Yonkers: Monday 2/24 Analysis

MEET STATS: 61 - 165 / $312.30 (-$17.70)
BEST BETS: 9 - 15 / $26.30 (-$3.70)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 15 / $20.10 (-$9.90)
BEST BET - RAZOR'S EDGE (4th)
SPOT PLAY - ALWAYS A SHARK (10th)

Race 1 - 10000CLM Pace

(5) BROOKDALE FLETCHER rallied to finish second to a heavy favorite in Brookies Prince N last Monday. He draws an ideal mid-pack post for a similar journey tonight and should be a bit better price than other contenders. (2) NORTHERN ASSASSIN A worked out a pocket trip from post seven last time out and drew off to an easy win in this class. He draws better tonight and should be the favorite. (3) JUSTIFIED had to grind away from first-over in his most recent effort and was dead-game in finishing second. The 12-year-old took a week off after that and is back at it tonight.

Race 2 - NW2/32000LT Pace

(5) P-DRIVE HANOVER had some pace finishing last week after taking back and sitting in. He makes his third start off the layoff tonight and is in against a wide-open group. (4) RECORD YEAR should have much more attention at the windows tonight after finishing second to a well-meant Meadowbrook Flash last Monday. That was his second straight runner-up finish at Yonkers. (1) ISSA HORSE will break through for a win one of these times as he's been on the ticket all but one of his starts this year. Use underneath.

Race 3 - 10000CLM Pace

(2) INSPIRATION VIEW receives some post relief tonight after having two six-holes and the seven in his last three. That change should allow Stratton to keep him in the hunt and hopefully he can deliver at a bit of a price. (6) MISTER TRUTH looks like a logical one to use as he's scored a second and a third since dropping down to this bottom claiming level. I don't think he should have any issue getting involved given his early speed. (1) MANHATTAN BENNY is reunited with Bartlett tonight for the first time since he guided him to a victory on the 17th of January. Having the pole position also makes him attractive.

Race 4 - NW4/50000LT Pace

(3) RAZOR'S EDGE sat in and then rallied stoutly to win his Yonkers debut a week ago. Burke continues to win his share of races here as usual and since this horse gets to race against NW4's again, I'll look for a repeat performance. (2) UNION STATION finished with interest in his comeback start off the shelf in the same race my top pick exits. He also has some post relief tonight. (4) LYING IN CASH is an interesting newcomer from the Midwest. He qualified nicely at Hawthorne and backed it up in the lone pari-mutuel start. The Todd Buter barn is pretty sharp.

Race 5 - 15000CLM Pace - **$10,000 GTD Pick-5 Pool**

(4) LEAR SEELSTER was third against optional $20,000 claimers down at Freehold most recently with a solid closing effort, so I have to think he fits against the $15,000 claiming company here at Yonkers. Ginsburg has won with the horse at both Freehold and the Meadowlands, so I like that he's coming over to pilot him. (3) CANBEC KINGKAZIMIR keeps knocking on the door but settling for second. I expect him to get bet pretty heavily again. (1) KABOOM POW remains hot property at the claim box as he goes for his fourth different trainer in as many starts tonight. He retains the pole position and Bartlett takes over the driving.

Race 6 - 15000-20000CLM HCP Pace

(7) BELLOWS BINGE plunges in class from where he was at back in June when last seen. The qualifier was not bad given the weather/track conditions, and I'll take a swing that Banca has him ready, even though Bartlett didn't take him. (6) ONE LUCKY DRAGON was pounded at the windows last Friday and finished third after rallying. He shown more speed in the past, so maybe Bartlett switches up tactics tonight. (2) DEERFIELD BEACH has been slowly rounding into form. He wasn't Brent Holland's choice, but I'll put him on the ticket.

Race 7 - NW5000L5 Pace

(6) PICKLED PREACHER faced $25,000 and $27,500 claimers in his last two at Pocono, so this has to be an easier spot tonight. This trainer surprised us with a couple winners on the same card earlier this month, and maybe this horse can do the same in a wide-open affair. (1) DOCTOR BUTCH has had a heck of a career with over $1.5 million in the bank, but there's a lot of miles on his odometer at age 10. He was favored against NW7500L5's last Friday, so he certainly makes sense here as he continues to drop. (3) DULL ROAR ships in from the Meadowlands where he's been closing well and owns two thirds in three tries. He gets Bartlett and an inside post.

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

(1) WHOS BETTER makes his third start tonight after being idle from August of last year to February 8. He showed improvement on 2-15, and I'll hope that trend continues. (5) WESTERN BAYAMA comes back to Yonkers after a winning performance at Freehold on the 15th of February. I think he aimed too high in class and then got parked in his previous two chances here, so I think you can excuse them. He adds Brennan in the bike too. (7) SPECTRUM has not won yet for Banca but that was a quality try from first-up last Monday and he goes back to Bartlett.

Race 9 - NW7500L5/Winners of NW5000L5 Pace

(4) THEFREEDOMFIGHTERN grabbed a runner-up finish behind a tough Takeittotheface last Monday in a good performance. The Simons barn has been hot so far. (3) HUNDIE N has both class and post relief tonight after starting from the eight-hole on the 15th of February. He's hard to back for the win slot given his record, but this is certainly the type of spot he could take the victory. (2) MAURICE forged his way to the lead from first-over a week ago and held third against NW10000L5's. He slides down a notch and has Bartlett in the bike.

Race 10 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace

(6) ALWAYS A SHARK finished his mile pretty well in a tough spot at the Meadowlands in his first appearance after a layoff. I think this is an easier field tonight, and he got a vote of confidence from Bartlett as his choice. (1) MASTERSON drops a notch and gets to move inside to the pole position from post six. Kakaley got to know him the last couple times and drives again tonight. (2) TITANIUM N gets the cure for his bad post flu this time as he has post two after having two sevens and a six in his last three. This is a level higher than his win back on 1-24, but I think he's usable.

Race 11 - NW6/75000LT / NW7 Drawn Outside Pace

(5) EAST BEACH trucks into Yonkers from Ohio where he was in great form, including a vicious mile in his debut for Burke on 2-10. I'll put him on top. (2) CAPTAIN MALICIOUS did all of the pace-making a week ago and was probably a little short in his first start of the layoff as he faded to fonish third. He's likely to improve tonight. (3) YEAHNAH came through with a better performance in that Captain Malicious race, rallying by him to come in second.

Race 12 - NW15000L5/Winners of NW10000L5 in Last Start Pace

(6) CHRISTEN ME N picked up his last win of 2019 in this class on the 30th of September. He got in a couple acclimating miles against better horses on the 8th and the 15th, and I'll hope he's primed for a winning effort tonight. (1) SOLID ASA ROCK A drops down a level from the NW20000L5's. He was rejected by Bartlett, but Kakaley has handled this horse previously. (3) ARCHANGEL THREE dominated a group of NW10000L5's in his debut for Harris. He kept Bartlett but usually found the NW15000L5's too tough when in the Burke barn. I'll play against based on that.