Yonkers: Friday 1/10 Analysis

MEET STATS: 9 - 24 / $43.00 (-$5.00)
2019 BEST BETS: 2 - 2 / $8.20 (+$4.20)
2019 SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 2 / $0.00 (-$4.00)
BEST BET - WISDOM TREE (10th)
SPOT PLAY - LORD WILLOUGHBY A (6th)
Race 1 - 20000-25000CLM HCP Pace
(2) WIND BLAST had his good closing kick in his final appearance of 2019, rolling by in the lane to win. He moves inside on the gate tonight, and trainer Hudson sent out a winner on Tuesday night. (3) LONE RAIDER was unable to win a race last year but came in second and third in December with Kakaley driving and he is back in the bike tonight. (5) GOKUDO HANOVER is the obvious question mark here since he was second in the Preferred at Yonkers as recently as 11-16 and is in for just $20,000 tonight. If he's right he'll probably crush these, but I'll take a stand against.
Race 2 - NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Trot
(3) WILLYORWONTHE did his fair share of winning last year, visiting victory lane 15 times. He is now in the Allard barn off three wins in his last four in the preferred and preferred-2 at Ontario's Flamboro Downs, and given how good Allard's pupils have been so far during the first week in the meet, I'll stick him on top. (2) BARRY BLACK got the job done in his last start on 12-13 and gets another opportunity at this level. Definite threat to double up with the red-hot Jim Marohn Jr. in the bike. (5) PERFECT STICK was in great form in Pennsylvania and then ran into a tough group on the 17th at December at Dover. This is a more reasonable spot for a sharp trotting barn, and she was Kakaley's choice.
Race 3 - 12500CLM Pace
(3) REDONKULOUS scored wins in his last three appearances against $12,500 claimers here at Yonkers, draws well, and Brennan takes back over in the bike. (1) UNDERTAKER was going to drop to this class to end 2019 but was scratched sick from post eight. He gets the pole position here and should have an up-close position. (5) ALEPPO HANOVER owns just one win since last summer but Bucci listed Bartlett and Jason took him over a Banca trainee, perhaps signaling confidence in a solid performance by this horse.
Race 4 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace
(2) KIMANI N receives both class and post relief in this event and was Kakaley's choice of two. (1) SHADY CITY ran into stout competition in both of his starts at the Meadowlands in December. This is likely a better spot for him given his success up at Saratoga. (6) TIGERS WAY usually has some late pace as was the case in his last pair over at the Meadowlands. I could see him following cover and getting up to hit the ticket here.
Race 5 - 25000-30000CLM HCP Pace
(5) WESTERN BEACHBOY got parked out from post seven on the 13th of December and predictably tired. He's been freshened up since then, and I'll hope for an easier trip tonight and a winning performance. (3) RUPP couldn't get involved from post eight in that same race my top choice comes out of, but I liked his two wins prior to that, and he draws much better here. (8) ART SCENE drops from the $40,000 claimers here and was Bartlett's choice. He was able to get in the pocket twice from post six back in November, so I think he has enough tactical speed to handle the outside draw.
Race 6 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace
(6) LORD WILLOUGHBY A was in some tough spots from outside draws at the Meadowlands, including the Preferred three back. He gets some additional class relief here. (3) ROCK THE NITE rolled to an easy win at the Meadowlands to start his 8-year-old campaign on January 4. He was in against NW15000L5's when last seen at Yonkers on December 12, so this is an easier spot than that. Bartlett came over to drive him at The Big M and retains the assignment here. (2) IDEAL ONE A is another horse who was in against NW15000L5 company before Yonkers went on hiatus. He rallied from way back to finish second in the Preferred at Freehold on the 21st of December, and Marohn Jr. should know him since he drove him that day.
Race 7 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(5) COLOR ENVY didn't do much in her first few tries for Allard but was victorious on 12-17. She does move up in class, but she's threatened at this level previously. (6) HURRICANE CALLEIGH has been in good form for an extended period of time. Bartlett hops off, so Kakaley gets a shot. (3) ROCKIN THE BOYS A lands in a reasonable spot here for her return to Yonkers. She didn't really have much to offer at the Meadowlands and failed at low odds at this level when last in Westchester, so I'll swing against.
Race 8 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(4) SANDY'S BEACH appears to be another one for Allard that can threaten on this card. She does her best work a notch lower than this on the class ladder, but this is not a particularly strong NW20000L5 in my estimation, so I think she's usable. (1) BARON REMY has had multiple chances against NW20000L5's and hasn't been able to find the winner's circle. As I mentioned, this is probably the softest edition of this class she's run into, so I would not be surprised if she won from the pole position. (6) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE finished with some interest back on the 13th of December and draws a bit better here, starting from post six rather than the outside.
Race 9 - NW15950L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Trot
(5) MAJESTIC MOMENT N raced well in his two Meadowlands efforts and returns to Yonkers tonight. When last seen locally he was a closing third against NW20000L5's, so he finds a softer spot here. (1) MONEY MAVEN has post relief here off those two races in the preferred at Freehold. He last raced at Yonkers in this class on 11-22 and was parked the whole way, but hung around to finish fourth in a game effort. Hopefully a smoother trip is coming this time. (7) DAYSON found a winning spot at the Meadowlands and could easily do it again, but he made a couple breaks at Yonkers in September and November, so I went elsewhere.
Race 10 - F&M NW30000L5/4&5YO F&M NW10 Pace
(1) WISDOM TREE exits the Open at Dover and ships north into a winnable spot. She gets post relief from those outside draws in Delaware and in the TVG final at the Meadowlands and was Bartlett's choice. (3) SUDDEN CHANGE N qualified well enough at the Meadowlands and has won at this level before back on 11-1. She also kept Brennan over the Burke trainee in this race. (8) SNOBBYTOWN has been on a roll against NW6's and NW8's locally and now steps up to the NW30000L5 class. Brennan did pick off, but I respect what she's done so far.