Yonkers: Analysis for Tuesday 8/18/26
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2026 MEET STATS: 240 - 753 / $1,317.84 (-$188.16)
BEST BETS: 46 - 80 / $158.60 (-$1.40)
BEST BET: ITS A ME MARIO (4th)
SPOT PLAY: MAJOR HOTHOOVES N (7th)
Race 1: F&M $20,000 Claiming Pace
(1) ALWAYS B LAYLA IR is back after a two-month freshening and she's got a 1:53 4/5 win at Yonkers from back in May. (3) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT is the deserving favorite on paper with her current form but she goes to new barn and you just never know... (4) JIVE DANCING A has been non-responsive lately but the 12YO classmaster is back in on consecutive weeks and perhaps she's a bit fitter now.
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Race 2: F&M $50,000 Claiming Pace
(2) MADDIE'S DELIGHT was in another zip code last week but she’s a proven winner in this class and moves back inside; Laterza trainee gets a new driver in Dube and should be one of the main players here. (1) ISLAND BOUHINIA A left well to secure the pocket at a big price last out and ultimately tired but from the rail she won't have to work as hard in the early stages. (3) TH RIZZO bumped from $20's to $50K claimers after a couple of wins and she raced well to be second best.
Race 3: F&M $20,000 Claiming Pace
(1) DISARONNO HILL races well every week for these connections yet never gets claimed for some reason; Dilloian Jr. trainee has another inside draw and will be right there again. (2) TWO BEAN DREAM didn't fire last start but was second best the two prior; mare moves in a few positions on the gate. (4) IDEALINFUN has been very sharp and now moves to the Laterza barn after the claim.
Race 4: NW7561 in last 5 starts Pace
(3) ITS A ME MARIO has extreme talent but also a host of issues as he hasn't raced much over the last couple of years but he's on a more consistent rotation now and a win seems imminent. (1) COALFORD TOPGUY GB faces a softer group and lands the rail; we'll see if he maintains his form for his "new" barn. (6) KEAYANG TACO A has been a non-factor for the last couple of months but he plunges in class from the optional $60K claimers.
Race 5: 3-5YO NW2 races or $30,000 LT Pace
(8) SWEET JOEL has just one lifetime win but a bunch of on-the-board finishes; we know the eight hole can be a death sentence but he's shown the early speed to overcome and get into play. Should be an honest price. (1) SEEYALATERHATER makes just his second lifetime start but he raced very willingly in his debut up at Tioga. (2) ADONIS BLUE CHIP was a winner two back at this NW2 level when he drew an inside post.
Race 6: 3-5YO Winners of 2-4 races or $60,000 LT Pace
(1) REINCARNATED two-moved and tired under pressure last week but the start prior he was able to rate and won easily. Bongiorno trainee gets a new driver in Colin Kelly, draws the best post again and gets the call. (6) JOHNNY LINCOLN N is the newest Down-Under invader, this one for the Stratton barn, and like most of them seems ready for action off the qualifier. The 4YO gets to start his career here in a NW/lifetime condition. (8) CORVETTE STINGRAY makes his Yonkers debut off solid efforts at The Meadowlands but the Linda Toscano trainee is behind the eight ball both literally and figuratively.
Race 7: NW20000 in last 5 starts Pace
(5) MAJOR HOTHOOVES N ships into Yonkers after being competitive in some fast races recently out of town. His one YR appearance a couple of months ago he had the eight hole so that's hard to gauge but I think he'll be a good fit with these. (4) BOSTON BOUND was a stubborn second two back at this level and he's been a solid earner all year. (2) SPECULATING A generally races as well as he draws in this class and he seems more than capable of racing close-up and landing a piece.
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Race 8: NW15186 in last 5 starts Pace
(4) SMOOTH DREAM was first-time Lasix last start at the Meadowlands and it looks like a poor effort until you discover it was a 1:46 1/5 mile he was caught up in. 4YO Noel Daley trainee makes just his seventh start of the year and I think he can match up well with his more experienced rivals. (3) ALWAYS A THRILL makes his second start at this reduced level after finishing third in a race where they sizzled the back half. (2) ORLANDO BLUE A steps up again going for his third consecutive win.
Race 9: NW23191 in last 5 starts Pace
Solid field to end the card. (4) NEVERSTOPDREAMIN N took a while to get to the races after shipping from New Zealand but he flew home in :25 2/5 to be second in his debut at The Meadowlands, then was lost at the back in the aforementioned 1:46 1/5 mile last start. He's an unknown shipping into Yonkers but I'll give him a shot. (3) PLAY ACTION PASS steps up off a strong win last week for the Burke barn (6) STAR CASINO N also faces better off a strong win but this recent import lands outside his main competition.