The Empire Report - Thursday, September 22, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (3) LONESTAR FASHION was well backed for his local debut and delivered a very good
looking 1:56.3 front end score - anything close to that mile would probably crush these too. (4) FASHION
CANTAB is a lightly raced (so far) 3YO that has been doing some good work in PA, including a pair of
recent victories - hails from a small, but sharp barn and may be next in line in his first Hilltop try. (7)
AVACAKES was a nice 3rd here on 6/30 but followed that up with a pair of ordinary efforts - chased a hot
pace at Chester last week before tiring, and perhaps that'll have her on her on her toes for tonight - chance
for a piece with one of her better efforts. (8) CREDARENA used a nice pocket trip to break his maiden
here 2 back, then rallied decently for 4th last week from a tough spot - will need some major trip luck from
out here, but a chance for a piece if he gets some. (1) CANTERAWISHING has some less than stellar
recent form but she recently moved to a sharp barn and is eligible to improve - maybe 3rd? (5) SQUABLE
has been "ok" in a few recent starts, but has just one win and one 2nd from 38 career starts - minor share?
(2) IT IS WELL picked up a 3rd in his local debut but was helped by a race that just fell apart - made a
break last week, and remains a hard one to really gauge right now. (6) MIDNIGHT ICE seems to be on the
cheaper side, and broke at 60-1 in her only other local try
RACE 2 - Short field, but a tough race: (4) GINGER TREE LIZ was following the winner last week but
didn't navigate the last turn smoothly enough and it cost her a chance to be much closer at the end - she's
gone some big miles this year, and could be tough tonight if she brings another one. (1) LUCKY ARTIST
A was on a good roll (2 wins and a nose loss 2nd) when she took 5 weeks off - qualified back nicely, and
would be very dangerous from this spot if close to 100%. (6) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N was 2nd at 2-1
two back then won last week at 40-1 - obviously a tough spot, but hard to not at least give her a look at that
15-1 ML price. (3) WESTBEACH went a big mile returning from Pocono, stuck first over from 5th and
still just missing by a nose (to #6) - another legitimate player in here. (2) CHUPPAH ON didn't care for last
week's first over trip, and was also a little hot early on - she's more than capable of beating these with one
of her better efforts. (5) ANNABELLE HANOVER delivered the 33-1 upset last week and was one of the
barn's FOUR straight winners - she'll face better now, but can't just be dismissed too easily
RACE 3 - (7) ROCK N PHILLY has fallen on some hard times but it's hard to imagine her not coming to
life at this low level - would never bet the rent money on her right now, but she's definitely the one to knock
off in here. (1) SOUND IDEA picked up a win in a bit of a fall apart race 3 back...and that's the only
victory she has in a tough 2022 season - does figure to be able to have a say from this good spot, though.
(6) ALWAYS B MIMI worked hard and was able to finally get by her only rival last week, as the pair paced
away from the others - was claimed that night, and now steps up and lands a tough post...may still be able
to grab a good piece, though. (2) ANNE BONNEY N has been inconsistent for a long time, and that's what
we're still seeing right now - draws well enough to be part of the exotics, with the right trip. (3) NOR
MANS MADELINE has shown nothing in her last 3 starts but she does reverse form a few times every
year - not a bad stab for longshot fans. (5) ROCKNROLL SHELLI goes for a new crew tonight after a
private purchase - wasn't clicking at all for the Super Siblings lately, so we'll see if the change in scenery
helps. (4) DIAMOND OFFICIAL shipped in with some decent PA form but took no $$ and finished up the
track - hard to endorse her tonight. (8) MILADY DENVER A throws a few big ones every year, but this
doesn't feel like a spot to look for one
RACE 4 - (7) CALLMEQUEENBEE A was a sharp first over winner in her YR debut, one of 4 straight
winners for this barn last week - moves up a notch and draws outside, but still seems capable of taking
another. (8) TEMPUS SEELSTER was struggling in her last few starts here, but picked up a pair of
confidence building wins (over cheaper) at Tioga - not a bad value horse to consider, even from Post 8. (1)
WHOS SMOKIN N went some nice miles here earlier in the year vs. "NWPM" competition - should fit
nicely with these in her YR return, and looms a legitimate threat from the pole. (2) DRAGONS LUCKY
LADY is still not close to last year's top form, but she's becoming a solid weekly player at this lower level -
was 2nd to the top choice last week, and could easily pick up another good piece tonight. (5) SARAHS LIL
LY was a non-threatening 4th in her local debut but seems capable of better - worth a look if the price is
juicy. (4) SPORTS FLIX was able to grab a front end win 5 starts down but was struggling prior to that, and
has done little since - in need of a major wake up call. (6) POPPY DRAYTON N had a few good starts in
July but seems to have leveled off lately - outside draw doesn't help either. (3) BALFAST N looked well
short last week off the qualifiers
RACE 5 - (1) FAIRIESDELIGHT A kicked home in :27 seconds in her U.S. debut but still had to settle for
2nd that night - no chance from Post 8 in her next but left no doubt last week, crushing the field by 10
lengths - faces a couple of tougher ones tonight, but remains the one to beat from this spot. (6) MAN DON
TFORGET ME was freshened up and returned with a pair of nice qualifiers, finishing just behind a couple
of Open pacers - if the top choice disappoints, she may be able to get the job done (but definitely at a
disadvantage from Post 6). (3) GAME OF SHADOWS fits well with these but we'll see if being away for 3
weeks hurts her a bit - seems next in line. (7) SHEIKH YABOOTY N is moving up in class and draws
poorly but she's definitely racing well now, and Holland has been the "longshot master" the last few weeks
- ok for a piece. (4) HEY HEY DBAY would probably like to be in a bit easier but may be able to grab a
small share with a ground saving trip. (8) CRUSH ME was very good last week in her YR debut, but faces
an uphill task from Post 8, against these - maybe a good bomb for 3rd? (2) THUNDRA has been struggling
- we'll see if some post relief, and a switch to Boyd can help perk her up a bit. (5) SEZANAA seems a bit
overmatched with these
RACE 6 - (8) TAP ME BLUE CHIP is probably the most talented of these, but she draws all the way
outside, and is listed at 9/5 ML - we'll give her top billing, but would still need a "fair" price to jump in
with a wager. (2) R DESIREABLE LADY has the type of Indiana lines that would normally lead to success
here - might have made HER the top choice had she not been away for a month! (1) THE BOSS MAN
finally beat a NW2 field in his 4th try two back, then trotted home decently from a tough spot last week,
moving up to NW4 - legitimate chance to be right there from this spot in a pretty modest field. (6) FUNKY
BISCUIT raced well here a couple of times last year and ships in off a win (over cheaper) at Fhd. - gets a
very live pilot tonight, and isn't a bad stab at that 15-1 ML price. (3) NORTHERN BLIZZARD picked up a
2nd in his local debut but that was a "fall apart" race - wasn't a threat even before getting wiped out last
week, and will need to be better to be a player tonight. (7) COUNT JOGGING is hard to gauge off his Ohio
lines but he lands in a brutal spot for his local debut, and we'll probably just watch for now (5) HALLWAY
BABE has qualified more than he's raced since grabbing that NW2 win back in June - prefer others. (4)
OCEANVIEW PRINCE was "less bad" last week - keep an eye for any additional improvement tonight.
RACE 7 - (6) CANTKEEPMIASECRET improved massively (to say the least!) after changing barns prior
to that start on 6/30 at The Meadows....she won 5 in a row then was sold to her current connections, for
whom she's raced well twice here at Yonkers (2nd to winning machine FLIP THE SWITCH, then a win DH
with the talented X O X O last week) - Bartlett jumps off a horse from his main client (#2) to drive this
mare, and we're pretty sure he's making the right choice. (5) WILY WALLY shipped in sharp and raced
well here for a couple of starts in August - seemed to be tailing a bit but adds Lasix for tonight, and that
may explain things - could be the main danger. (2) P C FREE WHEELING comes into tonight off a 2nd
and two wins but will have her trainer handling the driving tonight, as Bartlett elects to drive the top choice
- can still be part of the action, and take home a decent chunk. (8) VELVET STYLE has ability and is
always finishing strong - he's 5-2-2-0 here this year, but draws Post 8 in an overnight just a week after
racing in the $200K NYSS Final, and just may not be fully cranked from this spot - may still be able to
rally late for a small share. (1) MUSCLE DYNASTY has stayed trotting in 3 of 4 starts since adding
hopples, including a 2nd here last week - another that may be able to show up late for a piece. (4) DRIBBLI
NG BI was handled aggressively last week and took home 3rd after a pocket trip - seems a notch below the
top ones, but we'll find out more tonight. (3) BLOGMASTER has some good overall form at Stga. but does
seem to be on the cheaper side - prefer to just watch for tonight. (7) HALL IT IN broke in his last in PA and
draws horribly for his YR debut - another that'll be on the "watch list" for tonight
RACE 8 - (4) DRAGON ROLL has been leaving the gate for so long that last week was a good reminder
of how well she can race from OFF the pace too - she'll probably be back to her speed tactics tonight (from
this better spot), and we'll give her the narrow edge over a couple of legitimate rivals. (3) MCMARKLE
SPARKLE was still picking up good pieces but did seem to drop just a bit off her best game - she really
appreciated the class drop last week, and charged home to the easy victory - may be ready to beat this top
class again. (5) SIESTA BEACH has been pretty good for a while now, but generally vs. just a bit easier
than these - doesn't help that she draws the outside, but at least it's only a 5 horse field - possible with the
right trip. (1) BETTERB CHEVRON N has been very solid lately, but hasn't beaten this top level in some
time - seems a notch below here. (2) GOLDEN QUEST N picked up a 3rd then a pair of wins since being
purchased by the Dynamic Duo - those starts were against cheaper, though, and it's hard to justify that 5/2
ML price moving up to face tougher foes tonight
RACE 9 - (3) MIKI ROSE is a 3YO filly facing some good older mares but she's been racing very well all
year (even after starting to face older a few starts back), and was very good last week despite an unlucky
trip - may be able to beat these with a better journey. (4) JODY was a very game first over 2nd two back
then charged home from well back to be 2nd again last week - maybe this is the week she gets over the top?
(5) MAGICAL MISTRESS has been very good for some time, is usually a good price, and simply had no
chance after a shuffle last week - a live trip could put her right there on the wire. (1) BEST HEAD WEST
will be heavily backed from this spot but she just hasn't been close to her early season form in some time,
and she's been burning a lot of $$ lately - still seems to be a good one to play against, although she does
figure to perk up and win one sooner or later. (2) TECHYS ANGEL A just threw a total clunker last week
but perhaps it's a good sign that she drops right back in the box - would be a threat if she shows up on her
"A Game " tonight. (6) WESTERN ROSIE finished evenly the last couple of weeks when more was needed
- draws a tough post here, and she'll need to be better for a chance at a good piece (7) BABS JANSEN has
been ultra consistent for some time but she bumps up in class while drawing outside, and that may be hard
for her to overcome. (8) REACHTHRUTHESKY AS is a solid performer but she's had trouble in some
turns lately, and Post 8 could make that even more problematic - prefer others this week.
RACE 10 - Very tough finale: (5) ANYTIME N was a close 4th in NJ two back then crushed a cheap field
at PcD last week - it feels like her current connections finally have her figured out, and she does have some
back class to her - we'll give her a slight edge upon arrival. (2) AMERICAN TOUR N just didn't function
here when claimed on 8/18 - was scratched sick from her next, but was able to bounce back with a good try
last week, almost grabbing the win - if she can build a bit off that mile, she can be a player tonight. (7)
SOME KINDAANGEL is hard to gauge off her recent PcD tries but she lands in a pretty soft field tonight,
and a good price makes her worth a look. (8) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N tired to 3rd in her well backed
U.S. debut at Chester, then just missed last week (to the tripsitter) in her first local try - terrible post, but she
has shown good speed - only if the price is solid. (3) LADYBELUCKYTONITE was handled aggressively
off the class drop last week but failed on the front end - maybe can race better with an easier trip tonight?
(6) SUNRISE HANOVER has some ok recent tries vs. better at PcD but she's 6-0-0-0 locally, and
definitely iffy for tonight - only if the price is decent. (1) BULLVILLEKARLA has just one 2nd (and no
wins) from her last 23 starts here - hard to recommend, even from the pole. (4) TAKEN CONTROL exits
the Dynamic Duo's barn after failing to really thrive - she beat cheaper at Fhd, 2 back, but still seems
unlikely against these.