MEET STATS: 222- 805 / $1,312.20 (-$297.80)
BEST BETS: 39 - 77 / $176.20 (+$22.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 7 - 77 / $88.40 (-$65.60)
BEST BET - SAMHARA N (8th)
SPOT PLAY - HE'S HALF NAKED (5th)
Race 1 - 25000CLM Pace
(3) GINGER TREE PETE drops a notch out of the $30,000 claimers and trainer Dennis Laterza has been sending out plenty of live horses as of late. I'll swing with this one. (1) LYONS PEGASUS was third in this class a week ago for another barn that's been hot recently. He starts from the pole tonight and picks up the hot hands of Anthony Napolitano. (5) MOONLIGHT SHADOW finished second in his comeback effort a week ago and could definitely improve tonight.
[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]
Race 2 - NW20000L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW15000L5/NW10 PM Races LT/60000CLM Trot
(6) HERODOTUS is worth another shot tonight as he appeared to have trot in the lane last week but had nowhere to go with it. He was also Tyler Buter's choice. (5) BELLISSIMO FACE S comes in with five straight victories, including at this level a week ago. He'll be the one they have to beat here. (1) ENOLA steps up from the NW15000L5 level but was a closing second when last seen on 9-27 and had been off also a month coming into that tilt. She starts from the pole again and has Napolitano in the bike for a second time.
[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!]
Race 3 - 40000CLM Trot
(3) STICK WITH ME KID got overtaken in the stretch after cutting the mile last week, but he won in this class prior to that and gets significant post relief. (1) WILLY WALTON has hit the board in six straight appearances and picked up a victory at this level when last in action on 9-26. (7) ROGER RABBIT continues to race well and be popular at the claim box. He did defeat $40,000 claimers back on the 22nd of August but has trended to finish underneath more often this year, and that's where I'll slot him.
Race 4 - 3-5YO 30000CLM Pace
(3) ALABAMAJAMMA moves to this class out of what I believe are tougher spots and gets reunited with Buter. (1) J B GRAM gaiend ground in the final quarter in a second-place result back on 9-28. He moves inside to the pole position this time and gets Jason Bartlett back at the controls. (2) TO THE HUNT took one shot against open $30,000 claimers and now switches back to facing age-restricted rivals. He shows three victories at this level and was re-claimed by trainer Scott Di Domenico out of his race a week ago.
Race 5 - 3-5YO 20000CLM Pace
(5) HE'S HALF NAKED took quite a bit of wagering support when last seen but miscued on the first turn. That looks like it was a bit out of character, he shows three on-the-board finishes against open $20,000 claimers at Harrah's Philadelphia and he adds Bartlett in the bike. (1) JERSEY BEACH delivered at this level on September 28 and moves in on the gate from the six-hole to the pole position. He was also George Brennan's pick of a pair in here. (7) THAT DOG WILL HUNT starts from a bad post but was one of Laterza's victors a week ago and Brent Holland isn't afraid to hustle one out of there.
Race 6 - 40000CLM Trot
(8) BAR COINS drew the eight-hole but drops out of the optional $60,000 claimers and gets Bartlett back at the controls. He overcame post seven to score against $40,000 claiming foes on 8-22. (3) RODEO HILL has trip and post excuses since coming east from Ohio. He was in pretty good form in the Buckeye State and should have a chance to be competitive tonight. (5) BRAVE BY DESIGN owns two victories and a third in his last three outings for leading trainer Travis Alexander. Mark MacDonald has gotten along well with this 5-year-old and handles him again.
Race 7 - NW30000L5/NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Trot
(7) CHAKE put in a good effort in finishing third in the Invitational a week ago. She gets to drop a notch tonight and has enough early speed to overcome this draw. (5) CRISTAL TRIO IT romped in the Open at Vernon when last seen and was performing well at Yonkers prior to that. She's another contender out of the Alexander stable. (3) LAVA FIELD finished with some trot in the stretch last week after he was able to angle out. Bartlett opted to my top selection, so Brennan gets a shot with him.
[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]
Race 8 - NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace
(6) SAMHARA N kicked home in 27 and change in a fourth-place finish against NW10000L5 company last Wednesday. He drops and teams up with Napolitano again tonight. (3) HECANDANCENCRUISE steps up from the NW5000L5 base class here but should have picked up some confidence with a win a week ago. (1) SOUTHWIND PETYR drew the pole tonight after having nothing but seven- and eight-holes in his last four appearances. He was second at this level two back and gets reunited with Bartlett.
Race 9 - 3-5YO 20000CLM Pace
(8) I AINT NO MACK starts from post eight but won in this class back on August 24 and gets the often-aggressive MacDonald in the bike this time. (4) FULL SUPPORT has been on the bench since early March but qualified pretty well against some tough rivals at Yonkers on 9-27 and posted three wins in five starts before he went on the shelf. (5) CELLMATE got the nod from Bartlett over my top selection and has a win and a second in his last two tries at this level.