Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • July 26, 2023

The Empire Report - Wednesday, July 26, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (5) CHUPPAH ON was a sharp 8 hole winner 3 back, got hurt a bit by a shuffle in her next but

was a pocket rocket jogburger last week - streaky mare is feeling good again (for her very high % barn) and

deserves top billing. (1) DREAM DANCING was certainly impressive in her Hilltop debut, charging home

from 7th to 2nd in the lane (for her new barn) - can use her speed tonight from the pole, and looms the main

danger to the top one. (4) SWEET SANDY LOU seems to be improving and should fit well enough in this

$50K claimer - if she can use her speed and work out an easy trip, it would help her chances for a good

piece. (3) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL was used hard early last week and it left her short at the end - her

overall current form is good, and she's eligible to take home a decent share of this. (2) WILDCAT ANTON

IA did stay pacing last week but just had no offer at all - unreliable mare is capable of better...but will we

see it tonight? (7) CORAL BELLA isn't terrible right now, but lands in a very difficult spot.


RACE 2 - (1) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER took a while to get over some breaking issues but he managed to

behave in his last at Chester, picking up a pair of easy wins during that time - he's the one to beat in his YR

debut, but probably not one to bet the ranch on. (5) CAHOOTS has his own breaking troubles (misbehaved

in his only local appearance) but he also has ability - has a chance to be right there if he can avoid any

miscues. (6) KID DID IT was overmatched in a quick NW4 race last week but drops back down to the level

where he's 3-1-2-0 -- he fits for sure, and can be right in this if he can find a decent trip from Post 6. (2) RO

CKINFORREAL picked up a pair of 2nds in his last 2 starts, draws inside, and can certainly land

somewhere on the ticket once more. (3) CLEVELAND B MIKI picked up minor pieces in his 2 local tries

and seems destined for similar tonight. (4) BRADY ROCKS is 8-0-0-0 to start his career- needs to be better.


RACE 3 - (5) MORE THAN YA KNOW grabbed a live trip and was a close 2nd last week behind the

sharp C BET HANOVER - his overall form is solid as well, and he may be able to work out a winning trip

here. (6) MY MIKI BEACH changed strategy and looked to cut the mile last week (rather than sit the

pocket) - he didn't race as well, but he's still a good fit here and a threat to beat these. (1) EMINEM HAN

OVER was a blowout qualifier winner for his new connections and that mile looks very much like the pair

of (sharp) victories he registered in Ohio, back in May - his new trainer finally broke a long slump last

week, and may be ready to start being competitive again...possibility. (2) CENTURY INSPECTOR earned

over $160K at 2 and 3 but has been slow to come around as a 4YO - his last qualifier was encouraging, but

you'd want a decent price to try him on top here. (7) ONTOP RAINMAN is sharp, and will be coming hard

late - he just may too far back tonight to threaten for a top prize. (8) TWO FACED fits well with these but

may have to wait for a better spot to be a player. (4) ONE CRAZY GUY has been a solid NW2 player...but

will now have to step up his game to compete with these better ones. (3) KRAKEN SEELSTER has yet to

hit board in 4 local tries - prefer others.


RACE 4 - (4) EUPHORIA N appreciated the class drop last week, but still had to settle for 3rd (not far off

2nd) in a hot mile - a live trip makes him a serious contender for the top slot tonight. (3) KINGSVILLE

chased tougher in his last couple but drops back to a spot where he can be more aggressive - logical threat.

(7) MONTANA STORM N took some $$ for his U.S. debut but was handled very conservatively - he did

finish alertly, and MAY be a lot more serious tonight...the tote board may offer some additional hints. (1)

MR DS ROCK saved ground all the way last week and was able to pick up the opportunistic victory right at

the wire after finding the room he needed late in the mile - he can still be a big player here too, but a couple

of others look more appealing for the top slot. (8) BETTORBUCKLEUP was a sharp 2nd on 6/24 then 2nd

to a runaway winner last week, despite racing off a sick scratch - the post is a killer, however. (2) THREE

IN HEAVEN A seems better suited vs. cheaper, but the good draw gives him at least a shot at a small piece.

(5) GENIUS MAN is wildly inconsistent but even his better efforts could fall short against these. (6) ALTA

BLUES A wasn't bad last week but seems unlikely to threaten from this spot.


RACE 5 - (3) AMERICAN MERCURY, like so many before him, instantly saw his form improve by leaps

and bounds immediately upon joining ranks with the Super Siblings - in just 2 starts he looks very much the

way he did when he earned most of his $972K....and anything close to that LAST effort is going to bury

these too. (7) OAKWOODNITOWNIT IR is taking a big double drop tonight and while clearly not in his

"Open pacer" form, there's a good chance he can come to life against these - use in exotics. (6) DELIGHTF

UL DUDE N also gets to drop 2 classes, and he's actually been ok lately vs. much better - he's not the

handiest horse on the planet, but even a half-decent trip could land him a share of this. (2) WICHITA LINE

MAN served notice 2 back that he may be ready to turn things around and sure enough, he was the easiest

of winners last week - he faces much tougher now, but a close up trip could still land him somewhere on the

ticket. (5) THE REAL ONE was a solid winner vs. cheaper last week, but should still be able to rally for

some kind of piece against this better bunch too. (1) FOREVER FAV bottomed chasing a hot pace last

week but he'll almost certainly be chasing a pretty swift one tonight too. (4) HYPNOTIC DREAM looked

better in his last pair at PRc but he's 15-0-3-0 at Yonkers, and most of those starts were vs. much easier than

these. (8) TYGA HANOVER will be hard pressed to find a way into the hunt from out here.


RACE 6 - We're more familiar with young Luke Hanners as a driver, but so far in 2023 the horses he's

trained have earned as much (in the first half of the year!) as they did previously for his whole career - his

stock is finishing 1st or 2nd an incredible 50% of the time, and he's already made a big splash here with

JUSTASEC N - (6) SHECOULDBEGOOD N ships in from Stga, having won SIX straight, and just took a

new lifetime mark on 6/26 in her 180th career start - we'll gamble that she can handle the class jump! (3)

FEELIN RED HOT is one of several remarkable rehabilitation projects for this very high % barn - she's

won 3 of her last 4 starts, with the lone loss coming to a promising recent import - remains the one to beat.

(1) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has been super steady for some time, and figures to race very well from

the pole again - use in exotics. (2) TOBAGO TIME was a solid 4th last week returning to a barn that has

done some good with her - eligible to grab a good piece tonight too. (4) OURLITTLEMIRACLE raced here

3X and was a little different each start - her best effort could land her a share. (5) PURAMERI was

surprisingly sharp last week, but has been too unreliable to just assume she'll bring a good one tonight.


RACE 7 - (3) DREAMFAIR ARNIE B has looked very good since the recent barn change, coming up with

a pair of 2nds in Graduate Series legs before finishing 2nd in last week's $240K Final - catches a solid field

(for this level) in his YR debut, but we'll still hop on board (assuming he's not way overbet). (4) VENIER

HANOVER has been a streaky sort in the past (in BOTH directions) - the 8YO has taken 2 of his last 3

starts, and just established a new lifetime mark in last week's 7 length blowout - may be sharp enough right

now to handle this class jump. (2) SLING SHOCK added Lasix last week and came up 2nd best to a very

sharp, well meant LOUS SWEETREVENGE - a good trip should put him right there once more. (6) YORO

KOBI N has really thrived since arriving in the U.S., racing well in all 6 starts - he's usually handled very

conservatively, however, and that could leave him with a little too much work to do when they turn for

home. (1) ARDEN MESSI N is usually a player most every week but his 2 for 21 record this year suggests

he's better used underneath, rather than on top. (8) JMS FINALTREASURE went a big one last week,

pacing a third panel in :26.4 only to still get outblitzed by the classy BACKSTREET SHADOW to the final

turn...but did a very nice job holding on for 2nd after that - if you think Brennan can get him in play from

Post 8, the value will definitely be there. (7) MR PERFECT N benefited from a "fall apart race" in last

week's victory but he still raced very well - he's only listed this far down because of the terrible post in a

very solid field. (5) CENTURY HANNIBAL has been away for 3 months and figures to need a start or two.


RACE 8 - (4) COWGIRL LILLY was claimed by an owner relatively new to the harness game who has

enjoyed enormous success (so far) by claiming high priced (sharp) horses, and dividing them among our

highest % trainers - that same strategy is being followed here, and we'll see if the barn change can get this

ultra-reliable mare back to the winner's circle. (2) MIKI ROSE struggled to find her best form but has been

hitting on all cylinders lately, and puts her 3 race winning streak on the line tonight - should be a terrific

race. (6) GOLDEN QUEST N is another extremely sharp player in here, having been 1st or 2nd in 8

straight starts - that streak may be in jeopardy as she draws outside, for a new barn, with two VERY sharp

foes to her inside - we'll see if she can overcome all that. (3) HARMONY OF NOTES was a bit better

when 3rd last week, even if helped by an easy trip - she may have a tough time vs. the top trio, however. (1)

MC ANGEL moves to a local barn that has been very solid the past couple of years....but may just be a bit

cheap for these. (5) PAIGES GIRL hasn't been better than 5th in her last 5 starts.


RACE 9 - (7) BACKSTREET SHADOW hit a bad rough patch but the winner of nearly $1.4M certainly

looked a lot more like himself last week, pacing a HUGE :26.3 third panel to brush to the top, then cruised

home effortlessly from there - he gets a free ride in the class tonight, and the classy veteran remains the one

to knock off. (3) LUCKBEWITHALEX had been hanging in decently in the 3-5YO Open so it was hardly

a surprise to see him come up with the sharp victory off the class drop last week - moves up a peg, but this

group is still within his comfort zone...decent chance if the top one fails to deliver. (5) ROCK THE DEVIL

was sneaky ok when 6th two back, then just missed off the class drop last week - drops another peg, and

figures to have a big say from start to finish. (2) JAHAN HANOVER hasn't won in some time but he tends

to race well most weeks - very eligible to grab a piece tonight. (1) SON OF A TIGER N raced well in all 3

starts since returning from Tioga - he's probably a bit below the top ones, but the rail draw puts him in play

for a small slice. (6) QUALITY BUD did have pace finishing last, but from too far back - figures to be in a

similarly tough spot tonight, however. (8) SO MANY ROADS is actually pretty good right now, but will

have a very hard time getting close to the action from out here (4) ROCKIN MARTY A seems badly

overmatched against this solid crew.


RACE 10 - (6) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR was a dead game, first over 2nd in his U.S. debut then

followed that up with last week's sharp front end score, kicking home in :27.4 under wraps - deserves the

nod in the finale. (7) T DOG didn't even pretend to be interested from Post 8 last week (after winning in NJ

the week before) - gets another horrible draw but he also gets a major switch to Zeron....who steered him to

his 1:52.1 lifetime mark at The Swamp back in May - has to be worth considering at that 20-1 ML price!

(3) LOOTABLE was hammered down to favoritism for his YR debut, made the top and got over the half in

:58.4....only to curl up (locked on a line) in the stretch as he faded to 3rd - he has the ability to make

amends and beat these IF he can bring his best effort tonight. (1) EVERYBODYLOVESLOU always

"figures", seems to always be right there, but is also just 1 for 19 - great one to use underneath, but not so

much on top! (2) BEST BETTOR had more pace than he was able to show last time - he's just 1 for 49

lifetime, but he does grab pieces when the trip goes his way. (4) MIKI DE VIE picked up 2nds in his first 2

local starts but only could manage a pair of 4ths since adding Lasix - minor share? (5) RAYRAY has a

mixed bag of local tries, but even his best effort may fall short here. (8) CANT SWAY ME went a much

better mile when 2nd two back but squandered a beautiful trip when 4th last week - lands all the way

outside now, and his 24-1-2-2 record doesn't inspire a ton of confidence.

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