The Empire Report - Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (4) ROLL WITH SHORTY never really got the hang of things in his 10 starts as a 2YO but has
picked up a pair of 3rds in two starts back at 3, and is eligible to continue improving - barn has sent out a
few very live horses lately (including a scary winner on Monday night), and this filly should offer some
decent value in the opener. (2) GETTIN GONE made two starts at 2, and one of them was an Excelsior A
victory - been ok so far in her three starts back at 3, and is probably the one to beat...but won't be offering
much value at that 7/5 ML price. (6) IDEAL IN MIRACLES may be a good bomb to consider - caught a
pair of sloppy tracks since adding Lasix, and did win a race as a 2YO - might come up with a much better
mile than her current lines would suggest. (5) CRAZY COOL picked up a win at PcD 3 back, and raced
"ok" here in a couple of starts since then - definitely ok for a piece, but will need to be a bit better for a
chance at the top prize. (3) LOUD BRAZILIAN was a decent 2nd two back, but her overall local form has
been "meh" - chance for a minor share (8) SEA OF LOVE BC won here 2 back, but was no factor in her
next before being scratched sick after that - has enough ability for a piece, but may not get close enough
from Post 8. (7) PATTY JO M is another that's as good as most of these, but who will be hard pressed to
have much impact from the back of the pack. (1) KISSIMMEE BEACH is 20-0-1-0 for her career
RACE 2 - (6) MAGIC MVP shipped in on 4/21 and crushed this class as the 1/5 choice - struggled a bit
with much better in his next few but took a step in the right direction at Fhd. 2 back, then finished full of
trot for 3rd here in a NW1000 field last week - clearly the one to beat tonight. (2) EVS GIRL was off 7
weeks to her last but still remained determined through the lane to move into 2nd after a first over trip -
definitely a strong candidate for the exotics. (3) LIONHEAD just missed 2nd last time when collared late
by #2 - he's a rock solid "cheapie", and can make good things happen for himself with his good starts - use
underneath. (1) SHOWMEYOURGUNS gets the potent combination of both post and class relief, but note
that he's lost many times at this level too, and is also prone to poor starts from the rail - he'll be coming on
strong at the end...but will it be enough? (7) OOH RAH left well from Post 7 vs. much better in last, landed
on a nice trip but was unable to take advantage - gets a nice drop here, and could easily outperform that
20-1 ML price (but will need some more tip luck). (4) TOTAL DIVA has only one win in her last 38 YR
starts but has already been 2nd six times this year - another possibility for a smaller share. (5)
FASHIONWOODCHOPPER just hasn't been any good in his last 4 tries since a barn change - major wake
up would be needed.
RACE 3 - (5) AINT SHE PERFECT shows some steady performances up in Canada, and has hit board in 6
of 9 career starts - makes her local debut for a top barn, catches a pretty soft NW2 field, and we'll give her
the call right out of the box. (4) NORTH COUNTRY won here as a 2YO (Excelsior B), was an ok 3rd here
in her only try as a 3YO (behind a pair of rivals that would be odds on favorites in this field), and owns a
couple of recent wins at Stga. - legit chance, even if Stratton opted for the top choice. (8) VIVA LA DEO
made a break at Chester 3 back but her form is otherwise very solid besides that mile, and she ships in off
an easy front end score - no doubt she'll fit well here, but not willing to take a short price starting from Post
8. (3) MAJOR HOULIHAN ended her 2YO campaign in good form, taking some time off after ending the
year with her maiden win - seemed a bit overmatched in the Weiss Series, and has had a few road bumps
(and excuses) since then - wouldn't be shocked to see her deliver a much better effort tonight. (2) ITALIA
SEELSTER hung in ok in a few stakes races at 2, but has been slow to sharpen since returning at 3 - makes
her YR debut for top connections, and may be ready to come up with a sharper try. (6) WELLTHERACEIS
ON hasn't been sharp in her last few but does add Lasix tonight - keep an eye for any improvement. (1)
IDEAL HANNAH is 1 for 38 overall, and 0 for 17 at Yonkers - have to pass, even from the pole. (7)
UPTOWN CALLIE gets stuck outside, and that will likely limit her production for tonight
RACE 4 - (3) NEW YORK CHAPTER didn't race badly off the claim (2 back) -- he was simply WAY
overbet - he was actually on the move early last week and in a very good spot when he made that untimely
miscue to 3/4s...willing to excuse him, as MANY horses made unexpected breaks that card (first night back
after the track resurfacing) - not a bad spot to give him a play. (6) WILLIE B WORTHY was a solid $20K
claimer at PcD pretty recently, and his current form (vs. similar to these) is solid as well - should be a very
legit threat in his Hilltop debut. (8) CRAZYCAT has been facing (much) better all year, often holding his
own - definitely a chance to beat these off the drop....but will need some trip luck from Post 8. (2)
WATKINS draws closer to the final 6 months of his career and the 14YO only seems to "bring it" once in a
while these days - not a bad spot to get away quickly and grab an easy trip...and that may help him take
home a piece of this. (7) MARVELOUSTRIX has been picking up a bunch of smaller pieces lately in NJ -
doesn't show any kind of gate speed, though, and may find herself too far back to really be a player here.
(5) SHOW EM ALL LINDY was no factor upon arrival from PcD last week, and does seem a bit cheap -
minor share only. (4) MISS YOU KELLY was pretty good 3 back....but that effort was the exception to
mostly weaker efforts for most of this year - hard to predict she'll just wake up tonight. (1) VICTORY
YANKEE has yet to show much of anything in 5 career starts, and fits NW1
RACE 5 - (6) MOSSDALE LOTTEE N was hurt when held up by terrible cover on the back side last start,
but still rallied stoutly into the teeth of a :27.4 final quarter to power up into 2nd - been very sharp for
weeks, and may actually be a "decent" price tonight (she's been the odds-on choice in her last 4 starts) - just
needs a little trip luck to go her way. (5) OLIVIA BLU has 2 wins and 2 nose losses to start off her career
but while she's obviously been "good", she hasn't been "great" - she certainly has a solid chance to come
out on top tonight, but also figures to be overbet. (3) DELIGHTFUL Z TAM has been on quite a roll,
picking up 4 wins and a pair of 2nds in her last 6 starts - she'll have a say here for sure, but may be a notch
below the top pair. (2) TEMPURA HANOVER ships in from Chester off a pair of victories over a bit lesser
- hard to say if she's in the same league as the top pair, but we'll learn more tonight. (1) WOODMERE
HARRIET was one of several horses to make an unexpected miscue over the loose track last week - willing
to just give her a pass, and look for her to rebound quickly...ok for a smaller piece. (4) SUNSHINE HALL
always had the ability, but she's never traveled the Yonkers turns very well - we'll see if she does better over
the new track surface. (7) AVAYA HANOVER is stuck outside and unlikely to threaten for more than a
minor share from this spot. (8) ROBMOTION BLUECHIP has used her speed well the past few weeks but
doesn't figure to have that kind of success against these, from all the way out here.
RACE 6 - (3) SVF CASH DEPOSIT added Lasix for his first start off the claim (5/26) and went a big 1st
over try, just missing to the currently razor sharp Blue And Bold - was an even 4th and PcD the next week,
and simply too far back to threaten in last (returning to YR) - gets a class drop and moves inside tonight,
and it just feels like a good spot for him. (5) LIMERENCE hadn't been all that sharp recently but certainly
got healthy in a hurry when he drew the pole in the bottom class last week - this is a class he can handle as
well (when sharp), but consistency hasn't been his strong suit lately...can go either way. (2) WARRAWEE
SHIPSHAPE has a mixed bag of efforts since arriving from Cleveland - if he brings his "A Game", he can
definitely have a big say from this spot. (7) LIFETIME ROYALTY often "figures" and usually races pretty
well...but he's just 1 for 19 at Yonkers, and is stuck all the way out here - using underneath only tonight. (4)
TORKIL was no good at all for weeks but his recent efforts have been much better - still, just 1 for 34 here
(last 2 years) so not quite ready to use him on top just yet! (6) CASINO CUTIE IT is just 1 for 16 here (last
3 years), is stuck outside, and probably only worth using on the bottom of the exotics from this spot. (1)
SEVEN KNIGHTS just hasn't been sharp in some time - hard to recommend, even from the pole. (8) ER
SOPHIA showed ability when here earlier this year, and returns from Monti off a pair of blowout wins -
can't really see her reaching from out here, though.
RACE 7 - (8) LARJON LEAH was the BIG beneficiary of this class being opened up to fit (6) SPECIAL
GRADUATE ("NW4 PM or $58,800 Lifetime") - she just beat GOOD older mares in a NW15000 race 2
back, and this is a much easier spot - can find a way to get it done, even from Post 8. (7) TONIANNE
makes her YR debut after starting off the season at 7-4-1-2 in PA - barn always ships in ready to do battle,
and I'm sure this filly will be no exception - tough assignment for a 3YO to tackle older, though! (4) WAK
EMESHAKEME went the best mile of her career last week, crushing 'em on the front end, and delivering a
:27.4 kicker to seal the deal - can she bring that same kind of effort tonight? (1) MY CAM GIRL just had
no way to overcome Post 8 last week, debuting locally for new connections - moves all the way inside and
while she MAY be a little cheap, she still deserves some respect from this spot. (6) SPECIAL GRADUATE
ships in sharp from upstate, and did well here in 2020 (6-2-1-1) - the money cap was opened up to fit her
into this field, so we'll see if she's able to take advantage. (2) SUNRISE HANOVER was very well backed
at PcD last week and sure enough, came up with the solid win - picks up Bartlett for tonight, but hard to say
just how well she fits with these. (5) BEAUTY BAYAMA is another coming off a career mile, crushing
cheaper on the front end last week - this is a much better field, and she may not fare as well against these.
(3) MISS TRESSA seems a bit overmatched against many of these.
RACE 8 - Very tough race! (4) LYNBAR ROSE N shipped in on 5/27 off a pair of Fhd. wins and raced
well here too, rallying for 2nd behind the runaway, heavily backed winner - was claimed that night and
made a break in her first start for new connections - at 12-1 ML, willing to gamble that she can bounce
back quickly, and be a legit threat this week. (3) KAITLYN N survived getting thrashed every week in the
Matchmaker Series and has been ok (for the most part) ever since returning to her proper class - she'll be
aggressively handled here, and will have her chance to wire these, if good enough. (8) ALKIPPE hasn't
raced here since 2019, but was 8-2-1-0 here that year - current PA form would make her a player here, but
she'll need to find a way to overcome the draw. (6) DIXIE STAR was immediately sold after single-
handedly ruining the race on 5/20 (and finishing WAY back herself) - no good in her next (still recovering?)
but her last mile looks a lot better - if she can get a fast start here, she'd have a chance to make some real
noise. (2) QUITE A DELIGHT N seemed to be getting very sharp until a couple of "meh" efforts in her last
pair - if she finds her best form here, she can be a legit threat. (1) FLIRTY FORTY would have a chance to
beat these on her best, but she's just been struggling mightily for several starts - hard to take a shortish price
just hoping for a form reversal. (5) DEUCES FOR CHARITY is now 0 for 59 here over the last 3 years...
and not even picking up smaller pieces these days. (7) SWEET YOU is 20-0-0-0 at YR over the last 2 years
RACE 9 - (8) TOP FLIGHT ANGEL was facing (and even beating) better than these back in the fall - took
a few months off, but the recent Fhd. miles suggest that he's ready to do some damage in his YR return -
draws Post 8 with a somewhat inexperienced pilot, but still may be able to find a way to beat this evenly
matched group. (7) WHETHER OR NOT FI left beautifully to the top from Post 7 last week but broke
yielding (over a track that produced MANY other breakers) - goes for yet another new barn but at 20-1 ML,
he'll find his way onto our tickets somewhere. (5) MUFASAAS broke in the pocket turning for home on
that same night - may be overlooked here, but he does have a legitimate chance. (3) KING CAST had
plenty late for 2nd two back then rallied to be a close 4th from well back in last - he'll likely be ignored in
the wagering (despite his good current form), and could definitely add some value to this play. (1) HOBBS
hasn't come close to "top form" yet in 2021, but he's still a player at this level - will probably be overbet,
though, so looking for some better value for the top slot. (2) LADY EAGLE took control last week and was
a solid wire to wire winner - may have a harder time stealing this one, though. (4) SUMATRA is 1 for 10
this year and that lone win came with a perfect trip, at the bottom level - really needs to up his game for a
chance to be a serious player here. (6) BAZILLIONAIRE throws a good one from time to time, but this is a
pretty tough spot for him.
RACE 10 - (3) GALLERIA GAL has been sharp since returning as a 4YO but finally picked up an overdue
victory last week - tonight's good draw may give her the edge she needs to extend her winning streak to 2.
(7) MAN DONTFORGET ME picked up her first YR win 2 back, then was 2nd best to the top choice in
last despite starting from Post 8 - no draw luck again tonight, but she's certainly worth using at that 15-1
ML price! (1) HIGH MINDED was a solid 2YO and has come back sharp at 3, winning 2 of 3 starts so far
(the lone loss being in a fast PaSS event - very legit chance from the pole. (6) LAURIE LEE was a very
game first over winner 2 back but not quite as sharp in her last, even though a close up 3rd at the wire -
doesn't get the best draw tonight, and may not land on the greatest trip...maybe 3rd/4th? (8) MACKIE
HANOVER showed legit ability at 2, and is doing good work so far at 3...may not be all that aggressive
with the terrible draw, though. (2) SOMEBEACHSOMEFRA seems a bit below the main players but the
inside post may allow her to sit an easy trip, and pick up a minor piece. (4) SOUND IDEA has leveled off
in her last couple after putting together a nice 3 race win streak vs. easier - prefer others. (5) PRAY THE
ROSARY would probably need things to just fall apart up front to have any chance here.