Yonkers: Thursday 1/16 Analysis

MEET STATS: 16 - 45 / $76.90 (-$13.10)

2019 BEST BETS: 3 - 4 / $10.60 (+$2.60)

2019 SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 4 / $0.00 (-$8.00)

BEST BET-GETTIN MESSI (11th)

SPOT PLAY-PIRINEA'S PRINCESS (6th)

Race 1 - 12500CLM Pace

(5) MISTER TRUTH steps up off a gaining third against $10,000 claimers in his 2020 debut. He has a trainer change as Allard reached in and plucked him, so I'll expect some improvement and maybe some more early speed. Allard had this horse for one start in June of last year and he was second with him in this class. (3) TWOMACSONESHADOW worked out a pocket trip last Thursday and was the runner-up. He draws well again here and could get a similar up-close trip. (7) BETTORIFFIC was favored a week ago but had to settle for fourth. He moves outside here and may offer more value in his second effort for DiDomenico.

Race 2 - NW3/35000LT Trot

(6) RAFIKI AS had some late interest in that performance last week and may have needed it after the sick scratch and a bit of time off. I like his second against NW4's at Yonkers on 12-12, and hopefully he comes with that kind of race. (4) CELEBRITY STALLONE finished out 2019 by testing NW4's in Westchester, so he starts 2020 by dropping back to the NW3 class where he was third two back. (7) FEEL THE MUSCLE passed horses in the final quarter to come in second last Thursday. He does shift out from post two to post seven, but keeps Bartlett.

Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(5) TAMMYSMIST gets another shot against the bottom level after winning from a pocket trip on the 7th of January. This is probably a little bit softer group than she faced that night as well. (4) PITTSTOP DANIKA was the fourth-place finisher in that same race my top pick exits. She didn't have much to offer that night, but that was her first start in a little over a month and she was third in this class in November. (1) SOUTHWIND ION hasn't shown much since coming down from Canada but retained Brennan here and gets post relief, moving to the pole position.

Race 4 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(4) TOMMI CANU HEARME showed improvement in her last two starts, one at the Meadowlands and one at Yonkers. Add in some post relief in this spot, and I think she's usable on top. (7) SWAN IN THE VALLEY didn't appear to have much excuse last week, cutting an easy tempo and finishing second. She has won at this level before, though, and she does have enough early foot to get spotted from out here. (1) GOTWUTEVERITTAKES took the bulk of the wagering support and was second at the Meadowlands in his seasonal debut. The break in the first qualifier does concern me, though, as does his total lack of half-mile track experience, so I'll take a stand against at an expected low price.

Race 5 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) SHEZALLAPPLES A beat much better than these several times last year but hasn't won since back in September. She retreats to the bottom level this time, and this looks like a now-or-never type of race. (1) B FIFTEEN is another mare in this race in desperate search of a wake-up call. She took all four of her wins at Yonkers last year, but hasn't hit the board since last May. She does have major post relief, switching from the far outside to the pole position. (3) DEUCES FOR CHARITY sat on the inside and finished fourth against NW7500L5's on the 7th of January, and I could see her with a similar trip and result here on the drop.

Race 6 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(3) PIRINEA'S PRINCESS hasn't done much as of late, but did win in this class back on the 19th of November, and in this type of event where nobody stands out, she could certainly surprise them again. I'll aim for a price. (1) MORE THAN MANY led for the first half of the mile last Thursday but then weakened to fourth. She makes her fourth start off a layoff tonight and shifts to the pole position. (2) TWIST OF FATE was a rallying second against similar foes on 12-5 at Saratoga and then probably aimed too high in her last three, including two efforts at the Meadowlands. This is probably the right level and track size for her, and she could make some noise.

Race 7 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners of NW5000L5 in Last Start Pace

(2) SUE'S NIGHT OUT slides down a notch on the class scale, gets an improved post to start from, and Surick goes to Bartlett this time. (4) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has put in two solid efforts in her last couple appearances at this level, including a third on 12-5 with Kakaley driving. He has the assignment tonight. (3) QUEEN KENDALL put in a nice effort from first-over to score over NW5000L5's and now steps up here. She finished ahead of my top pick in a common race at Freehold.

Race 8 - F&M NW10000L5/20000CLM/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace

(4) MILLIONDOLLARGEM A was not the easiest horse to drive in that win on January 7, but Stratton navigated her around the oval safely and she won fairly impressively considering. She steps up again here but lands in another winnable spot, I think. (1) STELLENBOSCH returns to Yonkers after making one start during the holiday break at the Meadowlands. She did rally to finish second in this class on 12-12, but given her win-shy record of one-for-26 in 2019, I have to slot her underneath. (3) AZURE SEELSTER put in a mild bid from first-over and was third to my top pick in that common race on 1-7. She makes the same move up the class ladder here, and she certainly fits.

Race 9 - NW5000L5 Pace

(6) TENACIOUS ONE A hung around to finish third from first-over in his last appearance at the Meadowlands and his efforts in similar classes to this one at Saratoga would be good enough to put him in the hunt here. Let's aim for some value. (5) HALF A BILLION returns to Yonkers tonight at the bottom level. Looks like he had an impossible trip in the back-half of the mile at Freehold in his most recent race, and he's reunited with Brennan tonight. (2) SCOUTS REPORT is sure to catch attention here off that rallying effort from the outside post a week ago. He gets major post relief and has won at this level previously on October 10.

Race 10 - NW5000L5 Pace

(2) SWIFT AS A SHADOW moves over from the $40,000 claimers to the NW5000L5 class tonight. I like that he does have a qualifier under his belt for this event, and it was solid enough up at Monticello. He draws well and Jordan Stratton is in the bike again. (3) ABERDEEN HANOVER raced at this level last Thursday and was third from first-over. He gets another inside post here and can certainly threaten if he brings a top effort. (4) ACTING OUT drops to the bottom level tonight in search of a winning spot. He did defeat NW10000L5's on 10-18 and has won against these types previously as well.

Race 11 - NW6/87000LT Trot

(3) GETTIN MESSI crushed NW6's on 12-12 to conclude his 3-year-old campaign. He's been idle since, but I'll trust that he's ready and back him. (4) FEEL INVINCIBLE AS was the runner-up to Gettin Messi on December 12. She makes her first start of 2020 in this spot and kept Stratton's services. (1) INTEROVER switches pilots to Brennan tonight and has the rail, so maybe we'll see a change back to the early speed that served her well in her victory on 11-15 at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Race 12 - NW5000L5 Pace

(2) QUICK ASA TRICK N took a ton of wagering action in his comeback after the lengthy layoff and was a well-beaten third. I'll hope for a better effort with that race under his belt and the Cassar barn has been winning its share of races both locally and at the Meadowlands. (6) STEVE'S HOT ROD turned in a decent performance in his Yonkers debut last Thursday. He went some nice miles at Northfield and worked his way up to the Open level at one point, so you have to respect that. (1) HIGHLANDBEACHYCOVE retreated after a first-over attempt a week ago. He moves to the pole position this time and maybe Bartlett can work out a smoother trip for him.