The Empire Report - Thursday, June 22, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (5) KASHA V is having a solid season, and his current form (even at these higher levels) is very
strong - he'll need some battling to go on up front for a chance to use his late kick but IF that scenario
develops, he'll have a chance to score the mild upset. (3) OUTSIDE THE FIRE has hit board in 11 of 13
starts this year with the two off-the-board finishes being 4ths in the Open- he's either "good" or "very good"
every start, and deserves plenty of respect here...even having been away for 3 weeks. (4) WHAT SHOULD
I GOO is just another from this very high % barn that is really thriving right now - she comes into this off a
2nd to the talented INCOMMUNICADO 2 back, and a blowout win in her last - obviously a big chance
here, though she's likely to be overbet. (1) MON AMOUR ships in from NJ showing plenty of strong recent
efforts and definitely fits talent-wise - he did make late miscues in both local starts earlier this year, though,
and that makes him at least a bit risky. (6) DEWEY ARNOLD had plenty of success as a youngster (incl.
here at Yonkers) and has continued to thrive at 4 and 5 as well - makes his first local start since 2021, and
the post may hurt his chances a bit. (2) SEVENSHADESOFGREY had been doing good things before
taking the last 4 weeks off...leaning towards others for tonight
RACE 2 - (5) CREDIT CON and (2) STORMY KROMER have both been on extended rolls lately, and
have traded victories in recent weeks - either of these could take this, but we'll give the slightest nod to the
former, as he'll be the better price of the two (but it would be hard to feel too safe without having BOTH of
these on your tickets). (4) SWEET SOUL DAVID has been having a strong 2023 season so far, and did
have "sneaky trot" at the back last week - may be able to rally late for a small piece. (1) HIGHLAND MO
WGLI was off a bad date (sick scratch) to his last but is probably a notch below the top pair anyway - could
race better tonight but still be stuck with a minor award. (3) HEY LIVVY isn't clicking right now, but the
talented mare is eligible to reverse form at any time!
RACE 3 - NY Excelsior 2YO C&G Trot: (4) SEVEN MINUTE ABS shows a solid qualifier for a good
trotting barn and gets Stratton for his debut - one of several possibilities in a race with limited data to base a
decision on! (7) TOBERN jogged in both of his preps for a barn that always has them ready to go early -
could easily be a big threat, even from Post 7. (3) DUSTY DUNGAREES made a break on the lead in his
last VD qualifier but hails from a winning barn, and gets a big switch to Zeron for tonight. (5) BARN CRE
DIT has prepped nicely, even if a bit slowly, for his career debut - his connections always seem to have
several live NY breds every season. (2) TITAN YOUR GRIP shows a miscue in NJ sandwiched between a
pair of Pocono preps - another that would be no surprise. (1) SIR SWAGGER seems a bit behind a few of
the others right now, but drawing the rail may help him at least contend for a piece. (6) RAMBORAIN had
a troubled start at Stga. last time and draws poorly for tonight - prefer others right now
RACE 4 - (3) IN A TINY WAY took a tough nose loss to TORRONE on 5/11 (after a first over trip) then
just missed to DOWN THE PIKE MIKE in her next, after being trapped too long in the pocket - returns
from PcD off another 2nd place finish, and this may be a spot where she can get her picture taken. (6) THE
BOSS MAN sharpened with a bit easier at Tioga then was a decent 3rd here last week, despite racing off a
bad date - tough post, but can land somewhere on the ticket tonight if Yannick can work out a decent trip.
(7) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS hit board in his first 3 starts after the Brennan Series ended but never
seemed to be at his best - came up 2nd best in his last but actually raced better, battling a VERY talented
winner for a ways before finally succumbing into the stretch - chance for another good chunk tonight,
despite the bad draw. (2) CINCINNATI HELP really disappointed when 2nd on 5/25 (should have been a
winning spot), then was scratched sick the following week - returned with a close up 3rd at Chester in his
last, and his best effort puts him right in the thick of this. (4) TAP ME BLUE CHIP has been relegated to
minor pieces since moving up from NW4 but really hasn't been bad - chance for another small share tonight
(1) WANIA struggled to win races here this year before delivering back to back victories recently - wasn't
nearly as effective moving up to NW6 last start, and we'll see if the rail draw can help him find a better
effort. (5) CREDARENA struggled in a bunch of NW4 starts, and seems very iffy at this tougher NW6
level. (8) ER NO MORE is struggling right now and Post 8 isn't going to help his cause
RACE 5 - (3) NO MAS DRAMA's connections must really like her chances tonight as they take Marohn
off (who was listed on the draw sheet and IS here tonight) and go with Bongiorno instead - she's had a
strong year so far but hasn't found the winner's circle in a while...maybe that'll change tonight? (1)HOOLIE
N HECTOR gets some major class relief as he drops from the Open, and draws the rail as well...the major
danger. (2) PERRON moves up another level after capitalizing on perfect trips to win his last pair - may be
sharp enough to grab a good piece with these too, especially after drawing so well. (6) ZIG ZAG trotted a
BIG final half to pick up 2nd to total runaway WHAT SHOULD I GOO last week - moves up in class and
draws poorly, but may still be able to pick up a piece of this. (4) P C FREE WHEELING had license to be a
little short last week off the sick scratch - faces a few tough foes in here, but still may be able to sneak onto
the ticket somewhere. (5) P L OSCAR would be a player in here if sharp but like most of his barnmates,
he's been going through a rough patch lately - waiting to see some better signs. (7) GREY was able to hit
the lead and wire softer 2 back but has struggled, in general, in most of her other recent starts - tough draw
doesn't help. (8) C YOU AGAIN DK gets a pass for last (bad shuffle), but still doesn't seem sharp enough
to make any serious noise from all the way out here.
RACE 6 - NYSS - 2YO C&G Trot: (4) WILD TICKET qualified sharply for a barn that comes up with top
performers every year...we'll assume that he'll be ready for his career debut tonight. (5) MISTER MELLBY
also qualified sharply for connections that always make a lot of noise in NY, and everyplace else...another
very logical threat. (1) VOSS BLUE CHIP debuts off a pair of nice preps for a trainer that arrived here as
an unknown just a couple of years ago, but immediately enjoyed incredible success and is now attracting
some very high profile owners - could be a very live player here. (2) PRESS SEVEN won both preps easily
for solid upstate connections and will get Stratton on board as he starts his career - would be no big surprise
(6) WOWERESS also hails from familiar NYSS connections, but did make a miscue (before recovering) in
last week's VD qualifier - tough draw won't help. (3) DEVIOUS VALENTINE weakened a bit in his only
try - leaning towards others right now. (7) BARGAIN hails from a top barn but he draws all the way
outside and his qualifier is a little hard to get a read on
RACE 7 - (2) ROSE RUN YANKEE was well regarded heading into his 2YO season but failed to hit board
in 8 tries, while taking on some tough competition - he seems to have figured things out over the winter,
and come back much more mature and reliable at 3 (so far) - figures to be a handful against these, assuming
he has no issue getting around the Hilltop Oval. (4) SEVEN SINS went off favored in his last 2 Excelsior A
starts, taking home a 2nd and a 4th after cutting both miles - very dangerous dropping into this NW1 field,
but also figures to be overbet - still, the main danger. (1) CUTIECUMBER broke her maiden at PcD last
start and is a good fit with these - looks next in line should the top two falter. (3) TO MY CREDIT hit
board in his last couple of PcD starts, draws well, and is playable on the bottom of exotics in his YR debut.
(6) HEART OF A TITAN has a 2nd and a 3rd here at Yonkers but from much better spots - may have some
trouble starting from Post 6 tonight. (5) CAUGHT YA LOOKIN has yet to hit board in 9 career starts -
sticking with others, for now. (7) BANGIN IN THE HALL is 0 for 33 and draws all the way outside
RACE 8 - NYSS - 2YO C&G Trot: (5) THINKER MONKEY sold for $500K as a yearling, and is a
brother to the outstanding GIMPANZEE, along with ITERATION...that doesn't mean he'll just beat these,
but his qualifier was strong enough to give him top billing. (1) CHAPLIND went for $160K as a yearling
and his prep looks excellent - worth considering assuming the price is decent. (6) SITUATIONSHIP kicked
home in :27.3 in his prep and hails from the best of connections - expect a big effort right out of the box.
(3) VICTOR LASZLO shows a pair of solid preps for a barn notorious for having them ready - could be a
player here. (4) KEEP ASKING was a blowout winner in his 2nd qualifier at VD and picks up Gingras
tonight - could be worth a look if the price is decent. (2) BLANTONS BLUE qualified ok but may need a
start or two. (7) FRINGED figures to be severely compromised by the draw
RACE 9 - (5) SQUARED AWAY finished his 2YO season strong, winning three in a row (including a
Simpson division) - hasn't won yet since returning at 3 but he's been racing well, and will surely appreciate
the drop from the PaSS....the one to knock off. (3) WILD BILL KELSO did enough at 2 to qualify for the
NYSS Final - started off his 3YO campaign with an easy win at Chester, but didn't have the same success in
a couple of NYSS races - drops, adds Lasix, and should be the main danger. (8) KENNEBAGO got a barn
change that has been very successful in the past and promptly jogged in his first start for his new
connections last week - lands in a tough spot here, but still merits consideration at that 15-1 ML price. (1)
UNIQUE STYLE has some ability and did win at PcD three back - he also is prone to miscues, and would
need to be a pretty good price to be worth the risk. (4) HEADOVERBOOTS AS is a steady sort but he's 0
for 14 on the year, and just 1 for 12 lifetime at Yonkers - small piece only. (2) LIVINGONTHERAIL was
bothered less than others by a chain reaction on turn three last week but could only manage a 4th - his best
assets here are the draw, and driver. (6) MATT SO SURE has some "ok" tries lately but this doesn't figure
to be a good spot for him. (7) IM AMUSED seems to be struggling now, and draws Post 7
RACE 10 - (2) OH BOY was ignored by the public dropping in for a tag last week but he charged home at
47-1 to be a fast closing 2nd - moves inside, gets a vote of confidence from Dube and while his price will
surely come down, he should still offer some good value for the top slot. (1) CRESCENT BEAUTY moved
to a barn that has been able to improve horses rapidly and sure enough, was able to prevail here last week
despite a major class hike - will take plenty of action as she looks to repeat from the pole but she does lose
Bongiorno to #3 (his own horse), and may just be a bit vulnerable. (6) VALI HANOVER ended up in the
pocket last week and was cleverly trapped there by Bongiorno (who was driving the winner) through much
of the stretch - he won his prior 2 starts, and does figure to be a pretty decent price tonight...worth a look.
(4) LINDSEYS PRIDE made an uncharacteristic break trying for the lead last week - he picks up a ton of
smaller pieces, and isn't a bad one to use for 3rd/4th. (3) CANTKEEPMIASECRET was the choice here
last week and she delivered at a juicy 8-1 price - she was definitely tiring at the end, though, and this is a
much tougher spot - leaning towards others tonight. (7) ALL CHAMPY was a winning machine for quite a
while but a bunch of tough trips seems to have tempered his form a bit - starting from Post 7 won't make it
easier for him to get back on track. (8) FOR A DREAMER returned from a long layoff to win his first start
of 2023 - wasn't as sharp when first over last week, however, and gets stuck behind the 8 ball for tonight
RACE 11 - Good race! (3) FEARFUL INTENT generally doesn't do his best racing from off the pace,
making last week's strong finish (in his first try at this level) all the more encouraging - could be a good
value play in a race that may see a lot of action. (8) TAKE A GAMBLE lost for only the 2nd time in 9 local
starts this year, unable to overcome a brutal 8 hole trip in a hot mile - he still raced super for 3rd, however,
and his price should be pretty good tonight - not a bad week to use him. (4) GREG THE LEG was taken off
the gate (surprisingly) debuting for a new barn last start but he definitely liked the trip, charging home late
for 2nd - another that could land on the winning trip tonight. (7) SOUTHWIND PETYR is one of many
horses the Dynamic Duo have drastically improved recently, and that last win was his scariest mile so far -
he WAS helped by a lack of inside leavers, and may not be as fortunate tonight - his price also figures to
come down, so be careful about taking too short a price (if he's your play). (1) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK
has really upped his game since changing barns in April - if he lands on a good trip tonight, he could grab a
good piece of this. (2) LUCKBEWITHALEX got really sharp recently in PA but MAY be starting to tail
just a bit - lands in a very tough spot for his YR return. (5) SHAKE IT tired chasing the hot pace in his first
try at this level - will need to be sharper tonight. (6) SARANAC BLUE CHIP has been very sharp for a
couple of months but he moves up in class and draws a tough post- may need to wait for an easier spot
RACE 12 - Wide open finale: (6) DESTINYS DARLING finished well in an Excelsior A race at VD to
start her 3YO season then was a winner at Tioga the next week - she should fit nicely here, and a good trip
would make her a serious player. (2) IM AN ANDOVER won at Chester, won here, then was a close 3rd in
a TSS at The Meadows before making a miscue at PcD last week - he's worth considering at a juicy price.
(7) I GOT THE TAB started off the year with some steady efforts in the Weiss Series before hitting a bit of
a snag - that last mile at PcD does look a lot better, though, and he'd be worth a look here IF he's not
overbet. (3) JEANS ACTION had a few ok starts at 2 - changed barns, and drops in class tonight after
struggling a bit in stakes action - look for a much more competitive effort vs. these. (4) WILDER DAYS
could be a threat here on his best but he's disappointed far more often than he's delivered to start off his
career - mixed feelings. (5) SQUABLE never wins, does get pieces - ok for 3rd/4th. (1) BYINVITEONLY
is 5 years old and has only 9 starts, struggling in a bunch of them - sticking with others, even though he can
throw a good one at times. (8) CRASH MY PARTY AS was a winner last week, but off a pocket trip in a
weak field - moves up, and draws all the way outside.