Yonkers: Friday 10/18 Analysis

MEET STATS: 233 - 637 / $1,204.40 (-$69.60)
BEST BETS: 30 - 56 / $93.00 (-$19.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 13 - 56 / $110.80 (-$1.20)
BEST BET - SHEZALLAPPLES A (9th)
SPOT PLAY - ANGEL'S PRIDE (11th)
Race 1 - 25000CLM Pace
(3) DO OVER HANOVER took one unsuccessful shot against $40,000 claimers and now drops back to a level where he's had plenty of prior success, winning in his last two appearance in this company for Allard. (2) HALF A BILLION hung around for fourth after being outside at every call on 10-4. Gets major post relief off that effort and should get a cleaner trip. (5) AMERICAN VENTURE just missed by a nostril on Octoer 4 in another quality effort for DiDomenico. Big threat here.
Race 2 - NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Trot
(2) SUMATRA fell just short to a well-meant Taco Tuesday on the International Trot undercard. Returns to the flat mile distance here from a good post and was Bartlett's choice. (5) MAJESTIC BRAYDEN won in his second start for Bongiorno down at Harrah's Philadelphia after a second locally on 9-30. Steps up the class ladder some, but I think he fits against these. (3) SHOWMEYOURGUNS also exits the race won by Taco Tuesday on Saturday. Has had outside posts in his last two, so he draws much better here tonight.
Race 3 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace
(1) CATCHA LEFTY A has had the bad post blues in his two starts at this level, but he has the pole position tonight. His win back on 9-10 was impressive against lesser, and this is a strong driver/trainer tandem in Marohn Jr. and Harmon. (3) SPORTS BETTOR closed with plenty of interest from post eight back on 10-5. He gets an inside draw tonight and sticks against the same company. (2) FULLBACK is dropping down a bit on the class ladder tonight and has a new set of hands with Goodell taking over. Nice rallying second from the outside draw when last seen against NW10000L5's on 9-14.
Race 4 - 25000-30000CLM HCP Pace
(5) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN sat back and then rallied nicely in his first start for Harmon on October 4. The winner of that race, Denver Seelster, came back off that race to beat NW8 company Monday at Yonkers, so that may have been a live race. (4) WINDSONG JACK is another dropper on the card for Allard. Stormed home to win on 9-27 from post eight against similar. (3) FIREBALL returns to claiming company tonight. Draws inside for a change after having the seven and the eight in his last two, and he was competitive against $40,000 claimers.
Race 5 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace
(2) SHANE ADAM hasn't had much success since the win back on August 8, but he gets to drop down another notch tonight, he draws well again, and he cuts back after racing in an added-distance event on October 7. (5) BRAVO TEX N looks like another early contender for the Marohn Jr./Harmon duo as he gets the same class relief my top selection does after an even fourth behind the classy Christen Me N. (4) CARLISIMO made the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series final up at Woodbine Mohawk Park and now joins the Hudson barn. He is a 3-year-old tackling older foes, but he looks like a nice horse.
Race 6 - F&M Open Pace
(6) TEQUILA MONDAY came off a bit of a hiatus to race well against the best of the division in the Allerage at The Red Mile. Was unbelievably good in her two local wins on 6-28 and 7-5, so I'll go with her. (3) IMPRINCESSGEMMA A gets the test for class here, but she's done nothing wrong coming in, winning four straight, and she has another good post to work with. (1) ROBYN CAMDEN upset in the open on the undercard of the International Trot, and she gets the pole this time instead of post five.
Race 7 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(4) LIFETIME TRUST raced conservatively on Saturday after the brief layoff and the two qualifiers. She gets a bit of post and class relief tonight, and she's reunited with Brent Holland, who drove her to two straight wins back in June. (2) KEENE OLIVIA has a major change in post positions tonight after having the ten over at the Meadowlands and two sevens locally in her last three. Finished with interest across the river at The Big M on the 11th. (3) FIREBBY A returns to the east coast tonight after racing in the Midwest lately. She races from a high-percentage barn and just missed by a nose against better when last seen at Yonkers on 8-9.
Race 8 - F&M NW21500L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(5) NEVERFORGETWHOUR normally does her best racing in this class, and she gets to return to it tonight. Picks up Bartlett's services as well. (2) LAKEISHA HALL hasn't raced at Yonkers since back in April but ships north from Harrah's Philly tonight. She's on a strong run of form, but she's been unable to win since 8-9, and I will try to beat her. (3) ALEXIS FAITH sees her run of outside draws since coming down from Canada end tonight as she gets to start from post three. Loses Brennan to Lakeisha Hall, but Zeron is a fine replacement, and the post relief should help her cause.
Race 9 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(2) SHEZALLAPPLES A slides into this level in between the NW20000L5's and NW10000L5's tonight and looks like a good fit. Kept Bartlett over another in here and moves inside on the starting gate. Might be able to wire this group. (4) VORST was an even third after tracking a well-meant HP Sissy on 10-4. Also gets to move into this company from the NW20000L5's. (3) SHADY CAROLINE steps up a bit tonight but put in a big effort from post eight to finish second last time out and has been racing well for Alexander in her recent miles.
Race 10 - NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Trot
(5) NEW HEAVEN finished third in the open twice on the page and rallied well to get third against better on 10-12. Drops again here and Marohn Jr. has plenty of options given his versatile racing style. (1) SWANSEA is the other apparent standout in here as he made up ground on October 5 against the NW30000L5's in his third start after a bit of a layoff. Has Brennan back in the bike tonight and looms from the pole. (3) BLENHEIM made a big middle move in the added distance race on Saturday and then flattened out. Shortens up to the mile distance tonight and will look for a cleaner journey.
Race 11 - F&M NW30000L5/3&4YO F&M NW10 Pace
(4) ANGEL'S PRIDE retreats from the Open tonight where she finished second and third in recent appearances. Was in vicious form before stepping up to that level, so I'm hoping she's that good again tonight and Siegelman sends her down the road. (3) RECLAMATION has hit the ticket in her all her local appearances, but hasn't been able to win. Qualified well over at the Meadowlands and retained Brennan. (6) QUITE A SIGHT moves out on the gate tonight, but she might be able to leave enough to get positioned.