Yonkers: Saturday 1/26 Analysis
Best Bet: BLAYDE HANOVER (3rd)
Spot Play: CHESTNUT SCHOFIELD (10th)
MEET STATS: 15 - 32 / $88.20 (+$24.20)
BEST BETS: 2 - 3 / $4.60 (-$1.40)
Race 1
(1) ROYAL HEART drops back to a more legitimate level and lands the best post in a field with many question marks; definitely playable but don't take too short of a price. (4) WARMINSTER A closed willingly from the eight hole last out and now moves in a few slots; logical. (6) GHOST PINE drops in class and does have some early speed at his disposal.
Race 2
(5) ALL DOWN THE LINE doesn't win all that often but he's raced well in his last three starts at this level, including missing a neck last out. (8) GUNPOWDER N was a well-bet and solid winner last out for Tritton/Stratton; only problem here is the post. (2) DON'TCALLMEFRANCIS returns to the pari-mutuel races off a winning qualifier over a slow track and the Godinez trainee fits with these.
Race 3
(3) BLAYDE HANOVER returned to Yonkers and jogged on the front end; he's entered for the same tag tonight and can easily repeat. (1) ROLL WITH JOE just missed at this level two back; he's a big threat from this spot, assuming he's ready to go off the missed time. (6) STOLEN CAR fits perfectly at this $40K claiming level and he has some early speed.
Race 4
(4) CITY HALL is clearly feeling good again and he can fire home fastest with a live trip. (2) THE WALL was really in a no-chance spot last week; post relief certainly helps the Surick trainee. (5) KILLER MARTINI has been incredibly unlucky at the post draws but hasn't been awful; he can reach from this spot.
Race 5
(3) DON DOMINGO N shook free and charged home to score in his local debut and he's another in a long line of these successful Down-under imports; hard to go against trying to make it three straight. (1) TULLOW N steps up in class, but was good last out and seems capable of hanging with these. (5) CAPOZZO was a solid second last out, even showing some early speed.
Race 6
(4) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN was ready to go off the winter break and was sharp in defeat; now he lands a very favorable post here which stamps him as the one to beat. (6) ANDY RAY beat the top choice from the pocket and can be a big threat again if he can improve position early with some speed types inside of him. (3) WESLYNN DANCER can trot with these if she manages to behave herself.
Race 7
(4) LIGHTNING ONMYFEET was a sharp pocket-sitting winner last week for a barn that's been a bit slow to come around early in this season; he faces nothing special stepping up a notch and seems capable of repeating. (1) BALLARAT BOOMERANG was nipped late by the top one last out; obvious speed threat again from the rail. (5) STARS ALIGN A is likely the 'X' factor in here, making his first start in over a month and he tends to be a bit erratic.
Race 8
(4) AIR STRIKE needs the front end to prosper and he should be able to hit the lead from this spot; worth trying if the price is good enough. (7) CHRISTEN ME N has been very sharp for weeks without a victory to show for it, and now he moves outside; let's see if he can be forwardly placed. (8) WEONA SIZZLER A is a very interesting proposition here. Gelding was phenomenal at the end of last season, and now he moves to the Banca barn via private purchase and he adds Lasix off a sharp qualifier. What do we expect from the eight hole?
Race 9
(7) I'M SOME GRADUATE never got involved in that qualifier with Ron Burke in the bike, but he's proven here at these high-conditioned levels; in a race with no standouts let's hope he's aggressively handled from the outset. (3) LETSCHASETHEDREAMN is perfect in two U.S. starts for a live outfit; major threat to take another despite facing tougher. (2) COOPERSTOWN was good at the end of last year and qualified effectively.
Race 10
(4) CHESTNUT SCHOFIELD raced very well on the rim, finishing third best to two classy rivals in his first start of 2019. Allard trainee can certainly build off that effort. (6) CASH ME OUT is a classy veteran that makes money year in and year out and he fits with these. (3) LILY'S SWAN POND steps up in class looking for four straight.
Race 11
(7) ANYTHINGFORLOVE A shipped in from The Meadows, joined the Jenn Bongiorno barn and promptly won in 1:51 4/5, beating a good horse in the process. Is he sharp enough to repeat? (1) LOCKTON LUCK A is yet another import that's been razor-sharp for Lance Hudson and Jordan Stratton. (2) OUR ZAK WHITBY A prevailed on the front end versus lesser in last, and that was over a month ago; consider, but use caution.