The Empire Report - Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (5) IM THE MUSCLE was handled conservatively from Post 8 last week but still finished ok -
he's an in-and-out type but on his best, can beat even better than these - might be a spot where we see his
"good" version, and he'll probably be a decent price. (6) J A T O was off a 15 month layoff coming into his
last start, and looked pretty dismal in his qualifier - he was listed at 20-1 on the ML but was hammered
down to be the 8/5 favorite, secured a two hole trip, and was able to edge by a very stubborn rival late to
score the victory - moves up a notch, but deserves plenty of respect against these too (4) DRAZZMATAZZ
drops a notch, gets some post relief, and definitely fits with these - would be no surprise at all. (3) PAPPY
GO GO was sent off as the prohibitive 1/10 choice, but didn't bring his best and ended up 4th, with no
excuses - he'll be a much better price tonight for those that want to stick with him, but we'll be opting for a
few of the others. (8) MOMMS MY DAD had been sharp, so last week's 22-1 winning price really was a
massive overlay - steps up and draws Post 8 tonight, but still has a chance at a minor piece...with some trip
luck. (1) ZOOMING wired cheaper here back in December, but the classy 14YO may be a notch below a
few of these at this point in his career. (2) VOLARE made a break 2 back, then struggled in his last - may
perk up off the drop, but the sense is that he may be heading in the wrong direction (7) MASTER MIGHTY
was no factor in his local debut, and draws outside once again.
RACE 2 - (2) MAJESTIC MARVEL was used hard to make the lead last week, seemed fine coming to the
half but suddenly jumped offstride, losing all chance - he's rebounded from miscues in the past, and we'll
give him a chance to make amends tonight. (1) DC ANNA was fortunate to slip out and avoid a bad shuffle
at 3/4s last week, but trotted home strong for 2nd once she did - she's a proven player at this level, and
looms the main danger should the top one falter. (3) BANK BOX TREASURE was a winner here on 11/17
but was scratched sick the next week, and then on the shelf ever since - did qualify back nicely, and is
eligible to take home a decent piece here. (6) IN MY DREAMS wasn't at his best last week, but he was also
racing off 3 weeks - eligible to be sharper here, and a quick start would really help his chances to grab a
good chunk. (7) HENDERSON SEELSTER broke briefly at the half last week, recovered, and trotted home
nicely to be 3rd - tough spot here, but maybe he can rally late for a minor share? (5) MUFASAAS probably
needs a little easier to be a serious threat - looking at only a minor piece against these. (4) EVA DAIRPET
FR is struggling right now - waiting for better signs before considering
RACE 3 - (7) OAKWOOD CORAL IR made her way to the Dynamic Duo in NJ by way of the UK, and
then the Canadian Maritimes - was sent off at 5 cents on the dollar for her local debut and drew off pretty
convincingly once they hit the stretch - this may be a little tougher assignment, but she'll be the odds-on
choice to make it 2 in a row at Yonkers. (3) BEAUTIFUL CANDY showed a little ability at 2 before being
put away after a few starts - has looked good in a pair of Dover starts and if anybody is going to beat the
top one, it'll probably be her. (5) IDEAL CHIP has come up 2nd best an incredible 7 straight times, but
wasn't quite as good last week - maybe that streak will end tonight? (6) MAGICAL LILY BEAR has been
"ok" in her last 3 starts - may have a little too far to come tonight, however. (2) BUMP IN THE ROAD has
been 4th in 4 straight starts, and really needs to find a little more to become a more serious player. (1) PINE
BUSH LIBERTY has been racing well at Monti, but vs. cheaper - we'll see how well she can hang with
these. (4) COME ZOOM WITH ME remains a work in progress.
RACE 4 - (2) SERRANO VOLO quickly negated her outside post disadvantage last week when she made
the top off turn one, went on to carve out a solid clip and only got outmuscled late by a VERY well meant
veteran returning from a long layoff - her price will come way down now, but she's clearly the one to knock
off tonight. (1) MY BOY CHRISTIAN cost himself dearly with a break before the start last week but if he
can go back to minding his manners tonight, he can land somewhere on the ticket. (3) INNISFALLEN has
always done better AWAY from Yonkers, but he's also used to facing better here - perhaps tonight's class
drop will help him find a better effort? (7) TIDQUIST isn't bad right now, but will have a lot of work to do
from all the way out here - maybe can rally for 3rd/4th? (6) SEVEN KNIGHTS was just 1 for 34 last year,
but did squeak out a nose win (vs. cheaper) in her 2nd start of 2022 - two dull tries here after that, but did
rally a bit at PcD last week - another possibility for 3rd/4th. (4) CYCLONE MAXIMUS often struggles at
the bottom level, and will be facing tougher tonight - prefer others. (5) MISS YOU KELLY was dull (vs.
cheaper) in both of her starts this year - wait for an easier spot.
RACE 5 - (4) JACK VERNON has been doing good work at Dover and has enjoyed success here at
Yonkers in the past - he definitely fits well with these, and we'll give him the narrow edge over a couple of
solid rivals. (3) LUCKY MATTER is hard to fault, as he comes into tonight with 2 wins and a 2nd from his
last 3 starts - more than capable of taking another. (6) WILD AND CRAZY GUY shipped up from PPk to a
barn that has gone from a couple of cheaper claimers not long ago, to a shed row of high priced horses (and
with familiar owners looking to expand their holdings even more) - he was a solid 2nd to a sharp winner in
his local debut, and might have been the top pick tonight had he not drawn outside a couple of his main
foes. (1) VOYAGE TO PARIS seems off his best game right now but IF he can find that better form here,
he'd be able to make some noise from this advantageous spot. (7) VAINQUEUR R P NO has compiled an
8-6-1-1 local record since arriving last Nov., but figures to have a much tougher tie with his first outside
draw in a long time. (5) BIG BAD SWAN is finally doing better for his current connections, but seems very
ambitiously placed up at this level . (2) MANHATTANUP NO ICE also seems to be in a bit steep, and also
comes off a break last week.
RACE 6 - (5) ALTA MADEIRA N beat cheaper in her local debut as the 2/5 chalk, then stepped up last
week to beat this class too....securing a pocket trip from Post 8 and rallying by easily in the lane - remains
the one to beat. (1) STAY SAFE moved to a new barn for 2022 and has been improving (at Fhd) with each
start - draws best for her YR debut, and we'll see if she can continue to do good things against these. (2)
GABBYS GIRL carved out the fractions last week and came up 2nd best to the top choice, completing the
"Spaccafecta" (her trainer's father is the OWNER of ALTA MADEIRA N) - definitely a chance it could
happen again. (3) SHE KNOWS IT ALL finished 2nd in her first 5 Yonkers starts before finishing 6th on
11/17, and then going on the shelf for a while - qualified back ok, but guessing she'll need a start or two
before we see her best. (6) WHOS SMOKIN N was caught too far back to threaten last week but did pace a
solid final 3/8ths - unfortunately, another outside draw may leave her with too much work to do once more.
(4) SEA OF LOVE BC won her first start of 2022 but hasn't been as good in her last couple - prefer others.
(7) PULL ME THROUGH finished decently in her YR debut but another bad draw may leave her waiting
for a better spot before we see her best
RACE 7 - (1) ALL CHAMPY likely needed that last start, and has held his own with better than these in
the past - expect a much more aggressive try tonight with that start under his belt, and the rail draw. (3)
CHIEF JUSTICE has been pretty consistent lately, and against better than these - moves inside after racing
from Post 8 last week, and could be a very live player tonight. (4) HUNTING AS beat this class back on
11/10 when in the midst of a 3 race win streak - continued to race well against better after that, before
finally just getting in way too tough - there's no doubt he's a perfect fit here, but he has just ONE start since
12/17, and his current fitness is definitely a question mark. (5) IT AINT THE WHISKY just missed here on
1/26 but was then scratched sick from consecutive starts, and his upstate qualifier is hard to gauge - on his
best, he'll be a player here...but is that the version we'll see tonight? (2) MUSCLE STAR continues to race
well most every start, but may be in a little tougher than he'd like tonight - at least the good draw gives him
a chance to stay close enough for a piece. (6) CON AIR HALL raced well for 3rd stepping up to this level
last week but that was with an easy trip, from the pole - may not be as fortunate from out here. (7) TORKIL
landed on dream trips in back to back starts and the horse that was 1 for 33 last year, is already 2 for 2 in
2022 - have a feeling that good fortune is going to run out from this spot tonight, though
RACE 8 - (4) PLUMB made a BIG recovery after an early miscue in her first start for the talented training
tandem - added hopples for her last start and although helped by some good racing luck, she was also very
sharp in grabbing the victory - no reason she can't take another. (7) STICK WITH ME KID was trapped in
the pocket last week or he might have been able to extend his winning streak to 3 - sharp enough right now
to have a legitimate chance, even from this tough post. (5) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN seems a little
cheap to bang heads with these right now but he moves to a barn that can improve horses dramatically in
just a week - would hardly be a surprise if that happened for this guy as well. (2) OUR WHITE KNIGHT
can be pretty inconsistent from start to start but IF he brings his best, he can take home a piece of this. (1)
JUST MAYBE THE ONE ships up from Pompano and definitely has the talent to contend with these - he
does make some breaks, though, and has also been away since 12/31 make sure to get a decent price if
thinking of using him on top. (3) BLENHEIM has been away since late November and since he was
struggling at that point, the time off may do him some good - not ready to hop on his team yet, but will pay
close attention. (6) MADHATTER BLUECHIP is still trying to find his form since his most recent layoff -
sticking with others. (8) KANDY SWEET is a different horse on the lead, but she's not getting there tonight
RACE 9 - Tough race: (1) VIOLETS RAINBOW took a while to shake free from the pocket last week but
was gaining late once she did - she got her picture taken in 3 of 6 starts here last year, and may be able to
get it done tonight from the pole. (4) BELINA shows Canadian lines that would make her an excellent fit
here - lands in a barn that's off to a slowish start this year, but who has done very well with these types in
the past - very logical threat. (6) COMMANDER CATHY N is still winless in the U.S., but has hit board in
all 7 of her starts - it's only a matter of time before she breaks through. (3) LINE EM UP has raced well
here many times, often at nice prices - good one to include underneath in exotics. (2) TENTHOUSAND
ANGELS has been freshened up after a sick scratch in Dec. qualified back nicely, and may be able to grab
a nice piece with the good inside draw. (5) NUTTINBUTTHEBEST was handled aggressively last week
but faltered in the lane - we'll see if she can build off that effort. (7) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY was sent off
favored last week (for a new barn), and just missed in her 3rd place finish - that 20-1 ML price has to make
her worth at least a look, even from this tough spot. (8) STAR CAPTAIN is 2 for 2 at YR, including last
week's game first over score - it's only because of the draw that she's being picked this far down
RACE 10 - (1) FASHION FOREVER was no factor in his last couple, but was stuck in the back vs. better
fields - draws the pole in a pretty blank field tonight, and should have a good chance to perk up against
these. (4) BAZILLIONAIRE often "figures", but he was just 1 for 36 last year (6 for 74 lifetime), and is a
hard horse to recommend on top at a pretty short price! (5) TIME OUTA JAIL has been a steady performer
since returning from Ohio recently - definitely one to include in exotics. (7) PRESCOTT gets Jordan back
in the bike for tonight, although he did make a break with him 2 back - on his best, he'd have a chance to
pick up a good chunk against these. (2) TEDDY BROSEVELT has been racing ok, even if vs. cheaper - the
inside draw at least gives him a chance to contend for a piece. (6) HOBBS disappoints week after week,
and really hasn't shown any signs that a long awaited wake up call may be coming any time soon. (3)
CHECKMATE HILL is 1 for 28 here (last 3 years) and just not many good efforts lately. (8) PETERS
EXPRESS will get a longer look at this level when he moves inside to a better spot