Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 3/13

MEET STATS: 41 - 145 / $229.60 (-$60.40)
BEST BETS: 7 - 14 / $30.20 (+$2.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 14 / $4.00 (-$24.00)
BEST BET - VARSITY BLUE CHIP (3rd)
SPOT PLAY - SMOKIN BY N (5th)

Race 1 - 15000CLM Pace

I've been chasing (3) SWAGASAURUS REX for a bit and will continue to do so tonight as he kept Matt Kakaley over the morning line favorite in here, and I expect one of these times he's going to fire for this high-percentage barn. (1) ATLANTIS rebounded off his bad result on 2-28 with a rallying runner-up finish a week ago. He picks up Joe Bongiorno with Kakaley opting off. (7) MAGRITTE came up empty over at the Meadowlands on March 1 but hit the board in two chances against $15,000 claimers at Yonkers prior to that and should offer some value in exotics.

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Race 2 - Winners of 3 but not more than 5 PM Races or 60000LT / NW2/25000LT Draw Inside Trot

(6) ALLSUMMERLONG AS got up for second last week looks like he could be the controlling speed in here if George Brennan opts to send him like he did back on 2-14. (5) WILD WAY didn't get invovled from post seven a week ago but slides in a couple of notches on the gate tonight. He was victorious two back in this class and makes his second start on Lasix. (4) MR KNOWITALL just missed hitting the board on the 28th of February and was third in a NW4 test at Pocono prior to that. I will toss in underneath.

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Race 3 - F&M NW2/25000LT Pace

(7) VARSITY BLUE CHIP has won twice in this class already and has demonstrated a versatile racing style to boot, making the outside post less of a factor than normal. (2) NIRVANA HANOVER broke last Wednesday but that looks like it was a bit out of character. She recently joined the Per Engblom barn, and he usually gets horses to start moving forward. (3) NEITHER DO I gets post relief in her second appearance for trainer Scott Di Domenico and a driver switch to Brennan. She had some good results down at Dover before coming north.

Race 4 - NW10541L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(7) KEAYANG KAMIKAZE A missed a scheduled start last Wednesday as he was sick, but he kept Jason Bartlett over an Engblom horse in this race, which always catches my eye, and he won impressively two back. (1) HIMSELF N moves to the pole position this week in another attempt at this level. Brennan is going to take over the driving, which could signal a more aggressive approach is forthcoming. (6) MIND HUNTER has hit the board in his last two efforts. This is the Engblom horse that Bartlett chose off, so Kakaley gets a chance to team up with him.

Race 5 - 20000CLM Pace

(1) SMOKIN BY N finished fifth last week at this level but was re-claimed by trainer Dennis Laterza, who had success with him two and three starts back. Add in that he starts from the pole, and I'll put him on top. (6) I'M J BEE N saw his lengthy win streak end last Wednesday but still hit the board with a third-place result. He goes for trainer Travis Alexander off the claim tonight. (5) CAPTAIN T HANOVER is on a six-race run of top-three finishes and tallied in this class a week ago.

Race 6 - Winners of 6 but not more than 9 PM Races or 125000LT Trot

(2) MANCLANE closed with trot from a no-chance spot last week. I anticipate him being back on or near the front tonight as he gets significant post relief and a driver switch to Brennan. (1) FRANK THE ELDER has a victory and a third thus far in 2024 and slides inside on the gate from the seven-hole to the pole position this time. (5) MAHONE SEELSTER is already six-for-eight with top-three finishes this year, with five of those efforts being seconds. I'll toss him in underneath again here.

Race 7 - Winners of 3 but not more than 5 PM Races or 60000LT Trot

(8) CAL MILES N SHELL drew the far outside tonight, but I think this is a significantly softer group than the horses he's been chasing since he returned to action and he's worthy of a shot at what will hopefully be a strong price. (2) I GOT THE TAB cut the fractions and wound up fifth in this class last Wednesday and picks up Joe Bongiorno in the bike for the first time this year here. (5) ENERGYSOURCE came in third in his first pari-mutuel appearance of 2024 a week ago and should have every chance for an improved performance with that start under his belt.

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Race 8 - F&M Winners of 3 but not more than 5 races or 75006LT Pace

(6) BETTA WATCH OUT N owns two wins and a second in her three U.S. starts thus far. The horse she defeated last time out, Ultimate Speed, came out of that race to tally against NW15000L5 company on March 8. (2) PEMBROKE SOUTHIE was ready to roll in her first start of 2024 last week and won comfortably. She gets post relief off that mile for Joe and Jenn Bongiorno and could certainly show further improvement. (1) SILKY STRIDE starts from an inside post for the initial time in her 4-year-old campaign here. She had a pretty good stakes campaign a season ago, and I could see a better performance ahead.

Race 9 - 15000CLM Pace

(2) PRESTIGE SEELSTER didn't threaten from an outside post when last seen on 2-28 but his other two appearances for trainer Laterza were wins and he moves inside to the two-hole tonight. He also kept Brent Holland over a horse he won with last Wednesday. (6) DAAMERICANSKY delivered on the front-end a week ago with the driver switch to Bartlett, and he is back at the controls here. (1) CAMPORA N scored in this class back on February 14 and held third last week despite having to do the first-over work against DAAMERICANSKY. He has post relief in this dash, too.