The Empire Report - Thursday, August 3, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - Solid opener! (2) HL REVADON was looking super after a two month freshening...making last
week's (unexpected) miscue all the more disappointing - he's back in the box quickly, and will be a very
dangerous player IF he bounces right back to his best effort. (4) SWEET SOUL DAVID has been holding
his own in most of his Open starts, and drops down to the level of his last victory - solid threat, even though
Brennan opts to drive #1 tonight. (3) NO MAS DRAMA was hurt by bad posts/spots in her last few - she's
capable against these when on her best game, and this dangerous trainer/driver tag team always deserves
extra respect. (1) ALL CHAMPY has just been incredibly consistent over the past couple of years, is sharp
right now, and draws the pole with Brennan (off a win) - lots to like, but he just may be a notch below a
couple of others. (6) HERCULISA is a talented mare but her local history is somewhat mixed - she gets the
worst of the draw, so insist on a good price if trying her on top. (5) JULA MUSCLE PACK is a solid trotter
but prefers to be in a bit easier, and is usually reliant on a trip
RACE 2 - (5) STORMY KROMER really had no excuses when he got beat last week, but it's not like he
was "bad" (just outkicked home by a sharp tripsitter in a 1:53 mile) - hard to say if he can just go to the top
easily tonight, but how bad could his trip be in a 5 horse field -- still the one to beat. (2) OH BOY has been
on a major tear lately, though vs. a bit easier - steps up to the Open off last week's $75K claim, but this isn't
really that strong a group (overall) - can still be a big player. (1) HAYEK picked up a rare Yonkers win 3
back, then raced well 2 more times in PA - lands in a very good spot for his return, but make sure to get a
fair price if he's your play (he's just a little too camera shy to accept low odds). (3) WHAT SHOULD I
GOO struggled a bit to get her season going but has been mostly terrific since adding Lasix in May - steps
up to tackle the Open level tonight, and we'll see if she can be just as effective. (4) GREY has been feeling
good for a while, but facing considerably easier - she has the BACK class to go with these, so we'll see if
she can up her game enough to be a player
RACE 3 - (3) SOUTHWIND ARTURO added hopples early this year and has put together a very solid
season since then - his last 2 efforts here (strong finishes for 2nds) were excellent, and a live trip tonight
may get him to the winner's circle. (5) SWAN FLYER returns to YR where he has a strong 7-4-0-2 record -
he gets his (part) owner back in the bike, and that makes him a solid threat in this pretty well matched field.
(2) NEWSBOY has been good for a while but was given no chance by Lachance last week - he goes back
to Bartlett now, and they've paired up for two recent wins- legitimate player, especially if the trip works out
(4) WILLY WALTON has put consistency back into his game, racing well for several starts and coming
into tonight off a pair of close 2nds - one to include in exotics. (1) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE drops and
draws the pole, but may still be a bit below a couple of the other contenders - consider for a small piece. (6)
MAX is pretty good right now, and should continue to race well for his new barn - tonight's draw may pose
some obstacles, however. (7) KINDA LUCKY LINDY was a steady 4th in his local return last week, but
figures to be coming from well out of it tonight.
RACE 4 - NYSS, 3YO Fillies: (1) TRUE BLUE HANOVER is 0 for 11 this year (and 2 for 19 overall) but
she showed ability from early on, and does race well almost every week- she definitely gets along well with
Bartlett, and may be able to pull off the upset if things go her way. (5) EARTHWINDFIRE was 11-5-4-0 at
2 with $321K in the bank - she's started off the year going 5 for 5, but her two LOCAL wins saw her all out
to just hang on - maybe she finally tastes defeat tonight? (3) SWEET HOME has been a different filly after
changing barns 4 starts back - she was a game first over 2nd to #5 at Tioga last start, and would be no real
surprise tonight. (6) TURN ON THE CHARM comes into tonight with a career 17-8-3-3 slate and proven
that she can hang very well with these - she's at a post disadvantage for sure, so look for a good price is
using her on top. (2) SECRET GARDEN grabbed a NYSS win at Monti 3 back but does seem a notch
below the main players - maybe 3rd/4th? (4) DAME hasn't looked nearly as good in her last 2 NYSS starts
RACE 5 - (5) CANTKEEPMIASECRET has been very sharp for weeks, and continues to outrace her odds
most starts - she figures to be a fair price once again, and has a legitimate chance here if Bongiorno can find
her a winning trip. (7) PERRON is 3 for 3 since dropping in for the $50K tag but the terrible draw will
certainly make it tough to extend that streak to 4 - that being said, his price will surely go up tonight, and
he's still worth considering (hoping some trip luck comes his way). (1) CAPSTONE was "ok" last week,
racing off a bad date for his new barn - should be tighter now, draws the pole, and that 9-1 ML price does
look somewhat enticing. (4) ABRUZZO certainly has plenty of talent, but he's made a couple of recent
miscues and the drop in for a tag could be a bit of a red flag - mixed feelings about his chances tonight. (6)
GAELIHILL tired badly from the pocket 2 back but held together much better last week, after chasing #7 -
he has a chance here, but does face a bit of an uncertain trip starting from Post 6. (3) EPOS OSTERVANG
DK is 0 for 9 this year but generally races well and often lands on the ticket somewhere - always a good
one for exotics. (2) MEMO picked up a win 3 back but it still seems that he may not he on his best game
right now - not impossible, but leaning towards others. (8) AFTER ALL PAUL doesn't figure to get close
enough from Post 8 to have any real impact
RACE 6 - Excelsior A, 3YO Fillies: (4) HIGH FASHION STAR was very sharp winning at this level at
Tioga last start and just missed to SWEET HOME (now in NYSS) at VD - she's 5-3-2-0 here at Yonkers,
and deserves top billing tonight. (1) SWEET CHEYANNE was handled conservatively in her last at Tioga
and really had no chance for better than 4th - a closer trip could help her grab a nice piece here. (2) FREES
TARFLIGHT wilted as the favorite at Tioga but she's capable of better miles than that - one to include in
exotics. (6) HES EXPRESS ran into a tough trip last time but raced well in the 2 starts prior - an easy trip
may help her rally for a piece...at a nice price. (3) LADY JERICHO was no factor in her last, broke the start
before that and is racing off a bad date (sick scratch) - sticking with others, for now. (5) PARTY LOUNGE
is 15-1-2-0 and we're just not used to seeing that kind of slate for any horses in this barn - clearly some
improvement last start, but she had trouble here in 2 prior local starts (especially the first) - prefer others.
RACE 7 - NYSS, 3YO Fillies: (6) SOUTHWIND BELLA won 3 Excelsior A races at 2 before laying an
egg in the Final - has come back very good at 3, quickly elevating to the NYSS level and racing very well
in her 3 starts (with a 2nd behind STRONG POISON's 1:48 track record in the Nadia Lobell at Hoosier) -
seems the one to beat, even from Post 6. (2) VIVIANS DREAM won 7 races and $439K at 2 but has had
some trouble finding her stride at 3 (so far) - could be a breakout week for her, but that 9/5 ML price is a
turnoff. (3) ROCK MY SOCKS hit board in her first 6 starts this year before getting caught up in a suicide
duel at Tioga last week - an easier trip puts her right in the hunt. (5) SILKY STRIDE has done some good
things this year, but may be better suited for Excelsior A competition - small piece? (1) B ON THE HUNT
hit board in 3 straight NYSS races but has tailed off in her last pair - needs a wake up call. (4) WINDSUN
TIARA has been limited to minor pieces in her NYSS starts - faces the same scenario tonight. (1) B ON
THE HUNT hit board in 3 straight NYSS races but has tailed off in her last couple - needs a wake up call.
RACE 8 - Excelsior A, 3YO Fillies: (3) LIGHT AND TIGHT drops back down to the Excelsior A class
after getting brutally parked in a NYSS race at Tioga - should get to control the action here, and that will
make her a tough customer. (4) LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK held her own in NYSS races at Stga. and
Monti before folding at VD - dropped down a notch for her last and came up 2nd best after cutting the mile
- could be the main danger tonight. (6) TEAM COLORS definitely has ability but to threaten for the top
prize tonight she'll need to A) mind her manners, and B) hope for some trip luck from Post 6 - at that 8-1
ML price she's worth at least a look. (5) EVERDEEN is always competitive in these Excelsior A races and
should be tonight as well - ok to use underneath. Both (1) FASHIONATTIFFANYS and (2) PRINCESS
ARONA feel like they may be a notch below the main players- we'll see if the inside draws help either/both
to be part of the equation.
RACE 9 - (1) CHEF ROCCO was 2nd at Goshen to a horse that would be 1/10 in here, then just missed by
a slight nose last week in a very tough beat - he's the one to beat tonight, but he won't be much of a price
from this spot. (6) DARK MIND ships in from PA having hit board in 3 of his last 4 starts - the 3YO seems
to be figuring things out, & figures to go off at a much shorter price than his 8-1 ML suggests. (3) FLARES
ZIVA wasn't far back in 3rd last week (when the top choice was 2nd) - definitely one of the live players in
this fairly shaky field. (7) POP POPS TOMMY was incredibly overbet 2 back but was able to deliver at
even money for his fans - barely squeezed out a check the next week (this time at 2-1) and now draws Post
7 - small piece only. (4) BANGIN IN THE HALL has a 35-0-2-3 slate, but still may be able to take home a
minor piece against these. (5) MY BELFAST ANGEL seems to have qualified nicely for a new barn but
note that there were only TWO horses in there, and the final quarter was :32.3 - not ready to be a believer.
(2) STRATEGIC hasn't raced in 5 weeks and is hard to back (for his new barn) off his current lines
RACE 10 - (5) SQUARED AWAY shipped in here on 6/20 off a pair of decent PaSS tries and easily
handled a NW4 field as the odds-on choice - he stayed sharp in two more PA starts since then, and remains
the one to beat, despite moving up a bit off his last local victory. (3) IN A TINY WAY flattened in her last
at PcD (tried a big move into a fast mile) but just missed in her last 2 local appearances - should be right in
the thick of this tonight. (1) TAP ME BLUE CHIP hasn't won since exiting NW4 back on 4/20, but she's
usually able to grab a nice piece- chance to land somewhere on the ticket starting from the pole (2) WANIA
never really had room to trot last week when a close 3rd - he's been a bit camera shy all year long, but races
well enough for pieces more often than not - once of several with a legitimate chance for a decent slice. (4)
MUSCLE DAN picked up an overdue victory 2 back but took way too long to find his best stride last week
and had to settle for 4th - another that's always a threat to grab a piece in this class. (6) CREATE MYSTIQ
UE was a winner in her first try for the Dynamic Duo but was all out to do so - seems a little risky tonight
starting from Post 6, but it really would be no surprise to see her in the hunt.
RACE 11 - (2) TOCCOA FALLS was (shockingly) falling apart for our highest % trainer so his owner
(who has horses with most of the highest % trainers at YR) moved him to our trainer with the most wins
(from whom he purchased this horse back in May) - he qualified back super, and may be ready to start
heading back in the right direction. (1) VALI HANOVER is yet another getting a barn change tonight,
though he's exiting a couple of very sharp outfits - he's hit board in 10 of his last 11 starts (broke in the
other), and shouldn't be taken lightly. (6) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN saw his 4 race winning streak
snapped last week when a close 3rd (after cutting the mile) - could bounce right back, but the prospects of a
tough trip are definitely there from Post 6. (5) CRESCENT BEAUTY is one of a few horses that improved
instantly upon joining this barn - like a couple of others, however, that form has started to go the other way
recently, tiring to 3rd two back then really fading last week - hard to know what to expect in here. (3) FAS
HION FOREVER can grab pieces at times, but really could use some class relief. (4) UP HELLY AA's
efforts have been all over the place but in general, he probably needs to be in easier. (7) P L OSCAR
doesn't seem sharp enough to threaten from out here.
RACE 12 - Good finale! (2) SIMON SAYS HANOVER missed all of 2022 and was barely functional in
Canada to start 2023 - but that all changed as soon as he joined his current (incredible) barn, winning 5
straight YR starts before just missing in this class last start- despite that form he'll be a good price here, and
could be worth a play. (1) KOMODO BEACH was a little disappointing last start yet Bartlett still takes him
over a razor sharp #6 - maybe we should pay attention? (4) ULTIMAROCA has taken three straight for his
new connections and has a legitimate chance to stretch that streak to 4- figures to be a bit overbet in a tough
field, however. (6) RJ SPORTS IMAGE has elevated his game dramatically since recently joining our
leading barn - hard to say if Bartlett opting off tonight should be construed as something to worry about
(would still consider him if the price is juicy enough). (3) SLING SHOCK is still trying to get his 4YO
campaign in gear - he hasn't been "bad", but he'll need to be better to be a more serious player with this
strong crew. (7) GREAT SOMEWHERE has been holding his own in the Open lately and is having a very
good season in general - his first bad post in a while figures to slow him down, however. (5) PHOENIX OF
FLUZZY is good now...but probably not good enough to be a player with these. (8) DP REALORDEAL is
a nice horse, but really buried tonight from this spot.