Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 5/26
MEET STATS: 91 - 335 / $575.70 (-$94.30)
BEST BETS: 17 - 34 / $66.20 (-$1.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 34 / $18.20 (-$49.80)
BEST BET - DELIGHTFUL Z TAM (3rd)
SPOT PLAY - P C FOREIGN AFFAIR (4th)
Race 1 - NW1 or 11500LT Pace
(2) OCEANVIEW ECHO won three of six starts in Canada a year ago and finished only three-quarters of a length behind New York Sire Stakes champion Test Of Faith in that qualifier down at Harrah's Philadelphia. (4) CRAZY COOL returns to Yonkers after downing NW1's at Pocono. Trainer John Berger is having a good year here with horses like Galleria Gal and Beerthirty K. (8) BLUE ME A KISS won in a fast time over at Tioga but is stuck outside here, and I'll try to beat her, especially since she wasn't Doug McNair's choice.
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Race 2 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot
(3) BIG MONEY HONEY posted all of his victories in 2020 at Yonkers and makes his first appearance of 2021 at the oval against bottom level foes. He picked up spots in the final quarter from an outside draw over at Pocono and slides inside tonight. (5) NEW YORK CHAPTER is now with Jenn Bongiorno after being claimed last Wednesday, and I could easily see that resulting in an improved performance. (6) GREY gets a chance with a catch driver tonight in Scott Zeron and makes her third start out of the Andrew Harris barn.
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Race 3 - F&M NW2/25000LT / F&M NW34300LT Pace
(2) DELIGHTFUL Z TAM was a good second behind the well-meant Olivia Blu a week ago and should be the one to beat in this race. (3) BEAUTY BAYAMA has been knocking on the door, but her second-place finish last Wednesday means she's now one-for-25 in the win column. I'll only use underneath. (5) SEA OF LOVE BC picked up a confidence-building victory over maidens on May 12 and was competitive against NW2's prior to that.
Race 4 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot
(5) P C FOREIGN AFFAIR owns just four wins in 141 career appearances, but he recently joined the Cory Stratton barn and now gets a try with the track's leading driver, Jordan Stratton, in a race where nobody stands out. (7) BROWNIE woke up with an improved performance last week as he closed from seventh to third in the final quarter. That was a positive sign, and I'll include. (1) MONEY MAVEN keeps plugging away at age 12 and did pick up his one win this season at Yonkers. He gets an improved draw to work with off his last appearance up at Saratoga.
Race 5 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace
(2) TELL ME A JOKE couldn't get involved from post eight back on May 13, but she had much better luck at the draw this time, and I like that 27 1/5 final quarter that she showed. (3) FOX VALLEY CHARLIZ also kicked home well in that same race that my top pick comes out of and is going to reunite with Stratton. (6) FEAR MY SHADOW finished third to the classy Angel's Pride when last seen at Yonkers on April 29 and did cross the wire first at Freehold last time out before getting placed for going inside pylons.
Race 6 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace
(1) CLASSICIST started her 2021 campaign with a facile victory in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series at Harrah's Philadelphia and had a good 2-year-old season, too, including a third-place result in the Kindergarten final. (5) MOSSDALE LOTTEE N had to do the hard work from first-up against NW6's a week ago and had to settle for third. She gets back in the NW4 class tonight and is probably the one to beat. (2) WAKEMESHAKEME has shown the ability to threaten at this level and was fourth in a tough NW4 event last Wednesday.
Race 7 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot
(6) WHETHER OR NOT FI gained spots and ground in the last quarter against a well-rated Kandy Sweet last Wednesday and is worthy of another chance as he remains at the same level. (1) STICK WITH ME KID drops after ending up first-over against tough group on 5-14. I think this is a more reasonable spot for him, especially with the pole position to aid his cause. (2) BLUE AND BOLD is the morning-live favorite, but I'll swing against him on top as he exits a breaking performance and hasn't won since back in January.
Race 8 - F&M NW8/100000 LT / NW6/75000LT Drawn Inside Pace
(3) DRAGON ROLL enters on a three-race win streak, and I'm hoping driver Jason Bartlett can take advantage of the post edge he has on the other contenders in here to get her the best trip. (6) SOUND IDEA has also scored three consecutive victories, all on the front-end. Let's see if driver Brent Holland is able to get her to the point again tonight. (4) PETTYCOAT BUSINESS bagged the final of the M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series at Yonkers on 3-23 but hasn't prevailed since. I respect her chances but will slot underneath.
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Race 9 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot
(1) MIGHTY SURF will get another shot from me tonight, as I believe she meets up with a softer group of NW7500L5's this week and could improve as she returns to a regular racing rotation. (7) ABBIE'S CELTICLASS posted a couple of second-place results against NW7500L5's back in late March and mid-April and returns to the level here after facing better lately. (2) SUMATRA took advantage of a chance to face NW5000L5's in his last appearance and scored the victory. I don't think the class hike is too tough for him, especially with another inside draw.
Race 10 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace
(2) YS TALLIA lured Dan Dube off a Gil Garcia-Herrera trainee. That almost never happens, so I'll bank on her being ready off that qualifier down at Harrah's Philadelphia where she closed in 28 seconds. (5) ROCKN PHILLY took absolutely all of the wagering action on 5-13 as she shipped into the Scott Di Domenico barn, and she didn't disappoint. She did get away with very soft fractions in that race, and that may not happen here. (3) RED DIRT STAR came in fourth to some good foes at Harrah's Philadelphia in her last appearance on 5-14, and maybe she can add some value underneath.