Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 7/30

MEET STATS: 112 - 319 / $666.50 (+$28.50)
BEST BETS: 19 - 32 / $56.80 (-$7.20)
SPOT PLAYS: 7 - 32 / $45.00 (-$19.00)
BEST BET - SNOBBYTOWN (4th)
SPOT PLAY - NEVERFORGETWHOUR (8th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(3) FOLLOWTHEWIND N came up just a neck short of a win at Yonkers on June 23, then raced against probably better quality mares and wound up first-over at Pocono. She returns back to Westchester to the NW5000L5 level and gets post relief too, so I'll use. (4) MORE THAN MANY wasn't Stratton's choice in here but she was a good second behind a dropping Slick Artist A two weeks ago. (1) MILLIONDOLLARGEM A raced better on 7-9 when she returned to Yonkers and rejoined the Lance Hudson barn. She tumbles to the bottom level and was Stratton's pick of several in here, but I'm not willing to take a short price on her.

Race 2 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(7) ST MARTINS qualified well at Harrah's Philadelphia in his second appearance with trotting hobbles and wound up with Joe Bongiorno at scratch time. I'll give him a chance in this wide-open looking race. (1) CELEBRITY SERENA finished with some interest against NW5000L5's on July 14 and switches over to this level tonight. She beat NW3's via placing up at Vernon back in June. (2) MAGNIFICENT SEVEN was idle for more than a year but broke his maiden in his second start since returning over at Pocono. He did race against NW2's here last May and came in third.

Race 3 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(8) I GOT THE LOOKS draws poorly again, but he raced very well from post seven on the 16th, finishing a rallying second. Hopefully Buter can land an inside position again and then go to work from there. (1) SHEER MUSCLE was second to a Hambletonian eligible in his first start of 2020 last time out at Harrah's Philadelphia. There is nobody of that caliber in here, so I think he's a logical choice to include from the pole position. (4) MANWILLING closed from seventh to third in the back-half of that same event my top choice exits. He beat NW3's back in February at Yonkers but has found the NW4 level more difficult thus far.

Race 4 - F&M Open Pace

(1) SNOBBYTOWN has two wins and a second in the Open since racing resumed and looms an imposing presence from the pole position this time. Brennan will probably try and send her right down the road here. (3) LISPATTY steps up to the top class tonight but has enough early foot to land a good spot behind Snobbytown from this inside post, and hopefully she can follow along to finish second. (7) MY RUEBE STAR N would have looked more usable had she drawn inside, but this is a tough post in her first attempt at the open. You have to respect her four-for-four record since coming to the States, though.

Race 5 - F&M NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Pace

(2) CAVIART CHERIE dropped in for the claiming tag tonight so she gets class relief. I am waiting for a wake-up call on this mare like the one back in February at long odds and am willing to gamble it's coming here. (1) SHECOULDBEGOOD N slides down from the NW17500L5 level tonight and draws inside. She finished up that mile with a good final quarter and had won three straight at Tioga prior to that. (6) ANNABETH is another one retreating from the NW17500L5's in this race. Her lone win this year came back in January against NW15000L5's, so she is capable against these types.

Race 6 - NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Pace

(5) TOM ME GUN N remains in search of his first win since coming to the States, but he did close well from an outside post on the 9th of July. Siegelman is capable of sending one from the gate, and I'll hope that's his plan here since this horse has seemed to do his best work when put on or near the lead. (1) GOKUDO HANOVER won a couple back in the winter at Yonkers and has kept racing well at Saratoga. He made the front in 26 and a bit two back up north, so he should be stepping forward from the pole position. (2) ZIGGY SKY gets some class relief tonight after facing better in his first two since returning to racing action. He did get a win at Yonkers over NW7500L5's in February.

Race 7 - NW8/100000LT Trot

(3) PURPOSE BLUE CHIP wound up second-best two weeks ago, but he might have a little bit better price to offer tonight, and he should be on or near the lead again. (4) GETTIN MESSI chased down Purpose Blue Chip last time and offered some value at 4-1. Their odds are likely to be flip-flopped tonight, and I will attempt to beat him on this occasion. (6) OUR WHITE KNIGHT loses the pole position he's had in his last couple this time, but did show some ability to race from off-the-pace at Dover earlier this year, and hopefully he can complete the ticket.

Race 8 - F&M NW17500L5/30000CLM Pace

(5) NEVERFORGETWHOUR returns to contender status tonight as she gets to exit the NW25000L5 class. She was second back on June 30 at this level and beat NW15000L5's comfortably in March before the shutdown. (6) BARON REMY came up second-best two Thursdays ago after making front fairly easily from post eight. She draws slightly better tonight and will probably be favored. (4) PAMMY JO caught Baron Remy on the wire in that race on July 16 and gets another shot at the NW17500L5's tonight.