Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 4/29

MEET STATS: 68 - 258 / $421.40 (-$94.60)

BEST BETS: 12 - 26 / $45.00 (-$7.00)

SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 26 / $18.20 (-$33.80)

BEST BET-SHELLIE DE VIE (1st)

SPOT PLAY-DIAMONDTEQUILASHOT (9th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) SHELLIE DE VIE picked up a bunch of spots and gained ground from an outside post last Thursday. She has the pole position tonight, gets another chance against the bottom level, and I'm hoping driver Jason Bartlett will use a more aggressive approach that's worked with this mare in the past. (6) LADYBELUCKYTONITE converted from off-the-pace a week ago with an impressive rally. She's back in the same class again, and I could see her doubling up. (2) CHASE YOU drops out of the NW7500L5's and also moves inside on the gate.

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Race 2 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(3) BREEZING PRAYER miscued before the start last Thursday and doesn't have a great win record, but I did like his recent victory at Pocono, and perhaps driver Austin Siegelman learned something about him in that race a week ago that he can put to use tonight. (1) ROOKIE SEASON had a good enough campaign in Canada last year to make the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final and was second against NW2's at Pocono when favored on 4-20. (2) SAMEDAME LIFE AS has shown some talent in his brief career so far, hitting the board in all three of his appearances in Pennsylvania. Note that he was second most recently to Bluffinner, who cruised to a facile win at Yonkers last week.

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Race 3 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(1) IRON MISTRESS delivered on the trainer/driver change last week. She does step up in class, but I think there's room for additional improvement and will use again. (2) COVEREDNDIAMONDS N also moves up a level after winning last Thursday. She prevailed gamely from first-over and held off a classy mare in Angel's Pride, who was favored, so I'll include. (3) PONDER THE ODDS has gone downhill since an impressive win in her comeback on 3-11, but she gets reunited with driver Jim Marohn Jr. as she gets some class relief, and maybe that will wake her back up.

Race 4 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(4) THREEDEE DELIGHT A will be a play-back for me tonight as she makes her second start for trainer Nick Devita, and I thought she did finish up her mile with some interest a week ago. (3) ANGEL'S PRIDE is likely to be 1-9 as she hits the bottom level, but she had pretty much every chance to win last Thursday and couldn't deliver. I'll try and beat her. (7) QUITE A DELIGHT N forged her way into the lead in the stretch last week after having to do the hard work from first-over but couldn't hold on. I think she'll get the cover trip she does well with tonight as Marohn Jr. takes over the driving from an outside draw.

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

(7) MOTU MOONBEAM N gave way grudgingly late in the stretch a week ago after leading from post eight and battling with a first-over rival. I think she should be on the point again tonight, and I believe she'll appreciate dropping from the optional $25,000 claimers back to the optional $15,000 claimers. (5) E R HILARY owns a 0-for-13 record this year but that was a very strong final quarter she had last Thursday given the windy conditions. She also slides down from the NW10000L5's. (4) TELLITSASSYMAE begins her rise back up the class ladder after defeating NW5000L5's last Thursday. She was not Brennan's choice, but Dexter Dunn, who put her season's mark on her at the Meadowlands, picks up the call.

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

(3) CINDERELLA DELIGHT performed well in her initial start for trainer Gil Garcia-Herrera last Thursday, finishing third behind Coveredndiamonds N and Angel's Pride. She's shown plenty of early speed since coming in from Ohio, so I'd expect her to be on or near the lead again. (1) VIBRENT KALLY hasn't made much of an impact yet at Yonkers, but she does drop tonight. She did her best racing in Ohio when driven aggressively, so I have to think that's coming from the pole position. (7) HIGH ROLLING A kept Jordan Stratton over others in here as she exits the NW10000L5 class. She was a rallying second to a strong rival in North Star Ideal at this level two back.

Race 7 - F&M Open Handicap Pace

(7) SNOBBYTOWN came up just short in the final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, finishing third after a pocket trip. She's been a force in this class for a while, and she's the one I prefer tonight. (8) RACINE BELL overcame the eight-hole to win impressively again last Thursday. Bartlett gets the drive back here, and I expect him to blast out again. (1) MONICA GALLAGHER grabbed a check in the Blue Chip Matchmaker final, taking fifth at odds of 57-1. She has a considerable post edge on the fancied mares here and could be sitting a good trip.

Race 8 - F&M NW18300L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/NW9 Pace

(5) FEELIN RED HOT retreats out of the Open to a more reasonable level tonight. She didn't have her preferred trip in that race, either, as she wound up first-over. She'll likely be on the lead here. (1) PARISIAN BLUE CHIP drops out of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series and kept Dan Dube over a Garcia-Herrera trainee. (2) PAIGE'S GIRL shifts over from the NW8 class to this one. I liked what she did back in the M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series, and she's kept good form since then.

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

(6) DIAMONDTEQUILASHOT returns to Yonkers tonight after making her last start at the Meadowlands. This is the lowest level she's been at since coming east from Buffalo and Northfield, and she raced well when Scott Zeron drove her on April 1 as she was fourth in a race won by Racine Bell. (1) NORTH STAR IDEAL cruised to a facile win against NW7500L5's a couple weeks ago, and I don't think she'll have much issue with the class hike, especially since she has the pole position. (7) BALFAST N gained spots and ground when starting out of the Matt Adamczyk barn for the first time on the 15th of April. Todd McCarthy has gotten along well with this mare and is in the bike again.

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

(2) I'M VERY SPECIAL kicked home pretty well again last Thursday at this level to finish fourth and moves in from post six to post two. (5) JIVE DANCING A improved last week in her second start for Garcia-Herrera, picking up a second, and looks like one of the main dangers. (3) SHECANDANCE N has been idle since late September of 2020, but did pick up her last win in a similar class to this one at Yonkers on August 20.