Friday Empire Report

soaofny • August 23, 2024

The Empire Report – Friday, August 23, 2024 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) MCMARKLE SPARKLE returns from Ohio and while her last few starts look less than stellar, she

was doing good work out there through June – she lands in a fairly soft spot, and may be ready for a wake up call

returning to one of her old trainers. (1) HELLO YES HI was holding her own with much better not long ago – she

may have rebuilt some confidence with last week’s victory over cheaper, and is a very logical player in here – that

“even money” ML price is definitely a turnoff, however. (4) HALLELUJAH HANOVER was a solid 2nd last week

behind a standout winner, and does fit with most of these – playable in exotics. (2) ROCKN PHILLY has been off

her game for several starts but always seems to turn things around eventually – could be tonight, but make sure to

get a decent price if trying her on top. (6) BADDITUDE does fit well here but figures to be disadvantaged by the

poor draw – definitely okay to include underneath. (7) ONEDEFULBEACH has missed 3 weeks (scratched sick)

and lands all the way outside – leaning to others. (5) GINGER TREE LIZ drops out of the 50s but may not be good

enough right now to really take advantage.


RACE 2 – (1) TWIN B SUNKISSED has been on her game lately, and did race well from a tough spot last week –

she’s in line for a good trip here, and should offer a fair price in a field with several legitimate players. (2) DOUGS

BABE A is the “class” of the field for sure but she’s had issues with miscues recently, and has to be viewed as at

least a bit risky right now – would need a “fair” price to use her on top. (5) PURE SILKY has been on a long form

spree, and comes into tonight off a win at this level last week – she draws outside a few main rivals, but will be very

dangerous if the trip goes her way. (3) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY has been good lately, and was simply in a

hopeless spot last week – another that will race as well as her trip allows. (5) ATREACHEROUS A was sharp after

arriving back from Ohio but feels like she may have leveled off a bit at these higher levels. (6) BLOOD MOON A

raced well in both local starts, and had to deal with less than ideal trips out of town in her last pair – may have to

wait for a better spot to threaten for a top prize.


RACE 3 – (5) UNFORGETTABLE had some mixed results in her first few starts after arriving from Ohio but did

show legitimate ability – her last couple of Pocono tries suggest she’s adding some consistency, and this is a pretty

soft field that she returns to – gets top billing. (1) SOUTHWIND ARTURO had a terrific 2023 campaign but this

year has been a struggle– he does return off a close 2nd in PA, and his barn has been starting to heat up a bit – logical

player, but probably will end up overbet. (4) MANCLANE has definitely regressed since being claimed for $40K in

May but it’s not like he’s fallen apart completely – this could be a spot where he could at least have a say. (2) MYCR

OWNMYKINGDOM landed in an easy spot last start and was a pocket winner – that was a month ago, however,

making him at least a bit suspect for tonight. (3) HOBBS feels a bit on the cheaper side but he definitely could be a

lot more competitive here than his 20-1 ML odds might suggest. (6) HAVEHORSWILLTRAVEL N has some ability

but he did make breaks in his last 2 local starts.


RACE 4 – Good race: (5) TALK CURDY TO ME raced hard in her local debut but just missed to the streaking (6 in

a row) LLOYDS LOVES – no factor in the Invitational in her next but returns off a solid try in the Winners Over at

Chester, and faces a bit easier here – one of several with a legitimate chance tonight. (2) VIBRANCE had been on an

excellent roll but was hurt a bit by a tough trip 2 back, then never had room to stretch her legs last week – could

easily be a big player here. (3) IDEALINFUN is another that has been on an extended form spree, and it’s possible

that she just was taken off her game when pushed three wide early last week – deserves a chance to bounce right

back, especially if the price is good. (6) SOMWHERUNDERHEAVN has raced well in all 4 local tries and even

with the bad draw, shouldn’t be listed at 20-1 ML – could easily race much better than that price suggests. (1) NO

WIN NO FEED A banged out 8 wins and $147K this year before finally getting claimed last week – she’ll be facing

much tougher here for her new connections, however, and will need to up her game to be as successful against these.

(4) TRUE BLUE HANOVER used nice trips to pick up a win and a 2nd in her last pair – will need another nice trip

for a chance at a good piece against these tougher ones. (7) CHERYLS SHADOW is having a good year but lands

all the way outside after weakening on the lead last week – tough spot!


RACE 5 – (7) GDS THUNDER GB wasn’t bad here off the qualifier on 7/30 – had traffic issues when 3rd in his

next, then was “sneaky sharp” last week, finishing full of pace from an impossible spot – another terrible draw, but

maybe this is the week Marohn handles him aggressively? (8) MASONS DELIGHT N was sent off at 3/5 two back

and would have had a good chance to win had Bongiorno not refused to yield to him (with a horse that eventually

backed through the field and finished last) – he made amends with last week’s easy front end score (at a much better

5/2 price), and has a chance to step up and beat these too...especially if the top choice does NOT leave to his inside.

(5) RAYRAY couldn’t sustain his good bid last week and tonight’s addition of Lasix may explain why – good value

horse for exotics. (1) LYRICAL GENIUS A hasn’t had much local success but he gets major post relief for tonight

and that may be enough to at least put him in play for a piece. (6) HES SPECIAL moves to a new barn for tonight

and his new trainer must have seen him bleed (as he also adds Lasix) – maybe he can rally for a small piece, at a big

price? (2) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER and (3) LOUS THE ATTITUDE ran 1-2 last week but both will be facing

better in this field – feels like there’s better value to be had with a few others. (4) MOVIN ON UP has had success

with better but would be hard to endorse in his current form.


RACE 6 – (2) GOLDEN QUEST N dropped to a very easy spot last week and won just like her $2.10 price

predicted – this is definitely a much tougher assignment, but still one within her comfort zone – still deserves top

billing. (3) FRONT PAGE NEWS was also an easy winner last week, returning $2.30 to her backers – she’s 4-2-1-1

since arriving on the scene, and we’ll see if she’s sharper than the top choice right now. (1) LISA LANE had good

pace finishing after shaking free from a blindswitch last week, and has added consistency to her game – could easily

be part of the equation if she lands on an easy trip. (4) DIXIE DREAM gets some post relief and is a good one to use

for 3rd/4th. (5) SUPER GIRL had a trip of good starts here in June before landing in some tougher spots in July – she

returns off a pair of sharp tries at PcD (including a win last week), and just may be able to make her presence felt

late IF somehow things get testy up front (which doesn’t seem all that likely to happen). (6) ROCKNROLL ANNIE

is actually good right now, but likely buried in this spot.


RACE 7 – (7) OH BOY has to be worth a stab here – he no doubt needed his last (at Harrington, in the top class off

TWO months) but he now has a start under his belt AND moves to a barn that has won with fresh stock time and

time again – this guy had success here in 2023, and is hard to resist a good look at that 20-1 ML price. (1) DWS POI

NT MAN has been a solid performer all year, can handle a variety of trips, and looms a very live player from this

spot. (3) RITSON shipped in sharp and hit board in both local tries– remains a very real possibility. (2) MORNING

EDITION didn’t show up at all for his first local start but was right there in his last pair – no reason he can’t contend

for another good chunk tonight. (5) SEVENSHADESOFGREY made breaks in 3 of his last 4 starts, but WON the

start he stayed trotting (and that’s been his profile for a long time) – definitely risky at the moment, but the right

price makes him worth at least a look. (8) CRAZYLAND just wasn’t himself last week and tired badly after giving

way on the lead – the class drop could help, but the post certainly won’t – leaning more towards others tonight. (4)

WILD WAY broke trying for the lead last week and figures to be handled a lot more conservatively tonight. (6) CAL

MILES N SHELL was a winner in an amateur race last week, giving Victoria Stratton her first Yonkers driving

victory – faces much tougher tonight, however, and from a bad post.


RACE 8 – (3) DONATO PATRIOT K was our selection from Post 8 last week and he ALMOST was able to pull off

a 7th-to-first sweep in the lane (while seriously overbet) – obviously a much better starting point for tonight, and a lot

more options for Bongiorno – we’ll give him another try. (2) VINNY DE VIE got a drop last week and was a game

first over 2nd to the frontrunning winner – drops another notch, and looms a very serious threat. (4) AIRMANS

JACKPOT hasn’t won in a while but she’s racing well every week – would really be no surprise at all. (6) FLEURIE

made a lot of $$ as a youngster but was so-so at 4 and has only 8 starts (so far) at 5 – she was just moved to the

leading barn in the nation, and qualified nicely at Pocono – we’ll see how she fares in her Hilltop debut. (1) EPOS

OSTERVANG DK has to at least be considered for a piece starting from the pole but his form started to tail a while

ago, and he’s definitely nowhere as sharp as he was for so many months prior to that. (5) HAT TRICK MARLEAU

probably will need a start after just re-qualifying – sticking with others for now. (7) VALI HANOVER seems

unlikely to be able to get into the mix moving up in class while starting from Post 7. (8) KASHA V lands all the way

outside off 3 weeks, and in shaky current form.


RACE 9 – (6) PARISIAN BLUE CHIP had a big $121K season last year but hasn’t been quite as effective in 2024

($40K so far) – she does ship in pretty sharp from PA/NJ, lands in a fairly soft field, and gets Bartlett to opt off the

inside pair to drive her – should have a big chance in her first local try in a long time. (3) BETTERB CHEVRON N

had a useful return mile last week after 4+ months on the shelf – couldn’t blame anybody looking to give her a shot

tonight. (1) IRON MISTRESS hasn’t done much WINNING here the last 3 years (1 for 31), but she’s raced ok at

times and does figure to be able to at least take home a piece of this. (7) GAME OF SHADOWS was handled more

aggressively last week and was an ok 3rd – maybe another minor share for tonight? (4) WHATINEEDISAMAN just

hasn’t clicked in ages – maybe she can find some life against this bunch? (2) DANDYS SHOWTIME is just 1 for 18

locally for a top barn, and struggling right now – sticking with others. (5) UNCONTROLLED hails from a barn

going well right now, but has very little form of her own. (8) LADY NEWTON lands all the way outside after

failing to hit board in all 7 local starts this year.


RACE 10 – (1) LUCKY ARTIST A went an excellent mile from Post 7 last week after dealing with stretch traffic

issues the week before – hard to go past the classy import from this spot. (2) JENDEN STRIKE A returns from the

Maine Fairs and has raced well a few times here in the past – chance to land somewhere on the ticket tonight. (8)

ULTIMATE SPEED does feel like she’s a bit off her best form and Post 8 doesn’t help the matter – she does get a

drop, though, along with a switch to Brennan...probably should be included somewhere on your tickets. (4) PURA

MERI continues to race well and frequently outperform her odds – good one for the bottom of exotics. (6) TALENT

TO SPARE A hasn’t finished well enough in some of her recent tries and was scratched sick from her last – a quick

start does make her a threat to be part of the action. (5) BETTER WATCH IT has the ability but can still be her own

worst enemy at times – faces a difficult trip tonight even if she minds her manners. (3) MISS DOTTIE MAE just

hasn’t been on top of her game for some time – sticking with sharper rivals. (7) WHASSUP HANOVER won her

only local try but that was vs. much easier – tough spot for a 3YO filly facing older mares.


RACE 11 – (5) FOR A DREAMER was trapped in the back with no chance last week and deserves a complete pass

– he drops down to the basement tonight, gets a draw he can work with, and we’ll look for a big effort from him. (3)

BANK BOX TREASURE has been 3rd then 2nd in his 2 starts since shipping back into town and remains a logical

player for exotics. (6) EMPEREURTHEBEST FR is the “x factor” in here – he was 0 for 27 locally before his last

start, was shipping in with dismal form but just exploded to 3/4s and delivered a massive form-reversing win, paying

$117 in the process (one of TWO form-reversing bombs the barn sent out that night) – it’s anybody’s guess as to

whether he’ll replicate that shocking effort tonight, or revert to his lesser tries. (2) EL TORO LOCO arrives from

Canada to a barn that routinely improves fresh stock significantly, but also has some pretty shaky current form –

tough to accept too short a price. (7) CREATIVE VENTURE is another puzzle – he just missed at a big price 2 back,

but was nowhere to be found in his last (off a bad date)– which version will show up tonight? (1) BAZILLIONAIRE

seemed a little more competitive in his last couple – maybe he can grab a small slice? (4) SECRET OR NOT has

done some good here in the past but arrives from PcD showing some pretty “meh” form – leaning elsewhere. (8)

DOUBLE DEALING is likely looking at a conservative steer after getting parked at Monti last week.


RACE 12 – (4) KARLOO BRADLEY N caught a fast mile in his first start back off the layoff but did pace evenly

at the back – he should be ready for a much more serious effort tonight, and he’s definitely used to facing better than

these – we’ll give him the call, though that 9/5 ML price does temper any real enthusiasm. (1) AUSSIE HANOVER

was a “meh” 3rd dropping to this level last week but it was in the same sharp mile that the top one caught – could be

a bigger threat in this seemingly softer spot. (3) PAT STANLEY N has been disappointing for weeks but did race a

bit better off the sit in trip last week – since the barn did pop a couple of form-reversing bombs LAST Friday, it

surely wouldn’t be a shock to see this guy do it as well. (5) POSH ON THE BEACH A is one of the more

camera-shy horses to have raced here but he does make his 2nd start off the barn change so at least there’s that angle

(20-1 ML). (6) NOME HANOVER just hasn’t had any pop lately, and draws poorly once more. (2) HUDSON PHIL

is struggling, and the move inside may not be enough to turn things around. (7) VIVA LAS VEGAS N did beat this

class on 6/8 but that was his only win of the year, and came from a much easier spot. (8) DONT JUDGE A BOOK

would have been listed a bit higher if not for drawing all the way outside.

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