The Empire Report - Monday, March 29, 2021 - Race Analysis
Excellent card filled with several wide open races, and 3 talent-packed MGM Borgata (Levy)
divisions - should be plenty of good value.....if you land on the right results!
RACE 1 - (1) BLAYDE HANOVER was a very game first over winner two back, then followed that up
with a sharp front end score in last - the rail draw clearly stamps as the one to beat once more, but his price
will also come down even lower. (2) MIKES POWERHOUSE landed in a new barn upon arrival in NJ 3/12
and he raced much better in his last pair - moves to yet another new barn for tonight and will be handled by
a somewhat inexperienced pilot...but he's in a good spot, and may add some value to the exotics. (6) MCAR
DLES LIGHTNING made an unexpected break at the start last week (off the claim) but did recover well -
barn has been ice cold but did pick up a win last week, and maybe that's a sign of better things to come. (3)
CONTROL TOWER was a winner for his new barn last week, but he used every inch of a perfect trip, and
vs. cheaper - still respect his chances moving up tonight...but hard to like on top as the 2-1 ML choice. (7)
RECORD YEAR was already in a bad spot when he got wiped out on the final turn last week - tough draw,
but he's not a bad bomb for the bottom of exotics. (4) OHOKA JOHNNY N does his best work on the lead
so it was no surprise to see him struggle from off the pace in last - might be able to do better here if able to
blast out and at least grab a pocket trip. (8) DRINKA BEER rallied for 2nd at 32-1 last week - quite an
overlay considering he was 4/5 the week before - not sure he can reach from out here, though. (5) MAKO
BANNER seems one-dimensional (front end) and it's hard to see him getting that chance tonight
RACE 2 - (5) FOX VALLEY INFERNO threw a rare dud last week but he returns to one of the (several)
barns that he thrived for recently, and could easily rebound with his more typically solid effort here - one of
a few with a legitimate chance to take this. (4) KEPT UNDER WRAPS A was a bit of a surprise claim last
week, and his new owners seem confident in moving him up a notch - at 12-1 ML, he's worth including on
your tickets. (3) FIREBALL was terrific here in 2019, but not so much in 2020 - his last effort showed a lot
of improvement, and perhaps he just gets along very well with Tetrick - chance here if he races as well as
last week. (1) CLASSIC PRO has been a very solid performer for one of our top barns, has a pair of recent
wins and draws best tonight - figures to be a player from start to finish. (7) RUTHLESS DUDE is hard to
gauge here - comes into this race riding a long (impressive) form spree, but he moves to a new barn tonight
and it's impossible to say how he'll react - total guessing game! (6) ROCK N TONY has been solid since
the barn change 5 starts back but his only WIN came at the bottom level - consider for a piece, but sticking
with others for the top spot. (8) ROCK ON LINE was an excellent first over winner for his new barn last
week, but takes a double jump in class while also landing Post 8 - not sure he can reach from out here. (2)
BLATANTLY BEST has been dull in his last pair, and may need easier to strut his best stuff.
RACE 3 - (7) SHADOW CAT has looked very good down at Fhd. since moving to his current barn, and
possesses at least enough speed to improve position considerably at the start - should offer a square price
from out here, and should be a major player. (4) GLACIS is hard to use on top at his usual short price (just
1 for 26 at YR, despite MANY good tries), but would be hard to not include in exotics - barn hinting at
wake up signs, and this guy hasn't been "bad"....he just hasn't been able to win (5) HERRICKROOSEVELT
N steps up again off a pair of victories but he's shown that he's fine at this level too - would be no surprise
at all. (8) ONE OFF DELIGHT A gets another bad draw but he was able to grab 2nd behind #5 last week
(from Post 7), and could find his way somewhere onto the ticket at a big price again - include underneath.
(2) EPIC ACE was able to charge by and beat #1 after finally shaking free last week - overall form has been
solid, and the right trip could land him a share tonight. (1) IDEAL WHEEL just couldn't hang on in last and
now steps up in class - rail can't hurt, but he just seems a bit below a few of the main players. (6)
SECRECY has held his own since beating cheaper on 1/22, but this seems like an unlikely spot for him to
be a player. (3) MCCLINCHIE N returns after missing 2 months - prefer to just watch, for now
RACE 4 - MGM Borgata Pacing Series - (4) HESA KINGSLAYER N landed on perfect trips (for him) the
past 2 weeks and knew just what to do with them - has been an ultra-consistent machine for months, and
he's shown that if he's close turning for home, there's a good chance he'll be strongest on the wire - won't
offer much value, but he does deserve top billing. (7) THIS IS THE PLAN was 2nd best to Let It Ride N in
the first leg, then 2nd best to the top choice in last - classy 6YO is capable of turning the tables tonight...
but drawing all the way outside won't make that easy. (1) PAT STANLEY N held very well last week (4th)
after a brutal long first over bid - could be looking at a much easier trip tonight, and that would give him a
chance to be a legit player. (2) TYGA HANOVER came into this series seeming a bit overmatched but he's
been able to carry his fine form against these as well, picking up a 2nd and a 3rd so far - chance for another
small piece tonight. (3) NONE BETTOR A was sent off at 2/5 in Week 1 but folded badly into the stretch
after cutting the mile - took off Week 2, and it's hard to say if he'll be sharper tonight...or still come up light
at the end (at least the price will be a lot better)! (6) RAUKAPUKA RULER N worked out the pocket trip
last week and was good from start to finish, holding 2nd at 58-1 - may have trouble finding the same good
trip tonight, though. (5) MACS JACKPOT gave it a decent try in the first leg, but wasn't able to overcome
the first over trip in last - will need to elevate his game to be a legit threat from this spot.
RACE 5 - MGM Borgata Pacing Series- (1) WESTERN FAME may be worth a shot tonight - wasn't a
factor last week, but the reigning Levy champ did finish with some interest, and we know he's better than
the 2 efforts prior to that - barn definitely going through a pretty rough patch right now, but this might be a
good spot to start to turn things around. (3) ROCKAPELO was well backed last week (despite a few rough
outings) and was able to reward the faithful, digging in gamely out of the pocket to collar the very stubborn
frontrunner - legit license to repeat....but also figures to be overbet. (4) SAN DOMINO A was able to wire
a soft group in the first leg, then chased the beastly LEONIDAS A from the pocket for 2nd in last - he
surely looks a LOT better than in those three dreadful January starts he had here, and really would be no
surprise at all in this modest division. (5) ANAAFREET N shipped in with solid out of town credentials
but landed on a tough trip in Week 1, then was just no good at all in last - if you think he can bounce right
back, the price will be pretty attractive. (2) MACH N CHEESE doesn't seem sharp enough to beat these,
but he does draw well enough for a chance at a small piece, with an easy trip. (6) SHERIFF N hasn't shown
that he can be a serious player in this series, and the outside draw won't help his chances tonight. (7) AME
RICAN MERCURY may have commanded a look from the inside, but doesn't seem nearly sharp enough to
threaten from out here - maybe 3rd?
RACE 6 - MGM Borgata Pacing Series - (3) BACKSTREET SHADOW was 2nd best to LEONIDAS A in
the first leg, then a sharp front end winner in last - the good draw stamps him as the one to beat once again -
and if he gets to control the pace, he's going to be that much tougher to overhaul. (8) CHIEF MATE may
only be 4 years old, but he's proven that he can more than handle himself against his classy elders - Zeron
sticks with him (over #5) and it's hard to blame him, as sharp as this guy has been - obviously he gets killed
with another horrible draw tonight, but he's sharp enough to still have a chance IF some trip luck comes his
way. (5) WESTERN JOE was a fairly close 4th in Week 1, then had the lead right to the very last stride in
last - he's on his game now, and wouldn't be any surprise at all. (2) LYONS STEEL came into the series
sharp, and used a big late kick to come out on top in Round 1 - took off last week, but assuming he comes
back as sharp as he was, he should be able to grab a nice piece of this. (4) OSTRO HANOVER hasn't been
at his absolute best so far, but did rally for a couple of smaller pieces - seems destined for similar tonight
unless he can up his game a bit. (1) ARTIES IDEAL throws some big effort from time to time, but even his
best would likely have him looking at only a smaller piece against these. (6) BRONX SEELSTER is likely
a bit below these, and would need a better post to make his presence felt in any significant way. (7) STARS
ALIGN A's best efforts have come on the front, against easier competition - hard to like his chances from
out here, as he's damned if he leaves, and damned if he doesn't.
RACE 7 - Entire field full of very sharp horses! (1) WALKINSHAW N may be the "sharpest of the sharp"
among this excellent group, and his pair of starts upstate confirm that he's still feeling mighty good - Zeron
will have lots of trip options from here...and that may be the edge that he needs to beat these. (5) PYRO
made a break when caught wide leaving 2 back, then was stuck in a hopeless spot last week - prior from
had been outstanding, including a front end win (as the favorite) in the Open - very dangerous here with a
clean, aggressive start. (6) MOONSHINE KISSES figures to be hurt by the draw but he's as sharp as any of
these, with mega-easy wins in his last pair - at 12-1 ML, he deserves a spot on your tickets (4) MAGRITTE
reversed form with that win on 2/5 and has just gotten better every week since then despite moving to new
barns every week lately - takes a major class jump for his new connections, but just may be good enough to
still be a player in his current raging form. (7) TWIN B TUFFENUFF can't be faulted for his current form,
but the draw will leave him looking for some major racing luck to be a threat from out here. (8) KEEP ON
ROCKING A may even be the sharpest of them all...but he'd need to be a pretty juicy price to be worth
using on top (against all these sharp rivals) from Post 8! (3) BO MACH continues to create great trips for
himself...allowing him to take home nice chunks - may not be quite as fortunate tonight, but it's possible.
(2) SOHO LENNON A is being "picked last", but that's not a reflection of his form, or ability - great race!
RACE 8 - (2) EHRMANTROUT took a couple of starts after the layoff to get his legs back under him but
he was game winning here on 3/8, REALLY outstanding with the next week's front end blowout, then came
up 2nd best at PcD last week to the very talented LEVINE - meets a couple of tough veterans in here, but
he may be the sharpest of all right now. (1) SPEED MAN N was sent off at 1/10 last week but was an "ugly
winner", having to work a bit just to get the lead, then needed prodding to go on much of the way before
being called upon to the end to put away a rival with a much tougher trip - that being said, he could come
back this week with a MUCH better effort (he varies tremendously from start to start), and his price has to
be considerably better than last time - possibility. (3) GRATIAN HANOVER went off at 25-1 last time and
raced accordingly, retreating quickly to 7th and never in play at any point - moves inside now while also
getting a class drop, and you know the long-time barn favorite will be primed for a MUCH better effort -
hard to leave him off your tickets. (4) ROCK DIAMONDS N has been knocking on the door, coming up
2nd best in three straight starts - faced better now, however, and may be stuck with a bit smaller share this
week. (6) SANTAFES COACH is going very well right now, but gets stuck in a tough spot - not sure he
can beat these, but he CAN pick up a good piece, at a nice price (with his late rally). (8) HUNDIE N is yet
another sharp one in here, but he faces an uphill battle trying to get involved from Post 8. (5) MOHAWK
WARRIOR looked excellent in last week's first over win but that was vs. cheaper - likely a contender for a
much smaller piece in this spot. (7) HIGHLAND TARTAN is in a bad spot and also looking at a class drop
NEXT week...and that's when we might get interested in him
RACE 9 - (5) CAN B PERECT has been an ultra consistent performer for some time, and comes into this
off an excellent, hard charging 2nd to a razor sharp MOONSHINE KISSES - would be a good time for
Siegelman to look to leave the gate, but this guy handles any trip and can win from behind, if necessary. (1)
DANCIN DRAGON beat this class twice in a row here back in November, then just missed to WESTERN
FAME the following week - was scratched sick from his next then went on the shelf for 3 months, before
returning to PA for a few tighteners - returns to YR at a level he loves, but his current form is hard to get
excited about - don't take a short price if he's your choice. (2) CAPOZZO seems to be "in form" for 90% of
his starts, and has no problem getting good pieces at this level with any half decent trip - belongs in exotics.
(6) VIRGIN STORM has been razor sharp, and gets a pass for his last (from Post 8) - another outside draw
for tonight but at 20-1 ML, he has to at least get some consideration. (3) RUNRUNJIMMYDUNN N did
beat this class 4 starts back, but his best work does usually come with a bit easier - good one to use
underneath. (4) THE REAL ONE just isn't close to top form right now, but remains a threat to rally late for
a small piece. (8) ORILLIA JOE overcame Post 7 and 8 in his last pair to pick up a win and a 2nd, but he
moves up to face much tougher now, and may have trouble overcoming yet another horrible draw. (7)
MACINTOSH N will look more appealing with a drop to NW10000 next week
RACE 10 - (2) ROLLWITHPAPAJOE had 2 wins and a nose loss in three recent tries at this level - raced
ok from difficult spots against better in his last couple, and could come out on top tonight if a decent trip
comes his way. (3) HEISMAN PLAYER had legitimate excuses in his last two (8 hole, traffic, etc.) but was
razor sharp prior to that - moves inside, and could have a big impact tonight. (5) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP
has been holding his form beautifully even at these higher levels - can't rule out the possibility of him
pulling off a mild upset. (1) REDBANK BLAZE A may need a little cheaper but he's been sharp enough
recently to at least consider against these starting from the pole. (7) BETTOR MEMORIES is on his game
right now, but will be looking at a much tougher assignment than in his last pair (both front end wins) - if
he's a big price he's definitely worth considering. (8) WORLD OF SECRETS has been favored in 7 straight
Nfd. Open starts...but only won ONE of them - ships in for very high % barn, but hard to recommend
against the locals from Post 8, at 3-1 ML! (6) ANTHEM N is good right now, but in a very tough spot -
prefer other. (4) CONVERT DENARIO N sports an impressive Down Under resume, but it's hard to get
excited about his chances off that lackluster qualifier - prefer to just watch a start or two.