Yonkers: Saturday 2/22 Analysis

MEET STATS: 67 - 208 / $356.50 (-$59.50)
BEST BETS: 12 - 18 / $39.50 (+$3.50)
Best Bet: MARTY MONKHOUSER A (2nd)
Spot Play: KEEP ON ROCKING A (8th)

Race 1 – NW7500 in last 5 starts

(2) ROCK N BLUE gets much-needed class and post relief and note he was a good second versus much better four back. (1) MR WIGGLE PANTS took advantage of a soft spot to win easily upon arrival. (7) SWING CITY fits with this type; just needs to find a way to get involved. (5) SUNKEN TREASURE qualified well; small share?

Race 2 - $40,000 Claiming

(5) MARTY MONKHOUSER A was reclaimed by Gillis last week, and he was on a nice roll previously in that barn. (3) MACH TIME N has hit the ticket in his last three at this level. (4) ARTIFACT HANOVER gets some post relief and should be more involved. (2) BLAISE MM HANOVER was second best last week and figures to be close-up again.

Race 3 – NW10000 in last 5 starts

(5) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN gets some needed class relief and while the Tritton trainee isn’t nearly as good as he used to be I have to believe he’ll still be competitive versus this type. (3) SAYING GRACE N arrives from The Meadowlands where he’s been caught up in some fast miles recently. (2) SCOUTS REPORT doesn’t have the class of some of the others in here but Bartlett’s back driving and he usually performs well on Blackler trainees. (1) CHUMLEE A returns locally for Stalbaum off a nice win at Pocono.

Race 4 – NW20000 in last 5 starts

(4) HEAVEN’S GAIT faces some legit competition but he’s just too sharp to ignore. (1) OURLITTLEGENERAL A sat the three hole behind a rated pace last out and finished evenly; he draws best tonight and should be aggressively handled. (5) GREAT VINTAGE just keeps trucking along at 12 years old and with his early speed he’ll be a player. (3) BABES DIG ME raced well last week but he was collared from behind.

Race 5 - $75,000 Claiming

(1) KEYSTONE PHOENIX was used a bit hard to secure the front last week and gave way late, barely lasting for second. From this spot he still seems the one to beat. (6) TALK SHOW is razor-sharp and is ambitiously placed at this level but I think he’s currently good enough to contend. (8) HIGHLAND TARTAN is a proven entity at this $75K claiming level but the eight hole makes things tough. (3) MARINER SEELSTER can save ground and pick up a small share.

Race 6 – NW15000 in last 5 starts

(2) SUNFIRE BLUE CHIP, like his stablemate Great Vintage, is an uber-classy millionaire who can still get the job done at his advanced age. He can go wire-to-wire here. (4) WHATS IN THE ESKY A couldn’t handle a two-move effort last out but with smoother sailing he’ll land a big piece. (1) ONE OFF DELIGHT A elected to sit in last week and that sealed his fate as he was shuffled back; he draws best tonight and looks like a prime contender. (6) GHOST DANCE has been good since returning from the layoff but he has some tough ones inside of him.

Race 7 – Preferred Handicap Trot

(8) PAPPY GO GO is a perfect 3 for 3 in 2020 and has taken four straight overall for Andrew Harris; this is a tough post assignment for his local return but that figures to help his price. (6) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN went through the motions last week but it seems like he could be put in play tonight from this spot. (4) MISSLAROSE has been very good across the river for Jenn Bongiorno and the mare looks like she can fit nicely with these. (7) MELADY’S MONET held very gamely last out after a rugged two-move trip and the veteran can never be counted out.

Race 8 – NW15000 in last 5 starts

(2) KEEP ON ROCKING A was so sharp in week’s two-move winning effort that the import deserves top billing on the class hike. (3) WAIMAC ATTACK N was outfinished deep stretch after chasing uncovered into a rated pace last start; he draws well again and certainly has a live shot. (1) KINNDER JACKSON is fresh Burke start coming off a win in his initial try for that barn. (6) EDDARD HANOVER has had good success here in the past.

Race 9 – NW20000 in last 5 starts

(5) SHOREVIEW couldn’t sustain a run from the back of the pack last week but he drops out of claimers and Bartlett can send him to the front tonight. (2) LUCIANO N drops, gets post relief and was Siegelman’s choice of four. (1) MILLIONDOLLAR WAVE is very sharp and can hit the ticket with a ground-saving trip. (6) WALKINSHAW N closed impressively in his first U.S. start and obviously bears watching.

Race 10 – Open Handicap Pace

(5) SAN DOMINO A closed very willingly in his two seasonal starts and he lands in a spot tonight where Dube can take a shot and send him off the gate. (4) MAC’S JACKPOT certainly seems ready to go off those two qualifiers. (7) JACK’S LEGEND A unfortunately gets the worst of the draw but he still has to be considered a serious contender. (6) TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER has done little wrong since arriving locally and he may be ignored in the wagering here but he’s clearly good enough to land a piece.

Race 11 – NW30000 in last 5 starts

(3) SILAS SEELSTER successfully transitioned from the “NW” conditioned ranks to these tougher, more seasoned overnight foes and he should offer fair value in this competitive finale. (2) BECHERS BROOK A was held at bay in the late stages last week after sitting the pocket trip and the import can build off that effort. (5) BETTOR THAN SPRING took control and went coast-to-coast versus a notch lesser; perhaps he can forwardly placed again. (1) GRATIAN HANOVER draws best for his local return; will the Jenn Bongiorno trainee need a start or two?