Yonkers: Sunday 8/20 Analysis
Best Bet: FIREBALL’S PRAYERS (8TH)
Spot Play: I C CAVIAR (4th)
MEET STATS: 6 - 12 / $39.50 (+$15.50)
BEST BETS: 1 - 1 / $6.10 (+$4.10)
Race 1
(7) ITZAZIAM has rolled to two straight victories and finds a field without much early zip; down the road again. (1) ORANGE BIGI improved with the better post last time and should be able to sit close to the action from the inside post. (5) WESTERN CREDIT has a bit of seconditis which has been hesitant to expect a win.
Race 2
(4) P L HERCULES ships in sharp for the Burke barn and should be able to gain valuable position near the front in this bulky field. (12) JACKS TO OPEN never got involved from post eight last time and was parked in his prior start. Bartlett joins the team now and let's hope he can navigate from the second tier. (5) SHADY MCCOY made a nice move at this level to finish second last time and could be coming into form again. (2) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN has some early speed in his arsenal and could find himself in a good spot if he behaves.
Race 3
(9) GOLDEN SON returns to Yonkers at a reduced level and is coming off a convincing win. Four-year-old loves to win and only needs a clean trip to take another picture. (1) KANTHAKA comes east and ends up in a good barn. This guy has always had talent. (12) NON STICK drops back down to the level of her last win. (11) FAD FINANCE came up with a huge mile at The Meadowlands. Can he do it again?
Race 4
(5) I C CAVIAR put in a rare break last time and that will have some people jumping ship on this guy. He's back down in class and Sears takes the lines. (12) MOONLIGHT COCKTAIL ships in from The Meadowlands and finds a decent spot if the second tier doesn't do her in. (1) QUICK DEAL has all the speed in the world but rare stays healthy and/or behaves; tough call. (4) TURN THE PAIGE would be no surprise on the class drop.
Race 5
(5) AUSPICIOUS HANOVER didn't fare well in his recent starts here, but he did have posts 8 and 9 while facing better; upset chance. (12) CHARLES VII went down the road for this claiming tag last time at the mile distance. The biggest questions are the second tier and extra quarter-mile. (7) NOBLE POWER has been racing well and should keep his form for new connections. (10) PIXEL QUEEN is another moving into a new barn with fine form.
Race 6
(7) IN SECRET comes off an impressive win in his first start for the Burke barn despite missing more than a month of action. Perhaps he is this good now. (8) HOMICIDE HUNTER has been the king of this class and is hard to toss off any tickets. (4) RUBBER DUCK has a win and two seconds in his last four tries versus Open types; worth using.
Race 7
(1) STORMONT DUNDAS has given up on the NW conditions and drops in for a tag in search of better performance. I believe we'll see speed tonight and a strong effort. (6) BRANDOS MUSCLE MAN & (7) SIM BROWN have back class and early speed. Either is capable of taking the field a long way.
Race 8
(6) FIREBALL'S PRAYERS has two winning qualifiers sandwiched by a break from post eight since moving into this barn. This looks like a good down the road spot. (3) O'WOW didn't fire while down in class last week; another shot. (2) MR PROTAB should be on the move early and be sitting close to the action.
Race 9
(4) JLS TOO HOT TAJ gets a major barn change here that can't be ignored. (7) ATLANTIC CREST also receives a huge change to a Hall of Fame driver. (8) LINDYLICIOUS is way down in class but must overcome the outside post.
Race 10
(1) SUNRISE AVENUE picks up Sears and draws the rail this week; should get aggressive. (3) MUSCLES ON FIRE has been racing well for weeks but has been settling for second. (5) SHOEMAKER HANOVER came up short after missing nearly seven weeks of racing; more now?
Race 11
(2) CATCH ALL comes in from The Meadows off two monster scores; again. (3) TRUEMASS VOLO fits well in this condition but is usually at the mercy of the pace and his trip. (7) ULTIMATE SHOPPER has missed four weeks but would still be tough if she makes an easy lead.
Race 12
(3) CENTURION ATM, (2) SPRINGBANK SAM N & (5) TIGHT LINES all drop out of the Open ranks and one of them should prevail.
[DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Thursday.]