Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 1/19

MEET STATS: 3 - 20 / $12.70 (-$27.30)
BEST BETS: 1 - 2 / $3.50 (-$0.50)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 2 / $0.00 (-$4.00)
BEST BET - OOH RAH (6th)
SPOT PLAY - FIGHTING EVIL (7th)

Race 1 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(1) PREACHER MAN plunges to the bottom level in his Yonkers return, and though rejected by Jordan Stratton, he will be my top pick. (6) THANKS FOR LEAVING gained spots and ground from off-the-pace last Wednesday and could be sharper tonight in her second start of 2022. (5) WILLIE B WORTHY was the horse that Stratton stuck with in here as he invades from Monticello. I respect the driver selection and will include.

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Race 2 - F&M NW2/25550LT Pace

(5) WHO'S SMOKIN N just won in facile fashion in this class a week ago and certainly looms an intimidating presence tonight. (2) BYTHEWAY HANOVER couldn't rally off dull cover in that same event my top pick exits, but she moves inside on the gate here and could be closer to the front. (3) IDEAL CHIP has finished second in four straight starts, including to Who's Smokin N last Wednesday.

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Race 3 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(2) MY BOY CHRISTIAN drops and moves inside tonight, and trainer-driver Pat Lachance sent out a couple of winners last week. (4) CON AIR HALL makes his first start of 2022 tonight. He was third in this class after doing the first-over work on December 15. (6) PETER'S EXPRESS also makes his first appearance of the year here. He was in against NW10000L5's when he last competed on 12-15.

Race 4 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(7) BLUFFINNER missed a scheduled start last week, but he's debuting for trainer Gareth Dowse tonight, and I'll use. (5) IN MY DREAMS slides down from the $50,000 claimers. He hasn't been sent aggressively in a while, but I think he could be tonight. (1) KING CAST landed the pole here after having two outside draws at Harrah's Philadelphia and Freehold.

Race 5 - F&M NW6/75000LT / F&M NW4/50000LT Drawn Inside Pace

(3) SWEET PINK is a horse I'm going to give another chance. Bartlett has taken her over others before, so he must think she has some ability, and she's back on a regular racing schedule tonight after making her 2022 debut last week. (7) COMMANDER CATHY N has hit the board in all of her starts since coming to the U.S. and gets reunited with George Brennan. (4) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY could be another one that's ready for some improvement in her second try of the year. She was Stratton's choice of a pair in this event.

Race 6 - NW5175L5/12500CLM Trot

(4) OOH RAH turned in an improved performance last Wednesday when he dropped to the NW7500L5 class, and he gets to slide down again tonight to the bottom level. (3) SEVEN KNIGHTS was second the last time he faced NW5000L5's on December 1 of last year. (6) TAX SAVINGS hit the board here once last summer and races out of a high-percentage barn.

Race 7 - F&M NW8/100000LT Pace

(2) FIGHTING EVIL invades from the Meadowlands with three straight sub-28 second final quarters, and she was facing the likes of Alexa Skye last time out. I'll swing. (1) BITTY BITTY has just that one defeat on 12-1 since she shipped in from the Midwest and absolutely cruised over that field a week ago. (4) THEBEACHISCALLING has won in this class before. She has a trainer change to Ray Schnittker this year after Steve Jones purchased her.

Race 8 - 50000CLM Trot

(3) VAINQUEUR R P NO responded when challenged last Wednesday and held sway to win his fifth straight race at Yonkers. He won't offer value, but I will put him on top. (4) LUCKY MATTER makes his second start back in ths Travis Alexander barn here and gets reunited with Matt Kakaley. (6) HAT TRICK MARLEAU has hit the board in his last two appearances in this class and was gaining late in the race won by my top pick a week ago.

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Race 9 - 25000CLM Pace

(2) CINNABAR DRAGON probably needed that race last week, and he was stuck outside. He gets major post relief tonight, and trainer Ken Koch's horses always seem to be at their best when Joe Bongiorno drives. (6) MY MIND IS MADEUP was claimed by Dowse on December 15, and I wouldn't be surprised if he improves. (3) I GET THAT raced from off-the-pace last Wednesday, but he also moves inside on the gate here and has shown speed in the past.

Race 10 - NW7700L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(5) LOOK IN MY EYES was facing NW8's when last at Yonkers in December, so this looks like a much more reasonable spot than that, and he was Stratton's choice. (7) IT AINT THE WHISKY drops out of the NW10000L5's but moves outside on the gate. He was second to a well-meant winner a week ago. (3) VOLARE steps up a level here, but he seems to have found his form and put in a strong first-over effort last Wednesday.