The Empire Report - Thursday, October 12, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (2) DRACO S was off a month to his last AND exiting our leading barn but he still turned in an
excellent mile, kicking home strong up the pylons to be 2nd best - drops right back in the box, and we'll try
him on top tonight. (1) P C FREE WHEELING was outfinished by the top choice last week but still has to
get plenty of respect as he draw the pole again - should be right there from start to finish. (4) STEUBEN
HANOVER went on the shelf after a clunker last January and just reappeared last week - hard to gauge off
the qualifier but his sharp connections probably wouldn't be dropping him in for $50K if they didn't think
he was ready to go - perhaps the tote board will offer some clues? (5) FOR A DREAMER is usually very
solid in this class but just never fired last week - can be a late threat IF he rebounds quickly. (3) IM THE
MUSCLE is still very tough when he hits the top (look at 3 and 7 starts down), but he was dull 2 back and
not really as good last week as the line might look - leaning a bit more towards others. (6) LOS BALLYKE
ELAMIGO really wasn't bad last week since he really prefers to race on the lead - doesn't seem likely that
he'll get there from here, however. (7) DOO WOP KID has looked good in both starts since the barn change
but may be ambitiously placed tonight, especially from Post 7. (8) PERRON doesn't seem nearly sharp
enough at the moment to threaten from out here
RACE 2 - (7) SMOOTH LANDING (who had shown ability at times in the past) just missed at Fhd. in his
first try for the Dynamic Duo- gave it a shot in the $70K Final the next week but was parked by the favorite
and lost all chance- he can certainly leave tonight (and find a good spot at worst), and seems a much "safer"
option than likely favorite (5) SEVEN OVER. The latter has MORE than enough ability to handle these but
he's prone to miscues, and just made one in his last local try - very tough IF he behaves...but a risky play,
for sure. (6) PARTY AT SEVEN shows Pocono lines that would make him a player in here but he draws a
tough post and is an unknown over the half miler - consider only if the price is worthwhile. (2) FULL SCA
LE raced ok in his local debut, rallying late for 2nd in a soft field - would probably need the top players to
all self destruct for a chance at the top prize. (4) TOMBSTONE raced ok for a new barn last week but does
seem a little on the cheaper side - we'll see how his first local try goes. (1) BANGIN IN THE HALL is just
1 for 41 with only a pair of 2nds- not sure the rail is enough to elevate him to being a contender (3) THATS
ALL YOU is just 2 for 24 despite facing cheaper most (all?) of her career
RACE 3 - (1) BETTERRROCK was good here 3 back, just ok in his next but VERY good in his last,
beaten only 5 lengths in a 1:51 mile despite being WAY back early on - feels ready for a winning effort. (3)
MY MIKI BEACH tailed for a while but showed better life 2 back then went a big try last week - could
have another good one ready for tonight. (4) MULLINAX threw a dud when first over last week but he
drops in class, and clearly is capable of much better - anything close to one of his better efforts would put
him right into the mix. (5) IMSTAYNALIVE is 0 for 21 this year but did hit board in half of those losses -
always eligible to grab a slice with the right trip. (7) SAMHARA N was a good 2nd two back and surely
gets a pass for his last, carving out a sizzling pace only to get his doors blown off at 3/4s by the scary sharp
invader - wish he had a better draw, but at least the price will get juicy from out here. (2) JOJOS PLACE
has way more bad recent efforts than good ones - definitely prefer others. (8) DELIGHTFUL TERROR hit
board in his last 3 starts but can't really say he was "strong" - figures to struggle with the move outside. (6)
JKS ON THE MOVE just seems well off form at the moment
RACE 4 - (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK is clearly the most consistent of these but while he's hit board in 8
straight starts, he has only one WIN from his last 5 efforts - he's still the one to beat and will surely be a
handful...but be careful about taking too short a price on top. (8) CANTKEEPMIASECRET finished just
ahead of the top choice last week and BEAT him both on 9/21 and 8/3 - she's ALWAYS a good price and
never a bad bet...but she also could face a LOT of obstacles starting from Post 8 tonight! (3) IN MY DREA
MS made an easy lead then grabbed an easy half last week, setting him up to "steal" a victory - with the
good draw, it's at least possible he could grab another. (1) HUSTLENOMICS was a sharp winner in his
local debut but does seem to be regressing in his last couple - needs to find that better game if he hopes to
be a serious player tonight. (2) P L OSCAR hasn't won in a long time but an easy, close up trip does put
him in the hunt for a share. (5) CRESCENT BEAUTY remains ever inconsistent and her "choppy" finish at
the end of the mile last week is an additional concern - consider only if the price gets pretty juicy. (4) LIND
SEYS PRIDE can be excused for last week's no-factor trip around the track at Batavia but he hasn't been
finishing well enough (in general) for a while - another that needs to find his better game. (7) MUFASA AS
was able to take advantage of last week's "fall apart" race to score the victory - unlikely to be able to match
that from this spot, however
RACE 5 - (1) WALKINSHAW N isn't blessed with a ton of natural gate speed but he can usually make his
way to the top from spots like this, when in cheap enough (as he is tonight) - figures to have a big wake up
call here. (6) TUGGIN ON MY HEART didn't even pretend to be interested from Post 8 3 back (first time
for the Super Siblings, 42-1) but he certainly got the green light the following week, sent off as the favorite
and cutting the mile before weakening late to 3rd - was able to get the job done last week, and looms a legit
threat tonight, despite facing a bit tougher. (5) PEDRO HANOVER was pretty well backed (vs. tougher)
returning from Monti last week but turned in a disappointing effort - he has gone some big miles here this
year and his barn is currently hitting on all cylinders- possible rebound try? (7) KOOTENAY SANTANNA
struggled for some time before showing some life 2 back - his last was actually VERY good, but it's hard to
say if he'll be able to have any real impact from out here. (2) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK showed surprise
speed at 52-1 last week and carried the lead into the stretch before tiring - if he can build off that mile, he'll
have a chance to have a say here. (3) ALEX TYE was handled aggressively last week and rewarded with a
2nd place finish - may not be able to land on as good a trip tonight, though. (4) GINGRAS BEACH is just
1 for 28 this year - needs easier. (8) GAMBLINGTERROR drops, but gets stuck behind the 8 ball
RACE 6 - (3) HIGHLAND MOWGLI was a winner here on 7/22 then took some time off - his qualifier
suggests that he'll be ready to roll right out of the box, and he definitely gets along well with Brennan. (7)
ABRUZZO drops down from the Open off a mile where he got stuck behind horrible cover and lost all
chance - tough spot, but he's gone some BIG miles when sharp...worth a look? (1) UNEVERGONNAGET
HIS finally won his way out of the NW9 class (NW15000) and now has to take on these better ones - he
acts like he can handle it just fine, and the inside draw really helps his chances of being part of the equation
(5) VALI HANOVER bumps up in class off the claim but he's been sharp for ages, and can probably still
use hit late kick for at least a piece of this. (2) TORRONE finished well late after finding his gear last week
- moves up a bit, but an easy trip could still land him a share. (6) B NICKING was heavily backed last
week and almost was able to go wire to wire - tougher spot tonight, and may have a tough time replicating
that effort. (8) SWEET SOUL DAVID lands all the way outside and assuming he doesn't leave, figures to
have too far to come. (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU feels overmatched against these
RACE 7 - (5) HILLEXOTIC returns off a big win in the Dayton Derby and he's certainly loved racing at
Yonkers (23-11-7-1 last 3 seasons) - even though this is a good field he's used to facing better, and Yannick
is even coming over to drive - deserves top billing. (3) STORMY KROMER ended up with a pocket trip
last week and the classy 9YO parlayed that into his 8th win of the season - may get the same trip tonight,
but may have a harder time converting. (4) ALDEBARAN ZEUS A was making his first start in a month
last week, looked choppy at times but benefited from a slick duck-in move from Bartlett to the final turn
then kicked home with plenty of trot for 2nd - clearly the Down Under 6YO has plenty of ability, but may
have to overcome a tough trip tonight. (6) PAPPARDELLE was 3 for 3 here last year and showed a ton of
promise...and he's enjoyed a terrific 4YO campaign as well, including an outstanding 2nd here 2 back
despite being out the entire way - there's no questioning his current sharpness, but the tough draw in a good
field COULD hurt his chances a bit. (1) NO MAS DRAMA is back to face the boys tonight and lands in a
very strong group as well - looking at only minor spoils here. (2) GLOBAL BELIEVER won his first 4
U.S. starts before settling for 3rd last week - makes a big class jump tonight, and may struggle a bit
RACE 8 - Tough race! (1) GENIUS MAN had no chance posts in his last 3 starts but did draw the pole 4
lines down and came up 2nd best to a sharp winner - maybe he can take advantage of the draw and come
out on top of this very beatable bunch? (3) WAR DAN DELIGHT N hasn't won since being claimed for
$30K back in July but he's raced well at times - draws well, gets Bartlett back, and may have found a spot
where he can get his picture taken. (8) TIN ROOF RAIDER A was well backed from Post 7 last week and
delivered the wire to wire score - steps up and lands all the way outside, but a quick start may give him a
chance at the upset. (2) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N was hanging a bit in the lane last week but did get the
job done - he moves up a peg but there really isn't anything scary in here - a repeat performance is not
impossible. (5) RB was good earlier in the year but has struggled to find a good groove since returning
from a layoff - would need a pretty good price to consider him on top. (6) CAPTAINS PLACE was a close
3rd last week but helped by a very easy trip - may not be as fortunate from this tougher spot. (4) REAL
WILLY was a winner at PcD shipping down from Canada but his barn always struggles to win races here at
Yonkers - leaning towards others. (7) BUCHANNON HANOVER doesn't seem sharp, lands outside and is
just 1 for 23 here this year
RACE 9 - (1) MAURIES BONUS A raced very well from 2 totally impossible spots after arriving at
Yonkers- moves all the way inside, meets nothing too scary and we'll try him on top tonight. (3) ROLLING
WITH SAM has struggled through a bunch of tough trips, bad posts, poor cover, etc, in many of his recent
starts - drops to the basement, gets a good draw, and figures to be a much more significant player this week.
(6) GOOD INVESTMENT took a BIG (unexpected) win punch last week - some of that $$ did seem to
come back out of the pool, but he did turn in a good one from an impossible spot (after getting parked the
mile the week before - could see him having a say here with some trip luck. (4) ODDS ON PICK SIX left
the gate last week and turned in a much improved effort for 2nd - not sure he can replicate that success
tonight, but he has to at least be considered for exotics off that improved try. (2) BRAZEN BRAZILIAN
saved ground and was able to stick around for an ok 4th last week - might be able to go a similar mile
tonight. (8) STRAIGHT UP COOL had been racing pretty well before a dull try last week - could rebound
but may also just go very conservative after drawing Post 8. (7) HES ELECTRIC was freshened up for a
few weeks then qualified back nicely - tough return post, however. (5) ROSE RUN X CON was able to
pick up 3rd last week thanks to an easy inside trip - a similar journey could help him grab another minor
share.