Yonkers: Analysis for Friday 8/7/26

2026 MEET STATS: 195 - 594 / $1,075.16 (-$112.84)

BEST BETS: 35 - 64 / $117.92 (-$10.08)

BEST BET: SILK CLOUD A (6^th)

SPOT PLAY: BRI EXPRESS N (8^th)

Race 1: NY Excelsior 2YO Filly Trot

(6) DREAM VENERE raced well but had too much ground to cover in her NY-bred debut. Oakes filly comes to the half-mile for the first time and the midpack post may be a safer place to start than being inside. (2) SEVEN THIRDS starts from the tricky rail spot but does have small-track experience from a NYSS race at Buffalo on debut. Wallin trainee is clearly the one to beat. (3) WICKED WINK has looked pretty good so far for the Whittemore barn.

[DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card]

Race 2: NY Excelsior 2YO Filly Trot

(1) NATIVE PRIDE switched to hobbles pretty early on after breaks in her first two qualifiers and it seems to have done the trick. If she gets through the first turn unscathed then I think she's your winner for these veteran connections. (4) SOLAR QUEEN has been decent through two lifetime tries. (6) LITTLE BY LITTLE finished a close third in NYSS action then dropped to this level and was outfinished late in a good try. With Bartlett driving she may be your favorite despite the post.

Race 3: NYSS 2YO Filly Trot

Nine trotters entered the NYSS, so of course we have it split into two small fields which make for boring racing and small handles. With that said, (1) FRENCH PASTRY won on debut in an Excelsior event and the Julie Miller trainee looks best stepping up to the big leagues. If she behaves herself she'll wire this field at a short price. (4) CHAPIZZY got around safely last time and the connections deserve plenty of respect.

Race 4: NYSS 2YO Filly Trot

(2) JULA FLORENCE is two-for-two already in NYSS action, one from the pocket and one on the front end. Top call again for Julie Miller. (3) SECRET LOVER was a winner in both morning trials at The Meadowlands then just missed in a quick race first time out at Pocono. NYSS debut resulted in a no-match second to #2 in here. (1) SEVALLISTO has clear talent for the Okusko barn and Purple Haze Stables.

Race 5: NW15000 in last 5 starts Trot

(4) SEA CAN was a decent fourth out of the eight hole in his debut off the $40K claim for the Cory Stratton barn. He drops a level here and draws a much better post. (1) E-PASS is stuck on just one win for the season but has finished second in two of his last three. (2) MAHONE SEELSTER was odds-on last start when dropped in class, walked the first half but still couldn't seal the deal. 7-time winner with over $100K earned in 2026 needs to show a bit more.

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

(3) SILK CLOUD A is starting to run out of excuses but gets another chance as she faces easier from a good draw. (2) ILLUSION SEELSTER returns locally after a solid run out of town and she does have a couple of Yonkers wins from earlier in the season. (6) MILLWOOD BLISS N has had a strong 6YO campaign with $111K banked but faces an uncertain trip from this post.

Race 7: F&M NW10000 in last 5 starts Pace

I can never seem to time (3) LUCKY ARTIST A correctly but the 13YO classmaster drops in class and her last win came from post three at this level. (2) HUNTING HULA was second best two back from a similar spot. (4) BECKONING YANKEE makes her third start now for the Lance Hudson barn and after breaking from post eight in her first try she dropped and was a good second last out; Holland drives again.

Race 8: F&M NW15000 in last 5 starts Pace

(4) BRI EXPRESS N has been facing better recently with limited success and this is not the strongest NW15000 field around; I think the Stratton trainee is overdue. (1) MISS DOTTIE MAE has not been able to repeat the success lately of prior seasons but she's got speed and a rail draw so she should be close throughout. (3) DANDY'S MERCY closed well for third at a big price last week but faltered at even-money from a similar spot the start prior.

Race 9: F&M NW21971 in last 5 starts Pace

(2) RASPALIA N picked up Holland on last week's drop in class and she jogged at odds-on. Import faces better but draws well again and keeps her winning pilot. (1) SHEER ARTISTRY N has won her last two at this level as the chalk and since she's in for a tag she doesn't have to move up from this class. Bako trainee is the deserving ML favorite. (5) STAYINGWITHTHEWIND dropped from the Invite and went a long mile on the rim. Maybe with a smoother trip she can pick up a piece at a big price.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter]

Race 10: F&M Invitational Pace

(2) JENSVILLE A is 6 for 12 since arriving from Australia including four of those wins at Yonkers, with Holland steering the last three. Live draw in this competitive event gives her a legit chance at an honest price. (4) FRONT PAGE STORY is often overlooked by the public but all she ever does is race well and make money every start. Tactical speed from the Lachance trainee helps as well. (1) SWEETNIKKILOU A stepped up to the top level last week and the Norman trainee was a strong second.

Race 11: F&M NW5236 in last 5 starts Pace

This bottom-level event is brutally devoid of any form and the field is a combined zero-for-2026 at Yonkers. (5) BARBADOS BABE has been racing okay since Stratton took over the training and she did go forward in her last couple in lower classes at Tioga; brother Jordan is back driving. (7) BEHEST ships in from Ohio and joins the DiDomenico barn, making just her seventh start since her 3YO campaign; fresh face at 20/1 on the ML. (3) PARTY CRUISER makes her second start for the Choate barn and is eligible for improvement.