Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 12/8

MEET STATS: 246 - 957 / $1,668.50 (-$245.50)

BEST BETS: 54 - 100 / $195.80 (-$4.20)

SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 99 / $331.00 (+$133.00)

BEST BET-PAPPARDELLE (5th)

SPOT PLAY-SEZANA N (3rd)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(4) AMERICAN TOUR N won at this level the last time she was at Yonkers on 9-22 and makes her third start back after some time off tonight. (5) CORSINI A was in against NW10000L5 base class at Yonkers in October and early November and retuns tonight at the basement after two starts at the Meadowlands. (2) LIGHTNING LEIA plummets out of the NW6's and also gets post relief. She's probably the one to beat.

Race 2 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Trot

(7) NOWS THE MOMENT dominated in this class a week ago, and although I think this is a tougher group and he moves outside, that'll probably help his price. I'll give him a shot. (3) TAKE ALL COMERS is very sharp right now and returns to Yonkers after picking up a victory down at Harrah's Philadelphia most recently. (1) BARRY BLACK has hit the board two straight times at this level and can hopefully do it again tonight as he starts from the pole.

Race 3 - F&M NW10330L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(4) SEZANA N slides down from the $50,000 claiming level to the optional $20,000 claiming class and showed she was capable of winning at this level back in early October. This looks like a pretty wide-open bunch, and I'll put her on top. (2) KATYS DELIGHT got rolling late last Thursday and finished a closing second. She takes another step up the ladder tonight but races for a hot barn. (1) ITZPAPALOTL has been racin better since going on Lasix last month and is back at Yonkers tonight after three on-the-board finishes, including a win most recently, at Harrah's Philadelphia. She was also Jason Bartlett's choice.

Race 4 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(5) MUSCLE DAN gained a bunch of spots and ground in the final quarter last week, and I'm going to hope he's closer to te pace here as he gets a driver switch to Joe Bongiorno. (2) QUINCY MARKET changed tactics back to rallying a week ago and turned in an improved effort. He gets further post relief off that mile, and I'll include. (7) PORTOFINO won in his debut for the Burke Brigade at the Meadowlands on 11-25 and gets to keep Yannick Gingras as he's competing on the card tonight.

Race 5 - NW7/75000LT Trot

(2) PAPPARDELLE debuts for Jenn and Joe Bongiorno after romping to a victory in his last try out in Ohio. He qualified smoothly at Freehold on 12-2 and drew inside tonight. (4) MUSCLEDOVER makes his third attempt out of the Per Engblom barn and took a fast mark out at Harrah's Hoosier Park in September. (8) OUTSIDE THE FIRE bounced back after breaking here on 11-17 with another victory down at Harrah's Philadelphia. I expect he'll get plenty of wagering attention, even from post eight.

Race 6 - F&M NW7502L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(5) ENGLISH ROSE N takes a big drop in class from $50,000 claimers to this optional $15,000 claiming race, gets a new driver in Brent Holland, and I think he's worth a chance. (6) ROBYN CAMDEN appears to have found a soft spot here as she picked up checks twice against NW20000L5's in October and November and gets reunited with Bartlett tonight. (1) CHECKERED PAST hit the board in her last two appearances at this level. She moves back to the pole after two post eights and adds Matt Kakaley in the bike.

Race 7 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(5) MAKE IT EASY couldn't deliver as the favorite last week after miscuing but did catch back up to the pack and get a check, so I think she was well-meant. Hopefully she'll offer some better value here and mind her p's and q's. (1) ELLIOT CLOUD S finished third in his U.S. debut at the Meadowlands on 11-25 and will probably attract plenty of attention from the pole for Bartlett and Engblom. (2) FORREST is a second-timer for the Burke Brigade and picked up a check over at the Meadowlands in the same race Elliot Cloud S exits.

Race 8 - F&M Open Handicap Trot

(7) REFINED was third to Atlanta and When Dovescry the last time she raced on a half-mile track on 9-22 and was a good second to the sparkling Bella Bellini in the TVG Mares Trot final at the Meadowlands most recently. (3) KENZIESKY HANOVER has been knocking at the door and ran into some traffic trouble after a pocket trip last Thursday. She gets reunited with Bartlett here. (8) HEY LIVVY has regained her top form and when she gets sharp, it doesn't usually matter what post she has.

Race 9 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(4) IDEAL CHIP qualified pretty well at Harrah's Philadelphia after being put on Lasix, and although she's been out of the box since that try on 11-15, I will bank on her being ready as she hooks up with bottom level rivals. (3) THUNDRA was out-kicked in the stretch last week after looming from second-over, but she makes her second start after a layoff tonight and should be sharper. (5) POPPY DRAYTON N appears to be the other logical one in this event as she makes her way down to the NW5000L5 class after picking up a check versus NW7500L5's a week ago.