Yonkers: Monday 5/13 Analysis
Best Bet: MISS YOU N (9th)
Spot Play: MAGRITTE (10th)
MEET STATS: 46 - 128 / $236.40 (-$19.60)
BEST BETS: 7 - 12 / $21.10 (-$2.90)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 12 / $14.10 (-$9.90)
Race 1
(2) TOPVILLE OLIVIA needed four chances over at Harrah's Philly and Pocono to break her maiden, getting the job done with the addition of Lasix on 5-6. With some horses, the second start on Lasix is even better, so I'll hope she's one of them. Was Bartlett's choice of two as well. (1) PONDER THE ODDS receives some major post relief tonight, getting to slide in from post five and post seven the last two weeks to the rail tonight. (5) DELIGHTFUL TRYSTA raced well in a series up at Saratoga and now tries Yonkers for the first time.
Race 2
(1) SANTINI shifts down to the pole position after a rallying second at this level last Monday night and looks like he should have a good shot for his first win this year. (2) MERRY HANOVER also had late interest a week ago from an outside post and gets to leave from post two instead of the six tonight. (4) NEXT WOMAN UP was at the NW6 level when last seen in Westchester, so this is some class relief. Won easily in a soft spot at Freehold last time, and that may have been a confidence booster.
Race 3
(5) FOLLOWYOURDESTINY gets another opportunity to race against NW2, sliding in under the earnings cap. All of his efforts here have been good, and I look for another one tonight. (4) BEATINGTHEODDS invades from Canada and enters the Josh Green barn. Raced well north of the border, including an impressive romp the one time he raced on a half at Western Fair, so he has a big chance. (1) ROLAND ONTHERIVER closed in the final quarter last week but couldn't reach the loose leader. Post relief tonight, going from the six to the rail.
Race 4
(6) SUDDENLY ROYAL cut the mile against NW6 types last Monday night but weakened in the lane. Retreats back to NW4 tonight where she was a good second on 4-29 and switches to Sears. (3) PRINCESS BRISA held second behind a Sire Stakes-caliber winner in Meghan Lynn a week ago. Will have every chance to stalk the pace again and perhaps have some more late pace. (4) EXOTIC DANCE turned in another solid effort on May 6 with a second-place from first-over and retained Stratton over another one in the race.
Race 5
(2) DA DELIGHTFUL had absolutely no problem with the hike up to NW4 on April 29, and since he drew well again, I can't go against him. Razor-sharp. (3) IDEAL FLIP turned in a good runner-up effort against a well-meant winner last time out. Unfortunately he runs into another buzzsaw in my top pick tonight. (4) LUCK N ROLL K raced from off-the-pace coming off the layoff and the change in venue when last seen. Chance for improvement tonight.
Race 6
(7) STAR COMMANDER N rolled home nicely last Monday from off-the-pace and just ran out of track. Moves out to post seven this week, but hopefully he won't be too far back and can show his customary late burst. (1) DANCIN DRAGON was very good in his debut for DiDomenico, going right down the road and winning convincingly. Takes a step up tonight but offsets that by getting the rail. (3) RONNIES ROCKET followed from the pocket at this level a week ago but faded to third. I can see something similar to that coming again.
Race 7
(3) B FIFTEEN did all the pace-making last week but was no match for a quality filly in St Somewhere in the lane. Keeps the same post tonight and there isn't nearly as imposing a rival in this group on Monday. (1) SO LONG DARLING showed some late interest in that same contest won by St Somewhere a week ago and gets post relief tonight, leaving from the rail. (7) BULLVILLEKARLA put together another quality effort on May 6, rallying to get third. Shifts back outside this week, so Zeron will have to work out a trip.
Race 8
(1) TIVO HANOVER just couldn't match strides with the red-hot Anthem N in the dying strides last week and had to settle for second. It was still a great effort on the front-end, and given he moves down to the pole position tonight, I think he'll be on the point again and get the job done. (7) ROCKAPELO qualified and raced well over at Harrah's Philadelphia. Now 4-year-old won the Sire Stakes title at Yonkers last year. Loses Bartlett to my top pick, but given that Brennan goes on, we might see some aggressive handling. (2) TWIN B TUFFENUFF put forth an outstanding effort from post eight last week, making the front and winning. Moves up to NW8 this Monday but gets post relief, leaving from the deuce.
Race 9
(2) MISS YOU N defeated many of these last week in the NW8 class, and since she gets a good post to work with and there are no new faces that look super-imposing, I'll look for her to run her win streak to seven. (3) ROSE RUN TONI just lost second through the lane after trying Miss You N from first-over. Maybe she can find a smoother trip tonight. (1) CABOWABOCUTTIE drew the rail this week after finishing in the runner-up spot to Miss You N a week ago.
Race 10
(3) MAGRITTE broke early from post eight on April 30 and had bad posts and/or was too high up in class preceding that. Gets a good post tonight and stays at the NW10000L5 level where he won at back in February. (4) GIVENUPDREAMING has been racing against tougher company for a while and gets class relief this week. Will probably get plenty of attention at the windows. (5) DOCTOR BUTCH gets a better draw this time after having post seven and post eight in his last two. Might show speed tonight, which would make him a big player.