136 - 621 / $1,008.00 (-$234.00)
BEST BETS: 32 - 62 / $139.40 (+$15.40)
SPOT PLAYS: 6 - 62 / $56.50 (-$60.20)
BEST BET - C-BET HANOVER (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - I'M SOME GRADUATE (4th)

Race 1 - 20000CLM Pace

(6) BILL HALEY N drops out of the $30,000 claimers here and shows a win in that class as recently as June 12. (2) HOOSIER CELEBRITY is on an extended run of sharp form and new trainer Cory Stratton has been sending out a lot of live horses overall as of late. (1) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N gained ground in a second-place finish when last seen on 7-26. He slides in on the gate to the pole position and is a first-timer for this stable off the claim.

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Race 2 - 25000CLM Pace

(2) C-BET HANOVER comes in with four on-the-board results in his last five starts and joins a high-percentage stable off a claim. (5) SPINDOCTOR HANOVER steps up from age-restricted $20,000 claiming company but gained in a second-place effort a couple of weeks ago and is now with leading trainer Per Engblom after being claimed. (3) HOPNROLL HEAVEN stepped up to this class last Saturday and was a solid second behind a well-meant foe. He gets to move in a couple of notches on the gate here.

Race 3 - 15000CLM Pace

(2) AS ALWAYS gets significant post relief tonight for Engblom and switches drivers to Colin Kelly. (3) MR JOE COOL won handily in his debut for this stable in an amateur event down at Harrah's Philadelphia. He comes north tonight and picks up a catch driver in Dan Dube. (1) MEDOLAND BOSA posted a hard-fought victory last Saturday in his second try for these connections and moves in from post four to the pole position.

Race 4 - 15000CLM Pace

(7) I'M SOME GRADUATE drew poorly but closed well in a second-place finish last Saturday and meets up with a wide-open group tonight. (2) DELIGHTFUL TERROR was fourth in a $20,000 claimer when last seen locally two weeks ago and backed that up with a third last time out at Tioga. He had post seven in that contest, so he landed a much-improved draw here. (3) FULL SUPPORT doesn't have a victory in 2025 but has hit the board in two straight tries and starts from another inside post.

Race 5 - Winners of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Trot

(2) SHOW ME tired in two starts with Lasix, so I think it might be a good thing that he's not racing on it here, especially since he won in this class back on 7-5 without the medication. (4) MARIN COUNTY had an impossible trip from post eight last week but was racing well prior to that and moves in on the gate to the four-hole here. (1) EVANS PER FECT WAR woke up with an upset victory at this level a week ago and starts from the pole position for Engblom.

Race 6 - Winners of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Pace

(6) SHEER ARTISTRY N qualified well last Friday for her U.S. debut here and got the nod from George Brennan as well. (2) BETTOR'S TICKET makes her second start back off a qualifier from a much-improved post and also gets to team up with Kelly in the bike. She shows a third at this level back on the 28th of June. (4) AU JUS HANOVER exits stakes company and was fourth in her last overnight race against tougher Winners of 4 but not more than 8 PM Races at Harrah's Philadelphia on 7-18.

Race 7 - NW5000L5 / 12500CLM Pace

I'm going to take a flyer on (4) GINGRAS BEACH, who lacks great form but moves in a few notches on the gate this time and sometimes wakes up in spots like this against blank fields. (3) GAMBLINGTERROR drops out of the NW7500L5 level off a third-place finish and is probably the one to beat. (1) RENAISSANCE DEO also finds the NW5000L5 class here and moves in from post five to the pole position. He shows a third against NW10000L5's as recently as mid-June.

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Race 8 - 3-6YO 20000CLM Pace

(6) I FEAR NOTHING invades from Harrah's Philadelphia off a solid second-place finish in a $20,000 claiming handicap event. He faces age-restricted company in this tilt and adds Kelly in the bike. (5) MY PLAYMATE GB finished second in this class last Saturday and makes his second start on Lasix. He was Dube's pick over my top selection as well. (4) I B LOVIN scored at this level when last seen a couple of weeks ago and also posted a runner-up result on the 16th of July.

Race 9 - F&M 20000CLM Pace

(2) NORTHERN HALO starts from an inside post and I think has been facing tougher $20,000 claimers than she does tonight. (4) IRIS SEELSTER gained in the final quarter of her last event on 8-7 and moves in from the seven-hole to post four this time. (5) STONECOLD GIRL was a winner at this level in her last appearance. Given she also scored on the 18th of July down at Harrah's Philadelphia, I think she's one of the main contenders in here.