Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 12/12

MEET STATS: 249- 949 / $1,583.40 (-$314.60)

BEST BETS: 43 - 92 / $208.70 (+$24.70)

SPOT PLAYS: 13 - 92 / $178.90 (-$5.10)

BEST BET-C-BET HANOVER (3rd)

SPOT PLAY-NO TURNING BACK (1st)

Race 1- 40000CLM Trot

(3) NO TURNING BACK drew inside tonight after he had the eight-hole in his last outing, and I think this might be a slightly softer spot than the NW15000L5 level he's been racing at. He also gets Jordan Stratton in the bike for the first time in a bit. (2) UNFORGETTABLE has won three in-a-row in this class for the Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom duo and is likely the one they'll have to beat. (5) BLUEBIRD BISHOP led a long way before he came up just a neck short of victory on 12-5. He shows two victories against $40,000 claiming company back in June and reunites with Yannick Gingras.

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Race 2 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace

(7) FLIP MY CHIP starts from the outside, but I think this is a field he can get to the lead against like he did in his win on 11-21, and I'll swing with him. (3) LYONS PRIDE has been post or trip compromised in his last three outings. He was third at this level from a good draw on Halloween and gets a driver switch to Gingras. (4) I AINT NO MACK slides inside on the gate this week and was the clear leader of this class not all that long ago.

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Race 3 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(4) C-BET HANOVER takes a second shot at NW5000L5's tonight from a much better post than he had on 12-1. He predictably tired after having to work hard to get the lead in that race, but hopefully will have a smoother journey this time. (3) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER was the runner-up to a well-meant foe in this class on December 3 and gets to team up with Gingras again. (5) THRASHER doesn't have any super-obvious form but is getting a driver swap to Bartlett, and that's all one needs sometimes to get a wake-up call.

Race 4 - 40000CLM Trot

(2) BROOKVIEW DARIUS landed post two this time after a couple of eight-holes. The last time he didn't have post eight in this class, he was a winner on November 7. (4) BEERTHIRTY K was second in a $40,000 claimer two back and had both a tough draw and suffered interference in his fourth-place result last Thursday. He gets a new driver as Matt Kakaley hops aboard. (7) WILLY WALTON starts from the far outside but has been sharp for a while and has enough gate speed to get on or near the lead.

Race 5 - 3-5YO 20000CLM Pace

(6) WOLFTRAX owns just one win in 14 starts this year but I thought he raced well in his third-place finish against open $20,000 claimers last Wednesday and faces age-restricted foes tonight. (4) MANHATTAN ARTIST tallied in this class for Bartlett and Engblom when last seen on 11-21. He's a contender again here but won't offer anywhere near that 6-1 price this time. (3) SNOUZE U LOUZE shows a couple of on-the-board efforts at this level and got a check in his last outing against open $15,000 claiming company despite getting parked out.

Race 6 - NW5051L5/12500CLM Pace

(3) COTTON ON N returns to action here after being off since late March. He has two qualifiers under his belt and was facing much better horses than these before he went on the bench, so I'll hope he's ready to rock and give him top call. (1) MULLINAX was second in a NW5000L5 race at Yonkers back on 10-29 and gets significant post relief tonight after he had the seven-hole last Thursday. (5) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK shows a couple of on-the-board results against NW7500L5's and NW10000L5's back in October and gets Stratton back in the bike this time.

Race 7 - Invitational Trot

(1) CHAKE has been sharp for quite a while and comes north from Harrah's Philadelphia where she's been stout in their top class. She got the pole and merits top pick status. (3) STORMONT DIVIDE won in the Invitational on 11-21 and closed with trot last week after he made a break past the start. (6) PAPPARDELLE scored in the Invitational a week ago and also back in early October. Kakaley has the assignment back on him with George Brennan not here tonight.

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Race 8 - NW23301L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW10 PM Races LT/60000CLM Trot

(4) IWON'T BACKDOWN AS double-drops here after he got two checks in the Invitational and retained Kakaley's services over two others. (5) ALL STAR SWAN has two seconds and three wins in her last five tries, including a gaining runner-up finish in this class a week ago. (3) I GET IT owns consecutive victories at this level. Jim Marohn Jr. gets to take him out for a spin this time with Brennan not available.

Race 9 - 3-5YO 20000CLM Pace

(1) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER didn't show much in this class last Thursday but has an inside post for the first time in a while tonight for new connections, and Kakaley, who got along well with this horse at Pocono, takes over the driving. (2) THAT DOG WILL HUNT has hit the board in five straight appearances and won two times in-a-row at this level in November. (3) LAZ was victorious in handy fashion a week ago and was also victorious on November 14. I expect he'll be favored and the one they have to beat.

Race 10 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(8) FAMILY RECIPE will have to overcome the eight-hole but has plenty of gate speed and should be full of confidence after he dominated a group of NW5000L5's on 12-3. (4) MOVIN' ON UP drops out of the $40,000 claimers and gets reunited with Anthony Napolitano, who steered him to a victory on October 14. (3) LEVINE was second in this class two back and then closed with pace from the eight-hole in a NW10000L5 tilt on December 3. He drew better tonight and adds Gingras in the bike.