Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 12/17

MEET STATS: 215 - 686 / $1,335.60 (-$36.40)
BEST BETS: 39 - 71 / $134.20 (-$3.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 13 - 71 / $96.60 (-$45.40)
BEST BET - ODDS ON ATHENS (1st)
SPOT PLAY - PAMMY JO (8th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

Mother Nature might win this card given the weather forecast, but assuming it goes, I'll start with (2) ODDS ON ATHENS in the opener as she drops and moves inside in her second local start. She took her season's mark on the half at Northfield. (1) OLIVIA CAMDEN GB tired in the final quarter after leaving and then sitting in the pocket on 12-3, but she had a series of solid efforts up at Saratoga prior to that and gets to start from the pole position. (4) SWEET MOVES put in an improved performance when she switched from the NW6's to this class a week ago and remains at the same level here.

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Race 2 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) FOLLOWTHEWIND N gets back in the game tonight after having post eight and then two post sevens in her last three tries. She also has George Brennan to drive for the first time since 11-17. (1) KEYSTONE NIKKI returns to the pole position here after finished with interest from the six-hole a week ago. She has a prior victory in this class on the 8th of October. (4) SHE'S A BILLIONAIR had the lead last Thursday but gave way in the final quarter of the mile. She has a driver change tonight to Jason Bartlett with Joe Bongiorno not here.

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

(2) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX is just a one-time winner in 2020 but meets up with a pretty wide-open group here as she slides down from the NW10000L5's, picks Scott Zeron back up in the bike, and starts from an inside post to help her out. (4) MALNIFICENT also moves down a notch here and gets post relief after having a no-chance trip from the eight-hole a couple weeks ago.(8) CRYSTAL SPARKLES N is in good form as she's hit the board in her last three but also has the outside post. Stratton has a knack for working out trips from the eight-hole, and maybe he can do it here.

Race 4 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(5) SUDDEN CHANGE N entered for the optional claiming tag tonight, so she gets to compete again in the same class she was a dominant winner in two Thursdays ago. (2) SANDY WIN picked up a confidence-building victory over the NW5000L5's on 12-3 and steps up here. Driver Dan Dube is driving very well and with a lot of confidence right now, so his charges deserves a second look. (3) FOX VALLEY CHARLIZ showed that run of form at Monticello was no accident as she closed from sixth to second in the final quarter on the 8th of December. She hikes up a level but offsets that with post relief.

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

(3) FLY IN STYLE scored in this class the last time she raced in it on 10-22 and returns to it here after facing better since. I don't mind that she gets a chance with Matt Kakaley, either. (2) SOMEBEACHSOMEFRA moves over to this level after facing NW4's in all her local efforts. She was a strong second against NW5's two back at Harrah's Philadelphia. (7) THATS INCREDIBLE kept Zeron over Somebeachsomefra, so maybe he's expecting a better effort tonight after she broke behind the gate last Thursday. I'll include in the hopes of some value.

Race 6 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(3 SOMETHING REEL finished second against NW10000L5's on 11-19 and raced well behind quality foes in a NW15000L5 event a week ago. I think she might be a bit sharper tonight since she had a bit of a gap in her schedule going into that most recent mile, and I'll slot on top. (2) ANNABETH is capable of waking up here as she moves inside and drops. (1) NEVERFORGETWHOUR was not Dube's choice in here, but I think she's another one who might fire tonight as she gets the pole position. Stratton might just try and send her since she hasn't shown much from off-the-pace lately.

Race 7 - F&M NW25000L5 Pace

(5) SIESTA BEACH roared home last week to finish second in the Open. She's drawn ideally for another cover trip tonight and gets Zeron's services again. (3) SEASWIFT JOY N has been idle since racing in the event for Blue Chip Matchmaker Series eligibles on November 28. She wired similar-looking groups twice in November and might try to do that again as Jim Marohn Jr.'s choice in here. (4) CLEAR IDEA hikes up off a win, but given her strong early speed, she might be able to find the pocket behind Seaswift Joy N if the race plays out as it looks on paper.

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Race 8 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM Pace

(7) PAMMY JO has a tough post, but she scored her last win at this level on the 29th of October, and I'll hope the speed inside her materializes and Dube can work out a trip for her. (6) JUXTA COWGIRL had to need that start on 12-3 since she hadn't made a pari-mutuel appearance since 10-29. She won nicely in the corresponding class to this one at Pocono on 9-20. (2) TIPP CITY never got involved last week, but she starts from an inside post this time, and that might mean that Kakaley takes a more aggressive approach like when she won on November 19.

Race 9 - NW8/100000LT Trot

(7) PATRIARCH HANOVER wound up second-best last Thursday when Kakaley raced him from off-the-pace, but Brennan returns to the bike here, and I think he'll try to take these down the road. (3) THANKFUL FOR YOU is probably worth another chance as she was third in the same race my top choice comes out of. Kakaley drives this one after Bartlett went elsewhere. (4) FASHION FOREVER has just a single victory in 2020 but has hit the board at long odds in this class before, and I'll slot underneath in the hopes the same thing happens here.

Race 10 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM Pace

(3) MONICA GALLAGHER improved to two-for-two since joining the Chris Height barn with a win on 12-3, and I'll look for her to keep the hot streak going tonight. (1) NEW YEAR had to settle for third at 1-5 last Thursday, and I will attempt to beat her again here. (4) CORAL BELLA hit the board in four straight and then ran into a well-meant Siesta Beach on the 3rd of December and wound up fourth. I think she's capable of following along and completing the ticket.