Yonkers: Thursday 2/27 Analysis

MEET STATS: 64 - 177 / $336.50 (-$17.50)
BEST BETS: 9 - 16 / $26.30 (-$5.70)
SPOT PLAYS: 3 - 16 / $20.10 (-$11.90)
BEST BET - SPORTS TEEN (7th)
SPOT PLAY - MAGICAL JOURNEY (10th)

Race 1 - F&M 10000CLM Pace

(1) CLARA BEA gets the inside draw tonight and trainer Carl Tirella goes to Brennan in the bike. That duo has done well this year with a horse named Ari Allstar, who was victorious for them again on Monday night. Hoping for a pocket trip and a conversion into a win. (6) SHES SPORTY A makes another appearance for Banca in this bottom claiming class and is reunited with Bartlett. Nothing wrong with that second-place effort a week ago to a well-meant Keystone Nikki. (3) ALLTHAT JAZZ DE VIE drops a notch after giving the optional $12,500 claiming level a try on the 18th of February. That might be all it takes to put her back in the hunt.

Race 2 - NW4/50000LT / NW2 Drawn Inside Trot

(4) CADENCE SEELSTER has gotten along well with driver Troy Beyer and was a strong second to Blue Magic a week ago. She's shown some versatility as well, both taking back and going forward and racing well either way. (6) MISSION HILL is certainly the one to beat as he's already knocked off NW4's at the Meadowlands and was a strong second there last time out, but that was clear back on the 31st of January and he has no lines since. Given that factor, plus the break two back, I will attempt to beat him. (5) MANWILLING scored a facile victory over NW3's last Thursday. He was Marohn Jr.'s choice of two in this event.

Race 3 - 10000-12500CLM HCP Pace

(7) SUGAR SHOCK retreats from the NW4 class to join claiming company. That's a bit concerning, but he topped NW6's earlier this season and his efforts since have been fine, so I will trust Allard has him ready. He's got plenty of gate speed, so I don't see the post being much of an issue. (4) REDONKULOUS had to come first-over in that race back on 2-10 and stopped. He was claimed the red-hot Hartline barn out of that race, and I think could turn right back around. (2) PROLOGUE broke stride multiple times when last seen but was taken by Williams Hernandez, who sports a high training percentage at other venues. He's another horse I think could have an immediate return to form.

Race 4 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(3) YOU MACH ME CRAZY comes north from Freehold off a win. Those TrackMaster races down there are probably a little softer than this spot, but she was 4-1 back in January at the Meadowlands, so she did get some respect on a bigger circuit before. I'll give her a chance in this wide-open contest. (3) SCWARTZ BROS BEATY had some closing pace last Thursday to get up and finish third. She continues to slowly get better in each appearance for Banca in 2020 and kept Stratton's services. (2) LIVINGINTHEDREAM disappointed a week ago when she faded in the last quarter, but she has a winning history in Westchester and could easily put in a better effort tonight.

Race 5 - F&M NW7500L5/15000CLM/Winners of NW5000L5 in Last Start Pace

(3) WOODMERE OLEKSIAK steps up a notch after defeating NW5000L5's from post eight at long odds last Thursday. Obviously she won't offer that price tonight, but I think she can double up from a better draw. (1) NORTHERN SWIFT is hard to endorse for win given her six-for-90 record, but she did close strongly on the 18th to finish fourth from post seven and has the pole position this time. (2) SHADY CAROLINE is a complete mystery so far this year as she has two bad efforts surrounding the one good one back on 2-6. She's hard to count out though given her sharp trainer and back-class.

Race 6 - NW5300L5 Pace

(6) GALACTIC GALLEON N switched drivers at scratch time to Bartlett. That might make him overbet some, but he did finish his mile well with Shaun Vallee driving on the 17th, and this horse is capable of winning in this class. (1) SETTLEMOIR worked out a pocket trip and was third to two good horses in Dakota Jack and Zach Maguire N a week ago. He should be able to get a similar journey tonight, or might even be able to cut the fractions if Marohn Jr. wants. (2) NORTHERN VIRGIN was second and third in his last two down at Freehold from off-the-pace. This is Steve Smith's one drive on the card, so the fact he's coming to steer him might show the horse is ready for a good performance.

Race 7 - NW5000L5 Pace

(5) SPORTS TEEN makes his Yonkers debut tonight after joining the Andrew Harris barn. That alone merits respect, but this horse went a big mile on the half at Northfield back in January, finishing second and completing his mile in 1:52. Anything close to that tonight and he'll be very tough. (2) LONG TRAIN RUNNIN has been racing better both locally and down at Freehold. He scored a couple of victories in Westchester last fall. (3) NEVER SAY NEVER N was in higher classes down at Dover but finished distanced most recently. The qualifier at Saratoga appears that it was fine, so he probably fits against these types.

Race 8 - NW5000L5 Pace

This race is a complete enigma....(4) BUNGALOW BILL N hasn't won since October 2018 but has shown front-end speed recently, unlike most of these, and might be able to take them all the way. (1) FRANKIE ROCKS A is winless since coming to the United States but threatened from first-over a week ago before giving way late. He could be in line for a smoother trip tonight. (2) ROAR OF APPROVAL regressed a bit last Thursday when he only finished evenly, but I think that was a better group than this one he hooks up with on this occasion.

Race 9 - F&M NW10000L5/20000CLM/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace

(5) AMERICAN EMPRESS N drops a level after cutting the fractions and finishing third against NW15000L5's. I'm hoping Goodell is aggressive with her again tonight and that she can deliver. (3) HURRICANE CALLEIGH secured the lead a week ago but was overtaken and finished fourth. She might be a little better chasing horses like she did two back and may get the chance to have that kind of trip this time. (4) JIVE DANCING A won half of her 24 starts last year and is two-for-six so far in 2020, so she knows how to find the winner's circle and should get plenty of attention with Bartlett at the controls.

Race 10 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(7) MAGICAL JOURNEY handled NW6's at Yonkers on October 31 of last year in his debut for Allard, then went to the sidelines. He broke in both qualifiers here in January, which troubles me, but I'm going to bank on him being able to stay flat tonight and that that speed try at Pocono most recently sharpened him up. He was also Brennan's choice in here. (1) MUFASA AS gapped the pocket behind a runaway P L Ketchup last Thursday but did finish well. This is probably an easier spot tonight, and he appears logical from the pole position. (2) FRESHETTE HANOVER was favored against NW6's at Pocono on 2-15 but made a mistake. If you overlook that, I think she fits in this race given some of her best efforts out of town. Kakaley won with her two back and is in the bike tonight.

Race 11 - NW10000L5/Winners of NW7500L5 in Last Start Pace

(7) TAKEITTOTHEFACE crunched NW7500L5's on the 17th, so this is a class hike, but that was a very impressive performance and pretty much everything Banca is sending out right now is live. Bartlett gets the call. (2) KENRICK N does get serious post relief in this spot after having the eight and the seven in his last two, but he had a couple chances from inside draws against these types earlier this year and couldn't deliver. I'll use underneath. (8) BELTANE A drops again but is stuck out in post eight. He has raced well in both U.S. tries so far, but I think he might have to settle for rallying late this time.