Yonkers Raceway has a 9-race card with the $1.00 Pick 5 starting in Race 5, and the sequence has a $10,000 guaranteed pool. The Spot Plays for tonight are in Race 1, Race 3, and Race 5. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.

Race 1 (6:45 PM EDT)

4-Better By Seaside (7/2)-Won 2 straight at this level then stepped up to face $50k claimers and drew post 8. Comes off a no-move mile and now faces the same kind it beat. Has the gate speed to land on the point and could start a new win streak as the 3rd morning line favorite. (4-1-6)

Will use #4 Better By Seaside in a Win Bet.

Race 3 (7:25 PM EDT)

5-Optical Illusion N (9/2)-Bumps up after a win and a 2nd place finish at the condition below. Has only 1 win in 15 races this year and could be overlooked. Will look for an honest pace as there is gate speed inside. Brent Holland could find some live cover and then be the best down the lane as in the last start. (5-3-1)

Playing #5 Optical Illusion to Win

Race 5 (8:05 PM EDT)

2-The Ideal Dancer A (9/2)-Gets another swing at the same level after coming a good 2nd on 6-30. Will looks for some value with a veteran that knows how to win but doesn't have big gate speed. Broke slowly from the gate, was 10-lengths back last time and then rolled the back half in 55.3 to miss by a length. Should be racing closer to the lead tonight. Comes back quickly versus the same as 3 of 4 horses drawing inside are stepping up. Pat Lachance knows his trainee and will bank on him being in striking range down the lane at a square price. (2-5-1)

Playing #2 Ideal Dancer A to Win

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