Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 2/22

MEET STATS: 24 - 96 / $178.60 (-$13.40)
BEST BETS: 3 - 10 / $9.10 (-$10.90)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 10 / $28.70 (+$8.70)
BEST BET - MABALENE N (9th)
SPOT PLAY - STEALING (3rd)

Race 1 - F&M NW4/63614LT / F&M NW2/25000LT Drawn Inside Pace

(6) RAISE THE ANTE gets to drop out of the NW6 class tonight. She had much more success against NW4's, including a win on November 23. (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE squeezed into this race by a dollar under the expanded lifetime earnings cap and should be the one to beat coming off a rallying second-place finish a week ago. (1) COALFORDSNSHINE GB was the runner-up in her U.S. debut over at the Meadowlands on February 10 and has Yannick Gingras to drive again for Ron Burke.

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Race 2 - 3-5YO 50000-75000CLM HCP Pace

(6) CERTIFIABLE has hit the board in three straight outings, including a win three back, and now is with Per Engblom after a claim. That also means Gingras taking over the driving. (7) GREAT SOMEWHERE is four-for-four to start 2023 and just won in a lifetime-best clocking last Wednesday. Jared Bako claimed him out of that race, and he picks up Matt Kakaley with Jason Bartlett not available in the first two races. (5) ROSE RUN X-CON keeps racking up good performances and top-three finishes, including a runner-up result to Great Somewhere a week ago.

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Race 3 - NW5501L5 Trot

(6) STEALING rallied from sixth to second in his first start of 2023 down at Freehold on February 10 and shows racing at the top level at Dover as recently as early November of last year. He also gets a shot with Gingras. (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE double-drops out of the NW10000L5 class and gets significant post relief to go with. Trainer Ricky Bucci sent out a bunch of live horses last week also. (3) DOWN THE PIKE MIKE broke before the start a week ago but had been racing well prior to that, and I will include.

Race 4 - NW5000L5 Pace

(6) CHIEFS BEACH gives the bottom level a second try here after gaining some spots in the final quarter on 2-14. I think this is a softer group he's facing as well, as millionaire Western Joe was among the horses he met in that contest. (1) LATE MAIL N is racing on a quick turnaround from Pocono (he's also entered there on February 18) but faced tougher company from outside posts in his last two local tries. (4) HE'S ELECTRIC woke up with an improved effort when he slid down to this class a week ago and gets another chance with Bartlett.

Race 5 - NW10625L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5 Trot

(1) BARRY BLACK tumbles from the NW20000L5's to this NW10000L5 base class race and drew the pole position again. As long as he avoids a miscue, he should be able to handle this group. (2) BLUEBIRD JESSE moves to this level from the $50,000 claimers and has a trainer change. He also gets a new driver with Braxten Boyd going in the bike. (3) MISSION VOYAGE gets significant post relief tonight and exits the $50,000 claimers.

Race 6 - 20000-25000CLM HCP Pace

(4) BETTOR BE OSCAR A exits the $30,000 claiming level here and over at the Meadowlands and adds Gingras in the bike. (8) STATEMENT MADE A went a long way on the lead from post eight in his debut for trainer Bako on February 10. He's stuck outside again tonight, but I can't imagine they'll be taking back to last. (1) HEART ON MY SLEEVE finished with pace against $15,000 claimers on 2-14 and moves up in class tonight. He does offset that by starting from the pole.

Race 7 - 3-5YO 50000CLM Pace

(3) STELLAR YANKEE is a horse I used a couple times earlier this meet without any luck, but he does have post relief tonight and gets away from some of the best horses in this class like Great Somewhere, Rose Run X-Con, and Certifiable. (2) SHIP WRECK BEACH K returned to his winning ways back on February 8 and trainer Izzy Estrada has been hot at the Meadowlands. (4) WHAT ABOUT BOB owns just a two-for-50 win record but recently joined the Engblom barn, and I'll toss him in the mix.

Race 8 - 50000CLM Trot

(2) P L OSCAR appeared well-meant last week as he left from post seven but broke on the first turn. He recovered to finish fourth after that and moves inside on the gate tonight, so I'll give him a chance. (3) INFINITY STONE enters this tilt off a winning effort in this class on 2-8 and hails from the Engblom stable. (6) LINDSEY'S PRIDE has been in the top two in four straight efforts, and I expect he'll be firing out again.

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Race 9 - F&M NW7/75685LT Pace

(7) MABALENE N looked like a pretty serious mare at Yonkers last year and returned with an eye-catching qualifier at the Meadowlands on February 11. (5) LOUISIANA GB comes in off a sick scratch and an off-the-board finish in her U.S. debut at the Meadowlands, but that was against tougher company, and the bettors thought enough of her that night to send her off as the favorite. (4) CAPTAIN'S STAR is very sharp right now with just one result outside the top three thus far in 2023. She does move back up in class after tallying over NW4's a week ago.

Race 10 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Trot

(1) THE LAST CHAPTER switches to an inside draw here after a number of outside assignments and gained spots and ground in the final quarter a couple of weeks ago. He also gets a driver switch to Gingras. (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU picked up a confidence-boosting win on the front-end against bottom level rivals last Wednesday and should be capable of handling the first step back up the ladder. (7) ON HIGHER GROUND drops out of the NW10000L5's after a rallying second-place finish in his 2023 debut a week ago. Bartlett has the drive this time.