The Empire Report - Thursday, June 10, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - NAADA 2021 Summer Series: (2) STEALING was stuck with 8 holes in his last pair but did
well to only lose by 2-3 lengths - he has an outstanding 9-4-0-3 local slate, and may land on a nice trip from
this spot - at 10-1 ML, he should offer some good value in tonight's opener. (5) SUPERIORCOURT had
been holding his own in the Monti Opens before dropping into an Amateur event last week - he ended up
wide through the first turn then parked for the rest of the mile...but still managed to stick around for 3rd -
definitely worth considering tonight, hoping for a better trip. (4) MADHATTER BLUECHIP missed all of
2020 but has been putting together a solid year (so far) in 2021 - was a very nice 3rd off the claim last week
(vs. 20s, at Pocono), and is definitely a threat to beat this softer bunch...but at that 6/5 ML price, he won't
be offering much in the way of value. (1) POSSESS THE STONE was a close 2nd from a similar spot 4
starts back, but his form has tailed a bit since then - can have a say here IF he can rebound to his better
form. (6) P C FOREIGN AFFAIR has just 4 wins from 143 starts, but he does offer a decent late rally at
times - maybe can show up late for a small piece? (3) SPLASHED shows a few good recent tries at Stga.
but may be a little cheaper than some of these - inside draw may help him land a share. (7) DARK POOL
has proven to be a good fit with these, but may find himself too far back to threaten this week.
RACE 2 - (4) ETHAN T HANOVER earned almost $100K as a 2YO, and that includes a 3rd place finish
in the Matron Stakes - he's been holding his own with the top PA trotters so far as a 3YO, and trotted a mile
in 1:53.2 last week (after adding Lasix) - he's clearly the best horse in here...but note that he did make a
break at Fhd. (first start of 2021) before betting the rent money at a very short price! (3) SHARE THE
WEALTH picked up a 2nd and 3rd in his last 2 tries here and is looking at a pretty easy trip from this spot -
if you think the top choice might self destruct, this guy does seem next in line. (5) DESTINY BLUE CHIP
has gone some decent efforts here but did make breaks in his last 2 starts - if he behaves himself, he should
be able to take home a good chunk. (1) YUCATAN PARTY MAN gets along well with his (P) driver,
hitting board in 5 of 6 Chester starts - definitely a chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (7) DUKE OF
LINDY doubled his career win output with that victory at PcD last week - has raced "ok" here a couple of
times, and isn't a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (6) CHARMING BANK is hard to gauge off his midwest lines - we
should learn a little more after tonight. (2) SQUABLE has been "distanced" in pretty much every one of his
starts - waiting for at least some signs of life before considering
RACE 3 - (2) ACEFORTYFOUR DOME rallied very nicely for 4th off the claim 2 back, and probably
could have won her last had she been driven more aggressively (but was still a close, sharp 3rd) - gets the
narrow edge for tonight, but does face a couple of solid rivals. (3) TOPVILLE ANGELINA has been facing
much better in PA and raced well several times - got a nice drop for her last but came up 2nd best to a sharp
winner (who was also taking a class plunge) - fits perfectly with the locals, and will be a major threat here.
(1) FRANSCHOEK looked good rallying for 4th off a barn change 3 back - raced well for 2nd when bet
down to 1/2 in her next, but struggled first over in her last (as the 3/5 choice) - the price should be better
here (even from the pole), and she does have license to make amends. (8) SALLY FLETCHER A came up
weak off the class drop 2 back but probably shouldn't be written off too quickly...might have to wait for a
more realistic spot before being a serious player, though. (4) BETABCOOL N's two wins this year came vs
much easier fields at Fhd. - maybe can save ground for a minor piece? (6) CERTIFIED IDEAL avoids Post
8 this week, but doesn't draw that much better - may need a better spot before she can make any real noise.
(5) MADE OF JEWELS AS continues to struggle in 2021 after a rough 2020 season. (7) KEENE OLIVIA
was no factor in her last few here, draws outside, and is just 1 for 19 locally over the past 2 years.
RACE 4 - (1) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE added Lasix last week but took no tote action (from Post 7), and
pretty much just toured the oval - moves all the way inside, and the guess is that a MUCH more aggressive
effort will be coming - has gone some big miles here in the past, and could offer some good value tonight.
(2) YANKEE GIRLFRIEND raced pretty well in two local tries (after arriving from PPk), then went a big
mile at PcD last week (right there in a 1:53.4 mile after a long uncovered move) - has to be seen as a legit
threat here. (4) ON A STREAK banged out nearly $750K at 2, winning the Wellwood and the Breeders
Crown and just missing in the Valley Victory (with a 3rd in the Mohawk Million as well) - hasn't come
close to that to form yet at 3, however, and just MAY be a bit vulnerable (at a very short price) this week -
tough call! (3) SJS LADY LOU seems a bit cheap, even with all those Nfd. victories - connections have
done very well with Smalltownthrowdown, but he's a pretty classy horse...we'll see how this mare fits after
tonight. (6) MASSTRO found a NW2 field he could outrun last week after failing as the favorite in his
prior 2 - faces much tougher here, and also draws outside - prefer others. (8) MOMMS MY DAD won at
this level last week, but from the rail (vs. a weaker field) - looking at a much smaller piece from this spot.
(7) CAVALIER GEORGE raced ok in his 2 local tries, but the outside draw may leave him unable to get in
the hunt tonight. (5) CHERRY RED is better than when last seen here...but still below the main players.
RACE 5 - (2) HIGH ROLLING A gave it her all before getting nipped late (at 4/5) two back, and can be
forgiven for tiring a bit in last week's VERY fast mile - seems the one to beat with another inside draw. (5)
COVEREDNDIAMONDS N had legitimate excuses in her last pair (vs. much better) so it's a bit of a
surprise to see her dropping below the (recent) claiming price tonight - hard to know if there's a big hole in
her, or if her connections are hoping to "steal" a win, without her getting taken - can go either way! (3)
FOLLOWTHEWIND N has gone her share of good miles here in the past, and has hit board in 5 straight at
Fhd. - would hardly be a surprise for her top connections (6) ALL ABOUT AMY won here earlier this year
and also has a recent win at PcD - this is a tough spot but at 20-1 ML, at least consider her for a piece of the
exotics. (4) MOTU MOONBEAM N has really gone south after a long form spree - gets major class relief
here, but she may not be able to capitalize in her current form. (7) SHES SPORTY A has won plenty of
starts here in the past, and her form has been on the upswing lately in PA - not sure she can reach from Post
7, though. (1) BETTERTHANBRIE hasn't been a factor in a long time and really needs a wake up call. (8)
HERESLOOKINATYOU N was dull in her last few upstate, and lands the worst post for tonight.
RACE 6 - (4) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE is a streaky mare and she certainly had been in the doldrums
for some time before perking up with that much better effort on 5/20 - if she returns from the brief hiatus
just as sharp, she'll have a legitimate chance to beat these. (5) ANNE BONNEY N isn't the same mare that
rattled off that nice win streak last year but as you can see from that effort 2 back, she can still pop off a
good mile, when in the sight spot - just forgive her last (brutally parked), and look for a nice rebound effort
from this spot. (6) E R HILARY finally picked up her first victory of the year 2 back, and raced well (3rd)
from an impossible spot in last - if things get heavily contested up front, she can make some serious noise
at the end. (3) PAPPY ROCKS hasn't clicked at all in her 3 starts since the claim but she's surely capable of
much better efforts - give her a look if the price is right. (1) ZOE ELLASEN lands in a great spot returning
from the midwest but she was getting beat vs. cheaper before she left here - definitely can land a decent
piece, but leaning to others for the top slot. (2) ROCKIN THE BOYS A gave it a good try on the front end
when 2nd best to #6 three back - was dull in her next, then unable to hang on vs. cheaper in last - willing to
use underneath. (7) BETTERB CHEVRON N was holding her own at the top levels at the start of the year,
but has fallen on hard times of late - outside draw won't help her cause. (8) CHASE YOU was wildly
overbet last start but still able to deliver an easy win (one of 3 victories for the barn that night) - figures to
have trouble getting involved from out here, though.
RACE 7 - (1) GIAS SURREAL took over at the quarter two back and proved a dominant winner (upon
arrival from NJ) - bumped up to the Open for her last, secured a two hole trip, and was a strong 2nd best to
the sharp front end winner - rail draw gives her the edge tonight. (5) FEELIN RED HOT had to take back
from Post 8 last week and that's just not her style (but she still wasn't bad) - can go back to her preferred
speed tactics tonight, and that should make her a very live player once again. (3) BRONSKIMACKENZIE
A wasn't at her best last week (off a sick scratch and qualifier) but she wasn't "bad", by any means - she's
gone way too many excellent miles here to not deserve a chance at a quick rebound. (2) JIVE DANCING A
has been holding her form even as she climbs the class ladder - may be able to just the cones near the lead
and take home another small piece. (4) SIESTA BEACH got a well deserved freshener after battling all
through the Matchmaker Series (and for plenty of weeks before that) - may need a start before we see her
deliver her best. (6) ROBYN CAMDEN is very sharp right now, but likely will be coming from a little too
far back for anything more than a smaller piece tonight. (7) TELLITSASSYMAE saw her 3 race win streak
crash with a thud in last, and now draws Post 7 way up in class - the outsider, for sure.
RACE 8 - (4) ASHTINI was racing well after adding Lasix recently but hit a roadblock on 5/20 when Nick
Clegg (Dixie Star N) inexplicably just decided to park her -- she still was good enough to grab 4th, but
then raced very conservatively after drawing Post 8 the next week - much better spot now, and a strong
effort is expected. (1) BETTOR TRIX N picked up a win and a 2nd at Chester in early April facing similar
competition, and has been stuck facing better ever since - gets a class drop and the rail upon arrival at YR,
lures Brennan off #7, but she's also missed 25 days...still the main threat. (3) AMERICAN TOUR N was on
the lead when she made that miscue last week - assuming she paces a clean mile tonight, she's a good bomb
to use on the bottom of exotics. (6) SHECANDANCE N looked super charging home for 3rd off the layoff
but the comeback has stalled since then - we'll see if the class drop helps her find a better effort (2) CORAL
BELLA just didn't finish well enough in either start since returning to Yonkers - she also moves up a notch
here, and that won't help either. (7) SCANDALICIOUS flew home from well back 3 and 4 starts back but it
was pretty disappointing to see her get beat on the front end (vs. cheaper) last week - she'll be coming from
well out of it again tonight, and we'll see if she replicate a couple of those sharper miles. (5) TELL ME A
JOKE broke a long drought when she hung on to beat lesser in last - this is definitely a much tougher spot.
(8) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX was a winner in her last....but unlikely to ever get close this time around
RACE 9 - (5) ROCKN PHILLY looked lazy most of the way when she shipped in to win on 5/13 but was
much more alert during the mile is last week's impressive 1:52.4 jogburger - seems like her new trainer has
her on a good path right now, and she seems more than capable of stepping up and making it 3 in a row. (3)
SHEIKH YABOOTY N threw a dud 4 starts back but all of her other recent efforts (PA and NJ) have been
sharp - should be a major player here. (7) CASIES BELIEVER was a solid Open mare in Florida, and held
her own vs. a few pretty classy foes in those 2 Stga. starts - definitely disappointed a bit here at YR last
week, but she'll offer some good value from this spot, and is worth using in exotics. (6) IDEAL CLASSIC
was no factor in last but had been finishing with good pace (vs. much better) in her previous few - good one
to include underneath, at a nice price. (1) SEZANA N folded badly on the lead last start but wasn't bad for a
few starts before that - perhaps a little easier trip could help her take home a piece of this. (8) LADYBELU
CKYTONITE has been very sharp for weeks, but will be coming from well back here - not sure she can
pick up more than a minor share. (4) BETCHA BABY enjoyed easy pocket trips in her last pair and took
home a pair of 2nds - seems to be headed in the right direction now, but doesn't figure to get the same easy
trip as she moves up in class. (2) MILLWOOD BONNIE N finally grabbed her first win of the year (bottom
class) 3 back, but wasn't able to build off that - may need a drop (or two) before she's a player again
RACE 10 - Good race: (6) JOSSIE JAMES A is doing the same fine work up at these levels as she was
doing vs. lesser, earlier this spring - she's shown the ability to be effective either on or off the pace, she
lures Dube off a sharp (3) YS TALLIA to stick with her, and she usually goes off at a very fair price - one
of several that could take this. (2) MY RUEBE STAR N was one of the barn's outstanding performers last
year but like so many of her stablemates, she just wasn't the same since March -- her qualifier was solid,
and perhaps the brief vacation will help her find that Open mare form she displayed in the past. (3) YS
TALLIA is a streaky mare and she's certainly feeling good right now - steps up in class (and loses her
regular pilot), but she still can be a threat in her strong current form. (8) WALTZWITHSIERRAA was very
promising here in her U.S. debut (5/6) but while she's continued to race well in her next 3 starts, she still
hasn't picked up that first local win - there's no doubt she can beat these...but maybe not from Post 8. (1)
TAKE ABIT OF LIFE crushed a NW10000 field 2 back then wasn't bad up at this level in her last - moves
7 hole to the rail, and she's good enough right now to be a player. (4) PARISIAN BLUE CHIP has certainly
disappointed more than she's delivered since shipping down from Canada (for the Matchmaker Series) - the
recent addition of Lasix didn't help her in her last, and she's just too hard to back at that 5/2 ML price. (5)
MALNIFICENT got pretty sharp for a few starts but may need to be in a bit cheaper to be as effective. (7)
PONDER THE ODDS seems unlikely to have much impact from all the way out here
RACE 11 - Another tough race: (6) MACZAFFAIR N was a very sharp winner here on 2/25 but like every
other horse in the barn, things just turned sour for her once the calendar turned to March - her sharp qua.
(with Mrs. Tritton on board) suggests that the recent freshening has done her some good, and she has more
than enough ability to handle these....IF she can bring her best tonight. (1) NORTH STAR IDEAL was a
good 2nd at this level 2 back, and a decent 4th vs. better in her last - draws best for a hot barn, and figures
to have a big say tonight. (2) BRONZE OVER N was very sharp coming into her last race, and simply used
too hard (vs. better) to last for a bigger piece - draws well, but the main concern is the sick scratch. (7)
IMPRINCESSGEMMAA appears to have been involved in a recent ownership buy out, but it must have
been amicable as Bongiorno is still listed to drive - she tends to be a little in and out, so we'll see how she
does for her new trainer (especially from this tough spot). (3) WESTERN SHOWGIRL raced much better
than expected last week, from a tough spot - gets some post relief, and isn't a bad bomb for the bottom of
exotics. (4) THE CHARGING MOA N is hard to get a good read on off her last few starts - she may need
to be in a bit easier to make her big late kick work. (5) SLICK ARTIST A has really picked up her game
since the barn change 3 back - she's moving up considerably in class, but her last 2 wins were definitely
sharp - wouldn't be shocked to see her in contention here. (8) SANDYS BEACH is the outsider, both
literally and figuratively
RACE 12 - (2) IM VERY SPECIAL definitely hasn't been at her best in some time but she's hung in
decently with better than these, picked up a win at PcD in her last, and her barn is showing some hints of
better life lately - maybe she'll be a bit braver off that win and grab another. (3) TALL POPPY N is the 3rd
mare this barn is shipping in tonight - definitely looks like a live player and IF the earlier two race well,
five this one extra consideration. (7) ALII NUI was overmatched in the Matchmaker and seemed to just fall
apart for a few starts after that - has gotten her act back together out of town and is definitely sharp enough
to be a threat here....if Holland can get her in play without using her too hard. (6) BIRCH ISLAND BETTY
has come up with some big efforts here in the past - seems a bit cheap at the moment but at 20-1 ML, she's
ok to use in exotics. (5) ANNABETH was basically allowed to just steal one against cheaper last week -
will have to race from behind tonight, but still may be able to rally for a good piece, with the right trip. (1)
ANN HILL definitely prefers to be in cheaper but the rail draw at least gives her a chance at a minor share.
(4) CABOWABOCUTTIE continues to pick up pieces at big prices week after week - throw her in for
3rd/4th. (8) CINDERELLA DELIGHT got parked trying to leave from the outside in last and it seems
unlikely that she'll try that again from Post 8 tonight.