Yonkers: Analysis for Thursday 8/4

MEET STATS: 153 - 596 / $922.50 (-$269.50)
BEST BETS: 39 - 61 / $138.00 (+$16.00)
SPOT PLAYS: 8 - 60 / $70.30 (-$49.70)
BEST BET - BRONZE OVER N (5th)
SPOT PLAY - TEMPUS SEELSTER (7th)

Race 1 - NW2/25000LT / Maidens/NW12500LT Drawn Inside Trot

(2) MAGICAL MAJOR ships down from Canada into Travis Alexander's barn. We often see horses coming from Woodbine Mohawk Park do well at Yonkers and this 3-year-old was also Jordan Stratton's choice. (4) IMPORTER EXPORTER has a trainer change that everybody will likely see as he's now with Gareth Dowse, and that also gets him Jason Bartlett in the bike. (5) BANK BREAKS returns to facing straight NW2's tonight and also has a catch driver - George Brennan - piloting him.

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

Race 2 - F&M NW100001L5/Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5/20000CLM Pace

(2) BRUSH N CRUSH finds a softer spot here than the NW8 class she met on 7-20 and picks up Bartlett in the bike. (4) SPORTS FLIX has gone off form as of late but gets to drop an additional level and nobody in here really stands out. (7) SUMMER RAE finished second against $50,000 claimers two back and is another one who is likely facing easier company tonight in this race.

[DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Yonkers card at DRF Bets.com!]

Race 3 - F&M NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(8) ALWAYS A MIRACLE beat NW5000L5's back on June 2, and I will hope she's live in her first start for Jenn Bongiorno off the claim. (5) CASH ROLL is probably the one to beat in this event as she takes a second crack at the bottom level and slides in from the eight-hole. (1) SCANDALICIOUS also gets another chance against NW5000L5 foes, starts from the pole, and gets reunited with George Brennan.

Race 4 - NW4/50000LT Trot

(1) VENDOR BILL miscued last time out but did gain spots in the final quarter. I like that he's reunited with Joe Bongiorno, who drove him to a victory two back, and he doesn't have any stakes races he may be prepping for like the 3-year-olds in here. (5) CHAPHEART won in the NY Sire Stakes program two back in Monticello and then was third in a sire stakes race at Yonkers won by a horse (Cool Papa Bell) who made the Hambletonian final. (4) WILY WALLY is now with trainer Dennis Laterza after what appears to be a private purchase. He has won two straight up at Plainridge.

Race 5 - F&M NW7500L5/Winners in the Last Start of Base Class NW5000L5/12500CLM Pace

(4) BRONZE OVER N closed from eighth to fourth last time out at Pocono and drew an improved post tonight after starting from the eight-hole over there twice in-a-row. She also has a trainer change to Noel Daley. (7) SUNDAY AFTERNOON was in against NW15000L5's when last seen at Yonkers in July and picked up checks both times she raced at that level. (3) LADY DELA RENTA A scored a confidence-boosting victory over bottom level foes on July 21 and can probably improve off that.

Race 6 - NW6/75000LT Trot

(4) SEVENSHADESOFGREY has hit the board in three out of his four attempts on his page when he's been in the NW6 class and gets reunited with Brennan. (1) FLIP THE SWITCH steps up from the NW4 level but has won two in-a-row, including in dominant fashion last time. If he's that good again, the others are probably racing for second. (6) QUINCY MARKET owns two wins and a second in his last three efforts for trainer Nick Devita, and Tyler Buter, who picked up the drive, has steered him before.

Race 7 - F&M NW22131L5/30000CLM/4&5YO F&M NW10 PM Races LT Pace

(4) TEMPUS SEELSTER gets to drop out of the NW30000L5 class tonight and has post relief to go with it. (2) MORNING HAS BROKEN exits the Open and fit this level by $1 as she has $22,130 earned in her last five starts. I would guess her connections would like to take advantage of that. (6) SIESTA BEACH has been facing better in her recent appearances and is always capable of getting back to winning form when this low on the ladder.

Race 8 - F&M Open Handicap Pace

(2) BEST HEAD WEST is back with Nick Devita after two starts out of his barn. She was racing very well for him, and I will hope that she picks up where she left off. (1) DARBY HANOVER raced well to finish second in the Open on July 21 and could have a similar trip from the pole position again. (6) DELITFULCATHERIN N dominated in the Open on 7-21 and hasn't missed the exacta since returning from Ohio.

Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Race 9 - F&M NW30000L5/4&5YO F&M NW12 PM Races LT/75000CLM Pace

(1) VIOLETS RAINBOW doesn't appear like she's an Open mare at this point but slides down out of that class tonight and beat NW30000L5's on June 9. (3) REACHTHRUTHESKY AS rallied to finish second in a NW30000L5 base class event on 7-21 and was Stratton's choice of a couple in here. (2) TECHYS ANGEL A is back at Yonkers here after racing at Pocono in her last two appearances. She was second in the Open in Westchester in mid-May.

Race 10 - F&M NW15000L5/Winner in Last Start of the Base Class NW10000L5/25000CLM/4&5YO F&M NW9 PM Races LT Pace

(1) CORAL BELLA wasn't Stratton's pick in here but does drop and move back inside on the gate. I think she's worth a chance in the hopes she fires. (3) BABS JANSEN has been knocking on the door lately but hasn't won since June 1. I'll put her underneath. (4) PLZDONTLIETOME N looks like she'll be back on a quick turnaround after racing at Pocono on Sunday. She was a good second over there and doesn't have to contend with the eight-hole like she has the last two times she's been seen locally.