Friday Empire Report

apatchworkdesign • April 21, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, April 21, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (1) SILENT SPLENDOR was able to use his speed with the class drop last week and went a

good mile for 2nd vs. the solid winner - drops yet another level, draws the pole, and he's the one they'll

have to catch and beat. (2) REAL LUCKY N had fallen way off form for a long time but was starting to

look a little better in his last couple of local tries - had no luck across the river but this should be a spot

where he can be a player - use in exotics. (4) GARDYS LEGACY A qualified back nicely after a month off

(scr. sick) but he wasn't doing much in his 5 starts prior to that - could have a say here, but that absurd 3/2

ML price would make it hard to consider him on top. (3) YER SO BAD hasn't been able to pick up more

than minor pieces all year...and that trend may continue tonight. (5) SWAGASAURUSREX wasn't too bad

in his last couple but he tends to lag a long way and that will probably limit him to just a minor piece here.

(6) EPIC ACE has three starts under his belt after the long layoff but hasn't shown much - tough draw now.


RACE 2 - Five horse field but some VERY sharp mares! (3) MAN DONTFORGET ME was struggling for

a few starts before coming to life at PcD with that wake up call win on 3/26 - built off that mile as she

returned to YR for the last 3 legs of the Matchmaker Series....racing well to pick up a trip of 3rd place

finishes - since she'll still be a fair price here, we'll list her on top...with the recognition that this will be a

very tough race! (1) JIVE DANCING A has been in such hard luck this year that even a back half in :54.2

last week (final quarter in :26.4!) was only enough to pick up 3rd - perhaps the rail draw will help her land

on a winning trip? (2) PURE SILKY is now 9-4-2-3 here on the year with 3 wins, and 2nd and 3rd from her

last 5 starts - a major threat any time she's in to go! (5) VIOLETS RAINBOW came up 2nd best two back

but brought her full "A Game" last week, establishing a new 1:51.1 lifetime mark with her dead game first

over victory - don't count her out! (4) ROCKN PHILLY worked out a perfect trip last week but tired from

the final turn - she can be a little inconsistent at times, and that's the main reason she's listed on the bottom.


RACE 3 - (6) EUPHORIA N faced MUCH tougher in his two starts here back in February - he's been

racing well every week at the top levels in Freehold and will be getting a big driver switch for his return to

YR - tough post, but still worth a play. (1) DARLINGS DRAGON was short here on 4/6 (off 5 months) but

certainly showed up ready for his next at Chester, used early then able to rally late for the win - a similar

effort would make him a real threat from this spot. (4) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK doesn't have the best

local history but he debuts tonight for a new barn (owned by a pair of trainers), and we may see some quick

improvement - playable in exotics. (2) BETTER B SWIFT also makes his first start for a new crew, draws

well and has license to be right in the mix from this spot. (5) ENVIRONS HANOVER is a tough call - he

won impressively off the layoff at Fhd. 3 back, but was a dull 4th here (as the favorite) the next week - was

going a good one last week and looking 2nd best...but then started unraveling into the lane before making a

break - hard to know what we'll get from him here. (3) MAXIMUS RED A couldn't finish the job on the

lead 2 and 3 back, then raced ok for 4th from off the pace last week - willing to use underneath. (7) B LIKE

CRUISER landed on a good trip in a soft field and picked up the win last start - faces tougher here, lands

outside, and that has us looking elsewhere.


RACE 4 - (4) FOLLOW YOUR HEART may be worth a stab here - not sure why Siegelman had him

moving so early last week but he put in a BIG bid and battled a very long way with the odds-on winner

before finally (and understandably) tiring to the final turn - catches a pretty blank field here, and the price

will be right. (2) TOATSMYGOATS hasn't been able to replicate that easy front end win on 3/24 (off the

claim) but any of his three subsequent 3rd place finishes would still make him a real threat here. (3) GOTA

FOOLISHDESIRE showed big improvement 2 back off the barn change, but wasn't as sharp last week -

drops to 15s, and is worth a look tonight (as long as the price is decent). (1) ROCK N TONY was racing ok

in 20s when he went on the shelf in late Jan. - qualified back ok, drops to 15s and draws the pole - would be

no surprise at all. (6) THISISHOWWEDOIT took some $$ last week and while no match for the stickout

winner, did manage to hold on for 2nd - tough draw now, but consider for exotics if the price is right. (7)

HEARTLANDBANYSBRO joins a strong local barn but exits one of the highest % outfits around - he was

scratched from his local debut, and draws Post 7 tonight...inclined to pass, but will at least check the tote

board. (5) AWESOMENESS seems to just go through the motions most weeks - hard to get excited about

his chances. (8) CASHNCAM would need things to really fall apart to have any impact from out here.


RACE 5 - Very tough race: (7) JK LUCKY CHARMS was used very hard to make the lead last week, kept

rolling, and came very close to pulling off a 35-1 shocker - he's actually been pretty good lately (all at big

prices) and may be a beneficiary tonight of a hotly contested pace in front of him - if his price is still big, he

may be worth a shot. (5) MINGO JOEL was claimed last week after another victory (just beat #7!) and will

try to keep the ball rolling for a new small, high % barn - he deserves plenty of respect, but also figures to

be overbet in a very competitive field. (3) STATEMENT MADE A took a while to find his stride last week

but was coming well late to be right there 2nd - another that could land on a nice trip here. (2) MARTY

MONKHOUSER A was hurt by a shuffle last week and could pick up 4th after coming clear - the 14YO

has already won 5X this year, and should never be taken lightly. (6) MINK STREET took 3 weeks off and

will look to see if the drop from 50s to 20s can help him carry his speed a lot farther - definitely leaning to

others, but he would hardly be a shock. (4) SHOREVIEW is camera shy for sure but he probably shouldn't

be listed at 20-1 ML - chance for a piece. (1) PICARD A should appreciate moving from Post 8 to the rail

but he just hasn't been on his game lately - should be able to stick around better than last week, but others in

here do seem sharper right now (8) BARRYWHITE HANOVER could really use a better post & class drop.


RACE 6 - (6) GENERAL MONTANA N beat a NW4 field here last year and had no chance in his other

local try, pacing home in :54.4 from the back against much better- he returns off a blowout score in PA and

the barn is once again looking like the Dynamic Duo of old - gets top billing. (1) ROCKIN JUKEBOX had

a tough time with the first over trip last week but should get an easier trip tonight - good chance to land

somewhere on the ticket. (2) IMSTAYNALIVE finished well 2 back and kicked home with very good

energy last week - another logical player for exotics. (5) LONG WEEKEND A started to tail considerably

since 3/6 but he gets a total pass for last week, and gets another chance at the bottom level tonight - look for

a better effort, and maybe even a decent piece. (4) ALTA BLUES A has had more downs than ups since

arriving in the U.S. but he did beat a NW7500 field here at YR, and qualified nicely here last week - would

consider including at a decent price, but that 2-1 ML listing makes that seem unlikely. (3) ROCK LIGHTS

is still trying to find some form in 2023. (7) LYONS PRIDE seems overmatched AND draws Post 7.


RACE 7 - (2) MACINTOSH N (yet another 14YO still thriving at Yonkers) continues to thrive at this

$25K level - he gets another good draw, and we'll stay on board on more time (though there won't be much

of a price). (5) DESIRES CAPTAIN has come around lately and will make his first start for new

connections tonight - a live trip should put him right there at the end, but he'll probably attract plenty of $$

off the barn change. (1) CONBOYVILLE has put together a trio of solid tries and will get to use his speed

from the pole tonight - drops in for a tag, and should fit nicely. (3) DARK ENERGY N has mostly solid

tries lately, but MAY be a little cheaper at the moment - the good draw certainly helps, and he's definitely

playable in exotics. (4) DENMARK SEELSTER moved to our leading trainer on 3/3, went from 86-1 to

6/5 and scored by 6 (in NJ) right off the bat - picked up a pair of 2nds after that, but he's been just "ok" in 2

starts back at YR - probably looking at only a smaller piece tonight. (6) GOTHIC ROCK came up with that

big mile 5 starts back but most of his others tries have been lacking - if you're looking for one of his form

reversals tonight, the price will certainly be right. (7) SULLIVAN hasn't really clicked since the recent

claim and tonight's draw isn't going to help.


RACE 8 - (2) EASY TO PLEASE is obviously not having the season (so far) that her connections were

expecting, but her last start was definitely promising (she finished MUCH more alertly than she has been

this year) - the timing for her drop from the Matchmaker is perfect, and maybe this is the spot where she

can start to turn things around? (1) MILIEU HANOVER lands in a good spot after almost upsetting the big

dropdown winner last week - looking at a good trip, and probably a very good piece. (5) ROCKNROLL

ANNIE's fate was sealed when she took back to 7th last week - if she can leave the gate tonight, it would

put her in position to grab a nice chunk. (6) DARBY HANOVER draws all the way outside again but at

least this is a 6 horse field - she's better than some of these, and may be able to overcome the draw and rally

for a piece. (4) BELLADONNA GIRL A regressed in her 2nd start off the layoff and that could be a bad

sign - not giving up on her by any means, but sticking with others for tonight. (3) WESTBEACH feels like

she could use some class relief (and a win does drop off the bottom of her card after tonight).


RACE 9 - (5) BELTANE A should be feeling pretty good about himself after a pair of blowout victories -

he steps up a notch but certainly meets no killers in here...definitely a chance for the "threepeat". (3) HEEZ

OURPERSEUS N has only been able to grab smaller pieces at the NW15000 level so tonight's drop could

help - good week to include him in exotics. (4) SO MANY ROADS rallied well for 2nd behind the top

choice last week and that made it 3 straight on the board - no reason he can't show up late for another good

slice tonight. (6) ESCAPETOTHBEACH was a very game two move winner one level down last week - he

can handle the class hike, but drawing outside a couple of main foes could hurt a bit - seems more likely to

take home a smaller share, than a bigger one (1) SILAS SEELSTER was no threat in a pair of Pocono starts

off the layoff but he could be tighter now, and does draw best - still prefer others, but could see him racing

a bit better tonight. (2) MACS MARVEL won a start here last year but has had some gait issues in his other

Yonkers tries - he's clearly sharp enough to do some damage, but he just seems a bit risky at a short price.

(7) THE DOWNTOWN BUS steps up in class after failing to get involved (from a similar) spot vs. cheaper

last week - not sure he'll be able to get into the hunt tonight, either.


RACE 10 - (2) MISS DOTTIE MAE was heavily backed vs. some tough foes last week and gave it a big

try, cutting the mile and just getting beat in 1:51.1 - she just seems to keep improving all through the year,

and we'll give her a chance to find a way to come out on top here. (5) UPTOWN HANOVER made an

unexpected miscue 3 back then had no chance from Post 7 in her next - her last was better than it looks,

however, and this is a field well within her comfort zone - could be a big player tonight. (3) TECHYS ANG

EL A added Lasix last week and came up with a tough first over victory (and the mare she beat came back

to win on Thurs. night) - she has the back class to handle this step up, and be a threat tonight. (1) CASH

ROLL has disappointed more often at Yonkers than she's delivered - definitely a chance for a piece from

this spot, though. (6) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL has shown that she can hang with these when a decent trip

comes her way, but she's been stuck in some bad spots lately and may face that same dilemma tonight. (4)

GINGER TREE LIZ woke up with a big win over cheaper 2 back but failed to fire last week - leaning

towards others. (7) BABS JANSEN is a very steady mare but faces an uphill battle from Post 7.

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