The Empire Report - Thursday, November 16, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (2) GRINDER had an unlucky trip when parked every step 2 back but still raced huge, a close
3rd at the end - he made it to the top at the quarter last week, and had already left his rivals in the dust by
the time he hit the top of the lane - gets the slight edge tonight over the equally sharp (5) BRAVE BY DE
SIGN. The latter has 2 wins and 2 narrow losses from his last 4 local starts, and is really loving it in this
$50K claiming class - the main danger! (1) YES raced well upon arrival last week, rallying steadily for 3rd
- should enjoy another good trip from this spot, with a decent chance at another good piece. (4) ABBEY D
got lost at the back last week and that's just not her style - she's done good work when she can race on/near
the lead, and should be able to get that opportunity tonight- include underneath. (8) STEUBEN HANOVER
raced well in his first 2 starts off a long layoff but started to regress in his last pair - he'll be a big price here,
and may be worth throwing in for 3rd/4th. (3) IM THE MUSCLE is a different horse when he can make the
lead, as his last 2 starts will attest to- don't think the front end is attainable tonight, however. (6) DOO WOP
KID was a winner 3 back but no factor in his next, then hurt by an early miscue in his last - leaning towards
others right now. (7) LADY JETER drops in for a tag after missing a month - prefer to just observe tonight
RACE 2 - Well matched field: (3) FOR A DREAMER loves to win races, and has picked up 18 victories
over the last 2 seasons (11 here at Yonkers) - almost all of his recent starts are strong, and his ability to
handle a variety of trips may give him an edge in a race that can go several different ways. (1) HAT TRICK
MARLEAU has had a tough year, but his recent form has been more consistent - willing to give him a look
if the price is right. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK came up a close 2nd best last week, and he's hit board in
seemingly a zillion straight starts - can never be counted out in this class, even from tough posts. (7) PAPA
DOC can throw some strong miles when on his game, and last week's heavy tote action definitely
foreshadowed the big mile that was to come - terrible spot tonight, but a big price makes him worth at least
a look. (2) IN MY DREAMS is a solid weekly player, draws inside, and is another that knows how to win
races - add him to the list of live contenders in here. (4) WILLY WALTON wasn't bad last week from a
tough spot - not sure he can find a way to beat these, but a good trip may help him take home a decent share
(5) LIGHTFOOTEDLEGEND has been pretty consistent lately, but may struggle a bit in this solid field
RACE 3 - (5) DONTLIKEITLEAVE turned in a big one in his first local try, wearing down the leader with
a hard first over bid only to get collared by the very sharp, good-trip winner - we'll go with him on top here.
(3) STATE SENATOR was terrible for weeks but actually looked much better finishing last start - moves
inside, and is more than good enough for a chance to beat these IF he shows up even close to top form -
worth considering? (1) BRUSHING UP rallied nicely from way back on 11/2 and that led to him being sent
off at 1/5 last start - he failed to deliver on the lead (with NO excuses), and could be vulnerable again...at
that 7/5 ML price. (4) KB MAC often "figures", but now has just one 3rd from 7 local starts - still willing
to include underneath, however. (6) SHARED BY ME was no factor in his local debut but wasn't "terrible"
either - we'll see if Kakaley can coax a bit more out of him tonight. (2) ROSE RUN WOODROW was no
factor shipping in from Fhd. last week and will need to be better if he hopes to be a player tonight. (7) COA
LITION HANOVER has fallen on hard times, and hasn't beaten in a single horse in 3 straight starts
RACE 4 - (4) HL REVADON made an unexpected miscue going for the lead last week - if he can shrug
that off and bounce right back, he'll surely offer some decent value (especially after beating these handily 2
back). (5) NOWS THE MOMENT hit the top and benefited when the top one went offstride last week,
safely wiring 'em for his 9th win of the season (from just 20 starts) - legitimate threat to take another. (3)
CREDIT CON got away in the pocket to #5 last week and was able to hold 2nd, without being much of a
threat to the top one - he has won in this class in the past, and would be worth at least considering at the
right price. (6) INCOMMUNICADO was way overbet at 2/5 last week and just never really fired after
sitting 4th all the way - he's way too classy to ever just dismiss against these, but you'll want a much better
price if using on top, especially from Post 6 and losing Stratton. (1) SOUTHWIND ARTURO was both
sharp and opportunistic in beating easier last week - he's having a great year, but probably is in a bit too
tough against these. (2) KASHA V is another that likely needs to be in easier to be a serious threat
RACE 5 - (3) EMOTIONS RICHES was just 8-1-0-0 here earlier this year and in a pretty bad rut (after
going 29-6-6-3 $129K here in 2022) - he seems to be in a good groove in PA right now, and has shipped in
under similar circumstances and won in the past- gets the narrow nod tonight (5) QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP
took off the gate in his local debut last and got away in 7th as a result - he put in a big move that carried
him into 2nd into the stretch, though he was outkicked late and had to settle for 3rd - guessing he'll be more
aggressive tonight, but he's also shown that he can be effective off the pace as well - logical threat. (1) SHE
ENA SOLDIER seemed ambitiously placed at this level but was 2nd two back then 3rd last week - the rail
draw puts him in the hunt for another good chunk tonight. (8) DRACO S flattened a bit in the lane 2 back
then threw a dull one last week - may be off his game right now but he's had good success with Bartlett,
and is worth using in exotics if the price is juicy. (2) INFINITY STONE probably needs to be in a bit easier
to be a win threat but the good draw gives him at least a chance for a small piece here. (4) JACKED hasn't
been better than 4th in his 6 local tries but still has a chance for a minor piece if things go his way. Both (6)
P C FREE WHEELING and (7) MUFASA AS likely need inside draws to be even minor players with these
RACE 6 - Wide open! (5) WORLD FOR TWO has mostly good lines up at Batavia and goes for a new
barn in his YR debut - he should fit well with the locals, and we'll give him a look just on the "fresh face"
angle. (2) EMINEM HANOVER threw a dud last week but he also has gone a few decent tries vs. better
recently - at 20-1 ML, he could be once to consider. (7) JIM BLUE is still winless on the year but his recent
efforts have been good (even a couple that may not LOOK so great on paper)- another possible upsetter. (1)
ELM GROVE QWIGGLY won his local debut upon joining our leading barn but hasn't really stood out
since then - he drops in for a tag and definitely has a shot from this spot...but won't offer much value after
being installed as the 9/5 ML choice. (4) ARTIST BEST is wildly unpredictable from week to week and his
barn has been struggling lately - still, he has a couple of recent wins and can't be dismissed too quickly. (3)
ALL ATTITUDE rallied very nicely for 2nd to a stickout in his YR debut but threw a clunker last week and
drops in for a tag tonight - mixed feelings! (6) YS DO IT RIGHT pounced on a trip and won upon arrival 2
back, but came up flat last week - which version tonight? (8) DA GHETTO WIZARD used easy trips to
kick home strong for a win and a 3rd in his last pair - may not be as fortunate from out here, though
RACE 7 - (5) EUROBOND is a borderline Open trotter and was actually 3rd in his last 2 tries at that top
level - he gets significant class relief for tonight, and there's a good chance he can capitalize. (2) HERODO
TUS is winding down a successful 3YO campaign that saw him bank $222K - he was recently purchased,
and he's been in a couple of tough spots in his last 2 starts - he won his only local start (vs. cheaper), but a
good trip may help him grab a good piece here. (4) KINDA LUCKY LINDY has hit board in 5 of his last 6
starts yet has gone off nice prices in most of them - remains a good one to use in exotics. (1) HIGHLAND
MOWGLI made an uncharacteristic miscue last week but he drops right back in the box and may be able to
take these a long way from the pole. (6) VALI HANOVER gets a bit of class relief but is still in tough - the
right trip may help him rally his way onto the ticket somewhere. (3) HOOLIE N HECTOR got it done vs.
cheaper last week, but he'll need to be sharper to be the same kind of threat vs. these. (7) INSTAGRAM
MODEL is a very mice filly, but she takes on tough older males from a bad post...tough assignment
RACE 8 - (5) HURRIKANE GEORGIE took most of the year to get his mojo back, but he's finally racing
well start after start - he was a very sharp winner last week, and just maybe able to make it 2 in a row. (1)
MERITO HANOVER changed barns before racing at the short Cumberland Run meet and he really upped
his game - goes for another new barn upon arrival at YR, and could be a legitimate player from the rail with
Kakaley. (8) WHAT ABOUT BOB will need all kinds of trip luck from out here but he's good right now,
and should be a good price - willing to consider. (4) COLD CREEK FELIPE landed on a very easy trip last
week and was able to go by late as the favorite wilted- we'll see if he gained some confidence with that win,
and if it can carry over to tonight. (2) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL went some promising miles when he first
arrived here but he's still winless 11 starts later- still ok to use underneath, though (3) ODDS ON PICK SIX
felt like he was really coming around but was just an "ok" 2nd two back, then didn't fire at all in his last -
needs to bring that better game if he hopes to be a player. (6) SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL raced well here in a
couple of August starts but was scratched lame on 8/18 and only recently re-qualified upstate - guessing he
may need a start. JK STANDINGOVATION tripped out to pick up a win 2 back, then was able to rally for
3rd off another easy trip last week - figures to have a much tougher time from out here, though
RACE 9 - (7) STOP STARING was very good 2 back, giving the odds-on winner all he could handle -
might have had a decent chance in his last but was driven "kamikaze-stye" by Pantaleano and ended up
really hurting his own chances, along with the frontrunner that he cooked - more than capable of beating
these even from out here, and gets his main pilot back tonight. (8) MISSILE SEELSTER got to sit the
pocket last week as the tp choice duked it out with the leader, setting himself up with the perfect winning
trip - much tougher spot now, but he's raced well from outside posts in the past - worth a look if the price
creeps up there. (3) ROAN COLOR always gets bet, usually races "ok", but has been stuck settling for
smaller pieces - may be in that same boat tonight. (4) LOORIM LAKE A was a close 2nd after hitting a
rough patch and re-qualifying....but his next start saw him revert to the miscues that plagued him in Sept./
Oct.- was claimed from a top barn that night, and it's anybody's guess as to what we'll see from him tonight.
(1) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP landed on a beautiful trip in a fall apart race and finally picked up his first
victory of the year - seems like an unlikely repeater, but the rail draw at least puts him in the hunt for a
piece. (2) ROCKATHON has been an all-or-nothing type this year, sporting a 16-3-0-0 record - was no
factor last week, and not sure this is a wake up spot either. (5) GOLDEN GESTURE had a perfect trip last
week and wins if sharp - leaning towards others right now. (6) LEAVE AND ROLL has been sluggish in all
his recent efforts