Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 9/29

MEET STATS: 207 - 707 / $1,112.00 (-$238.70)
BEST BETS: 37 - 66 / $118.50 (-$7.70)
SPOT PLAYS: 7 - 66 / $44.50 (-$83.90)
BEST BET - OUR WHITE KNIGHT (9th)
SPOT PLAY - LIMERENCE (2nd)

Race 1 - 12500CLM Pace

(2) COACH CAL gained ground in the final quarter again a week ago and retained an inside post. I will give him a shot. (5) BUGGER BRUISER has hit the board in four straight races and been claimed three times in-a-row. He probably needs to be included. (1) BEGINNER'S LUCK shows a good race/bad race pattern lately, which means he'd be sitting on a better effort tonight if it holds. He also has a barn change to consider after being claimed.

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Race 2 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot

I know (7) LIMERENCE doesn't show much on the page right now, but he makes his way to the bottom level tonight and is capable of turning it around at any time. (3) WHETHER OR NOT FI had a bad night a couple of weeks ago as he broke stride twice when favored. He might be the one to beat if he minds his manners. (1) LINCOLN TUNNEL finished with a little interest last Wednesday in his first try down from Canada. Perhaps he'll be handled more aggressively with the switch to the pole position.

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Race 3 - F&M NW3/25000LT Pace

(3) DASHINTOTHEBEACH N won three straight in New Zealand in June and July and qualified very nicely at Pocono last Wednesday. I will put her on top in her U.S. debut. (5) FRENCH SHAKER closed well a week ago and makes her second start out of the Jenn Bongiorno barn. (1) TAVA made both the New York Sire Stakes and Kentucky Sires Stakes finals, picking up a check in the former event. She'll probably appreciate getting to shift to overnight company.

Race 4 - NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Trot

(1) DRAZZMATAZZ had no shot last week from an outside post but got the rail tonight, and he also drops an addtional class. I'll hope for an effort like that third-place finish against NW15000L5's back in late July. (4) IM THE MUSCLE takes a third crack at NW7500L5's after finish third the last couple of Wednesdays. (8) STINGLIKE A B K continues to have poor luck at the draw, but he slides down from the NW10000L5's and posted his last win at this level back on July 7.

Race 5 - 25000CLM Pace

(7) LIFEWITHJOHN invades from Ohio out of some fast races and into the Bongiorno barn. (5) EGOMANIA is one of the few horses trainer Jared Bako hasn't won with yet at Yonkers, but he just missed at this claiming level on 9-17. (1) MASTERSON steps up off a win over $20,000 claimers. The last time he faced $25,000 claimers, he had an outside draw, so I don't think he's a write-off from the pole position.

Race 6 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace

(2) STAR CAPTAIN makes her Yonkers debut tonight. She's been racing in a lot of stakes events lately, but does own a victory in the NW3 class down at Harrah's Philadelphia. Her half-brother Bettor's Wish loved Yonkers, so hopefully that trait runs in the family. (4) FILLY suffered her first career defeat when she stepped up to the NW4 level last time out, but it was still a good effort, and you can never discount a Bongiorno starter. (1) NATCHEZ BELLE didn't get involved from post eight at Yonkers two back but has good enough results versus NW3's and NW4's in Pennsylvania to make me want to include her, especially from post one.

Race 7 - F&M NW7600L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(1) PRAY THE ROSARY slides in from post eight on 9-16 to the pole position tonight. She won from the pocket two back, and that's the trip I'd like to see her get here. (6) EYE POPPING races for a trainer (Ricky Bucci) who is sending out a lot of live horses right now, and she won very impressive on September 16 against NW5000L5's. (7) MORNING HAS BROKEN hasn't won in two starts for Bongiorno but did race well both times.

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Race 8 - F&M NW6/81000LT Pace

(3) LARJON LEAH gets some post relief tonight after gaining positions and ground in the final quarter a week ago. She's shown the ability to go down the road before, so that's an option that could present itself. (7) EASY TO PLEASE rallied nicely for the second straight race last Wednesday to finish second to a heavy favorite in Milieu Hanover. (4) ELLAGATOR had back-to-back second-place results against NW6's two and three back and gets out of the eight-hole here.

Race 9 - NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Trot

(3) OUR WHITE KNIGHT hikes up from NW7500L5 level but does so off an impressive win and looked like he might be able to make his way up the ladder. (1) INNISFALLEN romped in an amateur race over at the Meadowlands and now gets the pole and a catch driver tonight. (4) ZAGSTER gets to slide down after four straight appearances against NW15000L5's and also doesn't have post eight to contend with like he did on 9-18.

Race 10 - NW5000L5 Pace

(6) JM'S DELIGHT put in a big first-over effort last Tuesday to finish second. He gets to drop a notch off that mile, and I could see him wiring this field. (3) BIG SIR is probably another contender out of the Bucci barn tonight as he was fourth in the same race my top pick exits. (5) MCCLINCHIE N worked out a cover trip last week and was second to a well-meant winner. He gets to move in from post seven to post five tonight.