Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • November 1, 2023

The Empire Report - Wednesday, November 1, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (3) STAY HAPPY certainly knows how to win races as she's visited the winner's circle 15X in

her career (mostly at the PA Fairs) - her last 2 overnights at "regular" tracks produced a sharp 1:53 score at

The Meadows, and a 2nd to DAFFLED HANOVER (a strong PaSS performer who also finished 3rd in The

Jugette) - she debuts tonight for a barn that routinely improves fresh stock by at least 1-2 seconds, and we'll

go with her on top. (7) HALLELUJAH HANOVER has really thrived at Yonkers, compiling a 12-6-4-0

local record - she drops back down to a much more comfortable level, but she gets her first bad post in a

long time and may be a little risky at that 5/2 ML price. (4) FRONDEUR finally picked up her first victory

of the season last week, after a bunch of 2nds, 3rds, and 4ths - faces a bit tougher tonight, but should still be

able to use her speed to secure a good trip - belongs in exotics. (5) EXTREME Z TAM has some ability and

will likely be rallying well at the end - her success will depend on how far back she is as they turn for

home. (2) IM PRINCESS BELLA A was one of two imports debuting for this barn last week that failed as

the favorite - way too soon to write her off, but also hard to endorse after that weak try last week. (1) MAR

ATHON MARY has been more relaxed and racing better as a result - an easy trip gives her a chance at a

small slice. (6) ON THE MONEY GB has been so-so in PA lately and lands a tough spot for her YR return

- an easy trip could allow her to at least grab a piece of this.


RACE 2 - (1) SEAFARER has looked unsound for weeks, and was finally scratched lame before his last

local start on 10/11 - he did qualify back nicely at Monti after that, then did win on 10/24 - if he shows up

even 75% "sound" tonight he'll probably handle these easily...but it's hard to take too short a price, the way

he's been for some time. (2) POSHONTHEBEACH A has the best current "form" of these, and is looking at

a pretty good trip from this spot - he's also just 1 for 32 this year (after a 2 for 31 season in 2022), so be

sure to get a fair price if he's your top choice. (3) LITTLE POWER looked like he was going to win handily

2 back....only to just pull himself up from the top of the lane and finish 6th - was a no threat 3rd last week,

and he'll need to find that "A Game" if he hopes to threaten for the top prize tonight. (4) FISHERMANS

SON was no factor in his local debut after being handled conservatively - he should be a pretty decent price

if you think he may bring a bigger effort tonight. (5) FULLBACK is 0 for 23 this year and just has never

been the same since last year's leading trainer coaxed a career mile out of him - he still grabs pieces at this

level, and may be able to do so again tonight. (6) OURRHYTMNBLUES N gets a son-to-father trainer

change tonight but he just hasn't been sharp in a long time - a major wake up call would be needed. (7)

MISTER SPOT A has been unable to find his form even as he's plummeted through the classes - last week's

miscue does little to inspire much confidence for tonight.


RACE 3 - (7) INN AT RODANTHE shipped down from Canada, had missed a month and drew Post 8...

but the public was so confident in the big barn change that they still sent him off as the prohibitive 2/5

choice - and he was able to deliver the victory, despite getting a little tired (after hard early use) - can only

be tighter now, and looms a short priced repeater. (4) ROSE RUN YANKEE finally gets a good draw after

three disastrous ones - he can be prone to miscues at times, but he does fit very nicely at this level when he

stays trotting. (3) FIVE FISH SPECIES has been hitting board every start while also failing to find the

winner's circle - it's worked out well for her connections (who have earned very nicely in this lucrative

class), but not so great for those that have used her on top - almost impossible to leave her out of the exotics

but also tough to play on top at a short price! (1) SHOPPING IN PARIS had to re-qualify after making a

couple of breaks but was able to behave last week and picked up a nice 2nd (behind #7) - another clean trip

puts her right in the mix for another big chunk. (2) BAR KEEP DE VIE stays trotting and has been solid in

his last few - chance to add some value to the bottom of the exotics. (5) WISTERIA HANOVER rebounded

with a much better try last week but may have a tougher time this week with more speed in the race. (8) BE

ACON BEACH fits well enough here but figures to be severely compromised by the draw. (6) GOTTA HA

BIT could really use an easier field and better post.


RACE 4 - (1) PRESTIGE DUHARAS showed some potential at 2 in Canada, grabbing a win and two 2nds

from his 5 starts - he's continued to do good work at 3, winning 4 of 8 starts including his last 3 in a row -

makes his Yonkers debut for a new barn, and deserves top billing (despite the bad date). (6) STRATEGIC

behaved with the addition of trotting hopples two back and delivered the good looking victory - he reverted

to bad habits in his last, however, and lost all chance with an early miscue - he can have a big say IF he can

stay trotting tonight. (2) NEWTOWNSBLACKGOLD has done a good job minding his manners lately - he

gets a good draw, gets Bartlett again, and could grab a nice piece. (3) LITTLE MISS YANKEE just missed

in her local debut, hung in okay after getting outbrushed to 3/4s by STRATEGIC in her next, but made a

break last week - could have a say if she gets back to trotting tonight. (4) SHIFTAN GEARS got away in

the pocket in his local debut but broke on turn three- one of many "iffy" participants in here. (5) SQUABLE

hasn't produced much revenue for the track photographer (he's 1 for 74 lifetime!) but he's closing in on

$100K in earnings thanks to his ability to stay flat, and grab checks - always a chance for a minor share. (7)

TO MY CREDIT is hard to gauge - had to back off from leaving in his first local try (losing all chance),

broke on the first turn after blasting in his next, then picked up a 3rd last week by staying flat and beating

the breakers - another bad post is going to hurt, however. (8) B FLUFF U UP has disappointed in both local

starts and now draws Post 8.


RACE 5 - (8) YOU GOT IT has raced well a bunch of times this year but was 0 for 14 coming into last

week - he went a strong mile, appeared to be a winner, but a disqualification (for drifting into his only rival

in the stretch) resulted in him now being 0 for 15 -- he should be a decent price from out here, and there are

enough live contenders that he may get the contested pace he'd need to win this. (5) I GOT THE TAB has

raced here twice (vs. easier) and was a winner both times - very logical threat, but MAY end up overbet. (6)

PEMBROKE MONI has a hefty $236K on her card thanks to being eligible to the MASS program - she

does fit well with this bunch, was Brennan's choice, and could have a big say. (4) MIKE THE KNIGHT

would seem to be on the cheaper side but the Canadian invader ships down sharp, moves to a solid barn and

also adds Lasix (apparently been bleeding, despite his good form) - definite chance to outperform that 20-1

ML price. (7) IM AN ANDOVER is a nice colt and has raced well here a bunch of times - tough draw, and

will need a lot of racing luck to overcome it. (2) DIAMANTE TRIO IT hit board in 6 of 8 local tries, draws

inside but does seem a notch below a few of the main players - maybe 3rd/4th? (1) STRONGERWITHLI

NDY seems up against it vs. these, even from the pole. (3) LIVINGONTHERAIL would be quite a surprise.


RACE 6 - (4) SOUTHWIND ONYX responded to the barn change with a sharp win 2 back, then came up

2nd best in his last to the classy MARINER SEELSTER- solid threat again tonight. (5) ZIGGY SKY is still

winless on the year but might have had a better chance last week if not overdriven (ended up a good 3rd) -

gets a big driver change tonight, and we'll see if perhaps that's enough to help him break the schneid. (1)

THE BEST TYME EVER had problems in his first 2 local tries but looked much better last week, and may

have been a lot closer at the end if not totally trapped in the lane - have to at least consider tonight for our

leading trainer/driver tandem. (3) VEL MR NICE GUY landed in a soft field last week and used an

aggressive steer to pick up his first local win since 2021 - this is a better field, and it'll be a harder to beat

these (though certainly possible). (7) CAMPORA N tired badly in his first try off the barn change but held

well to be 2nd in his last pair - tough draw could slow him down tonight, though. (2) MINGO JOEL has

been struggling and now drops in off a sick scratch - leaning to others right now. (6) MAJOR DESIRE has

a few good out of town efforts but he drops in class off the sick scratch and that feels like it could be a red

flag. (8) MAJESTIC KIWI N will have trouble getting into contention from out here.


RACE 7 - (4) STOP STARING raced very well in that 9/16ths "DASH" on 10/4 but was no threat at PcD

in his next, racing off a bad date - hard to say if he'll bring his best tonight but this is a beatable bunch, and

he may be worth a stab. (3) ITALIAN DELIGHT N was taking a suspicious drop last week but was able to

prevail as the favorite, just hanging on despite the easy trip - obviously a very real chance to repeat, but not

one to bet the ranch on at a very short price. (2) LEAVE AND ROLL threw a bit of a dud last week but had

some solid tries prior to that - can be a player tonight if he brings his best effort. (7) IM BENICIO A beat

the 30s (PcD) on 6/10 but soon had back to back scratches then went on the shelf for 4 months - looks like

he was purchased at a big discount during that period as he resurfaced at Monti last in for $10K...and was a

good looking winner - hard to say if he's earned the jump up to 20s, but we'll find out tonight! (8) TWIN B

SPEED DIAL has a trio if 2nds since returning to YR including a near miss to #3 last week - not sure he

can overcome the draw tonight, but he's worth considering if the price is huge. (5) SHANWAY N throws

more dull ones than good ones these days but IF things fall apart up front, he may be able to make some

late noise. (1) LOUS SASSIN arrives from PA off a win over cheaper but does seem a bit overmatched vs.

these. (6) GO DANCING A has been facing better here, but his lone local win came at the bottom level -

that last in NJ doesn't inspire a ton of confidence.


RACE 8 - Good race: (3) SPORTY M THREE hasn't been racing in this particular class but he's certainly

been facing similar stock every week, and racing very well for an extended period - took a tough nose loss

to MOONLIGHT SHADOW last week, and will look to get back to the winner's circle against these. (2)

GREG THE LEG has enjoyed an outstanding season (32-11-9-1), just missed last week and that 12-1 ML

price makes him one that should certainly be considered. (4) ULTIMAROCA really had no excuses last

week after enjoying things his own way on the front end but he's beaten these enough times in the past to

deserve another chance...especially at a better price. (1) HAZEVILLE has come up just a bit light in a

bunch of starts but still sports a strong 19-7-6-2 overall record this year - getting assigned the rail may

allow him to grab a very good trip tonight...with a chance to be right there once again. (5) PLEASELETME

KNOW really disappointed as the odds on choice last week but he's done some excellent work here at YR

and he's another that will see his price go up this week - worth a look? (6) FEARFUL INTENT has held

excellent form even as he's been climbing the class ladder - very tough post, but a live trip may see him

grab a small share. (8) SOUTHWIND PETYR improved significantly upon joining this barn and has held

that top form all through the year - he comes off a perfect trip win last week but he gets his first bad post in

ages tonight and that figures to really hurt - hard to justify that 5/2 ML price. (7) RED RIGHT HAND's win

2 back seemed a bit "flukey" but his follow up victory certainly was not - hard to see a winning trip for him

from this spot, but he could still pull it off with the right scenario - just not worth a short price.


RACE 9 - (2) YS SENSATIONAL CITY looked appealing off her Canadian lines but was really

disappointing in her local debut - it shows that she had broken equipment, so that MAY have contributed to

her weak try...perhaps she deserves another chance tonight? (1) EXCITING TIMES A is another that was a

bog disappointment in her local debut - the import was sent off at 4/5 but was a pretty "meh" 3rd, leaving

more questions than answers - better price tonight for those looking to stay on board. (5) TRUE BLUE

HANOVER was winless on the year coming into the last week but the NYSS player showed up sharp and

delivered the blowout victory - would be no surprise to see her take another. (3) BLANK CHEEK had no

prayer from Post 8 debuting for her new barn - may be able to show a bit more with tonight's much better

post. (7) DONTKARENIFIDO is 3 for 3 since arriving on the local scene but that was vs. much softer foes

- draws poorly while being asked to take on much tougher, and we'll learn a bit more about her tonight. (4)

DEVILISH DREAMS was unable to win for our leading trainer in their 7 starts together and now moves on

to new connections - prefer to just keep an eye on her for tonight. (6) ANNELIESE HANOVER has thrown

far more lesser efforts than good ones, and gets a tough draw here - prefer others. (8) LA MAMBACITA

arrives from Maine and looks on the cheaper side....AND gets stuck behind the 8 ball.

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