The Empire Report – Friday, September 13, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (1) CANTSTOP YANKEE was a solid 3 rd behind much better in his YR return last week, and now drops
and draws the pole against a pretty soft crew – hard to go against, even at what figures to be a very short price. (5)
BEACON BEACH was well backed at PcD last week off both the barn change and exit from amateur races – he
turned in a decent try for 3 rd , and could grab a piece here too. (4) BAZILLIONAIRE 9who has been camera shy his
whole career) was having a difficult 2024 season before showing some better efforts recently – may be good enough
right now to contend for a small piece. (6) BANK BOX TREASURE doesn’t win very often, but can usually be
counted on for a decent try at this bottom level – tough post, but a piece still within reach. (2) HUSTLENOMICS
would be hard to like off the program, and he’s missed a month since that last race in Ohio – on the flip side, he does
return to the barn for whom he raced ok here last year, so there’s at least a chance for some improvement – check the
tote board? (3) EMPEREURTHEBEST FR came into his 8/16 start showing dismal lines, but proceeded to crush the
field at 57-1 (one of the barn’s several form-reversing winner during that period) – he was no factor in his next pair,
however. (7) JESSIES OUTLAWED makes his 2nd start off the long layoff and lands a brutal draw for his YR return.
RACE 2 – (5) DIXIE DREAM really picked up off the class drop in NJ last week, coming up 2nd best to TALK
CURDY TO ME (who would likely be 1/5 in here) – any effort similar to that would make her very tough tonight,
but be careful about accepting a very short price! (1) BETTER WATCH IT remains vulnerable to miscues, but this is
a spot where she can do some damage if able to mind her manners – consider if the price is attractive enough. (2) AL
TA MADEIRA N has been pretty solid out of town, fits well enough with these and gets a good draw for her Hilltop
return – playable in exotics. (3) ROCKN PHILLY is a streaky mare that obviously is well off her best game right
now – she’s eligible to wake up at any time (as she always does), but it’s hard to take any kind of short price at the
moment. (4) PARADISE ROCK L has a few recent excuses and is probably a bit better than her lines might look –
could add some value to the exotics. (6) HOW SWEET IS THAT usually has a decent finish if not used too hard
early on – one of several with a chance at a small piece. (7) SALE EL SOL actually held together pretty well last
start (considering the trip) but may have trouble getting herself in play starting from Post 7
RACE 3 – (4) LLOYDS LOVES brought a six race winning streak into her last but had no prayer right from the
start after getting away well back in 7th – she still paced a big final half (at the rear of the pack), and we can certainly
look for a much more serious try tonight (from this much better spot) – worth a shot! (2) LIT DE ROSE is a threat
pretty much any time she’s in to go, especially when not in a stacked Open field – has to be feared, but note that she
has only one WIN since May 19th before accepting too short a price. (5) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY is good now,
but lands outside a couple of very tough players and may be limited to a smaller share, even with a good trip. (6) FA
DE OUT took a long time to find her best form this year but she’s there right now – another that may have to settle
for a smaller piece tonight, after landing outside. (1) LUCKY ARTIST A is on a good roll right now, but vs. easier –
she has a ton of back class, but may need a bit softer these days to strut her best stuff. (3) TWIN B SUNKISSED is
another sharp mare in a field full of them, but she’s up in class and has missed 3 weeks
RACE 4 – (4) VIBRANCE has been sharp for a long time and just a bit unlucky to keep catching the likes of
LLOYDS LOVES, LITE DE ROSE, etc, in a few of her NW20000 starts – she DID crush these 2 back, and may be
ready to come out on top again. (2) TALK CURDY TO ME may have gained a confidence boost beating a bit easier
in NJ last week – she definitely fits nicely here too, but note that she did lose twice in this class (as the favorite) not
long ago. (3) TRUE BLUE HANOVER has been very consistent lately, finishing well every week – can use that late
rally to grab another good piece tonight. (5) GOLDEN QUEST N was on the comeback trail as she picked up wins
over cheaper in her last pair – she’s off 3 weeks from her last (sick scratch), however, and may be a little vulnerable
for tonight. (1) VILLAGE JADE is doing good work lately but does jump up 2 classes here – may be looking at a
minor share, even from the pole. (6) EASY TO PLEASE is inconsistent at best, but even one of her better efforts
may leave her short starting from Post 6.
RACE 5 – (1) DONATO PATRIOT K disappointed the fans when offstride at 3/5 two back but made amends last
week with an easy front end score – steps up a notch, but this class well within his comfort zone too...the one to
beat, with another clean effort. (4) SEVENSHADESOFGREY finished with good trot from tough spots in his last
pair – if he’s within shouting range turning for home, he can make things interesting late. (2) SOUTHWIND ARTU
RO struggled to find his best game through the first 7 months of this year but has finally started to deliver the miles
he's capable of – steps up, but sharp enough to still be a player. (6) AUSTRAL HANOVER makes only his 4
th start of the year but comes off a pair of encouraging miles at “The Ridge” – tough draw, but maybe he can still pick up a
small share. (5) KASHA V used a good trip last week to pick up a form-reversing 2 nd – not sure he can have that
same success in this field, however. (7) ENERGYSOURCE has been inconsistent but lands a brutal spot for tonight
and also gets a win to drop off his card after tonight – may be worth a bigger look NEXT week. (3) CAL MILES N
SHELL is probably more comfortable facing a bit easier. (8) STRONGERWITHLINDY hasn’t been a threat at this
higher level, and now had to contend with Post 8
RACE 6 – (4) OKINAWA BEACH A was racing off a sick scratch last week and also was hurt when caught behind
a quitter inside – she still finished up decently, and catches a field with a couple of potentially vulnerable favorites –
may be worth a stab tonight. (2) CHERYLS SHADOW is used to facing (and beating?) better than these, but she
does seem off her best game these days – could be a spot where she rattles off a winning mile, but wouldn’t want to
take too short a price here. (1) TALENT TO SPARE A qualified back decently after back to back sick scratches – if
she’s ready to bring her best, she’ll be a big threat here...but that’s a BIG “if”. (5) ATREACHEROUS A is another
that’s capable of beating better, but who may be off her game at the moment – add her to the list of question marks
in here. (3) PREMIER SWEETALKER deserves respect because of the enormous success the barn has had with
similar shippers BUT this mare may be a little on the cheaper side, as she was recently taken for just $10K. (6) HAL
LELUJAH HANOVER races well whenever she lands on a good trip but that may not happen here (Post 6, up in
class). (8) MCANGEL was having an amazing year before tailing off badly around mid-May – she just requalified,
so let the tote board be your guide. (7) GOT SEXY SCARS may need a better draw to be a player with these types
RACE 7 – Interesting FM Invitational: (2) ELEKTRA A has won 6 of her last 8 starts on her march up to the Open
ranks and was very good in the two losses – is she good enough right now to beat these classy ladies...suppose we’ll
find out tonight! (6) SILK CLOUD A elected to just tour the oval last week after being assigned Post 8 but gets no
sympathy from the race office and gets the outside assignment once more – at least there’s only 6 in here this week,
so perhaps she’ll be more aggressive and look to get back to the winner’s circle. (4) COACHELLABOUND N is as
consistent as they come but WINS have been tough to come by recently, and she does lose Bartlett – may still be
vulnerable. (1) DOUGS BABE A landed on a perfect trip last week and used it to rally by for a win in this class – if
the race plays out in her favor once more, a repeat performance is definitely possible. (5) MAN DONTFORGET ME
showed her first signs of wear and tear when she tired badly at PcD last week – that may signal a more conservative
approach for tonight. (3) INTOTHEMYSTICMOON has no shortage of ability as she won her only local start of
2023, then started off 2024 with a near miss in the first Matchmaker Leg followed by a win in the next – she went on
the shelf after that, however, and just re-qualified back – guessing she may need a start or two
RACE 8 – (7) LADYCORONA was bet down to 2-1 upon arrival from Canada but handled very conservatively and
could only rally for 3 rd behind the runaway winner – she was sent off at five cents on the dollar for her next start (at
Chester) and was a lot more serious that day, going right to the front and burying the field – she can probably handle
these too IF Lachance can work out a manageable trip from out here. (2) TWIN B ALLURE was bet down to 2/5 the
last time she dropped to this bottom level and delivered the front end victory – she’s back down now to her preferred
class, and looms a major threat...though likely to be overbet. (1) ANNELIESE HANOVER disappoints in a lot of
her starts but this is the kind of spot where she’ll sometimes pop up with a good effort – ok for exotics. (3) LADY
NEWTON’s line from 2 back doesn’t look bad and was actually even better than that – she’s currently 9-0-0-0 here
this season, but might be able to land somewhere on the ticket against these...at a good price. (4) WHATINEEDISA
MAN hasn’t been sharp in a long time – maybe an easy trip could help her bring home some minor spoils? (5) ONE
DERFULBEACH wasn’t close off the sick scratch 2 back then just quit badly in her last after looking ok to the final
turn – definitely a question mark at the moment. (6) COWGIRL LILLY is now 0 for 31 on the year and only picking
up pieces here and there
RACE 9 – (1) PARISIAN BLUE CHIP is stepping up a bit while a couple of other main players have been facing
better BUT she’s clearly on top of her game right now, and her barn is currently 16-8-4-1 at Yonkers this year –
seems good enough to be handled aggressively here...as she looks to handle the class bump. (3) CELIA B MONEY
has some mixed recent form but anything close to her best effort would make her a big threat in this spot. (2) HUNT
ING LINDY gets the double benefit of both post and class relief tonight and that should put her right in the hunt
from start to finish – would be no surprise at all. (4) NITE TIME DEAL sat pocketed to #6 last week and rolled right
on by for the win – they’re both facing tougher tonight, but an easy trip would put her in play for a piece. (5) MCM
ARKLE SPARKLE is a tough call – she was dull in her YR return 2 back but Bartlett got her fired up and right to
the top last week, and she never looked back – she’ll go for a new pilot tonight, and it’s hard to say if she’ll be able
to replicate that effort, especially in this better field. (6) FEETMADEFORDANCIN was hammered at the windows
for her local debut but came up short (to #4) after cutting the mile – faces tougher now, and from a bad post. (7)
STAY HAPPY has been derailed by bad posts recently, and draws another for tonight – she could be looking at a
class drop next week, and that may be a better time to pay her a longer look
RACE 10 – (2) BLOOD MOON A beat a NW20000 field here just 6 starts down and it’s not like her form has
really deteriorated – pretty hard to go past her at this basement level! (1) SILKY STRIDE was really sharp at these
levels not too long ago – moves to a sharp barn for tonight, and the guess is that she’ll be ready for a big try even
with the 3 weeks off. (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE hasn’t been close to top form in some time but she goes with Lasix
for the 2 nd time tonight and probably can’t help being at least a player in this bottom class. (3) FORTUNADA ships
back after a win vs. cheaper in PA last start – she’s raced well here a couple of times this year, and should have a
shot to land somewhere in the exotics. (6) BIG BIG PLANS has been facing the MUCH tougher 50s but hasn’t been
sharp in some time – another hoping that the drop to the basement can perk her up. (4) BLANK CHEEK is 0 for 13
locally and just feels a bit on the cheaper side
RACE 11 – (2) FOR A DREAMER hasn’t won in a while but he gets a good draw, should be a fair price, and may
be worth a shot tonight. (1) CREATIVE VENTURE has a few good tries since recently adding Lasix, including last
week’s easy score over softer – he’s probably the one to beat against these too, but that 6/5 ML listing makes him
tough to “love” on top. (3) DRACO S has been in pretty solid form and should be right in the mix here...but he’s
just 1 for 25 this year after going 2 for 21 at Yonkers in 2023 – make sure to get a good price if trying him on top.
(5) BRAVE BY DESIGN has held his own with better, hails from our leading barn but he’s another that figures to be
overbet, and really isn’t a prolific winner. (6) P L OSCAR definitely hasn’t been on top of his game but his barn IS
capable of sending out form-reversing winners at any time – consider only if the price is right. (4) FULL RIGHTS
has been away since 7/7 and feels like the outsider here
RACE 12 – (1) UPTOWN HANOVER has thrown more “duds” this year than last year, but still has come up sharp
on plenty of occasions – she’s in a good groove right now, gets a positional edge on her main foes and may cap off a
big night for Callahan (here for several live drives tonight). (4) AMBUSHED came up 2 nd best to the top choice in
PA last week and her overall recent form is excellent – maybe she can complete the exacta once more? (5) ULTIMA
TE SPEED started the year strong and is still delivering sharp miles 9 months later – a live trip puts her in play for
another big piece. (7) FRONT PAGE STORY has taken 2 of her last 4 in this class, the losses being 2nds to classy
winners – clearly her form can’t be faulted, but she does get a terrible draw while losing Brennan (the flip side is
that her price will likely drift up significantly, as a result). (2) PEMBROKE SOUTHIE may not be quite as sharp as
he was earlier this year but she’s still doing good work most weeks – another with a chance to be in the mix with the
right journey. (6) SUPER GIRL tends to lag, then rally late – maybe 3 rd/4 th? (8) HELLO YES HI brings a 3 race
winning streak into this but that will be in serious jeopardy from this spot! (3) BEE OKAY A is struggling – having
to move UP in class tonight isn’t going to help!