Yonkers: Friday 8/9 Analysis

MEET STATS: 151 - 405 / $746.00 (-$64.00)
BEST BETS: 16 - 36 / $47.50 (-$24.50)
SPOT PLAYS: 9 - 36 / $50.40 (-$21.60)
BEST BET - ALEXA'S POWER (6th)
SPOT PLAY - MARLEY'S GUY (8th)
Race 1 - 25000CLM Pace
(5) ROCK ON PRECIOUS joins the DiDomenico stable off the claim tonight. Steps up but draws a good mid-pack post instead of the outside, and I think that will allow Brennan to race him either way he wants in a fairly wide-open field. (2) IMA TRAGEDY N also jumps up a notch from the $20,000 claimers to the $25,000 claimers, but he maintained his good form on the venue change to Yonkers last time and draws inside. (1) MACH DEJA VU was second to the well-meant Onlythetuffsurvive last Friday and has the pole position to work with for this try.
Race 2 - NW20000L5/30000CLM Trot
(2) MONEY MAVEN receives class relief tonight, dropping two levels from the open. Won when last seen against the NW20000L5's on July 12. (7) CHASIN' DREAMS didn't draw well as he also takes a drop tonight, but he did retain Bartlett and is certainly classy enough to beat these with a smooth trip. (6) BUEN CAMINO is another horse retreating from the opens down to this bunch. Easy win against these types on June 14.
Race 3 - 25000-30000CLM HCP Pace
(6) HEEZ ORL BLACK N scratched last week with transportation issues, but beings it wasn't a sick scratch or anything serious with the horse, I'll guess he's ready and take him on top. (1) STATESMAN N showed a better closing kick from the pocket last week and looks poised to win again very soon if he continues his progression. (8) SOHO JACKMAN A is in super form with three straight wins for DiDomenico but is stuck outside tonight, and I'm not sure how Brennan is going to handle him.
Race 4 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM Pace
(5) TIPP CITY normally does her best racing at this level, which she drops to tonight after two tries against better. (3) BROWN BRINNY performed well against last Friday, picking up another on-the-board finish. Gets reunited with Bartlett tonight and will probably be the favorite. (1) I WISH YOU WELL has the rail again tonight, but she has been lacking a closing kick off inside trips lately, so I'll put her underneath.
Race 5 - NW10000L5 Pace
(6) CHACHING HANOVER seems overdue for a wake-up call, and I'll bank that it comes here as he gets some class relief. Hasn't seen the NW10000L5's since back in the winter, and he was victorious on that occasion. (5) KEPT UNDER WRAPS A hikes back up a level after a confidence-building romp last time. Didn't win in two recent chances at this level, but this looks like an easier bunch. (1) MAJOR BUCKS got going better at Pocono with a win and a third in three starts and gives Yonkers another shot tonight from the advantageous pole position.
Race 6 - F&M Open Handicap Pace
(4) ALEXA'S POWER rolled home nicely in the final quarter last week, and I think that sets her up for a winning effort tonight. Draws a good post to go forward or look for cover again and kept Bartlett. (5) BETTOR'S UP has made her way to the top level here at Yonkers, but she shows lines against the likes of Shartin N and Caviart Ally, so she's been competing against the best of the division when out of town. (8) FEELIN RED HOT got it done again last week but has post eight instead of post seven this time, and maybe that can finally derail her.
Race 7 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM Pace
(7) OBVIOUS BLUE CHIP put up some nice races out of town and invades tonight in her second start for Allard. Was motoring home from an impossible spot up at Saratoga, and although I could see her being far back early here too, she should get some pace to close into. (5) QUITE A SIGHT just missed with a solid second two back when last seen locally. Ran into some tough foes at Harrah's Philly. (6) CLEAR IDEA takes a needed class drop this evening, which makes her a big threat. Won against this company on June 14.
Race 8 - NW20000L5/30000CLM Trot
(9) MARLEY'S GUY might offer a price here coming off the break and in the trailing post. Romped over this NW20000L5 group twice back in June. (4) MISSISSIPPI STORM has been facing stern company out of town, including in the Graduate Series against the likes of Atlanta. Marohn Jr. handled him over at Pocono last time and gets to drive again tonight. (5) PERLUCKY draws better tonight after gamely hanging around for third last Friday after being outside at every call from post eight.
Race 9 - F&M NW30000L5 / 3&4YO NW10 Pace
(3) RECLAMATION saw her winning streak end when she ran into Shartin N and the other top mares recently, but there's nobody of that caliber in here. (5) MISS YOU N steps up after two victories over the NW20000L5 class. Would certainly look like a standout in here without my top pick. (7) LISPATTY drops out of the open again tonight and will probably be closing late like she did two back from the same post.
Race 10 - NW10000L5 Pace
(1) MITCH MAGUIRE N ships in from Harrah's Hoosier Park for Cullipher off some strong efforts out there. Had a great season Down Under last year and won a Group 1 race as a 2-year-old and a Group 2 race as a 3-year-old. I'll hope he can handle the smaller track. (3) JM JACK OF HEARTS drops tonight. Romped as a heavy favorite when last seen against the NW10000L5's back on June 11. (5) TREMENDOUS PLAY disappointed when favored on 7-27, but Banca's had some time to work on him since then, and he should offer a better price if you want to give him another shot.
Race 11 - F&M NW30000L5 / 3&4YO NW10 Pace
(1) D GS ELSA returns to an inside post tonight after closing strongly from post eight back on July 26. Hasn't done anything wrong for the Bongiornos, and I think she can wire these. (3) WRITE ME A SONG was a recent private purchase for Burke. Ran into a strong field at the Meadowlands in her debut for him, but she knows Yonkers well and won at this class for former trainer Lance Hudson on June 14. (7) GLENFERRIE BLADE A owns a couple of wins at the open level on the page but has been overmatched against those lately. Let's see if she can regain her nice closing kick tonight.
Race 12 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM Pace
(2) ALWAYS GIGGLING cruised after a pocket trip against the NW10000L5 class on July 25. Takes a step up tonight, but I think she can get the same journey, and I do like horses who turn back from the mile and a sixteenth to the standard mile distance. (5) FIREBBY A gets Brennan back in the bike tonight, and he guided her to two recent wins against lesser. Did close ground in the final quarter back on 7-26. (6) SHEZZA GNP N never got involved from a tough post when she raced last time in a mile and a sixteenth race. Turned in two nice efforts against NW30000L5 types two and three back, so I could see her rallying onto the ticket.