Yonkers: Saturday 7/21 Analysis
Best Bet: SIR PUGSLEY (11th)
Spot Play: HOT DEUCE (1st)
MEET STATS: 283 - 815 / $1,602.10
BEST BETS: 40 - 69 / $131.70
Race 1
(6) HOT DEUCE returns to Dube and finds a much softer spot tonight; he could very well clear the lead and take these a long way. (1) BETTING EXCHANGE was close up last out and certainly is logical from this spot but it's really hard to take a short price on him. (3) VANQUISHED N was stuck outside in his last two local starts and recently was a winner over at the Big M; consider.
[DRF HARNESS LIVE: Watch the Saratoga Harness Saturday card LIVE with real-time analysis from the DRF Harness team.]
Race 2
(4) DIAMOND COWBOY has been an afterthought in recent efforts versus $40,000 claimers but it's not like he's been bad in any of those races; class relief can get him over the top tonight. (1) EXIT CAM has been racing well of late and last week's race in particular was very good but he doesn't win enough to get excited about at a short price. (5) QUALITY CLOSER gets some post relief and the combo of Brennan and Dane, Jr. has clicked nicely in the past.
Race 3
(5) MR EUROMAN N picked up a perfect cover trip and surged past to score the upset last week with MacDonald driving; he lands in a similar spot here and could work out the same trip. (7) SPORTY SPOOK A was a game winner last out but he now lands a rare outside post which will likely hurt his chances. (2) BEACH MEMORIES bounced back from that debacle two back and was a pocket-rocket winner versus lesser; consider here for a share moving back in for a tag.
Race 4
(2) ALBERTO CONTADOR N hasn't done much recently but the class relief may just be what the doctor ordered. (4) ABNER THE GREAT dropped to this level last week and gave it a good try from the eight hole; Bongiorno trainee should be on the move early again. (6) BLOOD BROTHER brushed and crushed last week pacing a mile we all knew he was capable of and he gets a free ride at this level but loses Bartlett, who is up at Saratoga.
Race 5
(1) ALL DOWN THE LINE really offered up little last week sitting the rail but he had missed a couple of weeks prior to his race and he's proven to be better than this; perhaps he can rebound from this spot. (5) DON'TCALLMEFRANCIS was bottomed out by Gratian Hanover last week but he remains a speed threat here. (6) TECHTOR HANOVER is proven at this level but the post hurts; price should be decent, however.
Race 6
(7) ALWAYS AT MY PLACE has been razor-sharp for an extended period of time and while I suppose he was deservedly assigned the outside post I'll stay on board assuming that Brennan will have him in play from the outset. (3) BARIMAH A was hung to dry last week and understandably tired; he was an upset winner the start prior from a similar spot. (5) GREAT VINTAGE was a good second to the top choice last out and this classy veteran can never be ignored.
Race 7
(4) ABRAXAS BLUES A has put in two solid efforts since the barn change and there's no reason to think he won't be aggressively handled from this spot by MacDonald. (2) SEVENS HOPE A paced a nice back half to be third best to a couple of good ones last week and he should be close up throughout from this spot. (1) DOCTOR BUTCH steps up in class and loses Bartlett but he's been very sharp and he draws best.
Race 8
(1) MACH TIME N picked up minor shares in his last three after graduating to the Open/Preferred levels and getting the best of the draw here could set him up for a winning trip in this competitive event. (4) AMERICANPRIMETIME has put in three super efforts since returning to Yonkers; he should be cutting the mile or perhaps stalking from the pocket. (3) BLOOD LINE and (5) MAC'S JACKPOT are a couple of interesting shippers and both have been facing much better with some moderate success.
Race 9
(2) BILLS FELLA put in a big effort beating cheaper upon arrival from Canada and followed that up with a no-chance try from an outside post; he moves back inside tonight and Brennan sticks. (5) AZUL POOL hasn't raced all that badly recently and he does fit with this type. (7) LUCIANO N is tough to endorse for the top spot but he does have some early speed and should be a big price.
Race 10
(1) CARRACCI HANOVER faltered in the late stages last out but now he's back with Allard off the reclaim, where he put in four stellar efforts. (3) LUCAN HANOVER drops in for a $40,000 tag tonight, which probably fits him at this point in his career; these two may sit one-two throughout. (4) MACON GEORGIA A also goes in for a tag and seems capable of landing a share.
Race 11
(3) SIR PUGSLEY raced an eventful final quarter upon arrival for Burke and was ultimately disqualified for his troubles; he drops a notch and should handle these. (6) SWING CITY hasn't done much recently but this may be a better spot; can Dube take a shot off the gate? (2) AMERICAN BOY N moves back inside and should be close up.
Race 12
(3) VORACITY has come up big in all recent Yonkers efforts with only one win to show for it; Burke trainee seems talented enough to go with these and can take this with the right trip. (4) MISTER DAYTONA N came up a bit short closing off cover last week and he's a player at this level. (5) THEARTOFCONFUSION A hasn't put in a bad effort in ages but he's stuck outside his main rivals tonight which may make things a bit more difficult.
[DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]