Friday Empire Report

soaofny • August 25, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, August 25, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (5) ROLLING WITH SAM paced in 1:51.4 last week but unfortunately, the sharp (dropdown)

winner paced in 1:51.3 in front of him - should be a fair price here (after drawing outside a couple of main

foes) and that would make him worth a play. (2) B LIKE CRUISER gave it a big try from Post 7 last week

only to come up a little short against a hot owner/trainer team - sharp enough to take this, if the trip goes his

way. (3) OAKWOODNITOWNIT IR failed at 1/5 at the bottom level last week, and wasn't even as "good"

as his close 2nd place finish might suggest - he'll find his better form eventually (may be even tonight), but

remains vulnerable at what figures to be another short price. (1) MY ULTIMATE STAR A doesn't win as

often as he should but he has to be seen as a solid threat to land somewhere on the ticket from this good

spot. (7) CYRUS N wasn't "bad" last week and can race better tonight - the tough draw (and loss of

Stratton) may limit his output, though. (4) ON THE VIRG took no $$ at all last week and was empty from

start to finish - inclined to pass, but will at least check the tote board for clues. (6) LUCIANO N needs a

better post in a cheaper class to be a serious threat these days. (8) ALWAYS ROCKIN has been away since

May and lands post 8 - good week to just observe.


RACE 2 - (1) TOATSMYGOATS weakened to 3rd last week after cutting the mile but was quickly

reclaimed by the connections that had just won 3 in a row with him - look for him to start a new streak

tonight. (3) CAVIART VAL perked up at Monti and brought that good form back to YR last week, rallying

nicely for 2nd - chance for another good piece tonight. (2) WHAT ABOUT BOB was hurt badly by a poor

trip last week but really didn't look all that sharp, regardless - gets major post relief for tonight, and likely a

very good trip....chance for a quick wake up call. (6) OURRHYTHMNBLUES N loses Bartlett and draws

poorly....and faces an unpredictable trip at best - that being said, he's raced well way too many times lately

to not at least consider for exotics at that 20-1 ML price. (7) MACH DORO A certainly hasn't been "bad".

but he does seem to have seen his form slip a bit- may have a tough time getting in play from Post 7 tonight

(4) BARRYWHITE HANOVER tripped out in a very soft field and made it to the winner's circle last week

- unlikely to be as fortunate here, however. (5) SHOREVIEW has his moments and sometimes can rally a

bit for a small piece - maybe 3rd/4th?


RACE 3 - (5) FREQUENT IMAGE was actually very good here on 8/5 then built off that effort with last

week's upset of the 1/5 pacesetter - moves up a peg but meets nothing too scary in here, and may be able to

make it 2 in a row. (3) INDICTABLE HANOVER was sent off at 3/5 last week but was driven poorly, and

probably deserves a pass - the price will go up tonight, and he just missed the last time Stratton drove him -

worth considering. (4) CHIEFS BEACH has always been camera shy here at Yonkers but he landed on a

beautiful trip last week and rocketed on by to an easy victory - perhaps that left him feeling good about

himself...which may carry over into tonight. (1) DIAMONDBEACH will wake up one of these nights but

he's been struggling too badly (for too long) to take a shot with him tonight at what figures to be a relatively

short price. (2) TWO FACED was right there to the top of the lane last week before flattening - may be able

to grab a small piece here. (6) FRANCO NANDOR N may need a better spot to contend for a top prize but

he's been a "steady" performer most weeks, and may be able to squeeze out a small slice. (7) SWEET

TROY wasn't bad at all in his local debut, but moves up and draws worst - tough combination.


RACE 4 - Tough race: (2) LUCKY ARTIST A had been looking for some time off for a while and finally

got it in early July - had no chance at all in her return try last week but at worst, that should serve as a good

tightener....not a bad week to give the classy 10YO a try in this wide open field. (3) LINE EM UP not only

returned a winner from her 2 month hiatus she set a new lifetime mark in the process (at Pocono) - her

eternally hot barn is especially en fuego these days, and this mare may be ready to give this tough field a

good battle. (1) FADE OUT ships in sharp from PA but the 3 weeks off is certainly a concern - would

consider using only if the price is decent enough. (5) MILLWOOD BONNIE N figures to be handled

aggressively tonight but the question is whether she's sharp enough to handle it right now - she's had a

terrific year, but MAY be showing a little wear and tear these days. (8) MCMARKLE SPARKLE started

the season in poor fashion then finally started looking more like her good self - she did throw a dull one last

week, however, and obviously gets no help with the draw tonight. (6) CHERYLS SHADOW wasn't bad

from a tough spot last week, and drops down to the level where she just missed 4 starts back - wouldn't be a

shock. (4) CASH ROLL was in career form for a bunch of starts but does seem to have leveled off a bit -

leaning to others right now. (7) ROCKN PHILLY is an unpredictable mare - Post 7 has to hurt significantly.


RACE 5 - (7) MY MIND IS MADEUP threw a dud last week but does drop right back in the box - either

of his previous 2 starts would give him a decent chance in this extremely blank field....willing to try him as

long as the price is fair. (1) ZIGGY SKY is 0 for 16 this year but did hit board in 8 of those losses - has the

rail and Bartlett so obviously he has a realistic chance to win here...but 9/5 ML? (3) JK LUCKY CHARMS

usually just picks up minor shares but he did grab a win 3 back when the race just fell apart...this is the type

of field where that COULD happen again. (4) SWAGASAURUSREX has raced here 27X this year and

only managed a pair of 3rds....but if ever there was a field where he at least had a CHANCE to do better, it

would be this one. (6) FOX VALLEY INFERNO returns to YR for a barn that rarely wins...but THIS guy

was the one winner they did have here in 2023 - willing to use underneath. (2) MAJESTIC KIWI N just

re-qualified after 6 weeks off and it's hard to make a case that he'll come back good enough to win here. (5)

OHIO VINTAGE was scratched sick from his last after an empty try in his local return.


RACE 6 - (6) CANTSTOPLYING has come around recently and been delivering solid tries on a weekly

basis - he catches a field filled with question marks, and has been the most reliable player in here...that 8-1

ML price makes him pretty attractive. (5) MISSILE SEELSTER joined hot connections last week and

finished a close 4th (right behind the top choice) - could be a threat here if he brings his best. (7) BEACH

BOOGIE drops from 40s to 20s but never really belonged in 40s in the first place - he's not exactly clicking

at the moment (and also draws poorly), but he's one that COULD perk up here, at a good price. (4) MINGO

JOEL is clearly off his best game right now but hasn't been "awful" by any means - the class drop could

help him have a bigger say tonight. (3) SHANWAY N has "decent" overall form but goes to a new barn

tonight and wasn't all that sharp last week - small piece? (2) SEAFARER was sent off at 4/5 two back off 3

recent wins but could barely hit a pace the entire mile - he stayed upright in his next but failed to beat a

single rival, and now returns off 3 weeks - is he an easy "toss", or did the time off allow for him to get

patched back up...who knows? (1) KEYSTONE PHOENIX failed to perk up with the class drop last week

but does go from 8 hole to the rail here - still leaning towards others. (8) HURRIKANE GEORGIE would

be a surprise, to say the least (has struggled all year).


RACE 7 - Good race! (5) UPTOWN HANOVER lacked room but was sharp 3 back -- charged home to

win her next then was an excellent first over 2nd last week - she may find a way to work out a good trip

from this spot, and she's one of a few possible winners in here. (3) MORNING HAS BROKEN was off a

short layoff to her last and now drops right back in the box while also dropping down from the Open - her

best effort would make her very tough against these. (4) BETTER WATCH IT did all the heavy lifting 2

and 3 back only to come up 2nd best - her last was just scary, however, as she raced parked EVERY step of

the way and still was able to last for 2nd - maybe things go her way tonight and she finally gets to visit the

photographer? (1) SHESASHARPSHOOTER won both of her local starts but that was vs. NW15000 fields

- we'll see if she can handle moving up TWO classes tonight (at least the rail can help a bit). (6) SILK CLO

UD A has been somewhat of an "all or nothing" type this year, compiling a 13-4-1-0 local record - she was

a sharp winner last week, but may have a tougher time from tonight's spot. (7) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL A

was able to move up two classes and win 2 back, then took another last week (helped by a major battle up

front) - could be looking at a tough night from Post 7, however. (2) COWGIRL LILLY has hit board in all

20 YR starts this year....but that streak will be in serious danger with tonight's class jump.


RACE 8 - FM Open - always an interesting race lately! (2) MAN DONTFORGET ME gets Brennan back

and her last 2 wins came when the two have paired up (their last victory being incredibly sharp) - worth a

stab tonight on that angle alone. (5) LIT DE ROSE was much sharper than her last line looks, just gobbling

up ground from the final turn to the wire with a :26 and change final quarter - the right trip could see the

mega classy 8YO find her way back to the winner's circle. (4) KARMA SEELSTER has been clicking for

some time - if she grabs an easy lead (and easy half), she could make life tough on the others. (1) INCASE

YOUDIDNTKNOW just seemed to lose interest at the back of the pack last week but should be able to stay

more focused tonight - chance for a small piece. (3) JIVE DANCING A did win this race 3 back but seems

more unlikely to pull that off tonight.


RACE 9 - Very tough race! (1) LYONS JOHNNYJNR through a disappointing effort adding Lasix but he's

gone way too many GOOD miles here to write him too quickly - drops, draws the pole, and perhaps can

rebound to his better form this week. (2) SOUTHWIND ONYX raced pretty well in his last 2 starts and is

listed at 20-1 ML...makes him worth at least a look in a field filled with beatable favorites. (5) DEEP INFA

TUATION N is a tough call - the recent import hasn't been "great", but he certainly hasn't been bad either -

he drops in (surprisingly) for $25K after just 5 U.S. starts, and there's definitely some red flags here. (6) BR

ACKLEY BEACH seems to be a major threat every week...but he's just 1 for 25 this year and burned

plenty of $$ along the way - would use on top only if a decent price. (3) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP has had

only ONE good post in ages and was a close 2nd that night - definitely a value horse to consider. (7) SULL

IVAN won 2 straight for hot connections but the move up to 25s and terrible draw may slow him down a bit

tonight. (8) ARTIST BEST raced very well in his first two starts off the claim but gave way badly in his last

- the class drop helps, but obviously Post 8 does not. (4) SHARK PLAY just has never clicked since being

claimed by our leading barn.


RACE 10 - Another tough race: (4) DESIRES CAPTAIN usually races ok when he draws inside and

certainly lands in a pretty shaky field - maybe this is a spot for him to double his win output for the year?

(7) LONG WEEKEND A had been struggling here but returns off back to back good efforts at Chester - an

aggressive try gives him a chance to overcome the draw and be a player tonight. (3) GINGRAS BEACH is

having a very tough year (20-1-1-2 here at Yonkers) but he can probably leave and create a trip for himself

from this spot - consider for exotics. (2) GLACIS has taken $$ in 3 of his last 4 starts and disappointed each

time - he's 8-0-0-1 on the season, and just hard to take a short price with right now - maybe a small slice?

(6) HES GONNA GETYA is just 1 for 24 here at YR and 2 for 45 (overall) over the last 2 years - maybe

can pass a few for a minor share? (5) RANDOM HANOVER took no money at all moving to a new barn

and ended up making a break - waiting for better signs before considering. (8) BELLS DAVID never got

close to the action last week and starts from Post 8 tonight. (1) BUCKEYE EMERY draws the pole but

doesn't seem in any position right now to capitalize.

By soaofny February 21, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 21, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 20, 2025
The Empire Report – Thursday, February 20, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 19, 2025
The Empire Report – Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 18, 2025
The Empire Report – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 14, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 14, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 13, 2025
The Empire Report – Thursday, February 13, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 12, 2025
The Empire Report – Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 11, 2025
The Empire Report – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 10, 2025
The Empire Report – Monday, February 10, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 7, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 7, 2025 – Race Analysis
Show More
Share by: