Free Program Here: Yonkers Race Program (soaofny.com)
analysis provided by: Michael Pribozie, Ray COTOLO & Edison hatter
Yonkers Borgata & Matchmaker Finals 4/22/24
By Mike Pribozie
Race 5 | Blue Chip Matchmaker Consolation
(3) Racine Bell has been racing best of these and her speed makes her ultra tough. (1) AVF Claire has had no breaks in the series and has shown flashes of ability at this level. Post switch is the key. (7) Treacherous Penny was sharp in leg one but has lagged since. Not impossible with new pilot. (4) Easy To Please should pick up pieces here when closing late. Needs a pace and a few not to fire.
Race 6 | MGM Borgata Consolation
(3) Backstreet Shadow got going a little too late in the series. Right there in fast races with his usual strong kick. (7) Venturesome Arden woke up two back then was bet and delivered in Leg 5. Needs to be in range and show another 27 kick. (4) Pleaseletmeknow was too far back in last after winning with Lasix 4/8. I can see him blasting early here and controlling things. (2) This is the Plan is classy and fast. Hard to leave out of tickets especially underneath.
Race 7 | Blue Chip Matchmaker Final
I liked (4) Doug’s Babe in this race last year but she didn’t fire. Has finished up every week so far and needs a trip here. Price should be solid enough and she needs to live up to her potential. (7) Mikala brings her class to the outside post. She’s the key to the race depending on tactics. (1) Lit De Rose will likely be favored here but has never won a major final like this. Still had made 1 million the hard way. (3) Tonys Mom is better when she can dictate the pace. Unlikely to do that here.
Race 8 | MGM Borgata Final
(6) Coaches Corner has had trouble the majority of the series but finally scored in Leg 5. He gets a needed setup here with the favorites drawn inside. Barn is hot right now and he’s the one to hold late. (4) Desperate Man has four dominating wins in the series but could face pressure here after a week off. Needs best. (2) Linedrive Hanover couldn’t have won any easier in latest and has only lost to ‘Man in the series. (8) Dunkin’ has two wins in the series and likely will be ignored off post and last two lines. Can he be effective off the pace? Does he blast?
$0.50 Pick 5 Play (Starts in Race 5): 3 / 3,7 / 3,4,7 / 2,4,6,8 / 3,4,5 = $36
Analysis by Ray Cotolo
Race 5 | Blue Chip Matchmaker Consolation
Look, (3) RACINE BELL is obviously the horse to beat given her speed and the caliber she’s competed against compared with the rest of the field. But in spite of that class, she hasn’t shown herself to be indestructible just cause she’s on Lasix. Give her an easy lead, she wins. Give her pressure, the race may turn more interesting. (4) EASY TO PLEASE has been knocking through the series and has been at a disadvantage as one who needs to work off a trip, but if the race has action she should be climbing into the mix. (6) MAN DONTFORGET ME can also come closing into action, but has a tougher post to overcome. (1) AVF CLAIRE at least gets a good draw for the first time this series and that could let her race the way she’s been wanting to race.
Race 6 | MGM Borgata Consolation
The consolation could be the spot for (1) FUNATTHEBEACH N to breakthrough this season off consistent tough trips through the series. The pylon post potentially puts him in a spot where he again can get hung on the rim, but his ability remains in tact as a 10-year-old so he can just hope for smooth sailing. (2) THIS IS THE PLAN has warmed to racing through four starts this season and figures to sit close to a pace which could then put him in the most lucrative spot. (3) BACKSTREET SHADOW dulled a tad through the turn when pulling pocket last out, which contrasts his typical vibrancy when angling off a helmet. Maybe age is catching up, or maybe there’s nothing to read there. He’ll likely try to work a trip inside of this race and remains a threat off a helmet. (5) SUMOMENTSOMWHERE A skipped the last leg which is questionable, but the speed he’s shown through the series is a strong weapon from this draw in this race. I’ll be curious what PLEASELETMEKNOW does here as morning line favorite, just because he’s gone an adventurous route through this series and maybe will improve on Lasix, but this draw makes his potential trip tough to map.
Race 7 | Blue Chip Matchmaker Final
(1) LIT DE ROSE has shown great ability through the series and is simply the one to beat inside of this race. She may overcome more than you think. (3) TONY’S MOM skipped leg four and went a decent comeback mile in the final preliminary which shows maybe she’s fine tuned for a better performance in this final. (4) DOUGS BABE A likes to push into the race from off the speed and that could work either really well or quite terribly for her. (2) COACHELLABOUND N likely pushes for a close spot and may work a good trip depending how full throttle MIKALA goes out of post 7.
Race 8 | MGM Borgata Final
Okay tactically this race shapes to be crazy, maybe. (2) LINEDRIVE HANOVER is the best horse in the race but he’s not the fastest off the gate, so does he surpass expectations and blast or does he make a quarter move? Does making a quarter move strain him? He hasn’t shown many vulnerabilities beyond getting locked the trip so reason says he should jog, but racing is not reasonable. At least good racing. (6) COACHES CORNER appears to be getting good at the prime time to succeed for a possibly mild upset inside this race. He’s got a good kick and can carry his speed a ways for a hot team at this oval in Bartlett and Engblom. (4) DESPERATE MAN remains deserving of respect given the authority he’s shown in all four preliminaries and also that he does not have to win on the lead like he has in those races. Obvious. (3) WHATS STANLEY GOT A also has a decent kick and an affinity for the smaller oval, which makes the type of trip he works vital. If he can sit close enough to the speed and Brennan can time his punch just right in the closing stages, he’s a live longshot.
$0.50 Pick 5 Play (Starting in Race 5): 4,6 / 1,2,3,5 / 1 / 2,3,6 / 3,4 = $24
Analysis by Edison Hatter
Race 5 | Blue Chip Matchmaker Consolation
(3) RACINE BELL has tons of back class and has just missed in the Final of this Series in the past. While she just missed out on this year’s final, she does find a solid spot here in the consolation. (1) AVF CLAIRE has had some rough trips and posts through the series, but will look to finish on a positive note from the rail. (4) EASY TO PLEASE has picked up some pieces in the preliminary legs and can be there in this one with a trip. (6) MAN DONTFORGET ME has finished fourth and beaten under two lengths in her last two tries in some tough divisions.
Race 6 | MGM Borgata Consolation
(4) PLEASELETMEKNOW wasn’t quite able to do enough to make the final last week, but he finds a strong spot here as he’ll make his third start on lasix tonight. (3) BACKSTREET SHADOW has a lot of back class that includes a win in this series two back. Draws well and should be right there in the finish. I’ve been waiting for (1) FUNATTHEBEACH N to put his best foot forward in this series. I’ll use one more time tonight from this rail draw. (5) SOMEMOMENTSOMEWHERE A is best of the rest for me.
Race 7 | Blue Chip Matchmaker Final
(1) LIT DE ROSE has shown a lot of talent and ability through the series so far and we’re potentially robbed of a true heavyweight fight as she’ll start with a clear post advantage over (7) MIKALA. Nonetheless, I still expect the latter to blast off and see how far she can take them. (4) DOUGS BABE A has been best of the rest through the series so far and (2) COACHELLABOUND N seems to be finding her best in the past few starts.
Race 8 | MGM Borgata Final
I’ve been in the camp of (2) LINEDRIVE HANOVER throughout the series and will continue to roll with him here. I expect him to take the initiative early in this one and try to flip the result against (4) DESPERATE MAN from their only other matchup so far in this series. (3) WHATS STANLEY GOT A has been the surprise of the series and he’ll look to pick up another major share of the prize in tonight’s final from a good post. (6) COACHES CORNER didn’t get the best of the post draw, but he was flying at the end last week and will look for a trip again.
$0.50 Pick 5 Play (Starting in Race 5): 3 / 1,3,4 / 1,4,7 / 2 / 2,4 = $9.00
Catch In The Money Media's Harness Players' Podcast for This weeks Matchmaker and Borgata Stakes