Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 11/2

MEET STATS: 215 - 801 / $1,430.70 (-$171.10)
BEST BETS: 34 - 77 / $143.20 (-$10.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 78 / $192.90 (+$36.90)
BEST BET - DRACO S (7th)
SPOT PLAY - LYONS LIBERTY (3rd)

Race 1 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(3) MAXIMUS RED A has struggled to find the winner's circle this year but drops out of the NW10000L5's and his last few final quarters are all encouraging. (4) DP REALORDEAL didn't fire last week but was second in this class two back. (2) LITERL LAD HANOVER shows a couple of fast wins down at Harrah's Philadelphia in his lines, and this isn't the toughest NW7500L5 event I've seen.

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Race 2 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace

(6) KB MAC went a long way on the lead before ending up fourth last Thursday, and hopefully he'll offer a better price this time. He gets a new driver with Jim Marohn Jr. taking over. (5) UP THE CREEK owns two seconds and a win at this level and is probably the one to beat. (4) LAZ won in determined fashion from first-up on 10-23 and was third in this class prior to that.

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Race 3 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(4) LYONS LIBERTY comes in with back-to-back fast final quarters at Pocono and Yonkers and gets post relief tonight after starting from the eight-hole most recently. (2) WALKINSHAW N can win as he drops back down to the NW7500L5's but figures to get overbet, especially with the driver change to Jason Bartlett, and I'll take a shot against him. (1) KERFORD FORD A makes his second start back after a layoff and closed pretty well in his comeback a week ago. He won at Yonkers in late May.

Race 4 - 25000CLM Pace

(1) GOLDEN GESTURE showed some interest in the stretch last week from off-the-pace. He makes his second start for Per Engblom here and moves in from post six to the pole. (3) ROAN COLOR takes a second shot at this class after leading and finishing third last Thursday. (5) LOORIM LAKE A minded his manners a week ago and finished second as the favorite. That was a positive improvement after some recently breaking problems, and George Brennan takes over the driving.

Race 5 - 50000CLM Trot

(5) PIVOTAL gained spots and ground in the final quarter of his mile a week ago. I like to see that he improved his closing kick, and hopefully he'll continue to offer value as he moves in a couple notches on the gate. (3) IM THE MUSCLE won in this class back on September 21 and gets a new driver here with Bartlett taking over. (7) GRINDER moves outside on the starting gate but has been hitting the board with regularity between here and Saratoga, meriting inclusion underneath.

Race 6 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace

(4) COLD CREEK FELIPE was racing pretty well before his last couple where he has trip excuses. Hopefully a smoother journey is coming here and he can find a winning result. (1) HURRIKANE GEORGIE tallied in this class two back and then just missed after a first-over attempt last Thursday. (5) JIM BLUE is sitting at 0-for-27 in the win column this year but has finished second three times in his lines and does have a good rally in him if he gets some pace to chase.

Race 7 - 50000CLM Trot

(3) DRACO S entered for a $75,000 claiming tag in his last two starts, which saddled him with outside posts. He's back in for $50,000 tonight and had good luck at the draw, and I still think he's sharp. (2) IN MY DREAMS has two recent victories in this class and picks up Bartlett in the bike. (4) FOR A DREAMER got up on the wire to win by a nose on 10-19 and has another win at this level on the 28th of September. Trainer Nick Devita is sending out lots of live horses right now.

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Race 8 - NW30501L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM / NW20000L5 or NW10 PM Races LT Drawn Inside Trot

(6) VALI HANOVER gets to exit the Open Handicap tonight and gets reunited with Austin Siegelman, who guided him to two wins and a second prior to that appearance at the top level. (5) CREDIT CON dominated NW20000L5 base class foes a week ago and also defeated NW30000L5's back in late September. (1) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS continues to ride a lengthy streak of top three finishes and moves inside from post seven to the pole position.

Race 9 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(7) B LIKE CRUISER drew poorly again but his gaining third against NW7500L5's two back caught my eye, and he finds the bottom level tonight. (6) HEART ON MY SLEEVE takes a second shot at NW5000L5's here and gets to move out of the eight-hole. He also switches drivers to Bartlett. (4) HE'S ELECTRIC has just one win in 2023 but that came in this class at Yonkers and he did hit the board a week ago.