The Empire Report - Thursday, June 8, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (4) PERRON was a sharp "pocket rocket" winner over cheaper last week but did beat this class
back in April - he seems versatile enough to handle any trip that comes his way here, and we'll give him a
slight edge in tonight's opener. (5) JULA MUSCLE PACK pounced on a perfect trip to trounce a bit easier
2 back - he landed on a VERY tough trip last week, but still turned in a game effort to be 3rd - dangerous if
things go his way here. (2) TACHYON came up with a sharp one to beat better 2 back, but then didn't fire
at all last week - on his best, he'd be very tough here....but both horse AND barn have been fairly unreliable
lately. (6) DOWN THE PIKE MIKE has really held his form nicely while climbing the class ladder but the
tough draw may slow him down a bit here - would still consider using underneath if the price is right. (3)
VELVET STYLE used all of a perfect trip to beat easier last week - will need to be sharper to threaten the
main players in this tougher field. (1) UP HELLY AA has been doing better lately, but still has to prove that
he can battle at this higher level
RACE 2 - (3) FIVE FISH SPECIES had mostly unexciting Canadian lines but raced much better than
expected in her local debut, trotting a strong final half to pick up 2nd behind the total standout winner -
perhaps she can pick up her maiden victory against these? (2) POP POPS TOMMY was no threat in 4
career starts in NJ but was no doubt facing tougher than he'll see tonight - should fit nicely here, and could
be a major threat. (4) MILLIONDOLLARIDE finished 2nd to the promising IM AN ANDOVER at Chester
2 back, then lost action/broke on the lead in his last - it may be significant that Marohn takes him over #1,
and he's definitely worth a look in his YR debut. (1) FLASHY SWAN charged home just a little too late in
her YR debut but broke in her next, then was empty last week - needs to find that better form to be a threat
tonight. (5) WARRAWEE YIMA was "meh" in winning his local debut, broke the next week then empty in
his last - the class drop should help, but that 9/5 ML price makes him hard to endorse
RACE 3 - (4) DUSTIN HANOVER has a trio of 2nds from his last 5 starts in Ohio and lands in a local
barn that has enjoyed success with these types previously - seems worth a stab in a competitive NW4 trot.
(2) AVACAKES hit board in 5 straight and seems destined to come out on top sooner or later - could be
tonight, but not a fan of that 9/5 ML price. (5) CONGRESS HILL EVA has pretty solid NJ form whenever
she minds her manners - have to believe she'll fit nicely with the locals, and still fits this class even if she
wins tonight - certainly worth considering. (3) LIVINGONTHERAIL went a few decent miles after joining
his current barn last year - been freshened up, will be a good price, and really wouldn't be a shock. (6) HEA
DOVERBOOTS AS always "figures" and did have a bad trip last week - he's also 0 for 14 this year, just 1
for 12 lifetime at YR, and will be a fairly short price from Post 6 - rather use others on top. (1) SQUABLE
is now 1 for 61 lifetime but as always, playable underneath.
RACE 4 - (3) SEVENSHADESOFGREY continues to behave every week and continues to rally solidly at
the end of his miles - hasn't found the winner's circle in a while but if he's close turning for home, maybe he
can get there tonight? (4) B NICKING broke at the start last week but we've seen him bounce right back in
the past - always very dangerous down at this level. (2) MON AMOUR has been racing well most weeks
across the river and is a good fit here - he also made breaks late in the mile in both starts here earlier this
year, and has to be considered at least a bit risky - playable, but only if the price is fair. (1) PROMISE FOR
LIFE can be frustratingly inconsistent, and has just one win this year - he CAN beat these, but he's another
that needs to be a decent price to be worth using on top. (5) MEMO is solid right now but draws outside a
few main foes and seems more likely to take home a smaller share, than a larger one. (6) WINDSONG PIO
NEER probably needs a much better post to be a threat at this level
RACE 5 - NAADA Amateur Summer Series: (7) RACEACE has only one start here this year but it was a
winning one (after going 4 for 8 at YR in 2022) - has shown the ability to leave quickly, and always a threat
when on/near the lead - worth a stab tonight. (4) JUDGE KEN had been struggling but found his game
recently, and comes into tonight with a win and a pair of 2nds from his last 3 starts - good one to include on
your tickets. (2) CRAZY ABOUT PAT took a while to get rolling last week but did finish up well for 3rd -
a quick start could make the 13YO a legitimate player tonight. (3) CALL THE FIREMAN upset these at
31-1 back in March in wire to wire fashion - hasn't been as sharp lately, but he's worth at least a look at that
20-1 ML price. (8) LIONHEAD took advantage of the rail draw and was a wire to wire winner last week -
won't be nearly as easy from Post 8, so insist on a pretty good price if you think he can repeat. (5) GRAFE
NBERG is 6 for 13 out of town this year but 4-0-0-0 here at Yonkers - he squandered a two hole trip in his
last, and will need to be much better tonight to have any chance at a big prize. (1) I SAW YOU BLINK
draws best but goes for new connections and has been away for 25 days - leaning elsewhere. (6) P C FORE
IGN AFFAIR was off poorly from the pole last week after returning from a layoff - draws terribly for
tonight, and may have trouble getting into the hunt
RACE 6 - (3) FOR A DREAMER (12 wins last year) was sharp to close out 2022....and returned just as
good after 5 months off, scoring the impressive first over, 1:56 victory last week - he's hardly a cinch in
here, but he's certainly earned top billing. (4) ALL CHAMPY has endured brutal trips the past 3 weeks but
still picked up a couple of 3rds - he's as tough as they come at this level, and will be very dangerous tonight
if he can land on a more manageable journey. (8) VALI HANOVER benefited from beautiful trips the last 2
weeks but he certainly looked powerful in each victory - he's hitting on all cylinders for his new barn, and
really can't be counted out, even from Post 8 (1) EPOS OSTERVANG DK has had a spotty racing schedule
lately but drops right back in the box after an ok 4th last week, and is eligible to be tighter tonight - could
easily land somewhere on the ticket. (2) AFTER ALL PAUL was "sneaky ok" in his last couple - good one
to include for 3rd/4th, though he does seem a notch below a few of the other main players. (7) LINDSEYS
PRIDE will usually use his gate speed to establish decent trips, and pick up good pieces - another with a
chance to grab a small piece, at a good price. (6) CRESCENT BEAUTY debuts for a barn that has shown
the ability to really improve one at times...but this just seems like a tough spot to expect her to strut her best
stuff. (5) BAZILLIONAIRE just seems to be in way too tough tonight
RACE 7 - (1) IN A TINY WAY was terrific here 3 back, doing all the hard work before just getting nipped
late by the tripsitting TORRONE - probably wins her next if Buter had been more aggressive (got trapped
in the pocket too long) then raced as well as she could from Post 8 at Pocono last week - feels overdue to
get back to the winner's circle. (4) TORRONE, as noted, was able to outkick the top one for a nose victory
3 starts back - his last pair in PA were fine, and he remains the main danger. (3) THE BOSS MAN wasn't
sharp to begin his 4YO campaign but has come around nicely (vs. cheaper) in his last few at Tioga - picks
up Gingras for his YR return, and seems ready to be in the hunt. (5) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS started out
his year in hugely promising fashion in the Brennan Trotting Season but has really just been "ok" in his last
3 starts (even though he hit board each time) - needs to find that better form if he hopes to contend for the
top prize tonight. Both (7) TAP ME BLUE CHIP and (8) BACKSTREET PLAYER were hurt by the trip in
their last start, and now the two of them land the extreme outside posts - would still consider using either/
both for 3rd/4th, looking to add some juice to the exotics. (2) CREDARENA has disappointed for much of
the year - the draw is his best asset here, but that may not be enough to make him a serious contender. (6)
ER NO MORE feels like he's gone the wrong way recently
RACE 8 - (1) TAKE A GAMBLE clearly wasn't bothered at all by the sick scratch (and 24 days off) last
start, easily handling the talented AMERICAN COURAGE - he's now 7 for 8 here this year, and pretty
hard to go against starting from the pole tonight. (2) FEARFUL INTENT generally isn't known for his off
the pace skills, making last week's solid finish from well back somewhat noteworthy - he gets major post
relief for tonight, and that should give him a good shot at a nice piece. (4) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK
held gamely to 3rd after his first over bid was repelled by the top choice last week - he continues to thrive
since the recent barn change, and another good slice is within reach. (6) SOUTHWIND PETYR has really
elevated his game since joining this high achieving barn but he was unable to get close at all from Post 8
last week, and MAY struggle to make any serious noise from Post 6 tonight. (3) SHAKESPEARE raced
well for 4th last week, moving up in class off the claim - a live trip could help him take home another small
share. (5) KOOTENAY SANTANNA may be helped by the addition of Lasix for tonight but he still seems
a notch below a couple of the main players. (8) GREAT SOMEWHERE has won half of his 16 starts this
year but the combination of the class hike AND Post 8 figures to really slow him down this week. (7) CAV
IART SARGENT saw his streak of 4 straight 3rds ended last week...and now draws far outside - no spot
RACE 9 - (7) CREDIT CON has been enjoying an outstanding 5YO season, even more so since recently
adding Lasix - his last victory was especially powerful, and he has a license to repeat (even from Post 7) if
Bongiorno can find him a manageable trip. (5) STORMY KROMER hasn't necessarily felt like he's found
"peak form" yet this year, but he does have 3 wins and 2 seconds from his last 5 starts - a possibility, for
sure. (1) HAYEK is just 1 for 19 here over the last 2 years, with most of the losses coming below this level
- his last start was solid, though, and there are a few "iffy" players in here - chance to grab a decent piece
from the pole. (3) SWEET SOUL DAVID finds himself all the way up in the Open after picking up 3 wins
and a 2nd from his last 4 starts - may be sharp enough to pick up a piece with an easy enough trip. (2) HOO
LIE N HECTOR was (unfairly) stuck drawing outside last start and can be forgiven for not getting close -
he's unproven at this top level, but the move inside may give him a chance to at least have a say in this. (4)
HEY LIVVY took 3 weeks off after a clunker in last - not sure we'll see her best tonight. (6) HIGHLAND
MOWGLI has also missed 3 weeks after a sick scratch - hard to know how fit he'll be for this
RACE 10 - (2) NO MAS DRAMA made an uncharacteristic break 2 back then landed on a very tough trip
in her last - she's gone too many big efforts recently to not deserve another chance tonight. (3) GREY had
been struggling for a while but a class drop and the front end perked her up in a big way last week - we'll
see if she can build some momentum off that winning effort. (5) SPICY NUGGET has been holding his
own against solid older foes since his solid 2nd in the Brennan Final - chance to be part of this with a good
trip. (7) WHAT SHOULD I GOO was a winner adding Lasix 3 back but broke before the start in her next -
was chasing the stickout winner nicely for 2nd last week before getting a little shaky in the lane, though
still safely holding the place spot - may be a little risky from Post 7 tonight. (4) P L OSCAR, like many of
his barnmates, has been struggling a bit recently - if he can find his best game tonight, he would quickly
become a legitimate threat. (6) C YOU AGAIN DK was a surprise leaver last week then lost any chance
after a bad shuffle - guessing he'll be coming from off the pace tonight, and just may have too far to come.
(1) LIGHTFOOTEDLEGEND found his form vs. easier in NJ - we'll see how he fares against these
RACE 11 - Tough finale - (1) HES GONNA GETYA had a useful tightener (off a long layoff) on 5/15 but
was empty the following week - last week's effort wasn't too bad (from an impossible spot) and he gets full
post relief tonight- maybe he can find a winning effort against this very beatable bunch? (2) NOWHERE
CREEK A has faced much better all year and did have some success - he's a very logical threat dropping to
the basement tonight but he's just 1 for 14 here this year, and 2 for 37 over the past 2 seasons - hard to take
too short a price on top! (5) TIN ROOF RAIDER A has been struggling for sure but he does get some post
relief, and also gets Bartlett on board - could see him waking up with a much better try tonight...but can
also see him getting way overbet. (7) ON THE VIRG id hard to like "on paper" but he does get a few wake
up calls every year, and he's not a bad bomb for longshot fans. (4) ROCKATHON added Lasix last week
but still had no offer - would need a pretty good price to consider him on top. (8) HIGH ST CORRIDOR
showed promise here in the past but his current out of town form doesn't seem good enough to consider
from all the way out here. (6) FRANCO NANDOR N just hasn't thrived since arriving in the U.S., even vs.
easier at Freehold. (3) AINT HE SPECIAL still hasn't earned a purse check since the claim on 4/7