The Empire Report – Friday, December 13, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (5) PASS AND STOW is now a perfect 3 for 3 at Yonkers after her sharp pocket victory over the 1/10
SWEET GAL last week – the 3YO is hitting on all cylinders to close out 2024, and we’ll stick with the hot hand. (1)
VIBRANCE was handled conservatively last week but finished with plenty of pace – she’s gone more than her share
of big efforts this year, and looms a real danger starting from the pole tonight. (7) SWEET GAL was sent off as the
prohibitive favorite last week but her bid to make it 4 wins in a row was upended by the top choice (who ran her
down from the pocket) – much tougher assignment starting from Post 7 tonight but she IS a very talented filly and
her price will be a lot better, for those that want to stay on board. (6) CHIPANECAS is another 3YO filly in here and
her 2 local starts were sharp – tough draw in a tough field as she returns tonight from Hoosier, however. (8) BLOOD
MOON A has been solid in most of her 10 local tries but will likely struggle to overcome the draw in this solid field.
(2) LADYCORONA has done some good work lately, but does feel a bit overmatched. (3) DELITFULCATHERIN
N needed her last (off the layoff) and the guess is she’ll need another. (4) LAURIE LEE used a great trip to grab
2bd at 31-1 last week – this is a tougher spot, though, even though she’s “dropping in class”
RACE 2 – Tough race: (3) RAPTORS WON was promising in her first 2 starts down from Canada but came up 2
nd best when hammered to 4/5 for start #3 – was no threat in her next pair but did finish up with some better interest
last week – maybe she can get it done in a field filled with question marks. (1) AWESOME HILL had a so-so 5YO
campaign then missed almost all of her 6YO season, only coming back (in Canada) in November – she ships down
to our leading trainer and draws the pole with Bartlett...but her current form is tough to gauge...be careful about
taking a very short price. (5) MACHS LEGACY A finished with interest from the back last week after picking up a
2 nd behind the runaway winner 2 back - definitely sharp enough to have a chance here. (2) MISS CHANTILLY N
has a good local history but her current out of town form is spotty at best, and she’ll be going without Lasix tonight
– mixed feelings. (7) JENDEN STRIKE A would be a threat here if sharp, but she was dull her 2 back then lost her
last (in NJ) by 15 lengths – tough take from Post 7. (4) ROCKNROLL ANNIE sprung the big upset last week but it
was a slow mile, in a weak field – hard to like her chances of taking 2 in a row. (6) JIVE DANCING A is hard to
like off that last qualifier and race
RACE 3 – (3) RODEO HILL found a spot in 3 rd last week and was just starting to find his stride in the lane when he
got stuck between the top two finishers and wasn’t able to rally any more – he’s raced well for Stratton in the past
(vs. better), and this may be a spot where he can finally pick up his first Yonkers victory. (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFI
RE hasn’t been “sharp”, but he hasn’t been “terrible” either – tonight’s drop to the bottom level may help him find a
winning effort. It wasn’t too long ago that (5) TEXSONG SOPRANO was having success at much higher levels here
– he's fallen on hard times, though, and there’s no guarantee that this will be his “wake up” spot – be careful about
taking a short price right now. (7) THE AMERICAN EAGLE loses Bartlett to #5 but seems sharp enough to contend
for a decent piece with a bit of racing luck. (1) FIX A DRINK will attract plenty of support at the windows but he’s
been lacking at the end of his miles and will need to be sharper for a chance at the top slot (8) PERRON has a couple
of ok tries since hitting the bottom level but tonight’s post is a killer. Both (4) BAR COINS and (6) FULL RIGHTS
have been off form, and will need to improve significantly to be players tonight
RACE 4 – (5) PASS LINE earned $200K this year so it’s hard to say she had a disappointing year...unless you
compare it to the $548K she banked as a 2 year old – she’s shown that she can bang heads with older mares, and just
missed against the BOYS 2 back – we’ll give her the edge in her Hilltop debut. (4) FRONT PAGE STORY has a
strong local record and rallied nicely in NJ last week in her first start off the trainer change – could be the main
danger. (1) IDEAL COVER has been one of the few bright spots recently from a barn that’s been slumping badly –
decent chance for a good piece from this spot. (3) BEE OKAY A turned things around immediately after the recent
barn change, winning both starts (in PA, vs. easier) – hard to say if she’ll be able to keep it going against these much
tougher foes. (7) VILLAGE JADE charged home in the lane to pick up a nice win last week but now has to contend
with Post 7 and a class hike – maybe she can still rally for a share? (6) TALENT TO SPARE A was an ok 3 rd two
back and paced home evenly into a fast final quarter last week – maybe 3 rd/4th? (2) PURAMERI moves inside but
seems a bit overmatched. (8) HURRIKANE LADY LOU will look better with a class drop next week
RACE 5 – (4) SEA CAN returns to Yonkers where he was super earlier in the year, winning the John Brennan
Trotting Consolation and then later on, an Invitational – no prayer in his last in NJ, but this spot should be to his
liking. (2) DWS POINT MAN was a good 3 rd last week, catching a very fast mile (with a very fast final quarter) –
may have the best chance to knock off the top choice. (6) SEVENSHADESOFGREY finished with good trot after a
conservative steer last week– can rally for another piece tonight. (3) B NICKING hasn’t found his best form in some
time, but the good draw may help him land a small piece. (1) SOUTHWIND ARTURO is a bit below the top ones,
but the rail draw should at least keep him in the hunt. (5) CRAZYLAND has ability, but he also shows a pair of
breaks and a dull try from his last 3 starts– just not clicking right now. Both (7) NO DRAMA PLEASE and (8) WIN
DSONG PIONEER were front end winner last week – but both land all the way outside while moving up in class!
RACE 6 – (1) WASTED ON YOU had no chance in her first local try (parked from Post 8), was an even 4 th in her
next but a pretty good first over 3 rd in her last, behind a couple of good ones – she seems to be getting sharper, so
perhaps this is a winning spot? (2) TWO PISTOL ANNIE was never close from Post 7 last week but has been a
solid performer in this class for weeks – could be right there with the right trip. (7) DONNEGAL SPIRIT made it to
the Jugette Final and was only beaten by 3 lengths in her recent Breeder’s Crown elimination – the 3YO clearly is a
talented filly, but faces a tough assignment from Post 7 (vs. mostly older rivals) in her Yonkers debut. (4) RACEY
RACH N picked up a couple of wins here earlier this year when she shipped down from Plainridge, and has to be
worth at least a look as she returns tonight. (6) LUCKY ARTIST A gets no luck with the draw but the classy 11YO
definitely has a chance to outperform that 20-1 ML price. (5) REC TIME really benefited last week when able to
control the action thanks to a clogged outer tier (racing with Lasix for the first time) – looking at a tougher trip here
(up in class), but maybe she can rally for a small piece? (3) FAVORITE BEACH may prefer to be in a little easier.
(8) CRUISE ALERT was 3 rd last week but moves from the rail to the extreme outside
RACE 7 – (1) ROSE RUN XTRA raced here a handful of times last year and did okay – his recent Harrington form
suggests he could be a serious player here, but his local qualifier (after moving to new connections) is what really
stands out– he’s Bartlett’s choice, and ours too. (5) BONTONI DEGATO S loses Bartlett to #1 but his last (winning)
effort was simply vicious – couldn’t blame anybody looking to stay on his team. (4) ALL WRAPPED UP has some
terrific looking form in Ottawa and moves to a barn notorious for improving these types dramatically – he’s also
missed a month, and has just one start in 7 weeks...could hurt his chances for tonight. (2) DARK MIND shipped in
with a 3 race winning streak but lost all chance after making a break – we’ll see if he can rebound. (6) ROYALTY
BEER has struggled to finish his miles well enough – tonight’s draw doesn’t help. (7) ENOLA has raced well since
the 8/29 claim and now adds Lasix – unfortunately, she also moves up a notch and draws poorly. (3) HAT TRICK
MARLEAU was a 35-1 shocker 3 back but failed to even get a check in the 3 starts before that, or the two since. (8)
MYCROWNMYKINGDOM is good right now, but moves up in class and starts from Post 8 – rough spot!
RACE 8 – (3) CHERYLS SHADOW has been in career form for a while now, for a barn having (another) stellar
season – she drops out of the Invitational (where she was just 2 nd and 3 rd), gets a good draw, and we’ll give her top
billing. (4) EASY TO PLEASE landed on an impossible trip last week but has otherwise been racing very well for
weeks – chance to rebound quickly with a better journey, and grab a good piece of this. (7) LLOYDS LOVES is
having an amazing season, and was quite the claim a few months back – she’s just as sharp for her current barn (as
she was for her previous trainer), but the obvious knock here is the draw. (1) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY would be
more comfortable vs. a bit easier but starting from the pole could help her grab a good trip...and a decent piece. (5)
UPTOWN HANOVER is ending the year in fine fashion, hitting board in her last 6 starts (including a recent 3 race
winning streak) – she fits very well, but may end up a bit overbet. (6) TRICK OF THE LIGHT was an excellent 2
nd in her first YR start of the year but the month off is a concern. (2) GOLDEN QUEST N is off her best right now
RACE 9 – (8) OKINAWA BEACH A charged home full of pace dropping to NW7500 last week and now drops
again to the basement – we’ll bank on Kakaley finding her a manageable (winning) trip, even from out here. (3)
CALLMEQUEENBEE A seemed content to just get a clean trip around the oval last week after a disastrous start the
week before – she could be more serious tonight, and grab herself a good piece of this. (2) WHATINEEDISAMAN
moved back to her old barn last week and the improvement was significant – belongs in your exotics, for sure. (1)
COWGIRL LILLY gave it a good speed try last week but weakened late and is now 1 for 41 on the year–
underneath only. (5) HALLELUJAH HANOVER has hit the skids lately – she’ll turn it around eventually, but
there’s no signs to suggest it’ll be tonight. (7) BOORAA N was 6-0-0-1 in her previous Yonkers starts and lands a
poor post for her local return – prefer to just observe, for now. (4) BULLVILLEKARLA was no factor shipping in
last week and was 8-0-0-0 the last year she raced here (2022). (6) DELTA THREE N looked dead short off the layoff
last week