The Empire Report – Thursday, June 20, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (1) CANTKEEPMIASECRET has certainly thrived since recently changing barns, winning 3 of 4, while
2nd in the other – she’s always done well at Yonkers, and certainly was sharp in last week’s victory – deserves top
billing with the inside draw. (5) BLUEBIRD BISHOP cut the mile 2 back before coming up 2nd best to the top
choice, then was super in last week’s powerful 8 hole score - remains the main danger! (7) THE BALLYKEEL DEA
L has been a rock solid player at this level for weeks – she’ll be at a significant disadvantage starting from Post 7,
but can still land somewhere in the exotics with some racing luck. (3) GRINDER can be forgiven for tiring a bit 2
back (after being forced to chase the winner’s wicked fractions) but his last effort was definitely disappointing –
needs to bring his best if he hopes to be a serious player. (2) SHEENA SOLDIER had some success in this class a
while back but does seem a bit below the main players right now – maybe a minor share? (6) VOYAGE TO PARIS
benefited from a good trip to win an amateur race last week – probably looking at only minor spoils tonight, facing
tougher from a bad post. (4) SKYWAY PROFESSOR has also been thriving in amateur events but vs. easier – he’ll
need to prove (for a new barn) that he can contend at this much tougher level
RACE 2 – (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT has REALLY upped her game since moving to her current barn, and also
seems to have overcome her occasional early miscues – she wasn’t at her best last week, but she drops right back in
the box and is looking at an excellent trip tonight – we’ll give her the narrow edge. (5) P C FREE WHEELING steps
up a notch off last week’s sharp victory but she can do damage at this level too (she has a pair of recent 2nds to CRE
DIT CON and UNEVERGONNAGETHIS, both in tonight’s Open) – good value horse to consider. (2) WARRIOR
ONE has had recent streaks where he’s been terrific, terrible, and somewhere in-between (where he’s at right now) –
the classy 8YO can never be counted out, but he does figure to get overbet here. (3) YUCATAN PARTY MAN was
camera shy as a youngster but does seem to have matured out of that (9 wins in 2023) – he feels like a good fit in his
first local start since 2023, and gets a big switch to Brennan – worth considering. (5) BONTONI DEGATO AS has
been ok lately, but may be a notch below a few of the others right now – small piece? (6) INFINITY STONE was
able to follow up that eye popping try of 6/6 with a good effort last week, but tonight’s draw (and loss of Gingras)
may hurt considerably
RACE 3 – (2) PRETTY HANDSOME is still looking for his first win of the season but he was ultra well meant 2
back (done in by an unlucky trip), then was pretty much taken out at the half last week – meets an ultra-vulnerable
field tonight, and may have found a winning spot. (6) URBAN RENEWAL is 0 for 6 here this year but most of those
starts were good efforts, vs. 40s – he gets a big driver change for his YR return, and is absolutely worth a good look.
(5) KB MAC seems to race “well” almost every week, usually outperforming his odds – he’s also 0 for 26 at YR,
making him tough to use on top! (3) B LIKE CRUISER had no chance upon arrival from Ohio (8 hole), then was an
even 4th last week – could be in the hunt, but also could end up overbet. (1) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP is 1 for 43
over the last 2 years and could have used some class relief a long time ago – the rail draw does give him a shot at a
piece, though. (4) HEART ON MY SLEEVE has 15 starts this year and still hasn’t been 1st or 2nd
RACE 4 – Short field, but tough race! (2) TACHYON has gone some big miles this year when on his game, and he
should definitely appreciate the class drop – he’s definitely versatile, and that could come in handy in a race that
could go a few different ways. (3) EUROBOND returns from PA in fine form, and has won his share of starts here in
the past – he’s also made his share of miscues, so be careful about taking too short a price. (6) ON HIGHER GROU
ND is listed at 15-1 but when he’s good, he can battle these types – wouldn’t hesitate to include him if the price is
juicy. (1) B NICKING is obviously going well again, but it’s hard to say if he’s at “top” form – he’s facing some
good ones tonight, and he’s another that could end up a bit overbet. (4) HIGHLAND MOWGLI is at his best on top
or in the pocket, and he may not be able to get one of those trips here – he drops right back in the box (after missing
3 weeks to his last), so consider him if the price is right. (5) VINNY DE VIE lands in a tough spot and may need
things to really go his way to be a threat for a top spot
RACE 5 – (7) AINT NOSTOPN TIME has been facing tougher and should appreciate the drop into a claimer – he
did win a couple of times here earlier this year, and we’ll count on Yannick to be able to hustle this guy away to a
good start, despite the draw. (1) HES SPECIAL dropped back in for a tag last week, landed on a good trip and was
able to pick up his first win of the season – he’s definitely a threat to repeat but also figures to be overbet, starting
from the rail and with that 8/5 ML price. (5) LYONS PRIDE responded to a very aggressive drive to beat easier 3
starts back – he finished well from no-chance spots in his last pair, and feels like a good value horse to consider for
tonight. (4) URIEL BLUE CHIP maintained his good form in his first start off the barn change, but wasn’t nearly the
same last week – we’ll see if he’s starting to go the wrong way, or if he can shrug that mile off and bounce back with
a good one. (2) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL is very camera shy, but does grab good pieces when the trip goes his way
– playable underneath. (3) DEMPSEY HANOVER turned in a much better effort last week, even if aided by a
perfect trip – hard to say if he’ll be able to build off that, or if he’ll revert to the lesser form he had been showing. (6)
WORLD FOR TWO wasn’t bad from an impossible spot in his YR return last week, but may find himself in another
tough spot tonight. (8) GOOD INVESTMENT gets a pass for his last, but figures to be stymied by tonight’s draw
RACE 6 – Good race! (2) UNFORGETTABLE (making her first start for our leading trainer last week) was in the
midst of a sustained first over bid when she made a costly miscue into the stretch – she looked like she was going to
be right there, and may be worth another try tonight...if the price is worthwhile. (1) JULIA SISU N turned in a good
one last week in her first try in this class, carving out strong fractions and holding on for 2nd – she draws the pole
again, and gets a driver change that has produced many winners the last few years...very possible. (3) PERFECT VI
XEN has more 2nds and 3rds than wins but did look loaded in traffic last week, and usually goes off at a pretty good
price – willing to consider. (7) P L NOTSONICE charged home for the win last week, improving her local slate to
9-5-1-1 – she’s clearly a threat anytime she’s in to go, but may end up with some road trouble this week...feels like a
time to take a chance against her. (4) QUEEN OF ALL finished with crisp trot in a sharper effort last week – she’s
beaten these in the past, and would hardly be a shock. (6) DIAMANTE TRIO IT faced stretch traffic in her first try
at this level but definitely appeared to have trot – would have liked her chance a bit more tonight has she (properly)
been assigned an inside post. (5) PARISO has gone some strong efforts since arriving here in March but she’s been
away a month and that has us leaning elsewhere
RACE 7 – NAADA Summer Series: (3) ALLINDOTIME parked a rival through a downpour last week and we’ll
forgive him for weakening late to 3rd – he’s won here with Calabrese before, and should have a good chance tonight
– wouldn’t bet the rent money at a very short price, though! (4) BY A HOFF HANOVER is just 2 for 33 locally
over the past 3 years but he DID win with Faraldo driving – he should be able to use his speed to grab a good trip,
and he could easily be around a long way. (2) WINNERESS moves inside and that should help his chances of
rallying for a piece – good value horse to include in exotics. (6) LOOK IN MY EYES was way overbet last week
(6/5) and failed to threaten at all – he IS capable of better, and will surely be a better price tonight for those looking
to give him one more chance. (5) DARK POOL was outkicked for 3rd last week by a horse that was offstride, and
well back early – needs to be a bit sharper if he wants to land a better piece tonight. (7) SWAN HILLUVA TIME had
a couple of good starts in early May but has struggled lately, and draws poorly tonight. (1) STARLANDCRESENTR
OLL lands the rail but hasn’t shown much speed and is just 3 for 77 lifetime – prefer others. (8) PAX HANOVER
has some good form on paper, but he may just be a bit cheaper than these, and also has to deal with the worst post.
RACE 8 - (1) KEG STAND was racing off 3 weeks for a new barn last start and handled very conservatively (but
did finish pretty well) – he won an Invitational the start before that, and was 2nd to #6 one week prior – may be worth
a stab in a race where the “big names” could be somewhat vulnerable. (6) TAKE ALL COMERS is a legitimate
FFA trotter and was a sharp winner here in his first start of 2024 – had a rough time the next week in the Maxie Lee
and though he returned to YR and finished 2nd in his last, he wasn’t at his “best” – would definitely use him here
(since the price should be decent), but not “in love” with his chances. (3) CREDIT CON doesn’t have the resume of
some of the others but he’s “quietly” banked $600K and is very sharp right now – would definitely consider if the
price was good enough. (4) HILLEXOTIC has been tremendous at Yonkers the last 3 years (19-9-4-1) but he MAY
be a bit off his best right now – clearly if he shows up in the right mood he has a big license to beat these...but it
may not be the worst week to take a try against him. (2) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS took a while to find his best
form this year but he’s definitely hitting on all cylinders now – capable of grabbing a piece with the right trip. (5)
INCOMMUNICADO is another classy trotter that has thrived at YR, going 7 for 13 the past 2 seasons – he’s also
making his first start of the year, and another that may not quite be at 100% right now.
RACE 9 – NAADA Summer Series: (4) SHOEMAKER HANOVER just seems to find trouble most weeks, then
rallies late after the fact – he DOES have a pair of recent wire to wire wins, however, so perhaps this is a spot where
he can be handled more aggressively – giving him a vote of confidence that he can find a clean trip tonight! (3) BEA
CON BEACH is 0 for 17 this year but his best efforts have actually come in these amateur races – would consider
on top, but only if the price is fair. (1) CALL ME THEFIREMAN tired badly last start but he was off nearly 3 weeks
and blasted from Post 7 – his prior 2 efforts were wire to wire victories, and he could stick around a lot longer here.
(5) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE is a strong 15-5-5-0 this year...but just 5-0-1-0 here at Yonkers – maybe he can rally
for a piece? (7) LIONHEAD is generally a solid player in these races but he faces the possibility of a rough trip with
the bad draw – minor share? (6) ALL RISE does well when he’s on the lead or in the pocket, but he may have
trouble finding that kind of trip from this spot – leaning towards others. (2) MAKING SPARKS picked up a 3rd last week but it was mostly by default – may not be as fortunate tonight, even with another good draw. (8) SHOWMETH
EMUSCLE is the outsider...both literally and figuratively.
RACE 10 – (1) STEUBEN HANOVER sports a terrific 17-5-4-2 record this year but it’s even stronger if you take
out his starts vs. the 60s (where he’s typically overmatched)– give him a pass for being unable to threaten INFINITY
STONE in that one’s insane mile last week, and look for him to be very tough in tonight’s finale. (3) FIGHT SONG
gave it a big front end try in his local debut, used hard for the lead before coming up 2nd best to a very sharp winner
– no reason he can’t be a big player once more. (4) J S HOPSCOTCH had a few tough starts not long ago but
quickly got back on track, and has been racing well the past several starts – absolutely belongs in exotics. (6) INN
AT RODANTHE might have been a late player 2 back had he not got steppy in the lane, losing all momentum – he
completely lost interest in his last, however, and is a bit of a mystery for tonight – good bomb if looking for a late
night longshot. (2) WILLY WALTON has struggled more often than not, with just one win and one 2nd from his 19
starts this year – sticking with more reliable players. (5) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO has 2 wins from his last 3 starts
but vs. much easier – feels pretty iffy at this $40K level. (7) MUFASA AS was no factor after backing off at the start
last week, and faces a similarly tough trip for tonight