Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 2/16

MEET STATS: 20 - 77 / $148.10 (-$5.90)

BEST BETS: 2 - 8 / $5.40 (-$10.60)

SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 8 / $23.80 (+$7.80)

BEST BET-SMOOTH DEBATE N (10th)

SPOT PLAY-ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX (4th)

Race 1 - NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/NW9 PM Races LT Trot

(2) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM finished third against NW8's in his first start of 2023 a couple weeks ago, and I'll look for him to build on that effort here. He also moves inside on the gate. (4) HOOLIE N HECTOR steps up from the NW10000L5's but was probably going to win that race last Wednesday if he didn't have some traffic issues after staying in the pocket. I will include. (7) WILLY WALTON moves outside after starting from the pole position last week but turned in an improved effort to finish third and clicked off a good final quarter.

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Race 2 - Open Handicap Trot

(5) NOWS THE MOMENT threatened the all-age track record in an excellent performance last week, and hopefully he can turn the tables on (6) HL REVADON, who is three-for-three in the Open so far this year but didn't compete last Thursday. (2) CREDIT CON came in second behind Nows The Moment a week ago and drew inside again to work out a similar trip.

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Race 3 - NW2/34838LT Trot

(7) LADYFLIX won the last time she was in against NW2's on December 22 and gets to drop out of NW4 company thanks to the expanded lifetime earnings cap in this tilt. (5) JARA is two-for-two since coming into the Edwin Quevedo barn, including a tally in this class last Thursday. (8) THEWALLOFLOVE AS has been sharp except for the one miscue on 1-19 and overcame the eight-hole to finish second to Jara a week ago.

Race 4 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(2) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX comes into this contest with three straight 28 and change final quarters and exits the $50,000 claimers. I think she's worth a shot as she also shifts back to an inside post. (4) ALWAYS B MIMI also gets a chance to move into a new class from the $50,000 claiming level and shows a third against NW10000L5 base class company on December 22. (6) TOBAGO TIME was favored in a NW7500L5 race last Thursday but had to settle for second after doing the first-over work. She was Jordan Stratton's choice in here and races for a hot trainer in Nick Devita.

Race 5 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(7) SOUTHWIND ARTURO owns a two-for-two record since trotting hobbles went on, and he rallied from well off-the-pace to win a couple weeks ago. I think he could still offer a bit of value given he drew outside again and Stratton hopped off. (5) WICKENBURGH was Stratton's pick and has a second and a third in his last two starts. Trainer Jeff Gillis is having a strong start to 2023. (3) PENCILS DOWN is on a lengthy streak of on-the-board results and has Yannick Gingras to drive again since he's competing on tonight's program.

Race 6 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(4) VELVET STYLE looked a little flat in the stretch a week ago, but that can be excused since it was his first pari-mutuel appearance of 2023. I'll hope he's sharper tonight with that start under his belt and use again. (3) TACHYON turned in a big mile to finish second against NW6's last Thursday and gets post relief off that mile. (6) MUSCLE DAN hikes up from the NW4 class but is very sharp and has two straight victories. I'll toss him in the mix.

Race 7 - NW15283L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/NW9 PM Races LT Trot

(1) TOP ME OFF double-drops out of the NW30000L5 class for the red-hot Per Engblom barn and has Gingras in the bike again. (3) OUTSIDE THE FIRE handled NW8 company with ease two weeks ago and hasn't been outside the top two in his last three local tries. (2) ADORE ME steps up from the NW6 level but got the job done from first-over in that contest and has been on a tear for Andy and Julie Miller since that qualifier on December 6 of last year.

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Race 8 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(3) EDGE OF ETERNITY picked up an easy win over NW7500L5's the last time she had an inside post on January 19 and perhaps the same thing can happen here in this pretty wide-open looking affair. (1) CORSINI A continues to work up the class ladder but has back-to-back wins and doesn't catch the toughest group of NW10000L5's. (6) CALLMEQUEENBEE A defeated a group of NW7500L5 foes last Thursday and trainer Jeff Cullipher has been doing well at Yonkers thus far in 2023.

Race 9 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/NW20000L5 or NW10 PM Races LT Drawn Inside Trot

(7) GREY went a long way on the lead before ending up second last Thursday and her blast-out speed should help her overcome the outside draw. (6) PLATINUM AS moves up from the NW15000L5 class but has two straight wins between Yonkers and the Meadowlands and shows racing in the Open out at Hollywood Dayton last fall. (1) KENZIESKY HANOVEr has easily the best draw of the ones that look logical to me in here and should be close to the action.

Race 10 - F&M NW5000L5 Pace

(2) SMOOTH DEBATE N finally has an inside post here after a series of outside draws at both the Meadowlands and here. I think we'll get a chance to see what she's capable of. (1) VELOCITY MCSWEETS slides down to the bottom level tonight and that could result in an improved performance. (5) KATHY'S MOMENT was third against NW5000L5's last Thursday.