Friday Empire Report

soaofny • July 8, 2022

The Empire Report - Friday, July 8, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (2) MACH DORO A had been stuck in a rough patch but came alive with a MUCH better effort

last week with the drop to NW7500 (2nd to a sharp winner) - drops another peg, and this really is a spot he

should handle. (3) TOM ME GUN N appreciated the ground saving trip last week and almost was able to

rally for 2nd - another easy trip could help him grab another good share. (6) MARLBANK ROAD is 0 for

10 in 2022 but he did race well a few times (and was "sneaky ok" last week, pacing a sharp final 3/8ths

from an impossible spot) - maybe can add some value to the exotics. (1) MARTY MONKHOUSER A also

appreciated a class drop last week, and was almost able to take 'em wire to wire - logical player from the

pole tonight, but may also be overbet. (5) HES ELECTRIC put in a nice bid last week before flattening a

bit at the end - he's very inconsistent, but can pick up a piece with one of his better efforts. (4) PRINCE

MCARDLE N finished just behind the top choice last week, delivering an improved effort of his own - way

too inconsistent to fall in love with at that 2-1 ML price, though. (8) KNOCKING AROUND has a couple

of recent decent tries, but likely needs a much better post to be any kind of player. (7) IM J BEE N figures

to have a hard time getting near the action from all the way out here.


RACE 2 - (4) WAR DAN DELIGHT N has bee racing well for some time, and recently has been 2nd

(twice) to Keystone Phoenix, as well as Motive Hanover - he's really supposed to be able to beat these right

now....but note that he's 0 for 33 at Yonkers over the past 2 years (and 1 for 51 overall!) before betting the

rent money. (1) GINGER TREE PETE has been in a bad rut for some time but if he's ever going to get a

wake up call, it would be in a spot like this - won't offer much value, though. (2) AINTNOBETTOR A

might have been the pick in a spot like this but he exits a very high % barn AND loses Kakaley....and it's

hard to be sure what we'll get from him tonight. (8) ITSMYCHECK GB is pretty hard to like off his current

form (especially from Post 8), but he does have 6 wins here over the past 2 years, and has reversed form

unexpectedly in the past - ok for longshot fans. (3) TIDAL SHARK has been ok since the recent barn

change, but vs. cheaper - may find these a little too tough. (6) SECRECY is 1 for 42 at Yonkers over the

past 2 years, and his only win this year (at Chester) was vs. much softer - prefer others. (7) TIGER BARON

was our "value play" selection last week, although the (ridiculous) 3/5 payoff surely was WAY less than

expected - much tougher spot tonight.


RACE 3 - (4) LETTUCERIPRITAA did a nice job getting 2nd last week (behind the runaway winner)

with his previous owner in the bike - was reclaimed by a barn that won lots of races with him, and gets the

nod in this pretty solid $15K claiming field. (5) ZOEEZ BOY HENRY has been pretty good for a while,

and has hit board in 8 of his 14 local starts this year (but no wins) - good value horse for exotics. (3) P H

KENNY drops back down to a more suitable level after racing ok in PA against the 20s - definitely could

land somewhere on the ticket. (2) ASTON HILL DAVE couldn't quite hang on at 2-1 last week after

winning at 79-1 the week before - he's definitely good right now, and should continue to race well for his

new connections. (1) CASHNCAM was able to get away in the pocket last time and that helped him score

the 17-1 upset (over #2) - same good draw, but this is a much tougher overall field - may not be as fortunate

here. (6) PACING MAJOR N was handled aggressively off the layoff and was clearly short - rallied nicely

from the back to pick up 3rd vs. this class last week, and is another that could easily pick up a good piece

(with the right trip). (8) BLUEBERRY HEAVEN figures to be too far back tonight to make any real use of

his late kick - wait for a better spot. (7) SETTLEMOIR is 20-0-0-2 here at YR over the last 3 years.


RACE 4 - Good race: (5) VINNY DE VIE has been able to stay trotting most weeks and that has led to a

pretty nice form spree - gets some class relief here (although is hardly an "easy" spot), and could benefit if

the pace gets contested up front - good value horse to consider. (6) LEAN HANOVER continues to race

well out of town this year, but is mysteriously 0 for 9 here at Yonkers (a track he normally thrives at) - at

6-1 ML, he's certainly worth considering. (4) LIFETIME ROYALTY was very conservative last week after

making a break the week before - he's normally a proven player at this level, and generally goes off at good

prices - don't toss him too quickly. (1) PUBLICITY SEEKER was trapped a LONG way in his only local

try, but was full of trot for 2nd when he finally shook free - returns off a win over cheaper at Pocono, but

may very well fit with these too - another possibility. (2) COLONIAL AS IT was sent off favored last week

after a sharp win the week before but threw an unexpected dud - probably a good sign that he drops right

back in the box, and his price will likely be better for those that want to try him one more time. (3) LADY

ANN NO started at the lower levels (after arriving stateside) and continued to thrive as the competition got

tougher - she's been away for 3 weeks, though, and is still a bit of a question mark against this type - does

get a big switch to Kakaley, so perhaps consider if the price is really appealing. (8) BULLY BOY really

came to life after changing barns and going to Monti, but now draws Post 8 against much tougher - sticking

with others. (7) SEVENSHADESOFGREY has missed a month and draws Post 7 - pass for tonight.


RACE 5 - Very tough race! (5) WEONA SIZZLER A dropped to 40s last week and went an insane mile,

parked every step of the way and still right there 3rd on the wire - he's listed at 9-1 ML off that effort, and

that makes him worth a long look tonight. (4) MARINER SEELSTER looked like he MAY be starting to

tail a bit (after 2 outstanding years) but the 13YO bounced right back last week, and returned to the

winner's circle (for the 11th time in the last 18 months!) - dangerous any week he's in the box! (2) BLUEB

IRD RECON took the sharpest barn around a few starts to figure out, but he's hitting on all cylinders right

now - goes for 3 straight, and has a legitimate chance to make that happen. (6) SEAFARER has a terrific

13-4-6-1 local slate this year, and was cooked on the lead in his only two off-the-board finishes - tough

draw for a new barn, but he can never be counted out. (3) PICARD A used a perfect trip to beat a little

easier group of 40s on 5/20 - wouldn't be a surprise, but we are definitely leaning to others. (7) LITTLE

POWER is a perfect 5 for 5 since arriving at Yonkers, and continues to climb the class ladder - lands in a

barn that has struggled here in 2022 (2 for 57), draws outside, and will be handled by a young pilot with

very little Yonkers experience - his streak is definitely in jeopardy here. (1) SMOKIN BY N tries it at the

40K level after establishing a new lifetime mark at Chester in an amateur race last week - really not sure

what to expect from him! (8) MISSILE SEELSTER doesn't figure to get into play from out here.


RACE 6 - (4) SKY CASTLES has really upped his game since a recent barn change and his return to

Yonkers last week was outstanding, suggesting he may be ready for some class climbing - we'll stay on his

team here. (2) NEW HEAVEN is just 1 for 14 this year, but he'll usually grab a good piece from a spot like

this - include in exotics. (3) KINDA LUCKY LINDY has been trotting "steadily", but often from a little too

far back - tonight's post relief may help him grab a better piece. (1) IM THE MUSCLE chased the winner

from the pocket last week and was able to hold 2nd as that one drew off in the lane - suppose it's possible

he could do it again. (6) NO MAS DRAMA wasn't at her best last week but still finished 4th in the FM

Open - she's been a pretty consistent player all year, and may be able to rally late for a piece of this. (7)

STREET GOSSIP is an Open threat when on his best game, but he definitely disappointed in his last pair -

draws poorly now, while also losing Jordan - not impossible, but no value at that 3-1 ML price. (5) LADY

JETER continues to struggle for a cold barn, but at least tried to leave the gate last week (but made a break)

- tough to endorse right now. (8) FANATIC did well from inside spots in his last couple, but may have a

much harder time getting involved from out here.


RACE 7 - (5) BENJIS BEST was reunited with his favorite barn last week and was absolutely sensational,

driving on to park a rival and never letting up the entire way, rattling off an eye opening 1:51.1 blowout -

steps up from 20s to 40s, but remains the one to beat. (1) GIVENUPDREAMING charged home in his first

try for a new barn two back - was a little disappointing when 2nd (as the 1/2 favorite) last week, but still

raced well - logical player from the pole. (3) WON LAST FEELING has gone off at big prices in all his

recent local starts but continues to race well enough for small pieces - can grab another tonight. (6) BLACK

CHEVRON N threw a clunker last week but he's prone to those from time to time - at his best, he can

contend with these...making him an attractive one for exotics at that 20-1 ML price. (2) BAMSKI gets

some post relief and was 3rd from a tougher spot 2 back - decent value horse to include underneath. (4)

ARTMAGIC did good work here vs. cheaper in May - not sure how well he fits with these, but couldn't

blame anybody looking to include him underneath. (7) B LIKE CRUISER was claimed for $50K on 6/18

and now drops in for $40K, 3 weeks later - smells a little fishy, even for this barn. (8) BARON MICHAEL

needs a much easier spot to be any kind of threat.


RACE 8 - (4) AMIGO VOLO has won 4 of his 5 local starts, mired in the back from Post 7 in the lone loss

- gets a good draw for tonight, has the hottest driver around in the bike, and deserves the nod. (5) EUROBO

ND was a sharp front end winner the last time the Open was contested here (6/17), and has won 16 of 31

starts over the past 2 years - very legitimate threat once more. (6) HILLEXOTIC just missed to the top

choice here on 6/10, then was hurt by the draw when 4th last week - he can beat these, but will need some

trip luck after drawing outside the top pair. (2) HAYEK hit a rough patch here this spring but his barn has

done an outstanding barn at getting him back on track, taking 4 straight at Chester (including a win over the

top choice last week) - not sure how he was allowed to draw for an inside post tonight but regardless, he's

been handled by some of the top drivers in the game during those 4 wins but won't have that same luxury

tonight...and that could hurt his chances. (3) MELADYS MONET comes off a $282K season at age 12, and

so far has $46K from his first 8 starts as a 13YO - not sure if he can still step with the top few, but he's been

shocking with his amazing durability for years - we shall see. (8) MISSISSIPPI STORM has won more

than his share of these, but faces a tall task from Post 8 tonight. (1) B NICKING is undeniably sharp, but

unproven against these types - losing Brennan isn't going to help his cause as he takes on the Open trotters.

(7) STORMY KROMER is eligible to show up with a huge mile at any time - but this really doesn't feel

like the place for it.


RACE 9 - (1) MY CARBON COPY N is winless in 6 starts at Yonkers but most have of those have come

against better - really wasn't bad off the freshening 2 back, and just had no prayer in last from Post 8 -

might be a spot where he can do some damage. (3) R MADDY BLUE CHIP hasn't struggled to get going

since being claimed on 2/25 but that last qualifier is hard to ignore...as is the fact that Bartlett is bailing

from his main "meal ticket" barn (#7) to drive this guy - could be ready for a big effort tonight. (6) BETTO

RS DREAM has been a major disappointment in his 4 starts for this barn and the public is probably ready

to give up on him - might not be a bad time to include him in exotics at what figures to be a much bigger

price tonight. (4) GLENGARRY KNIGHT N plunges all the way to the basement now after failing to

respond to any of his other recent class drops - maybe THIS is the wake up spot? (5) ROCK N TONY has

really struggled for some time but at least he has a couple of thirds since dropping to this level - throw in

underneath. (2) DING DING DINGER is 0 for 18 since arriving here, and has disappointed far more often

than he's delivered - maybe the inside draw can help him grab a minor share. (7) REMEMBER THE

BEACH is a little better since joining our leading barn but if Bartlett lacks any confidence him, we'll pass

too. (8) KIMANI N is for 31 at YR (last 2 years) and draws Post 8 - pass for tonight.

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