Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 1/26

FINAL 2022 STATS: 261 - 1013 / $1,777.90 (-$248.10)
2022 BEST BETS: 58 - 106 / $209.20 (-$2.80)
2022 SPOT PLAYS: 15 - 105 / $355.20 (+$145.20)
BEST BET - WANIA (1st)
SPOT PLAY - BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N (6th)

Race 1 - NW2/28956LT Trot

(2) WANIA is just one-for-32 in the win column lifetime, but his races on the half-mile track at Flamboro Downs in Ontario make me think that he enjoys the smaller ovals, and he has a barn change to a high-percentage outfit. (5) SOUTHWIND ARTURO minded his p's and q's with the trotting hobbles on in a qualifier at Monticello on 1-18 and this horse had a four race win streak in the Canadian Maritimes last fall. (1) BUDWEISER GIRL gets some post relief in her second local try and had a trip excuse a week ago as she was interfered with by a breaker.

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Race 2 - Open Handicap Trot

(2) WILLY WALTON had no shot a week ago when he had to start from post eight, but he did finish up his mile well and moves inside on the gate tonight. He also makes his third start on Lasix. (6) NOWS THE MOMENT suffered a tough beat when beaten just a nose in the Open last Thursday. He could be sharper tonight with that race under his belt, and he was victorious in this class on 12-22. (5) HL REVADON handed NOWS THE MOMENT the defeat last week after forging by him from first-over in the shadow of the wire. He gets reunited with co-owner Yannick Gingras this time.

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Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5 Pace

(6) THUNDRA came up just a neck short of winning the last time she faced NW5000L5's at Yonkers and drops out of the NW7500L5 class at the Meadowlands. (4) PULL ME THROUGH takes a second shot at bottom level foes here after closing out 2022 with a third-place finish on December 22. (3) STELLENBOSCH picked up a check against NW7500L5's a week ago and gets further class relief here.

Race 4 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/NW20000L5 Drawn Inside Trot

(5) LEAN HANOVER was victorious the last time he faced NW30000L5 foes back in early October and has been racing at higher levels since then. He also gets reunited with driver Jim Marohn Jr. (2) TIMESTORM has three wins in his last four chances in this class and got a check in the Open last Thursday. (6) CREDIT CON is another dropper out of the Open after finishing fourth in that event a week ago.

Race 5 - NW4/53106LT Trot

(3) WICKENBURGH gained ground in the last quarter a week ago and finished fifth in his local debut. I'll hope he improves with that start over the oval, and he should offer a better price this week due to the presence of (5) FORREST, who is riding a four race win streak, including a triumph over NW2's at Yonkers on 12-15. (2) THE AMERICAN EAGLE held sway to defeat NW4's in his 2023 debut last Thursday and goes for the potent combination of Jason Bartlett and Per Engblom.

Race 6 - F&M NW5000L5 Pace

(2) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N posted just a single victory in 2022, but it came the last time she faced bottom-level foes on December 1. She moves inside on the gate this week and catches a group with no standout. (3) CRUSH ME didn't show much from an outside post at the Meadowlands on 1-13 but she was second in a NW5000L5 event at Yonkers in early November and gets a chance with Bartlett driving. (6) E R HILARY finished up her mile with some pace last Thursday and has Jordan Stratton in the driver's seat again.

Race 7 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(1) HECKRAISER HANOVER moves up from the NW2 class but does so off a win over a heavy favorite last Thursday and faces a softer group of NW4's than the ones in Race 5 on this card. (3) SAID N DONE AS has missed the top three just once in his last seven starts and gets reunited with Bartlett. (5) MUSCLE DAN is another horse that's in sharp form and gained ground in the stretch in finishing third a week ago.

Race 8 - F&M NW10011L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(2) TALL POPPY N picked up a couple of spots to finish third to a couple strong foes in this class a week ago. She catches a softer group tonight and is worth a chance. (3) LADY DELA RENTA A moves to this class from the $50,000 claimers and has joined the Lance Hudson barn to start her 9-year-old season. (1) VELOCITY MCSWEETS also comes into this race out of the $50,000 claiming class and has post relief to go with it.

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Race 9 - NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/NW9 PM Races LT Trot

(1) PROMISE FOR LIFE will get another chance from me tonight as me moves inside on the gate in his second local try for trainer Jared Bako. (3) KENZIESKY HANOVER lands in the softest spot she's been in for quite some time and raced well in the F&M Open Trot at Yonkers last year. (6) TOP ME OFF has gotten sharp for Engblom with two wins and two seconds in his last four opportunities and has Gingras to steer again.

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

(5) POPPY DRAYTON N couldn't get involved from post eight last Thursday but moves inside on the gate this week and gets Jordan Stratton back in the bike for a barn that's off to a strong start this year. (1) CAVIART CHERIE should appreciate the drop out of the $50,000 claimers and she got the pole to help her chances. (2) ELLEOFADELI slides down from the NW10000L5's for the Bartlett/Engblom duo and prevailed at Yonkers two back.