The Empire Report - Thursday, July 6, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - Tough opener! (2) EPOS OSTERVANG DK is winless in 7 starts this year but he hit board in 5
of them, and was racing off a bad date in the other two - he may land on a good trip from this spot, and that
9-1 ML price is hard to resist on our leading trainer/driver team - one of several you could consider. (1)
CRESCENT BEAUTY is the latest horse to instantly thrive upon joining this small, but talented barn -
barring any miscues she'll likely be the one to catch from this spot...and her best effort will make it hard to
do so. (5) VALI HANOVER had to back off 4th when outleft last week then broke on the 3rd turn before he
could really get underway - he took 3 of 4 just prior to that, however (trapped too long in the lone loss) and
could easily rebound with a winning effort tonight. (3) HATIKVAH simply got blown away by a scary
sharp winner upon arrival 2 back but that last start was at least a little disappointing, squandering his great
early spot - leaning a bit more towards others, but his mega-high % trainer should never be overlooked. (6)
MAX raced well here years back, and returns to YR in fine form from Ohio - the only real knock is the
draw, but it COULD hurt his chances a bit tonight. (7) OH BOY won this race last week, and has 3 wins, a
2nd and a 3rd from his last 6 starts...but he's another that may be compromised by tonight's difficult draw.
(4) LIGHTFOOTEDLEGEND may need some class relief before we see his best
RACE 2 - (2) HILLEXOTIC was somehow allowed to draw for Posts 2-5 (despite his 21-10-7-1 Yonkers
record, his wins in his last 2 local Open attempts and his competing with the best in the country most every
others start) - he would have been the odds-on choice even if (properly) assigned the outside post...but Post
2 only makes him that much tougher. (4) STORMY KROMER had no real chance after getting away 6th
last week but he certainly finished with plenty of trot - he was 7-5-2-0 just prior to that, and should be able
to have a much bigger impact again tonight. (3) ON HIGHER GROUND is in the midst of an outstanding
season, and came up 2nd best to the top choice last week - should be a big player once again, especially
since he can handle any trip that comes his way. (5) SWEET SOUL DAVID has been sharp all year, and
has held his own nicely even since earning his way up to the top level - he probably should have been
assigned an inside draw, but he can still find a way for a piece of this if he can save ground and finish well.
(1) OUTSIDE THE FIRE was very sharp in last week's win but vs. easier - he still needs to prove he can
hang with THESE types, however.
RACE 3 - (3) SEVECHEETAH was sent off at 1/2 here last week (dropping from stakes competition) and
proved an easy winner - he'll face some tougher rivals tonight, but still gets top billing. (6) CALDERONE
crushed a maiden field here by 15 lengths on 5/11 but hasn't fared as well vs. better in his last 3 starts - he
made a break last week (adding Lasix, in the Yonkers Trot Elim.) but will be the main danger tonight IF he
minds his manners. (7) PRETTY DAME SPEEDY raced very well for 4th last week despite a new barn and
a couple of months off - gets another bad draw, but has to be considered for exotics with Scotty Z. back on
board. (8) ROSE RUN YANKEE was an odds on winner here 2 back (after an odds on win at Chester the
week before) but made a costly break in the pocket on the final turn last week (he would likely have been
2nd to the top choice) - at that 20-1 ML price, he's another that should be considered for exotics. (1) SQUA
BLE was able to pick up a 2nd last start, helped by the break by #8 - draws the pole again, and some racing
luck could land him on the ticket once again. (1) CRASH MY PARTY AS beat a maiden field 2 back but
wanted no part of the tougher trip vs. (much) better last week - the move inside helps...minor share? (4) BY
INVITEONLY seems a notch below the main players - wait for an easier spot. (5) SWAN FACTOR is just
2 for 30, racing primarily at easier venues.
RACE 4 - (1) HAYEK returns from Pocono to the level he beat here (handily) on 4/27 - on the flip side,
that's his ONLY local win in the past 2 years - we'll give him the narrow nod from the pole...but don't take
too short a price on top. (2) SPICY NUGGET finished well for 3rd last week (behind a runaway winner)
racing off a sick scratch - he fits well with these, and should be a legitimate player. (3) ZIG ZAG has done
good work since returning this spring and is definitely sharp right now - the right trip could put him right
there on the wire. (7) VINNY DE VIE has found his form recently in NJ, even if vs. a little cheaper - he
lands in a tough spot returning to YR, but he's a streaky horse and that 20-1 ML price makes him worth at
least a look. (5) HEY LIVVY is getting what would normally be seen as a potentially winning drop....but
she's also been well off her best game, and it's hard to predict when the somewhat erratic mare will decide
to pop off a good one. (4) KASHA V had a good run of races recently but his last couple suggest that he
may be tailing just a bit. (6) SOUTHWIND ARTURO has enjoyed a solid year since adding hopples - but
lands in a very tough spot for his Hilltop return
RACE 5 - (2) WALOVER has hit board (out of town) in 6 of 7 starts this year, with the other race being a
NJSS vs. the likes of SECRET VOLO (who just won the NY NY Mile here from Post 8 on Fri. night) -
catches a few live foes in her YR debut, but we'll still give her top billing. (5) WILD BILL KELSO cut the
mile last week (dropping down and adding Lasix) but still wilted a bit in the lane to 3rd - he seems capable
of better, and maybe we'll see that tonight. (1) AVACAKES has been incredibly consistent for the last
couple of months, and draws the pole with Gingras - she's been camera shy her whole career, though, so
demand a fair price if using her on top. (3) STRONGERWITHLINDY doesn't have the greatest YR history
but he has been improving across the river, and is worth including in exotics if the price is right. (7) BAR
COINS would normally have been at least 50-1 in here but he debuts for a trainer/driver tandem that have
done outstanding work together - don't just toss too quickly. (4) LONESTAR FASHION just hasn't clicked
all year, despite a good season in '22 - waiting for better signs. (6) MR ZUANETTI seems a notch below a
few of the main players, and the poor draw doesn't help either. (8) U BAKE THE CAKE has yet to be 1st
or 2nd in 14 starts this year...and lands Post 8
RACE 6 - (4) THE AMERICAN EAGLE was sharp in his return from PA, hitting the top from Post 7,
letting IN A TINY WAY go and then collaring that one at the end - gets a better draw tonight, and will be
favored to make it 2 in a row. (2) IN A TINY WAY made an unfortunate miscue as the favorite 2 back but
went a strong mile in her last, just missing at the end to the top choice - we'll see if she can turn the tables
on that same foe tonight. (3) MUSCLE DAN has been finishing well for small pieces in most of his recent
starts, and can do the same against these - include on the bottom of exotics. (6) TAP ME BLUE CHIP did
weaken a bit last time but her overall form has been good, and she has a chance to pick up a decent piece
tonight...even with the bad draw. (5) CREDARENA definitely disappoints more often than he delivers -
minor share only. (8) CREATIVE VENTURE is a bit of a puzzle - he was just 1 for 26 last year but went a
BIG effort off the (long) layoff last week, rallying from way back to be 2nd (at over 50-1) - can he repeat
that kind of a mile, or was it a one shot deal? (1) ER NO MORE just hasn't been good for weeks - not sure
the rail can help enough. (7) WANIA threw a pair of dull ones since graduating to NW6
RACE 7 - Tough race: (6) SAMHARA N beat similar in PA on 5/13 - shipped in after that but his results
have been mixed at Yonkers - he CAN beat these on his best, and he's worth considering (if the price is
right) in this hard to decipher affair. (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR had really been struggling until a class
drop (and the front end) propelled him to an easy win last week - we'll see if he built enough confidence
from that mile to handle these too. (1) ONTO EL DORADO N just toured the oval from Post 8 last week
but a few of his other recent tries would give him a chance here - that 10-1 ML price makes him worth at
least a look. (5) BETTOR SUN fits well enough but he was 0 for 9 this year before moving to our leading
barn and he's 0 for 5 since then - hard to get excited about a wager at that 2-1 ML price. (2) TWO FACED
has been limited to minor pieces in his last several starts in the NW6/NW8 classes - we'll see how the move
to NW7500 affects his performance. (4) BONDI SHAKE N wasn't a bad 5th last week and picked up a few
decent pieces recently as well - consider for a small slice. (7) OUR CORELLI N hasn't been sharp in some
time, and gets a terrible post. (8) BRANQUINHO missed all of 2022 and has yet to get untracked in 6 starts
this year - also has Post 8, with his trainer on board.
RACE 8 - Most of the field has really been struggling lately! (3) GAMBLINGTERROR was just a "trip
3rd" last week but it's not too long ago that he was holding his own with much better - should be a prime
spot for a wake up call in this pretty formless field. (5) BENHOPE RULZ went 4 straight starts without
beating a single horse then only beat a couple of rivals in each of his last two - he DID look better coming
across the wire last week, and may be ready to find some better form...that 5/2 ML listing does make it hard
to endorse him on top, however. (1) TIN ROOF RAIDER hasn't hit board for a long time and his barn is 1
for 47 since June 1st - he does have the rail in a weak field, though, so that may at least put him in the hunt.
(2) ROCKATHON has been awful lately for an ice cold barn - another just hoping for a wake up call
tonight. (6) SHARK PLAY has been a total bust since being claimed by our leading barn - drops to the
bottom tonight, but last week's drop certainly didn't help. (4) HURRIKANE GEORGIE has been struggling
all year, so leaving from Post 8 last week (at 75-1) had predictable results - will he ever get a wake up call
this year? (7) LYONS NIGHT HAWK returned from a long layoff recently in Canada and was up the track
both times - would need a major form reversal to be a threat. (8) SHANE ADAM does drop a level, but
draws another 8 hole and figures to struggle even vs. easier
RACE 9 - (2) SOUTH BEACH STAR shipped in razor sharp from PA and went a HUGE mile when 3rd
behind COVERED BRIDGE and HELLABALOU (both of whom had much easier trips) - he dropped a bit
to the 3-5YO Open last start and was a solid front end winner - remains the one to knock off. (1) CERTIFI
ABLE chased the top one from the pocket last week and could have been 2nd had he found some stretch
room - looking at another good trip tonight, with a chance for another good piece. (6) TAKE A GAMBLE
has been a winning machine all year but had to settle for 2nd best against the top choice in last - drawing
Post 6 won't help his chances tonight, but he's just been too good for too long to ever ignore. (3) LUCKBE
WITHALEX was a decent 4th despite a tough trip last week - he's listed at 15-1 ML, and isn't a bad bomb
to include underneath. (4) GREG THE LEG was terrific in his first 2 starts off the barn change and was
simply too far out to threaten in last - gets some post relief, and could end up closer at the end as a result.
(5) PLEASELETMEKNOW beat this class back on 5/4 but it was an easier division than this one - the right
trip makes him a contender for a piece. (7) SOUTHWIND PETYR is capable of BIG miles ever since
joining this high powered barn...but he draws another 7 hole and that may really limit him tonight
RACE 10 - (3) ALL CHAMPY rallied stoutly 2 back in his sharpest try in a while - got parked every step
from Post 7 last week but was still close on the final turn, and managed to be a pretty close 4th despite
covering all that extra ground - catches a modest field of 50s and is overdue for a victory. (4) PERRON
made a break 2 back then was stuck in the back with no chance in his last - he did win a pair of starts right
before that, and gets post relief for tonight - could be a live player again. (6) CANTKEEPMIASECRET
made the top 2 back and was able to wire a bit easier - dropped in for the $50K tag last week and did have
trot when she shook free in the lane...only to go offstride nearing the wire - bad draw for tonight, but still
one to consider. (1) AFTER ALL PAUL was racing "ok" from tough spots in his last few local starts then
was able to pick up a win at Plainridge, presumably vs. a bit easier - the rail draw should keep him fairly
close to the action tonight, and a decent piece is possible. (5) IM THE MUSCLE throws a good one at
times, but this doesn't feel like a good spot for it - insist on a good price if using on top. (2) FASHION FOR
EVER is off a bad date, and is inconsistent at best - leaning towards others. (7) INFINITY STONE draws
poorly off a bad date, and has been struggling for a cold barn - prefer others
RACE 11 - (6) HEISMAN PLAYER was a BIG "go" 2 back, cutting the mile then fighting bravely to the
end before taking a tough nose loss - didn't even pretend to be interested from Post 8 last week but this feels
like a spot where he can be handled aggressively again - worth a play in the finale. (4) CANTSTOPLYING
gets a pass for his last, as he had to retreat to last after leaving and finding no holes - gets a very live pilot
here, and he may be ready for a big effort. (2) PASS A GRILLEBEACH woke up at the bottom level in NJ
with a win 2 back - he should be able to make some noise against this bunch too. (1) LONG WEEKEND A
went an improved mile for 2nd last week but that doesn't seem to justify that 6/5 ML listing - he has a
chance for sure, but there will likely be better value with a couple of others (5) RHODENA ROAD showed
some life when overdriven 2 back, then paced home ok last week- Dube did go with the top choice, but this
guy may still be able to grab a piece. (7) FRANCO NANDOR N seems a bit cheap, but was an ok 3rd in
his last - not sure he can overcome tonight's draw, though. (3) HEEZ OURPERSEUS N debuted for a new
barn last week but was always well back - better post tonight, but still not ready to give him a try. (8)
MAJOR DESIRE draws Post 8 for a barn that's 1 for 47 since June 1st.