Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 7/29

MEET STATS: 145 - 520 / $824.00 (-$216.00)
BEST BETS: 27 - 50 / $98.20 (-$1.80)
SPOT PLAYS: 4 - 50 / $24.70 (-$75.30)
BEST BET - SHEIKH YABOOTY N (8th)
SPOT PLAY - DRAGON ROLL (9th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(7) E R HILARY turned in her best performance since joining the Gil Garcia-Herrera barn last week, finishing second after a first-over grind. She does move outside, but perhaps that will help the price some, too. (4) ROSE RUN VICTORIA stayed flat and was a solid second to the well-meant Bye Bye Michelle a week ago. That gives her something to build on, and I expect her to take plenty of wagering action again. (1) BRING ME DIAMONDS is a new face coming in from Pocono. She hasn't won this year but has been on the ticket in eight of 19 appearances.

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Race 2 - 3YO NW1/12500LT Trot

(3) CANE GANG put in a strong effort from first-up last Thursday to finish second, and I think he should be even sharper here since he'd been off for nearly a month coming in to that race. (5) CHERRY MASON is just one-for-18 in the win column but has hit the board in his last six tries. (4) ENDYMION followed Cane Gang from second-over a week ago and was third. That was his first pari-mutuel effort on a half-mile oval, so maybe he'll be more comfortable tonight with a start over the track.

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Race 3 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/15000CLM Pace

(2) TALL POPPY N drops a notch tonight and has a barn change to consider with Garcia-Herrera taking over. I'll use. (4) VH PRINCESS BREA was first and second over at the Meadowlands against male foes in her last two starts and now faces only mares tonight. (1) CARDIFF ships up from Ocean Downs in razor-sharp form. I'll try and beat her, but picking up leading driver Jordan Stratton's services can only help her chances.

Race 4 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(6) FAWN DE TOUCH scored over NW2's at Pocono two back and then got a check from post nine against NW4's. She's only raced on five-eighths-mile tracks so far, but I'll trust trainer Erv Miller to have her ready for a half-mile track try. (3) SOUTHWIND RITZ finally gets an inside draw, which might allow driver Scott Zeron to have her more forwardly-placed. (5) CHAPOLIER is probably going to get a lot of attention as he picks up George Brennan in the bike, but he is just one-for-16 lifetime, so I'll bank on him being a vulnerable favorite.

Race 5 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(2) BIG BAD SWAN broke before the start last week, but driver Andy Miller and trainer Scott Di Domenico should know him better now, and I'll anticipate a quick rebound. (1) CHERRY RED has been second in both tries since Dan Dube took over the driving, and he has the call again here from the pole. (5) CREDITRINA is another Trond Smedshammer trainee, like Chapolier in race four, switching drivers to George Brennan tonight. George did pilot him in the New York Excelsior A Series at Yonkers on 7-13 and wound up third, so I'll swing against.

Race 6 - F&M NW10000L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(3) NORMAN'S MADELINE catches a group tonight that's all moving up in class or staying at the same level while she's sliding down and moving inside on the gate. I anticipate an aggressive drive from Brent Holland. (4) BETCHA BABY has hit the board a couple of times against NW10000L5's in recent weeks, and trainer Shane Tritton's horses have been racing better across the board as of late. (1) TOPVILLE ANGELINA pulled off a big upset against NW7500L5's a week ago. I think she remains pretty dangerous tonight as she starts from the pole and returns to a weekly racing schedule.

Race 7 - F&M Open Handicap Pace

(6) MACHNHOPE returns to Yonkers for the first time since winning the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final here earlier this year. She's done very well at other venues since then and has shown the ability to win with a variety of racing tactics. (7) RACINE BELL raced from off-the-pace back on July 15 and closed well to finish third. I'm going to anticipate a change back to sending her tonight, and she should be dangerous like usual. (5) SIESTA BEACH has an ideal mid-pack post to let driver Austin Siegelman either charge out of there and take his chances or race from off-the-pace. She's another one in this wide-open race that's in razor-sharp form.

Race 8 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/NW9 Pace

(3) SHEIKH YABOOTY N switches barns to Jenn Bongiorno's tonight, and that's pretty much a green light on any horse, but she also drops from the NW20000L5 class. (2) CHECKERED PAST had little chance from post eight a week ago, but she draws much better here and is back on a regular racing rotation. Dube picks up the drive with Stratton choosing another one. (4) SHOULDABEENATD ships in from Pennsylvania for trainer Ron Burke. You have to respect any horse that shows the ability to blast out in 26 2/5 like she did on 7-11, and Brennan might try the same strategy here.

Race 9 - F&M NW15000L5/25000CLM/NW9 Pace

(3) DRAGON ROLL was locked up in the pocket like Fort Knox last Thursday. She's going to get a driver change to Brennan tonight, and I don't anticipate her being boxed in again. (5) MAN DONTFORGET ME saw her win streak end a week ago, but it was still a solid effort after cutting the fractions, and she should have a say in the outcome. (2) ACEFORTYFOUR DOME is in absolutely raging form right now with three straight wins. She takes another step up in class, but has handled that scenario just fine through the month.

Race 10 - F&M NW20000L5/30000CLM/NW10 Pace

(3) ROCKN PHILLY got on that hot streak back in May and June with three straight wins but found pretty tough sledding in that NW30000L5 class. She gets to drop a notch here after coming home in 27 1/5 back on July 15, and I don't mind Joe Bongiorno taking a shot in the bike. (6) ROBYN CAMDEN was a good second to Shes Nun Bettor N in the same event my top pick comes out of, and driver Jim Marohn Jr. is usually aggressive with her when she races below the Open. (4) TAKE ABIT OF LIFE came in fifth in that common race with my top two choices on the 15th of July, and she was third the last time she got to face NW20000L5's on 6-10.

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Race 11 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(2) SO LONG HANOVER starts for the second time at Yonkers and on Lasix tonight. He was able to get to the lead from post eight last Thursday, went a long way on the engine before getting overtaken, and slides inside to the two-hole here. (6) TURBOCHARGEDPETE hasn't missed the board since coming in from Ohio, including a victory over NW6 foes on 7-15. He kept Scott Zeron as he's the main driver for trainer Todd Luther. (1) HIGH GEAR NO FEAR took an immediately liking to Yonkers a week ago, as he shrugged off those off-the-board efforts at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a victory. He has the pole here, remains at the NW6 level, and picks up Jason Bartlett with Zeron sticking with Turbochargedpete.

Race 12 - F&M NW30000L5 Pace

(3) DEMETER N faces a softer group of NW30000L5's than she did last week, retained Bartlett over a Shane Tritton trainee, and I think he might try and wire this field. (2) JIVE DANCING A moves up two classes, but that was an impressive win last Thursday from post seven and after an extended first-over grind. She moves inside on the gate tonight. (8) SPORTS FLIX had pace on the end of the mile in that same event Demeter N comes out of, but she's stuck with post eight tonight. Maybe Holland can float out and get a seat since a couple to his inside don't show much early foot.