Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • March 15, 2023

The Empire Report - Wednesday, March 15, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (1) IN MY DREAMS has been very consistent but hasn't been quite sharp enough to pick up a

victory in a while - his last did look a bit sharper, and he'll likely get to call the shots tonight...not a bad

week to try him on top. (3) AFTER ALL PAUL has been on a good roll lately, though he did disappoint a

bit after cutting the mile last week - he may just prefer to have something to aim at, and he'll likely get that

chance tonight - remains a very live player. (5) ALL CHAMPY goes for his 5th barn in 5 weeks and he's

shown that he can thrive wherever he lands - he's been 1st or 2nd in all 7 starts this year, and it's hard to

make a case to leave him off your tickets. (2) EMPEREURTHEBEST FR finally found his form recently at

Fhd. and the French import may be sharp enough right now to hang with these - the 3 weeks off are a bit of

a concern, however. (6) YES shipped in from Dover in February and raced well vs. easier - not sure how he

stacks up against these, and Post 6 won't make things any easier. (4) LADY JETER seems to have been

plagued by breaks, bad posts, and a long list of excuses for some time - she's eligible to bring a good one at

any time, but is a little too risky right now to back with any confidence. (7) MUFASA AS was a weak 3rd

last start and moves from the rail to Post 7 - figures to have a tough time getting involved this week.


RACE 2 - (2) LUCKY WEEKEND looked like an easy winner entering the stretch last week but ended up

getting outmuscled at the wire by a cone-skimming rival - hard to back with extreme confidence after that,

but we'll still give him one more chance to make amends. (3) STREET GOSSIP looked on track to become

a solid weekly Open performer but started to tail off significantly last year, and is still trying to get back to

that top form - had a disastrous first start in 2023 but took a couple of weeks off and qualified back nicely -

hard to get excited about a wager at that 8/5 ML price, however! (1) STEALING was caught behind a bad

quitter last week and lost any chance of being closer - his overall recent form is solid, and there's no reason

he shouldn't be a solid player from the pole. (5) PLUMB was very successful here at one time but she's not

the same mare right now - she shows a few decent starts across the river, and may have a chance to upset

here if things fall apart. (6) ARABELLAS CADET tried to leave last week but just as on 1/25 (when she

tried the same thing), she didn't survive the first turn - may be able to rally from the back for a small piece.

(7) ANDOVER CONTESSA beat lesser here on 2/1 and may be able to hang with these too...but probably

not from all the way out here. (4) UP HELLY AA has been an overall disappointment since arriving on the

local scene....and last week's barn change didn't get the results his connections were hoping for.


RACE 3 - (2) I LOVE ONGAIT was a talented youngster, banking nearly $250K at 2 and 3 - returns for

her 4YO campaign after a freshening, and that's a pretty good looking qualifier (finishing behind a pair of

eligibles for the Matchmaker and Borgata Series) - Stratton takes her over a razor sharp #7, and we'll give

her the edge as well. (7) PURE SILKY was racing well here at Yonkers but really started to hit on all

cylinders over at Pocono - would have been the clear choice tonight (even from Post 7) had #2 not shipped

into town - may still be able to come out on top! (3) DOCS DELIGHT usually has one good move in her

and used it very nicely for 2nd last week - can rally for a piece tonight as well. (6) MISS DOTTIE MAE

has been strong all year and comes into tonight off a pair of odds-on victories - this is a much tougher field,

however, and the draw doesn't help either- could be looking at a smaller share this time around. (1) CLEAR

THE WAY is generally limited to minor pieces and that should remain the same tonight (even from the

pole). (5) CAPTAINS STAR was a game winner in her last pair but comes into tonight having missed 3

weeks (after a sick scr.) - leaning towards others here. (4) THINKING OF A CARD is better than her last

pair, but we'll wait for a better effort before hopping back on her team.


RACE 4 - (4) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN was an excellent 2nd behind a razor sharp HOOLIE N HEC

TOR two back so it was a little disappointing when he weakened to 4th as the favorite last week - that field

was much better than this one, however, and the classy 10YO deserves every chance to make amends here.

(5) STARLIT RAMBO was a solid 3rd two back and really wasn't bad last week- he should be a good price

here, and perhaps he can rally late to land somewhere in the exotics (3) THE LAST CHAPTER found room

at the cones last week and kicked home strong enough to pick up the victory - he's a logical player here, but

he's too prone to weak finishes to really back with confidence. (1) LIGHTFOOTEDLEGEND had only

even trot after shaking free last week but might have been a little short for his new connection - draws the

pole with Bartlett, so improvement is possible. (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE rallied for 2nd last week in a

race where most of the horses failed to function - he does his best work with a bit cheaper, and may be

looking at only a smaller piece here. (6) HAVEHORWILTRVEL N has a good resume Down Under and

may be a good fit here....guessing he'll need a start or two, but a quick check of the tote board wouldn't hurt

(7) STICK WITH ME KID was a blowout winner last week in a race where virtually none of the others

even showed up - will probably have a hard time replicating that effort tonight. (8) NEW HEAVEN just has

way too many clunkers to consider from out here.


RACE 5 - Tough race: (3) R CAPTAIN HANOVER is just 3 for 45 lifetime but he's racing ok right now

and may actually be the most "reliable" horse in this very shaky field - can never bet him with any

conviction, but we'll give him the narrow nod in here. (2) EL JACKO N has failed to function in a lot of

recent starts and is just 1 for 27 at YR (last 2 years) - he MAY turn things around quickly for his new barn

tonight, but it's hard to justify that 5/2 ML price! (4) YER SO BAD has a 12-0-0-2 local record but his

current form would actually make him a player here - another that's tough to take a short price with,

however. (7) SHOREVIEW was well backed last week after a sharp try the week before (off the claim) -

he's notoriously unreliable, though, and could only come up with a dull 3rd place finish - tough draw now,

but that 12-1 ML price at least makes him worth considering. (1) BRAZEN BRAZILIAN never wins, but

he's racing well enough for a chance at a piece from this good spot. (6) REAL LUCKY N is one of the few

horses in his barn that has failed to come up with any big miles this year - will need a major wake up call to

threaten tonight. (5) MANY MOONS adds Lasix for a new barn but he arrives from Canada having missed

25 days, and is hard to gauge from his 14 career starts. (8) BEST BETTOR adds Lasix but he's 1 for 31

lifetime and draws Post 8.


RACE 6 - (4) BLUEBIRD JESSE went a BIG mile 2 back, parked every step and still around to finish 3rd

- had no prayer sitting well back last week, but did look fine hitting the wire - maybe can trip out and score

an upset in a race with a couple of potentially vulnerable favorites. (1) TAXI OUT S was well backed in all

3 U.S. starts (across the river) and finally got it done last week- that may be the confidence builder he needs

to start taking on better, but he'll surely be way overbet here (thanks to his connections), and there's no

guarantee he'll take to the Hilltop oval. (2) WINDSONG PIONEER came up 2nd best to a currently very

sharp KASHA V before easily wiring softer last week - steps back up, but this class is well within his

comfort zone when sharp - have to consider. (3) OH BOY showed a series of speed tries in Ohio before

shipping in last week and it was nice to see him race well from off the pace - deserves a look off that solid

local debut. (5) BAZILLIONAIRE doesn't win often enough to consider on top, but he accumulates a lot of

pieces - always a good one to slot underneath. (6) FULL RIGHTS dropped to the bottom class, crawled a

half in 1:00.1 and got back to the winner's circle two back - grabbed an ok 4th stepping up last week, and a

good trip could help take home a piece tonight too. (7) SWAN FINE LADY did win in this class from Post

8 on 1/25 but did little in her subsequent local tries - tough spot to like her chances tonight.


RACE 7 - (2) COALITION HANOVER was a good (gaining) 2nd behind favored STELLAR YANKEE 2

back then was a going away, field-sweeping winner last week - draws inside for a new barn and looms a

major threat to come out on top once more. (6) BETTOR SUN drops in for a tag after coming up 2nd best

for 3 straight weeks, behind 3 sharp winners - should fit perfectly with these, and will be a serious threat if

Bartlett can find him a manageable trip. (4) MINK STREET did a very nice job holding on to 2nd after the

scary winner just left them all in the dust by the final turn - his effort suggests that the excellent Ohio form

he showed before shipping over compares nicely with the locals, and he may be able to have a big say

tonight too. (5) SOUTHWIND PETYR was a winner 3 back adding Lasix for the first time - got pushed

into a tough trip by an unruly rival in his next, then did as well as possible from a difficult spot last week -

may be able to add some value to the exotics. (3) SILENT SPLENDOR headed into his last showing solid

recent form - he built a nice lead to the final turn but almost seemed to just pull himself up to the top of the

lane, causing confusion before somehow coming back on through the stretch to hold on to 2nd (before

being disqualified) - hard to know what we'll get from him after that! (7) ROSE RUN X CON has put

together an excellent 15-4-6-2 at Yonkers but he's the only one to drop in for $75K tonight and that puts

him all the way outside....and seemingly at a disadvantage. (1) JIM BLUE has been his own worst enemy

for a while now, getting too hot early and almost always killing his own chances - can do ok IF Boyd can

get him to relax tonight (it's been hard for several drivers to do that).


RACE 8 - (4) AUDI HARE N didn't finish well 2 and 3 starts back but was a lot more alert at the end last

week - we'll see if he can build off that start, and perhaps pull off a mild upset. (2) MARTY MONKHOUS

ER A saw his impressive form spree take a stumble last week when he weakened to 7th after cutting the

mile - the 14YO drops right back in the box, and perhaps can rebound quickly to that better form. (8)

MACINTOSH N was claimed for $30K then puzzlingly dropped right back in for $5K less - the public was

unconcerned and sent him off as the 2/5 choice...and he was able to reward them with the wire to wire

victory - won't be as easy from Post 8, and he'll likely still be a pretty short price. (7) SULLIVAN is a

proven winner at this level and came up a close 2nd to #8 last week - the poor draw may really hurt his

chances tonight, however. (1) JK LUCKY CHARMS has been terrible in 2 starts since the recent claim - he

does move all the way inside, so we'll see if shows up with an improved effort (5) MY MIND IS MADEUP

hasn't been a threat in a long time - needs to be a lot better. Neither (3) POSH ONTHE BEACH A nor (6)

JACKAMINO has looked any good in all of their recent starts - major turnarounds would be needed.


RACE 9 - (7) BANK BOX TREASURE was used very hard early to get the lead last week then eventually

hounded into submission - he still lost by only a little more than a length, and isn't a bad value play

dropping to the bottom level tonight (though he will need some racing luck from out here)! (5) CHIEF JUS

TICE was 9 lengths back in 3rd the last time he raced here but that was in a hot 1:55 mile - he does fit with

these, and could be the right one if the trip goes his way. (1) SEVENSHADESOFGREY can beat better

than these and might have even won from Post 8 last week if he didn't blow up on the lead on the first turn -

the issue is that he's now made breaks in his last THREE local tries, and he's still going to be the favorite in

the finale....just seems a little too risky. (6) BIG CHARLIE MORAN hasn't been on his best game for a

while but he'd become a dangerous player if he shows up feeling good tonight - should be a decent price

and may be worth considering. (2) TESLA SEELSTER drops back down to the level she beat back on 1/18

but it's hard to say if she's sharp enough right now to capitalize - would need a decent price to consider her

on top. (4) TORKIL seems unlikely to threaten for the top slot, but a small share is possible. (3) JUST

MAYBE THE ONE has some ok recent Monti tries but may find these a little tougher than he prefers. (8)

BLOGMASTER probably needs a much better draw to be a serious player.

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