Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 10/20

MEET STATS: 225 - 830 / $1,314.10 (-$345.90)

BEST BETS: 52 - 86 / $187.90 (+$15.90)

SPOT PLAYS: 10 - 85 / $81.50 (-$88.50)

BEST BET-ALTA MADEIRA N (3rd)

SPOT PLAY-ARCHERY SEELSTER (2nd)

Race 1 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(6) MAGICAL MAJOR finally drew something other than the eight-hole tonight and showed some promise back in August for trainer Travis Alexander. I'll give him a chance in what looks to be a pretty wide-open first race. (2) KNIGHTS GUARD went a long way on the lead down at Harrah's Philadelphia in his debut for trainer Katie Gangell, and perhaps will be able to use that same strategy tonight on the smaller oval. (8) HL MAMMOTH is now with trainer Ron Burke after winning the New Jersey Sire Stakes final down at Freehold. I'd expect him to take plenty of pari-mutuel action even from post eight.

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Race 2 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(3) ARCHERY SEELSTER comes south from Canada after finishing second in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series final. He's now with Jeff Cullipher, gets Jason Bartlett, and has that line in the Simcoe on 9-3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park where he was a solid fourth to three of the best 3YO male trotters north of the border. (7) PRIMADONNA DEO won the NJ Sire Stakes final and the Garden State down at Freehold most recently and seems to have found a good niche on half-mile tracks. (4) CHAPHEART was fourth in the New York Sire Stakes final two back and has a barn change to Burke tonight.

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Race 3 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(2) ALTA MADEIRA N had some good luck to draw into this race when one scratched out. She drops out of a NW10000L5 base class race where she had post eight but closed well and was second at this level prior to that after cutting the fractions. (6) GAME OF SHADOWS was a close third after doing the first-over work in the same race my top pick exits and receives the same class relief. (1) CHECKERED PAST closed in 28 and change last Thursday in a NW7500L5 race and can maybe follow along and hit the ticket. She has a driver switch to Jordan Stratton.

Race 4 - F&M NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Pace

(4) DRAGON ROLL won twice in this class the last time she was in it, which was back in July, and gets to slide down from the Open. She was also Tyler Buter's choice. (7) MORNING HAS BROKEN has missed the board just once in her last seven appearances and was a solid second at this level a week ago. (5) ANNABELLE HANOVER couldn't get involved from post eight last Thursday but gets to move inside on the gate here. She's also reunited with Jim Marohn Jr., who steered her to a runner-up result against NW30000L5's on September 22.

Race 5 - F&M NW10041L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(5) TEMPUS SEELSTER slides down from the NW15000L5 level and gets some post relief to go with it. She also gets a chance to partner with Stratton in the bike. (4) ITZPAPALOTL is moving up from the NW7500L5 class after finishing third a week ago. I do respect that she was Bartlett's pick and will include. (1) GINGER TREE LIZ was fifth in the same race my top pick comes out of last Thursday. Trainer Chris Temming sent out a winner on Monday.

Race 6 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(3) LOOKS LIKE MONI gets to race on Lasix here, which he couldn't do in Kentucky or in the Hambletonian. The one time he was able to compete on the medication in New Jersey on 9-9, he finished a solid third in the New Jersey Classic B level final. (1) FAVORITE AUNT had a stout season in Ohio that included a third in the sire stakes final. She's another newcomer to the Burke barn on the program. (2) BACKSTREET PLAYER looks like the logical choice if you want to try and beat the two favorites given his run of strong performances.

Race 7 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/NW10 PM Races LT Pace

(1) GOLDEN QUEST N never got involved from post seven a week ago but drew the pole position tonight and drops in class. (5) ROBYN CAMDEN has had plenty of success at Yonkers in the past and debuts for the track's leading trainer Gareth Dowse here. (3) JIVE DANCING A saw her recent streak of on-the-board finishes end last Thursday but did finish her mile in 28 seconds flat. I'll include.

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Race 8 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/NW9 PM Races LT Pace

(6) VIOLETS RAINBOW couldn't seal the deal last week, but that might lead to a better price tonight as she gets additional class relief. (3) MAGICAL MISTRESS gets to double-drop out of the NW30000L5's and definitely merits consideration since she was third at that level last Thursday. (1) BETTORS HEART N kept Bartlett's services and was a gaining thid at this level a week ago.

Race 9 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(7) IDEATION HANOVER gained spots and ground in the final quarter last Thursday against NW7500L5's and drops to the bottom level here as Stratton's choice. (4) BALFAST N woke up with a much-improved effort a week ago and moves down another notch on the class ladder. (2) ELLEOFADELI hasn't won this year but makes her third start for trainer Per Engblom and has post relief to go with it.