Yonkers: Saturday 5/18 Analysis
Best Bet: QUEEN OF THE PRIDE (5th)
Spot Play: BETTOR’S WISH (9th)
MEET STATS: 173 - 485 / $898.80 (-$71.20)
BEST BETS: 26 - 42 / $77.40 (-$6.60)
Race 1
(3) MR HASANI N paced evenly last out versus better and note six starts back when last at this level he was an odds-on winner with Holland driving. (4) WINSTON was outbattled late by a well-meant pocket-sitter last week but it was s solid effort in defeat for the Andrew Harris trainee; big player here. (5) BEACH MEMORIES debuts for DiDomenico off the claim but he's always been a bit of an erratic type; he could be sitting on a big effort or he could be simply awful; neither scenario would surprise me.
Race 2
(3) HOT DEUCE returns to Yonkers with much-needed class relief and he gets an important driver change to Dube; freelegged pacer will look to go down the road. (2) ROLL AWAY JOE fits nicely with these and should be close up at the wire. (6) DR DRAKE RAMORAY goes for a new barn off the claim (Bamond) and deserves a look off that angle.
Race 3
(1) BROOKLYN LILACS won a division of the NYSS here just a few days ago for Team Bongiorno and she deserves top billing off that effort. (4) MI NINA BONITA was a bit curiously driven last week in the Reynolds but she had plenty of finishing pace. (5) AS TIME GOES BY responded to the driver switch to Stratton and was a solid winner in her Reynolds split.
Race 4
(4) TOATSMYGOATS went back to the Brittany Robertson barn last week and roared out of the pocket for the score; gelding is sharp enough to take another. (1) ONE THROUGH TEN was curiously classified in his last couple and failed to deliver; he's back at the level where he's been dominating on the front end and is surely the one to catch. (6) BUGSY MAGUIRE has gone back-to-back huge trips spending overtime on the rim but he lands another tough post here and could be looking at a smaller share tonight.
Race 5
(2) QUEEN OF THE PRIDE had no trouble handling her affairs last week at 1/9 and she'll be heavily favored again to repeat. (4) BLUE IVY has had some trouble entering the pari-mutuel wars this season but those qualifiers suggest the talent is there. (1) BESTSELLER HANOVER has some stakes experience and could be tighter off that last race up at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Race 6
(2) AIR FORCE HANOVER comes into this Rooney elimination off a sharp score over at Pocono and the Brian Brown trainee clearly looks best here. (1) GOLDBERG looks like another talented one from the Teagues and there's no reason to believe he won't be right there from start to finish. (3) CAPTAIN MALICIOUS raced just evenly in his last couple in PaSS action but a similar effort will have him advancing to the final.
Race 7
(7) IN SECRET was worn down by the razor-sharp Will Take Charge last week but it was still a solid effort; this field didn't come up all that strong and the Burke trainee may be able to take this field coast-to-coast. (8) EYE OFA TIGER AS was dead-game in defeat last out in a tough loss after a rugged try; he's got good early speed as well and may offer a bit of value from the outside post. (4) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN has missed a couple weeks off a sick scratch but when right he's proven to be competitive with these.
Race 8
(10) WIND BLAST had a very willing local debut then just paced evenly last out versus better; he's back at the NW10000 level and the Hudson trainee would be no surprise here, despite the tricky starting spot. (3) BEYOND DELIGHT rallied willingly from the rear in his local return for Allard and he lands in a much better spot tonight. (1) SPORTSKEEPER never got involved last week but that was a very unrealistic spot and he'll be much more involved here.
Race 9
(3) BETTOR'S WISH could not have looked any sharper in his 3-year-old debut here a few weeks ago and he kept tight with that winning qualifier at The Meadowlands; Chris Ryder trainee has a post edge on his main rivals which could work to his advantage. (5) BLOOD MONEY had a solid 2-year-old season and is clearly ready to go starting this year's stakes campaign; Johansson trainee seems the one to beat. (6) BRANQUINHO is perfect this year for Schnittker and he faces his first big test; post does him no favors, however.
Race 10
(4) PACING MAJOR N went parked every step last week and lived to tell about it, almost snatching second to the front-running (8) IDEAL JIMMY; is this gelding turning into the newest Tritton stable star? The latter powered off with ease winning the Open after a tough eight-hole try the start prior; he can fire from this spot again to overcome the outside assignment. (2) JJ FLYNN needed last week's even effort and he can have more to offer tonight.
Race 11
(3) THEARTOFCONFUSION A has done nothing wrong all season and he gets much-needed post relief after last week's eight-hole assignment; Scott Zeron subs for Mark MacDonald tonight but I would expect he would maintain his sharpness. (5) DR J HANOVER is back at his preferred venue and is a bonafide speed threat. (2) CLASSY DRAGON hit the ticket in his last two in the Golden Receiver series at The Big M was a winner here for back at the Preferred level.
Race 12
(1) NOCTURNAL BLUE CHIP had plenty of finishing pace last week but just had a touch too far to come; post relief will make a big difference tonight. (3) TECHTOR HANOVER had no chance last week but the class and post relief, combined with his good early speed will make him a player here. (4) ARTIFACT HANOVER has raced very well recently and the sharp sort can be included.