Yonkers: Monday 2/17 Analysis

MEET STATS: 50 - 144 / $255.30 (-$32.70)
BEST BETS: 8 - 13 / $23.50 (-$2.50)
SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 13 / $15.60 (-$10.40)
BEST BET - MEADOWBROOK FLASH (2nd)
SPOT PLAY - BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT (5th)

Race 1 - 15000CLM Pace

(2) DAVID THE SAINT drops and catches a beatable group in his second start for Allard. I think Dube will have him much closer to the front tonight, maybe he can get a trip like the horse had in that win at the Meadowlands on 12-21. (4) CANBEC KINGKAZIMIR cut the fractions and was second to an upset winner last Monday. He should be going forward again tonight and is definitely a contender. (1) KABOOM POW has been popular at the claim box as he starts for another new trainer in Chris Height. He does move up a notch, but has the rail and this isn't a deep group of $15,000 claimers.

Race 2 - NW2/35100LT Pace

(5) MEADOWBROOK FLASH fits this class by a few dollars under the money won lifetime condition, and I think the connections will definitely be looking to take advantage. He turned in an excellent try last week against NW4's, finishing second. (1) ISSA HORSE hit the board again a week ago and slides down to the pole position this time. He remains winless in his career. (3) P-DRIVE HANOVER gets back on a regular rotation tonight after a break in his schedule and races for a high-percentage barn. Let's see if he improves any.

Race 3 - NW7500L5/Winners of NW5000L5 in Last Start Pace

(1) TAKEITTOTHEFACE closed very nicely from post eight in his first start for Banca. He shifts all the way to the pole position tonight and has Bartlett. I think he'll try to wire these. (4) THEFREEDOMFIGHTERN also finished well to hit the board in his return to Yonkers last Monday in the same event my top pick exits. He was Stratton's choice of three in here. (3) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN has won at Yonkers before and has excuses for his last two off-the-board performances. He was good three back at Freehold.

Race 4 - 10000CLM Pace

(6) BROOKIES PRINCE N improved on the barn change to Harris and the venue change to Yonkers a week ago. He's shown more early speed before, so maybe Bartlett will fire out tonight. (2) MISTER TRUTH dropped down to this class on 2-7 and was a well-beaten second. He has two recent wins over $12,5000 claimers, so he definitely merits attention. (3) WILLIE JOE HILL was the third-place finisher in the same contest that Mister Truth is coming out of. Trainer Heather Van Horn's horses have been racing pretty well lately.

Race 5 - NW5000L5 Pace - **$7,500 GTD Pick-5 Pool**

(3) BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT finished with some interest last Monday and moves inside on the gate again tonight. This looks like a wide-open race, so let's shoot for what should be a bit of a price. (4) REAL LUCKY N slid down to this level a week ago and gained some late to finish third. He took his lifetime mark at Yonkers, so he does have some positive history here. (1) GYPSY LEATHER had every chance to win last week when well-rated but got overhauled. He does get a pilot switch to Bartlett, which should attract some interest.

Race 6 - NW5000L5 Pace

(5) FOX VALLEY INFERNO has been facing much better than these in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as of late. It's off the page, but Kakaley drove him to an easy win over NW5000L5's at Yonkers on November 26. (6) SHADOW PLACE had to work hard to to get to the lead back on 1-27 and retreated. Note the driver switch to Bartlett. (4) BARIMAH A lost all chance back on the 7th when he broke behind the gate. His prior try in this class was a solid second-place finish.

Race 7 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(4) SUGAR SHOCK was just even finishing last week and was fifth. That was a pretty good group of NW4's, he gets away from Tellitsabb and outdraws Buddy Hill tonight, so maybe Marohn Jr. gets more aggressive. (2) RAZOR'S EDGE had little chance from post ten and in a dull flow over at the Meadowlands on 2-8 but his win and runner-up finish over there were impressive. (8) BUDDY HILL did race well in his comeback last Monday to finish second to Tellitsabb. He does move out to post eight, so I will use underneath.

Race 8 - NW7500L5/Winners of NW5000L5 in Last Start Pace

Another tough race here...(5) MAGRITTE ended up in a fast race for this class back on February 3 and came in third. His first-over attempt against NW10000L5's on 1-25 was excellent, and I'll hope for something like that effort tonight. (2) UNCLE REIMUS has raced decently over at the Meadowlands but was really good on the half-mile track at Northfield last year, taking all seven of his wins and his season's/life's mark there. (4) TIGER BARON didn't back up his solid qualifier on the 31st of January in his pari-mutuel try on February 8, but he does get class relief here.

Race 9 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace

(5) KNOCKING AROUND slides down another notch on the class ladder after a rallying second against NW15000L5's. He won comfortably when last at this level back on 12-17 and Brennan has the drive. (2) MISTER DAYTONA N beat NW5000L5's easily last Monday and now hikes up two classes. He beat NW10000L5's a couple times last year, though, so he remains a threat. (4) CAPOZZO took all the wagering attention in his last start on the 3rd of February and stopped after an early battle for the lead. He's good enough to contend, but I'd want a better price tonight.

Race 10 - NW6/75000LT Pace

(5) HEISMAN PLAYER turned in a big mile two weeks ago, taking the lead from first-up and finishing second to Globaldomination N. He makes his third start in the Ford barn tonight and Kakaley takes over the drive. (6) TAP TAP TAP stole that race a week ago with a well-rated front-end effort. He goes back to Bartlett tonight and remains in the same class. Curious to see if he races from off-the-pace again like two back. (8) GLOBALDOMINATION N is certainly good enough to win, but I think he's shown some vulnerability when drawn outside on the gate, and given he's likely to get wagering attention, I think he's a horse you try and beat when not drawn well.

Race 11 - NW15000L5/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace

(3) BELTANE A did well in his U.S. debut, turning in a quick final quarter to take third. He gets some class relief in his second appearance tonight, and the Hudson barn is off to a hot start in 2020 from limited starters. (2) ARQUE HANOVER remains in this NW15000L5 group after a closing second-place finish most recently. He should be able to get positioned well again from another inside post. (4) BILBO HANOVER is in good form with a second and two thirds in his last three. Trainer Mike Watson had another winner on Thursday night.