Friday Empire Report

soaofny • May 26, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, May 26, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) HEARTLANDBANYSBRO was "sneaky good" from an impossible spot 3 back - he built

off that with a powerful win in his next then raced very well again last week, though having to settle for 3rd

after a very tough trip - an easier journey may get him back to the winner's circle tonight. (2) PICARD A is

0 for 9 here this year but was facing better in all those starts - returns from Stga. in good form, and should

be a very live player at this $15K level (Kakaley's choice over #7). (6) MINK STREET wasn't terrible from

impossible spots the last 2 weeks - his game is the front end so IF you think Boyd may take a shot at

leaving tonight, his price will definitely make him worth considering. (7) STATEMENT MADE A has 2

wins and a nose loss 2nd since dropping to this bottom claiming class - hard to say if he can work out a

winning trip from Post 7, but his price will be much better tonight if you think that's possible. (5) SHOREV

IEW had been racing "ok" but now drops to 15s after 3 weeks off...red flag? (1) MARTY MONKHOUSER

A can never be counted out from a spot like this but the 14YO does seem to be tailing lately - good chance

he'll be overbet tonight. (3) JK LUCKY CHARMS just hasn't been sharp - waiting for some better signs.


RACE 2 - (3) BETTER B SWIFT had been struggling for some time but he was able to pick up a win 2

back (over a rival that one his next start), then was right there with GENIUS MAN in his last - may offer

some good value as he drops in for a tag tonight. (1) KEYSTONE DASH hit the top and got hot last week,

rolling as fast and as far as he could before weakening a bit late and ending up in a DH for 2nd - he won out

of the pocket the week before, and is definitely a major threat from this spot. (5) OURRHYTMNBLUES N

dropped right in for $30K after being claimed for $40K the week before and folded badly to 5th after

cutting the mile - he raced better last start, working hard to chase #1 before dead-heating that one for 2nd -

would still want a decent price to use him on top here. (2) ALWAYS BETTER is just 4 for 54 lifetime but

he picked up 3rds in his last pair, and may have a chance for another small slice tonight. (4) SHARK PLAY

gets Bartlett to choice off a couple of other live players to drive him, but he's really struggled for the last

couple of months - he'll need a major wake up call to be a serious threat tonight. (6) ALOTBETTOR N

shocked at a big price last week, but moves up in class and draws outside - sticking with others.


RACE 3 - (4) WINDSUN RICKY may not be on his absolute best game right now but he's still been

holding his own vs. better than these - this feels like a winning class drop for him. (3) JMS DELIGHT

faced better in his 3 starts here this year - he's another that should appreciate the class drop, and he figures

to have a say in the outcome tonight. (2) LUCIANO N remains winless on the year but he's picked up a tom

of 3rds and 4ths - could be looking at more of the same tonight. (1) BUCHANNON HANOVER took on

older foes last week and was a "best of the rest" 3rd behind two standouts - draws best here, and that puts

him in play for another good chunk. (5) MAJOR SHOW really wasn't bad last week (hopeless spot) and his

overall recent form has been solid - ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (6) ALEX TYE figures to be handled

conservatively tonight after last week's (very) aggressive try didn't work out!


RACE 4- (4) BETTER THAN SOME was 0 for 15 on the year before being acquired by the Super Siblings

after his start on 4/29...and was immediately 1 for 16 one week later (surprising very few, as the 3/5 choice)

- ships in off a decent 4th vs. tougher at PcD, and we'll give him the nod . (1) SULLIVAN has only been

able to pick up smaller pieces since the claim in March but he's looking at a pretty good trip tonight and

may be able to do a bit better this week. (2) BETTER UP should fit nicely here but he does come into this

off a sick scratch - definitely a bit iffy. (7) MAJESTIC KIWI N lost all chance after a brief miscue before

the start last week but did make a good recovery - he draws horribly but this is a fairly soft field and HE's

been pretty good...decent bomb for exotics. (5) DESIRES CAPTAIN picked up a 2nd last week but he

wasn't all that sharp - he's capable of better, and maybe we'll see that tonight. (3) MISSILE SEELSTER was

claimed here on 5/12 for $15K and that "scratched lame" from 5/17 at Chester may be an error - regardless,

he moves up in class tonight, and we'll see how he handles it. (6) LYONS LIBERTY has 6 starts this year

and while a couple were ok, he's struggled for the most part.


RACE 5 - (6) ALLUNEEDISFAITH N debuts tonight for his new (very high %) barn, after a nice qualifier

with his trainer at the lines - he finds a pretty soft spot for his Yonkers return, and the classy 9YO certainly

deserves top billing. (1) HES ELECTRIC can be pretty unpredictable but he usually can be counted on for

a decent finish when not used early - if his new pilot drives him correctly, he'll have a chance for a nice

piece. (3) ROCK LIGHTS was well backed last week, handled aggressively, and hung in pretty well for 3rd

- an easier trip may help him grab a share of this. (7) VIVA LAS VEGAS N is good right now, but may

have too far to come - worth using underneath if the price is decent. (5) GOTHIC ROCK is a better horse

off the pace and turned in a much better effort last week (although he did hang a bit, and cost himself a win)

- one of many in here with a chance to land on the ticket IF things go his way. (8) PROVOCATIVEPRINC

EN would seem to be in a hopeless spot but IF you think Siegelman may take a shot at leaving here, he's

hardly the worst bomb you could bet on. (4) HYPNOTICDREAM got sharp for several starts but tailed off

after moving up in class - he's still trying to find that better form as he slides back down the class ladder. (2)

ROCKIN JUKEBOX was empty last week racing off a bad date - still prefer others, but wouldn't be

shocked to see him race a bit better tonight.


RACE 6 - (5) HEART ON MY SLEEVE had no chance off the claim last week after drawing Post 7 AND

getting blocked for the entire stretch - not sure if he's good enough to beat these, but this may be a good

week to make a play, and find out. (4) BLOOD BROTHER was a decent 4th two back so it was no real

shock that he was able to win last week....but the 43-1 payoff WAS pretty surprising -- definitely a license

to repeat, but you know what they say about missing the wedding! (3) LETTUCERIPRITA A has beaten

these types of fields a zillion times in the past so clearly it would be no surprise if he did so again tonight-

he's likely to be way overbet, though, and he definitely didn't look too great last week - couldn't blame

anybody looking to take a shot against him tonight. (1) AWESOMENESS is still a serious "sluggo" but he's

pretty good now and has been picking up smaller pieces for several weeks - have to include him on the

bottom of your exotics. (6) SHADOW PHANTASY N was empty in his YR debut last week but wasn't that

far back at the wire - we'll look for some improvement here. (7) ROCK N TONY draws worst and just

hasn't clicked for his current connections. (2) DERECHO was distanced while debuting for a new barn last

start - pretty hard to like his chances for tonight.


RACE 7 - (2) MORNING HAS BROKEN raced well all through the Matchmaker Series, always finishing

with good pace, often from tough spots - she held that form in the Open the last 2 weeks, charging home

late to be close at the wire both times - gets major class relief here, and is supposed to beat these. (1) CHER

YLS SHADOW did good work here as a 3YO (7-4-1-1) but has really elevated her game beautifully at 4,

going 8-4-1-2 to start the season (now taking on good older mares) - her speed puts her in a good spot most

every week, and tonight should be no exception - solid player. (4) JODY seemed to benefit from a month

off at the end of February and has been very solid in NJ since returning - she had trouble WINNING races

here last year (21-1-6-4) but was often part of the ticket...can pick up a good piece in her YR return. (3) DA

RBY HANOVER may prefer to be in a little easier but the good draw should have her in a good position to

at least take home a small piece of this. (5) UPTOWN HANOVER raced ok the last couple of weeks but

draws outside some sharp foes tonight - an easy trip may help her garner a minor piece. (6) BETTERB

CHEVRON N is holding her form nicely as she climbs back up the class ladder but faces an uphill battle

tonight after drawing all the way outside.


RACE 8- (7) DELITFULCATHERIN N has gone SO many big miles here that it was almost inconceivable

that she went off at 36-1 last week (she went another big mile to be 2nd to RACINE BELL, completing a

$140 exacta!) - clearly the price will come down considerably tonight....but this is definitely a field she can

handle. (1) PURE SILKY finished well from an impossible spot last week after picking up a 2nd and a 3rd

in her first 2 Open tries - gets a kind draw, and that could put her back on the ticket this week. (3) KARMA

SEELSTER also gets a good post designation, considering she was a legitimate Matchmaker player for

weeks- was freshened up, and that qualifier is better than it may look (she finished behind THREE Borgata

MALE rivals) - could grab a good piece here. (4) MILLWOOD BONNIE N was a little short last week but

was racing off a bad date - hard to say if this class jump may slow her down a bit, but her speed may give

her a good enough trip to contend for a good piece. (6) LIT DE ROSE had been super for weeks prior to a

rare dull one in her last - even if she bounces right back tonight, she may be coming from too far back to

have any real say. (2) ROCKN PHILLY probably prefers to be in a bit easier, but the inside draw may help

her tow along for a share. (5) LUCKY ARTIST A has been tough as nails for a long time but does seem to

be tailing a bit recently - we'll see if she can bounce back tonight.


RACE 9 - (1) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY battled hard a long way with MILLWOOD BONNIE N last

week and only tired near the end - she gets major post relief for tonight, draws the pole and looms a short

priced winner. (5) ANNABELLE HANOVER is a good fit here and figures to be handled aggressively -

may be able to complete the exacta. (3) TECHYS ANGEL A has been in and out lately - if the "good"

version shows up, she can grab a nice piece of this. (2) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL got a big drop last week

and was able to get the job done - we'll see if she built back enough confidence with that victory to be a

player with these too. (4) RIGHTFULLY MINE went a couple of nice tries here in early March but then

went on the shelf for a couple of months - the guess is that she may need a start or two. (6) FLIP THE

SCRIPT does her best vs. a bit easier - the outside post isn't going to help her cause. (7) COMMANDER

CATHY N fits fine with these but will have a lot of work to do starting from Post 7.


RACE 10 - (4) SIMON SAYS HANOVER showed a ton of promise as a youngster and looked like he was

going to go on to become a strong older performer - he didn't race at all at 4, however, and has been slow to

come around at 5 up in Canada - that may all start to change, however, as he's now being trained by one of

our top barns, and debuts on Lasix tonight....we'll give him a shot to come up big here. (3) CAUGHTINAL

ANDSLIDE got a big barn change last week and his line is better than it might look - he's listed at 15-1

ML, but could easily race much better than that. (2) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES landed on a tough trip

after being claimed by our leading % trainer but still was a good 3rd - he's battled much tougher all year,

and will be very tough IF neither of the top two deliver. (5) LISBURN was well backed last week and did

deliver his first good effort of the year- willing to throw in underneath here. (1) HURRIKANE GEORGIE

has struggled for a long time but did use an easy trip to pick up 3rd last week - draws best, and he's usable

for 3rd/4th tonight. (8) TIN ROOF RAIDER A was a little better last week but tonight's draw will likely

leave him waiting for a better spot. (6) SHANWAY N just hasn't clicked this year for 2 different barns -

another poor draw certainly won't help his chances. (7) ON THE VIRG figures to be handled carefully

from Post 7 after making a break at the start last time.

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