Monday Empire Report

soaofny • July 24, 2023

The Empire Report - Monday, July 24, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (3) FLOW WITH JOE was a winner 4 back then 2nd best to the streaking SIMON SAYS

HANO VER in his next - he was about to rally on 7/10 when he jumped over some debris in the stretch

then took a tough beat last week, looking like a winner to the top of the lane only to come up 2nd best to a

horse that was one of that barn's four (Pegasus-like) winners that night - we'll give him the narrow edge in a

good race (5) LOUIE THE LOOPER could only manage minor pieces the last 2 starts but caught fast miles

vs. better fields - may be able to have a bigger impact with tonight's class drop. (2) BLUEBIRD RECON

was ignored at the windows the last 3 weeks and hit board each time - his price will surely come down now,

but he's still a live player for another good chunk. (1) GINGER TREE PETE has 3 duds in 4 starts since the

re-claim but was a good 2nd in the other - Bartlett knows just how to drive him, and he can definitely be a

threat here - but 8/5 ML?? (4) ONTO EL DORADO N came up with a big one last week to just miss to a

very sharp foe - he's very inconsistent, however, and currently 0 for 21 this year - playable, but only if the

price is decent. (6) ROCKIN JUKEBOX draws worst in a solid field and figures to have a hard time getting

involved.


RACE 2 - Five horse field...but ALL 5 are sharp, and can win this! (3) STRIKING IMPACT scored in back

to back blowouts before being parked last week (by a winner that was breathing fire from the start) - gets a

total pass for that, and definitely use tonight...especially since the price should be better. (5) STELLAR YA

NKEE hit board in 5 straight, including 3 wins - had plenty of pace finishing into last week's 1:50.3 mile,

and becomes a big threat tonight if the trip goes his way. (1) KING JAMES EXPRESS raced very well for

a new barn last week and was immediately re-claimed by his former connections - he's 4-3-1 in his last 8

starts, and would be hard to ignore from the pole (he also won the last 2X Bongiorno drove him). (4) RJ

SPORTS IMAGE registered 3 straight local blowouts before coming up 2nd best last week to a talented

tripsitter - he's as good as anybody in here, and remains very dangerous. (2) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER is

listed here on the bottom but comes off a typically sharp try, and could easily prove best with the right trip.


RACE 3 - (1) MOTIVE HANOVER was freshened up for a couple of months, qualified solidly then was a

winner in his PcD return (albeit vs. easier) - he's faced (and beaten) better here in the past, and seems the

one to beat....but wouldn't take TOO short a price on top. (2) YO AJ was settling for minor pieces in several

NW6-8PM starts recently- his last start (NW10000) was better than it looks as he finished full of pace from

an impossible spot - legitimate possibility here. (6) REIGNING DEO took 3 months off, won his qualifier

then rallied nicely (vs. better) in his first start back at Pocono - a good trip makes him a very live player

tonight. (5) HES ELECTRIC does his best when he just sits back and rallies late - chance for a small piece

if he can get that kind of trip tonight. (7) HEEZ OURPERSEUS N suddenly perked up with a good 2nd two

back, then just missed 2nd last week (clear a little too late) - the draw is the obvious concern here. (3) INDI

CTABLE HANOVER did his best work this year on the lead, vs. cheaper - leaning towards others. (4) HEI

SMAN PLAYER seems to need a bit easier to be a serious threat these days - minor piece only.


RACE 4 - (2) IMMA BE has taken 3 of 4 since moving to his current barn, quickly transforming from an

"iffy" $15K claimer to beating these 50s last week- remains the one to knock off (1) DREAMING OF LOU

was never involved in his local debut last week but did have decent life finishing - he's looking at a very

good trip from the pole tonight, and could be a much bigger player. (6) SHAKESPEARE raced in the same

barn that trains the top choice last week, and was a fire-breathing front end winner (setting a new lifetime

mark in the process) - he was quickly reclaimed by his previous connections, who have done outstanding

work with him as well - the post is the concern for tonight. (3) UMBERTO hasn't been bad, but has been

limited to smaller pieces in almost all of his recent starts - needs to find a bit more. (4) HES SPECIAL has

looked very good in his 3 starts since arriving from Monti but will need to prove himself at this higher level.


(5) COALITION HANOVER has been settling for minor pieces lately - more of the same tonight?

RACE 5 - (7) SPLASH BROTHER has been sharp for some time, despite slowing down in the turns most

weeks - he drops back down to the level he beat 4 starts back and has a chance to come out on top again -

even from Post 7. (3) WALKINSHAW N has also been good for weeks, picking up wins when the trip goes

his way - the right journey makes him a big threat here. (1) SAVE ME A DANCE raced ok from a no

chance spot last week and had 2 wins and a 2nd in the 3 starts prior to that - the classy 6YO is feeling pretty

good right now, and can have a say from the pole. (2) SONNY WEAVER N has been doing his best work

vs. a bit easier lately but he has the class to hang with these too, and he certainly loves Yonkers (8 for 16

locally) - ok for exotics. (5) IGNATIUS A shipped in off a Chester blowout and finally picked up his first

Hilltop win last week - takes a double class jump here, but may be sharp enough to still grab a piece. (8)

ROCK DIAMONDS N won an incredible 8 in a row for the Super Siblings before struggling a bit in a Pop

Up Series Final - took 3 weeks off and returned sharp, right there 3rd last week behind a pair of sharp ones

- has to find a way to overcome the draw, however. (6) CHANTEE is putting together a fine season but he

may be coming from too far back tonight to be a serious player. (4) EL LE TISSIER N threw his first U.S.

clunker last start...we'll see how he bounces back.


RACE 6 - (6) NONE BETTOR A actually drops way down AFTER jogging (at 4/5) vs. much better at PcD

last week - he just beat the OPEN here in May, and would be pretty hard to go against in this very soft spot

(of course, he'll also be a minuscule price). (1) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N was holding his own in the

Borgata Series not long ago but hasn't been able to win since then, even with the class drops - he was

scratched injured from his last, and may be just a bit risky as the 2nd choice tonight. (2) B LIKE CRUISER

had some issue here on 6/12 - qualified back ok, and finished well for 3rd off an easy trip last week- chance

for a good piece tonight too. (3) JAY BRACKEN A has just 1 win this year but comes into tonight off a

pair of 2nds, and has a chance for another board spot tonight. (7) SHERIFF N picked up his first local win

in some time last week, after some sharp tries (vs. cheaper) out of town - tough draw as he moves up in

class here, and that may limit him to just a minor share. (5) MY CARBON COPY N rallied nicely for 3rd

last week, though helped by the "fall apart" race - may not be as fortunate tonight. (8) BUCHANNON HA

NOVER gave it a good speed try at PcD last time but he'll have a hard time trying to leave from this spot -

may need to wait for a better scenario. (4) NOWHERE CREEK A has been off form in his last couple.


RACE 7 - (6) SHINE A LIGHT beat this class 3 starts back and also on 4/25 - if Stratton can find him a

manageable trip (from this difficult post), he may have a chance at the mild upset. (4) NANDOLO N has a

ton of back class and also gets Bartlett to stay on board (over the top choice) - he's also been burning $$ for

much of the year, and could be a vulnerable favorite once again. (2) VIVA LAS VEGAS N generally gets

ignored in the wagering but he's been overachieving lately, and has a chance at the upset if the race sets up

in his favor. (1) OZONE BLUE CHIP is not the same horse who won 11 races last year but he still has his

moments, and is capable of getting the job done from a good spot like this. (5) AIR FORCE HANOVER

has been somewhat unreliable lately, but does get some class relief for tonight - leaning towards others, but

wouldn't be shocked to see him race well here. (3) WINDSUN RICKY safely wired easier 2 back but was

no factor moving up in his last - doesn't feel like the right spot for him. Both (7) ALEX TYE and (8) SAUV

IGNON BLUECHIP are on the cheaper side, and they draw the two worst posts - sticking with others.


RACE 8 - (6) HEMSWORTH N may not be as consistent this year as some of the other Open pacers but

he's capable of big miles when in the right mood - he was sharp winning the Borgata Consolation, and was

right there with COVERED BRIDGE last start, while well backed at the windows - assuming the 3 weeks

off don't bother him, he can be very tough in here. (5) PLEASELETMEKNOW has won his last 3 local

starts, all in the 3-5YO Open - gets to take on older foes tonight, but he can still be a big threat with these.

(4) GROOVY JOE found his form in NW5000 in PA back on 5/21, then hit board in 5 straight (including

an excellent first over 3rd in last week's Open) - may be sharp enough right now to be a legitimate threat.

(2) GREAT SOMEWHERE comes into this off 4 straight 2nd place finishes, including 2 in the Open - too

sharp right now to ignore, especially with the good starting spot. (1) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK was a

sharp 2nd in the Open 2 back, then VERY sharp winning one level down last week - has to be respected

starting from the pole in his current form. (8) AMERICAN DEALER N finished with good pace from an

impossible spot last week but may find himself in a similarly impossible spot tonight. (3) CAPTIVATE

HANOVER stepped back up to the Open last week off a pair of wins vs. cheaper and wasn't able to have

the same success - leaning towards others right now. (7) ANOTHRMASTRPIECE N is hitting on all

cylinders right now but could be looking a pretty tough trip after drawing Post 7.


RACE 9 - Tough race: (5) THE REGULATOR beat this class from Post 7 two back after a very hard used

try (as the odds on choice) vs. better, the week before - no chance 8 hole in last but drops back down, gets a

good draw and gets Bartlett back - possibility. (3) FAMILY RECIPE kicked in last to win his last one level

down but he's a good fit at this level too - another live trip gives him a chance to repeat. (1) CAVIART SA

RGENT disappointed off the class drop 2 back but went a big mile in his last, just missing to #3 - would be

no surprise at all from the pole. (2) JUDDY DOUGLAS A can be pretty inconsistent but was a blowout

winner at PcD last week and may have gotten a confidence boost with that mile. (8) SAMHARA N was

very sharp in his last pair, and would have been listed even higher had he not drawn Post 8 - consider if the

price is juicy enough. (4) CODY HANOVER moves up in class after a weak effort vs. cheaper in his last -

sticking with others, for now. (7) THRASHER gave it a very nice try for 2nd last week but may be hurt

tonight by both the class hike, and poor draw. (6) SOHO LENNON A was no factor at all the last 2 weeks

from similar spots - maybe next week, with a class drop (and better post).


RACE 10 - (1) DON DOMINGO N was handled conservatively last start (scratched lame the week before)

but did finish with good pace - gets a significant drop down to 30s, draws the pole, and the guess is that

he'll be ready to deliver a big mile. (2) ALOTBETTOR N just couldn't overcome the tougher trip last week

as his 3 race winning streak came to an end - much better draw tonight, and may be able to bounce right

back. (3) BRACKLEY BEACH was 0 for 20 coming into his last but his barn was SO hot that night (4

winners!) that even this guy was able to get his picture taken - definitely a license to repeat. (8) WAR DAN

DELIGHT N was reclaimed last week by the barn that has him really sharp right now - not sure how hard

he'll be used (after getting parked last week) but he does have a shot to beat these (at a big price) if things

go his way. (6) CONBOYVILLE wasn't as sharp last week as when he was a first over winner the week

before, but he still finished 3rd in yet another good try - could easily outperform that 15-1 ML price and

grab a piece of this. (7) KEYSTONE PHOENIX felt like he was ready for a big effort but was just a "meh"

4th last week- not ready to bail on him just yet, but this is a pretty tough spot. (4) DELIGHTFUL TERROR

was recently 1st and 2nd and does drop a peg tonight - still leaning to others, though. (5) LISBURN comes

into this off a pair of sick scratches - pass for now.


RACE 11 - (2) NEVER SAY NEVER N banged out $112K last year and is on pace to go over six figures

again in 2023 - ships in sharp from Delaware and lands in a barn that routinely improved fresh stock - we'll

give him a shot upon arrival. (3) POINTOMYGRANSON weakened for a couple of starts before bouncing

back with the sharp (DH) victory last week - he's won 7 of 12 locally this year, fails from a perpetually hot

barn, and has to be included on your tickets. (7) SAILBOAT HANOVER dead-heated for the win with #3

last week but starts at a significant post disadvantage for tonight - may still be able to show up late and be a

threat if things get testy up front. (8) JUSTASEC N steps up to 40s off the claim after picking up a pair of

wins and a 2nd from his last 3 starts - the draw is a bigger concern than tonight's class jump, however. (6)

TOWNLINE ALL GOOD doesn't seem to be on his best game right now and will need some hot action up

front to make any noise from the back. (4) L DEES JACK LOPEZ was a dull 4th from the pole last week

and will need to be sharper tonight if he hopes to grab a decent piece. (1) PRETTY HANDSOME stunned

with that win 3 back but he did little before that and has done little since then - we'll see if the rail can help

his cause. (5) NOME HANOV ER picked up 3rds in his last pair but likes to race near the lead and that

may not be possible tonight.

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