Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 5/22

MEET STATS: 97 - 329 / $592.20 (-$65.80)
BEST BETS: 19 - 32 / $73.80 (+$9.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 6 - 32 / $85.50 (+$21.50)
BEST BET - METAL MAN (9th)
SPOT PLAY - FADE TO LIGHT (2nd)

Race 1 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(7) HIMSELF N adds Lasix in his return to action tonight and went by an open pacer in Desperate Man in his qualifier at Pocono on 5-15. (2) MARLBANK ROAD romped over bottom-level foes on May 11, and although he steps up a notch here, this doesn't appear to be the toughest field. (3) CURBSIDE PICKUP gained ground in the final quarter in a fourth-place finish on the 11th of May and takes another shot at this class.

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Race 2 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace

(4) FADE TO LIGHT closed with plenty of pace on May 13. He gets some post relief in this spot and a driver switch to Matt Kakaley. (2) THAT DOG WILL HUNT broke through with a win against open $30,000 claimers on the 13th of May and faces age-restricted company tonight in his first try for trainer Scott Di Domenico off the claim. (5) ON DAYBOO is a second-time starter for Joe and Jenn Bongiorno and I think he could show improvement off an even fourth-place result on 5-13.

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Race 3 - NW5101L5/12500CLM Pace

(5) CAPTAIN BATBOY disappointed as the favorite in a NW7500L5 tilt last time out at Harrah's Philadelphia but comes north to Yonkers, finds the bottom level against a formless bunch and gets reunited with Jordan Stratton. (6) BLANK STARE hit the board in two attempts in the corresponding class to this one at Harrah's Philadelphia and shows a third against NW20000L5 foes here as recently as early April. (4) MIND HUNTER has managed just a fifth and a seventh in two tries against NW5000L5 company but gets Bartlett back at the controls tonight and hails from the barn of leading trainer Per Engblom.

Race 4 - 3-6YO Open Pace

(3) PLEASELETMEKNOW raced well in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, including a win in the fourth leg. He's been off since 4-22, but I anticipate trainer Travis Alexander will have him ready to fire. (5) IT'S A ME MARIO in the midst of a great campaign with seven wins and two seconds in nine starts. He's won twice in this class and was a fast-finishing runner-up the time he didn't triumph. (6) DUNKIN' came up just a neck short of defeating IT'S A ME MARIO when they met on May 13 and was very good in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series prior to that.

Race 5 - 40000CLM Pace

(5) MOVIN' ON UP finds a much more reasonable spot here than the Invitational Pace he was in when last seen on 4-29, and he was also facing tougher claiming or optional claiming company prior to that appearance at the top level. (2) THRASHER had to settle for fifth as the favorite on May 13 but was racing well prior to that and has new connections off another claim. (1) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES steps up from the $30,000 claimers but is in great form and starts from the pole.

Race 6 - NW15551L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW8 PM Races LT Pace

(4) ULTIMAROCA drops after finishing third against NW20000L5 company last time out. He hasn't raced in this class in his lines but did win pretty handily against NW10000L5 foes on 3-27. (2) GREG THE LEG has hit the board in his last three outings, including a victory on 5-7. Scott Zeron piloted him to that triumph and is back in the bike here. (5) ROCK THE BELLES was a rallying second at this level on the 13th of May and gets a bit of post relief tonight.

Race 7 - NW20000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW 10 PM Races LT/60000CLM Pace

(6) VENTURESOME ARDEN N didn't threaten in the 3-6YO Open Pace last time out but drops to a lower class tonight and gets reunited with Bartlett. I have to think a horse that won a leg of the Borgata and the consolation is the one to beat in this tilt. (4) THIS IS THE PLAN returns to Yonkers after a confidence-building victory against NW15000L5 rivals down at Harrah's Philadelphia on May 12. The veteran has over $3.1 million earned. (1) EUPHORIA N slides down from the NW30000L5 base level and moves inside on the gate this time.

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Race 8 - NW10501L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(8) SEMI TOUGH had to settle for second last time out at this level but did race well. He shows a victory in the Invitational as recently as 3-11, and I expect George Brennan will be aggressive with him, even from the outside. (1) TWIN B HEART THROB just missed by a head against NW15000L5 company on May 7 and returns to Yonkers after finishing fifth in the above-mentioned race won by This Is The Plan at Harrah's Philadelphia. (5) HUNTING ZONE hasn't made much impact in his last two outings, but that was against NW15000L5's, so he's getting to drop here.

Race 9 - NW15000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/NW8 PM Races LT Pace

(1) METAL MAN should be ready roll here in his third start back after a layoff. Add in that he moves from the eight-hole to the pole position, and he'll be my top choice. (5) PURPLE POET was a gaining third in a NW15000L5 event last time out and trainer Andrew Adamczyk's barn has been sending out some live horses. (6) KINGSVILLE has hit the board in three straight appearances, including two in-a-row at this level.