Yonkers: Friday 1/17 Analysis

MEET STATS: 12 - 32 / $63.50 (-$0.50)
BEST BETS: 2 - 3 / $6.30 (+$0.30)
Best Bet: ART SCENE (7th)
Spot Play: SWING CITY (8th)
Race 1 - $10,000 Claiming
(1) INSPIRATION VIEW dropped to this basement claiming level last week and woke up in a big way with a pocket-sitting score; gelding is clearly the one to beat here at a likely short price. (3) MANHATTAN BENNY has been awful recently but he returns to Yonkers in a new barn; could he show improvement? (6) ROCK N ROLL LEGACY also moves to a new barn and picks up Kakaley, who has been doing well so far this season hitting the ticket with longshots. (7) BETTOR REASON N has been okay recently at Monticello and has plenty of local experience; outside post makes it tough, however.
Race 2 – NW15300 in last 5 starts
(3) MAJESTIC MOMENT N flew home last week to dead-heat for second and if the Tritton trainee is within striking distance here he can reach the wire in time. (5) ELYSIUM LINDY is up in class again looking for three straight since moving to the Harris barn. (1) SECRET BRO is best a level or two down but he draws inside again and can hang around for a share. (4) CRAZYCAT hasn’t always been the most reliable type but he’s clearly feeling good now.
Race 3 - $12,500 Claiming
(4) REDONKULOUS was a sharp winner coming off the holiday break and now goes for Allard off the claim, and that barn has been live with practically everything; Brennan’s choice. (2) FINAL JUSTICE has been racing well of late and will probably offer good value here again; include. (6) TORRID BROMAC N looked good in two local starts in December and the veteran finished very alertly last week at The Meadowlands. Both (8) BEYONDTHESILENCE N and NORTHERN ASSASSIN A are solid fits at this level but it remains to be seen if either one gets involved tonight.
Race 4 – F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts
(3) SHECOULDBEGOOD N ships in for the Harmon barn and the recent import looks like she could be a good fit here; watch the board for signs of life. (1) BARON REMY failed at 1/5 last week from a similar spot and the Burke trainee will be heavily favored again. (5) POPPY DRAYTON N never got involved last out from the eight hole in a needed start but the Godinez trainee is capable of better. (7) DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N got away with murder on the front end in beating lesser in her local return; it won’t be as easy tonight.
Race 5 - $20,000 Claiming
(4) ARDIE B SPEED woke up in a huge way last week while facing lesser and the veteran drops back in for a tag tonight; he may be a bit of a reach facing some good ones in here but he has beaten this type in the past. (2) DOJEA SOLO finished very willingly in his 2020 debut and he’ll be more aggressively handled tonight but will also likely be overbet. (3) WIND BLAST broke soon after the start last week ending his night and now he goes for Allard off the claim; mixed feelings. (1) LONE RAIDER should be tighter off last week’s race; Kakaley’s choice.
Race 6 – NW15000 in last 5 starts
(5) MACH TIME N is reunited with Bartlett as Kakaley opted elsewhere and the Banca trainee could show some improvement with the slight drop in class. (1) MILLIONDOLLAR WAVE dropped and popped last out at 18/1 and he’s been competitive in all recent races; hard to take too short of a price on him on top. (3) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN makes his 2020 debut for Tritton and he does show a nice win two back; will he be ready for action here after missing over a month? (6) LACHIE MAGUIRE N debuts for Jenn Bongiorno off the claim and he’s another who’s missed four weeks of action; tough to ignore, however.
Race 7 - $25,000/$30,000 Claiming Handicap
(5) ART SCENE took plenty of money last week despite post eight and missed time and the Banca trainee put in a big effort to be second best; he clearly deserves top billing off that effort. (1) DON’TCALLMEFRANCIS debuts for Allard off the claim while drawing best again and he should be in line for a good trip. (7) REGGIANO stormed home to upset last week but he’s stuck outside again and may have too far to come; include underneath. (2) TRIPLE SEELSTER should be close up throughout from this inside post.
Race 8 – NW10000 in last 5 starts
(4) SWING CITY returned to familiar surroundings and put in a huge effort to just miss at 40/1; he’s beaten better than these in the past so the bump up in class doesn’t concern me. (1) ROCKAPELO is certainly logical moving all the way inside but beware as he’s burned money in the past. (3) TAKE IT BACK TERRY is no longer a top-notch “Saturday night horse” but he should still be competitive with these. (6) BLACK CHEVRON N rallied well last out in a needed start.
Race 9 – NW20000 in last 5 starts
(4) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN gets class relief after last week’s needed start and the Allard trainee should be able to control these. (5) THE LAST CHAPTER was an odds-on winner at this level last month with Bartlett driving. (1) MONEY MAVEN has been feeling good lately and he can carve out a share from this spot. (8) FINNICK ODAIR may be a bit ambitiously placed at this level and he lands all the way outside but the Team Bongiorno trainee has plenty of early speed which can get him into play.
Race 10 – F&M NW15400 in last 5 starts
(3) HURRICANE CALLEIGH certainly needed last week’s start and this barn has been sharper over the last few days; mare likes to win and gets the call. (1) AMATEUR HOUR is up in class off a good second-place finish and she deserves respect starting from the best post. (2) KOTARE YARRA N fits here and was Kakaley’s choice. (6) BELLATRICKS has solid early speed which always puts here into play.
Race 11 – F&M Preferred Handicap
(5) ITTY BITTY and (6) FEELIN RED HOT are a couple of classy mares coming off of productive qualifiers and one of these two should take this but I’ll give the nod to the Allard trained “Bitty” who was looking really good towards the end of 2019. (1) RENAISSANCE LADY K gets tested for class here but she looked good winning her 4-year-old debut.
Race 12 – F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts
(3) ROCKIN THE BOYS A jogged versus lesser last week and the Andrew Harris trainee seems sharp enough to bring this card to a chalky conclusion. (2) CABOWABOCUTTIE had no real excuse in her 2020 debut but could be tighter tonight. (4) SUDDEN CHANGE N is another who can be expected to be better coming back on consecutive weeks. (7) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE finished with plenty of late pace last out and overall she’s been solid for the Temming barn.