Yonkers: Analysis for Saturday 9/23

MEET STATS: 184 - 686 / $1,198.60 (-$173.40)
BEST BETS: 27 - 65 / $104.90 (-$25.10)
SPOT PLAYS: 13 - 66 / $161.30 (+$29.30)
BEST BET - PARADISE ROCK L (1st)
SPOT PLAY - NORMAN'S MADELINE (11th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(6) PARADISE ROCK L went a long way on the lead before winding up third last Saturday. She makes her second start for trainer Per Engblom tonight and gets out of the eight-hole. (8) VILLAGE JADE is stuck outside but drops to the bottom level and gets reunited with George Brennan. (4) SPITTING IMAGE takes a third crack at NW5000L5 company tonight and would probably appreciate a smoother trip as she's been first-over in back-to-back attempts.

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Race 2 - NW7541L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Trot

(4) TAD KRAZY HANOVER won in the corresponding class to this one on 8-4 down at Harrah's Philadelphia. She drops out of the NW10000L5's, moves in a couple slots on the gate and gets a driver switch to Jason Bartlett. (6) WILLY WALTON was a solid second to a heavy favorite in a NW10000L5 test a week ago and slides down a notch on the ladder here. (1) BARRY BLACK took runner-up honors at this level on the 26th of August and returns from Pocono where he faded after winding up first-over.

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Race 3 - NW10776L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW7500L5 Trot

(7) CANTSTOP YANKEE has disappointed as the favorite in his two starts since joining Engblom's barn, but I think this is a softer spot than the NW8's he's been facing, and I'll give him another chance. (6) KASHA V was able to get up for third from post eight a week ago. He's back on a regular racing schedule tonight and gets a bit of post relief. (5) TACHYON couldn't hold on after getting to the top from the eight-hole last Saturday. He does move up a couple of notches on the class ladder but looked like he was going to win a NW10000L5 test on 8-26 before he broke on the last turn.

Race 4 - F&M NW1/12500LT Pace

(4) CANNERY ROW picked up a victory last year at Yonkers as a rookie and has a barn switch to Jenn Bongiorno's tonight. (3) HERE WE GO BB finished third against NW1's in her local debut a week ago and gets a new driver with Bartlett taking the call. (5) SWEET CHEDDAR makes her second start back after a short layoff, and I wouldn't be surprised if she improved here as she races out of a high-percentage barn.

Race 5 - NW15000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/NW9 PM Races LT Trot

(2) B MEDITHREE tallied at this level on August 12 and gets the post/class relief combination tonight. (4) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS is razor-sharp and has been for several weeks. He's dropps out of a NW20000L5 event and defeated NW15000L5's on the 26th of August. (1) SOUTHWIND ARTURO was third in the same race that UNEVERGONNAGETHIS exits from 9-14 and has Bartlett in the bike and the pole once again.

Race 6 - F&M NW4/50000LT

(3) JUST ROSAS LUCK closed with pace to get second last Saturday and is back on a regular racing schedule here after being off since 8-26 coming into that event. (2) TRUE BLUE HANOVER is winless this year but has been facing stakes company almost all of 2023 and slides into overnight action tonight. (8) PRINCESS ARONA steps up from the NW2's and starts from the eight-hole but looked great in her debut for Engblom last Saturday. I'll toss her in underneath.

Race 7 - F&M NW10576L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(1) GOLDEN QUEST N hikes up from the NW7500L5 class but does so off a victory last Saturday and moves in on the gate from the five-hole to the pole position. (3) CHERYLS SHADOW slides down off a third-place result against NW15000L5's most recently and switches drivers to Jordan Stratton. She also gets some post relief. (5) CASH ROLL has hit the board in back-to-back tries against NW20000L5's and NW150000L5's. She drops again here and closed out her last mile in 27 and change, which I always like to see.

Race 8 - F&M NW7717L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(2) WESTERN ROSIE hasn't been able to get involved in her last two starts from post seven and the eight-hole at Pocono and Harrah's Philadelphia, respectively, but she drew well here and picks up Bartlett in a pretty wide-open looking event. She was also racing well prior to getting the bad post blues. (1) CLEAR THE WAY makes her second start back off the bench and was third at this level a week ago. Brent Holland gets the call with Bartlett going to my top pick. (4) LOVE THAT SMILE picked up some confidence with a rallying triumph over bottom level foes last Saturday and begins her ascent back up the ladder tonight.

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Race 9 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace

(5) LULU ROCKS returns from Pocono off an effort where she gained several spots in the last quarter from the eight-hole. She drew mid-pack tonight against a beatable field and has been competitive against NW4's at Yonkers in the past. (3) TARGARYEN EMPRESS has been sharp for quite a bit and was second to a heavy favorite in a NW4 tilt a week ago. (7) P L PORTIA closed from sixth to third last Saturday and races out of a barn that can have one ready to fire.

Race 10 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(3) FASHION FOREVER woke up with a second-place finish at the Meadowlands a couple weeks ago and gets to face bottom level foes here at Yonkers from a good draw. (4) MEMO was second in the corresponding class to this one most recently at Harrah's Philadelphia and was facing $50,000 claimers the last time he was competing locally. (6) STICK WITH ME KID tallied at this level last Saturday and gets to stay in it as he's in for the optional claiming tag.

Race 11 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(7) NORMAN'S MADELINE drew post seven for the third straight time, but this looks like a field she could be handled aggressively against, especially after taking back last week, and she should offer some value. (4) AMERICAN TICKET gets another chance at bottom level foes tonight and turned in an improved effort last Saturday to finish fourth. (3) SPROUT is making her third start back after a layoff and gets reunited with Jim Marohn Jr. I'm just going to toss out that last try at the Meadowlands as it appears she's much better on a half-mile oval.