Yonkers: Analysis for Wednesday 8/12/26

2026 MEET STATS: 152 - 560 / $1,008.20 (-$111.80)

BEST BETS: 31 - 59 / $111.60 (-$6.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 13 - 59 / $140.34 (+$22.34)

BEST BET - HURRIKANE MARIGOLD (9th)

SPOT PLAY - DIAMOND RYDER (7th)

Race 1 - 50000CLM Pace

(6) IKNOWBETTER got a conservative trip and had no racing room in the lane last week. Hopefully he goes back to the aggressive tactics that worked so well on 7-22. (2) OPTICAL ILLUSION N was a closing second in this class last Wednesday and moves in a couple of notches on the gate this time. (3) EVER HOPING A has hit the board in five of his last seven outings and gets a driver switch to Jim Marohn Jr. for a high-percentage stable.

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Race 2 - NW5261L5 / 12500CLM Pace

(6) MANFERNO drops to the bottom level and slides in a couple of slots on the gate. I'll give him top call given he shows hitting the board a couple of times against much tougher horses in his lines. (1) WINDSUN RICKY was second to a well-meant favorite in a NW5000L5 contest on August 1 and starts from the pole. (4) GINGRAS BEACH gets a bit of post relief in his second shot in this class and owns a second and two thirds against NW7500L5 company recently.

Race 3 - Winners of 2 but not more than 4 PM Races or 60000LT / NW30000LT Draw Inside Trot

(4) RICO TUBBS was a good second to one of the best 3YO male trotters in the NY Sire Stakes program last Wednesday and makes his second start on Lasix for one of the hottest stables at the track right now. (3) CHASINGSTARDUST AS comes in from Ohio off a victory in the Buckeye Stallion Series and had no issue getting around Northfield on 5-3 on 6-22. (1) ZUZU ZOOM has hit the board in five straight appearances and moves in from the six-hole to the pole position.

Race 4 - 15000CLM Pace

(4) DELIGHTFUL TERROR merits another chance this time as he had pace in the lane out of the three-hole last Wednesday and drew a good post again. (1) SHINE A LIGHT returned to his winning ways a week ago and is back in a stable he's had success out of in the past. (2) GOTHIC ROCK moves in from the five-hole to post two and has hit the board in five of his last seven appearances.

Race 5 - NW10000L5 / Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW7500L5 Pace

(8) TUALOU N didn't live up to the wagering hype in his debut and is now slammed with the eight-hole. However, this is a drop and maybe he needed a start. Anyways, I'll give him a shot and hope he's put in play. (4) BONDI SHAKE N has won much over the last two years but just missed by a nose the last time he was in this class on 6-6. (2) ORLANDO BLUE A is moving up from the NW7500L5 level but is doing so off a handy victory for a high-percentage stable.

Race 6 - 15000CLM Pace

(7) ARTIST BEST got the job done against $15,000 claimers on 6-25 and was third last Monday. He starts from a bad post but hails from a very capable stable and driver Andy Miller isn't afraid to fire one out of there. (2) CYRUS N was a handy victory at this level two back and gets significant post relief off a sixth-place finish in the same race my top selection exits. (3) WALKINSHAW N put in a much better effort on August 1 in his second try back off the qualifier and gets a driver switch to Brent Holland.

Race 7 - 3-6YO 30000CLM Pace

(5) DIAMOND RYDER worked out a second-over trip last Monday but then was bothered when the first-over horse got rough-gaited on the last turn and lost all chance. I think he'll offer value and his form in Canada prior to coming to the States was pretty good, including a win at Woodbine Mohawk Park. (8) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH starts from the eight-hole but has just one finish outside the exacta in his last six tries, so I think he'll have to be put in play. (2) EVER M saw his streak of on-the-board results come to an end on July 30 but debuts for new connections off a claim and returns to facing age-restricted $30,000 claimers.

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Race 8 - NW7891L5 / Winners in Last Start of the Base Class NW5000L5 Pace

(4) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A continues to work his way down the class ladder tonight and catches a field I think he should be competitive against. Vinny Ginsburg was third with him against tougher $50,000 claimers two back and returns to the bike here. (2) ITZA DANGERZONE A drops and switches pilots to Colin Kelly off a fourth in a NW10000L5 base class event on July 27. (1) ODDS ON NO LIMIT exits some fast miles over at Pocono and qualified well on 8-5. He was Jordan Stratton's choice over my top selection.

Race 9 - F&M 20000CLM Pace

(6) HURRIKANE MARIGOLD scored over NW5000L5s on 7-31 in her second try for this stable and was third at this level prior to that. (1) SWEET SANDY just missed by a head after she cut the fractions last Tuesday and starts from post one again. (5) VEL IM ALL FIRE has been sharp both here and over at Tioga and defeated $20,000 claiming foes locally on the 23rd of July.