Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • December 19, 2022

The Empire Report - Wednesday, December 21, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - Good opener! (6) CAVIART SARGENT has leveled off a bit in recent weeks but he's also been

facing better than he did during one of his form sprees - should definitely appreciate tonight's drop, and he

may be be able to make his late rally count if things get testy up front. (2) FORREST BLU showed a lot of

promise at 2, but just failed to get rolling for most of the year at 3 - has recently started to pick up his game,

and raced well for a new barn last week - could be a threat with the right trip. (1) SILENT SPLENDOR is a

good fit at this level and just missed last week to the very sharp winner- gets to call the shots from the pole

tonight, and looms a very dangerous player. (5) MOMENTSTHATMATTER was in a tough spot racing

from the back after last week's :58.1 half but his recent form has otherwise been excellent - debuts for a

new barn tonight, and a live trip may allow him to do some real damage. (4) TS RAIDER II gets a pass for

being parked the mile last week but his previous start resulted in a break - he MAY be tailing right now and

while it's too early to write him off, he does have us leaning in a different direction. (7) CAPTAIN T HAN

OVER wasn't steering too well for his previous barn - looked better (after a barn change) last week, but still

was short of being a contender....another tough draw tonight. (3) PBR STREET GANG used the easiest of

trips to grab a 4th last week but he just seems to race better AWAY from Yonkers. (8) CAPTAINS PLACE

continues to drop, but also continues to struggle - brutal post now.


RACE 2 - (4) BIG BAD SWAN was no threat in his last couple but wasn't bad either - may end up with a

better trip tonight, and he's beaten these enough times to be worth a look tonight...as long as the price is

decent. (3) STEUBEN HANOVER races well most weeks but he doesn't WIN too often, and usually gets

heavily backed - chance for sure, but probably won't offer much value. (5) ALL CHAMPY hung in pretty

well after exiting out former leading barn in October, though he's only been able to pick up smaller pieces

so far - may be in for a similar outcome tonight. (1) MISSION VOYAGE has a lot variables as he ships in

from PA (adds hopples, but broke last start and is racing off a sick scratch) - the guess is that he does fit

well, but he would need to be a decent price to be worth using on top. (2) HOLTON is another newcomer

that appears to fit well, but has a couple of recent miscues, along with a total clunker 2 back - another that

would have to be a nice price to be worth considering. (8) PC FREE WHEELING picked up 3rds the last 2

weeks, but from much easier spots- may have a tough time doing as well from out here (6) SWISS HOUSE

ONFIRE has been behaving and generally racing ok - probably draws outside too many main players to be

a serious threat tonight, however. (7) TESLA SEELSTER draws poorly while being ambitiously placed (in

her current form).


RACE 3 - (7) COMMANDER CATHY N was very well backed last week, got used very hard but was still

the easiest of winners (this mile coming on the heels of an excellent 2nd the week before) - as long as

Marohn puts her in play from out here, she'll have a chance to take another. (3) FRANTASY HANOVER

was sent off at ten cents on the dollar last week debuting for a new (top shelf) barn while also adding Lasix

- she confirmed that the ABILITY is certainly there when she was able get the job done despite being

parked the whole way....but the reason she was parked was because she was unable to produce a clean gait

at any point in the mile - if she's just as rough against these, she may pay a stiffer price for it. (4) LOVE

THAT SMILE was unable to get involved from Post 8 last week but this is a much kinder spot - license to

be a much bigger player tonight. (1) DOCS DELIGHT carved out the fractions last week but was worn

down by the top choice and weakened into the lane - an easier trip could produce a better result here. (2)

CLEAR THE WAY has been a very steady player for weeks, and another good draw should help her land

another piece tonight - may be a bit smaller this time, however. (5) JACANA just never clicked after

joining this barn in September - needs to be a lot better. (6) SOME KINDAANGEL returns in poor form

from Chester, and wasn't all that successful here in the past.


RACE 4 - Solid field! (2) FOR A DREAMER was stuck in a hopeless spot last week but had his usual

strong finish to be 4th - may benefit from a few outside contenders forcing a contested pace tonight, and

that could really put him in a good spot turning for home. (4) VALI HANOVER just had a win and a 2nd

vs. the 75s, so it would be hard NOT to consider him a big threat in for $50K - assuming a wheel didn't fall

off, he should be able to have a big say here. (6) IN MY DREAMS was in a no chance spot in his first start

off the recent claim but followed that up with a pair of close 2nds, then last week's blowout victory - tough

draw this week, but still worth using if the price is right. (5) CREDIT CON disappointed on the lead 2 back

but was a solid finishing 2nd last week reverting to off the pace tactics - legitimate player here if the trip

goes his way. (3) BLUEBIRD JESSE has a trio of 3rd place finishes since a recent barn change - a good

trip could see him grab a similar piece tonight. (8) WHATS THE WORD was sent off at 66-1 from his

outside post last week but raced like a 6/5 shot, making the top and never letting up, crossing the wire well

ahead of the others in a snappy 1:55.3 - obviously very sharp right now, but this is a (much) tougher crew,

and he may not be able to make the top tonight. (1) AFTER ALL PAUL beat this class 4 starts back, but

seems a little below that form right now - ok for a piece, but prefer others on top. (7) LINDSEYS PRIDE is

being listed on the bottom but he's actually been sharp for some time - just another in a long line of bad

posts, unfortunately.


RACE 5 - (4) MANWILLING was a recent purchase and does seem to be sharpening for his current

connections - gets important class relief here, and may be ready to handle these. (2) BLOGMASTER has a

couple of decent tries at PcD vs. better, and ships in off a pair of 3rds at The Swamp - very logical player,

but also figures to be overbet. (3) JEKYIL N HYDE is a little hard to gauge from his 2 starts since the

layoff but this barn always seems to thrive when Bongiorno hops on board, so perhaps some consideration

is merited? (5) MUSCLE STAR definitely fits with this bunch, but would have been more appealing had he

not made that unexpected miscue last week - still worth using if the price is decent. (1) CAVALIER GEOR

GE would be more than capable with these on his best, but he does seem well off form at the moment. (6)

TORKIL is always capable of a wake up call at this bottom level but it's been a long time between drinks

for the 8 year old.


RACE 6 - (3) LOOK IN MY EYES hit the top last week and just swelled up, effortlessly jogging in 1:56.3

- steps up a peg for tonight but he's used to facing better, and this particular field really has nothing all that

sharp in it - good chance to take another. (4) BAZILLIONAIRE just doesn't ever win, but this is certainly a

spot where he can pick up a decent piece - include in exotics. (2) SECRET OR NOT has been doing a good

job staying flat every week but he's just not nearly as sharp as he was earlier this year - maybe he can perk

up a bit against these? (5) ALL RISE shows a mixed bag of recent tries and has a new trainer listed here -

willing to throw in for 3rd/4th. (6) MY BOY CHRISTIAN was 2nd last week, 3rd before that and probably

was going to be right there if not for a final turn miscue in the start before that - on the flip side, he's been a

bit too sluggish lately, and now lands an outside post - maybe he can show up late for a minor piece? (1)

MIDNIGHT MIRACLE shipped sown from Canada with some promising form, was sent off at 8/5 in a

$75K claimer the first week but has deteriorated rapidly in her last couple - may wake up and crush these,

but just a bit too shaky for our tastes right now. (7) LOVE THIS BAR added Lasix last week and basically

stole one (vs. cheaper) on the front end - moves outside, faces better, and doesn't figure to have the same

good fortune tonight. (8) ANDOVER CONTESSA was dull last week and now lands post 8.


RACE 7 - (5) CAPTAINS STAR debuts for her new barn after being plunked for $45K at the sale, then

qualifying very nicely - she was 15-3-8-2 this year (4th in both of the starts where she was off the board),

and we'll gamble that she'll be ready for action right off the bat. (1) FOX VALLEY CACHET was hitting

board week after week until landing horrible posts the last 4 starts - finally moves inside, and is eligible to

perk up with a much better effort tonight. (7) ICARUS FALLS N was hot early on last week and Stratton

did a good job of relaxing her, then getting her to rally for 4th - may try to leave tonight, and may end up

with a good trip....good value horse to consider. (6) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL was sneaky ok from well

back on 10/7 then rallied crisply at the end of her last - figures to be a good price, and does have a chance

to land somewhere on the ticket. (3) MISS DOTTIE MAE has some good efforts here in the past, and

should be tight after last week's start at Fhd. (off the layoff) - worth including in exotics. (8) CATIE FAYE

HANOVER hit board in her last 4 starts and is feeling good right now - willing to include her underneath,

looking for some trip luck. (2) JE TAIME N has only been able to pick up smaller pieces since moving up

to NW4 - better value with some others. (4) RAISE THE ANTE seemed way overbet 2 back but picked up

the win nevertheless - reverted to her lesser form last week, and it's anybody's guess as to what what we'll

see from her tonight.


RACE 8 - (2) BEERTHIRTY K returns from Stga. at a much lower level than he's been facing here

recently, gets a nice draw and should be able to have a big say tonight. (5) IM THE MUSCLE has been a

solid player lately but his best game is usually on the front end (where he hasn't been in a while) - maybe

this is a spot where Dube can get a little more aggressive with him? (1) TOP ME OFF has been finding his

game in recent weeks vs. softer in PA - assuming he's built back some confidence, he could easily be a

player from this spot. (6) BIG CHARLIE MORAN made a most untimely miscue from a potential winning

spot 2 back, then was simply in a no chance spot last week - not a great draw, but he does have a chance to

outperform that 15-1 ML price. (4) KANDY SWEET would normally look pretty good in this class but she

just seems off her game right now- a wake up call would really help here. (8) LADY JETER will appreciate

the class drop, but that may be offset by the outside draw - not sure she's sharp enough to overcome this

spot. (3) SUMATRA has been fairly steady lately, but probably needs to be in a little cheaper to be a more

serious threat. (7) DAGON HANOVER may be able to hang with these, but will likely need a much better

spot in order to do so.


RACE 9 - (5) STATE SENATOR shipped in sharp from Plainridge - just missed from Post 8 in his first

start, then jogged last week...was claimed that night for $25K, and should be able to handle the move to

3&4YO 40s -- narrow edge in a competitive finale. (2) JIM BLUE gets a pass for that mile 2 back (tired

after being brutalized) then he came back to race well for 2nd despite another tough trip - can be a big

player again. (3) SHIP WRECK BEACH K won a bunch of these before being derailed a bit by tough posts

and trips in his last few - could be dangerous tonight with an easier journey. (4) AINT HE SPECIAL has

been consistent lately, though unable to find the winner's circle in a while - chance tonight with the right

trip, but certainly worth using underneath in exotics. (8) ROSE RUN X CON has been razor sharp for

weeks, and was a game winner in his last - faces a tall task from out here, but still worth including IF the

price is juicy enough. (1) LUC ROCKS has his moments but can also be a little unreliable - the biggest

concern is that he may be overdriven from this spot...and may or may not be up for it. (6) ARTIST BEST

has been a reliable performer at this level - it's definitely a tough spot tonight, but he probably shouldn't be

listed at 20-1 ML either. (7) STRIKING IMPACT tried it first over last week but was unable to sustain that

bid well enough - won't be any easier from Post 7.

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