Yonkers: Monday 4/15 Analysis
Best Bet: MISS YOU N (7th)
Spot Play: ROCK IT SCOTT (6th)
MEET STATS: 10 - 22 / $47.50 (+$3.50)
BEST BETS: 1 - 2 / $3.00 (-$1.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 1 - 2 / $4.70 (+0.70)
Race 1
(5) ARRHYTHMIC STORM walloped his rivals on April 6 at Freehold and now comes north to Yonkers. That impressive win stands out against this field filled with comebackers and horses who have little form. (6) FOLLOWYOURDESTINY is a firster for Banca who has been racing against NW1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park; finished up his mile with some interest last time. (1) SHIM made the Excelsior Series final last year and won two legs of that event but hasn't competed since September 23 and will probably need one off the layoff.
Race 2
(1) MERRY HANOVER finally gets to drop back to the bottom condition level here after racing against NW6 and NW10000L5 company since January. This group should be much more to her liking, and although rejected by Zeron, she picks up Dube who drove her regularly in 2018. (2) MARLEY'S GUY heads to Yonkers after a good second in the preferred at Freehold in his debut for the Bongiorno outfit. Any repeat of that performance makes him a major threat at this level in Westchester. (7) SCREAMING CONWAY had a bit of interest on the end of the mile in this class last week. Does move outside on the gate, but I think he can follow in for a piece of it.
Race 3
(3) LADYBELUCKYTONITE closed a ton in the final quarter in her 2019 debut, and I look for her to improve off that effort to a win tonight. Sophomore daughter of Art Major showed some class last year, making the New York Sire Stakes final. (5) FUN ON A BEACH enters the Allard barn after winning twice this year at Flamboro Downs in Ontario. That effort on March 23 definitely makes her competitive against these. (6) MI NINA BONITA cut the mile and held sway last week against a few of these. She does shift outside on the gate a bit and that might make her switch back to a rallying style.
Race 4
(6) SHES PUKKA N could not have been any more impressive on March 25 at Yonkers, winning the Petticoat Series consolation by double-digit lengths. All her starts at Yonkers have been good since coming over from New Zealand, and she has raced both on the lead and coming from off-the-pace. That versatility is always welcome to see. (4) BIRCH ISLAND BETTY disappointed for DiDomenico in the first start, but then won authoritatively on April 5. Tries Yonkers for the first time after two appearances at Harrah's Philadelphia and meets up with a sharp rival in my top pick. (7) PLAYIN THE PONIES was the runner-up to Shes Pukka N in the Petticoat consolation and passed several horses in the final quarter at this level last Monday. Looking for her to do that again and complete the tri.
Race 5
(4) RONNIES ROCKET hasn't had much success since the move into the Banca barn, but gets to slide down the class ladder from NW6 to NW4 where he was victorious back in February. Good chance to wake up. (2) FORDHAM SIXTY TWO went one of the crazier trips you'll see after breaking early last week and finally and understandably tired in the stretch. Switches to Brennan this week and was his choice of two. (5) STAR COMMANDER N nearly won in his U.S. debut at this level last Monday night and should be much tighter this week off that effort.
Race 6
(4) ROCK IT SCOTT was in a tough spot last week from post eight and coming off a sick scratch, but a move inside to post four and getting back into a regular racing rotation puts him back in play at the same NW6 level. Stratton, who chose him over another one in the race, returns to the bike, and he guided him to a victory on March 11. (5) POKERFACE BLUECHIP put forth a dead-game first-up effort last week but was unable to grind past a well-meant winner. (1) ALI gets the rail this week, and the last time he had that position at this level, he was victorious.
Race 7
(1) MISS YOU N has been a win machine and now gets the pole position to boot this time. Bartlett's choice of three also. (4) B FIFTEEN gets to move from post eight to post four, and that puts her back in the picture again. Stratton takes over as Bartlett chose my top pick. (6) BYE HANOVER rallied off cover last week for second, and is probably in line for a similar journey from post six this week.
Race 8
(9) FUNKNWAFFLES draws a trailing post, but fortunately is behind one who usually shows speed when he draws inside. He's the most talented horse in this field, and keeps Bartlett again. (4) OUR ZAK WHITBY A drops right back down to NW20000L5 after one start at NW30000L5 where he finished with interest. Picks Brennan back up, who steered him to a win in this class on March 30. (1) GIVENUPDREAMING returns to Yonkers after one try against Opens at Plainridge where he was a rallying third. This is a class drop compared to his last appearances at Yonkers, and last time he drew the rail against NW20000L5's in Westchester, he went right down the road and won easily.
Race 9
(2) TIVO HANOVER cut the mile in his return last week and was dead-game in holding off a stern first-over challenger and winning the race. Stays at the same level, draws post two again, retains Bartlett over two others, and should be even tighter with a race under his belt. (1) DECLAN SEELSTER was really good through the Sagamore, winning two legs and then just missing in the final after a brutal trip. Raced well at the Meadowlands on April 6, now returns to the half-mile. Stern test coming up against my top pick. (4) ANTHEM N won easily last week, but really everything went his way when the leader stopped in the backstretch and he was first-over. Faces a much stiffer group this week with the likes of #2 and #1.
Race 10
(2) IMSTAYNALIVE kicked home well on April 6 at Pocono in his second start off the shelf, and that should have him poised for a good effort in this race back at Yonkers. Was competitive against NW8 types last fall before taking a break. (4) WESTERN BEACHBOY won the Sagamore final and dominated his leg prior to that race, but he hasn't raced since March 26, and this is a class hike for him as he's never raced in NW8 prior to this. (1) SKYWAY QUINTON hikes up to NW8 as well, but he's done nothing wrong since shipping east to Yonkers, and is coming out of a hot barn.