Yonkers: Analysis for Saturday 9/24

MEET STATS: 197 - 735 / $1,137.30 (-$332.70)
BEST BETS: 46 - 76 / $158.80 (+$6.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 9 - 75 / $77.30 (-$72.70)
BEST BET - GROOVY JOE (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - CHUCK THE CHEESE (5th)

Race 1 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(5) UPFRONT STONE shows a win over NW9000L5's at Pocono back in mid-July and is now with Gareth Dowse. He catches a pretty blank-looking group here, and I'll put him on top. (2) SEVENSHADESOGREY hasn't hit the board in a while, but fit this race by $100 given he's earned $7,400 in his last five starts, and owner/trainer Ricky Bucci may want to take advantage of this chance. (1) FASHION FOREVER owns just two wins over the last pair of seasons, but exits the $50,000 claimers for the first time since back in March.

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Race 2 - NW10000L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(1) GROOVY JOE was Jason Bartlett's choice of a few in here. He won two back at Harrah's Philadelphia in pretty handy fashion and gets post relief here off his last effort. (3) ONTO EL DORADO N comes in from Harrah's Philadelphia with a third and two victories since coming to the U.S. (2) EHRMANTRAUT was facing NW15000L5's when last at Yonkers back in August and makes his second start on Lasix.

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Race 3 - 15000CLM Pace

(7) TREASURE MACH is now with Dowse after a barn change, and I'll look for him to strike in his initial start for that outfit. (3) FARMER'S TAN slides inside on the gate this week and tallied over $15,000 claimers back on August 19. (1) OHIO VINTAGE defeated $20,000 claimers on 9-2, but then was scratched from a subsequent appearance. He drops a level and starts from the pole here, so I have to think he'll be a contender as long as everything is ship-shape physically.

Race 4 - NW10000L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(5) GREY makes her second start for trainer Travis Alexander tonight. She gets to drop a notch and drew a bit better here than she did back on September 16, so I'll give her a shot. (7) SECRET BRO was third against some tough and classy foes last time out at the Meadowlands and kept Bartlett over another one in this race. (1) CREATIVE VENTURE returns after one unsuccessful start down at Harrah's Philadelphia. He closed well to finish second at this level on 9-3 and landed the pole.

Race 5 - 3&4YO 40000CLM Pace

(1) CHUCK THE CHEESE closed in 27 and change in both of his starts at the Meadowlands and showed the ability to win on the lead or from the pocket out at The Meadows. I'll hope for that kind of trip here. (3) MUSTANG BEACH hasn't missed the board since coming into the Dowse barn last month but also hasn't found the winner's circle, so I'll use underneath. (6) SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL wasn't Bartlett's choice but held on to finish fourth against NW15000L5's in his most recent try and lands in a softer spot tonight.

Race 6 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(3) BARRY BLACK receives some additional class relief here and gained some spots in the final quarter last Saturday. He hasn't had a shot on the front-end in a while, and that's how he scored his last win back on July 23. (5) IN SECRET finished fifth in his first start for Dowse on September 12. That was against $50,000 claimers, so this should be an easier spot than that. (1) MY BOY CHRISTIAN found his form over in Pennsylvania, posting a win and then a third. He had post seven at Harrah's Philadelphia last time out, so he drew much better tonight.

Race 7 - 20000CLM Pace

(8) JOJO'S PLACE wound up finishing second in his first try for Dowse on September 9. I think he could offer some value he wouldn't otherwise have given he drew post eight, and I can't see him taking back to last. (2) MAJOR CROCKER A showed the ability to finish second against $40,000 claiming company here back in the spring and ships in from Tioga tonight. (4) LOVE THE BLUES N has made a couple of breaks in his lines over in Pennsylvania but has been sharp other than that.

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Race 8 - NW5061L5/12500CLM Trot

(4) MUFASA AS lands at the bottom level here after finishing third against NW7500L5's last Saturday. He gets reunited with George Napolitano Jr., who steered him to his last win on August 2. (1) SEVENTIER can absolutely win this race but he's made breaks in both of his attempts for Dowse thus far. He teamed with Bartlett for a successful qualifier last Friday, and Bartlett's in the bike tonight. (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE was second two back at this level and has a driver change.

Race 9 - 30000CLM Pace

(1) GINGER TREE PETE finished up with a strong 28 flat final quarter a couple weeks ago and gets to start from the pole here, which likely means he'll be put in play by driver Brent Holland. (6) SHINE A LIGHT gives the Bartlett/Dowse combo another strong chance on the card as he drops a level after finishing third against $40,000 claimers last time out. (4) REAL LUCKY N has won all of his recent starts other than when he's drawn outside.