Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • September 6, 2023

The Empire Report - Wednesday, September 6, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (2) HEMSWORTH N kicked home in an eye-opening :26.4 last week...but since he elected NOT

to cut the mile, it still wasn't enough to get to the well rated winner - he's lost THREE times recently as the

odds-on choice, but this really does feel like a spot where he can finally get the job done. (1) PHOENIX OF

FLUZZY blasted to the top last week and was a very sharp winner, shocking them at 25-1 -- his price will

be a LOT shorter tonight, and he does look like the one with the best chance to knock off the favorite. (3)

WALKINSHAW N will likely look to save ground and rally late...could earn him a nice chunk. (5) KINGS

VILLE wired easier in his last pair and his barn is going very well right now - needs to leave the gate and

hope a trip works out against these better foes. (4) CRUNCH HANOVER returns off a win vs. easier out of

town, but is 4-0-0-0 at Yonkers this year - tough spot tonight.


RACE 2 - (3) SAMHARA N was off 3 weeks to his last (sick scratch) but still finished full of pace to be a

close 3rd - he was 2nd to AMERICAN MERCURY (Monday night's OPEN winner) two back, and may be

able to pull off a mild upset tonight. (2) CERTIFIABLE has been grabbing good pieces vs. better most

weeks but hasn't visited the winner's circle since 5/29 - he's a very legitimate threat here, but does figure to

be a bit overbet. (4) OAKWOODNITOWNIT IR can be a top level player when on his best game, but he's

clearly a bit off that form right now - he picked up an overdue victory last week and is another very logical

player in here...but another that also tends to be overbet. (5) WINDSUN RICKY was handled aggressively

2 back and rewarded his connections (and backers) with a sharp victory - elected to take a conservative

approach last time, and it left him settling for 4th - may be looking at a similar scenario tonight. (1) ORLA

NDO BLUE A ships in off 2 wins at Tioga but will have to prove that he can hang with these tougher ones.


RACE 3 - (2) VENIER HANOVER finished full of pace from a very tough spot last week, and he's held

his form nicely since early July - the switch to Bartlett for tonight could result in him being on the front

end... which could make him tough to overhaul. (3) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N makes the occasional miscue

and sometimes gets lost in the back of the pack - but he also can throw some big efforts, and this short field

(and good draw) should help his chances -- legitimate player. (4) SPORT SECRET blew up before the start

two back but rebounded with a sharp try last week, charging home late from an impossible spot - worth

considering here IF the price is fair. (1) BENHOPE RULZ N has bounced back from a long dry spell with a

series of good starts since early July - prefer others for the top slot, but he can definitely land somewhere on

the ticket. (6) OSTRO HANOVER was able to hang on vs. much cheaper 2 back bit was empty in his next

and now steps up off that weak effort. (5) GIVE US A WAVE A has been away for nearly 6 months, and

returns at a much higher level than when he went on the shelf - pass for now.


RACE 4 - Short field, tough race: (1) ROAN COLOR is a legitimate $30K claimer when sharp, but his

recent Ohio form has been less than stellar (his 2 recent wins came vs. easier) - he lands in a sharp barn for

his local debut, and catches a field of shaky rivals...gets a tepid nod. (3) GLACIS has been on the upswing

in his last few starts, but he's just 1 for 35 over the last 2 seasons and would need to be a good price to try

on top. (5) ALWAYS ROCKIN had a promising start on 8/25 (8 hole off the layoff) but seemed to regress

last week - chance tonight IF he brings his best effort. (4) ICE HOUSE races well enough for pieces, but

he's 0 for 19 this year and hard to endorse on top. (2) ROCKAPELO was struggling for a top barn and was

just moved to another top outfit (that often gets instant results with fresh stock) - might have considered

him a lot more had his owner not elected to drive this week.


RACE 5- "Lucky 5" begins ($5 min. wager) - (3) KOSHER MAHONEY has really thrived since shipping

over to our leading trainer - goes back to Bartlett tonight, fits perfectly in this $50K claimer and should

have a big say tonight. (2) CRESCENT BEAUTY (who goes for her 6th driver in 6 weeks tonight!) seems

to come in two versions -- if the "good" one shows up, she'll be a handful in here -- but it's hard to guess

from week to week! (8) NASEY was a solid 3rd in his local debut but lands a brutal spot here - if Dube can

find him a trip (without using him too hard), he may have a chance to be right there, at a good price. (5) LI

NDSEYS PRIDE is (almost) always in the hunt thanks to his good gate speed - not sure he's sharp enough

to win right now, but a good piece is definitely possible. (6) CANTKEEPMIASECRET was recently on an

extended form spree but just never looked right 2 back, then finished well back in her last - she'll be a big

price if you think she may be able to turn things back around here. (4) PROMISE FOR LIFE has thrown

some big miles at times, but has been struggling lately - another in need of a quick wake up call. (1) HAT

TRICK MARLEAU is having a rough season (1 for 23) and hard to recommend right now...even from the

pole. (7) PIVOTAL was a pocket winner over much easier 2 back but broke in his last - very tough spot.


RACE 6 - NAADA Amateur Fall Series: (6) SHEENA SOLDIER kicked home strong in his last to just

miss and did wire a similar field at Chester (on 7/16) in a lifetime best 1:56.1 - one of a few live players in

this competitive affair. (4) CLASSY GUY has been ultra consistent but did come up a little short at the end

in his last couple - he's capable of better, and will be dangerous if he can show up with his best effort. (7)

ALL RISE wired these 2 back and took them a long way in his last (ended up 3rd) - he's more than capable,

and definitely attractive at that 20-1 ML price. (2) FUN TIME CHARLIE raced very well 2 back but failed

to bring his best last week - if he can rebound to that sharper mile, he can be a player here. (3) SOUTHERN

PATRICIA is a 3YO filly taking on older males but she does stay trotting and would be a fitting winner

during International Trot Week for Joe Faraldo - possibility. (8) JUDGE KEN has been behaving, tries hard

but gets stuck behind the 8 ball tonight - small piece? (1) JUST MAYBE THE ONE has been struggling,

and made a break last week. (5) WISHFUL MAR has struggled at Yonkers and seems overmatched here.


RACE 7 - Tough race: (3) C YOU AGAIN DK has done very good work at Yonkers, including a win in the

Brennan Trotting Series Final - he's also prone to miscues (2 in his last 4 starts) but is still worth using, as

long as the price is right (his pilot Bo Westergaard will be handling GET A WISH in the International Trot

on Saturday). (4) SWANSEA debuted last time for a barn that has an amazing record off the claim and

immediately paid dividends with that front end score - very legitimate chance to repeat. (8) FOR A DREA

MER is a very strong player at this level but has struggled from bad posts in the past - hard to say if he'll be

able to work out a manageable trip from Post 8. (6) IM THE MUSCLE can race from off the pace but his

best efforts definitely come on the lead...and he'll have a hard time getting there tonight. (1) MISSION VO

YAGE hasn't been at his best lately but he hails from a very high % barn, draws the rail, and could be a

player with an easy trip. (2) GAELIHILL "stole" one in this class 2 back (everything went his way that

night) but was unable to keep it going on the lead last week - not impossible, but leaning a bit more to

others. (5) INFINITY STONE wasn't a bad 3rd last week but generally does his best work vs. easier. (7)

HUSTLENOMICS has 2 recent wins vs. cheaper out of town, but may struggle against these, from Post 7.


RACE 8 - NAADA Amateur Fall Series: (1) ITSONEOFTHOSE won 12 races last year and was doing

good work this year at the top levels at Monticello - he recently took a month off and after a no factor 6th in

his first start back, he was a solid 2nd best last week - they'll have him to catch and beat tonight. (3) TURB

OCHARGEDPETE had been behaving every week but not finishing well enough - he was a lot sharper in

his last, however. and can have a say here if he can build off that improved effort. (5) ALLINDOTIME was

sent off at even money at PcD last start (despite 3 weeks off) and delivered an easy victory with Verruso on

board - they pair up again tonight, and have to be taken seriously in his first local try since 2021. (6) FAIR

GLIDER was a good 2nd here on 8/24 then rallied for 3rd 3 days later - he fits beautifully, but will need

some trip luck from Post 6. (2) CREA STAR has been a steady performer at Stga. but facing NW2 fields

with Wally Hennessey on board - may find this spot a bit tougher. (4) BY A HOFF HANOVER is winless

in 22 Yonkers starts, and just 1 for 58 overall (last 2 years). (7) SWAN FACTOR gets a tough draw after a

sick scratch - leaning towards others. (8) ER NO MORE has been struggling for months - brutal spot.


RACE 9 - (3) GREAT SOMEWHERE felt a little overmatched in his last couple but he drops to a kinder

spot and has been a strong player all year - one of several with a chance in the finale. (2) LAYTON HANO

VER has been a little in and out in his 4YO season but can be very good when on his best game - big threat

if he brings his best. (6) ROCK DIAMONDS N had a long winning streak earlier this year but hasn't had

his picture taken in a while - if he can blast his way into a good spot at the start, he'll have a chance to pull

off an upset. (5) JMS FINAL TREASURE is forced to move up in class off a pair of 2nds - he's 0 for 9 at

YR, so demand a good price if using him on top. (8) SPLASH BROTHER isn't as sharp as he was earlier

this summer, and gets stuck with Post 8- not sure he's good enough right now to overcome that. (1) JAHAN

HANOVER does his best work vs. a bit easier, but the good draw gives him a shot at a piece. (4) MR PERF

ECT N seems to have leveled off a bit after some sharp tries upon arrival at YR - leaning towards others.

(7) FEARFUL INTENT has won at this level but he draws poorly once more, and may need a better spot.

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