Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 6/28

2024 MEET STATS: 210 - 710 / $1,160.00 (-$260.00)

BEST BETS: 30 - 61 / $110.60 (-$11.40)

BEST BET: PEACE TALKS (10^th)

SPOT PLAY: COMMANDER CATHY N (1^st)

Race 1: F&M NW5000 in last 5 starts Pace

I've been stuck on (4) COMMANDER CATHY N though she's now 0 for 19 on the season. Better post here so maybe Brennan can get more aggressive. (3) DREAM DANCING takes a needed drop in class and also gets some post relief. (6) STAY HAPPY plunges to the bottom conditioned class but she hasn't done much of anything lately.

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Race 2: New York New York Mile Trot Division one

(2) TACTICAL LORI enters here on the strength of a career-best mile at Pocono and before that she had some moderate success in the NJSS and the Weiss. Her speed and the rail make her interesting. (4) KINESIOLOGY has been decent this season for Burke with almost $40K banked in eight starts. She has speed and is well-mannered. (1) SHE SHAQ is the most accomplished in here for Svanstedt but she is coming off a break in her last start.

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Race 3: F&M NW7500 in last 5 starts Pace

(4) MORNING HAS BROKEN changes barns from Adamczyk to Alexander and maybe that helps wake her up. She does outclass most of these. (5) COWGIRL LILLY is 0 for 21 this year after banking $156K a season ago; mare stopped on the lead last week but prior two were okay and she'll be a price here. (1) OURLITTLEMIRACLE returns from the Midwest and moves to the Andrew Harris barn looking to build on that recent win at Scioto.

Race 4: NW10000 in last 5 starts Trot

(2) SEVENSHADESOFGREY hasn't won in a while but he was a decent third last out and this is the class where he's generally most effective. He'll likely be the best price of the contenders. (1) MAX was a strong winner last week when dropped from $40K claimers (where he was taken thee back) and he's very capable of repeating. (4) TEXSONG SOPRANO was much improved in that narrow defeat when dropped in class last start, and now he drops another notch, and Bartlett gets the call. Overbet?

Race 5: F&M NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace **$75,000 Guaranteed Pick 5 Pool w/$20K added**

(2) MC ANGEL has been a non-factor in her last three but they have been against better and two of those races she was stuck outside. Laterza trainee goes second-time Lasix and figures to be aggressively handled by Holland. (3) PURE SILKY was a winner first off the claim by the Bako barn and she steps up a bit looking to repeat. (4) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY put in a better effort last start when down in class so maybe that carries over to tonight. Likely looking to strike from off the pace with the speed inside of her. (1) FAVORITE BEACH is able to stay at this level now going for two straight; Kakaley is back driving with a tactical advantage starting from the rail.

Race 6: F&M NW12449 in last 5 starts Pace

(1) MISS DOTTIE MAE needed a bit more last week but the trip figures to be different tonight as she can carry her speed a long way; Vallee trainee gets top call. (4) SUPER GIRL has finished with plenty in her last two and she figures to be a bit closer from this improved post. (3) MIGHTHAVTIME N makes her debut from Down Under off a winning qualifier and these types automatically deserve respect.

Race 7: MGM Grand Messenger Final

(6) JANELLE GRANNY was saddled with the outermost post in his elimination and it took him a while to work his way to the front, but once there he was able to fend off pressure and kicked clear holding safely in a sub-:28 final quarter. This modest Ohio bred looked like the real deal from day one and that has proven true with $300K banked already. Brennan gets the call with Tetrick on #1 and I think he's talented enough to overcome a potential tough trip. (1) ARMADA HANOVER kicked home sharply off dull cover in his elim and though he's 0 for 6 so far this season he's lost his last five races by a total of just over three lengths. From the rail Tetrick has options. (4) HOWLENTHEHILLS overcame trouble in the first turn as he was carried very wide avoiding a breaker but once making the front he was able to rate and he held safely. Travis Alexander trainee is 6 for 6 as a 3YO after going winless as a freshman. Major player here and probable favorite. (5) SWEET BEACH LIFE also hails from the strong Alexander barn and he finished with plenty of pace in his elim.

Race 8: MGM Yonkers Trot Final

(8) SITUATIONSHIP had a solid if unspectacular season as a freshman but the Svanstedt trainee has taken off so far in 2024 with two dominating wins up at Vernon facing NY breds. He's got half-mile experience and a driver in Svanstedt who won't be afraid to fire off the gate. He could offer some value as well starting from post eight. (3) BARGAIN was aggressively put on the front by Gingras in his elimination and he dug in gamely when engaged late. Takter trainee lands a similar spot and should be tracking up close. (2) SIR PINOCCHIO started off his stakes campaign with a win in the Dexter Cup then was most recently second to #8 in the EBC; he's well-mannered and has plenty of speed. (1) SECURITY PROTECTED is a legit talent from a top trotting barn but he's never been on a half and that first turn comes up quickly and can be tricky.

Race 9: NW7500 in last 5 starts Trot

(1) BRAVE BY DESIGN returned to the Alexander barn two back and broke leaving, but last start he wired the field easily. Kakaley gets the call tonight looking to repeat against a bit better. (5) P L OSCAR has been facing much better rivals recently and has plenty of speed but he hasn't been finishing. Still feels like a must-use however. (2) THE AMERICAN EAGLE ships in for Engblom off a win in a NW3000 class at The Meadowlands with Bartlett driving and he's in the bike again.

Race 10: Park MGM Filly Pace Final

(2) PEACE TALKS was the 2YO NYSS champ and she's come back strong this year. Chris Ryder trainee looks much the best. (5) CAMERICAN was a winner at Yonkers in her seasonal debut and she's been a steady commodity in the NYSS for Burke; Gingras now drives. (4) PONYNAMEDWILDFIRE has plenty of speed which always plays well over the half-mile.

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Race 11: New York New York Mile Trot Division two

(1) R MELINA had a strong 2YO campaign and so far looks the part as a sophomore with three wins already in four starts. Short price looming but she's still a trotter on a half which always makes me nervous. (4) DATE NIGHT HANOVER was also one of the better 2YO trotters but she's been a bit short so far in 2024; I'm sure that will turn around. (3) MISS I LA had a nice acclimating mile last out for the Noel Daley barn; Bongiorno drives again.

Race 12: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot

(5) TOP ME OFF is up in class again looking for his third straight and Dexter Dunn gets the catch drive again. He can be rolling late. (6) CRAZYLAND has been a model of consistency dating back to last winter and he's got the speed to make the front. (3) CREATIVE VENTURE was no factor last week but third best in his prior two.