Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 3/23

MEET STATS: 46 - 180 / $229.80 (-$130.20)
BEST BETS: 11 - 19 / $37.10 (-$0.90)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 18 / $5.50 (-$30.50)
BEST BET - BELINA (6th)
SPOT PLAY - VAINQUEUR R P NO (9th)

Race 1 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(3) SWANSEA was victorious in his Yonkers return a week ago. That was against NW7500L5's, but he was facing Open company down at Dover and has a good history at this oval, so I don't see it being an issue. (2) CAVALIER GEORGE makes his second start back after a layoff tonight and has an improved post to go with it. (1) ALL CHAMPY has taken three cracks at this level with two on-the-board results. He does get reunited with Jason Bartlett here.

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Race 2 - MGM Rewards Ladies Series 3&4YO F&M Pace

(1) DIVINE DEO didn't have a great trip a week ago and had to settle for third. I have to think she's going back to being on or near the lead here and will use. (2) GABBY'S GIRL has finished second both weeks of this series thus far. Matt Kakaley isn't here, so Bartlett is going to get the call. (3) BYTHEWAY HANOVER turned in an improved effort last Wednesday after sitting on the inside, and perhaps she can do the same thing here and hit the board again.

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Race 3 - NW5000L5 Pace

(6) AWESOMENESS hung around to finish fourth on 3-15 despite a nightmarish trip from post eight. He doesn't have the eight-hole to contend with here, and trainer Gil Garcia-Herrera is starting to send out his share of winners. (3) EPIC ACE can certainly win as he has post relief and picks up Bartlett in his second chance against bottom level foes. I just don't think he's worth the short price he's going to offer. (4) FOUR-STAR FLASH has an improved starting spot after having posts eight and seven in his last two outings.

Race 4 - F&M NW2/25000LT Pace

(8) B VANISH is going to get another shot from me this week. She was wiped out in an incident a week ago and lost all chance. Tonight she has the eight-hole to deal with, but gets an aggressive pilot in Joe Bongiorno to help her. (3) IDEAL CHIP avoided the incident my top pick was caught in last Wednesday and finished second like she usually does. She was Bartlett's pick in here. (5) HORIZON met the same fate as B Vanish as a breaker took her out on the first turn last week. Her effort on 3-9 from post seven was quite solid.

Race 5 - NW5000L5 Pace

(3) I'M J BEE N gained some ground in the final quarter on March 15 from post seven and has an improved draw tonight in a pretty wide-open looking race. (1) ONE OFF DELIGHT A was against NW10000L5's when he was last at Yonkers in February and returns here after a good second-place effort in the corresponding class to this one at Pocono. (4) PASSA-GRILLE BEACH just missed after setting a hot pace the last time he raced in this class on February 16 and has been facing tougher foes since then.

Race 6 - MGM Rewards Ladies Series 3&4YO F&M Pace

(2) BELINA served notice to the other ladies in this series with a romping victory a week ago and has now shown the ability to race on the front-end. (3) STATE OF MIND was third to Divine Deo back in leg one of this event and makes her second start out of the high-percentage Nik Drennan barn. (4) JM BETONSIX is two-for-two in the MGM Rewards Ladies Pacing Series but did make a break on the lead last week. Yannick Gingras is here to drive her this time, and maybe that'll make a difference.

Race 7 - 50000CLM Trot

(7) LINDSEY'S PRIDE invades from the Midwest into Izzy Estrada's barn. He's worked some magic with first-time starters out of his barn at other venues, though not so much at Yonkers. I'll take a swing since it's one of my favorite angles and give him a try. (4) LUCKY MATTER finished third from post seven when dropped down to this claiming level last Wednesday and has an improved draw tonight. (3) WILD AND CRAZY GUY is one of the few Gareth Dowse horses not to find the winner's circle, but he was able to get Smalltownthrowdown back on the winning track a week ago, and I wouldn't be shocked if lightning struck again with this horse.

Race 8 - F&M NW6/75000LT / F&M NW4/50000LT Drawn Inside Pace

(5) LINE EM UP returns to Yonkers tonight after one start over at Pocono. I think this might be a softer group than she was facing back in January and February, and I also like that she gets to team up with Bartlett. (2) OAKWOOD CORAL IR waited to pull the pocket last week and saw the horse in the three-hole get the jump on her. It was still a good effort, and she's certainly a threat. (1) BUMP IN THE ROAD moves up from the NW2's, but she has been in very good form in recent weeks and moves in from post eight to the pole position.

Race 9 - 75000CLM Trot

(2) VAINQUEUR R P NO overcame post eight to finish fourth on March 9 and slides back inside on the gate this time. (4) HILL OF A HORSE had to do the first-over work against a well-meant favorite last Wednesday and ended up third. Given his success at the Open level, I think he is a great fit against this class. (3) MADHATTER BLUECHIP hikes up from the $50,000 claimers but has won two straight and is another horse who shows racing in the Open before.

Race 10 - 25000CLM Pace

(6) DESIRE'S CAPTAIN drew poorly here, but it's just a six-horse field, and he slides down from the $30,000 claimers. He also gets Bartlett for the first time on his page. (1) SWAGASAURUSREX also moves out of the $30,000 claiming level and in from post eight to the pole. (3) SILENT SPLENDOR exits the NW6 class to give this one a try. He's got a bit of an in-and-out pattern going on right now, so he might be sitting on a big mile tonight.

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Race 11 - NW5000L5 Pace

(3) SOUTHPORT BEACH hasn't shown anything in his two tries since coming in from Ohio, but he goes for Dowse first-time off the claim and gets to team with Gingras. (1) HEAVEN'S GAIT lands at the bottom level here and starts from post one for a potent driver/trainer duo in Austin Siegelman and Nick Devita. (5) DELIGHTFUL TERROR was hammered down in the wagering on 3-15 but made a break. He drops out of the NW7500L5's and was Bartlett's choice over my top pick, so you have to honor that.

Race 12 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

(3) CIRCLE OF LIFE AS ships back over to Yonkers after a couple of unsuccessful tries at the Meadowlands. I believe this is her preferred venue, and I will swing with her as she meets bottom level foes here. (2) VOLARE finished second the last time he raced in this class on January 12 and gets to partner with Bartlett. (4) SEVEN KNIGHTS is just two-for-42 in the win column the last two years, but one of those victories was on 1-19 aginst NW5000L5's. He also adds Jordan Stratton in the bike.