Yonkers: Analysis for Saturday 8/1/26

2026 MEET STATS: 141 - 512 / $959.08 (-$64.92)

BEST BETS: 28 - 54 / $102.44 (-$5.56)

SPOT PLAYS: 11 - 54 / $126.86 (+$18.86)

BEST BET - GOLDEEN N (2nd)

SPOT PLAY - FORTUNADA (1st)

Race 1 - F&M 20000CLM Pace

(2) FORTUNADA has finished out her last three miles pretty well and moves in on the gate from the seven-hole to post two. (5) BOUT TIME DAMN A slides in from post eight to the five-hole in her first outing for these connections off a claim and won handily at this level on June 17. (3) TRICKY WICKY returns to Yonkers off a win at the Meadowlands and landed a better post here than she had in her two Yonkers appearances on June 23 and July 1.

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Race 2 - F&M NW2/30000LT / Maidens Draw Inside Pace

(6) GOLDEEN N closed with plenty of pace in her U.S. debut on July 22 and just needs to be closer to the action to get a victory today. (2) RICH EILEEN just missed on the front-end in a game effort on 7-22 and has hit the board in her last four tries overall. (5) SENSATIONAL TELL invades from Saratoga in sharp form and has shown the ability to race well both on the lead and from off-the-pace.

Race 3 - NW5000L5 / 12500CLM Pace

(1) INTIMIDATION is back from Tioga off a third in a higher class over there and was facing tougher $40,000 claimers here prior to that. The last time he competed against NW5000L5s at Yonkers on 6-2 he was a winner. (4) CAPTAIN FEAR shows a 10 length victory on May 22 and exits more difficult spots at Yonkers and in Pennsylvania. (2) WINDSUN RICKY finds the bottom level today and was second to my top selection in that race on the 2nd of June.

Race 4 - F&M Winners of 5 but not more than 7 PM Races or 90000LT Pace

(4) BETTOR'S TICKET returns from out-of-town in good form, including a third in a quick mile at Tioga most recently. She's had success at Yonkers before and gets post relief out of that last effort. (3) TALL DARK TEQUILA was Colin Kelly's choice and is riding a six-race stretch of on-the-board results. (2) FEAR DANIE was fourth against NW10000L5 base class foes on July 24, and today she makes both her second start out of this stable and after a layoff.

Race 5 - F&M Winners of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT Pace

(3) PAPI'S OPINION tired in the lane on 7-22 but that was after she'd made two moves and taken the lead past three-quarters. I think she'll continue to offer value and is a third-timer after a layoff today. (2) CRYSTAL COAST hasn't found the winner's circle yet in 2026 but has hit the board in six of her seven appearances and moves in from post five to the two-hole. (6) CALL ME ANGELITA has back-to-back victories at this level since she went on Lasix and is likely the one they'll have to beat again this afternoon.

Race 6 - Winners of 5 but not more than 7 PM Races or 90000LT Trot

(1) CREDIT TO FRANK broke before the start on 7-24 against NW10000L5s but recovered to get a fifth and won prior to that. He races out of a stable that won at a 26% clip at Yonkers in July as well, so I'll give him a shot on op. (6) HIGHLANDSTARBURST hasn't been outside the exacta in her last four appearances and looks like one of the main contenders, as does (5) MATTHEWS, who prevailed at this level most recently and has been sharp overall for a while.

Race 7 - NW2/30000LT / Maidens Draw Inside Trot

(8) SERENITY AS won handily at Pocono on 7-21 and overcame this outside post at Yonkers to finish third against NW2s prior to that, giving me confidence to give her top call. (2) DRAMBUIE HANOVER tallied in the corresponding class to this one at Pocono on June 23 and races out of one of the top trotting stables around. (4) AJAX BLUE CHIP put it all together with a handy win on the front-end on the 22nd of July and should have picked up confidence with that performance.

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Race 8 - 20000CLM Pace

(2) CURLY JAMES A dropped to the $15,000 claiming level to get a win on 7-1 and since then has been unbeatable. I expect the same to happen today as he drew an inside post and catches a field that's not in great form. (1) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES debuts for new connections off a claim and starts from the pole position after he had post eight and then the seven-hole. (3) KARLOO BRADLEY N drops after facing $25,000 claimers in his last two tries and prevailed the last time he was in this class on July 1.

Race 9 - 15000CLM Pace

(8) ALADDIN will have to overcome the eight-hole but his form speaks for itself, and I have to think he'll be put in play. He is debuting for new connections off a claim, and Pat Lachance, who drove him well recently, including posting a win with him on 7-8, is returning to the bike today. (1) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER took one chance against $25,000 claimers and now drops back to the level where he won on July 9. He slides in on the gate to the pole position and gets reunited with Brent Holland. (2) MR PROFETA gets some post relief in his third try back after a qualifier and was third to ALADDIN two starts ago.