Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 2/22

MEET STATS: 17 - 84 / $91.30 (-$76.60)
BEST BETS: 2 - 8 / $9.20 (-$6.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 8 / $0.00 (-$16.00)
BEST BET - FLIP THE SWITCH (7th)
SPOT PLAY - MATCH MEIF YOU CAN (5th)

Race 1 - NW5251L5/12500CLM Pace

(4) QUALITY BUD finds the bottom level in his third start back off the bench. He disappointed as a big favorite in a NW7500L5 tilt most recently but did end up first-over in that race. I'll hope for a better price and trip here. (5) AIR FORCE HANOVER turned in an improved effort last Thursday by finishing second. He gets another chance to partner with Jason Bartlett tonight. (1) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N prevailed at the Meadowlands in mid-January but hasn't shown much since. He has a post and class relief combo in this event and a driver switch to Yannick Gingras.

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Race 2 - F&M Invitational Trot

(1) CLEOPATRA AS hasn't fired since coming to Yonkers from Ohio but starts from the pole tonight and a couple of the top mares at the oval aren't racing tonight. She did turn in a better final quarter a couple of weeks ago, and I'll give her a chance. (6) NO MAS DRAMA closed out her mile well last Thursday in a fourth-place effort and makes her third start back off the shelf here. (2) QUEEN OF ALL wasn't as good a week ago as she was on 2-1 or 2-8 but does have post relief and trainer Lance Hudson has started to heat up recently.

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Race 3 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(6) MOTIVE HANOVER finished second to an even-money favorite in a NW7500L5 race last week and drops to the bottom level tonight. (4) LEVINE moves in from post seven to the four-hole this week and was fourth in the same event that MOTIVE HANOVER exits from last Thursday. (5) BARON MICHAEL didn't make much of an impression at Yonkers on 1-29 or 2-15 but won in the corresponding class to this one at Freehold on January 13. Brent Holland, who guided him to a runner-up result in a NW7500L5 contest back in mid-December, is back in the bike here.

Race 4 - 3-6YO 30000CLM Pace

(2) ONE CRAZY GUY slides inside from the seven-hole to post two here after finishing sixth last week. He had a gap in his schedule coming into that race after being scratched on February 1 and posted a win and a couple of runner-up finishes in this class at Yonkers last fall. (5) THEFLYINGROCK is making his third start back after being off since last summer and gained spots in the final quarter to get a second-place result most recently at Freehold. He's got the potent duo of Jason Bartlett and Per Engblom doing the driving and training. (4) FOX VALLEY PATRIOT came up sick and was scratched on February 12 but hit the board in both of his outings prior to that, including at this level on 2-5.

Race 5 - Stake Your Claim 40000CLM Trot

(2) BELLA CAVALLA shows good final quarters in her two tries at Yonkers since coming down from Canada but has been too far back from poor draws. She starts from an inside slot tonight, and hopefully that keeps her closer to the action with the same kind of closing kick. (3) PERRON was rolling in the lane last Thursday but couldn't chase down the winner and had to settle for second. It was a good effort and he starts from the same post this time. (4) STEUBEN HANOVER owns a second and a win in this series thus far and is probably the one they'll have to beat again.

Race 6 - Stake Your Claim 40000CLM Trot

(5) MATCH MEIF YOU CAN is making her first start in this series, so she'll need a good result to make up for missing leg one. I thought she performed pretty well in a tough class in her first start down from Canada on 2-14, and I'll give her a shot. (4) TOP ME OFF rallied from second-over to score for the Bartlett/Engblom combo a week ago and gets some post relief off that mile tonight. (2) IN MY DREAMS picked up several positions in the final quarter of his appearance last Thursday and moves in from the seven-hole to post two.

Race 7 - Stake Your Claim 40000CLM Trot

(3) FLIP THE SWITCH closed with a solid final quarter in a fourth-place finish last Thursday and is making his third start back after some time off. Add in a little post relief, and I'll give him top call. (4) IM THE MUSCLE never got involved from the eight-hole a week ago but moves inside on the gate tonight and was third in a $40,000 claimer on February 1. (5) INFINITY STONE is another horse getting out of post eight in this contest and shows a third-place finish against $40,000 claiming company in late January.

Race 8 - NW20901L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW10 PM Races LT/60000CLM Trot

(1) SOUTHWIND ARTURO gets to drop out of the NW30000L5 class in his second start of 2024 and raced pretty well in a fourth-place finish against those tougher foes a week ago. He also moves in from post four to the pole position. (3) ABRUZZO takes a third crack at this level after posting a second-place result from the pocket a week ago and partners with Gingras again. (6) FOR A DREAMER is riding a two-race win streak and was re-claimed by trainer Nick Devita last Thursday. He shows some confidence in the horse by moving him up to the optional $60,000 claimer from the Stake Your Claim Series, which is for horses carrying a $40,000 tag.

Race 9 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM/NW35101 Drawn Outside Trot

(1) ROYALTY BEER exits the top Invitational Trot level where he's been chasing Nows The Moment and Yanks Dugout so far this year. He also drew post one, so I'm sure trainer/driver Pat Lachance is keen to take advantage of this chance. (4) EPOS OSTERVANG DK has been sharp for a very long time for Bartlett and Engblom and was third in last week's Invitational Trot, coming in right behind ROYALTY BEER. (7) WARRIOR ONE tallied last week in this class but moves outside on the gate and faces some tougher foes.

Race 10 - 3-6YO 30000CLM Pace

I'm going to give (6) HURRIKANE GEORGIE another chance this week as he showed speed but got parked from post eight last Thursday. He was claimed by Travis Alexander out of that event and switches drivers to Matt Kakaley. (5) THE BEST TYME EVER gave my top pick the parking ticket a week ago and dug in gamely to hold on and win. He gives Bartlett and Engblom another contender on the program. (4) ODDS ON PICK SIX has hit the board in five of his last six appearances, including a win in this class back on December 21.

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Race 11 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(7) DRAGON SAID starts from the outside but gained a couple of spots in the final quarter of a NW7500L5 race last Thursday and makes his second appearance out of this high-percentage barn. (3) SPORTS FAN finished a solid second a week ago after doing the first-over work. He gets additional post relief here and adds Bartlett with Kakaley opting for my top pick. (1) SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL landed the pole after having poor draws in his three tries so far in 2024. He gets another chance to partner with George Brennan and did turn in a strong final quarter last week.

Race 12 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(5) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER owns a win and a second in his last two efforts in this class and drops out of the NW10000L5's tonight. He also gets a driver switch to Gingras. (2) LOU'S BEACH rallied from last to fourth on February 12 and gets to move in from the seven-hole to post two. (3) HEART ON MY SLEEVE finds a softer level tonight than the $40,000 claimers he's been facing lately. Bartlett also takes over the driving.