Yonkers: Friday 12/13 Analysis

MEET STATS: 277 - 791 / $1,440.10 (-$141.90)
BEST BETS: 36 - 70 / $114.80 (-$25.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 70 / $118.40 (-$21.60)
BEST BET - ODDS ON DELRAY (10th)
SPOT PLAY - TELL ME A JOKE (2nd)
Race 1 - 20000CLM Pace
(5) TOWNSLIGHT HANOVER seems to be rounding into contending form, having gained ground in the final quarter from outside posts in his last two. Bartlett goes elsewhere tonight, but I don't mind Bongiorno taking over and will hope for a decent price. (3) ROCK ON PRECIOUS drops and has post relief in his second try for the Gillis stable tonight. He was a closing third against $25,000 claimers two back, and I'll look for improvement tonight. (4) WILD AGAIN has won three straight and hikes up to the $20,000 claiming level tonight. Kakaley drives again.
Race 2 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(1) TELL ME A JOKE couldn't find racing room last Friday in the stretch and appeared to be full of pace. She switches to the inside post tonight, and hopefully she'll have clear sailing this week. (2) MACH IT A PAR closed well in the final quarter when she dropped to this level a week ago. She should take plenty of wagering attention and is a definite threat. (6) JEWELS FORREAL makes her third start for Fusco tonight with a bit of class relief to go with it. She also kept Kakaley in the sulky over my top choice.
Race 3 - NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Trot
(1) BARRY BLACK is a horse I can never get a good read on, but Marohn Jr. did send him from an outside post last week, only to get parked. Based on that, I have to think he'll be aggressive on the switch to the inside this time and Bucci has been sending out some winners as of late. (6) MAGICAL BELIEFS is a 3-year-old filly taking on older males, but she was a stakes winner on a half this year and was fourth in the Hudson Filly Trot locally. That was a solid win at the Meadowlands last time out, and she was Stratton's choice. (5) LINDSEY'S PRIDE returns to Yonkers tonight after good efforts in Pennsylvania, including a win two back. He was in the NW20000L5's when last in Westchester, so he gets a drop off that line.
Race 4 - 20000/25000CLM HCP Pace
(4) ER ROCK MY WORLD switches back to claiming company tonight after racing against NW7500L5's and NW10000L5's recently. He's been an in-and-out type the last few weeks, so if that pattern holds, he should be sitting on a good race this time. (1) IMA TRAGEDY N sports some solid form with a win and a second in his last two. He slides all the way inside to the pole for this race as well. (5) DON'TCALLMEFRANCIS ships south from Saratoga where he won last time out. He's reunited with Bartlett tonight and was third against $20,000 claimers the last time he drove.
Race 5 - NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Trot
(3) LE REVEUR N made his last two starts up at Saratoga and was a solid second last time, making up ground after a pocket trip. He continues to round into form after a long time on the shelf, and I think he could be sitting on a winning performance tonight. (2) BROADWAY MOJO got acclimated to the half last Friday, making his first-ever appearance over that sized track, and he finished up well to get fourth. He moves inside on the gate this time, and maybe Goodell can be more aggressive with him given that's the case. (5) THE LAST CHAPTER was defeated over at the Meadowlands as the favorite a week ago and now gives Yonkers another try. He was a rallying second against NW15000L5's in Westchester back on 11-30, and I'll try to beat him.
Race 6 - F&M Preferred Handicap Pace
(7) ITTY BITTY finished second to the well-meant Dibaba N in the open last time. She moves outside on the gate this week, but she's been flashing plenty of speed and should be able to get well-placed or control things on the engine. (1) CAY'S BLESSING has been racing well for Banca and was a runner-up to an open-caliber mare in Reclamation a week ago. She has the rail and should be in the hunt. (2) CLEAR IDEA never could get involved in the open but last time she was in the preferred, she gained in the final quarter to get fourth. She retains an inside draw to aid her chances.
Race 7 - 25000/30000CLM HCP Pace
(4) ARTIFACT HANOVER rewarded his backers with a 20-1 upset last Friday. I doubt he'll offer that kind of price again, but he beat straight $30,000 claimers in that event and now gets a little drop with some $25,000 claimers in here, so I'll put him on top and look for the double-up. (3) DREAM OUT LOUD N steps up tonight after closing from way out of it to defeat $20,000 claimers. That was two impressive rallies in-a-row, and he has shown speed before, too, like when he wired NW7500L5's on 10-29. (1) LACHIE MAGUIRE N finally draws a good post tonight after having outside slots at both Pocono and Yonkers as of late. He rallied to finish fourth in the race Artifact Hanover won last time out and has Bartlett in the sulky tonight.
Race 8 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(7) SHADY CAROLINE took some wagering support a week ago but had to settle for fifth. She gets a little more class relief tonight and was Kakaley's choice of two, so I'll give her another shot and hope he can get her positioned from the outside draw. (3) SANDY'S BEACH might be better chasing horses than she is leading as all of her victories this year have come from off-the-pace. Watch to see if Marohn Jr. switches up the tactics tonight since she's capable of beating these types. (5) HURRICANE CALLEIGH hikes up to face the optional $25,000 claimers tonight after being taken by new trainer Chris Height. She was Bartlett's pick in here and was racing well for Banca.
Race 9 - F&M NW20200L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(6) LYONS RIVER PRIDE tried to make it two first-up wins in-a-row last Friday but was given the cold shoulder by Lakeisha Hall. It was still a quality effort and she gets another opportunity to race at the same level. (5) BARON REMY took the lead and came up just a nose short of victory a week ago. With Brennan not here, Kakaley takes over in the bike, and he knows her well, having driven her on several occasions out of town. (2) SUDDEN CHANGE N retreats out of the open to this class, and does own a recent win over NW30000L5's, but DiDomenico's barn is just two-for-20 in the win column this month locally (through Tuesday the 10th), so I'll use her underneath.
Race 10 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace
(5) ODDS ON DELRAY romped by nine lengths in his season's-best clocking the last time he raced against NW10000L5's on August 23. He came back to top NW20000L5's on 9-28 with Bongiorno driving, and Joe pilots him for the first time since then tonight. (2) BETTING EXCHANGE retains Kakaley's driving services and gets another chance in this class after closing from eighth to fifth in the final quarter from post eight on 12-7. Good second two back when he had an inside draw. (3) MACINTOSH N changes drivers from Shaun Vallee to leading chauffer Jason Bartlett, so maybe that's enough to make him a threat. Two of his three triumphs in 2019 have been against NW10000L5's.
Race 11 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(6) DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N came in third last week in her first start after some time on the shelf and one easy qualifier at Freehold. I'll bank on her being tighter and sharper tonight and put her on top with Marohn Jr. taking over the driving. (1) SANDY WIN is a heavy favorite on the morning line and will likely be at post time as well as she closed strongly to just miss against NW20000L5's last Friday. Bartlett drives again with major post relief in her corner, too. (5) QUEEN JOSEPHINE probably needs a drop to be a win candidate, but as mentioned earlier the Bucci barn has been hot this month, so you can't totally discount her, and I'll use underneath.