Monday Empire Report

soaofny • November 27, 2023

The Empire Report - Monday, November 27, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (2) STRIKING IMPACT has only had three inside posts from his last 9 starts, and they produced

2 wins and a 2nd (and he's still managed to race well from terrible spots on a number of occasions) - a live

trip makes him very dangerous here, especially if Kakaley is back driving tonight. (6) MY MIKI BEACH

has been sharp for some time but was an especially powerful "pocket rocket" winner when paired with

Gingras last week - the two hook up again, and any decent trip would make him a major threat to repeat. (5)

SLING SHOCK faltered in the lane after a first over try last week but still seems like a good fit with these -

maybe an easier trip can make him a little tougher player? (3) DP REALORDEAL is having a solid year

overall (32-6-8-5 $110K) but he just hasn't been able to thrive as much here at Yonkers (18-0-3-2 $19K) -

belongs in exotics, but would need to be a good price to use on top. (7) KOUNT BLASTER wasn't a bad

5th in his local debut and seems to fit with these - the draw does figure to limit his opportunities, though.

(8) LOUS THE ATTITUDE has regained his form after a recent rough patch but he's another that could

struggle tonight from out here. (4) KILL A DRAGON was a no-threat 4th last week - needs to be better. (1)

TWIG wasn't right on 10/30, then dull last week after a sick scratch - leaning towards others right now.


RACE 2 - (3) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was a sharp winner 3 and 4 starts back, then got roughed up

hard before finishing 2nd in his last pair - was re-claimed and turned in a sharp (maintenance?) qualifier

last week, and should have a solid chance in this compact field. (4) REAL PEACE came up a little short

from the pocket last week but that was vs. 40s - has to be seen as a major threat dropping for $30K tonight.

(1) MERITO HANOVER wasn't "good" in his local debut but he wasn't "bad" either - we'll see if he can be

a more serious player the 2nd time around. (2) KB MAC is 8-0-1-1 since arriving locally but generally is at

least part of the action - chance for a small piece. (5) ONTO EL DORADO gets Gingras for tonight but he's

1 for 35 on the year, and struggling right now - will need a major turnaround to beat these.


RACE 3 - (5) NANDOLO N is the lukewarm choice - he's used to facing MUCH better than these, and

returns from a victory across the river vs. similar (with Tritton in the bike) - Bartlett takes him over #4 and

he's supposed to be able to run these down in the lane....but his racing style always makes him a bit

vulnerable to bad trips (be careful if a short price). (4) COACHES CORNER is 5 for 5 for his current barn

but that winning streak will surely be tested tonight - deserves plenty of respect, and would obviously be no

surprise at all. (7) THIS IS THE PLAN hit the top from Post 8 last week but was worn down by a classy foe

and gradually weakened to 4th - he drops another rung tonight, and could offer some value here. (2) DE

LIGHTFUL DUDE N threw a rare total clunker last week but it's good to see him right back in the box -

any of his more typical efforts would land him right in the hunt. (1) CADILLAC BAYAMA has lines up

North that suggest he should be a good fit here but he may not be fully cranked tonight in his first local try

for a new barn. (6) BUDDY HILL seems to his best with a little easier these days but he's not a bad bomb

to consider if looking for a longshot. (3) JUSTASEC N had been holding his own vs. better for some time

but does seem a bit off his best these days. (8) LOUS BEACH has found his form after a recent rough patch

but faces an uphill battle trying to get in play from out here.


RACE 4 - (2) GANDOLF THE BLACK arrives from Ohio off a trio of 2nd place finishes, lands in a very

modest claiming field and picks up Yannick - worth a stab against the locals. (5) CANT SWAY ME doesn't

look all that great on paper but he does fit with this bunch and should be a decent price - worth a look? (6)

ALL ATTITUDE put in a big rally for 2nd behind the favorite in his local debut then failed to function the

next week - returns tonight after being scratched sick last start, and he can be a threat IF he shows up 100%.

(1) WE SHALL SEA has hit board in 8 straight but all 4 wins came at Monti, and he's stuck on 3rds here at

YR - chance if he can find a bit more tonight. (3) CROSS CREEK was hurt behind a breaker to the top of

the lane 2 back, then somehow held on to a distant 2nd after being blown away by the winner last week -

needs to find a bit more to threaten for the top slot. (4) FOX VALLEY PATRIOT has struggled (or worse!)

in all 4 local starts. (7) PINE BUSH MONSTAH raced better than expected in his local debut on 11/9 but

still seems unlikely to threaten from out here.


RACE 5 - (1) PRETTY HANDSOME was unable to get involved off the class drop last week but that was

a much tougher field - drops to the bottom, draws the pole and looms the one to knock off. (2) HES SPECI

AL has way more weak recent tries than good ones but his barn started to come back to life recently, and

this guy is used to facing much better - could be a wake up spot. (4) KERFORD ROAD A needed that start

on 10/26 (off the layoff) then was an ok 3rd the next week - was no threat in his last in NJ, but could show

up (at least for a piece) returning to YR and getting Mr. Gingras in the bike. (3) LONG WEEKEND was a

dullish 3rd off a pocket trip last week, and could be looking at a similarly small slice tonight. (6) HES ELE

CTRIC can sometimes sit back and rally decently- not a bad one to use for 3rd/4th. (7) CAPTAINS PLACE

has been hurt lately by poor posts and faces the same dilemma tonight. (5) ICE HOUSE is now 0 for 24 on

the year and hard to endorse at the moment. (8) LYONS LIBERTY is just 1 for 23 in the year and is 0 for

29 at Yonkers over the last 2 seasons - Post 8 isn't going to help his cause.


RACE 6 - (2) SAILBOAT HANOVER was at a farm under quarantine so the missed time probably

shouldn't be held against him - he's moved from one ultra high % barn to another since then, and that last

qualifier should have him ready for action...especially with the drop down to 40s. (5) MICKY GEE has had

trouble winning races this year (1 for 24), at least in part due to his one-dimensional "closer" style - he does

drop a bit tonight, and the switch to Bartlett may have him more on his toes as well- would consider as long

as he's not overbet. (3) GOTHIC ROCK would look better in for $30K but he can still hold his own at this

level when drawn inside - belongs in exotics. (6) BLUEBIRD RECON has been on the improve lately, even

if vs. softer - a quick start may help land a piece of this. (8) ALOTBETTOR N has had some success from

outside posts in the past but the switch to Lachance may see him take a very conservative approach - not

sure he can get close enough to do any real damage. (4) OSTRO HANOVER was scratched lame the last

2X he was in to go - he's missed 24 days since his last qualifier, and just feels a bit iffy right now. (7)

HEART OF DIXIE had been doing good work prior to last week's clunker - draws horribly tonight, and that

has us leaning elsewhere. (1) WAR DAN DELIGHT has been struggling since finally picking up a win 5

starts back - not sure he can threaten here, even with the good draw.


RACE 7 - (2) FULL SUPPORT was handled very aggressively in a Simpson division right after the barn

change (10/21) and can be forgiven for tiring - clearly appreciated the class drop with last week's blowout

in PA, and he should be right at home in this 3YO claimer - the one to beat. (4) BEN SOLO was a NYSS in

his 3rd career start at 2 but went on the shelf after that - he never did live up to that potential at 3, though he

has hit board in all 8 starts as a sophomore - he should fit very nicely in this claimer, and could be the main

danger. (3) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER was a winner in his first start off the barn change but a lot went his

way to help achieve that - may not be quite as fortunate tonight, though still should be a solid player. (5)

HESTONATOR picked up a pair of 3rds from 3 local tries and was a decent 4th after recovering from a

break in the other - chance for a piece tonight too. (1) BOOM TOWN BOY could never pass a horse that

was all done from the final turn last week, settling for an "ugly" 3rd - will need to be better tonight! (6) LO

OTABLE is 0 for 21 this year and just 1 for 31 lifetime - he draws poorly, and may have to settle for minor

scraps. (7) LOUIE HANOVER is the rare horse that just never clicked for this usually very successful barn.


RACE 8 - (2) LOUS SWEETREVENGE seemed a bit off his game before turning in that excellent first

over score 2 back - he followed that up with an impressive effort at Chester, and should be a dangerous

player here with a similar performance. (5) PEACE OUT POSSE was too far back to threaten last start but

his previous efforts were all very sharp - he's very versatile, and could be a legitimate threat tonight. (1) FA

MILY RECIPE usually prefers to be in a little cheaper but he's gone some big miles recently, and at big

prices - has to be respected with the rail and Gingras. (3) CERTIFIABLE had been rock solid for weeks

before coming up a little flat last time - he's missed 3 weeks, so we'll see how that affects him here. (4)

CHANTEE has been 1st or 2nd in 12 starts this year and has held form beautifully all season long - may

rally for a nice piece if things go his way. (6) HAZEVILLE hasn't been bad by any means but he's 0 for 12

here this year and the bad draw figures to really hurt here. (7) CRANBOURNE N is a talented import but

he lands another terrible post and that may leave him battling for only minor spoils once more. (8) NOME

HANOVER has won 4 straight and 7 of his last 8....but he moves WAY up off the claim and ends up behind

the 8 ball...that streak will be in major jeopardy tonight.


RACE 9 - (6) CAVIART ROCKLAND gave it a game front end try two back upon arrival from PA - gets a

pass for his last (parked), but should end up with a much easier trip tonight - one of several with a chance in

here. (3) QUALITY BUD was right there for weeks/months vs. much better so it would be hard to NOT

respect his chances down at this bottom level - on the flip side, he's clearly off form, and MAY be

vulnerable at a very short price - be careful. (1) MAXIMUS RED A is just 1 for 28 locally this year but that

win did come at this level, back in August - not impossible here with the right trip. (4) SMOKIN BY N

looks horrible on paper out of town but he returns to the barn where he had major local success in the past,

and a wake up call can't be discounted. (8) B LIKE CRUISER is racing "well" lately, but maybe not well

enough to be able to beat these from Post 8 - ok for exotics, though. (5) GINGER TREE PETE had some

life last week, even if helped by a very easy trip - not sure he can find a winning trip tonight, however, even

if he can build off that improved effort. (7) SHERIFF N failed to threaten off the class drop in PA last week

and the poor draw may leave him with too much work to do tonight, even with the additional class relief.

(2) LITTLE POWER seems overmatched in this field.



RACE 10 - (4) RJ SPORTS IMAGE had a terrific form spree before a recent trio of lesser efforts - his last

was a big step back in the right direction, however, and he may be able to build off that to have a big

chance in the finale. (6) BOILING OAR shipped in sharp from Pocono and was a solid pocket winner here

on 11/6 - was no factor in his next but was very well meant last week, going a strong mile despite a horrible

trip - could be a legitimate player here. (7) TUGGIN ON MY HEART has been rock solid since joining the

Super Siblings, and looms a very real threat tonight despite the bad post - some trip luck puts him right in

the thick of this. (1) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER has enjoyed a terrific year overall, but does show signs of

wear and tear - he was more involved dropping to this $40K level last week, and can be part of the equation

tonight, as well. (2) SETH HANOVER caught a very soft group last week and was able to pick up the wire

to wire score - would definitely still include him in exotics tonight, but leaning more towards others for the

top slot. (3) GENTLE GIANT moves in from Post 8 and that may help him at least battle for some minor

scraps. (8) PANNETONE HANOVER crushed a much easier bunch last week but he moves up and lands

Post 8...and that's just not a recipe for success.

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