Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 8/18
MEET STATS: 166 - 634 / $982.90 (-$285.10)
BEST BETS: 42 - 65 / $146.30 (+$16.30)
SPOT PLAYS: 9 - 64 / $77.30 (-$50.70)
BEST BET-MAGICAL MAJOR (1st)
SPOT PLAY-SOUTHERN SWAN MAN (4th)
Race 1 - 3&4YO NW2/25000LT / 3&4YO Maidens or NW12500LT Drawn Inside Trot
(6) MAGICAL MAJOR makes his second start out of the Travis Alexander barn tonight. He put in a good effort to finish third on August 4, and I could see him improving. (3) STAMPED BY LINDY was no match for stakes-caliber rivals in the Muscle Hill at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day but was second against mixed NW2's and NW4's at Yonkers before that and faces NW2's and maidens in this spot. (1) BANGIN IN THE HALL makes his third start of 2022 tonight and was fourth in a NW2 race last time out. He adds Jason Bartlett in the bike here.
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Race 2 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace
(1) AMERICAN TOUR N is very sharp right now with six straight on-the-board finishes and switches back to an inside post tonight, giving George Brennan the option to race her on or near the lead. (6) IDEATION HANOVER doesn't have any starts on a half-mile track since 2019, but she was quite adept on them back then. She races for a stout driver/trainer tandem in Bartlett and Jeff Cullipher. (4) NORMAN'S MADELINE picked up a confidence-boosting win over NW5000L5's last Thursday and was Dan Dube's choice in here. She was also second at this level two back.
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Race 3 - F&M NW10256L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace
(1) MILLWOOD BONNIE N squeezed into this race by a dollar (she has $10,255 earned in her last five starts) and also drew the inside post. I like that she also gets another chance with Jordan Stratton driving. (3) BETTERB CHEVRON N was facing NW30000L5's when last seen at Yonkers in July so she returns from Plainridge at a much lower level. She also was Jim Marohn Jr.'s pick of a couple. (2) SPORTS FLIX scored over NW7500L5's a week ago and now begins her ascent back up the ladder. Notice she has a trainer change to Noel Daley tonight.
Race 4 - 3&4YO NW4/50000LT Trot
(7) SOUTHERN SWAN MAN turned in an improved effort with the driver switch to Marohn Jr. a week ago. He gets another shot with him tonight and should continue to offer value against this wide-open group. (2) EXCHEQUER has shown the ability to hit the board against NW4's before but has to bounce back off a miscue last Thursday. (5) STARLIT RAMBO won against bottom-level horses in his first try for trainer Darran Cassar down at Harrah's Philadelphia. He gets Bartlett to drive and I'm sure will take his share of money in the pools.
Race 5 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/3-5YO F&M NW9 PM Races LT Pace
(4) THINK OF GALAXIES raced against males last time at the Meadowlands so just toss that out. Prior to that she was a closing second against NW8's here and the runner-up to top 3YO pacing filly Max Contract at the Meadowlands on July 1. (5) BEYOND WORDS N was third against NW30000L5's in a start at Yonkers on June 16. She drew an improved post compared to her last try at the Meadowlands and gets a shot with Stratton in the bike. (1) WESTERN ROSIE advanced from seventh to fourth in the back-half of her mile a week ago and switches to an inside post here. She also has a driver change to Bartlett.
Race 6 - F&M NW30000L5/3-5YO F&M NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Pace
(4) CHUPPAH ON looks worth another chance tonight as she closed in 27 2/5 last Thursday in her first start back from Ohio and returns to a weekly racing schedule. (2) SHES PUKKA N has a strong history at Yonkers and was fourth in this class when last here on June 9. (6) PURE COTTON is on a top-two streak dating back to early June at Pocono and was victorious three times in four starts in Westchester in June and July.
Race 7 - 3-5YO NW6/75000LT Trot
(6) FLIP THE SWITCH now has four straight wins after tallying last week and has shown the ability to race both on the lead and from slightly off-the-pace. (2) LOVE THIS BAR has just a single victory in 2022 but did finish second in his last two chances against NW6's at Yonkers in June. (3) WILY WALLY hikes up from the NW4 level but does so off an easy triumph and has Stratton to pilot him again.
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Race 8 - F&M Open Handicap Pace
(5) EASY TO PLEASE zipped around the track in a fast qualifier on August 12 and is enjoying a very solid 4YO campaign. I'll give her a shot. (7) DELITFULCATHERIN N is the "now" mare in the Open having won two straight. Stratton is on Easy To Please tonight, giving the live catch drive to Austin Siegelman. (4) DRAMA ACT won the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final at Yonkers earlier this year but has scored just two victories since then. She has been consistently hitting the board, though, so I'll include underneath.
Race 9 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/3-5YO F&M NW10 PM Races LT Pace
(7) SIESTA BEACH handled NW15000L5's with little issue last Thursday. She was second at this level prior to that and might offer a little value from this outside post. (2) GINGER TREE LIZ seems to always do her best racing with Bartlett driving, and he's in the seat again tonight. She rallied strongly to finish second a week ago. (3) ROCKN PHILLY continues to work her way down the ladder tonight and was third in a NW30000L5 base class race in her most recent try.
Race 10 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace
(2) ASHTINI slides down to the bottom level here and also has post relief to go with it after drawing the seven-hole and the eight-hole in her last two tries. (3) SCANDALICIOUS turned in an improved effort last Thursday by finishing third and takes a fourth chance at bottom level rivals. (8) ALWAYS BE COOL absolutely romped in a life's-best mile back on August 4. If she's that good again it won't matter that she has post eight.