Friday Empire Report

soaofny • May 12, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, May 12, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) LETTUCERIPRITA A is actually facing a bit tougher field of 15s than he's used to but he's

been a "winning machine" at Yonkers for the past few years, and that's the intangible that makes him the

top choice again tonight. (1) JK LUCKY CHARMS was on the upswing for a while but may have hit a

speed bump in his last couple - he gets both a class drop and the rail for tonight, and that may help him find

a better effort....at a decent price. (5) STATEMENT MADE A was struggling a bit in the 20s recently but

last week's class drop and pocket trip helped him find his way back to the winner's circle - this is a tougher

spot, but he still should be able to make his presence felt. (6) TOATSMYGOATS is 6-2-1-3 since joining

this high-powered barn and his speed makes him a player every week - he MAY be hurt by some inside

leavers tonight, or he may just be able to loop them at the start - either way, he may be a bit harder used

tonight than he really prefers. (2) MISSILE SEELSTER has seen his form hold up nicely after the recent

barn change - draws inside, and a live trip could land him somewhere on the ticket. (3) DERECHO has

been away for a month and goes for a new barn - sticking with others. (7) MINK STREET took a BIG drop

for his last and it didn't help - drops again, but the brutal post makes him tough to consider tonight.


RACE 2 - (5) GALANTE A was racing very well here vs. much better early in the year - his recent out of

town form is mixed, but he does have some recent excuses - he catches a somewhat shaky field for his YR

returns, gets Brennan, and could offer some value in the back half of the early Daily Double. (3) C BET

HANOVER raced well here in most of his 8 local starts - he's been facing some solid stock recently in PA,

and should fit very well with these as he returns to YR - worth using. (1) TWIN B RAPTOR had some less

than stellar Delaware form but did perk up with a big one in NJ last week, racing for a new barn - draws

best for his YR debut, and could make some noise from this spot. (4) GARDYS LEGACY A just never

clicked this year for his previous connections and he'll try it for a new crew tonight...he does tend to get

overbet, and that may be the case tonight, as well. (2) ROSE RUN X CON was better last week, but that

was largely due to a beautiful inside trip - may be handled more aggressively tonight (at a shortish price),

and it's hard to say if he'll be up for that. (6) SILAS SEELSTER hasn't really been sharp so far in 2023 -

drawing all the way outside won't help his cause.


RACE 3 - (2) ROCKN PHILLY never seems to race quite the same from week to week but she's a talented

mare when she brings her best - she returns from PA off a nice rallying victory, and may get to sit just off a

contested pace tonight...Lachance in the bike means the price should be decent. (3) MAN DONTFORGET

ME just missed to a razor sharp rival 2 back but got used a little harder than she'd like on the front end last

week, and did get tired in the lane - this is a softer spot and if she can find a little easier trip, she'll be a big

threat. (7) CHERYLS SHADOW has been terrific since returning as a 4YO, compiling a 6-4-0-2 record and

proving that she does belong at these higher levels - tonight's draw does present the possibility of a tough

trip, however, so make sure to get a fair price if using her on top. (1) MISS DOTTIE MAE is another 4YO

that is enjoying an outstanding year but her last definitely wasn't her best - may be a good spot to race her

off a helmet tonight (after cutting the mile the last few weeks), and that may help her finish strong and take

home a good piece of this. (6) JIVE DANCING A is just 1 for 13 this year but has raced (very) well in

nearly all her starts - tonight's draw is a concern, however, and she may need some trip luck just to grab her

usual good chunk. (4) UPTOWN HANOVER has done her better work with softer this year - feels a notch

below a few of the main players right now. (5) BETTERB CHEVRON N has found some much better form

lately....but that has also bumped her up to a level where she may struggle a bit.


RACE 4 - (4) ON THE VIRG had a big wake up call last week, battling nose to nose a long way before

finally weakening late - he's not the most reliable horse on the planet but IF he can build off that mile, he

might be able to handle this questionable group. (5) LYONS KING has been racing in Ohio and PA for a

while and returns to YR at a level much lower than he's used to facing here - he lands in one of our leading

barns and figures to be a big player tonight....he also figures to be way overbet! (3) ROCKATHON is used

to facing tougher, but he also seems off his game and many of his barnmates are struggling lately as well -

mixed feelings about his chances as he returns from NJ. (2) VIVA LAS VEGAS N is extremely camera shy

but can usually pick up decent pieces with better, as long as he sits an easy trip - good one to include on the

bottom of exotics. (1) BETTER B SWIFT had some better life last week and is looking at an aggressive try

from the pole with Bartlett - he's also 0 for 28 here over the past 2 years, and tough to use on top at a fairly

short price. (6) GRATIAN HANOVER had to retreat to last at the start in his YR return so the jury is still

out on the former classmaster - check the tote board for clues. (7) YER SO BAD likely needs a much better

post to be a serious player with these.


RACE 5 - (4) THE REAL ONE hasn't been able to get involved lately but he's been in some tough spots

vs. some much better fields - he should be closer to the action tonight, and the $1.5M earner may be able to

mow these down with his late rally. (1) NIGHT WATCHMAN ships in from the "B" tracks in Canada and

prior to getting parked last week, had been racing pretty well - hard to say how he'll fit with these but he

lands in one of the nation's perennial leading barns, and has speed from the rail with Brennan - hard NOT to

give him a look at that 12-1 ML price. (3) GENIUS MAN will certainly attract plenty of $$ as he gets the

potent combination of both class and post relief - he may just crush these....but since his barn has been on

the cooler side lately, be careful about taking TOO short a price. (7) BLUEBIRD RECON has left from a

couple of outside spots recently and lasted for small pieces - maybe he can do the same tonight? (2) HES

ELECTRIC doesn't win often but he landed on a perfect trip last week and outkicked the tired leaders to

pick up the victory - hard to back him on top tonight at that 2-1 ML price. (6) EDDARD HANOVER was

too sluggish for too long last week, and was outkicked home by #2 after finally rallying into the stretch -

tough post tonight, and he's another that doesn't visit the YR winner's circle very often. (5) MAJOR SHOW

hasn't been bad lately and finally was able to earn his first Yonkers win last week - much tougher spot now,

however. (8) LISBURN hasn't beaten a single horse the last 6X he went behind the gate...and draws Post 8.


RACE 6 - (3) DARBY HANOVER had a win and a 2nd at this level back in March before landing in a few

tough spots, in better fields - responded to the class drop on 4/28 with a strong first over 2nd, followed by

last week's victory at Chester - returns to a nice spot at YR, and can take another. (1) SMOOTH DEBATE

N really struggled after arriving in the U.S. but finally started to get her game going in mid-February, and

continued to hold her form as she started to climb the class ladder - had no luck across the river in her last

couple but draws best for her Hilltop return, and can use her speed to land a good trip - chance to add some

value to the ticket. (5) TECHYS ANGEL A has been pretty solid since adding Lasix recently, and should

appreciate some class relief here- chance to be a player either on or off the pace (6) ROCKNROLL ANNIE

will look to leave hard from Post 6 - if she's able to get herself a decent trip (without being used too hard,

she's another that could add some value to the exotics. (2) COMMANDER CATHY N easily wired a much

softer group 3 back but wasn't at her best in her last pair - always a chance she could perk up and rally for a

good chunk, but it just feels like a couple of others offer better value right now. (4) VILLAGE JADE was

able to tough out a win vs. easier last week but she really hasn't been hitting on all cylinders for a while -

could be vulnerable at a short price tonight as she takes a double jump in class.


RACE 7 - Tough race: (4) HEARTLANDBANYSBRO has been struggling for a long time but he was

"sneaky good" last week, pacing a solid final 3/8ths to be relatively close at the end - he catches a field of

very shaky foes tonight, and this might be a spot to look for a wake up call. (2) GOTHIC ROCK will attract

attention off the class drop but he's been an unreliable performer at best for some time - he usually races

better when NOT used too hard early on, but the temptation will likely be there to race him aggressively in

this soft spot - mixed feelings! (6) AWESOMENESS has been struggling for ages but was a little more alert

in his last couple - worth at least a look at that 12-2 ML price. (1) HEART ON MY SLEEVE finished 3rd

in his last pair and will be a player tonight, even if by default - has a chance to be right there from start to

finish, but he's not the type you'd want to back at too short a price. (3) ROCK N TONY gets his first decent

draw after landing 8 holes in both starts off the recent claim - he'll be given every chance to succeed

here.....but it's hard to say if he's up for a winning mile right now. (5) BLOOD BROTHER went on the

shelf for over 8 months after making just one start after being claimed for $25K last July - he's shown little

in his 3 starts since returning, and would be hard to endorse at the moment.


RACE 8 - Short field, but can still be an excellent race! (4) MORNING HAS BROKEN raced well in most

of her Matchmaker starts, though often from tough spots - she was an excellent 2nd in the Consolation to

#6, and may be able to reverse that decision with a live trip tonight. (5) DELITFULCATHERIN N raced

well enough to make the Matchmaker Final but some bad luck landed her in the Consolation instead - she

was an odds on, front end winner that night (beating #4), but she's making her first start since then and it's

hard to know just how cranked up she'll be for this - very dangerous if anywhere close to her best....but will

she be at that level tonight? (3) DRAMA ACT came into the Matchmaker sharp, did good things early on

but MAY have started to tail just a bit towards the end - hard to gauge her last start as she endured a tough

trip from Post 8, and tonight will probably give a better gauge as to where she's act - note that she DID start

to tail considerably after winning LAST year's Final. (1) PURE SILKY is now 12-4-3-4 at Yonkers this

year, and shown that she can hold her own with good mares - gets assigned the rail, and she may be able to

use that to grab another good share (she was 3rd last week). (2) LUCKY ARTIST A has been tough as nails

for a long time, but is showing a little wear and tear in her last couple - leaning towards others right now.


RACE 9 - Might be tough to find a winner in this form-challenged field: (6) ALTA BLUES A had a poor

trip 2 back and his last was a bit better than it looks - his qualifier with Bartlett on 4/14 was pretty good, so

perhaps the pair can team up to make something good happen tonight? (1) SWAGASAURUSREX found

unknown gate speed last week and blasted to the top from Post 7 - ended up with a two hole trip, but then

squandered that good start completely - maybe he can just sit a close up, relaxed trip tonight and find more

of his usual late kick? (5) KEYSTONE DASH's only good recent effort was two starts back, when he was

able to sit the pocket behind a slow pace and finish 2bd - maybe he can work out a good trip tonight, and

find another good mile? (2) BUTTER UP landed on a very easy trip last week and was able to grab a 3rd at

a big price - maybe he can have some similar good fortune tonight? (3) HURRIKANE GEORGIE had an

outstanding 2022 season but hasn't come close to that form in a long time - maybe this is a field where he

can have a wake up call? (7) GENTLEMENSATTITUDE gets a nice switch to Brennan but he's been

struggling to beat even cheaper out of town, and lands all the way outside. (4) EPIC ACE hasn't clicked in

any of his 5 starts this year....and his last was the worst one yet.


RACE 10 - (5) SEAFARER was in the midst of a terrific year when he was claimed for $40K last August

then just disappeared until recently re-qualifying upstate - if there's any barn that can have him ready after

all this time it's THIS one....we'll give him a try in the finale. (1) BRUSHING UP shipped in sharp from NJ

and raced much better on 4/28 than his line might suggest - he followed that up with a win at Chester, and

should be able to make plenty of noise from the pole tonight. (2) MAJESTIC KIWI N had no chance in his

first start off the claim (8 hole, bothered early) but rallied very nicely for 2nd behind the runaway winner

last week - can rally for another good piece tonight. (6) BETTER UP is a good fit at this level and ships

back in after a win upstate - tough post, but some trip luck may help him land a piece...at a nice price. (3)

SULLIVAN hadn't clicked at all for this barn since being claimed on 3/15 but did race a bit better when 3rd

in his last pair - another minor share? (4) ALWAYS BETTER drops and gets some post relief from his last

start here - leaning towards others, but he's one of several to take home a small piece of this. (7) DESIRES

CAPTAIN has been solid overall, though a little disappointing in his last - draws poorly for another new

barn, and may have some trouble getting into the hunt from out here. (8) ALOTBETTOR N still hasn't

gotten untracked so far in 2023.

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