Yonkers: Friday 12/6 Analysis

MEET STATS: 270 - 768 / $1,418.80 (-$117.20)
BEST BETS: 34 - 68 / $108.80 (-$27.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 68 / $118.40 (-$17.60)
BEST BET - RECLAMATION (9th)
SPOT PLAY - TRIPLE SEELSTER (7th)
Race 1 - 20000CLM Pace
(1) SIR MACHALOT comes into this race with six straight second-place finishes but starts from the pole after having post eight on 11-21 and gets another trainer change, going to Height off the claim. Let's hope this is the night he can break through. (6) ZOEEZ BOY HENRY returns to claiming company tonight after on-the-board finishes against NW7500L5's. He loses Bongiorno tonight. (3) IOWA NEIGHTIVE beat $12,500 claimers from post eight on November 26 and now steps up. Gets post relief off the victory and retained Bongiorno here.
Race 2 - NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Trot
(2) TACO TUESDAY gets some additional class relief tonight and slides inside to post two after having post six in his last appearance. He won at this level back on 10-12. (1) LILY'S SWAN POND didn't have much chance back on 11-22 when starting from post eight, but he drew the rail tonight. Bartlett went elsewhere, but this one's definitely a contender. (5) LORD CROMWELL gained through the stretch on November 22 but ran out of racetrack. He gets a driver change to Bartlett tonight and has plenty of back-class to threaten here.
Race 3 - 30000CLM Pace
(3) NORMANDY BEACH starts in a straight $30,000 claimer after being in a $30,000-$40,000 claiming handicap race last time out where he had to start from post eight. He also is reunited with Brent Holland, who drove him to wins on the page when the horse was still with Erv Miller. (1) PRETTY BOY SWAG jogged in his debut for Banca. Other than that one start where he got parked, he's been razor-sharp since coming back east from Iowa, and he'll get plenty of support here as well. (5) ARTIFACT HANOVER stepped up to try $40,000 claimers on November 30 and faded to seventh. His last appearance against $30,000 claimers was a good one as he finished second to Pretty Boy Swag.
Race 4 - F&M NW15900L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(2) CLASSY CHAPEL N goes for Kevin Lare off the claim tonight. She hit the ticket from post six and post eight in her last two, so she gets some serious post relief for this race, and I don't mind Bongiorno taking over the driving. (3) MADE OF JEWELS AS beat NW20000L5's back on November 22, so she actually gets a bit of a drop here. She retains Bartlett and should be in the hunt. (4) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE rolled to two easy wins against lesser and steps up again tonight. She keeps Holland in the bike and has shown versatility, winning from both first-over and on the engine.
Race 5 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(4) BYE BYE MICHELLE won back on 10-18 at this level in a similar-looking race to this one, so I'll give her a chance on top. She's been a bit overmatched against NW20000L5's and NW30000L5's, but I think this is a spot she can threaten in. (5) FAITHFUL DESIRE closed late for third in a pretty salty division of this class on 11-22. She's shown speed in the past, so maybe Bongiorno might fire her out tonight. (2) DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N returns off the shelf tonight. She was in good form against better prior to heading to sidelines and picked up Brennan in the bike at scratch time, but I have to try and beat her off the one slow qualifier down at Freehold.
Race 6 - F&M Open Handicap Pace
(1) ITTY BITTY found her form against lesser with three straight wins. She gets the acid test tonight, going against the opens, but I like that she has the rail and she won both from off-the-pace and on the lead. (5) DIBABA N is also riding a win streak, having taken opens at Dover and Saratoga. She hasn't won at the top level here at Yonkers, but did hit the board on a few occasions back in the summer. (6) KAITLYN N kept Bartlett's services in this race, and you can excuse her last as she had to work hard to get to the lead from post eight. She gets a bit better draw here and might be firing out again.
Race 7 - 25000CLM Pace
(6) TRIPLE SEELSTER is another newcomer off the claim for trainer Kevin Lare. He scored a nice win two Fridays ago at the level, and Eric Goodell, who has won with the horse before, picked up the drive. (2) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN got a little fired up after making the top back on November 22 and got chased down by my top pick. He goes for new trainer Chris Height in this event and kept Kakaley in the bike over Triple Seelster. (1) WESTERN BEACHBOY scored up at Saratoga and now returns to Yonkers in claiming company. Brennan gets the assignment, and he steered him to a good third recently against NW10000L5's.
Race 8 - F&M NW20150L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(2) SHADY CAROLINE not only was in the preferred last time out but also ended up with a first-over trip. She retreats two levels down the class ladder tonight, retains an inside draw, and also kept Kakaley over another contender in here. (5) MACH IT A PAR is sure to attract attention tonight as she gets class relief. She won when last seen against NW20000L5's back on 10-12. (1) LAKEISHA HALL has been hitting the board with regularity but has also been a beaten favorite on three occasions. She remains a play-against for me in the win slot.
Race 9 - F&M NW30300L5/3&4YO F&M NW10 Pace
(1) RECLAMATION competed against the best open mares around in her last two, so this should be a significantly easier spot tonight. She was able to win the last time she was in this class back on 10-18. (4) WISHY WASHY GIRL handled the step up to this level fine back on 11-30, finishing a closing third to two classy gals in Robyn Camden and Lady Dela Renta A. (2) ANGEL'S PRIDE had a pocket trip on 11-22 but was no match for Itty Bitty in the lane. She gets a new pilot in Brent Holland tonight and has shown the ability to win against these types bakc on 10-25.
Race 10 - NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Trot
(6) MAJESTIC BRAYDEN doesn't always maintain his gait, but when he does, he's certainly capable of winning like he did back on 10-18. He was also recently a solid second to Icanflylikeanangel, who has won four of his last five. Joe Bongiorno hops back in the bike as this horse gets class relief out of the preferred. (4) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN finally got a chance to have Brennan drive again on 11-30 and he was victorious. He has to step up tonight, but he did double up back in August and September with Brennan guiding him on both occasions. (5) BROADWAY MOJO has been facing some tough foes down at Harrah's Philadelphia and holding his own. He makes his Yonkers and half-mile track debut tonight with Goodell driving.
Race 11 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(5) TELL ME A JOKE finished with some interest in the final quarter against NW30000L5's back on November 22. She may have needed that race given the sick scratch the week before, and she drops into a soft division of this class. (1) BARON REMY is sure to be the favorite here from the rail as she retreats after a sixth-place finish against better on 11-30. She has been defeated three times against NW20000L5's, though, and is just one-for-six here at Yonkers through October and November, so I'll attempt to beat her. (3) BELLATRICKS gained and was second in the race that Baron Remy did win on November 22. I could see her following in and hitting the board.