The Empire Report – Thursday, October 24, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (4) FULL SUPPORT was handled aggressively 2 back (despite making his first start in 7 months) and
can be forgiven for tiring a bit – had NO chance last week, but wasn’t all that far back at the wire – seems like a
logical spot to give him a look (he did win 5 of his first 9 local starts), as long as the price is fair. (3) PORTERS
MAN hit board in his last 3 and has proven to be a solid weekly fit in this class – would be no surprise at all. (6)
OVER THE HORIZON seemed a bit overbet last week (dropping down in class) but was helped by an early breaker
(allowing him to drop in 3rd), then earned the victory with a game first over score – tough draw for tonight, so look
for a better price if using on top again. (1) HES HALF NAKED was well backed from a similar spot 2 back but was
offstride early – definitely could land in the exotics with an easy trip. (2) MONACO HANOVER had a little life
finishing last week and his barn has sent out a good number of big-priced winners the past couple of months – ok for
longshot fans. (5) KNOCKIN OUT is just 1 for 21 here at Yonkers but did finish ok last week and may have a shot
at a minor share. (7) BETTER OFF SINGLE is just 20-0-1-2 locally and draws Post 7 off a break. (8) CAVIART
JUSTICE has been struggling out of town for a very high % barn and lands Post 8 - prefer to just watch this week
RACE 2 – Tough race! (1) CAHOOTS gave it a big try off the claim last week, rolling a sharp 3/4s and only getting
beat by the tripsitting favorite – maybe he can make it hold up tonight, or perhaps get it done from the pocket? (4)
KINGSTON PANIC made up good ground into a sharp 3 rd panel last week but still sustained his momentum pretty
well into the lane – he recently picked up a win and a 2 nd , and isn’t a bad bomb to consider if you think things may
get a little hot up front. (2) TWO FACED is a tough call – he really came up weak last start off a class drop (a bad
sign) but he moves tonight to a barn that has done amazing work off the claim all year long– would need a decent
price to use him on top here. (8) HECANDANCENCRUISE has several good starts recently and drops in for a tag
tonight – his pilot is not afraid to blast from any spot, and that 10-1 ML price does look tempting. (6) LAZ finished
with much better pace 2 back and came back to race well last week too– another that would benefit from a contested
pace. (5) CELLMATE was just a nose away from a 3 race winning streak one level down, then raced ok for 3
rd last week moving up to 30s – another good trip could help him take home another good piece. (3) SURFRIDER seems
to need to be up near the action to be a player...but his trip is hard to gauge for tonight. (7) MANHATTAN ARTIST
wasn’t a bad 3 rd dropping in for a tag last week, but gets a brutal draw for tonight
RACE 3 – (4) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS never could get in play last week but picked up big-priced 2nds in his
prior 2 starts, from Posts 7 and 8 – finally gets a better draw, can handle any trip, and may be able to get it done
tonight. (3) TORRONE has been holding form very nicely in his recent climb back up the class ladder, and that
includes last week’s 2 nd behind a classy winner – could be a threat here too. (1) ENOLA turned in a couple of solid
tries since being claimed for $40k, finishing 2 nd each time – draws the pole, and can be in the mix here too. (5) TAC
HYON drops down to the level he beat 4 back and will surely attract plenty of tote action – he’s also off form in his
last few starts, causing mixed feelings about his chances for tonight. (7) STREET GOSSIP draws terribly but he’s
been very good for some time, and that includes last week’s excellent 3 rd (almost 2 nd) – legitimate chance to outrace
that 20-1 ML price. (2) PEDAL ON METAL is another listed at 20-1 that is in good form right now (at PcD) – she’s
facing a class hike tonight, but may be sharp enough to still hold her own. (6) I GET IT really hasn’t been 100%
since returning from the layoff and now draws poorly off a sick scratch – definitely could be vulnerable. (8) WINDS
ONG PIONEER lands all the way outside and drops a win off his card after tonight – keep an eye for next week
RACE 4 – (7) BULLY BOY HILL has been behaving every week and racing well in most of his starts – he almost
pulled off a 38-1 shocker from Post 8 three back, and we’ll see if he can light up the tote board from Post 7 tonight.
(3) ROGER RABBIT has been claimed in 4 straight starts, finishing 2 nd in each of them – he’ll get to call the shots
here and looms the one to beat...but he also figures to be very heavily backed! (6) BRAVE BY DESIGN was sent
off favored last start (off his sharp efforts the previous 3 weeks) but he blew up before the start and lost all chance –
he’ll probably be handled carefully here, but still has a chance if the trip goes his way – playable, if the price is right.
(1) KENOBI was actually very good 2 back, finishing solidly (for 5 th) from well off the pace – he was well backed
and did finish 2 nd last week, but really was just “ok”– prefer others on top here, but will certainly include underneath
(5) MAHONE SEELSTER was off 6 months to his last so that 8 hole try should benefit him – could be sharper
tonight, and may even have a chance to grab a piece. (4) DRACO S rarely wins, but fits well enough for a chance at
a piece, with the right trip. (2) GRINDER seems to need to be in easier to be a player. (8) UNFORGETTABLE
drops, but may not be good enough right now to capitalize, especially from Post 8
RACE 5 – (4) GUNG HO did well to hold 2 nd last week after giving way to the currently VERY sharp POUND
FOR POUND – solid chance to make amends tonight against this crew. (1) CYRUS N beat cheaper with a pocket
trip last week and may be able to get that same trip tonight...may have to settle for 2 nd , though. (3) SURFSIDE
BEACH perked up a bit when 3 rd two back then used a very good trip to pick up his first victory in a while last week
– sharp enough for a piece here too. (2) MYSWEETBOYMAX was a close 2 nd one level down two back, then finished 4
th last week, one level up – an easy trip puts him in play for a small piece. (8) ALL ALONE landed on a nice trip last week but came up 2
nd best to #3, who ran him down in the lane – draws poorly tonight, and Bartlett
opting for #1 doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence. (5) JIMMY CONNOR B carved it out last week but left room at
the cones and could only watch #1 go by – he’s looking at a tougher trip tonight, and probably only minor spoils. (7)
ALEX TYE raced well in his last pair but has to deal with both a class jump and bad post. (6) YO A J drops, but will
look better with another drop NEXT week
RACE 6 – (5) CHAPERCRAZE (like barnmate ITS ACADEMIC) won a division of the MGM Grand Prix last start
but it definitely wasn’t his “best” effort – he still has to get top billing against these...but be careful about taking a
very short price tonight. (2) GAINES HANOVER was heavily backed for his local debut and rallied for 2
nd off a conservative steer – he never looked right in his last, however (same race as the top choice), so we’ll see if he can
shrug it off and rebound with a good one tonight. (8) CHAKE shipped in sharp from PA, was a close 3
rd in on 10/3 then a dominant 7 hole winner last week – tough draw (facing some tougher foes) tonight, but sharp enough to make
some noise IF Bartlett can find her a manageable trip. (4) DIAMANTE TRIO IT has enjoyed a terrific season but
feels like she MAY be tailing a bit – we’ll see if she can rebound with one of her better efforts tonight. (1) DONATO
PATRIOT K is a bit on the cheaper side but the rail draw at last puts him in the mix for a small piece. (7) DJIMON
won 4 in a row here before a dud in the Dayton Derby, followed by a miscue here last week – feels a little iffy right
now. (3) DOMOVOY will be class tested shipping in from Saratoga. (6) TEXSONG SOPRANO appeared a little
short in his first start off the layoff last week and may need another
RACE 7 – NAADA Amateur Fall Series: (8) BUZZ has won 4 of his last 6 starts with excuses in the other two –
obviously will need some trip luck to win from out here, but his pilot seems to win almost every one of these, and
that 8-1 ML price is hard to resist. (6) PILSNER FROSTY was 2 nd to the top choice in his last local try and was 2 nd
at Monti the next week – has to be worth at least a look at that 20-1 ML price. (1) COVID CARTEL ships in from
Ohio off a front end win, lands in a very sharp barn and draws the pole tonight – could have a big say here. (3) GRA
FENBERG returns from Fhd. riding a 3 race winning streak, though Marohn was on board for all of those victories
– would consider him tonight IF the price was juicy enough. (2) LUCKY SEVENS should fit okay here, gets a good
draw, but that 5/2 ML price just seems a bit too low. (5) RACEACE has been inconsistent at best but he does have a
good local history, and could be a decent bomb for the bottom of exotics. (4) ALLINDOTIME has 2 wins here this
year but comes into tonight with just 1 start in 4 days...and that’s a concern. (7) LIMERENCE probably needs a
much better draw to be a serious player
RACE 8 – Good race: (6) PRETTY HANDSOME has been a very solid player in 30s and now drops down to 25s –
a good trip makes him a dangerous player, but the draw makes that at least a bit iffy. (1) LYONS PEGASUS is
having a rough year (just 1 for 30) but was sharp in his last pair – could trip out from the pole and get it done tonight
(after just missing last week). (5) MIGHTY SANTANA N has just ONE win this year but does have 9 seconds –
always willing to include him underneath. (3) SHADOW IN RED ships in from PA and would seem to be a good fit
with these – gets a nice switch to Bartlett, and definitely deserves respect. (4) NOWHERE CREEK A is another
dropping from 30s to 25s but that last up-the-track try does seem to raise some red flags – mixed feelings about his
chances here. (8) BIG SIR is sharp for sure, and was right there from Post 8 last week – that was vs. 20s, however,
and he also loses Bartlett tonight – leaning more towards others. (2) BARON MICHAEL has been racing well at
Fhd. but he’s struggled at Yonkers the past 2 years, going just 1 for 24. (7) SWEET TROY draws poorly after
making just one start in the past 45 days.
RACE 9 – (2) COLD CREEK FELIPE got a better draw 2 back, went right to the top and almost held on – he was
able to build off that effort with a victory last week, and has a chance to take another. (4) I AINT NO MACK
couldn’t overcome the draw in his first try at this level but moved all the way inside last week, sat the pocket and
was an easy winner – was claimed that night, and looms a big threat to repeat for his new connections...but also
figures to be somewhat overbet! (1) FIXN N MIXIN just wasn’t bet right for his local debut (especially off the barn
change) and had trouble overcoming a tough trip – could land on a better journey tonight, giving him a chance at a
better piece. (5) CLEVELAND B MIKI is still winless on the year but sometimes he can rally for small pieces – ok for 3
rd/4 th . (3) SWISS COTTON rallied for 2 nd in his 2 nd local start but was helped by a “fall apart” race – we’ll see if
he can continue to improve. (7) SNOUZE U LOUZE was a winner vs 15s 3 back, and 3 rd in this class last week –
would have liked his chances a lot more with a better draw. (6) ON DAYBOO was a solid winner 4 back but then
failed to replicate that mile in any of his last 3 starts – needs to be better. (8) THAT DOG WILL HUNT ended up
brutally parked from Post 7 last week and may suffer the same fate if he tries to leave tonight.