Yonkers: Saturday 3/18 Analysis
Best Bet: IDEAL COWBOY (4th)
Spot Play: TEXICAN N (9th)
MEET STATS: 77 - 257 / $440.70
BEST BETS: 13 - 24 / $42.40
Race 1
(5) DOJEA SOLO has blazing early speed which should put him in a perfect spot in this questionable field; top billing. (2) GRAND MASTER obviously does his best work at lower levels but he's been sharp, draws well and keeps Bartlett. (6) SANTANNA ONE drops a notch and picks up Tetrick but does have a speedster to his immediate inside.
Race 2
(3) LORD OF MISRULE had it all his own way last week but was collared by the sharp and classy pocket-sitter; give him another chance to go down the road. (1) J T took mystery money last week and didn't fire; he's always better from an inside post and Abbatiello should be looking to protect position. (2) KILLER MARTINI raced decently last week to hit the bottom of the ticket.
Race 3
(2) MOONLITEONTHEBEACH rated the pace but offered up little late as the odds-on chalk; the veteran may be better sitting a stalking trip and will offer an improved price. (5) MARINER SEELSTER saved ground and finished with pace last out; he's one of a handful of Ford trainees who have been decent this season. (1) A BETTOR HAT suffered a tough loss last out versus one notch lesser; he draws best here and can be used underneath.
Race 4
(3) IDEAL COWBOY was outbattled moving hard into a raced pace last out; classy gelding is overdue for his first score of the year and this looks like a perfect spot. (1) IN THE HUDDLE has suddenly forgotten how to win; use underneath. (2) CAVIART SKYLER was a winner here two back and the Burke trainee will be close up throughout.
Race 5
(2) MISSILE J has been great so far coming back for his 4-year-old campaign, now in the DiDomenico barn. Normally I'm against picking this type of horse versus more seasoned rivals but I think this is a good spot to steal leg 1 of the Levy. (3) BLOOD BROTHER was nailed on the money in last week's Open; clearly the Banca trainee is a big threat. (6) CAVIART LUCA should be firing from the gate and doesn't seem to meet a ton of inside speed.
Race 6
(3) SANTA FE BEACHBOY qualified last week to stay fresh for the Levy and he did look razor-sharp in his first 2017 appearance; slight edge from this post. (5) MCWICKED missed a month shipping from Florida but was a sharp well-rated winner versus lesser; big threat. (1) GREAT VINTAGE served notice in that qualifier that he's ready for action.
Race 7
(2) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN has been so impressive for Tritton it's impossible to pick against him until proven otherwise; he and Bit Of A Legend N look like a big 1-2 punch in the Levy. (6) ROCKIN RON has come back sharp this year for Burke and he's clearly fast enough to go with these. (3) MACH IT SO has loads of class and experience; he's another who can be ready to go off a pair of qualifiers.
Race 8
(3) SOTO impressed me last week by closing a ton from a spot where he could have otherwise been totally uninvolved; pacer is super-sharp heading into the Levy and could offer the best price of the contenders. (2) BIT OF A LEGEND N clearly needs no introduction as we all know he swept the Levy last year; he's had plenty of pace in his two 2017 starts while encountering traffic in both. (4) SOMEWHERE IN L A gets an inside post for the first time in ages and it's clear he'll be more involved tonight.
Race 9
(3) TEXICAN N passes up on the Levy this year but will still race for big money week in and week out; Tritton trainee has been solid in two starts this year. (4) BADIOU HANOVER has done nothing wrong in any recent starts yet he still may offer value. (6) SAPPHIRE CITY shows up for work every week and should come out of this with a payday.
Race 10
(2) THE LUNCH PAIL always seems to get into some sort of trouble but he was raging with pace last week; big threat if clear late. (1) BETTOREVER was just shy last week getting run over by a longshot; Bamond trainee has Bartlett again and draws best. (6) COOPERSTOWN has good early speed which puts him in play.
Race 11
(3) ROCK ABSORBER could not reach last week off a monster effort the start prior; Banca trainee is the one to beat from this spot. (1) WINDS OF CHANGE is another Takter-trained veteran who qualified well and looks ready to reenter the pari-mutuel wars. (5) FOILED AGAIN had no realistic chance last week but he moves in a couple of spots and is reunited with Gingras.
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