Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 8/27

MEET STATS: 131 - 393 / $809.70 (+$23.70)

BEST BETS: 23 - 40 / $79.30 (+$2.10)

SPOT PLAYS: 8 - 40 / $55.00 (-$25.00)

BEST BET-ANTHEM N (9th)

SPOT PLAY-MY RONA GOLD N (5th)

Race 1 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(2) OUR MISS REESE is in for a claiming tag tonight, so she gets to drop to the bottom level. She showed some efforts out at Northfield against fields similar to this that would make her competitive, and I'll expect a better performance in her fourth start for DiDomenico. (7) CHARMS LITTLE SIS gets some class relief tonight thanks to her connections reducing her claiming price. She took her life's mark at Yonkers a year ago. (1) EASY THREE retreats to the NW5000L5 group after a third-place finish against NW10000L5's most recently. She's hard to back for win given her 0-for-11 record this year, but I will use underneath.

Race 2 - NW2/25000LT Trot

(8) BEERTHIRTY K might just be too quick for these given his competitive efforts against top-level New York Sire Stakes competition. I'm not a fan of taking a short price from post eight, but he looks tough to go against. (1) CHERRY RED hasn't missed the board in the Excelsior B Series in 2020 and with the pole position, I expect Schnittker to leave out and sit somewhere close to the pace. (3) MAKING SPARKS picked up a second and a third in her last two tries in the NW2 class and gets reunited with Scott Zeron.

Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(1) HIGH ROLLING A defeated NW10000L5's at Yonkers back in February and gets both a drop and a shift to the pole position for this race. She also picks up Bartlett, and any repeat of that effort three back locally against better is probably enough to get the job done. (2) BETTERTHANBRIE has a win and two seconds in her last three efforts in this class and looks logical again here as Scott Zeron's pick of two. (4) CHECKOUT TERROR hasn't been able to get a win since racing resumed, but she did finish her mile off well on 8-6 and picks up Jordan Stratton from an improved post.

Race 4 - F&M NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Pace

(1) SCANDALICIOUS has gone downhill since late 2019, but I'm going to believe she still has the ability to turn the ship around and use her in the hopes Brennan is going to be able to give her a shot on the front-end from the pole position. (3) QUEEN JOSEPHINE looks to be pretty much in the same situation as my top choice. She was second in this class back in February before the racing shutdown, and she might get a more aggressive drive on the drop. (6) TWINSBURG has shown an ability to rally out of town and might get some speed to chase up front.

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

(5) MY RONA GOLD N just missed by a nose last week in a strong effort, and I'll give her another chance tonight with the expectation she will still have a good price to offer. (1) ANGEL'S PRIDE looks like the one to beat in this race dropping off a third-place finish against NW17500L5's. Have to think Brennan will be firing out again. (4) AMBRO COURAGE N crushed that group in her debut for trainer Justin Sodano back on August 6 and kept Bartlett's services.

Race 6 - F&M NW17500L5/30000CLM Pace

(4) SALLY FLETCHER A appears to be another contender for the Brennan/DiDomenico tandem on tonight's card. She has faced off against better in her last pair, including a try in the Preferred last time out, and I'll hope this level is more to her liking. (1) NEVERFORGETWHOUR picked up an overdue win back on 8-13 and gets another chance against NW17500L5's from the pole position. (2) BYE BYE MICHELLE kept her good form from over at Pocono when she switched to Yonkers last Thursday, finishing well for second off cover. Bongiorno is not here tonight, so Marohn Jr. picks up the drive.

Race 7 - F&M NW17500L5/30000CLM Pace

(5) PAMMY JO roared home from an impossible spot last Thursday. She wasn't Marohn Jr.'s pick tonight, but Buter guided her to a win back on 7-16 against NW17500L5's. (3) SHECOULDBEGOOD N did retain Marohn Jr. and comes off a good third-place finish to a pair of quality foes in Lady Dela Renta A and Kimberlee. (1) JEWELS FORREAL probably meets up with a tougher crew tonight, but she showed strong early speed down at Harrah's Philadelphia, especially in her last appearance, and that should serve her well from the pole position.

Race 8 - NW8/100000LT Trot

(3) MR VICKTOR raced much better than I was expecting last time out since it was his first pari-mutuel appearance in just over a year. Until being shelved, he had a strong 3-year-old campaign in 2019 that included multiple New York Sire Stakes victories, so he's got plenty of class to him. I'll hope for improvement with that start under his belt and a better post. (5) HATIKVAH made one start against NW8 at Yonkers back in June and was a good second. He was competitive against similar at the Meadowlands after that as well. (7) PURPOSE BLUE CHIP has developed some seconditis in recent tries but did turn in a game effort a couple weeks back. Daley probably has to send him out from this post.

Race 9 - NW10000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5/20000CLM Pace

(1) ANTHEM N closed from last to third in the back-half of the mile last Thursday and now moves from post eight to the pole. I wouldn't be surprised to see Stratton change things up and try and wire these. (3) PERFECTLY CLOSE has had post eight and post six in his last pair, so he gets some relief in that department, and he also finished with interest a couple weeks ago. (6) NORTHERN SPORTSMAN beat NW5000L5 at Yonkers in July and did well when shifted over to Pocono for his last pair. He might need to drop a notch to be a win threat, but I think could add some value underneath.