Yonkers: Monday 10/28 Analysis

MEET STATS: 245 - 681 / $1,279.10 (-$82.90)
BEST BETS: 33 - 60 / $106.40 (-$13.60)
SPOT PLAYS: 14 - 60 / $118.40 (-$1.60)
BEST BET - SNOBBYTOWN (8th)
SPOT PLAY - SMACKITWITHAHAMMER (9th)
Race 7 - $10,000 Guaranteed Pick-5 Pool
Race 1 - F&M NW2/25000LT Pace
(1) STICK THAT LIP OUT hasn't been able to win here at Yonkers but probably meets up with the softest group she's raced against so far and starts from the rail. (5) GREEN POINT now has two thirds since shipping down from Canada and is 0-for-13 on the year. She'll probably win one of these nights, but I'll put her underneath this time. (3) BARBS BEACH owns a 0-for-46 lifetime mark, but she is able to hit the ticket on occasion like three back in a pretty nice group at this level.
Race 2 - NW5000L5/12500CLM Trot
(1) SUGAR TOP doesn't show much on the page but has a trainer change, a driver change, and post relief to consider tonight in what looks to be a wide-open race. (3) MR POWERS won when last at Yonkers, then was scratched on 10-20 at Saratoga. Since he's right back in the box, I assume everything is okay, and he'll be a player in here. (4) WILD SMILE took tote action last Monday but came up flat on the drop. Sticks at the bottom level tonight and does have enough class to contend.
Race 3 - NW2/25000LT Pace
(2) OH TOODLES took a hard-fought first-over win in his Yonkers debut last Monday. Gets another crack at the NW2's tonight and drew well again. I'll put him on top. (4) APEX SEELSTER is a newcomer for Allard after a private purchase. Raced well in Canada except for his try where he had broken equipment and should fit here. (1) BETTER UP is sure to get noticed as he drops out of the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final and kept Bartlett, but he's 0-for-17 on the year, including an off-the-board efforts against NW2 & NW3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Race 4 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace
(3) SWEET SHE ROCK stalled out when she pulled two-wide last Monday in an effort not nearly as good as her others. I'll hope that was just a one-week issue and that she'll rebound tonight, maybe with a little better price. (6) CRAZY CUTE exits stakes tries to race in the overnight contest tonight. The sick scratch on 10-18 is a bit of a concern, but anything like her effort in the Courageous Lady or the Simpson probably wins this. (8) MILLWOOD BONNIE N took advantage of the drop last Monday to win. Moves back to the outside and steps up, and I can envision her closing strongly to hit the board.
Race 5 - F&M NW4/50000LT Pace
(6) MI NINA BONITA woke up with a much-improved effort a week ago, rallying to finish second. She's shown speed before too, so not sure which tactic Stratton is going to use, but either way she should be in the hunt. (4) ALWAYS B HANNY is another newcomer from out in Iowa to move east in recent weeks. The qualifier down at Freehold wasn't bad and Brennan chose to drive her. (7) CAMPUS QUEEN battled hard from first-over last Monday but had to settle for second. Loses Brennan tonight and is stuck outside on the gate again.
Race 6 - NW4/50000LT / NW2/25000LT Drawn Inside Pace
(3) ISITLIKEITLOOKS owns the one win over NW4 types three back and now drops from a mixed NW4/NW6 event to this combined NW2/NW4 race tonight. Reunited with Brennan tonight and I'm hoping for a front-end try. (2) TAP TAP TAP switches barns tonight with Andrew Harris taking over. Also gets a pilot change to Bartlett and post relief. (6) JD'S NOAH scored in NW2 two back and then rallied nicely on the step up in class to get a third. Probably aiming for the same here from an outside draw.
Race 7 - NW4/50000LT Pace *$10K GTD Pick 5*
(1) AMERICAN INFLUENCE cut the fractions and was second-best last Monday. He continues to round into winning form after an extended hiatus, and I'll bank on the victory coming tonight. (6) FAST ON THE DRAW remains hot as he's been first, second, or third in each of his last six efforts. Does move outside a bit tonight, so he may have to rally more than he has been. (3) REIGNING DEO took a ton of money two back and never got involved. He does move inside on the gate from that mile and he did make up a bunch of ground.
Race 8 - F&M NW6/75000LT Pace
(4) SNOBBYTOWN came in second behind the white-hot Shecandance N in her local debut last Monday. No shame in being beaten by that rival right now, and she doesn't meet up with anyone that imposing this time. (3) FOX VALLEY SIERRA gained to just miss against NW8 types down at Harrington in her second start for Rich Ringler. I don't think he'd ship up all the way to Yonkers if he didn't have belief in her, she draws well, and lands Bartlett's driving services. (6) MONEY SHOT HANOVER has been racing better since the barn switch to Bongiorno, including first-over third against NW6's back on October 14.
Race 9 - NW6/75000LT Pace
(4) SMACKITWITHAHAMMER got an acclimating mile over the track two weeks ago from post eight. Draws much better tonight, and Brennan goes with this one over a Burke trainee. (2) CENTURY FERRARI backpedaled last Monday when he had to do the tough first-over grind. He draws another inside post tonight and might be able to get the lead or a pocket trip. (3) SLICK MICK switched to this level last time out and was in a tough spot against a stakes-caliber horse like Escapetothebeach. There are no horses like that in here, and that win two back was solid.
Race 10 - F&M NW8/100000LT / F&M NW6/75000LT Drawn Inside Pace
(4) MAY BRIDE HANOVER really had nothing to offer when challenged last Monday and faded to third. That was a pretty tough group, though, and I think she catches a beatable group tonight. (8) CORAL BELLA returns to Yonkers tonight after racing at Pocono. She pulled an upset from an outside post earlier this year with Siegelman driving, and we'll see if he can work some magic again. (3) EDGE OF ETERNITY makes her third start for DiDomenico tonight. The second one was a big step up from the first, and I'm interested to see if she continues to progress.
Race 11 - NW8/100000LT / NW6/75000LT Drawn Inside Pace
(1) SOUTHPORT BEACH really impressed with his speed on both ends of the mile in his Yonkers debut a week ago. Bartlett went elsewhere tonight, but Zeron is a solid replacement and he moves inside on the gate. (4) KEYSTONE PHOENIX got loose on the lead last Monday and pounded a similar-looking group. If he's that good again, they're all racing for second. (6) HARAMBE DEO picked up a quality win two back at the Meadowlands over the nice Respect Our Flag who came back to win last Saturday at The Big M. Horse owns prior racing experience here at Yonkers, including a closing third against NW8's back on 9-9.
Race 12 - NW15000L5/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(2) FINE DIAMOND converted a pocket trip into a win over NW15000L5's on October 19 and looks like he could do the same tonight as he gets another chance to race in this class from the same post two. (1) JJ FLYNN is a quality horse coming back off a bit of a rest. Very impressive-looking qualifier at Harrington as he rallied from far back to win clear. (6) CAPOZZO kept Eric Goodell over my top pick. Also sticks at the NW15000L5 level off a first-over runner-up finish on 10-19.