The Empire Report – Thursday, November 14, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (1) I AINT NO MACK has now won 3 straight and his last pair (after the claim) were just blistering – he
does meet some pretty sharp horses tonight, but he’s currently the sharpest of them all. (2) TO THE HUNT has hit
board in 10 of 12 local starts, finishing 4 th in the other two (off tough trips) – gets another good draw off last week’s
win, and has a big chance at another big slice tonight. (3) SIP OF BOURBON adds Lasix after a pair of good 3rds
since arriving from Canada – the draw puts him in play for another nice chunk. (5) TWIGGS PUB was an ok 4
th last week debuting for a new barn, and adding Lasix – we’ll see if he can build off that tonight. (6) CAPTAIN T HANO
VER was a little dull last week but that was against better – he’s enjoying an amazing year, but will need some trip
luck after drawing poorly in here. (7) KINGSTON PANIC added Lasix last week and raced super off the aggressive
steer, coming up 2 nd best to the tripsitter – the post may cause some problems tonight, however. (4) HES SPECIAL
has excuses in his last pair after a good series of starts – we’ll see if the class drop helps him bounce back. (8) TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK threw a major clunker last week, and now drops 2 classes and draws Post 8 – very risky here
RACE 2 – Tough race: (4) COLD CREEK FELIPE has been very good but ran into a tough trip last week and can
be forgiven for weakening into the stretch – eligible to bounce right back with a much better effort, with an easier
journey. (7) CELLMATE won twice in this class not long ago, and his current form is probably a bit better than it
looks on paper – he lands in another tough spot, but a good price makes him worth considering. (3) HES HALF
NAKED has been knocking on the door, a close 2 nd in his last 3 starts – would be no surprise if tonight is when he
gets over the hump. (1) OVER THE HORIZON was caught in the back in a very hot mile last week but he won his
previous 2 starts, and moves all the way inside– clearly a big chance but may end up a bit overbet (2) CLEVELAND
B MIKI suddenly took all kinds of tote action last week, displayed speed we hadn’t seen from him and was able to
deliver a wire to wire victory...winning for the first time all year – suppose he COULD take another. (6) SNOUZE
U LOUZE has a couple of recent excuses and probably fits ok with these – would have been listed higher with a
better draw. (5) VICTOR CRUISE is 14-0-0-3 locally – prefer others. (8) VANDALISM figures to be too far back
RACE 3 – (7) STEALING seemed to be in a terrible spot to the final turn last week but looked like he was shot out
of a cannon in the stretch– gets another terrible draw and while his price will definitely come down tonight, it should
still be good enough to be worth another play. (5) BLUEBIRD BISHOP was razor sharp here this summer but threw
a dud the night he was claimed (6/27) then went on the shelf after that – he was a blowout winner in his qualifier last
week, and he’s probably one to include on your tickets. (3) FULL SCALE hit board in every start after joining this
barn until finding himself unable to get involved last week – drops in for a tag, gets a better draw, and could rebound
with a good mile. (4) KINDA LUCKY LINDY fits well with these, gets a better draw, and may be able to make
some noise here. (2) SWEET SOUL DAVID drops in for a tag and that could help his cause (as he’s probably not as
“sharp” as his lines might look) – small piece? (6) MR CONTESTANT was no factor in this class last week and will
need to be better to have any real say tonight. (8) P C FREE WHEELING hasn’t been bad, just not on her nest game
lately – brutal draw in her 2 nd try for new connections. (1) INFINITY STONE had a great run but then started to unravel – his qualifier doesn’t inspire much confidence for tonight
RACE 4 – Wide open: (4) CHIP IN BLUE was too far back to be a serious threat last week but he did finish full of
pace for 4 th – his barn has really come to life recently, so perhaps this guy can get it done with the right trip. (5) SOU
TH POINT has a pair of 3rds since dropping to this level, and would throw a good mile at times (vs. better) prior to
that – another with a legitimate chance here, depending on the trip. (1) IRRESISTIBLE used a perfect trip to take his
local debut 2 back, but had trouble getting into gear last week – he was claimed by a barn that has maintained an
outstanding win % with fresh stock, and has to be given plenty of respect. (8) LAZ gets class relief tonight and
raced well in a few recent starts – won’t be easy to overcome the draw, but he’ll be a big enough price to at least
merit a look. (3) LOU ON THE BEACH would seem to have been facing a bit easier out of town but his form is
certainly solid – would hardly be a surprise. (7) HECANDANCENCRUISE endured a terrible trip last week but was
fairly empty regardless – would need a pretty big price to consider for a top slot. (2) SURFRIDER and (6) CAHOO
TS got the worst of the bad accident on 10/24 – waiting for some good signs before endorsing either of them.
RACE 5 – (1) BULLY BOY HILL disappointed last time but may have simply bottomed out in the pocket chasing
the hot clip carved out by the front end winner – deserves a chance to make amends. (2) MAHONE SEELSTER
feels like he’s sharpening since recently returning from a layoff – he picked up 2nds in his 2
nd and 3 rd start back, and could be ready to contend for the top prize tonight. (3) UNFORGETTABLE broke a long streak of 6th place finishes
with a 2 nd last week – could be part of the equation here too. (8) STICK WITH ME KID weakened in his last pair
but he may take a shot at blasting from out here and his best effort could put him in the hunt – decent bomb for
exotics. (4) KENOBI used an easy trip for 3 rd last week, and may be able to take home some minor spoils here too.
(6) THE BALLYKEEL DEAL qualified back ok after missing a couple of months – guessing he’ll need a start. (5) J
S HOPSCOTCH beat much easier last start, but has struggled in most of his recent tries in this class
RACE 6 – (2) LAST POUND was 2 nd in this class on 9/26 in a sizzling 1:51.1 mile – he had no prayer in his last (8
hole) but moves inside tonight and this may be a spot where he can pick up his first Yonkers win. (5) THAT DOG
WILL HUNT was a good 3 rd off a tough trip 2 back, then hung on for the win last week after cutting the mile –
license to repeat. (8) PORTERS MAN has been picking up a lot of 2nds and 3rds and tonight’s draw won’t help his
chances of coming out on top – definitely ok for another good piece, though. (1) HOUND ON THE BEACH seemed
to lose interest after getting shuffled back last time – we’ll see if he can perk up with a much closer trip in here. (6)
SWISS COTTON offered little last time but was sneaky ok in a couple of other recent start – a big price makes him
worth a look, at least for exotics. (7) TARGET AQUIRED has gone a few decent miles here but he draws poorly off
a sick scratch and that has us leaning elsewhere. (3) MONACO HANOVER hails from a barn that has gone ice cold
the last couple of weeks. (4) KNOCKIN OUT is 15-0-1-0 here this year, and 33-1-1-2 overall – looking elsewhere
RACE 7 – Very tough race! (4) SHADOW IN RED really outraced his 38-1 odds last week in a mile that was even
a bit sharper than it looks on paper – gets a better draw, gets Bartlett back, and is one of several with a real chance.
(7) KOOTENAY SANTANNA wasn’t close in 5 th in last week but landed on a terrible trip and really wasn’t bad –
he drops to 25s for a barn that’s going strong right now, and could be a possible upsetter. (1) KEYSTONE DASH
was handled very aggressively last week and paid for it late – he’s been sharp for too long to ever ignore from a spot
like this. (2) KOUNT BLASTER gets a good draw for his new connections and the change in scenery could be to
his liking – he has a couple of fairly recent wins, and does deserve consideration. (8) PRETTY HANDSOME is
sharp in general and comes into this off a victory last week – the post is brutal, but at least it’ll boost his price
considerably. (5) PAT STANLEY N has been “meh” In many of his recent starts but has been known to wake up out
of the blue at times – maybe if the price is long enough? (6) NOME HANOVER is still looking for his first Yonkers
win of the year and tonight’s draw isn’t going to help his cause – always a chance for a piece, though. (3) LYONS
PEGASUS has a few good recent efforts but as noted, his barn has gone ice cold.
RACE 8 – (3) STORMONT DIVIDE ran into a sharp front end winner last week and had to settle for 2 nd best – he’s
been doing good work all year long, has a post advantage over a couple of main foes and we’ll see if that’s enough
to get him home in front. (6) P L NOTSONICE looked like she MAY be starting to tail a bit (after a long, very good
year) but she came up with an easy winner in PA 2 back, then was 2 nd best to a very impressive winner her last week
– possible, even with the poor draw. (2) ENOLA has done good work since the recent claim and while she loses A.
Nap tonight, her new pilot has proven to be more than capable...playable in exotics. (8) PIONEER AS is a classy
mare (over $500k in the bank) and kicked home with plenty of trot for 3 rd in her first local try of ’24 – she absolutely
fits here, but the obvious concern is whether she can find a way to offset the terrible draw. (5) VINNY DE VIE was
able to rebound from a miscue in PA 2 back to jog here last week – steps up, but sharp enough to still make some
noise. (4) I GET IT was handled conservatively last week (scratched injured the start before) and trotted evenly in
the back – he could have a bigger say here, though a few others seem a little more appealing. (7) ROGER RABBIT
threw a rare disappointing try 2 back but was claimed that night and rebounded with a nice 2 nd last week – not sure if
he can find a manageable trip from out here, though. (1) HAT TRICK MARLEAU has just one start in 6 weeks but
it was a winning one (at 35-1!) – still leaning towards others, however
RACE 9 – It would be hard to “love” (4) SON OF A TIGER N’s chances in here as he’s somehow 0 for 27 on the
year– that being said, he’s regularly held his own vs. much better than these, and may have finally found the winning
spot! (2) GAMBLING TERROR was handled aggressively last week and ended up a very close 3 rd – may be able to
have a big say here too. (5) GINGRAS BEACH is one of several from his barn that have just been in a bad rut lately
– would be tough here on his best effort, but we haven’t seen that in a while. (1) QUALITY BUD is another that has
been well off form for some time, but has to at least be considered for a possible wake up call from this very good
spot. (3) RICARDOSHILYSHALLY was a close 3 rd last week but could have won IF sharp – willing to use on the
bottom of exotics. (6) AUSSIE HANOVER hails from a barn that’s really struggled the past couple of weeks –
leaning elsewhere. (7) BUCHANNON HANOVER is just 1 for 30 here over the past 2 years and 5-0-0-1 in 2024