The Empire Report - Thursday, December 9, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - Tough race, as some of the main players are seriously camera shy! (5) FLIRTY FORTY was
away since June but was a nice rallying 3rd across the river in her first start back - she's just 1 for 25 here at
Yonkers but she figures to be a fair price, and perhaps can build off that last effort. (1) AMERICAN TOUR
N is 0 for 31 this year, but did race well in a bunch of her losses - was really pacing well late in her return
to YR last week, and may look to cut this mile - playable, if not overbet. (4) OK LETS ROCKNROLL
wasn't bas 2 back -- tried to cut the mile last week, but fell apart from the top of the lane...may be better off
the pace, and she'll definitely be a good price here...possible. (3) CABOWABOCUTTIE is 0 for 42 over the
last 2 years, but was (somehow) well backed in her 2 starts since the layoff - barn has popped seemingly
hopeless horses in the past, so that's at least an angle to consider. (2) A CRAFTY LADY was well backed
for her last but ended up parked with no chance - she's just 1 for 15 here over the past 2 years, and that 2-1
ML price makes her pretty unattractive from a wagering standpoint. (6) VELOCITY MCSWEETS has the
speed to at least try to work out a trip for herself...she's also just 1 for 14 here at Yonkers, and seems more
likely to battle for a smaller piece, than a bigger one. (8) STEAL MY THUNDER did have some life
finishing upon arrival last week but would need a lot to happen for her to reach from out here. (7) SHAKE
N GO seems ambitiously placed off her (cheaper) Monti lines
RACE 2 - (7) DANCE CLUB could be worth a shot in here - IF she's good, Dube won't hesitate to send her
.. and if she's good, she can definitely handle these...decent value play. (5) DELITFULCATHERIN N is
12-6-2-1 here since arriving from Down Under and she looked VERY good in her last pair, after adding
Lasix - belongs on your tickets. (4) BETTERB CHEVRON N would be the one to beat IF on her game, but
her last pair have been less than stellar - could be vulnerable at a short price here. (1) CHECKERED PAST
has held form nicely as she's been climbing the class ladder recently - rail draw puts her in play for a small
piece. (6) SEZANA N is just 1 for 28 on the year, and that win came recently vs. NW10000 - she is racing
well enough for a chance at a minor piece, with the right trip. (2) SCANDALICIOUS gets a class drop but
could really use another (at least) - wins drop off the bottom of her card the next 2 starts. (3) MOSSDALE
LOTTEE N was scratched sick on 6/16 then missed almost 5 months before returning - broke here in her
first try back, then was scratched sick after re-qualifying - will just be watching, for now
RACE 3 - (6) DROP THE MIC never got in play last week but did rally late for the show spot - has gone
some excellent miles here in recent weeks, and should find this bunch within his comfort zone - if he's
close by the final turn, he can roll by these. (2) GRAFENBERG lost all chance last week after an early
miscue but he actually made up a ton of ground to only lose by 8 lengths - he does have some ability, and is
definitely worth a look at what figures to be a pretty good price. (4) HOPE SO was already starting to tire
before going offstride on the final turn last week - may be able to just wire these but does figure to be
overbet, and does seem a bit vulnerable. (3) YUCATAN PARTY MAN wasn't all that sharp the last 2 starts
but he's capable of better, and the move inside should help - ok for a piece. (1) WORLDSSTONECOLDAS
was no factor in either local try but moves all the way inside, and may be able to produce a better effort. (5)
PREACHER MAN was much better back in Sept/Oct. but has tailed considerably in recent starts - will
need to find that better form if he hopes to be a player tonight. (7) AWESOME TRIX was off a bad date for
her local debut last week and made an early miscue - prefer to just observe tonight. (8) DUKE OF LINDY
doesn't figure to have much sat from all the way out here.
RACE 4 - (4) TEMPUS SEELSTER was terrific after arriving here in September, winning her way right
up to the Open and then picking up a pair of 3rds at that top level - went the wrong way in a couple of NJ
starts but raced very well in her Hilltop return last week, toughing out a first over 2nd behind the standout
winner - will give her the nod tonight, though there's a few other sharp ones to contend with. (3) NEVERF
ORGETWHOUR seems to go a solid effort every week, and that includes last week's gutsy first over
narrow loss - always deserves plenty of respect. (1) WESTBEACH is 2 for 2 since arriving, and now riding
a 4 race win streak overall - faces a much tougher task tonight, but clearly sharp enough to be a big threat.
(8) JIVE DANCING A crushed this class 2 back, and also back on 10/7 - her overall form has been super,
but she did get beat (as the 3/5 choice) last week with no excuses from the pole, and now is stuck all the
way outside - if you think she can bounce right back, the price will certainly be juicy this time. (2) ROCKN
ROLL ANNIE sat the pocket last week and just missed 2nd to the top choice - she throws enough good
efforts against this type to deserve a spot in exotics. (5) TUAPEKA JESSIE N is a tough call - shipped in
razor sharp from Btva. and raced big in her first 2 local tries as well - not nearly as good in her last, though,
so it's hard to know what we'll get from her tonight. (6) MAJOR BATTLE is another with plenty of good
recent tires that just didn't fire last week - could rebound, but will need some trip luck, for sure. (7) PRAY
THE ROSARY has been good for a while, but may have a hard time getting in play this week
RACE 5 - (2) BLANK SPACE AS would almost certainly been a winner last week had he found room up
the cones, but he was hopelessly trapped and ended up making a late break, after going inside a couple of
pylons - we'll give him the nod tonight, but note that he's 1 for 25 before betting the rent money on him. (1)
JESSIES OUTLAWED has hit board in 6 of 7 local starts, but produced only one win - very logical threat
from this spot, but another that would be hard to back with any real confidence. (4) CHROME PACKAGE
is 1 for 43, but did hit board 20 other times....maybe can rally for a piece? (3) SEARCHIN FOR YOU
almost stole one on the front end (at 13-1) 3 back, but was no factor in his last pair. (7) SQUABLE
sometimes looks like he may be ready to start putting things together but then quickly regresses...and that's
why his current slate stands at 22-1-0-3 -- prefer others. (5) DUANES COOKIE had a decent campaign at
the Iowa fairs but hasn't really shown enough speed in his east coast starts - we'll just watch, for now
RACE 6 - (4) THUNDRA (debuting for a new barn last week) did leave hard from Post 8 but elected to
make a full retreat to last (rather than risk getting parked) - joined the back side flow and had plenty of late
pace for 3rd, despite a less than stellar trip - should be a good enough price to be worth a follow up tonight.
(5) SWEET SALLY SUE shows 15 wins out of town over the last couple of years, and should fit nicely
with the locals...definitely one to fear (and maybe even the one to beat)...but that 9/5 ML price will result
her in her being overbet, most likely. (6) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has been solid lately, fits nicely with
these and there's a chance she could land on a live trip - definitely worth using somewhere on your tickets
at that 15-1 ML price. (1) SANDY WIN shipped in off a nice 2nd at "The Ridge" and pounced on a perfect
trip to win easily in her Hilltop return - leaning a bit towards others tonight, but it would really be no
surprise to see her repeat. (2) QUITE A DELIGHT N sometimes seems ready to start perking up but then
you look at her lines and see nothing but 5ths and 6ths - needs to be better! (7) J ROCKIN B couldn't last
on the lead 2 back off the barn change, and was no good at all from off the pace in last - will need to really
improve to be a player from out here. (8) HIGH ROLLING has trouble finishing most weeks and now has
to contend with Post 8 - rough spot. (3) NARINA HANOVER seems overmatched
RACE 7 - Tough race, with several hard to gauge newcomers! (5) MUSCLE JACK won 4X this year up in
Canada but also shows some breaks and duds - good looking qualifier for his new barn (over the half, at
Monti) so perhaps he's worth a stab in here. (3) EXCHEQUER was 3rd three back, then 2nd to a pair of
standouts in his two starts - definitely belongs in exotics. (4) FOUR UNDER PAR banged out $120K in
Ohio and Indiana at 2 and 3 and lands in a barn that always seems to do well with these "freshies" - biggest
knock is that she's just 1 for 22 this year. (6) GOODASHIM is another newcomer and this guy earned $90K
this year, showing up at some big races - should fit beautifully here, but draws outside and may be overbet.
(7) I LOVE MY COUNTRY shows a few nice VD lines and gets a major switch to Bartlett - he also broke
in his last at Chester, and draws poorly upon arrival - inclined to pass this week. (1) DA BOOGIE MAN
was scratched sick from his last after a few shaky efforts - pass for now. (2) BREEZING PRAYER is 0 for
12 at YR and very dull in last - waiting for better signs. (8) GREG basically fell over the wire last week,
somehow lasting with a :30.4 final quarter - moves up, lands Post 8, and seems unlikely here
RACE 8 - (2) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N is capable of beating better than these when "right" - finished ok
from an impossible spot (vs. better) last week, and should be ready for a strong effort with the class drop -
but wouldn't go overboard on her at a short price. (1) SPORTS FLIX had really been struggling but was
driven aggressively off the class drop last week and responded with a game victory - maybe she built
enough confidence to be a major player again tonight. (4) YS TALLIA hasn't been sharp in a while, but
does get some class relief here - that 2-1 ML price does make her a bit unattractive, though. (7) CORAL
BELLA is stepping way up tonight and draws all the way outside - she's also very sharp, and does have the
speed to at least improve position at the start - not a terrible bomb to use in exotics. (5) BYE BYE MICHE
LLE hasn't won in some time, and that includes many starts vs. cheaper - waiting for an easier spot before
hopping on her team. (6) MILLWOOD BONNIE N got really sharp around Sept. but has really leveled off
lately - outside draw doesn't help, either. (3) LADY DUDETTE makes her YR debut and seems like she
may be in a little too tough here
RACE 9 - (2) DRAGON ROLL was in a hopeless spot last week but still kicked home strong to pick up
4th - she's just been beastly all year, and the move inside stamps her as the one to knock off tonight. (1) LIT
DE ROSE could not have looked any better in her 2 local starts and gets big help by drawing the pole in her
Open debut - this is a big step up, but she's racing like she'll be up for it - legitimate player. (3) SHES PUK
KA N was a winner in her last local start (vs. a bit easier) and returns off a Chester blowout - she can hang
with these too, and should have a say in the outcome. (5) EDGE OF ETERNITY was sharp since arriving
on 9/30 and has held her form right up to the Open (where she was 2nd last week) - she does draw outside a
few main foes here, so that may leave her with a smaller piece tonight. (4) ROCKN PHILLY is clearly
razor sharp, but vs. considerably easier - goes for a new barn off the $50K claim last week, and may be able
to save ground for a minor piece. (6) GOLDEN QUEST N has been much better lately, but the draw does
her no favors - may have to wait for a (much) better spot. (7) LUCKY ARTIST figures to be coming from
well back with the main players having things to themselves up front - not a good scenario! (8) FEELIN
RED HOT draws Post 8 after coming to a crawl last week
RACE 10 - (7) ZENITH STRIDE can run a little hot and cold but the talent is certainly there when he's in
the right mood - jogged in his local debut as the odds on favorite and while this is definitely a much tougher
spot, he is capable of repeating...and at a much better price. (5) QUEEN OF ALL ships in to a very sharp
barn after banging out $262K at 2 and 3 in the Midwest - should be a good fit here, and could easily be a
player in her YR debut. (2) YOU WILL BE QUEEN grabbed three 2nds and a 3rd before finally getting
over the hump with last week's easy victory - have to respect her chances of taking another, especially with
the post edge she enjoys over her main foes. (3) CREDIT CON was a no threat 2nd behind #2 after making
a break as he was getting the lead (from Post 8) the week before - would be willing to consider him on top
IF the price was good enough. (4) CIRCLE OF LIFE AS is racing well right now, but does seem a notch
below the top ones - ok to use underneath. (1) CASTYOURCROWN was sent off favored 2 back in his
local debut but came up a non threatening 4th - came back to take last week's Open at Batavia, and is
eligible to race better here this week - ok for a piece. (6) KING JIMMY broke at the start last week and
faces a solid field tonight - wait for a better spot. (8) WISHFUL MAR lands Post 8 off a bad date for his
new barn - good week to just watch
RACE 11 - (4) GREENHILL HANOVER has been holding her own with better - gets a drop tonight into a
field with no standouts, and also will be getting Zeron at the lines....decent value play in the finale. (2)
NORMANS MADELINE can be tough to predict from start to start but she's quite capable at this level
when in the mood - possibility. (6) MAN DONTFORGET ME would normally be a strong play at this level
but her form has definitely weakened after so many big efforts this year - may perk up enough to come out
on top, but don't take too short a price. (1) IM VERY SPECIAL has struggled to win races here this year (1
for 23) and returns off a dud in NJ - may rebound with a big mile from this spot, but looking at her for the
bottom of the ticket, more so than the top. (8) MONICA GALLAGHER certainly fits well enough but has
to contend with Post 8 - if you think Kakaley can get her in the hunt without having to use her too hard,
then by all means include her on your tickets. (5) PAIGES GIRL is pretty good at finding a way to grab
pieces - maybe 3rd/4th? (3) WAKEMESHAKEME seems to need to be in a bit easier at the moment -
prefer others. (7) PETTYCOAT BUSINESS was all out to beat the bottom level 2 back - will need to up her
game quite a bit to be any kind of player tonight