The Empire Report – Thursday, July 25, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (3) STEUBEN HANOVER has several wins here this year but it’s been a while since he last got his
picture taken – he’s probably not as sharp as he was, but he also has some valid excuses as well – assuming he’s a
fair price tonight, this might be a spot where he can be a serious contender for the top slot. (5) ROGER RABBIT
made an uncharacteristic miscue last week but has otherwise been very good since recently arriving at Yonkers – a
clean mile puts him right back in the hunt, at a decent price. (6) SKYWAY PROFESSOR picked up a 2
nd and a 3rd in his last 2 tries at this level and is listed at 20-1 ML – certainly a chance to outperform those odds! (4) P C FREE
WHEELING picked up a 2 nd dropping down to this level last week but still doesn’t feel like she’s on her best game
right now – would need a good price to try her on top here. (1) MISSION VOYAGE arrives sharp from PcD for
connections that have done super here this meet with P L NOTSONICE – he’s been facing cheaper, however, and
will need to prove that he can hang with these too. (8) ENOLA returns to Yonkers and returns to the leading barn in
the nation – she was just “ok” when she raced here last in 2023/early 2024 and lands a brutal spot for her return –
hard to get excited about a wager at that 7/2 ML price. (7) INFINITY STONE beat these last week and has gone
some big miles here (at times) in the past – may have trouble starting from out here, though. (2) FIGHT SONG was
very dull off the scratch last week – sticking with others, for now
RACE 2 – NYSS 2YO C&G Trot: (3) CIVILIAN DRONE lost the pocket at Stga. and that resulted in a much
tougher first over trip, leaving him a bit behind GANGSTA TALK at the wire – he had a much smoother trip at VD
last start (going back to Gingras), and was able to easily prevail...we’ll give him the nod tonight. (2) GANGSTA
TALK won his career debut at Stga. despite being used hard early to make the lead – came up 2nd best to #3 at
Vernon, and seems the main danger once again. (1) VARIEGATED was 4th in his Stga. start but right with the top
ones at the wire – he followed that up with a solid 3rd at VD, and should be close from start to finish tonight. (5)
MOONSHOT S was caught in the back at Stga. (no chance) but a much better 3rd in his last at VD – drawing outside
his main foes won’t help tonight, however. (4) KARINCHAK may be a notch below right now
RACE 3 – Excelsior A, 2YO C&G: (3) BJMS LIL MAN dropped down to this Excelsior A level on 7/4, was sent
off at 1/10 and crushed the field by 10 lengths – he dropped in to a NYSS race at Buffalo (a bit misleading since
there was just one division that day, and filled with mostly Excelsior A types) and he won there too (at 1/5) – clearly
the one to knock off tonight. (1A) LOGO broke in his first (NYSS) start – dropped down and came up 2
nd best at VD, then was a winner last start at Batavia – one of several in here that could complete the exacta. (4) DOCTOR
STRANGE has a win, 2 nd and 3rd to start off his career for a barn that always has some solid NY performers –
chance for good piece again tonight. (5) CHEQUES IN LIMBO already has a pair of wins to go along with a 3 rd
place finish – clearly fits, but also starts from the outside post. (1) MATTERSMAN doesn’t seem as appealing as
(1A) LOGO but it can never hurt to have an “extra horse” on your team. (2) DOCTER P made breaks in both starts
so far – clearly risky at the moment
RACE 4 - Excelsior A, 2YO C&G: (5) LOW INSIDE won his first 2 Excelsior A races then was 2nd in that “pseudo
NYSS” race at Buffalo behind BJMS LIL MAN– clearly the one to knock off in here. (4) NUTTIN BUT G THANG
has a 2nd and a 3rd in his 2 starts at this level, gets Brennan tonight and could land a good chunk. (3)
MAGIC BRILLIANCE was a distant 2nd behind BJMS LIL MAN at VD, then an even 4th at Buffalo last week – another logical
player for a piece. (6) MANE MAN CHARLIE started his career with a 3rd at Stga., won at VD but made a break
last week at Buffalo – gets Dunn tonight, but also has to contend with a tough draw – some trip luck would help. (2)
CHAPAMANDO was 2nd last week and seems to be improving – would be no surprise to see him grab a good piece.
(1) TRAILER TRASH gets listed on the bottom here but still could grab a piece with the right trip
RACE 5 – Good race: (5) GENTLE GIANT has some back class and was the easiest of winners (at a BIG price)
three back – he gets a major barn and driver change for tonight, and should offer some decent value in this well
matched field. (1) THAT DOG WILL HUNT was taken off the gate for the first time in ages last week and did kick
home willingly from an impossible spot – he’s a little light on wins this year but almost always right in the mix –
very logical player from this spot. Both (3) HUNT FOR CASH and (4) TO THE HUNT are shipping in from out of
town showing good recent form – it’s hard to gauge just how well either will fit in this class, but the guess is that
both will do just fine – it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either of them right in the hunt. (2) BEGGIN FOR BACON
picked up a win two back, bringing his lifetime record to 2 for 30 – drops in for a tag, and will probably be looking
at minor spoils only. (6) SOUTH POINT was claimed from both local starts but wasn’t all that sharp in either – we’ll
see if he has any better look with another new trainer, but we’re leaning towards others, for now. (8) VANDALISM
used a dream trip to pull off the big upset last week, but seems unlikely to be nearly as opportunistic starting from
Post 8. (7) DEMPSEY HANOVER just has way more bad outings than good ones...and is 0 for 10 at Yonkers
RACE 6 – NAADA Amateur Summer Series: (5) MR CONTESTANT has 4 wins this year including one three
starts back, here at Yonkers with Sheridan on board – he gets top billing, but the 24 days off suggests using some
caution. (6) CALL ME THEFIREMAN won 10 races last year and already has 5 victories in 2024 – he can leave the
gate, and that 20-1 ML price makes him worth a look, even from Post 6 (3) MUFASA AS is certainly used to facing
better and he did win an amateur race at Monti with Faraldo on board – very logical threat, but he still hasn’t been
1st or 2 d at Yonkers this year (22 starts) and is listed as the 9/5 ML favorite– better value elsewhere? (4) KASHAS
BOY does grab pieces but he’s 0 for 11 at YR and just 2 for 41 overall over the past 2 years – ok underneath. (1)
BROWNIE has speed and the rail but he’s winless in 15 local starts (last 3 years) and 0 for 23 overall this year –
tough one to consider on top. (7) PILSNER FROSTY has a pair of recent 3rds but tonight’s draw will make it tough
for him to do as well. (8) QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP has some ok recent lines but he’s 0 for 19 locally (last 2 seasons)
and 0 for 17 overall this year – hard to consider at a short price from Post 8. (2) LA MAGIC has been well back in
his last 3 starts
RACE 7 – (5) CANTKEEPMIASECRET has taken her last pair as the odds-on choice, and now has 5 wins and a
pair of seconds in her 8 starts since joining this barn – she’s not a “cinch” here, but she has to be seen as the one to
knock off! (2) TOP ME OFF is another in here on a roll, winning 3 of his last 4 starts (arguably vs. better than these)
– he’s not always all that consistent, but he’s clearly in a good groove right now – the main danger as he drops in for
a tag. (7) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO made an uncharacteristic early miscue last week but he’s another sharp player
in here, with 4 wins from his last 7 starts – he has the speed to blast even from out here, and that 12-1 ML price does
give him some appeal. (3) MORNING EDITION ships in from Hoosier and has lines that suggest he’ll fit right in
with these – the 3 weeks off could hurt, however. (1) BRAVE BY DESIGN has a recent win and a 2nd but facing a
bit easier – may be limited to a smaller piece here, even with the ood draw. (8) THE AMERICAN EAGLE has had
some success here in the past but his best recent races out of town were vs. easier – tough draw for his YR return.
(6) DRACO S has some close recent tries but vs. easier – tough post tonight, and he’s also pretty camera shy. (4)
SHEE NA SOLDIER goes for a new barn...but could probably use some class relief.
RACE 8 – (6) ONCE IN A LIFETIME was a big earner at 2, a big earner at 3, and is off to an excellent start (so far)
at 4 – he finished with good trot to be a close 3rd in his Hilltop debut, and we’ll give him the edge tonight, despite the
harsh post assignment. (1) KHAOSAN ROAD (like the top choice) in a 4YO, and coming off a terrific 3YO
campaign (that ended with a pair of minor stake wins, and a near miss in the Matron) – he struggled a bit (in the
Graduate Series) to start off his 4YO campaign, but did win at The Swamp last week with some class relief – steps
up in his local debut, but he draws the rail and this isn’t a particularly strong Invitational – could be a real threat. (5)
WARRAWEE YANG is 4 for 4 at Yonkers, winning 3 legs of the Brennan Trotting Series and then the Final – gets a
VERY tough post assignment (considering the big class jump AND layoff), but still could make some noise here. (3)
MISSISSIPPI STORM has lost a step for sure, but he did show extreme gameness coming back to win his last (vs.
cheaper), after appearing to stall out on the final turn – ok for exotics. (2) TACHYON may not be 100% right now as
he broke 2 back, then tired badly last week. (4) STORMY KROMER figures to need a start or two after being away
since October (he HAS won a zillion races at Yonkers, however)
RACE 9 - NAADA Amateur Summer Series: (3) RACEACE came up 2nd best the last 3 starts to the “double headed
Adamczyk monsters” (EXPLOSIVE RIDGE, and STICK WITH ME KID) – ducks both of those razor sharp foes
tonight, and that stamps him as the one to beat! (1) BACARDI is just 1 for 22 this year (0 for 5 at Yonkers) but he
has several good recent tries across the river, speed, and a capable pilot – may prove the main danger. (2) PSALMSF
ORTYSIXFIVE has done better since adding hopples, picking up a 2nd & a 3rd – use in exotics. (4) DROP THE MIC
has been inconsistent, but does have a recent win and second – could have a say if he brings his best tonight. (5) BE
ACON BEACH was ultra well meant when he picked up his only win of the season 4 back – he seems to have
leveled off, and is another that will need to bring his “A Game” to be a serious threat here. (6) SHOEMAKER HAN
OVER can throw a good one at times but he draws poorly tonight off a sick scratch – sticking with others. (7) SNO
WMAN HANOVER trailed all the way from a similar spot last week.
RACE 10 – (6) TIPSY MONI already has 10 wins this year and has been virtually unbeatable in this class, even
with the outside draws – she’ll get beat again one of these weeks, but it’s hard to make a case that it’ll be tonight. (4)
P L NOTSONICE definitely got lucky last week when QUEEN OF ALL drifted over and let her out on the final
turn, but that doesn’t take away from the powerful kick she delivered to win after getting the room she needed – she
never goes a bad mile, and will be ready to pick up the pieces should the top one falter. (3) DIAMANTE TRIO IT
just continued to improve all year, and has become a solid weekly player in this FM Open Trot – she can get her
usual quick start and be around for another good piece. (5) JULIA SISU S has shown legitimate ability in her five
U.S. starts but took a week off after a miscue in her last, and MAY be handled a bit conservatively tonight. (1)
PARISO could probably use a drop but at least she continues to pick up good checks in this (very) lucrative $39K
class. (2) QUEEN OF ALL hasn’t found her best form since returning from a couple of sick scratches
RACE 11 – (4) BLACK MAGIC was a strong performer at 2 and 3 – he started off his 4YO campaign with a pair of
wins before taking on much tougher in the Graduate Series (but still racing ok) – he made his Yonkers debut last
week a winning one, and looked very impressive with that effortless score – faces tougher now, but we’ll stay on
board. (6) UP YOUR DEO was even more successful at 2 and 3 (banked $764k), and that includes winning the
Yonkers Trot here last year – he hasn’t quite found his best 4YO form yet (he’s also been facing tougher in NJ) but
this feels like a spot where he can perk up in a big way – major danger. (1) CRAZYLAND really looked like a
winner turning for home last week, but was nailed late by the classy MISSISSIPPI STORM – he’s currently 7-4-2-1
on the season, and can still have a big say here...even losing Bartlett for tonight. (3) STORMONT DIVIDE has a
very spotty work schedule (and has missed 3 weeks since his last) but he always seems to show up ready – one to
include underneath. (5) HAND DOVER DAN used to struggle here but he’s really matured and become a solid local
player – another that could land a piece, with the right trip. (2) BEERTHIRTY K picked up a 2nd at this level two
back but does seem more comfortable with a bit easier – a close up trip may help him take home a piece. (7) DONA
TO PATRIOT K added Lasix at PcD on 6/24 then rattled off 3 straight wins – was an even 5th in the “winners over”
last week at Chester, but he may have trouble reaching in his YR return. (8) OPTRIX had some good starts here and
returns from PcD off a lifetime best 1:52.3 victory – he’s another that just may be too far back, however.
RACE 12 – (5) BAD BOY TOO disappointed as the prohibitive choice in his local debut but rebounded with back
to back easy wins in his last pair – goes for a new barn tonight but will still be the heavy choice to make it 3 in a
row. (2) THE SERPENT wasn’t terrible in his Yonkers debut and he gets significant post relief tonight – maybe he
can add some value to the exotics? (6) CHIEF CORLEONE has been 2nd in his last 3 starts, the last pair behind the
top choice – it’s possible he can complete the exacta once more, but it may be tougher tonight (because of the draw).
(4) AIRY SHADOW feels like he’s just gone off form but this IS a spot where he may be able to use his gate speed
– maybe can sneak somewhere onto the ticket? (3) EURO STEP was our choice when he won 3 back at 15-1 but
he’s been no factor in 2 starts since then – needs to find that better effort. (1) CENTURY IGLESIAS has been
struggling and also made a break last week – not sure the rail draw is enough to help right now. (8) WESTERN
NOB was ok in his local debut 2 back but came up empty last week, and now lands Post 8. (7) FOUT has shown
little in his 5 local starts – now Post 7.