The Empire Report - Thursday, November 17, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (4) BARN HALL beat (actually crushed) this class 3 starts back - was in a little too tough in the
Open the next start, but was a sharp 2nd in NW30000 last week - gets to drop because the class was created
just for him ("NW23551L5"), and he has a good chance to take full advantage. (7) BEERTHIRTY K is also
getting class relief, but gets no luck with the draw - as long as Marohn can find him a manageable trip, he
has a chance to be a big part of this. (6) WARRIOR ONE looked good in that front end win 2 back but his
overall recent form has been just "ok" (for him) - still figures to be able to be a player with these. (1) SWA
NSEA is having a pretty "meh" kind of year, but that last effort at Chester is probably his best in a while
(the winner was a very good 3rd here last week in a fast Open mile) - would definitely include underneath.
(2) X O X O has developed into a nice 4YO and has put together a solid season - takes on tough older male
foes tonight, but still has a chance to grab a decent slice for herself. (5) CRIME FIGHTER seems to need a
bit easier to be a serious player - leaning towards others. (3) MOSTINTERESTINGMAN shows a lot of
breaks and scratches lately - hard to back him with any confidence right now
RACE 2 - (3) OUTSIDE THE FIRE surprised with that nearly 10 length victory in his local debut but
showed it was no fluke when he came back and embarrassed another field in his next - he figures to get a
bigger tussle from this bunch, but it's still hard to go against him in his current raging form. (2) ESPLOSIO
NE was sent off at 2-1 from Post 7 against the to choice in his TR debut but never threatened, ending up a
well beaten 4th - he rebounded with a "more like it" sharp try at Chester, and we'll see if he can bring that
better game tonight. (6) FIREINSIDEMYVEINS delivered a pair of impressive victories upon arrival from
Canada but just couldn't bring that same performance in his last, faltering badly as the 2/5 choice - good
chance he can rebound tonight, but will even his best effort be enough to threaten the top choice right now?
(4) SEVENSHADESOFGREY hasn't won in some time, but does generally take home a decent check -
could be in that same boat tonight. (1) THE BOSS MAN has done good work since arriving here this
summer but does seem a notch below the main players - may be looking at a minor piece, even from the
pole (5) MY SWEET MI MI shows some good Ohio form but may find the competition here a bit tougher
RACE 3 - (3) BACKSTREET PLAYER is just 1 for 10 here at Yonkers but he hit board in 7 of those
losses, and many of the trotters who have been beating him would be heavy favorites in here - he had no
room to stretch his legs last week, but should be able to handle an aggressive try against these. (8) SLAVE
LABOUR has also been facing better, and finishing not far off - he has the speed to improve position from
Post 8, and may be a player tonight. (7) MUSCLE DAN never saw the cones last week but was still able to
be a close 3rd, and that's on the heels of a win and a 2nd the previous 2 weeks - he lands another bad post,
but can still be a big part of the action with even a bit of trip luck. (1) HEADOVERBOOTS AS does have
ability, but he's also a bit of a work in progress - it would be no surprise to see him right there at the end,
but he's just a little too shaky to take a short price right now. (2) AVACAKES seems a notch below a couple
of the top ones but she has a little brush in her, and may be able to land a share from her inside post. (5)
FASHION CANTAB was a no threat 2nd in his only local try, but his PA form is fairly consistent - another
with a chance at a small piece. (4) HALLWAY BABE really hasn't been clicking and made a break last
week - prefer others. (6) LIVINGONTHERAIL failed to really thrive for one of the top barns in the game,
and now will try it for low profile connections.
RACE 4 - (1) STREET GOSSIP qualified nicely for his new barn after returning from the layoff but came
up a bit short in his first start back - should be tighter now and does seem the one to beat from the pole...but
not one that you should bet the rent money on at a pretty short price. (3) HOOLIE N HECTOR hasn't won
since early Sept. but he has a lot of recent 2nds and 3rds vs. some pretty nice trotters - he's blossomed into a
very nice 4YO, and has a solid chance here if the top choice doesn't bring his best. (7) HAT TRICK MARL
EAU is at a distinct post disadvantage here, but does have the ability to be a big threat IF Buter can find
him a decent trip - consider on top if the price is juicy enough (but definitely include underneath). (2) KAS
HA V has been more consistent lately - don't really see him winning in here, but the good draw does give
him a shot at a part of the exotics. (6) CREDIT CON draws outside and is definitely more comfortable
facing a bit easier - tough spot tonight. (5) TITANS HOPE upset a NW10000 field at 52-1 three back and
that landed her up in the FM Open for a couple of weeks - drops out of there, but this spot is pretty tough as
well - may need to drop a bit more. (4) SUMATRA is just 1 for 19 this year but he's holding his form lately
even as he's been inching back up the class ladder - still, this spot is probably a bit out of his comfort zone
RACE 5 - (6) KATYS DELIGHT ships down from Canada showing a pair of recent half mile track wins -
she finds a soft spot for her local debut, and moves to a high % barn that does super with fresh stock - a lot
to like here. (7) LADYBELUCKYTONITE is just 1 for 30 this year but she's been racing ok lately, and
should have enough speed to establish position early on - belongs in exotics. (5) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N
is still looking for her first U.S. victory in her 11th try - she might be able to get it, but she's more likely to
end up with another smaller piece. (2) E R HILARY has been going "ok" efforts lately - this is an overall
soft crew, so she does have a decent chance to grab a decent piece here. (3) SHORTYS GIRL was pretty
dull last start, though she was racing off a sick scratch - needs to be better just to grab even a small piece
here. (8) ANNE BONNEY N would have a chance for a piece here on her best, but it's hard to get excited
about her chances after landing Post 8 off a sick scratch. (1) LOUD BRAZILIAN is just 15-0-1-0 here at
YR and her recent Monti tries don't really suggest that she'll turn things around tonight - at least she has the
rail. (4) BACI BACI usually doesn't function at Yonkers....or anywhere else, recently
RACE 6 - (4) CANTSTOP YANKEE had been behaving himself but reverted to bad habits last week when
he broke on the lead on the 2nd turn - he'll be very tough here if he sticks to trotting, but definitely don't fall
in love with him tonight if he's way overbet. (1) STRONGERWITHLINDY got in a good groove at the
right time and earned some nice $$ at PRc in the Mass. Sire Stakes - solid 3rd last week in PA suggests that
form is holding, and he could be a player here in his local debut. (7) CIEL BLEU was a solid winner 2 back
and might have won last week too if Lachance guided him to the inside a little sooner - has a chance here if
he can find a decent trip from Post 7. (2) FAVORITE AUNT is a tough call - she clearly has ability, but she
hasn't clicked at all in her 2 starts since arriving from Ohio - maybe she can put it all together tonight, but it
would be hard to endorse her on top at that 2-1 ML price! (8) QUINCY MARKET is one of the rare horses
actually struggling in this outstanding barn - he's another in here that HAS ability, but isn't currently hitting
on all cylinders - wouldn't be opposed to using him at a big price, hoping he brings his best tonight. (3)
FIFTINI was ok in a conservative try on 11/3 then just missed last week, charging home to be right there on
the wire - interesting option at that 15-1 ML price. (6) SAID N DONE AS looked beat on the front end into
the final turn the last 2 weeks but somehow was able to battle back and prevail at the end - he faces much
tougher now, and may not be as successful against these. (5) EXCHEQUER is now 1 for 32 at YR, and
would need a lot to happen to come out on top here!
RACE 7 - (3) GHOSTINTHESHELL AS had won all 4 of her local starts this year before making an
uncharacteristic miscue last start - she draws inside her main rivals here, and does figure to be a pretty fair
price...we'll give her a chance to make amends. (5) DREAMONHIGH is just a 3YO filly but she has plenty
of talent, and was right there at the wire for 2nd tackling these tough older mares last week - no reason she
can't be a big threat once more with a similar effort. (7) GREY was simply transformed after joining this
barn in September and has never looked back - after finishing 2nd to STORMY KROMER, she's rattled
off 3 straight wins in the FM Open and may very well take another tonight, despite Post 7 -- just looking at
a couple of others on top, for some value. (6) PLUMB is actually very good right now, but figures to be
launching her rally from last and that may leave her looking at only a minor piece this week. (2) QUEEN
OF ALL was a terrific youngster and continued to be outstanding this year at 4 - she MAY be showing
some wear and tear, however, as she's thrown duds in 2 of her last 4 starts - prefer others right now. (4)
HEY LIVVY just hasn't been herself in a while, and would need a major wake up call to be a serious threat
tonight - not impossible, though. (1) LADY JETER seems overmatched, even starting from the rail
RACE 8 - (7) SLYMARS DRAGON was facing Open mares in Ohio not long ago, and beat a similar field
to this one 2 starts back - she's banked over $106K so far this year, and seems capable of beating these,
even from Post 7. (6) MONEYMAKEHERSMILE also arrives from the Midwest but doesn't seem quite as
classy as the top choice - she also exits a barn that wins at an insane 35% clip, so we'll see how she does for
her (solid) local outfit. (5) IN LOU OF MONEY really disappointed 2 back but the public stayed on board
last week, and she rebounded with the solid front end score - steps up a notch, but may still be able to grab
a good piece. (3) SHELLIE DE VIE was caught wide a long way last time but continued to pace well to the
wire for 3rd - good one to use on the bottom of exotics. (1) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL hadn't been any good
for weeks but came up with a much sharper effort to score the upset last week - chance for a piece here if
she can race just as well against these better ones. (2) STELLENBOSCH has done her best work out of
town vs. cheaper recently - she'll need to elevate her game a bit to contend for a piece here. (4) SCANDALI
CIOUS perked up with a couple of 2nds recently but quickly reverted to her lesser form - just too unreliable
right now.
RACE 9 - (5) POCAHONTAS was handled very conservatively in her local debut but finished full of trot
to almost get there - it's hard to ever "love" a horse that's 1 for 29....but we're going to try her on top tonight
(assuming she's a better price than last week). (1) HL MAMMOTH looked like a certain winner at the top
of the lane last week but proceeded to hang horribly deep into the stretch, allowing a horse he put away to
come back and beat him - he's tough to pick on top after that effort, but it's also tough to not see him as a
serious threat against these. (3) B THREEWINDS shipped in sharp from Ohio and was able to beat the top
choice by a neck last time....but really took advantage of a perfect trip to make that happen - could be a bit
vulnerable tonight at what figures to be a shorter price than last time. (6) WALK WITH ME has two 2nds
and two 3rds from her 5 local tries but she's been coming up a little light at the end, and drawing outside
isn't going to help her cause. (7) STARLIT THISWANMAN has shown speed in his last couple of starts but
been unable to sustain it at crunch time - maybe he can sit back and try to rally late tonight for a small
piece? (2) ARBELLAS GLIDER has grabbed only minor checks in his 3 local starts and is probably
looking at more of the same tonight. (8) BRUTUS BEEFCAKE B finished with even trot for a pair of 4ths
but will have a long way to come tonight. (4) SQUABLE's record now sits at 43-1-1-7