Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 1/12

MEET STATS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
BEST BETS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 0 / $0.00 ($0.00)
BEST BET - VELOCITY MCSWEETS (4th)
SPOT PLAY - FASHION FOREVER (7th)

Race 1 - F&M NW2/25000LT Pace

(1) MAGICAL LILY BEAR appears to be a certified closer, so I don't think drawing the rail is a big deal, but her last win against NW2's at Saratoga was very impressive visually, and I'll give her a shot. (4) WHO'S SMOKIN N posted a win and a third in her first two starts in the U.S. down at Harrah's Philadelphia and certainly looks usable. (5) BYTHEWAY HANOVER also invades from Harrah's Philadelphia after winning and finishing third against NW3's in her last two opportunities.

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Race 2 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(3) BIG BAD SWAN closed well to finish third against NW10000L5's in his last start before the holiday break. He drops and moves inside tonight. (1) OOH RAH continues to work his way down the class ladder and also has the pole position. Note that he raced on 12-30 at Harrah's Philadelphia, perhaps giving him a fitness edge on some of the others in here. (2) BAZILLIONAIRE was facing better than this to close out 2021, but as far as a win candidate, I have to pass on him given his one-for-36 record a year ago.

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Race 3 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(1) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN has a long history of success at Yonkers and returns from Pennsylvania and Delaware at the bottom level. (3) TORKIL found the winner's circle just once in 2021, but he does slide down from the NW7500L5's and rallied to finish second on December 8. (5) MOVEOUTOFMYWAY K tallied in the corresponding class to this one at Harrah's Philadelphia on 12-23-21 and has a strong driver/trainer combo in Jason Bartlett and Per Engblom.

Race 4 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(1) VELOCITY MCSWEETS looked very live in her first start for trainer Travis Alexander on 12-16 but got locked in behind a fading leader in the third quarter. Once she got free, she rallied for second, so I will slot her on top. (2) E R HILARY was re-claimed by trainer Dennis Laterza on December 16. She won for him on November 3 of last year and has been pretty solid for a while. (4) YS TALLIA raced in the Open at Yonkers as recently as 11-4-21, so she should be a threat this low on the class ladder.

Race 5 - F&M NW6/75000LT Pace

(4) COMMANDER CATHY N picked up three second-place results in her appearances late in 2021. She gets reunited with Joe Bongiorno tonight, and I'll swing. (2) VIOLETS RAINBOW owns a prior win in the NW6 class and exits a quick mile on December 8. (3) BITTY BITTY won four of five starts here after shipping in from Running Aces and switches drivers back to Bartlett.

Race 6 - F&M NW8/100000LT / F&M NW6/75000LT Drawn Inside Pace

(6) TRIZZLE TRAZZLE tallied in fine fashion in her first start for these connections at Harrah's Philadelphia on New Year's Eve, and she has plenty of half-mile track experience from racing in Michigan. (1) EXTRILLA HANOVER had two second-place finishes against NW6's and NW7's at Yonkers last fall and returns tonight from the Meadowlands for the duo of George Brennan and Ron Burke. (5) SWEET PINK makes her second appearance out of the Scott Blackler stable and retained Bartlett over two horses.

Race 7 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(5) FASHION FOREVER pulled a big upset here on December 15, and I think he has a chance to do the same tonight, especially since he gets a chance with a different driver as Dan Dube hops in the bike. (3) LUCKY MATTER looms as a big threat in here as he was facing NW20000L5's at Yonkers for Travis Alexander before he shipped back to The Meadows. (2) EMOTIONS RICHES was ready despite a near month-long layoff heading into his start on 12-15, cruising to a facile victory. This is a step up in class, but I'll use with leading driver Jordan Stratton remaining at the controls.

Race 8 - 50000CLM Trot

(4) BLUFFINNER will get the nod from me here as he's had a barn change to the high-percentage Gareth Dowse stable. (6) ON HIGHER GROUND has missed the board just once in his last six trips behind the gate, and all he needs is a bit of pace up front to set up his closing kick. (1) VAINQUEUR R P NO was the scourge of this class to end 2021 and went a long way on the lead from an outside post at Dover on December 28 before giving way in the stretch. Bartlett stuck with my top pick, so Stratton takes the lines.

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Race 9 - NW5600L5/12500CLM Trot

(3) HOBBS didn't win a race in 2021, but he slides down to the bottom level and moves inside on the gate here, so if he's ever going to get his picture taken again, you have to think tonight is a good chance. (1) MUFASA AS just missed from post nine against NW4000L5's at the Meadowlands on New Year's Eve. He has the pole position here and Bartlett to steer. (5) VOLARE picked up a confidence-building win down at Harrah's Philadelphia on December 29 and races for high-percentage connections.

Race 10 - 25000CLM Pace

(6) I GET THAT tried to go to the lead on December 15 but ended up getting parked. I'll bank on him being handled aggressively again, being able to make front, and put on top. (2) TIME OUT I'M TIRED took one shot against $30,000 claimers to close out his 9-year-old campaign and is now back at the $25,000 claiming level. He was victorious here on 12-8. (!) SWAGASAURUSREX has shown the ability to hit the board on occasion and has both the inside post and a driver switch to Bartlett working for him.