Yonkers: Friday 2/28 Analysis

MEET STATS: 67 - 208 / $356.50 (-$59.50)
BEST BETS: 12 - 18 / $39.50 (+$3.50)
Best Bet: JOSSIE JAMES A (7th)
Spot Play: GOTTA GO B B (5th)

Race 1 – $20,000 Claiming

(1) WICK N put in a valiant effort in defeat in a long-awaited first start for these connections; veteran draws best again and he earns the slight nod with his main rivals stuck outside. (6) ONLYTHETUFFSURVIVE goes for Carmine Fusco off the claim and gets leading driver Bartlett in the bike; gelding stays at the same level and is a good fit with these. (5) ZOEEZ BOY HENRY is usually trip-dependent but he can go with these and Siegelman has been driving great recently. (8) LACHIE MAGUIRE N lands in a very tough spot but the Jenn Bongiorno trainee still deserves a mention.

Race 2 – NW15000 in last 5 starts

(2) IN SECRET returned to the Burke barn and promptly resumed winning ways with a sharp score over at The Meadowlands; classy veteran can take these wire-to-wire. (4) SOUTHWIND CRUZE never got involved last week but was game in hiss dead-heat win at this level two back. (5) DOT DOT DOT DASH gets Dube in the bike with Stratton surprisingly opting off and this veteran mare should be motoring late. (3) KABANG has been sizzling at Monticello and gets a class test tonight.

Race 3 - $20,000/$25,000 Claiming

(6) RECORD MACHINE fired to the front and gamely took similar the distance last week; Bartlett is back in the bike looking to double up. (5) TALENT SOUP gets some post relief and has remained sharp; Chris Height trainee is an obvious contender here. (3) STATESMAN N came up a bit flat in the late stages from the pocket trip last out; he may be first to the front here then yield and work out another live trip. (1) SANATTLE SLEW had been right there in his last three and he draws another good post.

Race 4 – F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts

(7) MONICA GALLAGHER was a bit short in that qualifier but she moves to the Banca barn and we’ve seen plenty of these ready to go right off the bench; check the tote for signs of life. (2) QUEEN JOSEPHINE gets Brennan in the bike with Bongiorno opting off and she should be in line for a good trip from this spot. (1) EASY THREE has looked pretty good in two starts since shipping in from The Meadows. (6) AMAZING ARYA was nipped at the wire last out versus lesser but Kakaley stays and she could hit the ticket.

Race 5 – NW7500 in last 5 starts

(8) GOTTA GO B B was taken for $25K by Banca and actually gets to drop in class tonight; the post obviously hurts but he’s not impossible here with some aggressive Bartlett handling. (4) DRINKA BEER should be fresh off the layoff for Garcia-Herrera and he does fit well with this type. (3) ASTON HILL DAVE hasn’t been able to seal the deal recently but he’s good enough to land a piece. (7) TAKE IT BACK TERRY is nowhere close to what he used to be and will likely have too far to come but he can rally late for a share.

Race 6 – NW10000 in last 5 starts

(4) DREAM OF LUCK gets some class and post relief tonight; gelding should be sitting just off the pace and seems capable of powering by late. (5) MR WIGGLE PANTS disposed of lesser effortlessly in two straight since shipping in and is obviously sharp enough to take another. (1) RANCOUSY returns locally, draws best and was a winner here at this level last month. (7) SOUTHWIND MOROCCAN has totally turned things around in his last two and is right back in the box on short rest; late threat.

Race 7 – F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts

(1) JOSSIE JAMES A came up second best in her U.S. debut, getting run down by a sharp Mohawk shipper, then she stacked wide and didn’t fully fire from a tough spot last week. Bartlett’s back driving from the best post and she’s the one to beat. (7) CLEAR IDEA fired out and went coast to coast last out; mare has the speed to overcome the draw. (4) AMBRO COURAGE N dropped and popped last week; mare can land a smaller piece on the hike back up in class. (3) TELL ME A JOKE rebounded with a better performance last out.

Race 8 – NW10000 in last 5 starts

(3) WHATS IN THE ESKY A was conservatively handled last week and did muster a minor rally for a small piece; this feels like a spot for Bongiorno to get more aggressive. (2) SUNKEN TREASURE was a solid second last out to the well-rated heavy favorite. (4) ROCK LIGHTS returns from The Meadowlands, gets Bartlett back in the bike and is the other main contender here. (5) MAGRITTE has hit the ticket in his last three.

Race 9 – F&M NW21500 in last 5 starts

(3) FEELIN RED HOT changed tactics in her last couple and I guess that didn’t work out; how about reverting back to speed tactics and taking this field down the road? We have two Down-Under imports here for live barns in (5) MADAME LEZA A (Jenn Bongiorno) and (6) CRYSTAL SPARKLES N (Lance Hudson) which make this race very difficult to predict. (2) VORST is a classy mare making her seasonal debut off an effective qualifier.

Race 10 – NW20100 in last 5 starts

(2) MONEY MAVEN is feeling very good now and catches a field with some question marks; Julie Miller trained veteran has a legit chance from this spot. (1) SUMATRA is best here and qualified nicely in preparation for his seasonal debut. (3) TROTTING GRACE is up in class off an easy score. (7) LILY’S SWAN POND always looks like he wants to fall down but he goes out there practically every week and makes money; this is a tough spot but maybe he can pick up a piece.

Race 11 – F&M Open Handicap Pace

(4) SANDY WIN has been super in all of her seasonal starts including on-the-board finishes in her last three here at Yonkers yet she still may offer some value in this competitive event. (6) KAITLYN N is one of about 100 Banca trainees who came off the holiday break ready to go and she goes for three straight. (2) SNOBBYTOWN had no chance last week when hiked to this level; obviously this is a live spot. (3) BETTERB CHEVRON N was a bit short in her initial 2020 races but it’s only a matter of time before the Hudson trainee finds the winner’s circle.

Race 12 – F&M NW15100 in last 5 starts

(6) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE tried leaving two back and was hung to dry but bounced back last week with a strong winning effort; she doesn’t face that much speed inside of her tonight and can repeat. (1) COLOR ENVY woke up in a big way last out with a good runner-up effort to the heavy favorite and now she draws best. (5) GLENFERRIE BLADE A was way overbet last week and didn’t fire at all; tough to know what to expect tonight, but the price will be better. (7) CLASSY CHAPEL N toured the track in last but she’s reunited with Bartlett and could be a threat if she’s put in play.