Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 10/5

MEET STATS: 193 - 727 / $1,264.20 (-$189.80)
BEST BETS: 30 - 69 / $118.30 (-$19.70)
SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 70 / $192.90 (+$52.90)
BEST BET - FAMILY RECIPE (8th)
SPOT PLAY - GINGER TREE PETE (6th)

Race 1 - NW10000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(2) SAMHARA N takes another shot at this level after finishing second to a romping winner last Tuesday. He's been offering some pretty good value and should again tonight, too. (3) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A drops a notch after ending up third in a NW15000L5 event on 9-26. (6) DESPERATE MAN won the Pepsi North America Cup final a couple of years ago as a 3-year-old. All of his victories in 2023 have been over the half-mile track at Grand River in Ontario, but he's been off since 9-9, and I'll take a swing against him in his Yonkers debut.

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Race 2 - F&M Open Trot

(5) QUEEN OF ALL scored a facile win in this class on 9-21 and then picked up a check in the Open Handicap Trot last Thursday. She returns to facing just mares tonight. (6) WHAT SHOULD I GOO owns a win at this level on 9-7 and was third to QUEEN OF ALL when they met in that contest on September 21. (2) ANDOVER CONTESSA comes in from Saratoga. She won in their Open on the 17th of September and then had no shot from post eight in a subsequent try. She drew much better tonight.

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Race 3 - 50000CLM Trot

(3) IN MY DREAMS makes his third start for these connections off the claim and did have some late trot a week ago after sitting in and taking a shuffle. (2) PIVOTAL enters with three straight runner-up results in this class, and that's where I'm going to slot him again. He does move inside on the gate this week. (6) DC ANNA isn't always reliable with her gait but she returns off a good, closing effort down at Harrah's Philadelphia and did win two straight at Yonkers in August.

Race 4 - NW24851L5/NW10 PM Races LT Trot

(3) B NICKING is back at Yonkers after one try down at Harrah's Philadelphia. He squeezed into this race by a dollar as he has $24,850 earned in his last five starts, so I would think the connections would like to take advantage of that. (6) SWEET SOUL DAVID has hit the board in five straight races and slides down from the NW30000L5's off a runner-up finish a week ago. (1) NEW HEAVEN also exits the NW30000L5 level after finishing fourth in the same event SWEET SOUL DAVID comes out of and starts from the pole to boot.

Race 5 - 50000CLM Trot

(5) VALI HANOVER didn't make much impact against NW30000L5's recently but finds a much more reasonable spot here and did finish out his mile in 28 and change last Thursday. (2) BELLA CAVALLA never got involved from post six last Thursday but makes her second start over the oval tonight from an inside draw. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK is on a lengthy run of on-the-board finishes, including a pair of victories in this class. I'll include.

Race 6 - NW6701L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) GINGER TREE PETE ended up with a horrible trip on 9-25 and wasn't a threat, but he went a long way on the lead before ending up third prior to that, and I'll hope he both offers a better price off the poor effort and returns to aggressive handling. (1) REIGNING DEO has just a single win in 17 outings this year but did gain spots and ground from the eight-hole on September 25. He moves all the way inside to the pole tonight. (5) TUGGIN ON MY HEART was third as the favorite in a NW7500L5 event last Thursday and makes his third start for Jenn Bongiorno.

Race 7 - Open Trot

(6) ALDEBARAN ZEUS A acquitted himself pretty well in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot, finishing fifth from a bad post. He makes his second start in the U.S. tonight against Open level company, and I think he can win. (3) STORMY KROMER was raced from off-the-pace last Thursday and had to settle for closing for fourth. He gets post relief here. (5) NOWS THE MOMENT won the Open Handicap a week ago and should be a major player again this time.

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Race 8 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(3) FAMILY RECIPE gets the post/class relief combo in this race, and I'm going to anticipate he'll be on or near the lead. (1) BETTORBUCKLEUP takes a second shot at this level after gaining ground and picking up spots in the final quarter last Thursday. He moves inside from the six-hole to the pole posiition. (5) ROLLING WITH SAM couldn't get involved from post eight on 9-26 but drew better tonight and slides down from the NW10000L5's.

Race 9 - 50000CLM Trot

(4) KOSHER MAHONEY won in this class on 9-14 and gets reunited with Jason Bartlett from an improved draw. (6) FOR A DREAMER rallied to score against $50,000 claimers last Thursday and has been sharp overall for a few weeks. (3) IM THE MUSCLE was victorious two back and then came in fourth a week ago after sitting in the three-hole. That might have him ready for a more aggressive approach tonight.