Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 12/15

MEET STATS: 250 - 975 / $1,687.80 (-$262.20)
BEST BETS: 56 - 102 / $202.80 (-$1.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 101 / $331.00 (+$129.00)
BEST BET - UP HELLY AA (6th)
SPOT PLAY - A ONE A (1st)

Race 1 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(8) A ONE A hasn't won so far in 2022 but catches a wide-open group tonight after finishing third in back-to-back tries in this class and gets a driver switch to Yannick Gingras. (4) KNIGHTS GUARD makes his third start for Deborah Daguet tonight and comes off a solid second-place result against NW1's at Harrah's Philadelphia most recently. (1) FORREST came in fourth versus NW2's last Thursday in his local debut and landed another inside post.

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Race 2 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(8) HEADOVERBOOTS AS has made breaks in two of his last three tries, but nobody in here looks overly imposing and his victory over NW2's back in late October was quite impressive. Hopefully Matt Kakaley can keep his mind on business and he can work out a trip from the eight-hole. (5) PENCILS DOWN beat bottom level foes at the Meadowlands on 12-2, so this should be a tougher spot tonight, and while she certainly could win again, I'm unwilling to take a short price. (4) LIVINGONTHERAIL turned in an improved effort on 12-1 to finish second, and I'll include.

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

(7) ROBYN CAMDEN takes a second shot at NW7500L5 foes tonight, and while Jason Bartlett hopped off this time, I think that may help her price, and this is still a spot where she could easily get the job done. (3) VEL DONNA finished in the runner-up position most recently at the Meadowlands and gets another shot with Joe Bongiorno driving from an inside draw. (1) SARAH'S LILLY got the nod from Bartlett and was victorious the last time she was in this class at Yonkers on October 13.

Race 4 - NW15361L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/NW9 PM Races LT Trot

(3) HAT TRICK MARLEAU is very sharp, with just the one poor result on 11-2 where he got parked out in his lines. He has post relief this time, moving in from the seven-hole to post three, and hopefully that makes a difference. (1) PAPPARDELLE romped in his Yonkers debut and in his first attempt for the Bongiornos a week ago and could easily come out on top again tonight. (5) HOOLIE N HECTOR has been knocking on the door at this level for a while and got the nod from Braxten Boyd over my top choice.

Race 5 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(6) BRILLIANT BEAUTY tallied handily at Pocono in the corresponding class to this one on 11-14 and drops after facing better at Harrah's Philadelphia in her last two outings. (3) BETTERB CHEVRON N is probably the mare to beat in this race as she slides down from the NW15000L5's and drew inside again. (2) SPORTS FLIX also exits the NW15000 level and gets reunited with Brent Holland.

Race 6 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(2) UP HELLY AA lorded over the Canadian Maritimes at 2 and 3, winning 17 of 21 and never missing the board, and now debuts for trainer Travis Alexander off a sharp local qualifier. (1) DRIBBLING BI finished second against NW6's a couple times here back in October and dominated two back at Harrah's Philadelphia. (5) MUSCLEDOVER came in third in a NW7 contest a week ago and makes his fourth appearance out of the Per Engblom barn. He was Gingras's choice over Dribbling Bi.

Race 7 - NW31526L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Trot

(8) SMOKING JET should offer some pretty good value for a horse of his caliber given he drew the outside, and I'll give him a chance. (1) SECRET BRO finished second to the well-meant Nows The Moment on 12-1 and scored at Pocono prior to that. (2) FLIP THE SWITCH makes his second start after a layoff and out of the Engblom stable. He closed well to grab a third-place result at this level a week ago.

Race 8 - F&M Open Handicap Trot

(6) HEY LIVVY doesn't have to start from the eight-hole tonight like she did last week and hopefully that will allow her to get away closer to the front. (5) GREY bounced back with a much better performance a week ago and won three straight editions of this class back in October and November. (7) REFINED starts outside again but delivered last Thursday as the favorite and is wrapping up an excellent season.

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Race 9 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) IDEAL CHIP will get another chance from me here as she makes her second start back off the bench and finished a pretty good third in her comeback a week ago. (3) ODDS ON VETO POWER shifts over to this class from the NW4's, and I think that will help her out. (6) ELLEOFADELI posted a runner-up result the last time she met up with bottom level mares at Yonkers on 10-20 and has Gingras to drive again.

Race 10 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(2) SOUTHWIND ARTURO ships down from the Canadian Maritimes on a nice win streak. I'm not expecting to get close to his 12-1 morning line quote but will put on top. (1) PORTOFINO came in third from post seven against NW4's a week ago and gets to move to the pole position here. (3) SAID N DONE AS has hit the board in four straight appeances and in five of his last six outings.