Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 4/18

MEET STATS: 63 - 233 / $395.20 (-$70.80)

BEST BETS: 15 - 23 / $61.70 (+$15.70)

SPOT PLAYS: 4 - 23 / $46.20 (+$0.20)

BEST BET-MISSISSIPPI STORM (4th)

SPOT PLAY-ALLBETSONFRITZ (8th)

Race 1 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(8) BLUE HUNT starts from the outside, but this is quite a low class compared to what he's used to facing and he closed with plenty of pace in his last start up in Canada. I'll swing with him. (7) TYPHOON BANNER N gets to drop again tonight and has two 27 and change final quarters in three outings so far in 2024, hinting that he's got some hidden form. (3) CYRUS N has been facing better while hampered by bad draws. He hit the board the last time he raced at this level back in mid-February.

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Race 2 - Invitational Trot

(4) HILLEXOTIC makes his 2024 debut tonight. He had a very solid campaign a year ago and won the Open Handicap at Yonkers when last seen. His one qualifier at the Meadowlands was good. (5) NOWS THE MOMENT just missed by a neck in the Invitational a couple of weeks ago and is always a contender. (2) I GET IT tallied in the Invitational back on the 28th of March and also showed ability in the Open Handicap at Dover prior to that.

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Race 3 - 40000CLM Trot

(1) INN AT RODANTHE came up just a head short of winning last week when he had to wait for room on the inside from the pocket. He is winless in 11 starts this year, but hasn't been racing poorly by any means. (3) STEUBEN HANOVER debuts for trainer Travis Alexander off a claim and has been one of the top horses in this class through 2024. (4) J-S HOPSCOTCH overcame a break to tally a week ago and has scored the last two times he's been at this $40,000 claiming level. He is a newcomer to Scott Di Domenico's barn after a claim.

Race 4 - NW20221L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW10 PM Races LT/60000CLM Trot

(2) MISSISSIPPI STORM drops out of the class just below the Invitational. He was third in that race, and the horse that won, Tachyon, came back to tally again impressively in a subsequent start. (4) EPOS OSTERVANG DK continues to put up good efforts on a weekly basis and is pretty much a must-include. (1) GAELIHILL tired badly on 3-28 but that was from an outside post. He starts from the pole tonight and gets co-owner Yannick Gingras back in the bike.

Race 5 - 30000CLM Pace

(4) PAT STANLEY N was a winner in this class two back and then third in another start after that. He doesn't face the horse that won against him most recently and gets to slide inside a couple slots on the gate. (2) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH just missed by a nose on 4-8 after cutting the mile. I expect he'll be trying to wire this group as well. (5) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was the runner-up in the same event my top selection exits and shows a victory against tougher $40,000 claimers back in mid-February.

Race 6 - Amateur Race for Winners Over 3498L5 who have raced in a NAADA/AHDC Series this year/17500CLM Trot

(3) ITSONEOFTHOSE absolutely crushed his rivals in a leg of the amateur series at Yonkers on 3-28 and returns tonight after a good second in the Open at Monticello. (2) BACARDI comes north from Freehold off a win from post seven and hit the board in both of the legs of the amateur series at Yonkers he participated in last month. (1) LIONHEAD starts from post one and was a winner the last time he competed in an amateur race on a half-mile track at Freehold back in early March.

Race 7 - 25000CLM Pace

(4) IM A POWERPLAY A stopped badly when last seen on 3-28. He did end up first-over in that race, so perhaps he didn't care for that, and he does show some good efforts against $30,000 claimers. (1) STOP STARING won in a $20,000 claiming event when last seen on 3-27, and you have to respect that given the struggle the others in here have had finding the winner's circle lately. (2) MISSILE SEELSTER was third in the same race that STOP STARING exits and starts from post two. I think he can save ground and hit the board again.

Race 8 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace

(4) ALLBETSONFRITZ returns from Pocono off a third in their NW4 class. I believe those horses he's been facing both over there and here at Yonkers are tougher, and he gets reunited with Jason Bartlett. (5) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK has two wins and a second in three starts since coming in from The Meadows to Travis Alexander's barn and was victorious in this class a week ago. (6) URIEL BLUE CHIP exits open $30,000 claimers to face age-restricted rivals tonight and has a trip excuse from his most recent try on 4-1.

Race 9 - F&M Invitational Trot

(2) PERFECT VIXEN scored nicely in this class on March 21 and returns to action tonight after taking a bit of time off. I'll look for her to stay sharp and use again. (8) TIPSY MONI was assigned the outside but faces just mares here after racing against the boys in the Invitational in her last three outings. (4) NO MAS DRAMA rebounded after a couple of dull efforts with a runner-up result on the front-end a couple weeks ago and did win impressively at this level back on 3-7.

Race 10 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Trot

(2) KEG STAND didn't make much of an impact in two appearances at the Meadowlands, but I think he faces softer company tonight and gets major post relief to go with it. (4) P L OSCAR broke last Thursday but did win at this level back on March 21. I'll look for a rebound and include. (3) HIGHLAND MOWGLI wound up second after cutting the fractions in this class a week ago and tallied prior to that.

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Race 11 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) VIVA LAS VEGAS N closed with a 27 and change final quarter against NW7500L5 foes in his last start on 3-27. He drops to the bottom level tonight and starts from post one. (3) SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL comes back to Yonkers tonight after one start over at Monticello. I'll include and hope for an effort like the one where he was second on February 22. (5) MARLBANK ROAD has been off since last June but comes out of a live qualifier at the Meadowlands and begins his 6-year-old campaign in the NW5000L5 class, which is lower than he was at when he ended his 2023 season.

Race 12 - 40000CLM Trot

(8) MANCLANE prevailed most recently over at Pocono and is back at Yonkers tonight in what should be a softer class than he was at when last seen locally. (6) THE BALLYKEEL DEAL picked up a check in the F&M Invitational on 4-4 and is another horse that should appreciate an easier spot. (2) PERRON starts from an inside post for the first time since back in early March, and while he hasn't won yet in 2024, he has hit the board in five of his 11 appearances.