The Empire Report - Thursday, June 30, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (4) WAKEMESHAKEME was reunited with her old barn last week and took 'em a long way on
the front end before tiring into the stretch - should be sharper the 2nd time around, and this field lacks any
particularly sharp rivals- the one to beat in tonight's opener. (2) RIGGINSWIND raced ok from a no chance
spot in her only local try, and has excuses for her last couple at PcD - might be a decent value horse to
consider. (3) SWEET PINK was an ok 4th in her start back off the layoff but failed to build off that mile -
this is probably a spot where Bartlett will look to be more aggressive....and we'll see if she's up for it. (7)
PRAY THE ROSARY has been having a rough year but she's also generally faced better - draws horribly,
but drops in class and her barn in clicking - wouldn't shock. (8) E R HILARY is another that's had a tough
year, but her last few have looked just a bit better - faces a very tough task from all the way out here,
though . (1) BET IM LUCKY just hasn't thrived since joining the Super Siblings - draws best, but not sure
that's enough to make her a serious player. (6) ALWAYS BE COOL is a "sluggo" that usually takes a long
time to find her best stride - that's going to be a problem here, as she'll be coming from well back. (5)
SHELLIE DE VIE just missed against better on 4/28 but has been no factor is most of her starts since then -
hard to endorse eight now
RACE 2 - (3) FLIP THE SWITCH couldn't stay trotting as a 3YO but added hopples at 4 and has stayed
flat in all 3 starts this year - looked super for his new barn taking a new 1:54.2 mark at Pocono 2 back, but
it's hard to say what happened here last week - his trainer hands the lines over to Bartlett this week, and
we'll see if that puts him back on his best game. (1) TAP ME BLUE CHIP picked up a pair of Excelsior A
2ndsa before winning as the 1/10 favorite at Stga. last week - the main danger. (2) MR ZUANETTI wasn't
strong enough at the end when 3rd last week, but he seems capable of better - inside draw makes him a big
threat to take home a nice chunk here. (6) AVACAKES shows good efforts when facing these types - good
value horse to include in exotics (and welcome back, Jeff Gregory). (7) ORIGINAL SMOKEY is just 1 for
34 but hit board in 18 of those losses - he can leave pretty well, and is a decent bomb for 3rd/4th. (8) TELE
NOVELA is on the upswing right now and likely fits nicely with these...will have a hard time overcoming
the draw, however. (4) BANK BREAKS is just 1 for 14 and that (recent) win came by a nose, in a NW1
race - seems a notch below a few of the main players. (5) IMPORTER EXPORTER is hard to gauge off his
Canadian form but he looks like a slow starter...and that could compromise his chances here
RACE 3 - (1) ANNABELLE HANOVER raced here 3X earlier this year -- once in the Open, and a pair of
2nds vs. NW30000 - may not be quite a sharp right now, but she's clearly the one to beat against these. (6)
ROCKNROLL ANNIE is still struggling to find her form this year (7-0-0-0), but may be showing some
better signs the last couple of weeks (hit the top before breaking 2 back, ok 4th in last) - maybe 2nd? (2)
ANNE BONNEY N can be pretty inconsistent but on her best, would be able to beat a lot of these- at 20-1
ML, she's worth including underneath. (4) FLOSSIE N is unproven here at this level but she steps up sharp,
and a few of these are struggling - maybe can find a spot on the ticket? (3) FEELIN RED HOT has really
struggled in the majority of her recent starts, but the classy 9YO is eligible to perk up and throw a good one
at any time - hard to make a case as to why it would be tonight, though. (7) AHOY moves to a new (top)
barn for tonight, but draws outside and has missed 23 days after a sick scratch - hard to love her chances.
(5) LAALWAYS AMARTINI broke a LONG Yonkers losing streak last start but was all out, against
cheaper - will need to be better to contend against these. (8) POPPY DRAYTON N may be a little better
since the recent barn change, but may have a hard time getting into play from out here
RACE 4 - (6) BLOOD BROTHER was an "ok" winner 2 back, but looked very good finishing from an
impossible spot in last - would feel much better if regular pilot Kakaley was on board but if Dube figures
out that this is a good spot to take a shot at leaving, he may be able to score an upset. (8) MACHIAVELLI
is moving up in class while many of these are dropping - he also draws Post 8 BUT he's probably the
sharpest right now, and has to be seen as a major threat for this top tandem. (2) EDDARD HANOVER
never seems to race the same way twice and he's notoriously camera shy - that being said, he still feels like
a legitimate player from this spot. (1) MAJESTIC KIWI N drops in class and draws the pole but he's also
missed almost 4 weeks after a sick scratch - iffy, for sure. (4) SWAGASAURUSREX is one of several class
droppers in here, and his chances will depend on being able to rally late if the early pace is contested -
decent price, and may be worth a stab. (3) JOJOS PLACE has been struggling for a long time - hard to say
how much the class drop will help him. (5) SECRECY doesn't win a lot of races at Yonkers and seems
unlikely that he'll grab a victory against $25K claimers. (7) MISTER SPOT A drops back down to the
claiming price but he was well back last week, and hard to endorse right now
RACE 5 - (2) ROCKN PHILLY charged home for 2nd in the Open 2 back then had just as much pace
finishing last week....but from too far back - can be handled more aggressively tonight (with the class drop)
and she should be a tough player against these. (1) REACHTHRUTHESKY AS was a solid front end
winner upon arrival from Ohio but had no chance last week, when trapped inside by a rim clogger - looking
at a much better trip tonight, with a chance for a big piece. (3) TEMPUS SEELSTER was off form for a
while but has continued to sharpen lately with each start, as she's climbed back up the class ladder - no
reason she can't pick up another nice slice in here. (4) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA came into her last race
sharp so it was no surprise to see her score at five cents on the dollar upon joining the hottest tandem in the
game right now - she'll need to be even better against these, but would anybody be all that shocked if that
happened? (7) MILIEU HANOVER has come back sharp at 4 but she's not the handiest Yonkers horse, and
the outside draw really figures to hurt her chances. (5) BETTERB CHEVRON N returned from Plainridge
in stellar form, but seemed badly overmatched last week - we'll see if this week's class relief helps. (6)
TEMPURA HANOVER really blossomed at 4 and turned in a sharp series of races at Chester this spring -
been away for a month, though, and will look to take on tough older mares tonight - prefer others right now
RACE 6 - (4) PC FREE WHEELING has been racing ok up in Canada and now joins the hottest barn on
the planet....while also adding Lasix for tonight - we'll hop on board for his local debut. (1) VELVET
STYLE was in midst of a sustained wide bid last week when he made an untimely break on the final turn -
would have been the top choice if not for the arrival of #4. (7) BLACK HAWK DOWN weakened in his
local debut but may have bled that night, and also may have shut off his air yielding to the quarter - added
Lasix for his last and was a winner at PcD....decent value horse to consider for tonight. (5) COMPLETE LI
FE took a few starts but has finally started to come around for the Dynamic Duo - we'll see if he continues
to improve in his first Yonkers start. (2) BIG CHARLIE MORAN never seemed to live up to his potential
but his last 2 in NJ are steps in the right direction - would consider here, but only if the price was juicy. (3)
MATT SO SURE showed some improvement in his last at The Swamp- not ready to endorse, but will keep
an eye on him. (8) TRANQUILITY K has some ability and does fit with these - he also starts from Post 8
after missing 2 months, and we'll just watch, for now. (6) STAMPED BY LINDY makes his local debut
and just seems a notch below some of the others
RACE 7 - (4) DARBY HANOVER had this class opened up to fit her in ("NW22321Last5") and she
should be primed to take advantage - finished with good pace (against better) last week despite racing off a
sick scratch, and figures to be handled aggressively tonight. (2) STAR CAPTAIN returned to her better
form last week and went a BIG mile for 2nd - talented 4YO certainly looks like the main danger. (5) DAN
CE CLUB gave it a good try on the front end last week before coming up 2nd best to the sharp TEMPUS
SEELSTER - figures to be hurt a bit drawing outside her two main foes, but may still be able to be a live
player. (3) MYSTIFYING disappointed for a couple of starts but turned in a better effort last week - if she
can build on that, she may be able to grab a piece of this. (6) SPORTS FLIX used a fast start from Post 7
last week to grab a pocket trip, and finish 2nd at 78-1 -- seems unlikely to be as fortunate tonight, however,
and is likely looking at a smaller slice this time. (1) CORAL BELLA was able to pick up a win last week
for a red hot barn but it was all out, on the lead, vs. cheaper - not sure she can hang with the top ones in
here. (7) LUCKY ARTIST lands all the way outside and may need to wait for a better scenario
RACE 8 - (5) BABS JANSEN was on a major roll for a long time before being slowed by bad posts (in a
higher class) the last 2 starts - drops down a peg, lands a much better draw, and we'll give her the narrow
edge in a competitive race. (1) INTHESKYROCKET A steps back up after a nice win one level down last
week - she's shown that she can go with this type too, and the rail draw can only help her chances - logical
threat. (4) DC BATGIRL hadn't lived up to the potential she showed as a 2YO but her new trainer certainly
has her hitting on all cylinders right now - if she brings over the form she's been showing at Pocono, she
can be a legitimate threat here. (6) TALL POPPY N shipped in sharp and really wasn't bad from Post 8 last
week - good bomb for longshot fans. (3) CASH ROLL looked good climbing the classes but has petered
out a bit lately - we'll see if tonight's drop can help her find a better effort. (7) MAJOR BATTLE can hold
her own with these but may need to be in a little easier to pick up a win - the outside draw doesn't help
either. (8) GOLDEN QUEST N beat this class as the favorite 3 back but tonight's draw will make that
tough to replicate - lots of trip lick would be needed to reach from out here. (2) THUNDRA has been doing
good things lately, but tonight's class jump may slow her down a bit.
RACE 9 - (6) GRACE ROCKS has been a solid player in the top levels at Hoosier - lands in a modest spot
for her local debut and we'll give her top billing. (4) UPTOWN HANOVER was also racing against the top
choice at Hoosier and finishing not far behind her - picked up a 3rd at Chester last week, and can be a
player here too. (8) SHEIKH YABOOTY N has held her own with this type (and better) here in the past,
and her win in that amateur race 2 back may have put her back on a good path - not sure she can overcome
Post 8, but a good price makes her worth using in exotics. (1) MILLWOOD BONNIE N came to life with a
wire to wire win at the bottom level 2 back, then rallied nicely from an impossible spot last week - she's
another that could be headed in the right direction now, and is definitely to include underneath. (5) BRIAR
picked up 3rds in her last pair and there's no reason she can't land a small piece tonight, as well. (3) CHELS
KI did some good recent work with cheaper, but has to show she can hang with the type too. (2) LADYBE
LUCKYTONITE has been struggling, and so has her barn - leaning towards others for now. (7) A
CRAFTY LADY draws outside and is 8-0-0-0 at Yonkers this year