Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 12/15

MEET STATS: 285 - 978 / $1,565.50 (-$390.50)
BEST BETS: 49 - 89 / $154.10 (-$23.90)
SPOT PLAYS: 12 - 89 / $87.20 (-$90.80)
BEST BET - NUTTINBUTTHEBEST (4th)
SPOT PLAY - SWEET PINK (6th)

Race 1 - 25000CLM Pace

(3) SWAGASAURUSREX has some "sneaky good" form right now and draws inside for the first time in a while. He wasn't Jason Bartlett's choice but gets a very good replacement in Matt Kakaley. (7) I GET THAT went a long way on the lead a week ago before getting picked off late by the pocket-sitting favorite. There doesn't appear to be a lot of early speedsters in this race, so I'll bank on them blasting out with him again. (2) ROLLING WITH SAM switches over to this class from the NW5000L5's. Trainer Ron Burke is sending out a lot of live horses right now, so I will include.

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Race 2 - 30000CLM Pace

(5) MARTY MONKHOUSER A doesn't show much on the page in his last few, but he's also been plagued by outside posts. He drew better tonight, and that could allow driver Jordan Stratton to be more aggressive with him. (1) MACHIAVELLI tried to go down the road a week ago but tired in the last quarter. He moves to the pole position here and makes his second start out of the high-percentage Gareth Dowse barn. (2) ROCK N TONY took advantage of the hot pace set by Machiavelli to catapult to a victory last Wednesday. If there's any speed to chase, watch for him to be closing.

Race 3 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(1) VOLARE makes his second start after a layoff tonight, and they were pretty aggressive with him last week, giving him a try first-over. I expect he'll be tighter, and he's worth another chance. (5) BELIEVER has been facing tough foes out of town lately and should appreciate getting to face bottom level competition at Yonkers. (3) MOON BRIDGE was in against NW6's when last at Yonkers on 10-7, so this is a lot easier spot than that. He has just one win this year, but has finished second and third a combined 11 times.

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Race 4 - F&M NW4/50000LT / F&M NW2/25000LT Drawn Inside Pace

(5) NUTTINBUTTHEBEST is on quite a form spree right now and gets to face mixed NW2/NW4 company tonight. I expect her to cruise. (6) FASTERTHANARUMOR has been out of the top three just once in her last seven chances and hails from the always potent Tony Alagna barn. (7) COMMANDER CATHY N drew the outside post, but closed well to finish second here on 11-24 and is the lone 4-year-old in the field.

Race 5 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(7) BLUFFINNER drops out of the $50,000 claiming group he's been facing since mid-October and gets Jason Bartlett to drive. I'll bet on him being handled aggressively and put him on top. (4) LIMERENCE was empty a week ago but has class and post relief here. I could easily see him rebounding. (5) MUFASA AS gained ground in the final quarter last Wednesday and gets to reunite with Kakaley in this event. They teamed up for a second-place finish against NW7500L5's back on 10-13.

Race 6 - F&M NW6/75000LT / F&M NW4/50000LT Drawn Inside Pace

(4) SWEET PINK was scratched out of a scheduled start a week ago, but I'll trust her connections to have her ready, and it caught my eye that Bartlett took her over two others, perhaps signaling she's live. (5) BABS JANSEN put in a strong first-over try last Wednesday to finish second and might be the one to beat tonight. (3) TIAMOGONEDANCEN has faced tough foes from outside posts in her last two tries. She moves inside here, and I also think this group isn't as strong.

Race 7 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(2) CHUPPAH ON made a big first-over move to get into contention against NW8's last week before fading. I think that aggression against better was a positive sign, and I'll use her as she moves down to face NW7500L5's tonight. (6) PURE COTTON makes her third start out of the sharp Lance Hudson barn tonight and also slides out of the NW8 class. She was Jordan Stratton's choice of a few as well. (4) IDEAL HANNAH has hit the board in both of her chances at this level since moving to Travis Alexander's stable, and I'll include.

Race 8 - NW7575L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(3) CON AIR HALL drew much better tonight in his second start for these connections, and I expect he'll be on or near the lead. (1) TORKIL woke up like I thought he might on the drop last week, rallying to finish second. He takes a second crack at NW7500L5's here and landed the pole. (7) HOBBS had to settle for third as the favorite a week ago after doing the first-over work. He moves outside on the gate this week, which doesn't help his cause.

Race 9 - 30000CLM Pace

(1) MAGRITTE rallied to win last week in his debut for Dowse. He now has three straight victories, and he wasn't claimed out of that race, so I'll put him on top again. (3) IT'SGOODTOBEDAKING has an inside post for a change this week. He was able to get a third from the seven-hole last Wednesday, so I think he's pretty sharp. (6) THISJETSABOOKIN shows finishing first or second in five of his last seven chances and has shown the ability to leave strongly enough that this draw shouldn't hamper him too badly.

Race 10 - 50000CLM Trot

(1) MAGIC VACATION just missed on the front-end last week in a much-improved performance. Tonight, he moves to the pole position and picks up an aggressive driver in Dan Dube, who has steered him before. This horse was in the Open not all that long ago, so he has some class to him, and I'll swing. (3) VAINQUEUR R P NO won for the third straight time last Wednesday and was claimed by Anette Lorentzon. That barn is pretty sharp with trotters. (6) ON HIGHER GROUND owns a prior win in this $50,000 claimer and just need some pace to chase to set up his rally.

Race 11 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(6) GREY continues to work her way down in class tonight. She was not Stratton's choice, but the fact they went to Dube would seem to indicate that they'll continue to be aggressive with her. (3) SUMATRA retained Stratton's services as he has the class drop/post relief combination going for him. (5) RESITA won the last time she raced in this class and gets reunited with Kakakley for the first time since late October.