The Empire Report - Friday, April 23, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (3) SCRAPPIN GOLD was pretty competitive in a bunch of starts vs. some solid NW6 fields -
held well for 4th after a tough first over try at this level last week, and certainly meets no killers tonight -
logical threat in the opener. (1) BALLERAT BOOMERANG hasn't been on his best game in a while, but
this is a prime spot for a wake up call - looking at a good trip, and a chance at the top prize if he can find
one of his better efforts. (6) MARINER SEELSTER was claimed away from his long time connections in
Feb. and just hasn't really thrived in his new surroundings - that being said, he has to be considered a legit
threat against this modest bunch...and that 9-1 ML does make him worth considering. (7) NVESTMENT
BLUECHIP never got untracked here in 3 local starts after shipping in to town but did have a couple of
excuses - did beat softer at PcD last week, but gets no luck with the draw returning to YR - still a shot for a
piece, though. (2) MUSCLE MACH A went bad last summer up in Canada and has been away ever since -
would have gotten major consideration entering this new barn in the past, but that outfit has been in a major
slump for 2 months - will just observe, for now. (4) SOMWHERENBROOKLYN N was empty on 3/15
then didn't even function on 3/30 - qualified ok, but will pass until he shows at least a "clean" start. (5) ART
HISTORY has struggled for most of this year, only getting pieces from inside posts, with easy trips - will
wait for one of those spots before considering.
RACE 2 - (2) MCCLINCHIE N faced much tougher in his last 3 and hardly embarrassed himself - drops to
the basement, draws inside in this compact field, and we'll give him the narrow edge over his main rival.
(3) THE REV is the other "obvious" player in here, but he failed as the 3/5 choice dropping to this level last
week - might be able to make amends tonight, but the top choice will probably be a better price. (5)
HEAVENLY SOUND was content to sit at the back and just pace in the stretch in his YR return - seems a
bit below the top pair, but the probably the one with the best chance to knock them off. (1) NOX VEGAS
BLUECHIP has been away 3 weeks after throwing a clunker in his last - is rarely a threat to win, but has
picked up plenty of smaller pieces over the years - seems destined for the same tonight. (6) BULLVILLE
KYLE just hasn't been sharp in ages, and would need things to just fall apart to have any chance at being a
serious late player. (7) TALENT SOUP has shown at least some form improvement in his last couple - not
ready to endorse him, but at least willing to start following him a little more closely
RACE 3 - (3) ROCK ON PRECIOUS has scored upsets at 30-1 and 42-1 recently - he won't be that kind of
price tonight, but he should still offer some decent value in a race with no particularly sharp horses - barn
has sent out a few good ones lately, and maybe can find the winner's circle again with this guy. (1) MATT
MAJOR was handled carefully last week after making a break (on the lead) the start before - it's safe to
assume he'll be handled a little more aggressively tonight, and he'll have a legit chance to beat these...if he
behaves. (4) VILLAGE CHAMP hasn't done much for his current connections but has probably been
facing better fields than this one - he should be a good fit here, and may be able to grab a decent piece. (2)
THEREISAPACEFORUS wasn't particularly sharp in his last, but it was obviously a lot better than that
performance on 4/2 - on his best he'd be awfully tough here...but it doesn't seem like he's in that form right
now. (8) PLAY THE FIELD is another recent addition to an owner/trainer that has been picking up a lot of
new stock lately - Bartlett may look to send him even from Post 8...maybe check the tote board for some
clues? (5) WILD WEST got 3rd last week mostly by hugging the cones and staying out of trouble - just
doesn't have a great recent history here at YR. (7) COACH CAL was underway WAY too early last week
and never had a prayer - another bad spot tonight, but maybe can at least grab a minor share with a more
patient drive. (6) MEETYOUATMIDNIGHT was unable to replicate his good Monti form here at YR - not
a good spot tonight, either.
RACE 4 - (2) CINNABAR DRAGON was off 25 days to his last (off a terrible effort) but turned in an
excellent performance to be 2nd from Post 7 - gets right back in the box, lands inside, ad his barn has been
perking back up - very logical player. (3) PEMBROKE JOEY is a tough call here - tired badly the night he
was claimed, but he was then scratched sick the following week (perhaps explaining that weak effort) - if
close to his best he'll be a major threat here...but that's a big IF! (6) MILLIONDOLLAR WAVE clearly
wasn't into the outside post blast last week (probably should have been asked to qualify off that effort) but
he's right back in to go, and will likely be ignored off that horrible looking line - may just sit back and rally
late with an easier trip, though, and could add some value to the exotics. (8) WAVES OF FIRE A was a
surprising claim 3/12...and an even MORE surprising re-claim the following week....but he's been getting
better and finally broke a 2 year winless streak with last week's blowout victory - won't be quite as easy
from Post 8, though. (7) BLAYDE HANOVER saw his 4 race win streak snapped with a dull 4th in his last
(off the claim) - won't get any easier tonight from Post 7. (5) MAJOR BUCKS hasn't been "bad" since the
claim, but he hasn't really been "good" either - willing to include underneath for 3rd/4th. (1) COOL BLUES
MAN has never recovered from the night Holland just airmailed him through blazing fractions, a few
months ago - hard to use, even from the pole.
RACE 5 - (1) P H KENNY hadn't been on his best game for a while (was even getting beat regularly in the
bottom claiming class) but he looked to suddenly be back to top form in his last, moving up a loss to beat
the 20s convincingly, using a powerful back side brush to crush his rivals- may be ready to go on another
form spree. (5) PICARD A elects to drop in for a tag rather than race in NW10000 again and it seems like
the right choice - definitely fits well here, and should make his presence felt here. (3) LYONS WILLIAM
finally picked up a long overdue victory 2 back and really wasn't bad from an impossible spot in last - gets
some post relief, and is definitely eligible to grab a good share. (4) KINGSTONS BAD BOY ships in from
Ohio with form that would make him a big threat here...but this barn hasn't been off the best start locally,
and it seems a bit risky to back this guy at a short price - will stick with the locals, at least for tonight. (2)
ZOEEZ BOY HENRY has been sharp for some time and gets a pass for his last - does move up off the
claim, though, and we'll see if he can have the same success against these tougher foes. (6) TAP TAP TAP
was actually very good last week, slipping out of a shuffle then rallying nicely for 2nd from a tough spot -
the problem is that he never seems to race the same way twice - at least at 20-1 ML, he''ll offer good value
if you think he'll put together back to back sharp efforts. (7) PARKLANE JET seems a bit cheap and lands
the worst post - wait for a better spot.
RACE 6 - (6) NOWS THE MOMENT had 2 wins and 7 seconds here last year...and a bunch of those 2nds
were to a streaking Stormy Kromer, in some fast miles - returned from a brief freshening with a pair of
sharp miles in NJ, and may be able to use his tactical advantage here to pick up a victory. (8) MISSISSIPPI
STORM returned from his own freshening in raging form, with 2 wins and a 2nd in his last 3 local tries -
the obvious roadblock here is Post 8, but he's sharp enough to still have a big chance from out here - if #6
doesn't hit the lead and put too much distance between them. (5) FULL RIGHTS has held his form even at
the Open level, picking up 3rds in his last 2 starts - may be able to use his speed to grab another up close
trip - and another small piece. (4) ARABELLAS CADET hasn't looked great lately, but hasn't looked bad
either - license to rally for a piece with any reasonable trip. (3) KINDA LUCKY LINDY landed on a dream
trip last week and trotted strong from the final turn to grab a win over a bit lesser - not sure he'll end up
with the same good trip luck tonight, though. (7) MAGICAL JOURNEY looked like he was tailing but
came up with an improved effort 2 back, followed by a solid 2nd in last - would definitely have been rated
higher if not for Post 7. (2) NEW HEAVEN was left alone on the lead last week and delivered his sharpest
try in a while - usually stalls out when bumped up this high, however. (1) HOMER HALL draws best, but
has only one start in the last 6 weeks - will just watch, for tonight
RACE 7 - (6) DANCIN DRAGON was no good in his return try to Yonkers, an ok 4th in his next, just
missed in his last and now drops all the way to the bottom level - no excuses accepted tonight. (1) SANTA
FES COACH looms the main danger from the pole, but he had an easy trip following the top choice last
week and had no pop in the stretch - would need to be a lot sharper to beat him tonight. (2) BLATANTLY
BEST hasn't clicked in two starts since the claim but drops, will be getting away right near the lead and
really should be able to have a bigger say this week. (8) ZIGGY SKY was good in his last pair and actually
scored a huge upset from Post 8 a few months back - doubt he can do that tonight, but still a good one to
include underneath. (5) SOHO LEVIATHAN A isn't on his game right now, but still may be able to beat a
few of the others for a small check. (4) MAJESTIC KIWI N has missed 6 weeks- prefer to just observe, for
now. (7) ELRAMA N has some solid Ohio form but vs. cheaper, and he's stuck all the way out here for his
local debut. (3) ART NUKEM looks overmatched, on paper.
RACE 8 - (3) LEAN HANOVER really should have won his last but that was against better - draws inside
the other main "dropdowns" here and that may leave him with the best trip...and a chance to come out on
top - but definitely wouldn't take a short price on him. (6) WINNERUP continues to ship in sharp from NJ -
only to disappoint here at Yonkers - lands a bit cheaper tonight, so maybe that can get him over the hump...
but he's another that's not worth taking if the odds are too low. (7) SWANSEA really disappointed last time
after making an easy lead and grabbing an easy half - he's another that gets in easier now, but faces a tough
haul from Post 7 - consider only if the price is juicy tonight. (2) AFTER ALL PAUL made a break on the
off going last time so we'll cut him some slack - eligible to sit patiently here and show up late for a piece --
at a price. (4) THE LAST CHAPTER just hasn't been finishing his miles well enough for some time - ok
for a piece, but only a smaller one. (1) HOBBS won 5 of 10 stars as a 3YO including the NYSS Final here
at YR - not sure he's all that cranked up yet for his 4YO season looking at his qualifiers, however. (5)
COOL CLIFFORD behaved the last 2 weeks and picked up a 2nd and a 4th - think he needs to be in a bit
cheaper, but I guess we'll learn for sure tonight. (8) LINDSEYS PRIDE was no good at all for a new trainer
last start and now draws Post 8 - will just watch this week
RACE 9 - (1) MELODIES MAJOR is worth a stab tonight - was sneaky good in his qualifier (off a long
layoff), then had sneaky pace in his first start back, from a no chance spot - has plenty of ability early his
career so perhaps he's ready to start doing some damage as a 5YO. (4) BARBADOS put in an excellent
rally for 2n din his local debut, behind a very sharp winner - should be very good again tonight, and
belongs on your tickets. (5) LACHIE MAGUIRE N did a nice job winning off the bad date last week, even
if helped by the leader tiring late - shouldn't have any trouble handling the class rise, and he can have a big
say once again tonight. (6) FULLBACK is sharp right now, but gets no luck with the draw - may be able to
follow some decent cover and finish up well enough for a piece of this. (3) BELTANE A looks like he's just
going through the motions every week...but still usually manages to finish well enough for a small piece -
guessing he can do that tonight, as well. (2) ALEPPO HANOVER hasn't been able to beat cheaper, but the
good draw makes him a possibility for 3rd/4th, with an easy enough trip. (7) KNOCKING AROUND
rallied nicely to score the upset last week, but moves up while drawing Post 7 and that'll be tough to
overcome. (8) LUCIANO N seems too far out to be a threat