Yonkers: Friday 11/8 Analysis

MEET STATS: 252 - 703 / $1,321.10 (-$84.90)
BEST BETS: 34 - 62 / $108.80 (-$15.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 62 / $118.40 (-$5.60)
BEST BET - NEVERFORGETWHOUR (5th)
SPOT PLAY - ANGEL'S PRIDE (11th)
Race 1 - 12500CLM Pace
(3) WILD WEST came on a bit late on 10-31 in a mile that was very quick for this bottom claiming level. He draws well here and has shown the ability to go to the lead in the past, and maybe he can do that here. (6) RIPROY is probably the key to this race as he hasn't made a pari-mutuel start since last December. The qualifier looks good enough for this level, and he was way higher on the class scale than this when last seen. (8) HORSING AROUND starts from the outside but is in good form and can maybe find a spot if he leaves a little.
Race 2 - NW15150L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Trot
(4) IN MY DREAMS woke up some with an improved effort last Friday as he was handled much more aggressively. He should be able to get up close or on the engine again tonight, and that would help his chances. (1) LAZURUS usually does his best work a level or two below this one, but he shifts to the pole here and can probably follow along and hit the board. (2) NEWCASTLE returns to Yonkers tonight after a second-place finish down at Harrah's Philly most recently. He was competitive in higher classes in Westchester this summer and gets an inside draw.
Race 3 - 20000CLM Pace
(3) LET'S FOAL AROUND was tenacious on the lead and held sway to the wire last Friday. He stays against the $20,000 claimers and draws another good post, so I'll hope he can repeat. (6) STATESMAN N keeps putting in good efforts as the 12-year-old is enjoying a strong season. Solidly defeated by my top choice as the favorite a week ago, but he's usually a threat against this claiming company. (4) WIND BLAST took one shot against the $25,000 claimers and now backs up to the $20,000 claimers where he won impressively two starts back.
Race 4 - 25000CLM Pace
(6) PROLOGUE gained ground in the final quarter off cover a week ago. He stays on the outside part of the gate tonight, but Marohn Jr. gets back in the bike. I wouldn't mind seeing a return to the leaving tactics he showed in wins back in September, but his ability to close gives him versatility. (2) NERVE OF STEEL N is sure to attract attention as he goes to Bongiorno off the claim and has won in this class previously. (4) TAKEITTOTHEFACE comes up from Delaware and into the Burke barn. I usually like to see one start with new horses in his care, and I'll do that here.
Race 5 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/NW10000L5 Pace
(1) NEVERFORGETWHOUR gets major class relief tonight, starts on the gate after starting in post nine last Friday, returns to the flat mile distance, and lands Bartlett's services. I'm expecting her to wire this bunch. (5) ITTY BITTY closed some in the final quarter back on 10-25. She slides down the class ladder just a bit tonight, and I've been waiting for her to find the form that got her in the Matchmaker Series earlier this year. (2) WISHY WASHY GIRL has to step up again tonight, but she's won two of her last three and Bongiorno gets the drive back with Stratton going to another one.
Race 6 - F&M Open Handicap Pace
(1) LADY DELA RENTA A won an edition of the Open at Yonkers when she had an inside draw, but struggled when she had to start from the outside. She returns here tonight after two romps at Saratoga and does get a good draw for her chances, starting from the pole. Kakakley takes over in the bike. (5) WISDOM TREE was fourth to the best Open mares in the division out at The Red Mile and qualified well out at Hoosier. She owns plenty of racing experience at Yonkers and came in second in the open here back in August and September. (3) ROBYN CAMDEN hasn't been able to duplicate that win from 10-12, but it seems like she might be in line for a pocket trip here.
Race 7 - 25000-30000CLM HCP Pace
(6) PRETTY BOY SWAG has done nothing but win impressively since coming east from Iowa, and I think he meets up with a field he can get a victory against in his Yonkers return. (1) TRIPLE SEELSTER has been hot property at the claim box and has been razor-sharp too. Gets the best of the draw again, and though Goodell hops off, he gets Kakaley to drive. (5) BET ON BRETT takes a pretty big drop tonight, exiting the $40,000 claimers. Marohn Jr. went to my top choice, so Dube gets a shot with him tonight.
Race 8 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(4) LISPATTY retreats from the Opens and NW30000L5's to this level. She's rarely this low in class, so the connections have to be hoping to take advantage. Bartlett was listed but chose another one, so Marohn Jr. gets the live drive. (2) ANNIE HILL won well two back then was a bit flat a week ago. She moves inside from post five to post two, and any repeat of that effort on 10-25 would make her a big threat. (1) ROCK ME BABY steps up but won very impressively from post seven last Friday. Brennan opted off and Dube gets the assignment as she moves inside to the pole position.
Race 9 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/NW10000L5 Pace
(5) ALWAYS GIGGLING finished up well last Friday when she was saddled with post eight. Has a better mid-pack draw tonight, her effort two back was solid, and she meets up with a beatable group here. (7) SANDY'S BEACH is on some run of terrible post draws as she gets "relief" by drawing the seven instead of the eight. She closed in the final quarter a week ago and could follow my top selection in a cover flow. (1) CABOWABOCUTTIE picked up a long-overdue win back on Halloween night and now steps up a bit. She draws well, though, and as mentioned earlier, this is not the toughest group at this level.
Race 10 - NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Trot
(7) ICANFLYLIKEANANGEL scored by 11 lengths when last seen in this class back on 9-13. While I'm not expecting that sort of romp, certainly this is some class relief after he's been racing mainly in the Open lately. (3) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN had a similar look on his program page the last time he dropped to this level and then won two straight in easy fashion. Has post relief tonight too after three straight post sevens. (4) IM THE MUSCLE is another one in here taking a drop to his preferred class and also gets to move inside on the gate after having post seven on 11-2.
Race 11 - F&M NW30000L5 / 3&4YO F&M NW10 Pace
(7) ANGEL'S PRIDE moves outside on the gate this time, but she drops out of the Open and possesses enough early speed to get well-placed at a level like this. (2) MACH IT A PAR is probably more dangerous against the NW20000L5's, but she does switch to an inside draw this week after having post seven last week and returns to the mile distance. (6) GLENFERRIE BLADE A also exits the Open and won when last seen in this class.