The Empire Report - Thursday, July 13, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (6) OH BOY landed on perfect trips the last 2 weeks and knew just what to do with them - he
fits this group perfectly, and debuts tonight for one of the highest % barns in the nation - chance to make it
3 in a row, even starting from the outside. (5) ALL CHAMPY doesn't have great gate speed, but he can
leave well enough to grab a good spot in here - he's as solid as ever, and is definitely one to use on your
tickets. (1) MAX landed on a tough trip arriving from Ohio and had to settle for a non-threatening 4th- he's
eligible for a much better trip tonight, but that 9/5 ML price does make him less attractive as a win
candidate. (2) DRACO S is winless in 5 U.S. starts but has hit board every time, even as he continues to
climb the class ladder - not ready to use him on top, but he's certainly playable in exotics. (4) FASHION
FOREVER is overmatched against these, but always eligible to just tow along for a small check. (3)
MANATLAS ships in from Delaware showing less than stellar form - prefer to just watch, for now.
RACE 2 - NYSS - short, but solid field! (5) I WAS TRICKED was scratched the only time he was entered
at 2, then resurfaced as a 3YO at PcD - developed rapidly and won his Weiss Final in 1:50.4 - took a few
weeks off and has impressed so far in his 2 NYSS outings, coming up 2nd best to the talented HUNTINTH
ELASTDOLAR both times - maybe he can come out on top in this solid field. (4) DUVAL STREET was a
winner here at 2, and comes into this with 3 wins in his last 4 starts (including a NYSS at Stga.) - very live
player. (1) PACING HANOVER came up 2nd best to ITS A ME MARIO in his only NYSS try, and clearly
has plenty of ability - he's never tried the half, however, so be careful about taking a short price (if he's your
choice). (2) TASTE OF HONEY picked up a pair of NYSS 3rds recently and prepped for tonight with a
nice local (NW7) victory - would be no surprise at all. (3) STORM THE COURT steps up off a pair of wins
vs. easier, and will have to prove that he can be as successful with these better ones
RACE 3 - Excelsior A - (1) GRETZKY THE GREAT was 2 for 2 at 2 but took a while to get rolling at 3 -
his last couple suggest he's finally hitting his stride, and he should be a fair price tonight even with the rail
draw - one of several with a legitimate chance in here. (5) BOSTON BOUND had a strong 9-2-5-1 2YO
season that included a 2nd in the Excelsior A Final - he's doing the same fine work so far at 3, and comes
into tonight riding a 3 race winning streak - obvious threat. (4) UPALLNIGHTBLUECHIP got lost at the
back in the Saratoga Slop last week but was a 1:51.2 winner the last time Stratton was on board - hard to
not give him a look at that 8-1 ML price. (3) TACK ROOM CHATTER also seemed to be hurt by the off
going at Stga., but has otherwise been putting together a good season - would be no surprise at all. (7) TO
THE HUNT won the Excelsior A Final last year and is racing pretty well to start off 2023 - lands a tough
spot for tonight, however. (2) TOMMY MANICOTTI seems a bit below the main players in here - minor
share only. (6) FATEFUL DUEL is probably overmatched against this field
RACE 4 - NYSS - (1) THUNDER HUNTER JOE showed plenty of potential at 2, finishing 2nd in a trio of
NYSS events - he's started off his 3YO campaign winning 3 of 4 starts, but the most impressive race was
probably the one he lost (3rd in the Messenger, despite getting VERY hot/erratic to the half, yet still being
able to settle down, and finish strong for 3rd) - deserves the edge starting from the pole. (2) GOLDIN GRE
ATNESS ended his 2YO campaign strong, and has been doing good things since returning at 3- draws well,
and looms a very serious threat. (6) BLUE HUNT was 1st/2nd in half of his 12 starts at 2, including a 2nd
in the Kindergarten Final to end his season - he's still looking for his first win at 3, but he's been 2nd 3X
and has some very legitimate excuses - the only knock here is the draw. (3) CAVIART SCOTLAND has
shown some signs of ability, but is just 9-1-1-0....may be a notch below the top trio. Both (5) THE GOOD
DOCTOR and (4) LIVONJAXANDQUEENS seem ambitiously placed vs. NYSS foes
RACE 5 - Tough race with a field that's 0 for 100 combined, and with a couple of the more logical players
racing off bad dates! (3) MILLIONDOLLARRIDE has ability but was disappointing in his only YR start -
he was scratched sick after that, so perhaps he wasn't 100% that night - he's off a bad date here, but worth a
look IF the price is decent. (5) POP POPS TOMMY is 7-0-0-0 to start his career and tough to take as the
ML favorite - that being said, he's hung in ok with better, generally stays trotting, and did race ok here once
before. (4) HL BALLERINA is hard to like OR dislike off her limited starts....but she gets a major switch
to Stratton, and that may help her show her best here. (6) FLARES ZIVA just missed at PcD 2 back as the
1/2 favorite, then was an ok 4th vs. better in her last - she adds Lasix for tonight, but she's also been away
for 25 days and draws poorly - consider if the price is good enough. (1) CHEF ROCCO was 2nd in a minor
Goshen stake last week and has hit board 8X to start his career...he's also winless in 20 starts, and hard to
use on top at a short price. (8) FIVE FISH SPECIES was a very encouraging 2nd in her local debut, but
then just an ok 2nd in her last - was then scratched sick, and now has Post 8 off a month - tough spot! (2)
TO MY CREDIT draws well, but showed little in his only YR start. (7) BANGIN IN THE HALL is 0 for
34, and lands Post 7 - hard to make a case tonight, even with Bartlett.
RACE 6 - Excelsior A - (6) EL VERNO's efforts this year have been all over the map but there have
certainly been some good ones - he debuts tonight for a barn that frequently will get instant (major)
improvement from fresh stock, so that 8-1 ML price seems like a tempting proposition. (1) JOHNNY
SACK is a strong 6-3-2-0 this year with the only dud coming here at Yonkers on 5/23 - his form is rock
solid, he draws best, but note that he did lose to the top choice at Stga. two back. (3) HUMAN COCKTAIL
really disappointed here as the 3/5 choice 5 starts down but then did make amends when he jogged the next
week- he has some mixed starts since then, but clearly is capable of big efforts- legitimate threat, but seems
a little risky for the 9/5 ML listing. (2) TWIN B KINGSTON has shown marked improvement in his last
couple, draws well and gets a big driver upgrade for tonight - not a bad one to include in exotics. (4) YOUR
BROTHER is another that's prone to clunkers, but also capable of some solid miles - consider for a small
piece. (7) UNSETTLED BUSINESS seemed to be rounding into form before a sick scratch in last - tough
spot tonight. (5) HOT SHOT JOE seems to have fallen off form - sticking with others this week
RACE 7 - (1) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR was 2nd as the favorite in last year's NYSS Final then finished
up the year getting a check in the Metro Final, and qualifying for the Breeder's Crown Final with a sharp
2nd in his elimination - he's 2 for 2 in NYSS competition this year, and has to be seen as the one to knock
off tonight. (3) AMERICAN FLING won half of his 10 starts as a 2YO, including the NYSS Final - he's
come back solid at 3 as well, though he may not quite be at peak form just yet - nevertheless, he's the main
danger (especially adding Lasix tonight). (5) HURRIKANE HUNTER appreciated the drop to Excelsior A
competition last week, scoring a sharp win at Goshen - he probably needs to improve to threaten the top
pair, however. (4) PEPPERMINT MAN hasn't gotten into a good groove yet at 3, and has already made a
couple of miscues this year - prefer others right now. (2) TRAIN STATION has just 1 career win and it was
in a NW1 at Pocono - he's been limited to minor pieces when facing better ones
RACE 8 - (2) PLEASELETMEKNOW banked $429K at 3 and while finding things a little tougher at 4, he
still throws some big miles - he's won his last 2 starts in this class, one from off the pace and last week's
front end jogburger - has a big post edge on his main foe tonight. (8) HELLABALOU pulled off a shocker
in the Borgata Final not too long ago and is still racing very well, dropping down to this age-restricted after
picking up a win, 2nd, and a 3rd from his last 3 starts at the "real" Open - big threat, even from Post 8. (1)
CERTIFIABLE sat pocketed to the top choice last week and was able to preserve 2nd - looking at another
close up trip tonight...and possibly another good piece. (3) SOUTHWIND PETYR has elevated his game
dramatically since teaming up with the Super Siblings but has been buried by horrible posts in 3 of his last
4 starts (overcame Post 7 in the other) - moves inside, and a much bigger effort is expected. (4) KOMODO
BEACH is just 1 for 11 this season and that victory came right here at Yonkers, on the lead vs. easier -
seems a bit below the top ones right now. (5) SIMON SAYS HANOVER missed ALL of 2022 and was
basically non-functional in Canada for his first 5 starts of '23....but after arriving locally at his new (miracle
working) barn, he's won all five starts, mostly in dominant fashion - huge step up in class tonight, so we'll
see how he handles it. (6) GREG THE LEG was terrific in his first 2 tries off the barn change but was no
threat in his last pair - tough spot to look for him to rebound. (7) NUTTIN BUT FINESSE is a solid horse,
but up against it from this spot
RACE 9 - (5) GAELIHILL had some mixed results when here in the Spring but definitely showed real
ability - lands in one of our sharpest barns as he returns from Delaware, and figures to be the best price of
the main contenders...making him worth using. (4) VALI HANOVER hit board in 8 of his last 9 starts (3
wins), and just never looked right in the other (when he made a break, 2 back) - has to be respected any
time he goes behind the gate these days. (3) PERRON dropped in for a tag last week and delivered a sharp
front end score - he'll likely have to race from behind tonight, but he's comfortable with that too - live
player, once again. (1) CRESCENT BEAUTY is one of several horses to recently make huge improvement
immediately upon joining this trainer/driver tandem - couldn't quite last on the lead in her last 2 starts, but
that doesn't mean she won't take them coast to coast tonight. (2) HATIKVAH is one of the only horses to
join this barn and NOT immediately improve - he hasn't been "bad", but he'll need to be a bit better to
contend for a top prize tonight. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK broke before the start last week, seeming to
spook from another breaker and then jump himself - he'll be a nice price, so consider underneath in exotics
RACE 10 - (3) HL REVADON was hitting on all cylinders for a while and wisely took some time off when
he finally started to tail a bit - he appears to have come back very strong, winning both his qualifier and
then his last start at Chester...we'll give him the narrow edge over a very sharp foe, since he's a legit Open
winner on his best game. (4) WHAT SHOULD I GOO took a while to find her top form this year but she's
hitting on all cylinders right now, coming into tonight off 2 blowouts and a 2nd to the talented OUTSIDE
THE FIRE - the main danger! (2) VINNY DE VIE was caught too far back to have any chance last week
but kept trying and did finish ok - can grab a small piece here. (5) NO MAS DRAMA goes with Marohn
tonight (Bongiorno drives his own #4) but the pair have enjoyed success in the past - may be able to pass a
couple late for a piece of this. (1) SWISS HOUSE ON FIRE is pretty good right now, but the big class
jump really figures to slow him down considerably.
RACE 11 - (5) MIDWIND SUCCESS did very well on the NYSS circuit as a 2YO, even grabbing a piece
in the Final...she hasn't been as good at 3 (so far), opting to compete in the easier Excelsior A races instead
- this NW2 field should be very much in her comfort zone, and she should have a good chance here. (7)
CANDY BOMBER has more ability than most/all of these, but also makes breaks and draws all the way
outside - playable, but make sure the price is fair! (3) IM AN ANDOVER has a pair of local starts and
picked up a win and a 2nd - he draws inside his main foes, and can definitely be a player. (2) WISTERIA
HANOVER picked up a win at Pocono 3 back and smaller pieces in her last pair - draws inside, and may be
able to land somewhere in the exotics. (4) WARRAWEE YIMA was an all out winner in his YR debut
(5/18) and hasn't really impressed since then - not writing him off just yet, but leaning towards others right
now. (1) CUTIECUMBER seems a notch below, but stays trotting and draws best...giving her at least a shot
at a small share. (6) FOX HOLE hasn't been a serious player in any recent starts out of town
RACE 12 - (3) B NICKING was forced to re-qualify after a couple of recent miscues - he added hopples,
won that day then behaved (and raced well) in a pair of Chester starts after that - we'll give him a vote of
confidence that he can continue to behave back here at Yonkers...and beat this crew. (5) PINEWOOD HAN
OVER was well backed last week moving to our leading trainer but was blown away on the final turn by a
fire-breathing WHAT SHOULD I GOO and tired to 4th - could be sharper tonight. (6) SOUTHWIND ART
URO was caught too far back last week and had no prayer- he's a having a good season, will be a nice price
here, and may be worth including in exotics. (1) P L OSCAR has just one start in 6 weeks but at least he
wasn't bad that night- hard to know what we'll get from him under the circumstances. (8) SPICY NUGGET
did well to hang on for 2nd after HAYEK drew off last week - brutal post, but it's not like Gingras to ever
just take back to last and trail - willing top include for a small piece. (4) WHATS THE WORD woke up
with a couple of good ones recently upstate but it's hard to know how that'll translate against these. (2)
WINDSONG PIONEER just folded in the stretch last week after a two hole trip - he was racing off a sick
scratch, so there's always a chance he can be better tonight. (7) BIZET figures to have a hard time getting in
play from this spot.