Monday Empire Report

soaofny • October 7, 2024

The Empire Report – Monday, October 7, 2024 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (2) FUNATTHEBEACH N was much sharper than his line 2 back might look and that’s why he was sent

off at 1/5 in his last (where he was the easiest of winners) – tonight’s small class bump really shouldn’t bother the

classy 10YO, but he’s also probably not one you’ll want to bet the mortgage money on at 1/5 tonight. (4) HICKFRO

MFRENCHLICK came up a little light at the end last week, making his first start in more than 6 months – he could

be tighter now, and a bigger threat at the end. (1) YO A J has been holding form nicely as he climbs back up the

class ladder, and did finish with crisp pace in his last – moves all the way inside, and is eligible to stick around for a

good chunk. (6) IGNATIUS A disappointed as the odds-on choice last time but he reunites with Siegelman and the

pair were doing good work together vs. much better not long ago – use in exotics. (3) MIDNIGHT THUNDER

drops, draws well, and may be able to tow along for a small slice (5) JAHAN HANOVER qualified back nicely after

some time off, but may take a conservative approach tonight. (7) CAVIART SARGENT finished full of pace 2 back

and did the same last week – he may not be able to reach from out here, but isn’t a bad one for 3rd/4th. (8) EMINEM

HANOVER isn’t bad now, but lands in a horrendous spot.


RACE 2 – (5) LOUS THE ATTITUDE finally grabbed his first win of the season 2 back and beat a bit better than

these in the process – came up 2nd best to a very sharp winner in his last, and figures to be a major threat tonight. (2)

CAPTAIN T HANOVER has raced well in most if his 32 starts this year, and comes into tonight riding a 2 race win

streak – goes for a new barn (re-claim), but he’s thrived for a multitude of conditioners this year...as always, a major

danger. (1) LYONS PRIDE was 9-0-0-0 here in 2023 but a much better 15-3-1-4 in ’24 – he’s good right now, and

his barn has won an outstanding 25% of their starts since 8/1, and an even more amazing 30% since 9/1 – have to

respect anything they drop in the box right now. (6) SURFRIDER is 4 for 13 here this year, definitely fits, but may

have trouble after drawing outside some main foes. (3) VANDALISM tends to lag, then find pace late – maybe

3rd/4th? (7) LAST POUND was an excellent 2nd behind the fire-breathing 1:51.1 winner last week – would surely

have been ranked higher if not for Post 7. (4) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL never wins, but does grab minor shares with

easy trips. (8) SOUTH POINT was ok in his last couple, but faces major hurdles starting from out here.


RACE 3 – Tough race: (4) SCRIBBLERS raced from the back in his local debut but the Batavia shipper finished

with good pace to be a close 4th, debuting for his new barn – gets a much better draw, and could be even better with a

live trip. (8) MAXIMUS RED A has been 1st or 2nd 13X this year, has the speed to blast from the outside and as

mentioned, his barn has been on a serious tear – legitimate chance for an upset. (3) BILL HALEY N remains highly

unpredictable from start to start but IF he shows up on his “A game”, this is a spot he may be able to handle –

consider if the price is right. (1) BIG DREAM FELLA is a major question mark – he struggled off the class drop in

his last, and that was 3 weeks ago – he WAS re-claimed by a barn he thrived in before, so it’s anybody’s guess as to

what we’ll get from him tonight. (6) JUST ENUFF STUFF appreciated the class drop and live trip last week, a solid

2nd best – would still want a good price to use on top from this spot, however. (5) AUSSIE HANOVER found some

better form with cheaper recently and it seems to be holding pretty well – could see him rallying for a piece, with a

good trip. (7) FINAL CHEESERECIPE has been a consistent player all year long but he’s not particularly handy,

and that has left him short in the win column – never a bad one to use underneath. (2) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING

will look better when he makes his way back down to 30s.


RACE 4 – Another tough race: (4) GENIUS MAN was used very hard last week, got outrushed to 3/4s by SADDLE

UP but kept fighting hard and preserved 2nd – he’s much better when he can make just one move, and maybe he can

score at a price here if he gets that kind of trip. (3) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N is still winless on the year but he just

missed 2 and 3 back (in this class), then lacked room in the lane vs. the 40s last week – drops back down, and that

15-1 ML price makes him worth a look. (1) SAN DOMINO A just wasn’t sharp enough dropping to 30s last week –

moves to a new barn now, draws the pole, and worth considering IF the price is decent. (5) CAROLINA BEACH

was claimed for $20K at PcD on 8/3, missed some time then requalified, came back to race well in 25s and now gets

a vote of confidence as he drops in for $30K upon arrival – would hardly be a shock. (6) KEYSTONE DASH had

been off his game for a LONG time but is certainly good right now – steps up for a new barn tonight, but a good

price makes him worth considering. (8) SADDLE UP was no good on 9/23 in 40s, dropped to 30s last week and

came up with a very sharp winning effort – will be a little tougher tonight from Post 8, however. (2) JUDDY DOUG

LAS A figures to be in the mix with the good draw but he tends to be camera shy – ok for underneath. (7) KOUNT

BLASTER has done some good recent work in this class, but faces a daunting task from Post 7 tonight.


RACE 5 – (5) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER was no threat vs. the (much) tougher 60s last week but he was also hurt

by a poor start (may have shied from a breaker to his inside)– his form prior to that was excellent, and he could offer

some solid value in another very competitive affair. (4) WICHITA LINEMAN landed on a horrendous trip last week

and may deserve a pass, especially since his connections elect to leave him at this $50K level – his 3 recent wins

make him one to fear. (1) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N is notoriously camera shy but he DOES fit very nicely with

these, and did get his picture taken 3 back – legitimate threat, but don’t accept too short a price. (7) TASTE OF HON

EY has been a better horse since changing barns on 8/17, and did finish with good pace from an impossible spot last

week – may find himself too far back once more, however. (8) ITALIAN LAD N is sharper than his lines might

suggest, and his last was actually VERY good – he’s another that figures to be greatly hampered by the draw, though

(2) JUSTASEC N was hard to steer for his new barn last week, resulting in a weak try (that saw him cause

interference on turn three) – needs to be better. (3) SHAKESPEARE hasn’t been “bad”, but others in here have just

been much better recently. (6) ORLANDO BLUE A used the rail to work out a pocket trip last time, picking up a 2nd

– may not be nearly as fortunate from post 6 tonight.


RACE 6 – (2) PEACE OUT POSSE took a few starts to get rolling (after a long layoff) but he comes into this off a

pair of victories, and the class jump really shouldn’t bother him much – license to extend his streak to 3 here. (4) KE

AYANG KAMIKAZE A won both local starts before hitting the sidelines in March – his most recent qualifier

suggests he could be ready for action, and he’s surely worth a look at the right price tonight. (1) YOROKOBI A had

good pace rallying for 3rd last week, his small barn is going well right now and he should be looking at a good trip

here – no reason he can’t have a big say. (3) BUGABOO LOU steps up off a win over softer last week and figures to

have a say here too – would need a good price to try him on top, though. (5) FRANCO NANDOR N was in a no

prayer spot last week but has otherwise been doing good work ever since his form-reversing, big price victory in

August – playable for 3rd/4th. (6) BIG GULP has disappointed most weeks for a while, and would need to be much

better to threaten tonight. (7) CASINO ACTION N fits well enough with these but draws poorly and is just 1 for 16

at YR – wait for a better spot. (8) SLING SHOCK draws Post 8 off 2 months – wait for next week’s class drop.


RACE 7 – (1) CAMARA MOMENT shipped in very sharp from PA and has done excellent work here as well,

especially when he lands on an easy trip – he catches a couple of tough foes tonight, but he also figures to be 3rd or

4th choice in the wagering...and that makes him worth a look. (3) ADAM TWELVE hit board in an incredible 22

straight local starts before missing in his next 4 (with a couple of bad spots mixed in) – a class drop got him right

back on his game, though, and he should be brimming with confidence again after a pair of VERY sharp front end

scores – very dangerous player right now. (5) BACKSTREET SHADOW is having a slow-ish year with just 2 wins

so far, but he’s still banked over $180K...he’s too classy to ever ignore at this level, but also could be at least a bit

vulnerable at a short price. (4) ROCKIN JUKEBOX is yet another from this barn to be hitting on all cylinders right

now – would be no surprise at all, though we are leaning just a bit more to the top trio. (2) NIGHT HAWK is good

right now, but likely a notch below a couple of the main players in here. (7) THUNDER HUNTER JOE drops from

the 3-5YO Open but still figures to be a bit of an outsider starting from Post 7. (8) CHIMICHURRI N has missed 3

weeks, loses Bartlett and draws Post 8. (6) ROCKIN N TALKIN seems a bit overmatched in this strong field.


RACE 8 – (1) HIMSELF N has been excellent for some time so it’s no great surprise that he was able to follow up

his first Invitational win (on 9/23) with another score last week – he draws the pole tonight in what turns out to be a

very modest field, and has to be considered the favorite to extend his streak to 3. (8) AMERICAN DEALER N is as

sharp as the top choice right now, but lands the worst post – he still may prove the main danger, and an aggressive

steer from Bongiorno may give him a chance to overcome his disadvantage. (2) COVERED BRIDGE was handled

very aggressively last week (after a nice try off the bad date the week before) but he simply wasn’t up for it – could

go back to being a big player tonight with an easier trip. (3) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A continues to race very well

even at this top level, but may need to get in just a bit easier for a shot at the top prize. (4) NANDOLO N steps up in

fine form, but has generally struggled a bit at this top level in recent tries– may have to settle for a smaller slice

tonight. (6) ACT FAST was handled aggressively in his local debut and looked good right into the final turn...before

just packing it in badly – good sign that he drops right back in the box, but hard to love his chances off that last mile.

(5) SPIRIT OF STLOUIS N was sent off at 4/5 in his 2nd U.S. start last week but really disappointed – too soon to

write him off, but also too soon to hop right back on his team. (7) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR is in peak form

right now, but will need lots of trip luck to overcome another bad draw.


RACE 9 – (4) OPTICAL ILLUSION N’s overall form has been very good, and his last effort (no chance spot) is

better than it looks – moves inside, and should be able to have a big say here. (2) KINGSVILLE wasn’t on his best

game the last couple of starts but he usually doesn’t go too long without bouncing back – this field would be right in

his wheelhouse if he brings his “A Game”. (1) LEONIDAS A has just one win this year in what has been a very

disappointing season – he was freshened up, re-qualified, and we’ll see if the time off helps the classy 9YO. (7) GIN

GRAS BEACH is having a very good year, and had has shown consistency we haven’t seen from him in a long time

– drops a notch, and we’ll see if A Nap can get him into the hunt. (3) LYRICAL GENIUS A remains winless at YR

(0 for 14) but he’s certainly been racing much better lately - willing to include underneath. (5) DEETZY has been

inconsistent this year, unable to replicate last year’s 11 win season – he still has his moments, and can at least be a

player here if on his best game. (6) FAMILY RECIPE rebounded from that unexpected clunker 2 back but still had

no real excuse to get beat last week – wouldn’t be a shock by any means, but others do look a bit more appealing

right now. (8) TWIN B RISENSHINE could use a class drop and better post.


RACE 10 – (1) BE DAZZLED LOU A flew off the car from Post 8 last week and jogged under wraps – draws

inside and likely the only difference will be the price (he was 9-1 last week, but may be “1/9” tonight). (2)

BRUTALLY HANDSOME A rallied well for 4th from a tough spot 2 back, and was a decent 3rd last week – maybe

he can use the inside draw to grab another nice chunk tonight. (7) BONDI LOCKDOWN A has been “ok” in 3 U.S.

starts (in PA) – he was a big earner Down Under, and an aggressive steer from Siegelman may help him outperform

that 20-1 ML price in his local debut. (4) ROLL WITH THE FLOW could only manage a no-threat 2nd behind the

top choice last time (upon arrival from Canada) and does have a chance to complete the exacta once more. (5)

CERULEAN HANO VER has been better in his last few, and is eligible to rally for a small slice tonight. (3)

MOVIN ON UP had been showing some better signs recently, then put it all together to beat lesser last week – we’ll

see if he can do as well against these tougher ones. (6) GALANTE A paced evenly from a tough spot last week, but

gets another tough draw for tonight – leaning elsewhere. (8) POUND FOR POUND just doesn’t seem sharp enough

these days to threaten from out here.

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