Friday Empire Report

soaofny • September 1, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, September 1, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (6) PRESTIGE SEELSTER has raced here 5X and was very good in 3 of them (had issues in the

other 2) - drops in for a tag tonight and should fit nicely with these 25s...should offer some decent value

thanks to the less than stellar draw. (1) SULLIVAN was actually very good last week, considering just how

hard he was used (and doesn't typically like being on the lead anyway) - hard to say for sure if the 25s are a

little too steep for him but he's certainly very sharp, and may just trip out from this spot. (3) PICARD A

brings a 4 race winning streak into this and while he enjoyed very easy trips in the first 3 victories, he really

worked hard and earned the 4th - has to be respected. (2) NOB HILL FLASH ships in from Ohio and his

lines suggest he'll be a good fit here - he also seems incredibly camera shy, though he does grab a ton of

2nds and 3rds - use underneath. (5) SHARK PLAY has been a bust since being claimed by our leading barn

but he did land on a perfect trip in a soft field last week to pick up a rare victory - faces tougher now and

also loses Bartlett...leaning towards others. (4) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP usually races ok when he draws

inside - chance for a minor share. (7) ARTIST BEST rebounded from a poor try 2 back with an ok effort

from an impossible spot last week - unfortunately, this may be another somewhat impossible spot.


RACE 2 - (3) BETTER WATCH IT has been going grueling miles week after week and coming up just a

little short - she's way overdue to land on an easier trip...and make it back to the winner's circle. (4) IN THE

SPOTLIGHT N drops back down to a level she's very comfortable with and a return to form seems very

possible - should be a very live player with anything close to her best effort. (1) TWIN B SUNKISSED

struggled in her first 3 local starts but a class drop and pocket trip helped her to find the winner's circle last

week - she probably built some confidence with that mile...but will it be enough to help her compete with

these much tougher mares? (2) IDEALINFUN had no chance shipping in from PA on 8/18 (7 hole) but was

much better last week, coming up 2nd best to a very promising recent import - chance for a piece here with

an easy trip. (5) TECHYS ANGEL A started the season slow but is now up to $89K after racing well for

the last 3 months - she's missed 3 weeks, though, and that may hurt her a bit tonight.


RACE 3 - (1) WHAT ABOUT BOB really should have been able to get the job done in that spot last week

but to be fair, the winner has been sharp and did come up with a big effort to nail him - one more chance.

(3) MAJESTIC KIWI N benefited from an easy trip last time to pick up 2nd but it was still an encouraging

mile since he was coming off a layoff - may have a chance here if he can build off that. (2) FOX VALLEY

INFERNO hung in pretty well in the lane last week after the fired up winner drew off, almost holding 2nd -

he's a logical player in here, but his barn just doesn't win very many races at Yonkers. (5) OHIO VINTAGE

hasn't been doing much of anything recently but he WAS blocked in the stretch last week, and may have

had more to offer than he was able to show - would be more interested if he wasn't listed at 4-1 ML! (4) JK

LUCKY CHARMS picked up that dream trip win 4 back but did little before and has done little since - just

seems relegated to minor pieces most weeks. (6) MY MIND IS MADEUP had been good but disappointed

2 back then just gave way and quit last week - seems like he's gone the wrong way.


RACE 4 - (4) ATREACHEROUS A didn't live up to her 1/2 odds in her U.S. debut on Aug. 5th but she

certainly made amends in her next pair, crushing the fields at $2.80 each time - hard to say what her ceiling

is, but she seems like a solid bet to handle tonight's bump to NW15000. (1) CASH ROLL recently went on

the best roll of her Yonkers career - seemed to be leveling off on 8/11 and 8/18 but bounced back with a

game 3rd last week, and now drops and draws the pole - could definitely land somewhere in the exotics. (2)

HUNTRESS is 15-7-4-2 at Yonkers and the only 2X she failed to hit the board were (coincidentally) when

Siegelman drove - we'll see if Kakaley can help her start a new streak tonight. (3) BETTERB CHEVRON

N is a streaky sort who tends to climb and then descend the ladder a few times over the course of a season -

she's feeling good right now, and may be able to land somewhere on the ticket despite moving up 2 classes

(5) TWENTY ships in off a win at Chester and her overall recent PA form has been excellent - could hurt

drawing outside 4 solid foes, however. (6) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY draws worst while off 3 weeks

(after a couple of weaker efforts) - leaning towards others tonight.


RACE 5 - (4) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES seems to race "well" or "very well" almost every start, but

somebody always just seems to race better...and that's why he hasn't visited the photographer in some time -

this REALLY feels like the spot where things will go his way and finally pick up a victory. (3) ROCK

LIGHTS was well backed getting the post relief last week and did turn in a much better effort - could grab

a good piece tonight, as well. (7) MISSILE SEELSTER was used hard last week and did well to be a close

2nd - obviously not a good draw for tonight, but he may be able to do some damage if some trip luck comes

his way. (8) SWAGASAURUSREX must have been THE "universal tip" last week- he came into that night

sporting a 28-0-0-2 record this year, going off at huge odds every start....but he was somehow sent off as

the 2-1 favorite, and was a six length, 1:53.2 winner....it's anybody's guess if he'll be able to replicate that

(incredibly well meant) mile, especially from Post 8! (1) MINGO JOEL hasn't been close to top form in

some time but he does "function" - the rail draw at least gives him a chance at a piece of this. (5) HURRIK

ANE GEORGIE is a tale of 2 horses - he won 11 races and $156K LAST year, but he's 21-0-0-4 $11,460 in

2023 - he hasn't showed up in months BUT that didn't stop our leading trainer from taking a shot and

claiming him last week - might we see a massive form reversal?? (2) BEACH BOOGIE is struggling, and

last week's class drop didn't help - waiting for better signs. (6) KEYSTONE PHOENIX is 9-0-0-0 so far in

2023 and made multiple breaks last week - another that's stuck in a bad rut!


RACE 6 - (2) BETTER UP was good for several starts but hasn't looked as sharp in his last few - catches a

field where the other live players are all a little shaky, and he may offer some decent value...if he can get a

bit of a wake up call. (5) COLD CREEK FELIPE takes a double jump to 25s off the $15,000 claim, but HE

is sharp and some of the others are a bit iffy - may be able to do some damage even at this tougher level. (6)

BRACKLEY BEACH continues to hit board most weeks, but also continues to remain camera shy, with

just one win from his 26 starts this year - if you're using him on top, make sure to get a very fair price. (3)

LYONS JOHNNYJNR tired vs. the 30s adding Lasix 2 back then was a pretty "meh" 3rd last week - needs

to be a bit better for a chance at the top slot here. (4) REAL PEACE was claimed for $40K on 4/10 then

immediately went on the shelf for 3 months - made 3 starts before being scratched lame last week, and now

drops in for $25K - risky, to sat the least. (1) LAKE CHARLES hasn't looked sharp in 2 Stga. starts since

returning from a layoff.


RACE 7 - (5) DRAMA ACT saw her 2 race winning streak ended last start when unable to overhaul a

currently razor sharp KARMA SEELSTER - she's been on her game for a while, and remains the one to

beat. (3) MAN DONTFGORGET ME also lost her last to KARMA SEELSTER, and has been doing good

work for months - should work out a very good trip from this spot, and could be the main danger. (4) UPTO

WN HANOVER usually does her best work vs. a bit easier but she's been VERY sharp for a while, and

may be good enough right now to make her presence felt in the Open...IF a decent trip comes her way. (1)

MORNING HAS BROKEN needed her first start off the layoff and while her last effort wasn't her "best",

she still finished right behind #4 - would be no surprise at all to see her bring a good one tonight. (6) MAJ

ORCA N never got involved from the back at Chester last week making her first start off a qualifier - may

be ready for a better try tonight, but the tough draw still may limit her to a smaller piece. (2) HEAVENS

SHOWGIRL has climbed the ladder rapidly but is likely really pushing her limits up here in the Open. (7)

INCASEYOUDIDNTKNOW is more of a "grinding" type - may have trouble getting in play from Post 7.


RACE 8 - (6) ROLLING WITH SAM has been going some big miles, but tough trips have kept him from

the winner's circle - he may not get the best of journeys from Post 6 tonight, but he's still worth using as

long as he's a fair price. (3) CYRUS N really wasn't bad in that first start off the layoff as the winner won

by 12 lengths - he had good pace finishing last week, and may be ready for a big effort tonight - one to

consider. (1) GOTHIC ROCK drops, moves all the way inside, and could do some damage if the trip goes

his way - possibility. (5) KARLOO BRADLEY N is hard to gauge off his lone U.S. qualifier but his barn

has popped imports off far less impressive lines than that one - the tote board usually tells the story, so pay

attention! (2) TYGA HANOVER returns from PcD off a win but he was struggling to beat cheaper than

these earlier this summer - willing to include underneath. (4) LUCIANO N really needs to be in softer to be

a serious player - chance for a minor share with an easy trip. (7) MY ULTIMATE STAR A gets a pass for

his last (equipment issue) but draws horribly for tonight and will have a long way to come.


RACE 9 - (1) LIT DE ROSE gets a rare drop out of the Open and draws the rail too - would be hard to try

to play against her here, even though the price will be tiny. (4) LUCKY ARTIST A probably has the best

chance for an upset - she was "sneaky ok" off the layoff 2 back, and a very good looking winner in her last -

she's capable of some big miles when on her best game, and she'll need exactly that for any shot at

knocking off #1. (3) ROCKN PHILLY isn't known for her consistency but most of her recent efforts have

been good, including last week's hard-charging 2nd - chance to land in the exotics from this spot. (2)

ANNABELLE HANOVER really got roughed up last week and can be forgiven for weakening to 4th -

should land on a pretty nice trip here, and that could help her take home a good chunk. (8) SILK CLOUD A

allowed a lesser mare cut the mile last week, had to wait to shake free inside after that one tired to the top

of the lane then took a bad step near the wire after trying to rally up the cones - she may just take off the

gate and tour the oval from Post 8 tonight but IF Marohn takes a shot an leaves, she'll have a chance to land

somewhere on the ticket. (7) MCMARKLE SPARKLE is another that COULD contend for a piece IF

Holland tries to leave from Post 7 - she had more pace last week than she was able to show (no room in the

lane). (5) OKINAWA BEACH A definitely has ability but the import is still trying to establish her "best"

level - feels like a tough spot, but maybe she can rally for a minor piece if the trip goes her way. (6) COWG

IRL LILLY is a beast in 50s....still a lot to prove against these, however.

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