Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • October 16, 2024

The Empire Report – Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (7) OBJ has put together a solid season, has a good 5-1-3-0 local slate and just seems to have more

ability than the others in here (unless one of the fresh faces steps up for new connections) – gets top billing in the

opener despite the draw. (1) SWEETER THAN LOU hit board in her first 2 local tries before getting stuck with Post

8 in her last – moves all the way inside, and is a very logical threat. (2) KISS MY CHEEK has been underachieving

in her last few starts but gets major post relief and that could help her find a better effort. (3) OAKWOOD

DYNASTY IR has been off form lately – we’ll see if 19 days off actually helps her cause. (5) PARADISE

TOMORROW and (6) ALCOHOL YOU LATER (1st time Lasix) make their local debuts, for new barns – both seem

a bit cheap, but note if either takes good tote action. (4) URSULA BLUE CHIP is just 1 for 46, but an easy trip

always gives her a chance for a minor share. (8) SWEETSOUTHRNLASS N has failed to function in the majority

of her U.S. starts.


RACE 2 – (2) JUST ROSAS LUCK got a little too hot on the lead last week (dropping back down to 20s) and got a

little tired at the end – could land on an easier trip tonight, and her main foes are all drawn outside. (8) HARPER SE

ELSTER is rock solid at this level and almost won from Post 8 on 8/20 – she’ll likely be the best price of the main

players, and that makes her worth a look (hoping for some trip luck). (6) TYRA MAKES BANK sports a strong

15-5-5-3 local slate and that includes last week’s win– a threat as always (7) NUTTINBUTHEBEST has been

knocking on the door in her last few but tonight’s draw may leave her knocking once more. (1) MADDY N

MAGGIE hasn’t been in her local tries but catches several sharp foes tonight – ok for underneath in exotics from

this spot. (3) ANNE BONNEY N likely needs to land in a softer field to be a serious player. (5) ALWAYS B MIMI

just hasn’t been on her best game in some time – prefer others. (4) PRINCESS ARONA has been struggling for

months.


RACE 3 – (5) LIBERTY N FREEDOM was an excellent 2nd to the unbeatable ITALIAN DELIGHT N last week,

going a pretty big mile of his own – he was full of pace finishing the week before, and just seems ready to get back

to the winner’s circle. (3) LYONS LIBERTY is camera shy at Yonkers (and other places too), but he did race very

well for 2nd for his new barn last week, and perhaps can be part of a “Libertyfecta” tonight! (6) LUCIANO N has

some less than stellar lines lately but he takes a meaningful drop to the basement here, and his barn has had more

than their share of form reversals lately – maybe he can add some value to the exotics? (1) MISSILE SEELSTER

was an ok 3rd last week racing off a sick scratch – could be tighter tonight for his new barn, and it would no surprise

to see him grab a good piece here – not a fan of the 2-1 ML price, though. (7) MAJOR MAKEOVER is another that

will be happy NOT to see ITALIAN DELIGHT N this week, as he was 2nd and 3rd behind him the last 2 starts – the

draw IS an issue, however. (2) ATLANTIS was surprisingly solid when 2nd here 2 back but reverted to his “gapped,

empty” form last week...which version tonight? (8) MOTIVE HANOVER had a trio of 2nds recently but wasn’t as

sharp in his last pair, and now has to contend with Post 8. (4) CENTURY IGLESIAS hasn’t threatened in some time.


RACE 4 – (1) ALOTBETTOR N loves to win races, with 10 victories in 2023 and 8 already this year – he won

from a similar spot last week, and looms the one to knock off once more. (5) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES picked up

his game a bit dropping to 25s recently, and now drops even further down looking to grab an elusive victory –

should be able to have a big say here. (2) LAST MACH was a sharp 2nd facing 15s last week and now looks to take

on the 20s – the good draw may give him a shot to be in the mix vs. these too. (7) BUDDY HILL is the “x factor”

here – he drops in for $20K after missing 5+ months and it’s anybody’s guess how big a player he’ll be – perhaps the

tote board will offer some guidance? (8) BIG SIR is probably sharper than his lines look but he gets hammered with

another bad draw – best hope is if Bartlett can improve his position at the start, while not using him too hard. (6) CL

EVELAND B MIKI shouldn’t mind moving from age-restricted 20s to these, but his late rallies are generally good

for only smaller pieces regardless. Both (3) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP and (4) KB MAC have been struggling for

some time, and will need to be a lot better to be threats here.


RACE 5 – (6) FULL SCALE has hit board ALL 8 starts since moving to his current barn, and seems to be getting

even better lately (his last win was his best effort so far) – we’ll stay on board, even from this tougher spot. (2) THE

ENERGY KING weakened a bit and lost 2nd after chasing the top choice last start– maybe he can finish a bi stronger

here and complete the exacta? (7) NOTTINGHAM just missed to the top choice 2 back then reversed that decision

the next start – he draws poorly tonight, however, and is also off for 25 days...may hurt his chances this week. (3)

THE K BAR has ability and her young pilot has handled her many times in the past – chance to grab a piece with a

smooth trip. (5) PAPA JOE LOZITTO may be a little on the cheaper side but he hails from top connections, is racing

well right now, and may be able to land a share. (8) FOREVER LION AS was a 25-1 upset winner in his YR debut

but now draws Post 8 vs. a much tougher field – could be looking at a much smaller slice this time around. (1)

MARI NOS PRIZE hasn’t been bad, but she does seem a notch below the main players. (4) LEGAL SCHOLAR

returns off a win in PA but does seem a but cheap for this bunch.


RACE 6– (5) REAL LADY SADIE had no prayer in her last start (7 hole vs. 50s) but she DID race well in that

class the week before, and now drops back down to the much more comfortable $25K level – may be able to shoot

right to the top tonight. (1) LAZIN ON THE BEACH raced well in both starts since returning from Minnesota,

moves inside, and is looking at a pretty good trip – legitimate threat. (3) SUNBURN struggled in a pair of local

starts after changing hands (50s) then went on the shelf for 5 months – her qualifiers look, she’s on Lasix now, and at

a reduced level – could be okay here, but not a fan of the 3-1 ML price. (8) LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK lands

another bad post but she probably fits well at this level, and could be a good bomb for the bottom of exotics. (6)

EBONY LADY was solid in her last few, but tonight’s tough draw could limit her to minor spoils. (7) CHASE YOU

faltered on the lead two back upon dropping to 25s but did convert last week off an easier trip – would have liked

her chances a lot better with an inside draw. (2) UNITY has done some good work here this year but just hasn’t been

clicking lately. (4) PETROL QUEEN may be okay in this class, though the jury is still out.


RACE 7 – (3) ROCK CLIMBER landed on a tough trip in his first try for a new barn last week (at Freehold) and

can be forgiven for tiring a bit – could be sharper now, gets Bartlett, and feels like a very live player. (2) QUEEN

CABAL has been pretty consistent all year, both here and out of town – she was 2nd in her last pair, is looking at a

good trip tonight, and can definitely land somewhere on the ticket. (7) NATIONAL LOVE AS does have 3 fairly

recent local wins (all with Brennan) but has also made a couple of recent miscues and lands outside again – not sure

he’s worth that 5/2 ML price, but can certainly have a big say. (8) ELEGANT RESOLVE arrives from Canada

(adding Lasix) to connections that generally thrive with these types – he’s almost certainly an excellent fit, but hard

to predict how aggressive he’ll be after drawing Post 8 – maybe the tote board can provide clues? (6) KING TUT

HANOVER fits okay with these, but gets a tough draw – maybe he can grab a small piece? (4) HIPPIE SHAKE has

no wins and just one 2nd from his 21 career starts but he does have over $100K in the bank, thanks to picking up

checks in a bunch of short NYSS fields – he adds Lasix tonight, so we’ll see if that helps his cause. (1) WISTERIA

HANOVER has missed over 3 months, and is just 3 for 42 lifetime – sticking with others, for now. (5) SUNSHINEI

NABAG went off big prices in both local tries, and does seem to need easier.


RACE 8 – (1) REIGNING JADE was sent off favored here 3 back but came up 2nd best to #3 – she was 4/5 in her

next but was offstride early, then rebounded with a good try from Post 7 in her last – assuming a clean effort tonight,

she’ll be a solid player from the pole. (6) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT was a steady 4th behind some nice fillies in her last

local try then finished behind a couple of them at Plainridge last week (in the Reynolds) – definitely a good fit here,

but will have to overcome the tough draw. (5) PASTA DELIGHT ships down sharp from Canada and his board in 16

of 28 career starts up there – should fit well with the locals. (3) KAIRAKICONFIDENTL N won her first 3 U.S.

starts but weakened in her last pair – can’t count her out, but leaning more to others right now. (7) PEELER took no

$$ debuting for new connections last week but finished ok from the back in encouraging try – draws poorly again, so

perhaps the tote board can offer some clues? (2) SWEET CAROLINE IR ships in after taking her last 2 at Chester –

she hails from a very live barn, but MAY be a little bit cheaper...we should get a better picture after tonight. (4) BE

HEST is having a disappointing year – waiting to see some better efforts before hopping on her team. (8) FRESH

MIST ships in from KY and it seems like a bad sign that Bartlett opts for #5 in here.


RACE 9 – (7) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL had Post 8 for her first start since being scratched lame on 7/16 but did

finish very alertly in an encouraging mile – she’ll be a good price here, and may be worth a stab in her 2

nd start back. (1) SHEIKH YABOOTY N has won 3 straight for 3 different trainers and looks to extend that streak to 4 – she’ll be

the odds-on choice to do so. (3) IM FANCY LIKE was 2nd best in her local debut, had Post 8 in her next, won the

next time out then was parked the mile in her last – an easy trip puts her in the mix for a good piece. (8) IRON

MISTRESS has a tough assignment from Post 8 but she’s clearly racing very well, and that 15-1 ML price makes

her worth including on some tickets. (5) SPEAK YOUR MIND has a win and a 2nd from her 2 local tries this year –

chance to take this, but a smaller piece seems more likely. (2) OURLITTLEMIRACLE has been under-delivering at

short prices...still ok to use in exotics, though (6) JILLIAN JIGGS has a couple of recent 2nds to #1 but that was

with easy pocket trips – seems unlikely to get that kind of trip here. (4) LINE EM UP has no wins and just one 2nd

from her 18 local starts this year, making her claim last week a bit of a surprise – we’ll see how it turns out.


RACE 10 – (5) JUST A WRANGLER struggled a bit in his first start off the claim but that was with a tough 7 hole

trip vs. 20s – drops back down to 15s, gets a better draw, and could get back to his winning form. (2) YOUR BROT

HER has done excellent work at this level but his last start (when claimed) was a total dud – if he can shrug that off

and get back to his more typical form, he can be a big player. (6) SWAGASAURUSREX took no $$ for his start off

the layoff and while he did finish 7th, he wasn’t all that far back at the end – if he takes some $ tonight, he may be

worth considering. (1) BARON CHANCEY has been facing cheaper out of town but at least he has some decent

form – may be able to grab a piece with the rail draw. (3) IMABEACHBOY has offered little in a long time but he

does move inside tonight, and we’ll see if that helps him perk up a bit. (4) ROSE RUN X CON has no wins and just

one 2nd from his 26 starts this year – tough one to endorse. (7) VICTOR HIC picked up a win 2 back but that was

with a pocket trip from Post 3 – may have trouble getting himself in play from out here. (8) VELOCITY KOMODO

failed to beat a horse in his last pair...which were also from Post 8.

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