Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 3/11

MEET STATS: 38 - 130 / $228.30 (-$31.70)

BEST BETS: 7 - 13 / $27.00 (+$1.00)

SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 13 / $9.90 (-$16.10)

BEST BET-MORE THAN MANY (5th)

SPOT PLAY-AMERICAN TOUR N (3rd)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) ALL ABOUT AMY had her chances hurt last Thursday when the horse she was following pulled and then didn't advance. Her prior start to that one where she was more forwardly-placed was good, and I'll look for a return to that sort of strategy. (4) ZOE ELLASEN ships over from the Meadowlands where she had a couple of good trips against their NW4500L5 class but had to settle for a fourth and a sixth. She might just prefer the half-mile track, and she was racing well at Freehold back in January and February. (5) CHECK MACH has shown the ability to back quickly from poor performances like she had a week ago. The tote board said she was live on 2-17, and she delivered, so maybe keep an eye on that.

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Race 2 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(4) HUNTING AS wound up on the bench last week as the also-eligible, but he returns tonight from an ideal post for his racing style. Todd McCarthy has gotten along very well with him and has the call again in the bike. (6) KANDY SWEET gets reunited with Jordan Stratton for the first time since back on February 11. She has normally shown early speed when he's piloted her, and that could be coming tonight after the off-the-pace performance last Thursday. (1) BEERTHIRTY K downed NW6's seven nights ago to improve to three-for-three this year. He gets another chance in the same class and has the pole position to help his cause.

Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(5) AMERICAN TOUR N works her way down to the bottom level tonight and gets McCarthy back to drive here after Jim Marohn Jr. steered her last Thursday. (1) THREEDEE DELIGHT A has hit the board in four straight between Yonkers and Freehold and was Marohn Jr.'s choice of two. (6) LADYBELUCKYTONITE is probably worth including again after she closed ground and picked up positions in the final quarter a week ago. The tandem of driver Daniel Dube and trainer Gil Garcia-Herrera has been very potent as of late.

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Race 4 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(6) ONEIDA BLUE CHIP makes her third start out of the Garcia-Herrera barn tonight and slides down after two starts against NW7500L5's. She was Dube's choice, and I anticipate he will go forward with her off the gate. (1) QUITE A DELIGHT N draws inside for the first time in a while here. She was not Dube's pick, but Scott Zeron knows her well and gets back in the bike. (2) LA ALWAYS AMARTINI kept up nicely with the well-meant More Than Many last Thursday to finish second, and I could definitely see her following along and hitting the board again from this inside post.

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

(4) MORE THAN MANY did what I anticipated last week, improving after the barn change to Jenn Bongiorno's and winning convincingly from the eight-hole. She does move up in class, but gets post relief, so I'll use again. (3) FREE EXCHANGE slides inside on the gate this time after having posts six and seven in her two tries since coming back after a short layoff. (6) SALLY FLETCHER A was second two back against NW7500L5's and doesn't have the outside post to contend with here like she did on 2-25.

Race 6 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(4) PONDER THE ODDS got hot here last fall and makes her first start of 2021 tonight. Marohn Jr. was her driver during that good run, and he's in the bike tonight after her strong qualifier down at Freehold. (2) FAITHFUL DESIRE finished second against NW10000L5's on February 11 and returns to that level this time after one race against NW15000L5's. (1) HIGH ROLLING A has been sharp in both of her races at Yonkers since shipping in from the Midwest. She hikes up another notch but offsets it with the pole position, and trainer Peter Tritton is sending out live horses right now.

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Race 7 - F&M Preferred Handicap Pace

(7) SHES PUKKA N comes north from Dover after winning the last two editions of the Open down there. She's got a good history at Yonkers, and I'm impressed by her ability to beat the horses she has in Delaware, many of whom are in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series on Friday. (5) BRONSKIMACKENZIE A found the Open class at Yonkers a bit difficult, but this should be a bit of a softer spot, and she gets reunited with McCarthy. (2) IMPRINCESSGEMMA A cruised to a win over a field of NW15000L5's. The Bongiorno barn is very hot right now, and she could be set for a cozy trip from this inside draw.

Race 8 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM Pace

(2) A CRAFTY LADY rushed up to challenge leader Monica Gallagher from first-up a week ago but got rebuffed and faded after that. This mare is in for the optional claiming tag this time, so she gets to drop a level, and has that tandem of Dube and Garcia-Herrera in her corner. I'll hope the class relief and a smoother trip results in a win. (4) POPPY DRAYTON N made front last Thursday but was no match for Princessgemma A in the last quarter. I believe this is a bit softer field she faces tonight, and she's usable. (5) BYE BYE MICHELLE exits the NW20000L5's here. She's done her best racing when handled aggressively, and maybe that'll be coming.

Race 9 - NW5000L5 Pace

(1) CHACHING HANOVER doesn't have a win yet this year, which isn't something you can say about a lot of trainer Paul Stafford's horses. This guy did prevail the last time he met NW5000L5's on 12-14 of 2020, and he gives Dube another contender on tonight's card. (3) GHOST DANCE has been sharp in his last three, finishing third, second, and then fourth from post eight. He gets considerable post relief here. (6) MAROMA BEACH collected a victory against the NW5000L5 class on February 9 and returns to it here after two unsuccessful appearances versus NW7500L5's.

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

(4) FULLBACK went up to the NW10000L5 class in his last try on 3-2 and had post eight to boot. He returns to the NW7500L5 level tonight where he had a second and two thirds in February, and Marohn Jr. has done well lately when driving for trainer Shaun Vallee, as is the case here. (2) IN SPADES is another threat from the Garcia-Herrera barn on the program as he's been part of the ticket in four consecutive efforts. (8) ORILLIA JOE is stuck outside tonight but does have a driver change to Stratton, who has a really knack for overcoming the eight-hole. I will include.