Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 2/2

MEET STATS: 9 - 50 / $46.80 (-$53.20)
BEST BETS: 1 - 6 / $3.50 (-$8.50)
SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 5 / $0.00 (-$10.00)
BEST BET - PLUMB (9th)
SPOT PLAY - MARCO BEACH (3rd)

Race 1 - F&M NW2/25000LT Pace

(2) BUMP IN THE ROAD doesn't have a great win record during her career, but she gained several spots in the last quarter on 1-19, makes her second start of 2022 tonight, adds Jason Bartlett, and has post relief. (3) IDEAL CHIP has posted five straight second-place finishes, and that's where I'll put her again tonight. She has been racing well against the sharp Who's Smokin N so far this year. (6) ALTA MADEIRA N has been facing better at the Meadowlands since coming over from Australia and has an age advantage as the lone 5-year-old in the field.

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Race 2 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(7) DA BOOGIE MAN has a barn change tonight to Candace Brandstatter, who has been doing very well with her horses so far this year. This horse has shown the ability to be competitive at the bottom level before, and I'll give him a shot. (2) THE IRISHMAN is probably the one to beat in this race as he makes his second start after a layoff and switches drivers from Cory Stratton to Jordan Stratton. (1) CHECKMATE HILL was able to follow in for third last Wednesday after a following trip from an inside post, and I'll look for the same thing to happen here.

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Race 3 - 25000CLM Pace

(8) MARCO BEACH switches over to claiming company tonight. Trainer Travis Alexander is sending out a lot of live horses right now, and I'm not going to miss out on a chance to go with one of his that could be a pretty good price. (3) LETTUCERIPRITA A gave $30,000 claimers a shot in his first start for trainer Jeff Gillis. He didn't have much success that night, but quickly drops down in price and picks up Jordan Stratton. (2) SULLIVAN made an aggressive brush to the lead last Wednesday but faded in the lane. I think he's better from off-the-pace, and I wouldn't be surprised if his new connections change things up and go back to that strategy.

Race 4 - NW5775L5/12500CLM Trot

(1) HAMMER CREEK is going to get another chance from me this week. I thought he finished with some interest from an outside post last Wednesday and has the pole tonight. (5) PAPPY GO GO looks way off form right now, but a drop down to face bottom level foes here could be just what he's been looking for. He was in the Open at Dover as recently as 11-30-21. (2) PRESCOTT gets a shot with Jordan Stratton for the first time in a bit and comes in off a third-place finish at the Meadowlands.

Race 5 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace

(6) GABBY'S GIRL didn't have much in the way of success at the Meadowlands lately, but she romped to two impressive victories over NW2's here at Yonkers in November and December, and I'll hope the switch back to the half-mile oval, plus the Kakaley/Alexander tandem, can put her back on the right foot tonight. (4) WHO'S SMOKIN N steps up to the NW4 level here, but she's three for four in the win column since coming from New Zealand and was impressive in her local triumphs over NW2's. (3) SEA OF LOVE BC shook loose on the lead a week ago and was able to hold on for the victory. I'll include since she was Stratton's choice of a couple.

Race 6 - NW7850L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(6) TIMESTORM lured Kakaley off a couple of other horses in this race, was a solid fourth in this class a week ago, and trainer Carmen Auciello is good to a solid start to 2022. (2) SWEET SOUL DAVID makes his second start for trainer Nik Drennan. His barn is normally pretty sharp, and this horse was a stakes winner in Canada at both 2 and 3. (1) TIDQUIST lost Kakakley's services tonight, but he gained spots and ground in the back-half of the mile from an outside post last Wednesday and drew the pole position tonight.

Race 7 - F&M NW8/100000LT / F&M NW6/75000LT Drawn Inside Pace

(5) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY didn't have any shot last Wednesday from post eight, but she moves inside on the gate here, was victorious in pretty easy fashion two back, and gets a driver switch to Bartlett. (2) COMMANDER CATHY N hasn't missed the board since shipping from New Zealand, but she also hasn't won yet. I will include underneath. (4) BEST HEAD WEST took a lot of wagering attention a week ago in her first start of 2022 but had to settle for fourth. She did keep Stratton over my top pick, so he must be expecting some improvement, but I'll take a swing against.

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Race 8 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(6) STONE IN LOVE faces what looks like a softer group at this level this week. I've liked her closing efforts in both of her starts so far in 2022, and I'll put her on top. (3) BIZET turned a pocket trip into a win a week ago in a lower class. He finished third against NW15000L5's back in October, so this probably isn't out of his comfort zone. (4) IT AINT THE WHISKY was Jim Marohn Jr.'s pick over my top selection, and his trainer has been sending out some live horses thus far in 2022.

Race 9 - 50000CLM Trot

(5) PLUMB makes her first start for Jenn and Joe Bongiorno after finishing second last time out at the Meadowlands. She won the last time she raced on a half-mile track at Saratoga on December 20. (3) VAINQUEUR R P NO saw his local win streak end on 1-19, but he was still a solid second and has a strong history in this class. (1) MADHATTER BLUECHP drops out of the Open, and one of trainer Ken Koch's wins at Yonkers in 2022 came for this owner.