The Empire Report - Thursday, March 2, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (5) LONESTAR FASHION finished full of trot in his 2023 return, wearing hopples for the first
time - if he can continue to mind his manners (and stay close enough to the action), he'll have a chance to
pick up a victory tonight. (1) WICKENBURGH took all kinds of $$ two back and delivered his sharpest
local mile to date, fighting off all challengers to reward his backers - was a solid 2nd to the promising TAC
HYON last week, and looms a very strong threat from the pole tonight. (6) TRANQUILITY K has come up
with 3 straight strong performances since returning to YR and another is expected for tonight - may be
better used underneath, however, as she's 0 for 14 locally, and just 3 for 51 overall (but 2nd or 3rd 22X). (4)
MATT SO SURE gets some post relief and really hasn't been bad - chance for a small piece. (2) THEWAL
LOFLOVE AS has been a very consistent performer and comes off a pair of sharp 8 hole tries - she'll be
facing much tougher tonight, however, and will have to prove that she can hang with these too. (3) CREDA
RENA was all out to beat much easier last week - may find these a bit tougher than she'd like
RACE 2 - (3) GREY was forced to chase the fiery 3/4s last week while also getting stuck behind a tiring
rival on the final turn - still finished up decently, and has been solid overall since returning for her '23
season - may be a spot where she can finally pick up that first win of the year. (5) TIMESTORM can be a
little unreliable at times but he does own 2 recent wins at this level, and can be a dangerous player if the
trip goes his way tonight. (2) GEMOLOGIST has 3 wins and a 2nd from his last 4 starts in this barn, but
will be facing a bit tougher as he steps up from the 50s tonight - leaning to the top pair, but wouldn't be
surprised if this guy was able to beat them in his current form. (1) KENZIESKY HANOVER is ultra
consistent and draws the pole for an ever-dangerous trainer/driver team - not a lot of recent WINS, though,
and she may be better used underneath. (4) P L OSCAR went a big mile from Post 8 two back (after an
early miscue!) so it was no surprise to see him come back to win last week - this is a much tougher spot,
however, and he may struggle a bit in here. (6) TOP ME OFF hails from a barn that could probably win
with a zebra right now, but really does seem up against it from the outside, against these solid rivals
RACE 3 - (1) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N figured to be a bit short last start (off the layoff) but that was
compounded by being stuck behind horrific cover - should be tight now, and she'll have every chance to
exert her class over these starting from the pole. (7) ROCKNROLL ANNIE has some back class of her
own, and has been sharpening lately as she's been descending the ladder - she's definitely at a winning level
here, but is also at a post disadvantage to the top choice - the main danger. (2) PROTECT BLUE CHIP has
a trip of 3rd from her 3 local starts this year, and the inside draw puts her in position to grab another good
piece tonight. (4) PULL ME THROUGH was never a threat last week but did stay on gamely for the show
spot after a tough trip - chance for another decent share. (3) VELOCITY MCSWEETS hasn't been sharp in
some time, though she did parlay a dream trip into a win (vs. cheaper) 2 back - will need another very good
trip to pick up a piece tonight. (5) ALWAYS BE TRUE too advantage of the lead in a soft field to prevail in
a slow mile last week - this is a much tougher spot...and she's looking at a much smaller slice. (6) APRIL
AVA has way more bad tries than good lately, and draws another poor post - sticking with others.
RACE 4 - (4) TACHYON raced super from well back in his first start of the year and followed that up with
a pair of easy victories- he's hitting on all cylinders right now, and remains the one to knock off. (1) SWAN
FLYER changed hands towards the end of the year and closed out 2022 with a pair of wins at Dover - came
up just a little short in his '23 return. but should be tight and ready to go for his YR debut - could be the
main danger. (3) SOUTHWIND ARTURO qualified with hopples added on 1/18 and is 4-3-0-1 here since
then - moves up a notch tonight, but should still be able to make his presence felt at the end. (2) HAND OV
ER DAN has ability for sure, but has made more than his share of miscues - figures to be handled very
conservatively tonight, but that doesn't mean he can't be part of this IF he behaves. (6) MUSCLE DAN has
been sharp for several starts now, but ends up drawing outside all his main rivals - may have to settle for a
smaller piece tonight. (5) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM may appreciate this move to NW6 but he catches a
solid field, and may still be looking at only a minor share.
RACE 5 - (1) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN had a very useful tightener off the layoff (2/16) then was
ready for his 2nd start back, sitting the pocket and almost getting to a very sharp HOOLIE N HECTOR -
the classy 10YO should really be primed for a top effort tonight, and gets to control his own destiny from
the pole. (4) NO MAS DRAMA seemed to appreciate the 3+ months off, charging home from 10th to 4th in
her first start back (across the river) - she's no stranger to Yonkers, and may be ready to do some damage
for a strong trainer/driver combination. (2) VALI HANOVER should be sitting close enough to the action
from this spot, and he won 2 of his 7 starts here last year - logical one to use in exotics as he returns from
Dover. (3) PROMISE FOR LIFE was well meant the three times he drew well here but came up 2nd best
each time - may prefer to "relax and rally", and he'll probably get that trip tonight....we'll see if that helps
him finish better. (5) BARN HALL was just an "ok" 3rd last week but did race well in a pair of 2nds prior
to that - a quick start would help his chances considerably. (6) C YOU AGAIN DK disappointed in his YR
debut when run down late by SWANSEA but was a very good first over 2nd last week - would have liked
him a lot more from a better post, however (7) BARRY BLACK jogged in NW10000 last week- not overly
concerned about tonight's class jump, but the draw does figure to slow him down quite a bit. (8) STARLIT
RAMBO was good last week, but gets the double whammy tonight of both a class hike AND 8 hole
RACE 6 - (5) TRIZZLE TRAZZLE returns from Dover and catches a very soft basement field - she was
2nd in her last 3 local attempts, and this really feels like a "now or never" spot for her. (1) QUEEN LOSTR
IS N ended the year in good form at Chester, but her 2 recent qualifiers don't inspire a ton of confidence
that she'll be ready right out of the box - maybe the tote board will offer some more guidance? (8) WESTM
ONT Z TAM would be hard to like at all on paper, but we have seen MANY of these Meadows shippers
improve dramatically shipping in to this high % barn - couldn't blame anybody looking to take a stab, at a
big price. (3) BOTTOMOFTHENINTH just seems disinterested for most of the mile in all of her recent
starts - she has more than enough ability to win at this level IF she ever does get her head back into the
game. (2) WOODMERE JAZZ is on the cheap side but did use a two hole trip to pick up a 2nd last week,
and could grab a piece here too with another kind journey. (7) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N retains Gingras
but that's about all she has going for her right now - seems like a tough spot to overcome. (6) E R HILARY
just hasn't been clicking lately - never hurts getting Bartlett on board, but she seems to need more than that
right now. (4) BETABCOOL N ships back off a distanced line and is 18-0-0-2 at YR over the last 3 years
RACE 7 - Short, but sharp Open field! (5) NOWS THE MOMENT has either been "good" or "very good"
in almost every start since the beginning of December - he was absolutely pounded at the windows last
week and delivered the razor sharp win...he'll likely be a better price tonight (drawing outside #4), and we'll
give him the narrow edge. (4) HL REVADON came into his last having won 3 straight yet was surprisingly
"cold" on the tote board - he did come up light, and weakened to 3rd after #5 blew by him in the lane - he'll
get a chance for revenge tonight. (2) HEY LIVVY just got way too hot after making the lead last week and
her legs just got too heavy in the latter stages - likely will race from off the pace tonight, and that will likely
agree with her - chance for a mild upset. (4) CREDIT CON has been on our tickets for a long time now and
she's held her form beautifully even since moving up to these higher levels - always a chance for her to land
somewhere on the ticket. (1) INFINITY STONE moves way up off the claim and does seem overmatched
RACE 8 - (1) THE PANTHEIST A was a successful mare Down Under winning 9 of her 48 starts and
banking nearly $170K - she failed to win any of her first 3 U.S. starts (at The Swamp) but raced well each
time, especially in her last (racing with Lasix for the first time)- draws best for her (belated) YR debut, and
her most likely rivals all seem off their best form right now. (2) MCMARKLE SPARKLE figures to be
heavily backed getting big post AND class relief - this may be the week that she perks up, but note that in
her 3 starts since returning from the layoff, she's only beaten a total of ONE horse - risky right now, for
sure. (6) WESTBEACH had an ok try last week in her first start off the 3 month layoff - could be tighter
now, and worth a look if the price is decent enough. (4) REACHTHRUTHESKY AS is another that's used
to facing (and beating) tougher, but her 2 starts this year have been lackluster at best - hard to predict that
this will be her wake-up spot. (3) NORMANS MADELINE took the cash and GOT the cash in her big
wake up win 3 back - she's only been able to pick up smaller pieces in her 2 starts since then, and seems
headed for a similar result tonight. (7) TOBAGO TIME is winless on the year, though racing ok one level
down - tough spot tonight, but would still probably throw in for 3rd/4th. (5) SPORTS FLIX has missed a
month and the guess is that she'll need this start. (8) MILADY DENVER A throws a few good ones every
year, but will need a much easier spot before we can look for one of those
RACE 9 - Tough race: (6) LADYFLIX did try to leave for position last week but made an early miscue -
she's a proven threat with these, and may be the one if she can work out a decent trip from Post 6. (2) B
THREEWINDS trotted twice and broke twice since adding hopples - seems to have enough ability for a
chance to beat these, but would need a decent price to use him on top. (7) WANIA hit board in all 4 local
tries but really hasn't been overly "impressive" - certainly has a chance against these, but he's another that
would need to be a good price to merit a play on top. (5) LOOKINTOGETLUCKY had some good tries at
2, including in the PA Stallion Series - seems a little slow to come around so far at 3, but this might be a
good spot for him to perk up. (1) EEE Z WOW stuck to the easier Excelsior B races at 2 and learned to race
on all sized tracks - her return qualifier looks fine, and she just may be able to trot with these right off the
bench. (3) SV ROYAL FLUSH gave it a big try on the lead at 23-1 last week, making the winner work hard
to beat him - maybe he can wire this crew, but his 1 for 47 career record is hard to overlook. (4) SQUABLE
continues to pay his way, but is now 1 for 52 with just a pair of 2nds.
RACE 10 - (1) SOMESWEETSOMEWHERE had a pair of no chance spots since returning for her 4YO
campaign and never got involved - moves all the way inside, was Stratton's choice over a couple of others
and a much more serious effort is expected (she won 2 of 5 here last year). (2) NITE TIME DEAL had a
useful tightener last week and did flash ability at times as a 3YO - she might be ready for a much bigger
effort as well. (5) FIRSTUP had a rough couple of years but seems to have really come around quickly
since changing hands recently - she has plenty of back class, and has won races here in the past - worth a
look at that 10-1 ML price. (4) CHELSKI tends to be pretty unreliable but she raced ok in her last couple,
and a similar effort could land her a piece tonight. (3) SMOOTH DEBATE N has been a major
disappointment since arriving in the U.S. and last week's loss (after taking all the $$ and making the lead)
was not a great sign - just needs to be a lot better to get her picture taken. (6) THUNDRA is tough to
predict from week to week but even when "right", she tends to be camera shy - would consider for a minor
piece only. (7) LITTLE HONEYBADGER was able to grab 2nd last week with the help of a very kind trip,
but faces a much tougher task starting from Post 7 - much trip luck will be needed for even a smaller piece.
(8) VEL DONNA disappointed off a pocket trip at PcD last week and now gets stuck with Post 8