Yonkers: Monday 3/2 Analysis

MEET STATS: 69 - 188 / $380.50 (+$4.50)
BEST BETS: 10 - 17 / $29.90 (-$4.10)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 17 / $20.10 (-$13.90)
BEST BET - I'M VERY SPECIAL (3rd)
SPOT PLAY - FLY IN STYLE (4th)

Race 1 - 12500CLM Pace

(4) RANSOM DEMAND draws a much better post this time after a closing effort from post eight on the 21st and was claimed out of that race by Banca, who is racking up his share of wins lately. He should be much closer to the pace tonight and I'll use. (2) KEYSTONE HONOR is razor-sharp right now and is coming off another win. He goes for another new trainer in Richie Johnson on this occasion. (1) AMRCANBOOTSCOOTA A qualified well both locally and down at Freehold for his return after some time off. He was second as the favorite in this class back on the 17th of December and might add some value underneath.

Race 2 - M LIFE REWARDS LADIES PACING SERIES (3&4YO F&M) Pace

(4) DD DELICIOUS raced well in her comeback on the 18th, finishing second from post eight. She showed enough talent and had enough success a year ago to make the NY Sire Stakes final, and I'll slot on top. (6) DARN TOOTN HANOVER caught the eye in that mile back on 1-31 at the Meadowlands when she swept the field and has kept it going since. She lured Brennan off the Burke horse in here, a key vote of confidence. (3) NORTH STAR IDEAL is also red-hot right now with three straight victories. Kakaley did hop off tonight to drive my top choice, but Greg Merton knows her well and has won with her before.

Race 3 - M LIFE REWARDS LADIES PACING SERIES (3&4YO F&M) Pace

(3) I'M VERY SPECIAL came in third to North Star Ideal from the eight-hole in that race on the 25th and gets post relief tonight, plus appears to draw in the softest of the divisions of this series. (6) FRESH EYES has some performances on half-mile tracks up in Canada that I think could serve her well here and the Cleary barn is toting around a high average both here and elsewhere so far in 2020. (1) WINDSONG PARISIAN turned in a good qualifier here last Friday (2/21). She had some good efforts against NW5's down at Harrah's Philly before taking a break, and she might be able to follow along and hit the ticket.

Race 4 - M LIFE REWARDS LADIES PACING SERIES (3&4YO F&M) Pace

(5) FLY IN STYLE has been handled conservatively in her first two starts of 2020, but I think her connections might have been pointing to this spot and we could see a more aggressive approach. Let's hunt for some value. (2) RED RIVER JANE owns a pair of second-place finishes since joining the Burke barn earlier this month. She gets an inside draw after outside posts at the Meadowlands and Pocono, and I expect Brennan to have her in the hunt. (4) LOVIN COCOA romped over NW2's most recently, but I think does meet up with a tougher group here. Kakaley was also listed on Red River Jane and took this one.

Race 5 - NW2/25000LT Pace *$10K GTD Pick 5 Pool*

(2) REIGNING BILLS charged home with a 27 second final kicker to get up for fourth last Monday. He draws a much better post tonight, and I think can get his maiden-breaking win. (3) FLYING FINN N was four-for-nine in his homeland a season ago and qualified well down at Freehold with Goodell driving. He might need one tonight, but I expect him to be a player soon. (4) P-DRIVE HANOVER took a first-over run at Record Year a week ago but had to settle for second behind that well-meant winner. He's now just one-for-23 lifetime, so I think you have to try and beat him as the morning line favorite.

Race 6 - 10000CLM Pace

(4) TERROR O beat $10,000 and $12,500 claimers last year in Pennsylvania and returns east tonight after some time in Ohio. He joins the Harris barn, which always demands attention, and though Bartlett did not choose him, I will give him the nod. (2) MORE DRAGON is kind of an enigma but did come with one of his good performances most recently when he rallied for fourth from post eight. He slides inside tonight, and we'll see if he can do it again. (3) NORTHERN ASSASSIN A was Bartlett's choice here as the Banca trainee has a win and a second in his last two. He didn't offer much resistance when collared by Brookdale Fletcher N last Monday, and I think is vulnerable.

Race 7 - 12500-15000CLM HCP Pace

(4) MYIDEALSON N sports just an eight-for-109 win record lifetime but starts for a new barn for the first time in quite a while as Jenn and Joe Bongiorno took him back on the 21st. He put in a good mile that night, finishing second, and maybe can show further improvement for his new connections. (5) CANBEC KINGKAZIMIR had things his own way on the engine again last Monday and wound up third after being passed in the lane. That's sort of been a consistent thing with him in 2020, and though he was claimed out of that race by Allard, I'll try and beat him again. (3) DEERFIELD BEACH looked to be heading in the right direction two and three back but then regressed a week ago. That was against $15,000-$20,000 claiming handicap company, so he does get a bit of class relief.

Race 8 - NW4/50000LT / NW6/75000LT Drawn Outside Pace

(3) MEADOWBROOK FLASH finished a strong second against NW4's on the 10th and then handled NW2's on the 17th. That win was flattered last Monday when runner-up Record Year came back to score in a romp. (6) FOLLOWYOURDESTINY makes his third start off the layoff tonight for Banca and probably meets up with the softest bunch he's faced so far. I expect him to be much more forwardly-placed. (5) OHIO VINTAGE was in a pretty tough spot for his comeback last Monday both class and post-wise. He took some shots against Ohio Sires Stakes company last year and was third in their consolation event.

Race 9 - 20000CLM Pace

(3) DOJEA SOLO wound up second to a strong Bellows Binge last Monday. He out-draws the other fancied horses in here, and hopefully he can take advantage. (8) ROCK ON PRECIOUS was victorious on the 21st and was claimed by Banca. He gets the worst of the draw tonight, but I think he has the ability to get positioned. (1) BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT took some wagering attention last Monday when he wound up fifth. He has the pole position this week, so maybe he can sit in and make some noise late.

Race 10 - NW5000L5 Pace

(5) SWING CITY gets additional class relief and draws a better post this time. He was a rallying second when last in against NW5000L5's back in January. (1) VOLLEY BALL BEACH came to Harris last September, and he has not won with the horse as of yet. It's hard to ignore anything this barn sends out, and the qualifier at Freehold was an improvement. (2) NY WHITESOX took his life's mark at Yonkers last year and was facing better before going on the sidelines. He qualified well at Pocono behind an open-type horse in Ideal Jimmy and might spice up the exotics.

Race 11 - NW7500L5/Winners of NW5000L5 in Last Start Pace

(6) KEPT UNDER WRAPS A drops a notch tonight and catches a wide-open group he might be able to put in a good performance against. I thought he was racing well against some tough foes over at the Meadowlands and hopefully he can return to that kind of effort. (5) ST LADS NEPTUNE continues to slide down the class ladder in search of a wake-up call. He didn't make many starts in 2019 but did show some talent against much better than this. (3) ROCK N BLUE got the nod from Brennan over my top pick and you usually have to watch when he drives for Bucci. He turned in an improved effort on the 22nd.

Race 12 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace

(6) DOCTOR BUTCH retreated to the NW5000L5 level a week ago and romped to the easiest of wins. That kind of confidence builder might be just what the veteran was looking for, and I think he lands in another winnable spot tonight. (1) SOLID ASA ROCK A put in a big mile from first-up last Monday and hung around well to finish fourth. He gets class relief tonight and Bartlett takes back over the drive. (3) THE LUNCH PAIL also gets the drop he's been looking for and has an improved post position to work with.