The Empire Report - Thursday, February 17, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - Good, competitive opener! (3) DELITFULCATHERIN N won her way up to the Open ranks
recently and held her own against those top mares - was a solid rallying 3rd getting some class relief last
week, and a live trip tonight may get her back to the winner's circle. (2) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA went
some of the best miles of her career after a barn change last year but the connections who had her then have
disappeared from the game - missed some time from October but her last start at Rosecroft suggests she
could be ready to do some local damage for her new barn. (4) WESTBEACH won her first 3 local starts
before finding things a bit too tough in the Open - rallied for 3rd getting some class relief in last, and is a
very viable one to use in exotics at that 10-1 ML price. (1) BEST HEAD WEST is now 5 for 6 locally, and
has hinted at plenty of talent - this will be her toughest test to date, though, and she may be overbet from
this spot - certainly a possible winner, but probably won't offer much value. (5) MAJOR BATTLE fits well
with these and comes into tonight off a pair of 2nd place finishes - yet another very live contender. (6) MY
LAST BET debuts for a barn that continues to attract new owners with their unbelievable success - draws
outside off a sick scratch, though, and that has us leaning towards others. (7) VELOCITY MCSWEETS has
been terrific since joining this barn (no room last week), but faces an uphill battle from all the way out here.
(8) LADYBELUCKYTONITE has been "ok", but seems unlikely to threaten from Post 8
RACE 2 - (2) SLY ELEANOR N was sent off at 4/5 last time, on the strength of her impressive, blowout
win the week before - she couldn't overcome the tough trip and finished 3rd but still raced very well, pacing
her 3rd quarter in :27.1 while battling #5 first over - much better price tonight, and worth another shot. (5)
DBLDELITEBRIGADE N fended off the top choice for a sharp win on 2/3, then came back and was a
front end winner again in her last - steps up again, but she's beaten better than these when "right" - remains
a dangerous threat. (4) MAGICAL MISTRESS drops a notch, moves inside a bit and should be a major
player tonight - worth considering on top IF the price is decent. (1) CAMPUS QUEEN paced evenly at the
back from a no-chance spot upon arrival from Ohio, and now moves all the way inside - look for her to be a
close up player throughout, perhaps sticking around for a decent piece. (3) PRAY THE ROSARY has been
grabbing pieces with better recently - not sure she can beat the top ones, but another good chunk is well
within reach. (7) BETTERB CHEVRON N was handled aggressively last week but tired badly from the
pocket - guessing she'll just sit back and rally late tonight, making it hard for her to get more than a minor
share. (6) MALNIFICENT is in tough, and draws poorly off a miscue - pass for tonight
RACE 3 - (3) M AND MMS was 0 for 9 as a 2YO in Canada but after some time off and a barn change,
her recent qualifiers/race in NJ look much more promising - should be a decent price here, and none of the
main players look all that scary...worth a shot? (1) P L OSCAR shipped down from Canada and jogged at
Fhd. for his new barn - this is likely a better field, but he still deserves plenty of respect from this spot. (4)
BIG CHARLIE MORAN shipped in off a pair of Fhd. jogburgers, but lost all chance with a break before
the start - was actually very good in his next, and he did win a start here last year - definitely consider. (8)
SEVENSHADESOFGREY was able to win the NYSS Final (when that race "fell apart") but he's clearly
struggling now for his current connections - he'll appreciate the drop to NW2 and may just be too good for
these...but still worth taking a shot against at a short price from Post 8. (7) YUCATAN PARTY MAN has
gone miles here in the past that would beat these....but he's been away since 12/9, draws outside, and may
need a start. (6) MNEMONIC fits well with these, and did grab a win here in Nov. - tends to get away
slowly, though, and that could really hurt her chances if that happens here. (2) SQUABLE needs to be
better than he has been for any chance to contend for a piece here. (5) CHROME PACKAGE was 3rd (at
99-1!) on 1/13, but has weak efforts and breaks in most of his other recent starts.
RACE 4 - (3) BYE BYE MICHELLE battled a long way with the talented BEST HEAD WEST before
finally giving way last week, and meets no such rivals tonight - good chance she can take these wire to
wire. (8) CORSINI A will need some luck to come her way from out here but she's better than most of
these, and has a chance to be a big player if Siegelman can find her a manageable journey. (7) YS TALLIA
was a bit better 2 back, then was able to wire cheaper in her last - still needs to be even sharper to be a
threat to these, but she may be building back some confidence right now - piece.? (5) CHECKERED PAST
had been struggling for several starts but showed much better life last week - willing to include underneath.
(1) PONDER THE ODDS hasn't won in some time, and has even been disappointing against lesser - will be
overbet from this spot, and others are offering better value right now. (2) A CRAFTY LADY is a bit
uninspiring right now, but does drop and move inside - a wake up call is NOT impossible. (4) BULLVILL
EKARLA had some life finishing last week, but vs. cheaper - she's 0 for 20 here over the past 2 years, and
would seem to need an easier spot. (6) TELL ME A JOKE fits a cheaper class- we'll consider her (possibly)
when she's entered at that lower level.
RACE 5 - (7) MCMARKLE SPARKLE shows lines in Ohio that would make her a good fit with the locals
- she gets around the half, joins a top barn, and seems to have enough speed for a chance to improve at the
start, and work out a trip - willing to take a shot in her YR debut. (1) EYE POPPING found her form a few
starts back, and has added the consistency that has often been missing from her game - major threat from
the pole. (3) EDGE OF ETERNITY was disappointing on the lead last week, but that was vs. tougher - on
her best she can definitely beat these, so give her a look if the price is decent enough. (2) ANNE BONNEY
N rallied solidly for 4th last week (at 44-1) and owns several local wins - not a bad value horse to include in
exotics. (6) WOODMERE SKYROLLER was a winner at the bottom level 2 back, then was an excellent
2nd last week (NW7500) adding Lasix (and more importantly, she just looked a lot smoother around the
turns) - can't fault her form, but she does land outside while making a double class jump, and that may limit
her a bit tonight. (4) CHUPPAH ON improved dramatically after changing barns 3 back, but that came as
no surprise to anybody that's been following the (rising) career of her current trainer - may be in a little too
tough tonight, but we shall see! (5) GREENHILL HANOVER was no factor in her last couple - needs to be
sharper to compete with these
RACE 6 - (3) FIGHTING EVIL looked good finishing here on 1/19 (racing off a bad date) - no prayer spot
in her next but an excellent, dead-game first over 2nd to the sharp winner in her last - may be able to grab
her first local victory tonight. (1) DEMETER N was pretty disappointing when unable to prevail on the lead
2 back (at 3/5), but was actually very good last week, finishing full of pace for 3rd from an impossible spot
- has more than enough back class to boss these around....IF she finds her "A Game" tonight. (7) JOSS IE
JAMES A has been away since 12/2 and MAY need a start....but she comes off an outstanding 2022 season,
and has to at least get a look at that 20-1 ML price. (6) TOBAGO TIME showed surprise speed AND
decent stamina when outracing her odds for 3rd last week - willing to include her underneath here off that
nice effort. (2) E R HILARY is just a solid performer week after week, for almost any barn that has her -
she may also be a notch below a couple of the main players in here, and could be looking at only a smaller
piece tonight. (5) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX prefers to be in a bit cheaper, and will likely be coming from
too far back for more than a minor share. (4) PAIGES GIRL had to re-qualify after finishing up the track in
her seasonal debut - prefer to just observe, for now
RACE 7 - (1) L DEES PATRICK really turned things around in Canada after a barn change 5 starts back,
and ships down to a very live upstate barn riding a 4 race win streak - his young pilot has shown that he can
handle a horse, and we'll stick with the hot hand in his local debut. (4) HEARTOFGOLD DEVIE was a
solid 3rd in NJ two back, then followed that up with an excellent 2nd here last week (to the front end, 3/5
winner) - major threat! (6) TITANS HOPE has the speed to set herself up with a decent trip here - not sure
how well she can stick around at the end, but still worth using underneath at that 15-1 ML price. (8) STRIK
ING GENSON was a front end winner 2 back, and a hard used 2nd in last - continues to improve for his
current barn, and has a chance for a piece, even from out here. (7) CREDIT CON left well from Post 7 last
week and would have reached the front if not for that miscue - adds hopples for tonight, but may take the
conservative approach with the tough draw. (5) BIG MONEY HONEY is usually good for some late life,
but may find himself too far back to be a serious player tonight. (2) GRAFENBERG has done a nice job
behaving himself lately, but is another that may get off to a slowish start, and have too much work to do at
the end, (3) JOE EXOTIC improved his career slate to 2 for 48 with last week's victory - faces a lot tougher
here, and will need to be a lot better to be a player with these
RACE 8 - (6) LUCKY ARTIST A had good pace finishing in her first start of the year (from an impossible
spot), then was a close 3rd last week behind a pair of excellent Open mares - barn has been insanely hot
since the beginning of the month, and this mare deserves top billing despite the outside draw. (2) ROCKN
PHILLY usually needs cheaper to do her best work but she seems to have elevated her game over the last
couple of starts - beat this class (last to first!) two back, and she's a major threat again tonight. (4) JIVE
DANCING A was used hard in her first try off the layoff and didn't tire all that badly - eligible to be tighter
now, and is a good one to include in exotics. (3) THE FUN MARSHALL probably needs to be in a bit
easier to be effective, but was an ok 4th last week, and may be able to pick up a small piece tonight. (7)
CORAL BELLA went on an insane run after being claimed for $12,500 on 11/18 but has come back to
earth a bit in her last couple - tonight's class drop may help, but the outside draw will still be an obstacle.
(5) SPORTS FLIX has been away since 12/16 and probably will need a start or two before we see her best.
(1) COWGIRL LILLY just looked overmatched against these last week.
RACE 9 - (1) DRAGON ROLL took off the gate and basically conceded from Post 7 last week, but still hit
the wire full of pace - she took the previous two Opens before that, and has to be seen as the one to beat
tonight with the move all the way inside. (2) KARMA SEELSTER is 2 for 2 here at Yonkers, and makes
her first start of 2022 after a two month layoff - maybe she can win right out of the box, but it'll be a tough
task (and she'll be a pretty short price). (5) LA BELLA VITA N came up 2nd best in the fog in her first YR
try, then collared the classy leader at the wire to grab the victory last week - barn is beyond hot right now,
but she bumps up to the Open, and spots the top pair a post advantage - we'll see how she can do against
these. (6) LIT DE ROSE has been outstanding since arriving from Canada, compiling an 8-5-1-1 record -
clearly at a disadvantage with tonight's draw, but will also be a better price - not impossible. (4) BITTY
BITTY wasn't bad in her first try at this top level, finishing steadily for 4th - maybe can rally for another
piece tonight? (3) JODY gave it a shot on the lead last week but was worn down and weakened to 3rd -
may need a little easier to do her best work.
RACE 10 - (4) MUSCLE JACK broke in his only local attempt but it was before the start, and he's done
that on big tracks too - he's done some really good work across the river, and we'll give him a chance to
make amends for that local miscue back in December. (5) YOU WILL BE QUEEN is 8-2-4-1 at Yonkers,
and a player every time she's been in the box - returns off a sharp try at The Swamp, and will be a major
threat tonight. (2) B NICKING has done a lot of good work in Ohio, and lands in a top local barn for his
YR debut...he's probably as good (or better?) than the top two, but he has just one start since 12/29, and
MAY be a little rusty this week - would still consider on top if the price was right. (1) CIRCLE OF LIFE
AS has done some good work here (3 for 9), but may be a little below the top ones - definitely should be
used underneath, in exotics. (6) SHADRACK HANOVER is 2 for 2 since putting the hopples on, but will
face a much tougher field this week - we'll see if he can continue his fine form, especially with the outside
draw. (3) VINNY DE VIE is racing "ok", but will need to up his game a bit to be a threat to the top ones.
(7) CUPID HANOVER ships in from Dover to a new barn, lands a tough spot, and just seems a little too
one dimensional....will just observe, for now
RACE 11 - (2) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE raced ok vs. better in her last, and was a winner at this level
back in September - lands in a questionable field here, and it feels like a good spot for her to have a shot at
the top prize. (8) SCANDALICIOUS had been struggling for some time but did flash some life dropping to
NW7500 last week, and now lands down at the bottom level - Post 8 will be tough to overcome, but a good
price makes her worth a look. (3) CABOWABOCUTTIE showed some subtle life 3 back, then built on that
with a nice 2nd the following week - failed to get involved from Post 8 last time but moves back inside, and
could easily perk back up and land somewhere on the ticket. (5) SHELLIE DE VIE hadn't been any good
for several weeks before finally showing some life when 2nd best last week - we'll see if she can build off
that, but definitely not ready to hop on her team at a short price. (7) GOTTALOVEMYSHADOW had good
pace finishing from an impossible spot last week, and picked up four 3rd from 8 local starts last year - good
bomb for 3rd/4th! (1) WOODMERE HARRIET drops all the way to the bottom but hasn't shown any real
life in some time - may be a wake up spot, but no value at a short price. (4) IDEAL HANNAH has
improved for this barn, but tired in her last and needs to be better. (6) CRYSTAL SPARKLES N lasted for
3rd last start, but has really struggled for a long time - not ready to hop on board just yet