Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 2/1

MEET STATS: 4 - 20 / $17.80 (-$22.20)

BEST BETS: 1 - 2 / $6.50 (+$2.50)

SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 2 / $0.00 (-$4.00)

BEST BET-STATE SENATOR (8th)

SPOT PLAY-PERRON (9th)

Race 1 - 30000CLM Pace

(6) MOVIN' ON UP endured a difficult journey last week but did hang around to get a check. I'm going to hope he has a smoother trip and a better performance tonight in his second attempt for trainer Travis Alexander. (1) ITALIAN DELIGHT N won again a week ago and starts from the pole again here, which should get him plenty of respect. He also gets reunited with Jason Bartlett. (3) DON DOMINGO N steps up from the $20,000 claimers but does so off a victory. He was claimed out of that start by trainer Scott Di Domenico and was George Brennan's choice over ITALIAN DELIGHT N.

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Race 2 - 40000CLM Trot

(1) PIVOTAL qualified pretty well at Yonkers on 1-25 and starts from an inside post for the first time since back in mid-October. He also gets a driver switch to Bartlett. (2) IM THE MUSCLE tailed off a bit in his last few appearances of 2023 but does show a win against $50,000 claimers at Yonkers on November 2. (4) SHEENA SOLDIER faded from the pocket a week ago but did turn in some good efforts in the $50,000 claiming class in November and catches a fairly wide-open group tonight.

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Race 3 - 3-6YO 30000CLM Pace

(2) WORLD FOR TWO was a strong second to a heavy favorite in this class last Thursday and debuts for Di Domenico after being claimed out of that race. (1) MERITO HANOVER finished third in the same race my top pick comes out of. He drew the pole again and is making his third start for Travis Alexander. (4) COLD CREEK FELIPE has a victory at this level back on November 9 and gained a couple of spots in the final quarter of his mile a week ago.

Race 4 - Invitational Trot

(1) ROYALTY BEER is going to get another chance from me this week as he finished strongly at this level a week ago after angling out after an inside trip. (6) NOWS THE MOMENT starts from the outside post but held sway gamely on the point to win in this class last Thursday and will likely be favored again. (4) CREDIT CON just missed by a head to NOWS THE MOMENT a week ago and had a victory in the Open Handicap at The Meadows prior to that.

Race 5 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM / NW20000L5 or 60000CLM Draw Inside Trot

(7) YANKS DUGOUT started his 7-year-old season with a win in a NW20000L5 base class race a week ago. He steps up here but I think he's capable of handling it given his appearances in Open Trots both at Yonkers and out of town last year. (3) ABRUZZO wound up getting parked in a NW30000L5 test last Thursday but hung around to finish fourth. This barn is off to a roaring start to the meet. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK tallied at this level last week and has been on a lengthy run of sharp form for trainer Per Engblom.

Race 6 - 40000CLM Trot

(4) J-S HOPSCOTCH makes his Yonkers debut here off a qualifier at The Meadows where he gained some ground in the final quarter. He joins Travis Alexander's stable, and I'll swing with him in this fairly wide-open event. (1) STEUBEN HANOVER tired last week but he'd been off for over a month coming into that start. I could see him improving tonight now that he's back on a weekly schedule. (3) IN MY DREAMS retreated in his final try of 2023 but was racing well against $50,000 claimers other than that and gets reunited with Bartlett.

Race 7 - F&M Open Trot

(3) LINDYS IRISHCREAM exits the top trotting class over at the Meadowlands where she did close with some interest in her first appearance of 2024. She faces just mares tonight from an inside draw. (7) HELPOFTHESEASON is three-for-three in this class since coming into Engblom's barn and is probably the one to beat even from the outside. (6) CLEOPATRA AS didn't threaten in the F&M Open Trot a week ago but she did lack racing room in the stretch, perhaps making her line look worse than it was.

Race 8 - 3-6YO 30000CLM Pace

(3) STATE SENATOR closed well in finishing second in an open $30,000 claiming event last Thursday and faces age-restricted company tonight. (2) FULL SUPPORT tallied at this level a week ago and could be even sharper here as he had been off since late December coming into that try. (4) HURRIKANE GEORGIE showed speed last week but ended up getting parked. I take that aggressive attempt as a positive sign despite the rough journey and will include.

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Race 9 - 40000CLM Trot

(4) PERRON scored the last time he raced in a claiming event on 12-21 and has been in a couple of tougher spots since then. (6) EMOTIONS RICHES dominated in this class a week ago in his return to the Alexander barn and I'll toss him in underneath. (7) IMMANUEL K S rallied to finish second to EMOTIONS RICHES last Thursday but does have another poor post to overcome.

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

(1) INDICTABLE HANOVER drops and gets post relief in his second start of 2024. He also gets a driver switch to Bartlett and was victorious the last time he was in this class back in late November. (2) EL'S ROCKER finished fourth-placed-third in a NW10000L5 event on 1-23 and slides down a level tonight. (3) C-BET HANOVER got bothered on the first turn and then had an issue of his own on the final bend in that same race my top two picks exit from January 23. He was third in the corresponding class to this one at the Meadowlands prior to that.