Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 8/19

MEET STATS: 168 - 590 / $969.60 (-$210.40)
BEST BETS: 30 - 56 / $105.70 (-$6.30)
SPOT PLAYS: 4 - 56 / $24.70 (-$87.30)
BEST BET - LUCKY ARTIST A (4th)
SPOT PLAY - EXCHEQUER (3rd)

Race 1 - New York Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Trot

(1) VALENTINA BLU returns to the sire stakes program after getting a check in the Jim Doherty Memorial final at the Meadowlands. Her one try versus NYSS foes was a good second at Saratoga, and she has the pole position tonight. (5) BOMB HUGGER is undefeated so far but does start from the outside post. I will try and beat her. (4) GERTRUDE had been two-for-two but then broke at Tioga. I think she's definitely usable in the hopes of a quick rebound here.

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Race 2 - New York Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Trot

(6) JOVIALITY S cruised at Saratoga in her one New York Sire Stakes try and was very good against open company at the Meadowlands, winning her elimination and finishing fourth in the final of the Doherty Memorial. (2) LITTLE PINK LIES overcame post eight and minded her manners to come in second at Tioga. She gets considerable post relief off that mile, and Ake Svanstedt usually puts his horses in play. (1) GETTINMYSTEPSIN has hit the board in all three of her appearances thus far and drew the inside post.

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Race 3 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(5) EXCHEQUER is just one-for-29 lifetime, but he gets a driver switch to Jordan Stratton tonight and is the only 4-year-old in the race. I'll bank on those factors working in his favor and give him a try. (2) LADY RESORT AS looks like the probable favorite in here as she comes in off a third in the Kentucky Fairs final and has a great deal of half-mile track success. (6) INFINITE ZETTE owns a win and two seconds in her last four starts and is one I'll include.

Race 4 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(3) LUCKY ARTIST A has been facing way better than these out of town and should be tough. (2) FREE EXCHANGE finished third two back and also has a second in this class on 6-30. I'd like to see her more forwardly-place than she was a week ago. (1) MORE THAN MANY makes her third start back after a layoff tonight and has been able to hit the board in a third of her 18 starts in 2021.

Race 5 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(1) BLUE DEVIL tallied at a nice price in his local debut on 8-5. He does move up from the NW2's but slides inside on the gate to post one and races out of a high-percentage barn. (6) DUCHESSPEDIA hasn't raced at Yonkers before, but this looks like a softer spot than that last race she was in at the Meadowlands, and she had post ten over there prior to that. (4) DESTINY BLUE CHIP woke up in a major way a week ago, winning after a pocket trip. She kept Stratton tonight, and I'll include.

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

(6) NEVERFORGETWHOUR returned to action last Thursday with a very good second-place result and gets to drop a level off that. (2) LAURIE LEE won at Yonkers in a NW8 race back in late May and returns tonight after finishing fourth in a NW10700L5 event at Harrah's Philadelphia. (1) BEST HONEY HANOVER is another mare in here getting some class relief, and I have to think she's going to be put in play from the pole position.

Race 7 - F&M Open Handicap Pace

(7) RACINE BELL couldn't get to the front a week ago and had to settle for a closing fourth from off-the-pace. I think getting to move in a notch on the gate will make all the difference and that she'll wire this group. (4) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N is very sharp right now, having hit the board in her last four starts. She was third in the Open last Thursday. (2) JIVE DANCING A had to do the first-over work in the Open last week and wound up fifth. She gets a nice inside post here, so maybe she can leave and sit in the pocket.

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

(7) CANDY ON THE BEACH ships in from Pocono for John Butenschoen. That barn is very sharp, and while she is the morning-line favorite, I'll hope she gets overlooked a bit and put on top. (3) HIGH ROLLING A drops a level after finishing third on 8-5 and was Stratton's choice over others. (1) NORMAN'S MADELINE was one Stratton hopped off, but she was second in this class two back and closed well from an outside draw in a subsequent try.

Race 9 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/NW9 Pace

(2) BYE BYE MICHELLE drew well this time, and this isn't the toughest group of NW15000L5's. I'll hope Jim Marohn Jr. is aggressive with her and can be on the lead or in the pocket. (3) DRAGON ROLL has burned some money in her last two but has hit the board with such regularity that it's hard to leave her out completely. (7) MAJOR BATTLE turned in another great effort to finish second a week ago. She wasn't very lucky at the post draw, but has demonstrated a versatile racing style.

Race 10 - F&M NW30000L5 Pace

(7) SEASWIFT JOY N gets another try in this class after winning in it a week ago, and though she has to move outside on the gate, I think the connections will be keen to take advantage of a second chance to race below the Open. (2) SPORTS FLIX dropped to the NW20000L5's last Thursday and picked up a confidence-building win. I don't think this move up tonight will be too tough for her, especially since she drew well again. (3) NORTH STAR IDEAL also hikes up after winning against NW20000L5's last week. She did hit the board at this level in late June.

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Race 11 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(3) COCKTAILS N DREAMS met up with a tough foe in Hillexotic last Thursday and had to settle for second. He gets away from anybody that difficult here, and Todd McCarthy is in town to drive again tonight. (1) TURBOCHARGEDPETE made an out-of-character break in stride a couple weeks back. His prior efforts were all good, including his win at this level on 7-15, so I'll anticipate a rebound. (5) MOON BRIDGE comes out of a very fast race at Pocono on 7-24 where he just couldn't go 1:52 and change. He was very strong two back against NW6's here.

Race 12 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/NW10 Pace

It tends to be a gamble on whether or not (4) BETALADY is going to keep flat through the mile, but this is a group she's capable of handling if she does, so I'll take a chance. (3) MAN DONTFORGET ME was overtaken in the lane a week ago, but it was still a solid performance, and she returns to a weekly racing schedule here. (1) MALNIFICENT probably needs a drop to be a win candidate, but I think she can follow along from the pole and get on the ticket.