Monday Empire Report

soaofny • December 5, 2022

The Empire Report - Monday, December 5, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (5) SO MANY ROADS has been racing well for most of 2022 but has definitely come up a little

light in the win column - comes into tonight off a pair of 2nds behind two sharp foes, and perhaps can get

over the hump if the trip goes his way - decent value in a competitive opener. (1) PRETTY HANDSOME

also finished 2nd in his last pair, both times off pocket trips (including one for Post 8) - very logical threat

from this spot, but also figures to be significantly overbet. (2) TJS INDY PACER was an even 5th in his

local debut, and was racing off a bad date that night - maybe tighter now, and can also be handled more

aggressively from this better spot - possibility. (6) SHAKERTOWN is a 3YO tacking tough older foes but

he's been finishing just behind the beastly HEMSWORTH N in his recent starts, and may be able to be a

player even against these more seasoned rivals. (3) UNCLE JORD A hasn't won in a while but he's been

racing well most starts, and could easily pick up a piece here with the right trip .(4) BRONX SEELSTER

has been racing well in PA, but vs. a little easier - can't rule him out as a potential winner here, but we're

still leaning towards others. (8) PEACE OUT POSSE is racing well and gets to drop a notch...he also gets

stuck with Post 8, and that figures to hurt his chances significantly. (7) BILL HALEY N was a nice 2nd

from the pocket last week but will be hard pressed to land such a good trip from out here.


RACE 2 - Tough race: (2) TOWNLINE ALL GOOD didn't fire his best shot off the claim last week but he

did pace evenly to the wire - he's been a steady performer in this class, he figures to be decent price, and

may be able to make his late kick pay off here if things get a little heated up front. (5) LONG WEEKEND

A weakened in the stretch last week but was also used a bit harder than he might have liked early on - he

just missed in his prior 2 starts, and that 10-1 ML price makes him worth a look. (1) GENTLEMANJIM II

IE drops down a notch after a dull effort vs. the 50s last week - his overall form had been solid, and he

deserves a lot of respect here....but the inside draw AND the switch to Gingras will probably see him get

overbet. (4) THRASHER had some traffic issues 2 back in his Hilltop debut then won his next (off the

claim) in dead game fashion - he was claimed again that night, and tries to move up to 40s for his new crew

- we'll see if he's sharp enough to handle it. (3) ARRHYTHMIC SURGE was doing some very good work

for a dangerous trainer/driver team before getting "scratched injured" on 9/5 - he makes his first start back

after missing 3 months, and perhaps the tote board will offer some clues. (7) BALLERAT BOOMERANG

came up a little short last week in his debut for his barn - have to believe Bartlett will look to send him even

from out here, but that 5/2 ML price makes him hard to endorse on top. (6) GINGER TREE PETE figures

to get away last....and be left with too much to do.


RACE 3 - (1) BARBADOS made a break in his 2nd start off the layoff but was much better last week,

responding to the drop to 50s with a close 2nd behind a currently very sharp winner - gets to control the

action tonight, and the road to the winner's circle goes through him. (5) OSTRO HANOVER was well short

in his first try off the (long) layoff but raced better last week, sticking around a long way before weakening

late - the drop to 50s tonight should make him a dangerous threat. (4) PURPLE POET could be a good

value stab in here - he was "sneaky good" from an impossible spot off the claim last week, and his trainer is

15-6-5-1 since the beginning of last month - at least include him en exotics. (2) TIN ROOF RAIDER A

hasn't been able to find the Yonkers winner's circle this year but he has his board in 7 of his 12 local start -

throw in for 3rd. (7) SHERIFF N has won 10 of his 22 local starts this year, and can handle a variety of

trips - he does go for a new barn tonight, and the draw wasn't kind to him...insist on a good price if using on

top. (3) MIKEY CAMDEN would normally deserve a look at this level but he struggled last week, and will

need to be a lot better to be a player tonight. (6) HUGHIE JUNIOR N was able to sit back and finish well

for a small piece last week - figures to be in a similar boat tonight. (8) CAVIART SARGENT has been very

solid for a long time, but he seems up against it here if he leaves, and coming from last if he doesn't.


RACE 4 - (1) BRACKLEY BEACH comes into tonight riding a 4 race winning streak, and has taken 6 of

his 7 starts (2nd in the other) - he doesn't "dominate" to the point where you could say he's a "cinch", but he

clearly has to be viewed as the one to knock off (for his white-hot barn). (4) BARON MICHAEL might be

a good value horse to consider - he has a couple of recent wins (albeit vs. cheaper) but he does fit with

these too, and his last was sharper than it may look - a live trip could him a chance to rally by late. (3) MIS

TER SPOT A picked up 4 wins and a 2nd as he climbed from the 20s up to the 50s - drops back down to

the more comfortable 40s now, and has to be seen as a very legitimate player. (2) DARK ENERGY N

picked up a nose win dropping on for $40K three back then just missed in his last pair - draws inside, and

he's another worthy of lots of respect tonight. (8) MACH DORO A always seems to have a say but his only

recent win came from the pole, and tonight he lands Post 8 (with all the top player drawn inside) (6) FLOW

WITH JOE easily handled 30s on the lead 2 back but had trouble getting involved last week up in class,

from the outside post - similar situation here. (7) CHANGE STRIDE N probably needs a much easier draw

to be a serious player against a field like this.


RACE 5 - (2) FEELIN WESTERN has a shot at the mild upset here - he paced a strong final quarter to be

an excellent 2nd best behind the streaking OZONE BLUE CHIP last week, and may be able to turn the

tables on that one with the right trip tonight. (1) OZONE BLUE CHIP is a streaky performer and he's

clearly hitting on all cylinders right now, going over $200K for the year last week as he took his 3rd in a

row - the one to beat once more, but he'll be a very short price...once more. (5) THE REGULATOR had no

chance in NJ 3 back when he added Lasix but he's 2 for 2 here at Yonkers since then - chance to battle for

the top prize, but will need some trip luck. (4) BRAEVIEW BONDI A is a steady player in this class and

just missed 2nd last week - definitely one to include underneath in exotics. (3) SETH HANOVER really

blossomed into an excellent 4YO, and he'll try his luck tonight at the $75K claiming level - he should fit

ok, but probably looking at a smaller piece. (6) B LIKE CRUISER had finished 2nd in 4 of 5 starts before

getting parked every step last week - he certainly fits, but the outside draw suggests he may be handled very

conservatively this week. (8) WICHITA LINEMAN has been razor sharp for weeks, but gets no luck with

the draw as he tries to bump up to 75s - prefer several of his sharp inside foes. (7) BIG SIR is a sharp horse

for a hot barn....but he's another facing a tough post, in a tough field.


RACE 6 - (8) DRAGON SAID was handled conservatively last week in his first start off the layoff but had

PLENTY of pace finishing - hard to know how serious he'll be from Post 8 tonight but IF Bongiorno puts

him in play, he may be able to beat these....at a juicy price. (4) NANDOLO N always "figures", Bartlett

always sticks with him, but the classy import is probably still a notch off his best game - still a big chance

against these, though. (5) SONNY WEAVER N is 6 for 11 at Yonkers this year, and returns off a pair of

wins in NJ and PA - definitely a chance to beat these too. (7) FORTIFY comes into this off back to back

wins one level down (including one from Post 8, last week) - might be able to do some damage against

these too, but make sure to get a good price if using him from out here. (1) FAMILY RECIPE probably isn't

a threat to win up at this level but he does finish well when he can sit an easy trip - ok for 3rd/4th. (3)

COPPER TEEN was moving up to face older foes last week, landed Post 8 but was still able to hit the top

and take 'em wire to wire - may have a tougher time against this better field, though. (2) MAXIMUS RED

A has several very good recent efforts but he's missed a month (scr. sick) and we'll stick with others here.

(6) MIKES Z TAM does his best work vs. a bit softer.


RACE 7- Tough race, especially when several of these are question marks at the Open level (7)

COVERED BRIDGE never got involved 2 back but he has 2 wins and 2 close 2nds in his other recent

starts, and surely has proven his capabilities in this class - trip luck will be needed, but he'll have a shot to

overcome the draw with a bit of good fortune. (3) OAKWOODINITOWINIT IR suddenly found his form

on 9/26 and marched right up to this top class - gave the sharp NONE BETTOR A a good battle 2 back, but

just didn't bring that same top effort last week - chance here if he rebounds to that better form. (6) BUDDY

HILL was handled conservatively off the bad date last week but wasn't all that far back at the end - another

live player with the right trip. (5) NO LOU ZING has bounced around through several barns this year, with

mixed results - the ABILITY is there for sure, but he's disappointed here too many times (at even lower

levels) to take a short price tonight. (4) ODDS ON CAPITALISM is only 3, so it was impressive to see him

win his first 2 local starts against strong older pacers - raced evenly (while no factor) in his first try at this

top level, and the jury is still out as to whether he fits here. (2) GENIUS MAN is undeniably sharp for a

barn that has really come to life recently - he still needs to prove that he can have that same success against

these, however. (1) ODDS ON OSIRIS raced well in 2 of 3 local starts, but he's another that may struggle

in the Open.


RACE 8 - (3) DIAMONDBEACH drops a peg off a hard used 4th vs. better - he's not the most reliable

horse on the planet, but his barn is hot right now and this may be a good week to jump on his team. (4)

STOP STARING has looked good in both starts since arriving from upstate, albeit vs. easier - the guess

here is that he can hold his own against these too, and be part of the equation. (1) MACINTOSH N is still

bangin' heads at age 13 and he's looking at a good trip from this spot - it would be no surprise to see him

land on the ticket somewhere. (2) WALKINSAHW N hasn't visited the winner's circle in some time, but

he's ultra reliable at picking up pieces - always a good one to include underneath. (6) IMSTAYNALIVE is a

solid performer in this class, though wins have been hard to come by - he's probably looking at only a

smaller piece tonight with the outside draw. (7) L DEES JACK LOPEZ got really good for a few starts but

may be tailing just a bit - Post 7 isn't going to help his cause. (5) CAPTAINS PLACE threw a clunker in his

YR debut last week - prefer to see a better effort before considering him.


RACE 9 - (4) UPTOWN FUNK saw his modest 2 race win streak snapped last week but was still an

excellent 2nd, losing only to the tripsitter - lands in a new (hot) barn for tonight, and we'll give him the

edge over a couple of other sharp foes. (2) MONGOLIAN HERO N shipped in sharp from PA and was

sharp here too, though cut loose too late for a chance at a bigger piece - could be the main threat tonight

from this spot. (1) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP arrived sharp from Dover, crushed the 20s then ALMOST

was able to step up and beat the 30s last week - draws best, and looms a legitimate threat. (3) DESIRES

CAPTAIN tends to be in and out but his barn sent out a couple of live ones recently, and he's worth using

underneath at that 20-1 ML price. (5) BETTOR BE OSCAR A tends to be a bit sluggish throughout his

miles, but he may be able to show up late here and grab a chunk of this - good one for 3rd/4th. (6) SOUTH

WIND ONYX has some good recent lines but tends to do his best racing from inside posts - may struggle a

bit from this spot. (7) IMMA BE had a mixed history here in the past, particularly with the barn he returns

to tonight - wouldn't be shocked if he came up with a good one, but still leaning towards others. (8) RISKY

MILLION won his last two but exits a very high % barn, moves up in class and gets stuck with Post 8.


RACE 10 - (6) WINDSUN RICKY hasn't threatened lately but he's been facing much tougher - drops to a

pretty low level here, and also catches a field with some struggling contenders - wake up spot? (1) OUR

CORELLI N got really good for a while but was lackluster in his last couple - he may just be totally off

form now....or he may be ready to turn things around with the class drop and the pole. (5) DELIGHTFUL

DUDE N wasn't involved in his U.S. debut but he was heavily backed last week, and turned in a strong first

over effort to be 2nd - we'll see if he can build off that mile. (3) WHITECOOKIE has delivered a series of

duds recently - he's another dropping tonight, and hoping for that wake up call. (4) SHAKE IT is a 3YO

tackling older (while moving up in class) but at least he won his last in PA - maybe he'll fit with these? (7)

ALTA BLUES A recovered from a miscue 2 back with a clean mile last week (and really wasn't bad) -

tough draw for tonight, though. (2) PERSIMMON A went some good efforts down at the bottom level

recently -we'll be more interested when he gets back down there again. (8) WAIMAC ATTACK N is just 1

for 37 here over the last 3 years.

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