Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 1/21

MEET STATS: 7 - 20 / $47.70 (+$7.70)

BEST BETS: 1 - 2 / $5.50 (+$1.50)

SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 2 / $4.30 (+$0.30)

BEST BET-ASHTINI (3rd)

SPOT PLAY-IDEAL CLASSIC (10th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) BEST AMERICAN CHIC moves to the pole position tonight after rallying from the seven-hole to finish third in second try of 2021 last Thursday. (4) ROSE RUN TONI came up with an improved performance a week ago when she shipped back here and dropped in class. She's probably the one to beat tonight. (2) CHECK MACH never got involved from post eight seven nights ago, but she is on a regular racing rotation, gets significant post relief, and partners with Bartlett.

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Race 2 - NW2/25000LT / NW4/50000LT Drawn Outside Trot

(2) LIZ'S CHAMP stayed flat last Thursday, which was a positive development for her, and maybe she'll be able to build on that in a pretty wide-open event here. I'll give her a chance and look for some value. (5) KANDY SWEET got the best of the draw among the NW4's in this race and should be tighter tonight after making her first start since December 10 a week ago. (7) CATWALK AS took a shot out of the pocket in the third quarter last week but had to settle for second behind the well-meant Beerthirty K. She is definitely usable.

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Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(6) ASHTINI hung around to finish fourth last week despite getting parked the mile from post eight. She moves inside a couple of notches tonight, and I think will be tough. (1) KEYSTONE NIKKI rallied to finish second on 1-13 and races for trainer Ken Koch, whose charges are off to a good start this year. (5) LADYBELUCKYTONIE is a newcomer to the barn of trainer Gil Garcia-Herrera, and showed the ability to picks up checks consistently in November against optional $20,000 claimers at Dover, making her intriguing against the bottom level at Yonkers.

Race 4 - NW4/50500LT Trot

(6) FATHER DUNN closed out his mile strongly in finishing second a week ago, and the tandem of Brent Holland and Erv Miller have been pretty potent so far during the meet. (2) HUNTING AS took advantage of a chance to partner with Todd McCarthy and held off my top choice to win. McCarthy is back to pilot again, and the horse drew another inside slot. (1) BEERTHIRTY K was very determined in scoring in a NW3 contest last Thursday. He moves back up to the NW4 level here but offsets that by landing the pole position.

Race 5 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(4) SANDY'S BEACH performed well in her Yonkers return, finishing third from post seven. Tonight, she drops and gets class relief. (8) ANN HILL gets the same class relief as my top pick and picked up a third-place finish against NW10000L5's in early December. I'll trust driver Joe Bongiorno to work out some kind of trip from the eight-hole. (1) COVEREDNDIAMONDS N was claimed out of her last start by a high-percentage barn, and though she didn't fire in that race, she had been doing well before that.

Race 6 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(4) ANNABETH just ran out of racetrack last Thursday, falling a nose short. She slides down from the NW10000L5 class tonight, and I'll put on top, though she'll be a much shorter price. (2) COLOR ENVY overcame post eight to finish fourth in the same event my top pick exits and gets considerable post relief tonight. (5) MILADY DENVER A owns a number of wins at Yonkers and has been faring decently across the river at the Meadowlands, including a recent third-place performance against their NW11500L5 class.

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Race 7 - F&M Open Handicap Pace

(1) SIESTA BEACH picked up a week ago where she left off in 2020, rallying home with a strong final quarter. I think she'll offer a better price than some drawn to the outside, and I'll swing with her. (7) BETTORS HEART N certainly merits respect after she closed to get second behind the raging Alexa Skye in the Open last Thursday. She has shown enough early speed to cut the mile in this class before, so maybe that'll be Jason Bartlett's plan this time. (5) ROBYN CAMDEN might have needed that race last week since she hadn't made an appearance since the 10th of December. She's shown she's capable at the top level with the right trip.

Race 8 - F&M NW12100L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(3) POPPY DRAYTON N hasn't been as sharp since the sick scratch on 11-5 as she was when she first joined the Shane Tritton barn, but this looks like a potential wake-up spot as she gets class and post relief in her second try of the year. (1) JEWELS FORREAL might need a drop to be more of a win threat, but she has the pole position, and that was a solid group she was third against at Harrah's Philadelphia on December 23. (5) TELL ME A JOKE was trip compromised last Thursday. She's won at this level before, and I'll include.

Race 9 - F&M NW12100L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(7) MY RONA GOLD N paced a 27 4/5 final quarter last week, and though Jordan Stratton hopped off, I definitely don't mind that Todd McCarthy is hanging around to drive her as she moves down in class. (5) BALFAST N has now won four straight races after she tallied last Thursday. She does move up tonight but was the one Stratton elected to stick with. (6) LEMON ZEST is stuck outside again, but did advance from sixth to second against NW6's on 12-22 and from last to fourth in the event taken by Balfast N seven nights ago.

Race 10 - F&M NW16150L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM Pace

(3) IDEAL CLASSIC has missed the top three just once since mid-October, and her two tries in this class have both been solid. I think she'll probably go off at a price again, and I'll try her. (6) MACZAFFAIR N got a check in the Open last week and is another Shane Tritton-trained mare who looks usable on the card. (2) BYE BYE FELICIA wound up third last Thursday after going an easy clip on the front and having every chance to win. I respect her chances, but I think you have to play against to win.