Yonkers: Monday 4/29 Analysis
Best Bet: SHEBANG N (6th)
Spot Play: SHE CAN PARTY (8th)
MEET STATS: 25 - 86 / $140.40 (-$31.60)
BEST BETS: 3 - 8 / $7.80 (-$8.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 2 - 8 / $10.00 (-$6.00)
Race 1
(4) FOLLOWYOURDESTINY comes out of what I think was the stronger division of this NW2 class last Monday night where he chased home the razor-sharp Da Delightful. Retains post four and Bartlett. (6) JACK NATION was in that same race as my top pick for his first start back off the shelf. Colt showed enough talent through his rookie campaign to make the sire stakes final, and I think he could show more tonight with a race under his belt. (1) ALEX TYE couldn't have had things any easier last week, strolling through easy fractions and dominating. Going to bank on him not getting it that way tonight, despite the pole position.
Race 2
(4) TORKIL raced well enough over at the Meadowlands in his last three, now ships back over to Yonkers in the bottom-level condition class, which is a drop over the last time he was seen here. (3) BALTIMOR AS was never involved from an outside post last week coming off the break in stride on 4-15. Gets post relief tonight and hopefully can perform more like he did on April 1 when he was a good second. (6) KINDA LUCKY LINDY returns to Yonkers after one start from an outside post at Pocono. Closed stoutly to get second at this level in Westchester on April 8.
Race 3
(1) CRAZY CUTE was sort of disappointing last week when she got away with an easy first-half but got picked off late. Gets the pole and meets up with a weak-looking field, so I have to keep her on top. (6) PONDER THE ODDS made an interference break against much better last week and was coming off a sick scratch in that race, so things haven't been going the smoothest for her. Drops two levels tonight, so that might perk her up. (2) FIFI TINKERBELL raced conservatively from post seven last Monday in her comeback. Has winning experience at Yonkers, having claimed an Excelsior B division here last year, and should be tighter with the race under her belt.
Race 4
(3) MI NINA BONITA slides back to NW2 where she won on 4-8 after a third against NW3. Draws inside the other main contender and I think she'll try to wire this group. (4) LADYBELUCKYTONITE just got up for second over my top pick in that same race on April 8. Wound up first-over trying to chase through slow fractions, and it didn't work out last time, but a smoother trip gives her a big shot. (6) HOOPLA HANOVER made a big move into the lead and then held sway in her comeback against NW1 at Plainridge on April 18. Filly made the Excelsior Series final in 2018 and took her mark here at Yonkers.
Race 5
(6) MAJOR ESCAPE tried the Weiss Series over at Pocono for his first three starts of 2019 and ran into sharp horses like Sports Legend and Turbo Hill. The second-place finish two back was a solid effort, and I'll hope for that kind of performance tonight. Colt won at Yonkers last year and was second in the Excelsior Series final. (3) FROMTHESTARTAGAIN sat in and finished well at this level last Monday. Gets a better draw this week, going from post six to post three, and continues to round into form early in his career. (4) ROCK AMERICA qualified well enough and returns in a sensible spot. Raced both at the top NY Sire Stakes level and the Excelsior Series last year. Bartlett did opt off, but Sears takes over.
Race 6
(4) SHEBANG N turned into a win machine last year, scoring five straight at Yonkers and Harrah's Philly before being put away. Qualified against Kissin In The Sand at the Meadowlands and then the second qualifier at Harrah's Philly was excellent. Returns at the NW4 level in Westchester, which she dominated at on 9-24 of last year, and I'll bank on Nifty Norman having her ready to rock right away. (7) SUN VISER is another comebacker after a solid 2-year-old campaign. Was second from post eight against the very good Zero Tolerance in the qualifier at Harrah's Philly on 4-16, and was a two-time Excelsior Series winner last year, with one of those wins coming at Yonkers. (5) BOOGIE ROLL made a break last Monday night and scattered a bunch of the field. Will hope that was a one-week problem or the sloppy track and use her underneath.
Race 7
(1) DA DELIGHTFUL double-jumps from NW2 to NW4 but his wins at the lower level could not have been any more impressive, including a romp from post eight last week. Gets back on the rail this week, and with Dube returning to the bike, I'm guessing he's going to the engine. (8) ON ACCIDENT ships back to Yonkers tonight after competing in the Weiss Series, also running into the earlier-mentioned Sports Legend and Turbo Hill. Was third in the Sagamore final in Westchester earlier this year and is in good form. (3) MELANIE'S TEDY was a good second from a pocket trip at this level last Monday night. Third start back off a layoff.
Race 8
(1) SHE CAN PARTY didn't have much to offer last week in her first try against NW6 types, but she moves to the rail this week, gets Sears in the bike for a second time, and this looks like a much softer group this time around. (2) LIONESS HANOVER makes her Yonkers debut tonight, shipping in from Plainridge. Nothing wrong with either of her starts there, and she was good at Dover earlier this year as well. Bartlett's choice of two in the race. (4) BULLVILLEKARLA has been racing at this level for quite a while with hit-and-miss results. Hoping for something like the effort on April 1 tonight to round out the top three.
Race 9
(2) BETTOR'S WISH had an excellent freshman campaign, winning multiple Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series legs, finishing second in the Battle Of Waterloo, and also racing well in fast miles in the Kentucky Sires Stakes program. Returns to the races off a very good qualifier at Harrah's Philly, lands a good post, and kept Dexter Dunn over another contender. (6) LISBURN was the one Dunn chose off of, but gets Sears off a good third-place effort at this level on April 22. (4) TITANIUM N followed Lisburn's cover last week and finished well. In line for a similar trip tonight should Holland opt for that route.
Race 10
(7) REBEL ROUSER saw his win streak end last out at the Meadowlands when he just couldn't get up in a quick final quarter sprint. Gets an outside draw tonight, but he overcame post eight to win at Pocono two back and the nine-hole at the Meadowlands three back, so that isn't a huge concern. Sears was listed but ends up on another, so the Rebel gets the more-than-capable Dexter Dunn. (3) BO MACH finished a solid second to the razor-sharp Skyway Quinton at this level and got the nod from Sears over my top pick. Hudson barn has been hot as of late too. (4) WHATSTROUBLNUROCKY had the pocket trip to Skyway Quinton last week and lost some ground in the lane. It was still a good effort against that stout foe, and he hasn't been worse than third in his last four tries.