Thursday Empire Report

soaofny • March 17, 2022

The Empire Report - Thursday, March 17, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (6) JIVE DANCING A dropped to an easier spot last week but drew outside, and was stuck

making a LONG first over move from 7th - had no prayer with that trip but still raced well enough to be

4th...gets another important drop for tonight, and may be able to overcome the outside draw against this

(even) easier bunch. (4) BETTERB CHEVRON N didn't leave last week, never pulled, sat last to the top of

the lane but then just zooomed on by the entire field to actually win going away at the end - she was terrific

for sure, but was also helped by literally all 7 of her rivals crawling home into the :30 final quarter - should

be the main threat to the top choice. (1) COOLNCALCULATING N picked up a 2nd at this level back on

2/3, and figures to be looking at a good trip from this spot - definitely one to include in exotics. (5) ANNE

BONNEY N hit board in her last 2 starts and seems sharp enough for a chance to do that again...as long as

she lands on an easy enough trip. (3) COLOR ENVY really wasn't bad last week for a mare that hadn't

raced in a year - barn picked up their first YR win of the year on Tues. night, so perhaps this is a good value

horse to at least consider? (2) IDEAL CLASSIC draws well for her 2nd start off the layoff but did look a bit

short in her last - prefer top still just watch. (8) MONICA GALLAGHER had no offer in her first try off the

layoff and now lands Post 8 - sticking with others, for now. (7) CABOWABOCUTTIE is 0 for 46 here over

the past 3 years, mostly against way easier than these - seems totally buried in here.


RACE 2 - Good race: (3) FIGHTING EVIL didn't have quite enough stretch pop last week but was also

facing some sharp foes - she's a proven player against this type, and is one of several that could take this

with the right journey. (2) SPORTS FLIX was trapped behind a tired leader a little too long last week, and

the top two finishers simply had the jump on her into the stretch - she's looked good in her 4 starts since

returning from the winter break, and is a legitimate threat tonight. (1) ANDRA DAY hasn't been "great" so

far in 2022, but she was good enough to get the job done off the pocket trip last week - should be a very

live player once more from this spot, but won't offer much in the way of wagering value. (4) TOBAGO

TIME has been solid in her 5 local starts so it was really no surprise to see her win last week (at a generous

17-1 price) - in tougher now, but still a chance to be part of the action. (6) LUCKY ARTIST A started off

the new year looking pretty good, but was simply no good at all in her last pair - can be very dangerous

here if she shows up on her "A Game" - but hard to predict that'll be the case. (5) SHEIKH YABOOTY N

was away for 3 months and surprisingly resurfaced in a new barn - was sent off at 47-1 (in NJ) for her first

start back and was no factor...prefer to just watch, for now. (8) BETTOR LADY ships in for connections

that have sent over a barrel full of winners to this barn over the past couple of years - seems like a very

tough spot for THIS mare, however. (7) EYE POPPING just isn't clicking right now...and lands Post 7.


RACE 3 - (5) IRON MISTRESS did the best she could last week after being hurt by poor cover, and was a

close 4th against some solid foes the start before that - in a race with no stickouts, she's definitely a good

value horse to consider. (6) ELLAGATOR faced (and beat) better than these several times last year - solid

qualifier behind a very talented 4YO, and could be a very dangerous threat if ready to roll right off the

bench. (4) JOSSIE JAMES A faced much better throughout 2021, but has been struggling a bit to come

around so far in '22 - did race much better in last week's speed try, so perhaps she can build off that and

handle these....wouldn't take a short price on top, though. (2) WOODMERE HARRIET can be wildly

inconsistent but on her best effort, she'd have a chance to beat these - that 12-1 ML price makes her worth

at least a look. (3) PRAY THE ROSARY just hasn't looked good in her last few starts - she’s eligible to turn

it around on any given week but right now, just isn't worth gambling on at low odds. (1) TEAM KIWI N

came up with an improved effort last week, but was helped greatly by a pocket trip in a race with a poor

outer flow - in line for another good trip tonight, so maybe she can grab another piece? (8) PAIGES GIRL

has looked much better in her last couple and seems ready to do some damage....but may need to wait for a

better spot before that happens. (7) E R HILLARY has been in and out lately....but mostly "out" - tough

spot tonight, even if she shows up on her better game.


RACE 4 - (5) MILADY DENVER A gave it a good try last week, establishing a good trip then pacing well

to the wire to be a close 3rd - she tends to be a little inconsistent, but did manage to win 9 races last year -

meets an ordinary bunch tonight, and may be able to come out on top. (1) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has

been on the sluggish side lately, but has also been facing better in most of those starts - always dangerous in

a field like this (especially from the pole). (4) TELL ME A JOKE took plenty of $$ two back and gave it a

good try when 2nd to repeat winner SCANDALICIOUS - paced evenly for 4th in her last, and looms a live

player in this pretty evenly matched field. (2) DANCE CLUB can beat much better than these "when right",

but she's one of many from the barn that has been pretty underwhelming so far in 2022 - may be a spot for a

wake up call. (3) SLICK ARTIST A left a bit two back but was slammed into by a rival and taken right out

of it (incredibly, the judges may have been the only people on the planet NOT to see it!) - drew outside

again last week and was never in the hunt....maybe we'll see a better try tonight with the move inside? (7)

FIRSTUP was handled aggressively last week (at least Kakaley TRIED to do that) but just wasn't any good

- hard to like her chances from Post 7 tonight. (8) FEAR MY SHADOW probably fits ok with these, but the

draw figures to really limit her chances. (6) SWELLOOKINBEACH is 12-0-0-0 at Yonkers.


RACE 5 - (5) PIVOTAL was picking up pieces in this class here last Fall but those were MUCH better

fields than this - stopped for the year back in November and ended up with the Super Siblings before

returning - doesn't look like he's quite hitting on all cylinders just yet (2 qualifiers and one start), but does

look good enough to handle these right now. (2) CREATIVE VENTURE was sharp in his 2022 return last

week, trotting a strong final quarter to be a close 3rd after being well back - could be next in line should the

top choice falter. (1) TITANS HOPE had good trot at both ends of the mile last week and always has a

chance (since she has speed, and stays flat) - definitely one to include in exotics. (4) STRIKING GENSON

has a win and three 3rds from his last 5 starts (broke before the start in the other) - handles any trip, and is

another that definitely should be used in exotics. (7) HEARTOFGOLD DEVIE was just too lazy for too

long the last two weeks and lost any chance - she does have some ability, though, and not a bad bomb to

include on some tickets. (6) BLANK SPACE AS hasn't been able to win since bumping up to this level, but

does have a chance at a small piece....with the right trip. (3) GRAFENBERG has been behaving lately, but

also seems to have really leveled off - he's just 1 for 19 locally, and just isn't the handiest horse - prefer

others. (8) PERRON had some late trot last week in a race that basically just fell apart - not likely to be as

fortunate from all the way out here.


RACE 6 - (8) VELOCITY MCSWEETS has been one of our picks for weeks against much tougher than

these - she's facing much softer now and even though she was a little dull in her last (and draws Post 8

tonight), it still feels like she can get it done against these. (6) ROYALTYWESTHO missed 6 months but

came back a winner (for her new barn) on 2/4, then raced ok in her next couple as well - has a good YR

history, and should be able to make her presence felt tonight. (1) CORSINI A is winless in 6 local tries but

did hit board in half of them - figures to get an easy trip from this spot, and that could translate into a board

spot. (5) CHELSKI returned sharp from her winter break at Fhd., and has enjoyed plenty of local success in

the past - would definitely consider for exotics. (3) CHECKERED PAST is very hard to predict from week

to week but she's gone enough good miles over the past couple of years to use underneath tonight. (2) DIA

MONDTOOTHGERTIE would definitely prefer to be in a little cheaper, but the good draw at least gives

her a shot at a minor piece. (7) NORMANS MADELINE seemed a bit short in her 2022 return, and now

draws Post 7 for tonight - good week to observe, waiting for a better spot. (4) ANOTHER BEACH DAY

has missed 3 weeks and the Pompano shipper looks like she may be on the cheaper side.


RACE 7 - (8) EPOS OSTERVANG DK figured to have some ability if they brought him all the way over

from Denmark - came up 2nd best in his US debut (at Pocono) to a horse that won again the next week,

then wired a field of fairly decent older trotters (from Post 8) in his next start, repelling pressure to score in

1:56 - certainly seems like he should be better than these, but will need his part owner/driver to get it done

from all the way out here! (4) YUCATAN PARTY MAN can be pretty inconsistent but this is a spot where

he can do some damage, if in the right mood - an aggressive try could help. (7) SEVENSHADESOFGREY

has been a disappointment for his current connections but he did come up with a game win last week -

tough draw, but can do some damage with a manageable trip. (3) JOE EXOTIC has definitely upped his

game in the last 4 starts since joining this barn - logical one to include in exotics. (5) INFINITE ZETTE

was a solid 2nd (to a sharp winner) 2 back, but made an early miscue last week and lost any real chance -

another that can grab a share if on his best game. (6) IDENTITY POLICE is usually hurt by slow starts, and

he's already starting from Post 6 tonight - may be too far back to make any noise here. (1) CHROME

PACKAGE and (2) CHERRY MASON are a combined 2 for 8- between them - sticking with others,

despite their inside draws.


RACE 8 - (5) BITTY BITTY earned her way up to the Open ranks and held her own all 4 weeks at that

level, including her last start (where she never had any room to pace - drops, gets Bartlett back on board,

and figures to be handled aggressively here - the one to beat. (2) GOLDEN QUEST N finished alertly in

her first start back off the layoff (in the Open), then lost all chance behind horrible cover last week - good

chance she can outperform that 10-1 ML price tonight. (4) NO WIN NO FEED A made a lot of $$ Down

Under, so it's no surprise that she's been able to thrive since arriving in the U.S. - raced very well in both

local starts, and now returns from The Swamp, where she was in very tough spots in her last pair - look for

a good effort tonight. (1) MAGICAL MISTRESS seems a notch below the main players in here, but should

be able to tow along closely enough to take home a small piece. (3) EDGE OF ETERNITY was up at the

Open level herself not too long ago, but seems to need a little easier these days - more likely looking at a

smaller piece here, than a larger one. (6) MORNING HAS BROKEN is definitely on the cheaper side but

she's sharp right now, and packs a potent late kick - may be able to rally for a minor share. (7) MAJOR

BATTLE does her best with a little easier, and figures to be coming from well back - prefer others tonight.


RACE 9 - (5) DEMETER N definitely hasn't been the most reliable mare over the last several months but

she's capable of big efforts at any time - if she shows up as sharp as she did last week, she'll be a very tough

player tonight- but don't go overboard if she ends up way overbet! (1) LADYBELUCKYTONITE gets a

pass for last week as she lacked any room in the lane - just missed the week before that, and put in a good

move 4 starts down before settling on a 3rd place finish - very logical threat from the pole. (8) BABS JANS

EN took a tough beat when she came up a nose shy 2 back, then absolutely stormed home from way back in

her last to just miss once more - might have been listed on top if not for Post 8, but she's still worth a long

look with that 20-1 ML price! (6) DELISHKA N was a nice winner 2 back debuting for her new barn off

the layoff - couldn't overcome the tougher trip last week, but she's eligible to pick up a decent piece tonight

IF she can find an easy enough journey. (4) CORAL BELLA went on an amazing run from the bottom

claiming class to the Open recently....but she hit the skids soon after and has been really struggling in her

last few starts - in desperate need of a wake up call. (3) PONDER THE ODDS grabbed a win 2 back thanks

to a perfect trip vs. easier - will need to up her game to be a player with these, however. (7) SCAND

ALICIOUS had a pair of wire to wire wins recently but that was in much easier spots - figures to have a

rough time getting in play from out here, against these. (2) HEY HEY DBAY ships in from Fhd. and will

need to prove that she can hang with this type.

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