Friday Empire Report

apatchworkdesign • February 3, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, February 3, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (3) LETTUCERIPRITAA finished 1st or 2nd in 21 of his 41 local starts over the past 2 years,

and has already started off 2023 with a win, and a near-miss 3rd -- if he brings his typical effort tonight,

he's going to be hard to knock off. (2) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N was horrendous here from Sept. to Nov.

but took some time off, qualified ok then paced an even 4th in a fast mile last week - may be ready for a

better effort tonight for a barn that has been hot for some time. (4) KIMANI N was caught first over in his

last couple and weakened in the stretch - an easier trip may help him find a better effort, and perhaps a

decent piece of this. (7) HUDSEN A dropped in for $15K last and raced big, charging home to just miss

(and actually nosing out the top choice for 2nd) - won't be easy from Post 7, but worth including in exotics

if the price is good enough. (1) MAAJAACKKOBE hasn't raced here in a long time and his recent lines

aren't that great - he does go for a new barn, though, and his qualifier looks solid - check the tote board for

clues? (5) ARTMAGIC hasn't clicked at all since being claimed here for $25K in Sept. - maybe he can perk

up with these, but that 3-1 ML price certainly isn't appealing. (6) CASHNCAM draws poorly and doesn't

seem to be on his best game right now - prefer others right now.


RACE 2 - (5) LOVE THE BLUES N took ALL the $$$ in his first start off the layoff and clearly his fans

got it right, as he buried the 20s (up in class) by 5 lengths - stepped up to 25s last week, and actually was a

close 2nd behind the insanely sharp UPTOWN FUNK...no such rival in here tonight! (1) ROLL WITH TI

ME had a tough outing trying to cut the mile from Post 7 off the winter break but rebounded with a useful

try in his last - moves all the way inside, and has a solid chance to land on the ticket. (2) SHARK PLAY

had no prayer last week but gets major post relief for tonight - he's a proven 25, and is worth including

underneath. (6) STATEMENT MADE A struggled in NJ is first start off the claim but was much better here

last week - was claimed by a top barn that's particularly hot right now, and has a chance to be part of the

equation...even from Post 6. (3) POSH ONTHE BEACH N has been good lately, but he exits a hot barn and

lands in one that has struggled a bit so far in '23 - it also doesn't help that he catches several sharp foes in

here. (7) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN raced very well last week considering that's not really a trip that he

likes - his journey figures to be even tougher from this spot, and we're definitely leaning elsewhere. (4) MY

MIND IS MADEUP has a few "ok" efforts recently but he'll need to be a lot better to threaten some of the

top ones in here. (8) SWAGASAURUSREX finished ok in his last couple but will be coming from way out

of it tonight - wait for a better spot.


RACE 3 - (7) ALEX TYE was actually pretty good 2 back (he only tired very late after a first over trip vs.

much better), and he was sharp again last week, charging home to be right there in NW10000 - drops

another peg and while he does lose Holland to #1, he picks up Bartlett instead....good value play. (3) TIME

TO DANCE turned things around on a dime after landing his new barn last week, delivering a form

reversing brush and crush victory - steps up a notch, but anything close to that effort would make him a big

threat here too. (1) BLUEBIRD RECON might have been sharper in that 2nd place finish 2 back than in his

win last week but either way, he definitely seems to be heading in a good direction - he was Holland's

choice, and figures to be part of the exotics from this spot. (2) KILOWATT KID N can be a little in and out

but the good draw gives him a chance at a small piece...with the right trip. (8) CAVIART REAGAN is a

good fit in here but gets no luck with the draw - chance for a piece with some racing luck, but probably

needs a better post to be a serious player. (5) SANTAFES COACH drops a notch after turning in a weak try

last week - could rebound, but still leaning towards others. (4) GINGER TREE PETE went a "weird" effort

last week, crawling to the half on the lead, putting up no fight as he gave way on the back side, appeared

ready to fade out of it but then hung in ok for the show spot - not quite sure what to expect from him after

that. (6) THOR AND DR JONES was struggling at the end of '22 - we'll just observe in his '23 return.


RACE 4 - Tough race: (2) PURAMERI actually raced pretty well upon arrival from NJ, having to go

around stopping cover then still pacing home for a solid 4th vs. better than these - catches a shaky field

tonight, and may be able to handle the assignment. (5) SHEIKH YABOOTY N picked up 4 wins in 18

starts here last year, and is quite capable against this type when on her game - hard to gauge off her current

NJ lines, but guessing she'll be ready for a good try tonight. (4) MOMENTARILY did some good work at 2

and 3 in Canada and qualified nicely for her new connections last week - she debuts for an ever-dangerous

trainer/driver combination and deserves plenty of respect...but also figures to be overbet. (1) SOUTHWIND

JAVA has been struggling lately but this is an easier field and she gets big time post relief - would be no

surprise to see her pop up with a much better mile tonight. (7) ODDS ON NUMBER ONE arrives from

Ohio showing solid form for a strong barn - she was likely also facing a bit cheaper, and drawing all the

way outside won't help her cause. (3) ROCKNROLL ANNIE was rock solid for weeks but her 1/6 try at

The Swamp disappointed, followed by a weak try here last week - would need a pretty good price to go

with her tonight. (6) ITZPAPALOTL had trouble finding and holding form last year...and just doesn't seem

to be clicking at the moment.


RACE 5 - (3) MACINTOSH N is coming off a $116K year at age 13 and though clearly he had some issue

in his first try as 14YO, the subsequent qualifier suggests it was nothing major - he meets a couple of tough

foes in here but as sharp as his barnmates have been lately, he may be worth a stab. (1) ROLLING WITH

SAM's current form is hard to gauge as he's had to deal with some tough posts and trips - look for a very

aggressive try from this spot, and we'll find out if he's up for it (but don't fall in love at too short a price).

(6) THEFLYINGROCK raced well from impossible spots in his last pair and seems ready for a top effort

for another barn that has been en fuego lately - gets the worst of the draw, however, so make sure to get a

fair price if using on top. (2) OUR CORELLI N seemed like a live contender heading into last week but a

very conservative drive left him with no chance for better than 3rd - gets a new pilot tonight, and this is also

a seemingly tougher spot - still a good one for exotics. (4) MY ULTIMATE STAR A has a couple of "ok"

recent tried but overall, the import has been a disappointment so far - looking at a minor share only. (5)

OUR MAJORDAN A used easy trips to pick up small pieces the last 2 weeks but may have a tougher time

making that work tonight. (7) VEL LETSROLL SOUTH raced better than his last 2 lines might suggest but

he draws poorly yet again, and may have to wait another week for a realistic chance. (8) MISSILE

SEELSTER figures to have a tough time getting in play here.


RACE 6 - (6) MUSCLE MACH A came into his last off a long layoff, and showing a pretty dismal

qualifier....but he was still able to put in a solid try to pick up 2nd behind ODDS ON DELRAY - not a good

draw tonight but since his barn has been on fire, he may be worth a shot to come out on top this time. (4)

ODDS ON DELRAY has been notoriously camera shy in recent times but was well backed for his new

barn last week, and looked very sharp in his aggressive victory- the one to beat once more. (2) MUDVILLE

rallied nicely 2 back at a big price but was unable to get the job done on the front end when well backed

last week - an easier trip might allow him to rally for another good chunk tonight. (3) TERRITORY used an

easy trip to grab 3rd last week, and a similar journey could produce a similar result. (7) HEART ON MY

SLEEVE raced well from an impossible spot 2 back but didn't have any luck trying the front end last week,

giving way to the winner (#4) at 3/4s and tiring - maybe can rally for a small piece (at a nice price) tonight?

(8) MINGO JOEL had been racing well most weeks but just came up empty off the cover trip last week -

could easily rebound, but it'll be hard to get more than a small slice from out here. (1) TOPVILLE OLYMP

IAN had a rough 2022 season here and his last qua. in NJ doesn't inspire a lot of confidence to start of 2023

(5) JKS ON THE MOVE has mostly struggled since moving to his current barn.


RACE 7 - (5) DRAMAACT won a few times after, but really wasn't the same after taking last year's

Matchmaker Final - the time off might have helped, however, as that qualifier was particularly sharp (from

well off the pace) - taking a guess that she's ready to do some damage in an otherwise pretty competitive

race. (3) TECHYS ANGEL raced super in a heartbreaking loss 2 back, then avenged that defeat with last

week's victory - she steps up in class but has proven herself at this level before, and may be sharp enough to

be a threat tonight. (2) DISARONNO HILL drops out of the Open and to a level where she's comfortable -

draws inside, and can be a big part of this with the right trip. (1) JIVE DANCING A was off time to her last

but was certainly ready, charging home in the lane for 3rd - she's another quite capable at this level when on

her game. (7) VIOLETS RAINBOW gets an important drop out of the Open but that will likely be offset by

the terrible draw - may still be sharp enough to grab a piece with a bit of trip luck. (6) MAN DONTFOR

GET ME is good right now, but does figure to be compromised by the post in this well matched field. (4)

MCMARKLE SPARKLE had no offer in her return try, and doesn't seem ready to fire her best shot - tough

to endorse her at that 5/2 ML price. (8) DRAGON ROLL draws Post 8 after an uncharacteristic break in her

last - prefer to just observe, for now.


RACE 8 - (3) MORNING HAS BROKEN definitely would look better in a bit cheaper but she's shown

that she can be a player with these in the past, and she just may get to use her one big brush IF the race sets

up in her favor - should offer a good price in a race that can go a couple of different ways. (6) DELITFULC

ATHERIN N won 15 of 36 local starts the previous 2 years so it's no surprise to see that she's already 2 for

2 this year - a serious threat almost any week she drops in the box, and tonight is no exception! (2) LUCKY

ARTIST A is usually ignored in the wagering but she's been very sharp for some time, and remains a good

choice to include in exotics. (1) UPTOWN HANOVER somehow was allowed to be part of the inside draw

despite just missing in her last 2 Open tries - consistent mare could be right there once more. (7) LIT DE

ROSE could only manage a 5th and a 6th from her outside posts the last 2 weeks but got no sympathy from

the race office and is stuck out here once more - she IS razor sharp, so feel free to consider her on top IF the

price is juicy enough (and you think they may really mix it up near the front). Both (5) VILLAGE JADE

and (4) SHECANDANCE N are moving up significantly and really should have been assigned inside posts

- both may have a tough time at this level, despite how sharp they currently are (with lesser).


RACE 9 - (4) BETTOR SUN had no prayer last week after drawing Post 8 off the layoff (vs. better) -

moves inside as and drops to the basement tonight, and Bartlett gives him a vote of confidence by choicing

off a couple of others - we'll hop on board too. (1) KEY ADVISOR wasn't as bad as the line looks 2 back

so it was no surprise to see him outrace his (long) odds and pick up 3rd last week - may be able to hit the

board here too. (3) AIR FORCE HANOVER has remained fairly unreliable even at these lower levels but

did just miss last week - looking at another good trip tonight, with a decent chance to grab a share. (5) CAV

IART SARGENT had a long streak of good efforts but then started to tail in November - had some mild

pace finishing in his last, and we'll see if he can build off that tonight. (8) REAGAN BLUE CHIP should be

able to win at this level some time soon but tonight's terrible draw will likely have him looking at only a

chance for a minor piece. (2) CODYS KNAPSACK hasn't looked great getting around Yonkers, even when

2nd 2 back - prefer others. (7) EDDARD HANOVER had an easy trip off the barn change last week but

still fell apart - waiting for some better signs from him. (6) VEL BITTER CHIP ships in off a Monti win

but still seems on the cheaper side.


RACE 10 - (1) AMERICAN WAY is hard to like off his lines but he goes to a new barn this week, moves

all the way inside and catches a seemingly vulnerable field - worth a shot in the finale. (5) MARINER SEE

LSTER raced a bit better last week dropping to 25s and tonight's drop to 20s can only help some more -

feels like a spot where he can be a serious threat, but he's tough to get excited about at that 9/5 ML price.

(2) JOJOS PLACE has brought some consistency back to his game and comes into tonight off a trio of 2nd

place finishes - include in exotics. (7) OHOKA JOHNNY N ran into a couple of tough trips across the river

after moving up to 20s and he draws outside for his Yonkers return - he does get a red-hot Bartlett on board

so maybe he'll end up with a decent trip - throw in underneath. (6) DAVIDS COMING HOME has been ok

out of town but has gotten lost in spots like this in the past - maybe 3rd/4th? (3) SWEET N FAST N shows

up now and then but has way more lesser efforts than good ones - leaning towards others. (8) FOX

VALLEY INFERNO usually needs an easy trip to be a player and it's hard to see him getting one from out

here. (4) LITTLE POWER won 5 races to start off last year, got claimed, and hasn't functioned since.

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