The Empire Report - Monday, October 16, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (5) HUDSON PHIL drew 2 no chance posts after arriving from Plainridge - he drew the rail the
next start and came up 2nd best to the always tough ISLANDSPECIALMAJOR then was a razor sharp
winner in last week's 9/16th "dash"...which should have him on his toes for tonight, as well - may be able to
head right to the top and never look back. (1) FLOW WITH JOE rallied decently from no prayer spots the
last 3 weeks and now moves all the way inside - if he can avoid one of his poor starts, he can grab a good
trip and be a legitimate threat. (3) GOTHIC ROCK delivered a powerful brush in that victory 3 back then
rallied well for pieces in his last pair - a live trip always makes him a threat. (4) ARRHYTHMIC SURGE
has been sharp for some time, and finally picked up his first local win of the season 2 back - if they mix
things up enough he can be a big late threat....but he's been overbet lately, so be careful not to take too short
a price. (2) ROAN COLOR has a mixed bag of efforts since arriving 4 starts back - if he gets away quickly
and grabs a good trip, he may be able to land somewhere in the exotics. (8) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER
takes a big step up from the age-restricted claimers but seems sharp enough to handle it - it's the draw that
causes concern for tonight...maybe 3rd/4th? (7) LUCIANO probably needs a better post to contend for a
piece with these. (6) ONE CRAZY GUY faces MUCH tougher after beating a very soft group last week
RACE 2 - (6) KINGSVILLE struggled (in general) in the 3-5YO Open but was actually pretty good last
week, and gets significant class relief for tonight - there's not a ton of speed between him and the rail horse,
and that should allow him to get off to a good start - gets the narrow edge. (1) CAPTIVATE HANOVER
feels like he's fallen off from but he's rebounded MANY times this year, as evidenced by his 10 victories -
if he bounces back, he'll be a big threat to take these wire to wire. (2) TWIN B HEART THROB was off 4
months to his last but appeared full of pace in the lane while stuck in traffic - definitely a chance to outrace
his odds tonight. (7) JAHAN HANOVER went a big one in defeat last week (to #7), coming up a neck shy
in a 1:51.4 mile - if he can leave and grab a good early spot, he'll have a chance for a piece of this. (3) CYR
US N seemed to just lose interest in the back last week but his previous efforts were all solid- chance to use
his late rally for a piece tonight. (8) LUCKBEWITHALEX took advantage of last week's class drop to hit
the top, and hold off #7 for the sharp victory - not impossible tonight, but he does face a very tough task
from all the way out here. (5) CAVIART SARGENT faltered after pulling vs. easier last week, and now
moves up in class. (4) MAXIMUS RED A is another that seems to need easier to be effective.
RACE 3 - (7) UP THE CREEK blasted from Post 8 two back and ALMOST pulled off the 81-1 shocker -
last week's nice rallying 3rd at PcD would seem to confirm that mile was no fluke, and tonight he gets
Bongiorno back on board (who won here twice with him in July) - worth a play, even from Post 7. (1) CAN
TSTOPLYING beat this class from the pole 4 starts back - was in way too tough in his next pair, then too
far back to threaten in his last - moves all the way inside, and his barn won both of their starts here on Fri.
night. (4) COLD CREEK FELIPE has hit board in 9 straight, though only got his picture taken once -
figures to be right in the hunt once more. (6) KB MAC was right there 3rd from Post 8 two back, then got
caught behind a tiring leader last week - he definitely fits, and belongs in your exotics. (3) HIGH ON ROC
KNROLL raced well in his first couple of local starts, had a couple of dullish tries but was a better 2nd in
his last - ok for a small share. (2) COALITION HANOVER has definitely been facing tougher but his form
has been well off - wouldn't be shocked if he raced better tonight, but hard to endorse at that 3-1 ML price.
(8) BARRYWHITE HANOVER was a very good 2nd last week in this class but it was a MUCH easier
field - may have a hard time replicating that success tonight. (5) EMINEM HANOVER has shown little in
his 4 Yonkers starts
RACE 4 - (6) DEETZY has now taken 5 in a row and 8 of his last 9 - hard to make any kind of case against
him right now, but there will be some decent price on other sharp horses if you think this could be the week
he lands on a tough trip. (2) ROCKIN JUKEBOX was 0 for 14 to start the year here but immediately won 2
in a row after being claimed by the Super Siblings - a sick scratch and a couple of tough spots slowed him
down briefly, but he was right back to his sharp winning ways last week - logical player. (7) WON LAST
FEELING is actually razor sharp but unfortunately gets another bad post - definitely a good stab for
longshot fans. (1) MICKY GEE N gets well backed every start, often races well, but is just 1 for 20 on the
year - remains a better option for underneath, rather than on top. (3) THINKBIG DREAMBIG may be a bit
cheap but his barn has been very hot, and he did show big speed in last week's "dash" - worth a look if the
price is juicy enough. (5) TALBOTCREEKWHISKEY got pretty sharp with cheaper recently but remains a
question mark against a field like this. (4) PRETTY HANDSOME seems limited to only minor pieces at
the $50K level. (8) POINTOMYGRANSON likely needs a much better post to be a player with these types
RACE 5- (7) BACKSTREET SHADOW was recently 2nd in the Ewart to the streaking TATTOO ARTIST,
and that's just part of a long streak of consecutive starts on the board - he's taken 4 of his last 5, and that
includes a pair of Opens here at Yonkers- clearly the one to beat, even from Post 7. (8) COVERED
BRIDGE actually raced super from totally impossible spots the last 2 weeks, beating the Open the start
before that - he already has an amazing 15 victories this year and while major racing luck will be needed to
win from out here, that 12-1 ML price does make him worth considering! (3) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A has
14 wins of his own this season, and has proven to be an outstanding purchase for his connections - he was
able to pick up a pair of recent wins over cheaper, and the draw does give him a tactical edge over his main
foes - should trip out, and will have a shot if the top ones falter. (2) HEMSWORTH A really went south for
much of the summer but that close 3rd behind BYTHEMISSAL in his last start suggests he may be ready to
start battling the top ones again - hard to really get excited about at that 4-1 ML price, however (especially
losing Kakaley). (6) AMERICAN MERCURY found the Fountain of Youth after joining his current barn
this summer but does seem to have leveled off a bit - tough draw, as well. (4) NANDOLO N has struggled
at this level here this season and while it wouldn't be a shock to see him beat these, it would be a surprise.
(1) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N has been very good but probably biting off a bit more than he can chew at this
level. (5) SEMI TOUGH catches a tough field for his first start in 2 months - prefer others tonight.
RACE 6 - (8) RJ SPORTS IMAGE's last couple of lines may not look that great, but that's only because he
was caught in the back in MUCH better fields, in hot miles - his form is still rock solid, and he gets some
big time class relief for tonight - he has the right pilot to find him a way to overcome the draw, making him
the one to knock off. (6) TWIG won his first try at this level (3 back) and has held his form nicely since
being claimed that night - faces an uncertain trip from this spot, but may be able to add some value to the
exotics. (2) FULSOME shipped in sharp and has a pair of 2nds (behind the favorite) in his two local tries -
could land on the ticket once more with another good trip. (3) SETH HANOVER generally gets ignored in
the wagering but he did finish 2nd in his last 2 starts in this class - may be able to land somewhere on the
ticket once more. (5) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER raced hard all year and did start to show some signs of wear
and tear - he did manage to pick up small pieces in his last pair, and an easy trip may help him grab another
minor slice. (1) IMMA BE quickly fell apart after being claimed for $50K on 8/7, ending up on the shelf
after finishing distanced on 8/28 - he took 2 months off, and it's hard to predict what we'll get from him
tonight. (4) TWO FACED tries claimers in his return to YR and will get a chance to show whether he fits
with this group- leaning towards others, but may consider for 3rd/4th at a big price. (7) HES SPECIAL
hasn't been sharp in his last pair and now draws outside
RACE 7 - Tough race! (2) ARTIST BEST was good off the claim (in July) for a couple of starts then tailed
quickly - perked up in a big way with that win 3 back, but couldn't build off it after drawing a pair of 8
holes - perhaps the move inside can produce another wake up call? (6) LAZ changed barns after a NW2
victory, then raced very well for 2nd to the talented COACHS CORNER - could do no better than 5th in
last week's blistering 1:51 mile but this is a MUCH easier spot - very logical player, even from Post 6. (1)
WHAMMER JAMMER seems to be best on/near the lead but took off the gate in his YR debut - look for a
much more aggressive try tonight. (7) JIM BLUE was very well meant last week (for a very hot barn) but
blew up on the first turn after leaving hard - the price will be big tonight if you think he deserves another
shot. (5) JK STANDINGOVATION raced "better" last week, but that rally came in a weak field, in a slow
final quarter - hard to accept a short price on top. (3) LYONS PRIDE made headlines in back to back NJ
starts in May, but has been almost invisible since then (except for a win over a soft Chester field 4 starts
back) - he's finished 4th the last 5 weeks, and is now 9-0-0-0 here at Yonkers....still, he's certainly no better
or worse than most of the others in here! (4) HURRIKANE GEORGIE's connections caught a big break
when he was claimed away on 8/25 but they elected to claim him BACK immediately (he WON easily for
the other barn, but immediately reverted to his struggling self the next week) - he raced "ok" last time (after
almost breaking on the back side) and would need to be a pretty big price to consider on top (8) BUCKEYE
EMERY gets Bartlett but has Post 8 and is 11-0-1-0 here at The Hilltop
RACE 8 - (7) ROCKNROLL RUNA A has been managed beautifully, winning Opens out of town the last
2 weeks while a pair of (much more lucrative) LOCAL Open wins dropped off the bottom of his card - this
allows him to return to YR at tonight's reduced (NW30000) level, and he deserves top billing despite the
outside draw. (3) SONNY WEAVER N earned his way up to the Open last week and really raced better
than his line might suggest (was shuffled, blindswitched, and caught in traffic through the lane) - if the top
choice falters, he's one of a few with a chance to beat these. (5) MOONLIGHT SHADOW has a win and
close 2nd from his last 3 tries in this class, and already has 9 victories on the year- he hails from our leading
trainer/driver combo, and the right trip could make him a very live player. (2) ROCK DIAMONDS N went
on a long winning streak after teaming up with the Dynamic Duo earlier this year - he continues to be a
weekly player in these high classes, and definitely on his toes these days - possibility. (4) A ROCKNROLL
STAR was in "NWPM" classes earlier this year but has developed into a solid high-class pacer - he's
4-2-1-1 here at YR, and a legitimate player here. (1) HAZEVILLE has been knocking on the door many
weeks vs. a bit easier - has speed from the pole, but just seems a notch below several main foes. (6) OZO
NE BLUE CHIP hasn't been "bad", but there are just too many other sharp horses in here to look his way
from Post 6. (8) CHANTEE has been good all year, but will need to pass 'em all to win from this spot
RACE 9 - (6) MACHIAVELLI has a new owner and trainer listed from his last start (in PA) but it doesn't
seem like the connections have really changed that much - this team has enjoyed major success with this
guy in the past (they had several of his 10 local wins last year), and the class jump really shouldn't hurt all
that much - solid chance in the finale. (4) STATEMENT MADE A had leveled off a bit lately but really was
good in last week's 9/16ths "dash" - legitimate player here with a live trip. (2) BALLERAT BOOMERANG
had no chance in his first try off the claim after getting away in the back - look for an aggressive try
tonight, and possibly a very good result. (8) ALOTBETTOR N kicked in just in time for a win DH last
week and he already has 9 victories this season - brutal post for tonight, but he COULD beat these if Buter
can find him a manageable trip. (3) GLACIS rarely wins and is used to facing easier, but he's good enough
right now for a chance to upset IF things get a little wild up front. (7) SHERIFF N is sharper than he looks
on paper, but another terrible draw may hurt his chances once again. (1) ON THE VIRG qualified 3x off a
layoff, was no factor in 3 starts, then just re-qualified after another month off - prefer to just observe, for
now. (5) GINGER TREE PETE has been off form for a while, and this doesn't really feel like a good "wake
up" spot for him