Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 4/22

MEET STATS: 63 - 240 / $387.50 (-$92.50)

BEST BETS: 12 - 24 / $45.00 (-$3.00)

SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 24 / $9.90 (-$38.10)

BEST BET-ANGEL'S PRIDE (5th)

SPOT PLAY-THREEDEE DELIGHT A (4th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) QUITE A DELIGHT N drops a level tonight after facing optional $15,000 claimers in her last four tries. She was victorious in this class back on March 11 and gets a chance with Jordan Stratton driving. (3) TELL ME A JOKE has paced home in 28 3/5 in her last pair and seems way overdue for an on-the-board performance. I'll include. (4) ALL ABOUT MADI changes pilots to Austin Siegelman for this attempt, and I expect her to be handled aggressively.

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

Race 2 - NW2/25000LT / NW4/50000LT Drawn Outside Trot

(4) INSURED AM S got a start under her belt from an outside post at Pocono on 4-6. She drew an improved starting position here, switches drivers to the returning Brian Sears, and showed talent in the New York Sire Stakes program a year ago, winning a leg and finishing a close third in the final. (1) DESTINY BLUE CHIP just missed to a heavy favorite in Catwalk AS last Thurday. Driver Todd McCarthy got acquainted with her in that event and is back in the bike here. (5) BLUFFINER backed up his runner-up performance at Yonkers on March 8 with a romping victory at Harrah's Philadelphia in a subsequent performance. He seems to be on the steady improve for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer.

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

Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) FOX VALLEY CHARLIZ posted her last victory in this class on March 24 and returns to it here after making three starts against NW7500L5's (optional $15,000 claimers). She wasn't Stratton's pick, but ended up with McCarthy, who drove her twice earlier this month. (4) CLASSY CHAPEL N raced gamely from first-up last Thursday to finish in third. She was another one rejected by Stratton, so Joe Bongiorno got the call. He won with her down at Freehold on the 12th of March. (3) CABOWABOCUTTIE hasn't won in a long time, but she has hit the board in her last three efforts and could add some value underneath.

Race 4 - F&M NW5200L5/12500CLM Pace

(5) THREEDEE DELIGHT A will be a play for me as she switches barns to the high-percentage Nick Devita stable. She was in good form prior to her last three efforts, and hopefully the trainer change can get her back on the right path. (1) DIXIE STAR N races for trainer Betty Clegg and driver Nick Clegg. They have shown up lately with some horses from Ohio, and this 6-year-old mare has raced at and won at Yonkers before. (7) ANN HILL is winless so far in 2021, but she did finish second in this class on the 24th of March.

Race 5 - F&M NW7975L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(4) ANGEL'S PRIDE gets further class relief in this spot after finishing third when favored against NW10000L5's a week ago. I'm not expecting value, but she looks like she should be pretty formidable. (2) ROCKNROLL ANNIE didn't have a very good trip last Thursday and had to settle for sixth. Her prior start to that was a second against NW10000L5's, so any return to a smoother journey makes her a threat. (3) COVEREDNDIAMONDS N was claimed out of her race last week by trainer Aaron Lambert. She made up a bunch of ground and spots in what was a pretty salty NW7500L5/optional $15,000 claimer and drew an improved post tonight.

Race 6 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(5) IRON MISTRESS makes her first start for new connections tonight after what looks like a private purchase. She's raced for trainer-driver Ray Baynes for her entire career until this point, she's won at Yonkers before, and exits a win at Freehold for Baynes. She also lured Dan Dube off a Gil Garcia-Herrera trainee here, and he usually sticks with that barn. (4) BONTZ N ships back down from Saratoga after a victory. She showed the ability to down NW15000L5's at Yonkers in late February, so I think she certainly figures in this class. (1) BRONZE OVER N finished distanced at Yonkers on the 1st of April. She bounced back with a strong qualifier at Freehold after that, so I'll assume all is well and include. She scored a facile victory over NW7500L5's on 2-24.

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

Race 7 - F&M Open Handicap Pace

I'll admit to being surprised driver Jason Bartlett didn't choose (8) RACINE BELL when final changes came out, as she has been vicious since coming down from Saratoga. Brian Sears inherits the live drive, and I will go with her. (3) GOLDEN QUEST N finished second to Racine Bell in the Preferred on 4-8. She adds Stratton in the bike tonight from a better post than she had a week ago. (4) DEMETER N is the one that Bartlett opted to go with for one of his regular barns in Andrew Harris's. She has done well at Yonkers in 2021, including a win in the Open on March 4, so she's usable.

Race 8 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(2) VICIOUS CIRCLE lands in a good spot here both class and post-wise, I think. She's been an all-or-nothing type so far in 2021 with two wins and no other on-the-board efforts in seven starts. Hopefully the "all" version shows up here. (3) SALLY FLETCHER A has an improved draw tonight after starting from post seven twice and the six-hole once since joining the Chris Temming barn. Expect her to be more involved. (6) ANNABETH was one I tried last week, but she didn't fire and wound up sixth. She does drop a level, so perhaps that will help her.

Race 9 - F&M NW16000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/NW9 or 100000LT Pace

(2) JOSSIE JAMES A went on a speed mission last Thursday at a higher level and tired late. Hopefully that didn't take too much out of her since she was in sharp form prior to that, including a second-place result in this class two back. I like that she gets to move inside on the gate after a number of outside draws, too. (3) DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N has hit the board in her last four appearances and was a good runner-up to the classy Robyn Camden on the 8th of April. (4) MALNIFICENT is another one in this race that has been racing well with a win, a second, and two thirds since 3-25. She has Stratton back in the bike again and gained spots and ground in the final quarter a week ago.

Race 10 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/NW9 Pace

(3) JIVE DANCING A came up short late in the mile last Thursday after leading most of the way. She gets back on a regular racing rotation tonight after having a bit of a gap in her schedule prior to that race, so I'll bet on her being tighter tonight and put on top. (6) I'M VERY SPECIAL might need a drop to be more of a win threat, but she has been gaining in the final quarter in her last couple. She could be one that Sears is a good fit for as he takes over the driving. (2) PONDER THE ODDS has been a little disappointing since a strong win in her comeback race on 3-11. She does have an improved post tonight, so I can't say I'd be shocked if she performed better.