Yonkers: Saturday 5/20 Analysis
Best Bet: THE REAL ONE (10th)
Spot Play: SPRINGBANK SAM N (6th)
MEET STATS: 189 - 541 / $1,087.80
BEST BETS: 25 - 47 / $83.70
Race 1
(6) ROCK ABSORBER is a proven winner at this $50K claiming level and he will be on the move early again, either cutting the mile or sitting close up. (1) REAL ILLUSION has been razor-sharp and draws best. (5) ARI ALLSTAR still has something to prove versus this type but his last two have been very good.
Race 2
(6) MADMAN HALL hasn't raced badly at all versus better and the Schnittker trainee meets a very questionable field here. (2) ZORGWIJK NOVA hasn't been the same since the Ruiz claim but she's likely been racing over her head; switching back to Bartlett should help. (7) SKATES N PLATES returns locally and does have plenty of early speed at his disposal.
Race 3
(3) BETTING EXCHANGE qualified in good fashion after missing a month of acton and he does have class to him; Fanning trainee should fit well here. (8) BEAT THE DRUM beat this type four back from the eight hole and note the barn change here to the great Buzzy Sholty. (2) KILLER MARTINI doesn't win often but the Bucci trainee can land a share from this inside post.
Race 4
(4) TEQUILA MONDAY was a big player in the NYSS as a freshman filly and she raced well last out in a needed tightener despite losing at five cents on the dollar; Oakes trainee should be ready to roll from this spot. (5) PLANET ROCK powered home in last week's qualifier at The Meadowlands for Toscano; Tetrick drives. (7) AGENT Q is a huge talent and the biggest money earner in the field but she has to overcome the eight hole here; for a share.
Race 5
(3) WORLD APART showed good improvement from her first 2017 qualifier into her second and the Toscano trainee can progress further here. (5) AIN'T THREE OK tightened nicely in Ohio and last year's Matron winner should be ready to go. (1) BIG CITY BETTY has speed and the best draw; filly should be close up.
Race 6
(3) SPRINGBANK SAM N was a good second to a solid winner right off the bench and the Tritton trainee has a post edge on his main rivals. (7) HEMI SEELSTER is back at the Open level after finally putting it all back together; threat. (4) HOMICIDE HUNTER is a stakes-caliber trotter but he may need a start or two to hit peak form.
Race 7
(8) MOSSDALE CONNER N has been so impressive in his two U.S. starts that I have to stick with him despite his eight hole assignment. (4) BADIOU HANOVER has raced well in all recent without a win to show for it and this certainly isn't an impossible spot. (3) PARNU HANOVER is capable but has missed some time; Dave Miller drives.
Race 8
(9) DOWNBYTHESEASIDE is a marquee name here as the Brian Brown trainee was a top two-year-old banking almost $600K. The second tier start makes things a bit interesting but he's clearly best and Dave Miller shouldn't have any problems navigating traffic. (4) SUMMER SIDE quietly had a nice freshman season for Schnittker and he qualified well after an early-season break in stride; expect forward movement off the gate. (1) FUNKNWAFFLES was the NYSS champ a season ago and qualified well but I would have liked to have seen a pari-mutuel start from him first.
Race 9
(2) NOBLES FINESSE hit a little bump in the road last week after he lost his regular driver and had to work a bit harder in the early stages; I suspect he'll bounce back here for his new barn. (3) RANCOUSY hasn't been bad recently and he gets needed post relief. (4) WESTERN YOUNG GUN is up in class after being reclaimed by his prior connections and his last two were good.
Race 10
(5) BIT OF A LEGEND N took a well-deserved break after going in every leg of the Levy and I suspect the Tritton charge will be ready to fire from this spot. (2) MACH IT SO hasn't been bad but hasn't been particularly good this season; from this spot he should be in line for a live close-up trip. (4) MISSILE J hasn't fired with his best in his last two; is he tailing off after a wicked start to the year?
Race 11
(4) THE REAL ONE finally put it all together last out and gets a free ride versus some suspect foes. (5) HOLDINGALLTHECARDS hasn't done much recently but was a winner the last two times Brennan drove. (1) THREE OF CLUBS faces better but has speed with the best draw.
Race 12
(2) REGGIANO has been good off the Agostino Abbatiello claim without a victory to show for it and the sharp sort only needs a live trip to score here. (1) SOMEWHERE FANCY was going nowhere last out from an outside post in the Open and this is clearly a better spot. (3) TAKE IT BACK TERRY can obviously take this on memory but he just hasn't been that sharp this season.
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