Yonkers: Monday 1/6 Analysis

2019 MEET STATS: 284 - 813 / $1,473.50 (-$152.50)
2019 BEST BETS: 37 - 72 / $116.90 (-$27.10)
2019 SPOT PLAYS: 15 - 72 / $121.20 (-$22.80)
BEST BET - APEX SEELSTER (4th)
SPOT PLAY - ROCK LIGHTS (12th)
Race 1 - 12500CLM Pace
(7) MR HAM SANDWICH ended 2019 with a nice run of success. I think he can get spotted from out here with the gate speed he has and then go from there. (2) DON MCWHITE turned the corner for Banca in his last two tries and is drawn well here. (1) I'LL CALL U LATER picked up just one win in 42 tries last year but slides over to the bottom claiming level here after two on-the-board finishes against NW5000L5's in December.
Race 2 - NW2/25000LT Pace
(2) P L MUNSON has been knocking on the door at different venues lately and gives Yonkers a shot tonight. Just missed in a quick mile for the level at the Meadowlands after a strong second quarter brush. (5) JONAH hasn't had a great deal of success for Allard as of yet but moves back to NW2 after one try against NW3 last month, and that should put him back in the hunt. (1) ISSA HORSE sports an 0-for-18 record but has hit the board several times against maidens at Harrah's Philly, and I think he can follow along and do the same here.
Race 3 - 20000CLM Pace
(1) ONLYTHETUFFSURVIVE dropped to the $20,000 claimers on 12-13 and took advantage, winning in wire-to-wire fashion. He stays at this level tonight and gets post relief, moving from the seven-hole to the pole position. (6) PROLOGUE picked up a confidence-building win up at Saratoga to end his 2019 campaign. He was in against $25,000 claimers when last seen in Westchester, so he gets some class relief from that tonight. (5) ROCK ON PRECIOUS was favored over Onlythetuffsurvive in that event on December 13 but had to settle for second. Given his propensity to finish second and third, I'll slot him here.
Race 4 - NW4/50000LT Pace
(4) APEX SEELSTER picked up a second and a third to a stakes-caliber foe in Semi Tough in his last two in the NW4 class at Yonkers, and I think that gives him an edge here as this field doesn't have anyone that imposing. (1) LOUD SPLASH got to race against NW3's to end 2019 and won from the pocket. He steps back up to NW4 in this spot but did get a third-place finish in this class on 12-9 and has the pole to work with tonight. (5) RUTHLESS DUDE has been just that to his competition at Monticello as he's piled up the wins. I'll be watching to see how he handles the switch in tracks tonight.
Race 5 - NW6/75000LT / NW50000LT Drawn Inside Pace
(1) TAP TAP TAP held his own against two strong foes in Duddie's Lor and Western Exposure at the Meadowlands and returns to Yonkers tonight. He was in NW4's when last seen locally, but the horse should be confident after those solid tries against stout competition across the river. (6) ZINNY MACH N went some big miles at Plainridge last fall, including a win over NW9. Cushing and Gibbs don't usually bring horses to Yonkers unless they can threaten, and I think this one can. (3) UNDER PAID was favored against NW6's on 11-4 but didn't deliver. The qualifier at the Meadowlands on 12-14 was all right as he was in against some older horses.
Race 6 - 15000-20000CLM HCP Pace
(3) TALENT SOUP won three of his last four starts of 2019. He romped over straight $20,000 claimers on 12-17 and draws an ideal post to stalk and pounce. (4) ISITLIKEITLOOKS bails out of the NW6 class and switches to claiming company this time. He probably fits here with one of his good efforts like two back. (1) DEERFIELD BEACH never got involved in that one try at the Meadowlands but hit the board in two straight in Westchester prior to that. The pole position should keep him close to the action.
Race 7 - NW5000L5 Pace
(4) QUICK ASA TRICK N makes his first pari-mutuel start since 4-11-19 tonight. The qualifier at Freehold was good enough to compete at the bottom level here, and this horse was in against NW20000L5 and NW30000L5's last winter and spring at Yonkers. (6) LEAN ON YOU gets another chance against NW5000L5's after a rallying second on December 17. He also gets a bit of post relief after being stuck with post eight that night. (5) TALK SHOW starts for Banca for the third time tonight. He did gain a couple spots in the final quarter on December 17 and should be able to be competitive in this class.
Race 8 - NW7500L5/Winners of NW5000L5 in Last Start Pace
(6) ACTING OUT continues his descent down the class ladder here. He woke up a bit last time with an improved performance, and given he's beat NW10000L5's on the page, this should be a prime spot for him to visit the winner's circle. (3) JUXLIVIN MY DREAM invades from Northfield after an impressive win from a trailing post. I think he has a chance to threaten at this sort of level. (7) YS LOTUS drops but also remains stuck outside on the gate, so I'll put him underneath this time.
Race 9 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace
(2) MITCH MAGUIRE N probably needed that race at the Meadowlands last time out given the time off and the lone qualifier out at Hollywood Dayton. That was a pretty strong field, as well, and he paced a strong final quarter. (1) SUNKEN TREASURE has been getting class relief but hasn't been able to find the winner's circle as of yet. He drops again here and if he could come up with something like that second against NW30000L5's on 10-5, that'd make him pretty tough. (3) BLACK CHEVRON N was the favorite against NW15000L5's back on 11-30 but tired from first-over. He's another horse you don't usually see this low on the class scale, so the connections probably want to take advantage.
Race 10 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace
(4) RANCOUSY was driven aggressively in that one appearance at the Meadowlands and only gave way late. He had been threatening against NW15000L5's when last at Yonkers, so this is a softer spot here. (6) REAL LUCKY N had little chance from post ten over at The Big M but his races at Saratoga should be a fit in this class. He showed a versatile racing style up there also, winning from behind and on the lead. (8) ASTON HILL DAVE drops in class tonight but got the worst of the draw. He'll likely need live cover and some pace to chase.
Race 11 - NW15000L5/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace
(3) TIGER BARON takes another crack at the NW15000L5's tonight. He was second to the dropping Beach Boogie when last seen on 12-9 and draws inside again. (7) BLOOD BROTHER is outside on the gate for the fourth straight time tonight, but he's been able to overcome the bad draws with a third and a second in his last two. I'll expect aggressive tactics. (6) VINNY GAMBINI N drops down one notch from the NW20000L5's. He picked up a couple of seconds at that level back in November, so any duplication of those performances would put him in the hunt.
Race 12 - NW20000L5/Winners of NW15000L5 in Last Start Pace
(3) ROCK LIGHTS tested the Opens at Dover and had post eight at Yonkers in his last two, so I'm just drawing a line through those. This looks like a much more reasonable spot here from a good draw, and those two victories at the Meadowlands in November were strong. (4) REAGAN'S AVENGER found his form in December, including a win over at The Big M on 12-28. I think he can keep up the good roll here. (1) WAIMAC ATTACK N didn't threaten at the Meadowlands in his last start but that rallying second in the open up at Saratoga is intriguing two back and he should get a good trip from the inside slot.