Yonkers: Analysis for Tuesday 7/12
MEET STATS: 251 - 759 / $1,281.20 (-$236.80)
BEST BETS: 37 - 70 / $150.20 (+$10.20)
Best Bet: LAYTON HANOVER (4th)
Spot Play: CLEAR THE WAY (2nd)
Race 1: NW2 races or $25,000 lifetime Pace
(1) LONE WOLF AMERICAN gets Bartlett back in the bike and lands the innermost post so he may well be controlling the action, trying to top this camera-shy group. (6) LOU'S BEACH has had ample opportunities to seal the deal but has burned plenty of money this year; still a major player, however. (5) CAPTAIN BUTLER put in a solid effort three back but has been unable to duplicate that; he does get needed post relief.
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Race 2: NY Excelsior A 3YO Filly Pace
I think the NY-bred program needs some serious tweaking when NW2's go for a higher purse than these Excelsior races, but anyway (2) CLEAR THE WAY has shown some improvement since we last saw her at Yonkers and MacDonald can have her on an uncontested lead from this spot. (5) NITE TIME DEAL has generally been facing better and also figures to be forwardly placed. (4) PERFECT QUEEN gets Bartlett in the bike and time-wise that was a good race last week at Goshen.
Race 3: NY Excelsior A 3YO Filly Pace
(1) DUDES SWEET BET has won three of her last five and just seems a bit faster than these. (4) BLUEBERRY SHAKE is a late-blooming filly who has looked pretty good since shipping into the Ducharme barn; Bartlett drives. (3) YES INDEED has rallied stoutly in her last two for Erv and Marcus Miller.
Race 4: NW4 races or $50,000 lifetime Pace
(6) LAYTON HANOVER looked pretty good entering the Messenger but failed to make the final; Alexander trainee scorched in 1:50 1/5 in his prior start at Philly and he should be able to handle these. (1) AMERICAN WAY won two in a row at big prices earning an upgrade to NW4; Lachance trainee figures to sit midpack and can shake free with pace. (3) CONTACT ZONE was awful last start as the 1/5 favorite when he pulled the pocket and did the moonwalk. I have to believe he's better than that.
Race 5: NY Excelsior A 3YO Filly Pace
(2) NADINA HANOVER finished willingly in the Park MGM Pace and the filly hails from top connections with the leading driver aboard. Short price looming, but a likely winner. (4) TIME TO ROAR has a breaking problem, but has been good when flat. Kakaley picks up the drive tonight. (3) TONY'S MOM is six for six in the money this year and should pick up another nice share tonight from this spot.
Race 6: NYSS 3YO Filly Pace
(4) VALAR DOHAERIS offered nothing as a two-year-old but has picked up her game this season and arrives off a pair of nice efforts in the NYSS upstate. Dube driving for Svanstedt is a very worthwhile angle. (2) LEE LOO was in a different zip code in the Park MGM Pace but prior to that the Alagna trainee had been going well and Tetrick is back driving from a good inside post. (1) PATSVILLE has been a good earner this season despite only one win, but that was a 1:50 2/5 mark over at Hoosier.
Race 7: F&M $50,000 Claiming Pace
(5) PURE COTTON has been razor sharp since entering this claiming class and the Lance Hudson trainee has shown she can do it from on or off the pace. I do expect Marohn to send her to the front from this spot. (3) JOSSIE JAMES A almost pulled it off two back then got hung to dry last week. Dube should also be forwardly placed again. (4) LARJON LEAH added Lasix for her last start and put in a decent effort facing boys. Despite her lackluster record this year the Bucci trainee appears to be on the upswing.
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Race 8: NYSS 3YO Filly Pace
(2) GOTTHEGREENLIGHT rolled down the road at Vernon two back then put in a super effort to dead-heat for the win in the Park MGM Pace; Bartlett drives the Nifty Norman trainee again and figures to be the controlling speed. (4) A GIRL THAT TWIRLS had a nice two-year-old season and came back strong this year going three for three already. She freshened nicely in a recent qualifier and Sears is here to drive her again. (1) WINE N DINE ME shared the win last start with the top choice in a much-improved effort.
Race 9: NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH is back at the level of his win two back, when he went wire-to-wire from a similar spot. New driver Bartlett figures to send him to the point again and he can take these the distance. (1) CARLISIMO was a good second to the top one in that race two back and he may be looking at a similar trip tonight. (6) ROCK LIGHTS hasn't done much since taking two straight here a few starts back but he did pace in under 1:50 at The Big M last out; Jordan drives again for his brother and may be worth a peek at a big price.