Harness Analyst – Yonkers Raceway 30th June

Harness racing’s Triple Crown kicks off at Yonkers Racetrack tonight (Jun. 30).

The $250,000 MGM Messenger Stakes for sophomore pacers goes in race 7 and it will be contested at 1 1/16th miles with a ten-horse field – eight lined up on the gate and two trailers. Race 8 is the MGM Yonkers Trot that has eight three-year-old trotters going for a purse of $300,000. Here are all my selections for this excellent card:

BEST BET: KARMA SEELSTER – Race 9

SPOT PLAY: SEVEN COLORS – Race 7

$1 Pick 4 – Race 1 – 1,2,3,4/3,4/2,4/3,6 = $32

50-Cent Pick 5 – Race 5 – 2,4/2,5/1,2,9/1,2,3/2 = $18

$1 Pick 4 – Race 9 – 2/1,2,6,7/1,5,6,8/1,3,7 = $48

Race 1 – 1-2-4-3

(1) LYONS JOHNNY JR will no doubt get the lead and probably go unchallenged until the third 1/4 and he will be the one to catch.

Race 2 – 4-3-5-1

(4) JIVE DANCING A couldn’t be any sharper as she shoots for six straight and she has shown grit in some of those victories. She is the one to beat.

Race 3 – 4-2-5-1

(4) DECOY comes in sharp from Pennsylvania and he gets post position advantage on one of the other fast leavers on paper. He gets top billing.

Race 4 – 3-6-5-1

(3) SEAFARER comes in off a strong first-over win beating some of these and he gets the call to repeat off that sharp win.

Race 5 – 4-2-6-3

(4) WALNER PAYTON is the one to beat when she doesn’t have to face superstar Special Way. It’s really that simple.

Race 6 – 2-5-3-1

(2) UCANDOIT BLUE CHIP has been deadly when she can race out of the pocket and that trip seems likely for her again tonight. I’ll side with her to knock off likely favorite Earthwindfire.

Race 7 – 2-9-1-3

(2) SEVEN COLORS paced a 26-flat uncovered third 1/4 against Its My Show in his NA Cup elimination and that was mission impossible. He is fast enough to beat these, and he has an inside post and Tetrick; top call.

Race 8 – 2-3-1-5

(2) UP YOUR DEO impressed me most in the elims, coming from a tough spot to win and breaking the track record in the process. He is the one to beat in this year’s Yonkers Trot.

Race 9 – 2-3-4-1

(2) KARMA SEELSTER comes off a fast win and these are no tougher. She should double up here.

Race 10 – 1-7-6-2

(1) PURPLE POET gets needed class relief here and I’ll give him a slight nod in a tough race.

Race 11- 5-6-8-1

(5) OKINAWA BEACH A produced a nice closing brush in her North American debut, and I’ll give her the nod to score the upset tonight.

Race 12 – 3-7-1-2

(3) MACH DORO A goes for a hot barn, gets a good post, and comes in fresh in what should be a good spot for him. I expect an aggressive Zeron steer tonight.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink