Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 7/20

MEET STATS: 139 - 495 / $942.30 (-$47.70)

BEST BETS: 19 - 48 / $62.20 (-$33.80)

SPOT PLAYS: 11 - 48 / $154.40 (+$58.40)

BEST BET-KOMODO BEACH (8th)

SPOT PLAY-WALOVER (9th)

Race 1 - 2-4YO NW1/12500LT Trot

(3) CHEF ROCCO owns a zero-for-21 record but was well-bet in this class a week ago and gets a driver switch to Jason Bartlett. (1) GOTTA HABIT beat NW1 company on the half-mile oval at Ontario's Grand River Raceway last month and is a first-timer out of Scott di Domenico's barn. (1) POP POP'S TOMMY broke his maiden at this level last Thursday and didn't have to move up the ladder. Dan Dube takes over the driving assignment.

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Race 2 - 50000-75000CLM HCP Trot

(5) ALL CHAMPY put in another good effort last Thursday to finish second and gets to start out of the Di Domenico barn again since he wasn't claimed. He seems overdue for a win and hopefully can get it done tonight. (6) OH BOY has become the new big fish in this class with three straight victories and races for probably the hottest training operation at the track right now. (2) VALI HANOVER has been sharp for a while outside of the one start on June 29 where he made a miscue, and I'll include.

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Race 3 - Open Handicap Trot

(4) ON HIGHER GROUND avoids Hillexotic here after back-to-back runner-up results to that foe in the top class. I'll bank on that making the difference and use. (2) YANKS DUGOUT hasn't missed the board in his seven outings so far in 2023 and just missed last time at Pocono against a classy rival in Incommunicado. (6) STORMY KROMER also gets away from Hillexotic and was third behind ON HIGHER GROUND a couple of weeks ago in the Open Handicap.

Race 4 - 50000CLM Trot

(4) GAELIHILL didn't fire last Thursday but he did have a little gap in his schedule before that race and is back on a regular rotation tonight. Hopefully being in the Ron Burke barn for an extra week helps also. (1) PERRON is two-for-two since coming into this class and starts from the pole here with that strong early speed he has. (7) CANTKEEPMIASECRET starts from the outside but did overcome the six-hole to finish third to PERRON back on 7-6.

Race 5 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) BRANQUINHO hasn't really shown much in 2023 to inspire a lot of confidence but finds the bottom level here, switches back to an inside post position, and adds Dube in the bike. That tells me an aggressive approach is forthcoming. (1) SHARK PLAY takes a second crack at NW5000L5 company for the potent Jason Bartlett/Per Engblom duo and slides isndie on the gate to the pole. (3) RHODENA ROAD seems pretty sharp by virtue of his back-to-back 27 and change final quarters, and I'll toss him in the mix underneath.

Race 6 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(4) CALDERONE makes his third start on Lasix tonight and owns a prior victory at Yonkers back on May 11. (6) ROSE RUN YANKEE went a big trip two weeks ago to finish second in this class and doesn't have to start from the eight-hole here like he did in that event. (2) CANDY BOMBER had to do the first-over work in a pace-less race last Thursday and wound up third. He moves inside on the gate off that effort and has been knocking on the door.

Race 7 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT / NW20000L5 or NW10 PM Races LT Draw Inside Trot

(6) OUTSIDE THE FIRE won pretty easily in this class two back and gets to return to it tonight after competing in the Open Handicap most recently. He made a miscue in that race, but I'll hope that was just a blip and that it might even inflate his price some. (7) HL REVADON is two-for-two since coming back off the bench, including a win at this level a week ago. (5) WHAT SHOULD I GOO chased HL REVADON last Thursday and won up second. She's been sharp for an extended period of time.

Race 8 - 3-5YO Open Pace

(1) KOMODO BEACH closed with pace in his first try at this level last Thursday. Tonight he has post one and picks up Bartlett. (3) GREG THE LEG finished up his mile in 27 and change a week ago, gets post relief and has won in this class before. (5) ULTIMAROCA comes in riding a two-race win streak and kept Jordan Stratton in the bike over my top selection.

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Race 9 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(6) WALOVER broke stride behind the gate two weeks ago but was raing well prior to that and switches to a catch driver in Gingras this time. (1) BAR COINS won in this class on 7-6 in his first start for these connections and shifts in from post seven to the pole position. (5) CAL MILES N SHELL is sharp and comes off a win in a stakes event at Goshen Historic Track. Dube will try and keep his good run of form going.

Race 10 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) FREQUENT IMAGE ships up from Harrington into Travis Alexander's barn, and it appears like he's been facing tougher company in Delaware. I also don't mind that he picks up Joe Bongiorno from the inside post. (4) PRESTIGE SEELSTER disappointed on July 3 but drops to the NW5000L5 class for a high-percentage barn, and I could definitely see him with a quick turnaround. (2) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N didn't have any chance from the eight-hole on the 3rd of July but was third against NW10000L5's two back and has been offering solid value.

Race 11 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(8) MUSCLE DAN is saddled with starting from post eight, but there doesn't seem to be an abundance of leavers in this event, so hopefully George Brennan can fire him out and take it from there. (2) TAP ME BLUE CHIP gained spots and ground in the final quarter last time out and has shown the ability to get to the engine in the past. (1) WANIA returns to an inside post this time and everything this barn is sending out right now seems live.