Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 6/26/26

2026 MEET STATS: 152 - 456 / $855.45 (-$56.55)

BEST BETS: 27 - 47 / $88.20 (-$5.80)

BEST BET: TWO TWENTY SWIFT (2^nd)

SPOT PLAY: ELEGANT A (5^th)

Race 1: NEW YORK NEW YORK MILE - Grade 3 Trot

(2) WISHUPONASTAR DEO is the only one in here to have a start at Yonkers this year, and she was a winner. That may give her a big leg up on the rest of these. (3) R RO is a major player here based in her current form - assuming she stays flat over the half, something that has previously troubled her. (4) BUSY MISS LISSY S was a sick scratch here last week but still entered here; I 'll assume Svanstedt thinks she's good to go.

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Race 2: PARK MGM FILLY PACE - Grade 3

(3) TWO TWENTY SWIFT shipped in for a start last week and jogged from the eight hole; hard to look past her from this spot. (2) LOCHINVAR MATILDA has been first or second in each of her five starts this year; gets a class test here. (5) BETTOR BE A STAR picks up Dexter Dunn for the Chris Ryder stable. That change is hard to ignore.

Race 3: NEW YORK NEW YORK MILE - Grade 3 Trot

(4) JULA HOT TO CHILL has been overmatched in stakes action so far as a sophomore but her freshman season suggests talent for a top trotting barn. Anyone can win here. (2) EMMAS MYSTERY CCL wasn't far back in the NJSS final recently at The Big M. (1) ATLANTIC SUMMER is another looking to find her way this season after a solid 2YO campaign.

Race 4: PARK MGM FILLY PACE - Grade 3

(5) I'M A LOU LOU has looked solid in PaSS action recently and the Burke trainee is by far the most accomplished in here; hoping she doesn't have to work too hard to overcome the outermost post. (3) TALL DARK TEQUILA has three wins already this season and plenty of speed to control things. (1) NAPALM broke two back which concerns me and I'm thinking the rail isn't the best starting spot.

Race 5: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace

(3) ELEGANT A was outgamed in the late stages last week looking to take a second straight but that runner-up finish enables her to slide back into this class and that combined with the reasonable post makes her the choice. (8) AARDIE B MIKI N was too far back to seriously threaten in her local return and now she draws the worst post but she gets Bartlett back in the bike, who figures to be taking a flyer off the gate. (5) CHERYLS SHADOW rallied well for a piece last start but she's also got early speed and and interesting driver switch to Gingras.

Race 6: F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace

(5) WORKLIFEBALANCE has been able to balance honest efforts from both on and off the pace but she's been unable to get the job done in five starts after returning from out of town. The Noel Daley 4YO picks up the catch-driving Todd McCarthy tonight and utilizing early speed will help her get the jump on a couple of her outside rivals. (6) NILA MAREE N dropped and popped last week with a convincing score and she keeps top driver Bartlett for top trainer Engblom. (2) LUCKY ARTIST A is reunited with regular driver Siegelman and the classy 13YO figures to be sitting close up and is sharp enough to finish strong at a price.

Race 7: F&M Invitational Pace

(3) RASPALIA N made a big impression two starts back in her debut at the top level and then could not reach last out as she got away last in a paceless race. Mare gets the best of the "3 thru 8" draw and that can give her the tactical edge on many of her main rivals. (4) MILLWOOD BLISS N put in her best effort last start since the McIntyre series and now she's reunited with Dexter Dunn. (7) COASTAL BABE N got away trailing in last week's Invite, which comically went in :28 4/5 and :57 4/5 for the first half. She's shown strong early speed in most of her prior efforts.

Race 8: MGM GRAND MESSENGER PACE FINAL - Grade 2 *1 1/4 MILES*

(2) FRAGMENT was a top colt earning $585K as a freshman and he's recently come back looking to be in midseason form through two 2026 starts. The Per Engblom trainee adds Lasix, already has multiple wins over the half and the post edge on much of his competition gives him the opportunity to control the action in this added-distance event. Driver of the Year Jason Bartlett has a strong chance to win a Grade 2 event on his home turf. (3) AL PAPI is one of three strong Burke entrants and he was last seen finishing fourth in the NA Cup giving an honest effort at a big price. This is his debut on the half but I'll assume his trainer doesn't see that as a problem. (7) MELILLO also moves to the half mile for Burke and he's arguably as talented as anyone in here but this is a brutal post and may be too much to overcome, despite the extra quarter mile to play with. Still he deserves a long look for a board spot.

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Race 9: MGM YONKERS TROT FINAL - Grade 2 *1 1/4 MILES*

(3) REQUIEM is one of two strong entrants from the Matt Burkholder barn and he performed admirably last month in Kentucky in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby elimination and final. Those efforts may well have stamped him as a legit player in the 3YO trotting wars. Tonight from a live post he should have a good path to avoid any early traffic and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. has burst on the scene as a big-name driver on the Grand Circuit. (8) SPENCER HANOVER is by far the most accomplished in here and the Breeders Crown winner as a freshman is already perfect in four tries as a 3YO. The second-tier starting spot is a bit of a concern in this bulky added-distance event but the Melander trainee absolutely deserves to be favored. (4) SILVERSTEIN is the other Burkholder trainee and also not only had a solid 2YO campaign but has looked good in 2026. He figures to be a major speed player in here.

Race 10: NW16401 in last 5 starts Trot

(8) HOT FLASH KIMMY was able to get off the gate on last week's drop and almost wired the field. I'm going to take the chance that he can leave from post eight and find a spot, which can give the Stratton trainee a legit shot at a price. (4) FRANK LEAHY gets Wrenn on the catch drive, could wake up a bit. Speaking of waking up, (3) COMMODUS A is looking to do just that in his Yonkers return. His lone 2026 win was here back in April.