The Empire Report - Thursday, March 23, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (5) WANIA hails from a barn with a VERY high win % but has been unable to find the winner's
circle in his first 7 Yonkers starts (though hitting board in 6 of them) - it's hard to swallow a short price on
him but his main rival (who may be favored) seems a little more risky than this guy, so we'll go ahead and
give him a very tepid nod. (1) BIG CHRISTIAN didn't race at 2 or 3 but he started off his career (in NJ) by
winning his first 2 starts, then missing by a nose in his next - he did make a break last start, however, and
now tries the half for the first time after being off for 3 weeks - feels a little too risky for what figures to be
a very short price. (2) HILLTOP BIG BOY has some pretty unexciting Ohio lines to start his career but he
lands in a top barn and MAY show more here at YR - would consider if the price was right. (3) MARTHA
HANOVER hails from top connections but her 2 qualifiers don't shed much light - not sure why she's not at
least trying a start across the river. (4) SQUABLE is now 1 for 54 but at least he's been paying for his
groceries ($65k in earnings) - adds Lasix tonight, and he's always one to consider UNDERNEATH
RACE 2 - (4) HEY LIVVY is very good right now, and actually raced super to only lose by 3 lengths last
week (after a pretty horrible trip) - always seems to be at a bit of a trip disadvantage, but has shown that she
CAN beat these when the journey works out...worth a play at the right price. (6) NOWS THE MOMENT
has held his career form for a LONG time, and his only recent defeat came after a particularly hard used
effort (when still 3rd) - remains the one to knock off. (5) HL REVADON has also been in top form ever
since joining his current barn, but has settled for 2nd/3rd in his last 3 starts - capable of getting back to the
winner's circle on any given week, especially if the trip lands his way. (3) CREDIT CON can no longer be
referred to as "overachieving" as he's been racing well on a regular basis - would probably need things to
fall apart in order to beat ALL of the top three, though. (2) GREY landed on a good trip last week and
responded with an excellent 2nd - another easy trip could land her another good chunk. (1) P L OSCAR
hasn't embarrassed himself at the Open level but a class drop would really help his cause
RACE 3 - (1) PROMISE FOR LIFE was very good last week, working for the top then coming up 2nd best
to a currently razor sharp winner - he hasn't been able to find the winner's circle in 7 local starts (hit board
5X), but this may finally be the spot where he gets over the hump. (6) SWAN FLYER is 2 for 2 locally and
looked sharp in both victories - draws poorly tonight as he's asked to take on older foes, but he seems good
enough to still be a major threat - don't take too short a price, though, as this is definitely a tougher spot. (3)
SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN feasted on the softer competition last week, easily wiring a softer bunch -
steps back up a notch, but he didn't earn $1.3M by accident - remains a very live player. (2) SHARE THE
WEALTH has raced well when he's in the right spots, and he returns from Pocono in solid form - lands
inside and picks up Bartlett, and could be a late threat if the trip falls his way. (5) KASHA V steps up off 2
easy wins and his barn is quietly having a solid start to the 2023 season - he'll probably need a contested
pace up front to be a serious threat tonight, however. (4) THE LAST CHAPTER tripped out and beat much
easier 2 back but reverted to his "hanging" nature last week, finishing 3rd after looking like he'd easily be
2nd - seems a bit below several of the top players tonight. (8) HAT TRICK MARLEAU has a few good
recent starts mixed in but seems unlikely to threaten against these from Post 8. (7) PERRON qualified
nicely off the layoff but lands in a tough spot for his '23 debut - keep an eye for future consideration
RACE 4 - (1) ANNE BONNEY N wired cheaper at Fhd. 2 back but also raced well for 4th at The Swamp
last week, rallying from the back - will get to call the shots from the pole with Gingras, and that stamps her
as the one to beat tonight. (6) LIGHTNING LEIA carved out slow fractions from the pole last week, but
still got beat (with no excuses!) as the 3/5 choice - she's eligible to be sharper tonight and make amends, but
make sure to get a much better price if giving her another chance. (8) SHOTGUN PERSUASION sat 7th
into a slow pace in her first start off the layoff but paced a pretty "sneaky good" final half for her new barn -
she'll need some help to win from out here, but she's worth considering if the price is good enough. (4)
BROOKDALE JESSIE is winless in 10 local tries but has raced well in several of them - has a puncher's
chance if things just fall apart here. (2) E R HILARY has struggled for most of '23 but perhaps the post
relief can at least put her in the hunt for a small share. (3) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N is 1 for 18 at YR and
has only managed a pair of 3rds from her 7 local starts this year - would consider for a minor award only.
(5) LOVIN MISS DAISY N weakened after cutting the mile here on 1/26 and her out of town lines since
then are hard to really gauge - leaning towards others. (7) WOODMERE JAZZ was a close 2nd with an
easy trip in a soft field 3 back, but was no factor in her last pair - Post 7 won't make things any easier
RACE 5 - (2) NO MAS DRAMA came up big 2 back when finishing right behind OUTSIDE THE FIRE
then built off that with last week's very impressive big-brush victory - we'll give her a shot to even the score
tonight. (3) OUTSIDE THE FIRE has excelled at Yonkers, compiling a 9-5-2-1 record - as mentioned, he
was able to hang on and beat the top choice on 3/9.....his barn has been hot, and he certainly has a chance to
come out on top once more. (1) ALL CHAMPY has been ultra-consistent for most of the past 2 years, able
to thrive in virtually any barn he lands in - he'll be facing a bit tougher tonight than he normally does, but
the inside draw makes him a legitimate threat against these too. (4) BARRY BLACK lost the winner's
cover last week then stalled a bit on the final turn, only able to take home 3rd - he's capable of better, and
will need to be sharper if he hopes to contend for a bigger piece. (7) HOOLIE N HECTOR has been in
career form for a barn that's been winning at a very high clip for months - would have certainly listed him
higher up if not for the horrible draw. (5) SWEET SOUL DAVID was outbrushed by the top one at 3/4s last
week but really did well to cling to 2nd - may be looking at a tougher trip tonight, however. (6) JULA
MUSCLE PACK is usually good for a late rally but may be too far back to threaten from this spot
RACE 6 - Tough race: (3) STRIKING COUNT went his best mile so far for his current connections last
week, appearing full of trot in the stretch but without any room to work with - he lands in an absolutely
wide open race tonight, and he's worth a stab if the price is decent. (2) TRANQUILITY K has now finished
2nd four weeks in a row....but looking at her career slate (53-3-15-9), that really shouldn't come as much of
a surprise - she'll win here one of these nights, but it's hard to keep taking short prices waiting for it to
happen. (8) SAID N DONE AS had been racing well but coming up a little short for weeks before finally
getting his picture taken last week - Bartlett shows a lot of confidence sticking with him from Post 8, and
he CAN beat these if he can work out a decent trip...that 2-1 ML price does make him less appealing,
though. (5) CREDARENA was just "ok" in that all out win on 2/23 - came back last week off a sick scratch
but actually was MUCH sharper, coming up with a more impressive score - Bartlett opts for #8, but this
guy has a chance to make it 3 in a row if he's as sharp tonight. (1) LIVINGONTHERAIL wasn't bad at the
back of the pack last week and moves all the way inside now - could add some value to the bottom of the
exotics. (7) HILLOFAKNOCKOUT rallied nicely for 3rd at 47-1 at Fhd. then rallied for 3rd here too, at
23-1 -- another good priced horse that may find a way to land on the ticket. (6) LADYFLIX has 2 wins
from her 6 local starts but never really looked overly impressive - she did blow out a field at Fhd. last week,
so we'll see if she's ready to pick up her game and be a player with these. (4) AVACAKES has been away
since Dec. and will remain on the "watch list" for now
RACE 7 - (1) MAJOR BATTLE had a useful tightener off the layoff on 3/9 - dropped in class last week but
got caught in an extended blindswitch from before 3/4s, pacing evenly once finally clear into the stretch -
drops again, draws the rail, and lands in a very beatable field. (4) ANDRA DAY dropped to the bottom
level last week, hit the lead and went 1:27 to the 3/4s....and still was no match for a mare that could barely
stay pacing in 5th at the half - maybe this is the spot where she finds some of that back class but she's tough
to use on top right now (at very short prices). (7) TRIZZLE TRAZZLE draws a very tough spot but she
throws a good one when in the right mood, and figures to be a decent price - not a bad one to try if looking
for a price. (6) COWGIRL LILLY has an excellent history here and lands in a very high % for her YR
return - really liked her chances last week but she was scratched that night, and comes into this having
missed a month - a bit risky now, for sure. (3) ASHTINI is more than capable at this level but did look
pretty short returning off the layoff - may need another start or two. (5) RAISE THE ANTE hasn't been a
threat in some time - waiting for some better signs. (2) MILADY DENVER A was on the move before the
quarter last week (too hot?) and the results were predictable - prefer others. (8) APRIL AVA hasn't been a
player all year other than that week where she incredibly won as the 4/5 favorite!
RACE 8 - (2) B NICKING has come back super from his layoff but a pair of absolutely brutal trips has left
him settling for a 3rd and a 2nd - he should be able to land a much easier journey tonight, and we'll see if
that can get him to the winner's circle. (1) KINDA LUCKY LINDY caught a sizzling mile off the layoff but
still trotted in 1:56 and was an okay 5th - should be tighter now, goes with Lasix for the 2nd time, and may
be able to have a bigger say here. (3) CALL ME DANI rallied nicely for 2nd two back arriving from NJ
then was a sharp pocket winner last week, beating the top choice- remains a very solid threat. (5) BARN
HALL has been racing well but is still winless here in '23, and finished behind #2 and #3 last week - he'll
be in the mix once more, but there's no reason he should be the ML favorite! (4) INFINITY STONE gets
some class relief after being in very tough in his 2 starts after being claimed for $50K - may find that he
still needs another drop, though. (6) GAELIHILL shows mixed lines at Dover facing "NWPM" types -
Yannick will be driving his own stock here, but still seems a bit below the top ones right now. (7) LOOK IN
MY EYES hasn't been close in his last 3 and now draws Post 7 - wait for a better scenario
RACE 9 - (3) WILDCAT ANTONIA lost action coming to the half last week (bothering the ones behind
her a bit) but was able to smooth out, found a good gear while uncovered on the back side and disposed of
the heavily favored frontrunner EASILY once into the stretch (then was fortunate to NOT be penalized by
the judges) - she faces a much better overall bunch tonight but if she can avoid any miscues, she may be
able to handle these too. (2) KATYS DELIGHT is a hard horse to drive and loses Gingras to the top choice
- but she gets our leading driver in the bike, and he should be able to figure out her quirks pretty quickly - a
live trip could land her on this ticket. (6) GOLDEN QUEST N easily wired a basement field last start but
was then scratched sick, and comes into tonight having missed a month - could be a bit vulnerable this
week, but also wouldn't be a shock if she beat these. (4) LOOKATMYART used a pocket trip to beat
cheaper 2 back then actually raced pretty well last week, though done in by a very tough trip - ok for a
piece. (7) SPITTING IMAGE drops from the 50s where she was caught first over in 3 straight starts - she
should be a great fit here, but the outside draw may hurt her chances for a decent trip. (5) SMOOTH DEBA
TE N is still an overall disappointment since arriving in the U.S. but at least she's doing better work now at
these lower levels - we'll see how she handles moving up off last week's 15-1 upset. (1) BOTTOMOFTHE
NINTH was better in her last couple but her sluggish starts may hurt her chances of capitalizing on the
draw - leaning towards others. (8) FIRSTUP had life finishing last week but get no luck with the draw
RACE 10 - (2) CANTSTOP YANKEE always had no shortage of ability, though he was prone to miscues
at times - has looked super since returning from 3 months off, winning both starts in PA...we'll roll the dice
that he stays trotting tonight as well. (1) SPICY NUGGET picked up a win and a 2nd after a purchase last
Fall - was freshened up, returned without hopples and Yannick's own arrives at Yonkers having won all 5
starts this year - clearly a very dangerous player! (4) WICKENBURGH took all the $$ when he won on
2/16 and has 2 more wins and a 2nd since then - no reason he shouldn't be able to make his presence felt in
here too. (8) TORRONE earned nearly $100K in a solid 3YO campaign and has been solid since returning
at 4, picking up a pair of 2nds and 3rd from his four Pocono starts - draws all the way outside but does have
good speed....worth including in exotics at that 12-1 ML price. (3) BRAVE BY DESIGN earned $163K at 3
but it's hard to get a good feel for where he is off that dullish looking qualifier - perhaps the tote board will
offer some guidance? (6) MUSCLE DAN draws another tough post and this is a good field - likely looking
at only a minor piece tonight. (7) CRESCENT BEAUTY was dull last week and now moves out to Post 7 -
prefer others. (5) THE BOSS MAN feels a bit cheap, and was well back in his first off the layoff
RACE 11 - (4) TECHYS ANGEL A is used to facing (and even beating) much better than these - her
current form is definitely off, but this is the kind of spot where she can get healthy in a hurry - wouldn't bet
the farm on her at a short price, though. (1) ROSE RUN VANTAGE was very sharp in that win on 2/23 but
really disappointed in her last - drops back to NW10000, but has also missed 3 weeks - another very logical
player....who also figures to be overbet. (7) PULL ME THROUGH has been able to pick up pieces at these
levels thanks to some easy trips - tough draw tonight, but may still have a shot at a small slice. (5) SOMES
WEETSOMEWHERE won a "weird" race 2 back then finished crisply from well back to rally for 3rd,
behind a runaway winner - chance to rally for a piece tonight too. (3) CHELSKI hasn't won in some time
but a few recent chunks has pushed up her to this higher level - another capable of a small share with the
right journey. (6) PROTECT BLUE CHIP hit board in 5 straight before finding the going a little too tough
last time - may be in that same boat tonight. (8) DISARONNO HILL hasn't been sharp and last week's
aggressive try was doomed to fail - she gets some class relief now, but it's hard to see her overcoming the
draw in her current form. (2) VELOCITY MCSWEETS hasn't been sharp for some time, and comes into
tonight off a sick scratch - prefer to just observe this week.