The Empire Report - Thursday, September 7, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (3) HECANDANCENCRUISE has a BIG brush but sometimes has some trouble fully
sustaining it at the higher levels - he's in pretty cheap tonight, and will be hard to beat....either on the lead,
or with one big rush. (2) THE REAL ONE had pace finishing in his last pair, and also lands in a soft spot
for tonight - has the best chance to reel in the top choice should that one falter. (4) ALEX TYE had no
chance from Post 8 last week but has been very consistent lately (and all year, for that matter) - should be
able to grab a good slice here. (1) DESIRES CAPTAIN benefited from a perfect trip at the bottom level
last week and was able to pick up his 2nd win of the season - he faces much tougher now, and is looking at
a much smaller piece. (6) MIND HUNTER started off the year winning 4 in a row - he took some time off
after tiring on 3/4 and really hasn't found his form since returning - leaning towards others, but note that his
barn is 12 for 30 since last Monday! (5) MISTER SPOT A seems a bit overmatched here...keep an eye for a
class drop next week
RACE 2 - Compact FM Open trot shapes up as a 2 horse affair: (4) NO MAS DRAMA is very familiar
with WHAT SHOULD I GOO and hasn't been quite as good as her when they've met up at Yonkers...but
her rival is coming off a major collapse at Pocono last week, and this may be the week she can turn the
tables on her. (5) WHAT SHOULD I GOO is having a terrific year but threw her first clunker in a while at
PcD last start - she may very well bounce right back and wire these easily...but hard to take a very short
price hoping she's 100% tonight. (1) DIAMANTE TRIO IT went a very solid mile for her new barn last
week but facing much easier - may still prove best of the others, though. (3) ABBEY D was an ok 3rd in
her local debut but her gait started to really fall apart on the final turn last week and she folded badly -
another that's hard to gauge for tonight. (2) LADY JETER hasn't won in ages....facing much less than these
RACE 3 - (5) WISTERIA HANOVER hit board in her last 3 and has become a weekly player in this NW2
class - she'll be the better price of the two "main players" in here, so we'll give her the narrow call. (4) BEA
CON BEACH took a narrow loss when 2nd in his local debut then easily handled a soft bunch in his next -
he'll likely be the strong favorite tonight, and is definitely the one to knock off. (2) NEWTOWNS BLACK
GOLD was in a great spot turning for home at PcD last week but made a break as he was looking to rally -
he raced without hopples that night, but puts them back on for tonight - could add some value to the ticket
(1) GOTTA HABIT broke in his local debut on 7/20 but re-qualified and has raced "ok" in PA - draws best,
and can grab a good piece - IF he behaves this time. (3) BAR KEEP DE VIE is just 1 for 22 but has picked
up smaller pieces consistently in PA - we'll see how he gets over the half miler tonight. (6) SQUABLE will
be coming from last, looking to beat the breakers and weak ones
RACE 4 - (2) CHANTEE charged home to just miss to the classy SPLASH BROTHER 2 back, then
lacked room in the lane to stretch his legs last week - he's always handled very conservatively and rarely
makes his own "luck"...but he's used to facing much better and will be very dangerous if close turning for
home. (1) AIR FORCE HANOVER is capable of easily handling a field like this but he's also notoriously
unreliable - IF he's in the right mood tonight he'll be dangerous from this spot...but it's hard to back him at
short prices. (5) CODY HANOVER is a tough call- he hasn't even earned a check in his last 5 starts and
he's squandered a couple of pocket trips along the way...but he did win the last time he was in this cheap,
and his barn remains ever deadly - just don't take too short a price if he's your top choice. (3) GAMBLING
TERROR may leave and grab a close up trip here....and that may help him take home a small piece. (4)
WAR DAN DELIGHT has been ok since the recent claim- chance for a small piece if the trip goes his way.
(6) MAJOR SHOW draws outside for his YR return and that may limit his production for tonight - wait for
a better spot.
RACE 5 - (6) FIVE FISH SPECIES looked good from her very start at Yonkers and is 8-3-4-1 since
arriving from Canada (the one 3rd being vs. NYSS competition last week) - she's a filly facing males from
a tough post, but still merits top billing. (4) KENNEBAGO hasn't improved quite as much as several of the
other horses that got the same barn change that she did (over the last few years), but she's still having a
decent season and does have a post edge over the top pick - she may be able to use that to her advantage.
(5) HARDROCKCAFE broke in his first local try but rebounded with a better effort last week, rallying for
2nd after finally finding his best stride in the lane - eligible to be a player if he builds off that mile. (3) DO
UBLE DIPPIN looked beat at all points two back before miraculously pulling out the victory - he followed
that up with a miscue in his last, and could definitely be vulnerable here too. (1) EL MISSION GODDESS
put in a nice mile off the barn change 2 back but blew up early in her last - a clean mile could help her land
a good piece of this. (2) IM AN ANDOVER does have some ability but he also makes breaks, and his
owner/trainer continues to do the driving - leaning towards others. (7) AVACAKES has raced well several
times but is 0 for 15 on the year and draws poorly - needs a better spot. (8) LIVINGONTHRAIL is the
outsider, both literally and figuratively
RACE 6 - (4) BALENCIAGA only made one local start this year and raced well, cutting the mile before
coming up 2nd best to a sharp (at that time) SWEET SOUL DAVID - he returns to YR off a miscue at PcD
but note that he's recently been stuck facing the likes of ITS ACADEMIC and VENERATE...both of whom
will compete in Saturday's Intl. Trot- not a cinch here, but gets top billing. (3) VINNY DE VIE was driven
poorly last week and left with no chance (tried to quarter move when the pace was still sizzling) - his form
is otherwise very solid, and could make amends tonight with a better trip. (8) BRIDGE TO VICTORY has
been very sharp since arriving here 5 starts back- gets a terrible draw but does get top Australian pilot Chris
Alford at the lines...could easily outperform that 20-1 ML price. (1) STREET GOSSIP has become a solid
weekly player but his only recent win came vs. much easier- good one to include in exotics. (6) RICH AND
MISERABLE shipped in sharp from PcD but was quite dull in his YR return - will need to be a lot sharper
for a chance tonight. (7) SOUTHWIND ARTURO has been very solid for weeks but faces an uphill battle
trying to reach from Post 7. (5) WINDSONG PIONEER does his best on the lead, vs. a bit easier. (2) STA
MPED BY LINDY is racing well upstate, but will face MUCH tougher here at Yonkers
RACE 7 - Tough race! (6) ABRUZZO is up in class (and also draws poorly) but he's hitting on all
cylinders right now, clearly gets along beautifully with Gingras, and should be a decent price in this wide
open affair - good value play in a race that could go several different ways. (3) ROSE RUN EXTRA looked
like a winner entering the stretch in his local debut but couldn't quite finish the job, nipped by #4 at the wire
- he could be tighter tonight, and also gets a better draw - logical threat. (4) PERRON was able to follow #3
last week and the best late kick, surging for the victory - he's already won 7X here this year, and a good trip
could help him get #8. (5) NEWSBOY has been razor sharp and was just reclaimed by our leading trainer
(who is 12 for 30 since last Monday - a 40% clip) - deserves plenty of respect, even stepping up a bit. (2)
HOOLIE N HECTOR cut the mile last week but was overtaken by #3 and #4 to the wire - eligible to pull
off the upset here if the trip goes his way. (1) B NICKING got roughed up hard last week but still held 2nd
after giving way to the easy trip winner - catches a tough field tonight, and may be a notch below a few of
them. (7) VALI HANOVER has been terrific all year, but moves up in class while drawing poorly - needs
things to fall apart up front. (8) NEW HEAVEN has been good, but is unlikely to be able to reach out here
RACE 8 - Another tough race: (1) DAHLQUIST HANOVER was just "ok" in his first 2 local starts, even
though he picked up a win and a 3rd - he was much more alert in his last, and charged right on by up the
inside once clear in the lane - steps up in class tonight, but draws best and may be able to take another, with
a good trip. (5) CREATIVE VENTURE had been racing well without a victory in his first 7 starts of the
year but landed on a golden trip last week, and charged on by to pick up the win - another good trip would
give him a chance to repeat. (2) BAR COINS improved dramatically after joining this barn in July, winning
3 starts and having major excuses in 3 of his losses - last week was his first real "dud", but he drops right
back in the box, and perhaps will come up with a better effort with the familiar Joe Bongiorno back in the
bike. (3) WANIA had been underachieving all year, but did race much better in his last couple - he seems to
race better when used harder, and Brennan has won with him this year - possibility. (6) CANTSTOP YANK
EE seemed to be tailing a bit before being moved to our leading trainer last week - he did put in a good bid,
but really tired once they hit the stretch, fading all the way to last - could be much better the 2nd time
around, but would have to be a good price to be worth a play. (4) VELVET STYLE has been unreliable all
year long - definitely feel more comfortable with others in here.
RACE 9 - (5) SIMON SAYS HANOVER was off 3 weeks to his last start (and he had only one start over 6
weeks) but he went a HUGE mile, overcoming all kinds of adversity to still draw off in dominant fashion -
we almost always defer to the officials on any "judgment calls", but his disqualification (for circumstances
that HE did not create) was really a head scratcher - anyway, we'll stay on board once more after that effort,
even in this tough spot. (3) SOUTHWIND PETYR moved back up to the 3-5YO Open level (after a pair of
$2.10 wins) and came up a nose shy in a heartbreaker - still very eligible to make amends tonight. (6) RJ
SPORTS IMAGE won that nose decision over #3 last time and his work since joining our leading barn has
been extraordinary - lands a tough draw, but has shown the ability to fly off the car and create trips for
himself - not impossible. (4) I DID IT MYWAY banked over $700K as a 3YO, largely on the strength of a
2nd in the Breeders Crown and a 3rd in the Meadowlands Pace - his current from is hard to gauge (he's
been facing stellar competition), and it's also hard to know how "serious" he'll be in his first Yonkers
attempt - could be a little risky at a short price. (7) LUCKBEWITHALEX returns to Yonkers and pairs
back up with Brennan, for whom he's won 3X recently - will need a LOT of luck to reach from out here,
however. (1) BETTERROCK arrives from the midwest where he's been facing some strong stock - he lands
in an ultra-high % barn that tends to improve horses significantly, but still may be in a tough spot having
missed 3 weeks. (2) NUTTIN BUT FINESSE has raced well in the majority of his Yonkers starts but may
just be in a little too steep here. (8) GREG THE LEG already has 9 wins this year (3 just recently!) but will
be hard pressed to get in play tonight.