Yonkers: Saturday 2/29 Analysis

MEET STATS: 80 - 241 / $430.40 (-$51.50)
BEST BETS: 12 - 21 / $39.50 (-$2.50)
Best Bet: BLOOD BROTHER (6th)
Spot Play: LEAN HANOVER (11th)

Race 1 - $40,000 Claiming

(5) MARTY MONKHOUSER A returned to the Gillis barn and gave it a good try though was outgamed by the sharp uncovered winner; 11-year-old is a proven commodity at this level and deserves another chance. (3) TALK SHOW was ambitiously placed in $75K claimers last week and wasn’t up to the task; Banca trainee drops to a more realistic level. (4) WINDSONG JACK hasn’t won in some time and may benefit from a class drop; use underneath. (2) GINGER TREE MARTY returns locally for Burke and draws well enough to consider.

Race 2 – NW30000 in last 5 starts

(5) WINNING SHADOW hasn’t raced since the first week of December but the Burke trainee appears ready to go off that qualifier over at The Meadowlands and I assume Brennan will be sending him to the front. (1) BUEN CAMINO should have benefitted from last week’s race across the river and the Smedshammer trainee has plenty of back class. (2) NEW HEAVEN makes his seasonal debut for Abbatiello off an effective qualifier; will he need a start? (4) WESLYNN DANCER is one of the few Banca trainees that came out of the box kind of flat; she’ll awaken eventually.

Race 3 – NW30000 in last 5 starts

(2) SILAS SEELSTER has taken two of three since graduating to this level and he’s done it the hard way grinding uncovered; he gets another crack at this class (fitting the NW10 condition) and there’s no reason why he can’t repeat. (3) IMAROCNROLLEGEND N had some issues behind the gate last start and he came up incredibly disappointing at 1/5 odds; the talent is there and the price obviously goes up tonight. (1) ROCKAPELO found the Open competition a bit too tough; this is more realistic. (4) AMERICAN BOY N just missed last out and Holland sticks with the speedy veteran.

Race 4 - $75,000 Claiming

(1) ANYTHINGFORLOVE A drops in for a tag tonight for Allard and Marohn seems to get along well with the speedy but quirky import; they will be looking to blast down the road. (8) HIGHLAND TARTAN has been razor-sharp but unfortunately lands in another eight hole; Gillis trainee still must be used. (5) SLICK MICK will probably be put in play early again by Bongiorno; include. (2) MARINER SEELSTER was Brennan’s choice and he can save ground and hit the ticket.

Race 5 – NW15000 in last 5 starts

(2) ANTHEM N is starting to get a bit frustrating as the Tritton trainee has been underachieving but he gets needed class and post relief tonight which should obviously help his cause. (7) WALKINSHAW N has closed a ton in his two U.S. starts but he draws poorly again; too far to come? (8) SAULSBROOK DEPUTY was a winner last week at this level; can Bartlett get him in play from the eight hole? (3) LONDON SEELSTER faces better but has been very sharp.

Race 6 – NW15000 in last 5 starts

(3) BLOOD BROTHER gets the class relief he needs to get back over the top; this race certainly seems to go through the classy Banca trainee. (2) BILBO HANOVER has quietly hit the board in his last four and always offers value. (4) CAPOZZO is usually at his best a level down but this race didn’t come up particularly strong; player. (5) LOCKTON LUCK A makes his seasonal debut off a winning qualifier but he may need a start or two to hit top form.

Race 7 – NW20000 in last 5 starts

(3) GRATIAN HANOVER was a good second in his seasonal debut and now the Jenn Bongiorno charge gets to drop in class; top billing. (2) SUNFIRE BLUE CHIP was well-rated on the front end and easily handled a notch lesser; he’s got tons of back class and will be very competitive again here. (4) BENHOPE RULZ N fits well with these but drawing outside of the top two will hurt his chances of coming out on top. (1) REAGAN’S AVENGER has been an afterthought in his last three but he drops, draws best and picks up Bartlett.

Race 8 – NW20000 in last 5 starts

(5) ROCK DIAMONDS N has had plenty of local success for Ron Cushing and he returns to Yonkers off consecutive solid second-place finishes at Pocono. (1) ROCK THE NITE also returns locally after facing some good ones down at Dover; Harris trainee should be a big player from the best post. (2) ROCKATHON fits with these but has been a bit camera-shy recently. (3) MACH TIME N was taken for $40K last week by Ceraso/Stafford and we’ll see if he maintains his good form for his new barn.

Race 9 – Open Handicap Pace

In a tough race to figure, (3) IDEAL JIMMY had a great 2019 season with over $260K banked and he looked progressively stronger in each of those three recent qualifiers; we saw another Erv Miller trainee come back strong right off the bench (Air Strike) and maybe this one can follow suit. (6) TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER blasted to the front and upset last week; figure on him firing out again, which can both help his cause and hurt his rivals to his outside. (5) MICKY GEE N is also coming off three qualifiers for Lance Hudson and the last one was a sharp win with Lasix added; will the Lance Hudson trainee be ready for action? (7) OSTRO HANOVER has been impossible to fault for Allard and he would be no surprise here.

Race 10 – NW15000 in last 5 starts

(3) ORILLIA JOE was a wire-to-wire winner from a very similar spot three back and he’s certainly the most logical winner in here, but not the most reliable. (2) GHOST DANCE will be in line for a smoother trip than he has last week. (5) ONE OFF DELIGHT A has looked pretty good for Harmon since arriving locally. (4) CARLISIMO should be more involved with the post relief.

Race 11 – Open Trot

(3) LEAN HANOVER seems to be rounding back into form after last week’s solid runner-up effort and this race didn’t come up particularly strong tonight. (6) TIGHT LINES returns to Yonkers off two big wins down at Dover. (1) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN seems like he can hold his own here from this spot. (2) ELYSIUM LINDY has been great since moving to the Andrew Harris barn.

Race 12 – NW30000 in last 5 starts

(1) BETTORS FIRE N returns locally and draws best in a field with some question marks; veteran gives Ron Cushing another legit chance on tonight’s card. (3) I’M SOME GRADUATE can clearly go with this type and Brennan could get aggressive from this spot. (6) HOT DEUCE finished very willingly when in with $75K claimers coming off the bench for Team Bongiorno. (2) LUCIANO N was a well-rated and sharp winner last week and he’s capable of repeating.