Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 2/4

MEET STATS: 18 - 60 / $102.20 (-$17.80)

BEST BETS: 4 - 6 / $17.90 (+$5.90)

SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 6 / $4.30 (-$7.70)

BEST BET-TIPP CITY (9th)

SPOT PLAY-DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE (10th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(5) ANN HILL never got involved last Thursday but takes a drop down to the bottom level tonight. She showed speed on 12-3 and was second against NW10000L5's, and I wouldn't mind if that was the strategy here. (3) ONEIDA BLUE CHIP performed pretty well shipping up from Pompano as she was third against NW7500L5's a week ago. She lands at the bottom level tonight and is a logical one to include. (2) ISLAY N hasn't won in a long time but does get reunited with Matt Kakaley and would spice up trifectas if she could hit the board from this inside draw.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2 - NW2/25000LT / NW3/50000LT Drawn Outside Trot

(3) STONEBRIDGE SYDNEY had a couple of encouraging results in the NW2 class at the Meadowlands after making one appearance here against NW7500L5's. Trainer Ron Burke is off to a hot start locally in 2021, and I'll put on top. (7) BANZAI AS rebounded off the break on 1-14 with a gaining third-place effort in his last start. He gets to move down from the NW4 level tonight, and that is a pretty substanial drop. (5) FATHER FIGURE was a well-beaten second on January 21. He has been able to hit the ticket a couple times against NW2's and maybe he can here, too.

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Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) AFFLUENT SEELSTER receives both class and post relief, was Brent Holland's choice of three, and races out of a sharp stable in Paul Stafford's. (5) SANDY'S BEACH went a fast clip on the lead two weeks ago and tired in the final quarter. I wouldn't be shocked to see Jordan Stratton switch it back to the off-the-pace style that got her a third-place result versus NW10000L5's on the 14th of January. (1) BETTERTHANBRIE was not Holland's selection, but she scored a romping victory at the bottom level on 12-1, adds Jason Bartlett, and moves from post eight to the pole position.

Race 4 - NW5000L5 Pace

(2) IDEAL WHEEL might have needed that start on 1-22 since he hadn't raced yet in 2021 prior to that appearance. He gets to move in from post eight to the two-hole and retained Dan Dube over two others. (1) SPORTS BETTOR dropped down to this class on January 19 and was second after a first-over effort. I think he'll likely be the favorite and the one to beat. (4) MACHEASY A lands at the NW5000L5 class tonight after facing tougher since winning his local qualifier on the 11th of December. I wouldn't be surprised to see him come up with an improved performance.

Race 5 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(1) JEWELS FORREAL starts from the pole position in this fairly wide-open race and gets another shot with Kakaley driving her. Maybe she needs a drop down to the bottom level to find the winner's circle like she did on 11-10, but I'm willing to give her a chance. (2) COVEREDNDIAMONDS N has a win and a second since getting claimed by trainer Matt Adamczyk and should have every chance for another good performance from post two tonight. (3) OLIVIA CAMDEN GB just missed extending her streak of top three finishes to four straight as she came in fourth last Thursday. She's been solid since coming down from Saratoga, and I will include.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 6 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(6) GREAT UNKNOWN owns two wins and a second since joining the Burke Brigade and invades from Ohio. I think he might offer some value given we haven't seen him here before and the presence of others drawn inside, so I'll swing with him. (4) BEERTHIRTY K steps up after starting his 2021 campaign with wins over NW3's and NW4's. Both of those victories were impressive, and he kept Scott Zeron in the bike. (1) HAYEK was pounded down to 2-5 in a NW7 race on January 14 but disappointed with a fifth-place finish. I think he's vulnerable tonight, but it's not out of the question that he rebounds.

Race 7 - F&M NW23250L5/30000CLM Pace

(3) MACHNHOPE returns from Dover and gets a chance to not race at the Open level. I'll hope she can take advantage with Bartlett taking the call. (1) SEASWIFT JOY N cruised to a pretty facile win in this class last Thursday and lures Andrew McCarthy over for one assignment tonight. (4) ROBYN CAMDEN exits the Open this week. She was a good second on 1-21 when the race set up for her closing kick, and I have to think driver Jim Marohn Jr. will be shooting for similar here.

Race 8 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(8) CORAL BELLA wound up with the outside post as she slides down from the NW10000L5's. She won handily from the seven-hole the last time she faced NW7500L5's on 10-29, and I'll look for Kakaley to map out a winning trip. (3) KEENE OLIVIA came in second behind the well-meant Norman's Madeline when she was in this class two back and gets another chance to be piloted by Bartlett. (2) MOTU MOONBEAN N downed NW7500L5 foes on December 1 and got a confidence-building win over optional $12,500 claimers a week ago.

Race 9 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(2) TIPP CITY held on for third last Thursday against NW15000L5's and now returns to the class where she scored her last victory on 11-19. (3) NORMAN'S MADELINE advanced from sixth to fourth in the last quarter in the same race my top pick comes out of and is another usable Stafford trainee on the program. (7) THE CHARGING MOA N delivered a week ago when she got a chance to face NW7500L5's. She hikes back up here but closed from eighth to third in the last quarter at this level on January 21.

Race 10 - F&M NW15150L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM Pace

(1) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE faded after a first-over trip last Thursday, but I think the aggressive chance she got signals good intentions, and she should be able to work out a good trip from the pole. (6) POPPY DRAYTON N came in third to Seaswift Joy N in a NW20000L5 contest a week ago. She drops tonight and should be a contender. (7) WISHY WASHY GIRL kept Marohn Jr.'s services tonight. They seem to get along well, and Marohn Jr. usually drives her aggressively.