Thursday Empire Report

RACE 1 - (3) MONEYMAKEHERSMILE was no factor in her first 2 local tries but did perk up with a

much better effort dropping to this level last week - meets nothing too sharp in here, and may be in a

winning spot. (5) TRIZZLE TRAZZLE was close in both recent local starts - she may be a little on the

cheaper side, but she's definitely sharp enough to make some noise again. (2) BROOKDALE JESSIE

landed Post 8 upon arrival last week but finished up decently - moves inside, and may be able to grab a

decent chunk tonight. (6) PULL ME THROUGH is hard to consider on top (just 1 for 27 this year), but she

should appreciate the move to this bottom level, and may be able to pick up a share. (8) UPTOWN LADY

N was sent off as the odds on choice shipping in from NJ last week but really disappointed - could have

been the off track, but tonight's draw does figure to limit her chances quite a bit. (1) DIAMONDTOOTHG

ERTIE just hasn't done well at YR this year - gets major post relief, so we'll see if that can help her be more

competitive. (4) BETTOR B SAWYER recently added Lasix but it's hard to say if it's helped - needs to

improve her Yonkers game to be any kind of player here. (7) E R HILARY just seems to be going through

the motions most weeks.

RACE 2 - (3) HL REVADON continues to improve since joining this barn earlier this year, and comes into

tonight off a career best 1:52 blowout at Dover - stays sharp with that "maintenance qualifier" at Freehold,

and may be ready to step up and claim his first Hilltop Open. (5) STORMY KROMER was no match for

the top choice at Dover, but he bounced right back with a sharp victory at Chester - he's won way too many

of these to ever be taken lightly! (1) FLIP THE SWITCH looked he was going to be the first horse to pick

up a local win after relocating from our former leading trainer but he took a tough beat near the wire, and

had to settle for 2nd - he's a very nice trotter, and should be able to pick up a nice piece tonight, as well. (4)

TIMESTORM has gone a bunch of strong miles the last few months, including his last victory (where he

rallied late to nip #1) - expect another solid try, as long as the trip is decent. (2) NOWS THE MOMENT

really appreciated the class relief, rattling off a pair of sharp front end scores - he'll need to be even better

against these, however, but he just may be sharp enough to be a player here too. (6) VINNY DE VIE is on

an excellent roll right now but not only does he have to move up to the Open, he gets the worst of luck with

the draw (he SHOULD have been allowed to draw inside) - may struggle a bit from this spot.

RACE 3 - (4) TECHYS ANGEL A has gone plenty of big miles vs. much better than these - wasn't able to

capitalize on last week's drop (due to a terrible trip) but she drops again, and looms the one to beat. (3)

SHECANDANCE N was a solid 3rd in her Hilltop return - was sent off favored (in 50s) last week, but

came up a no-excuse 2nd best after cutting the mile....may come up 2nd best again tonight. (1) SARAHS

LILLY appeared to stall to the top of the lane of the lane last week but found more in the latter stages and

was able to surge by (#6) for the victory - steps up a notch tonight, but she can grab a good piece here too.

(2) ALWAYS B MIMI had trouble advancing first over last week but may have struggled with the off going

- probably fits well enough here for a chance at a piece. (7) BRILLIANT BEAUTY was the selection here

last week but was scratched sick, and comes into tonight having missed 25 days - prefer others this time

around. (6) LIGHTNING LEIA picked up her 1st YR victory 2 back (vs. much easier) but almost took

another last week - steps up another peg tonight, lands outside, and seems a little more iffy against these.

(8) PROTECT BLUE CHIP had a couple of solid season the last 2 years (out of town) but may be in a little

tougher than she'd like as she debuts tonight for the Dynamic Duo - may just observe this start.

RACE 4 - (4) LADYFLIX was a dominant 1:58.4 winner up in Canada (over the half miler) before

shipping down - made a BIG recovery after an early miscue at Fhd., then just missed there in her next - gets

a big driver switch to Bartlett for her YR debut, and deserves top billing. (6) THEWALOFLOVE AS has

been doing good things over in PA, hitting board in 6 of her last 7 including a win 2 back - the promising

2YO figures to be coming from off the pace here, but can still make plenty of late noise. (3) WALK WITH

ME left well from Post 7 but didn't survive the first turn - usually minds her manners, and has been picking

up pieces in most of her starts....good chance for more of the same tonight. (1) BANGIN IN THE HALL

never grabbed the bit last week but may have been hurt by the wet track - may be able to offer a bit better

effort from this good spot tonight. (5) KNIGHTS GUARD added hopples 2 back and raced ok for 2nd at

Chester - struggled with his gait here last week, however, and it's hard to say how much of a role the off

going might have played in that - eligible to offer a better effort tonight. (2) SQUABLE has just 1 win and

two 2nds from his 47 career starts, but he does find ways to pick up checks much of the time - chance for a

minor share tonight. (8) BRUTUS BEEFCAKE B raced ok here in a couple of November starts and would

have been listed higher had he not drawn Post 8 - tough spot to overcome. (7) ARABELLAS GLIDER is 0

for 21 on the year, and done little to impress so far in his YR starts.

RACE 5 - (1) SOUTHWIND ARTURO has done good work in NJ and terrific work up in the Maritimes -

he disappointed upon arrival last week, but that MAY have been due to the poor track conditions (a bunch

of horses threw duds that night)- probably worth at least one chance to make amends (6) THE AMERICAN

EAGLE really benefited from the recent barn change, picking up a win and a 2nd despite a pair of 8 holes -

remains a very dangerous player. (7) KENOGAMI REBEL was doing some good things up in Canada

before being acquired by a barn that generally does very well with these types - that qualifier was better

than it may look (he was in with pacers), and he probably shouldn't be taken lightly tonight, even from Post

7. (3) MUSCLE DAN has only been able to pick up smaller pieces since graduating to NW4 a few starts

back - may be looking at a similar result here. (5) BACKSTREET PLAYER picked up a win in this class 2

back (perfect trip), but is another that usually ends up with a smaller slice....probably in that same boat

tonight. (2) STRONGERWITHLINDY was a close 2nd to FIFTINI upon arrival at YR but was no factor at

all the next 2 starts - needs to get back to that better form to be a serious player tonight. (8) QUINCY MAR

KET has been a little better racing from off the pace in his last couple, but there aren't any really good

options from out here. (4) COUNT JOGGING gave his fans a good root last week when he was sitting 2nd

at 66-1 for a long way before tiring, and going offstride - a little too risky for our tastes.

RACE 6 - (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU flattened a bit after his first over move last week but he was off

almost a month, and the track was very soggy - he's a good fit with these, and may be ready for a bigger

effort tonight. (5) HOOLIE N HECTOR threw a rare dull one last time, but the off going may have been a

factor - too many good recent starts to not give him a chance to bounce right back. (7) SHARE THE WEA

LTH is feeling pretty good right now, and went a strong front end try last week (coming up 2nd best to the

sharp, tripsitting #8) - very tough spot, but may be sharp enough right now to still be a player. (8) PAPPAR

DELLE has really upped his game since moving to the Super Siblings, winning his last pair - gets stuck all

the way outside tonight and while he just may be sharp enough to overcome it, you'd still want to get a

pretty good price to use him on top. (6) B NICKING gets a pass for last week (8 hole in the slop) and may

be ready for a much more competitive try tonight - would consider at the right price. (2) MYCROWNMY

KINGDOM was a close 2nd last week in a race that just fell apart - he's shown some flashes of ability since

arriving from Canada, but it just doesn't feel that he's hitting on all cylinders just yet (at least not on a

weekly basis). (1) NEW HEAVEN has almost $100K on his card this year but he definitely hasn't been as

good as in previous years - he did perk up in a very soft spot last week, but this bunch is considerably

tougher...leaning towards others, even though he has the rail. (3) MUFASAAS just hasn't been on his game

lately - needs a wake up call.

RACE 7 - (7) REFINED was used hard for the lead 2 back but able to dig in late to preserve the win -

raced from off the pace last start and was gobbling up ground late, really narrowing the winner's big margin

in the final 1/16th of a mile- maybe she can reverse that decision tonight? (6) HEY LIVVY is certainly

feeling good again, and comes into tonight with 3 wins in her last 4 starts (and an impossible spot in the

lone loss) - major threat, for sure. (4) GREY transformed dramatically after the barn change this summer,

quickly elevating herself to a multi-Open winner - seemed like she MAY be ready to tail off a bit recently

but she bounced back to just miss to the top choice 2 back, and raced better in her last than the line might

look - draws inside her main foes, and a mild upset would not be out of the question. (3) PLUMB can be a

little shaky gaited at times so it was no real shock to see her make a break on the off going - she'll be a big

price tonight, and may be able to add some value to the exotics with the right trip. (5) KENZIESKY

HANOVER is a solid trotting mare but generally a notch below the top ones- chance for a smaller piece.

(2) PALERMO HANOVER was a big earner at 2 and 3 and was recently purchased - raced "ok" vs. older

males last week, and now tries the FM Open...tough task for the 3YO. (1) TAD KRAZY HANOVER was

well back in her YR return and may need some class relief.

RACE 8 - (5) DELITFULCATHERIN N was the worst kept secret on the planet last week as she was sent

off at 1/5, and delivered the blowout victory - she's strung together wins in the past, and the classy import

seems capable of taking another. (1) UPTOWN HANOVER spotted the top choice a big head start last

week then did a nice job rallying a long way to grab 2nd - she's really established herself as a rock solid

mare over the last few months, and can have a big say from the pole tonight. (4) HOT MESS EXPRESS

was a $631K earner at 3 but like so many in similar situations, has had a bit of a hard time adjusting to life

as a 4YO - conceded from the start in her local debut last week (8 hole), but this is an opportunity for her to

showcase her talent a bit - use in exotics this week. (2) CHASE LOUNGE also suffered from the "4YO

Blues" this season, but has been tackling some very good ones lately and may appreciate this somewhat

easier spot - might be able to have a say here. (3) LUCKY ARTIST A has been sharp for some time, but

faces a bit of an unpredictable trip from this spot - chance for a decent piece IF things go her way. (6) LIT

DE ROSE literally stole 4 straight wins, waltzing to the lead, stealing very easy halves then sprinting home

as needed - can't see that happening tonight, though!

RACE 9 - (8) LEXUS KODY was always a talented trotter but he's elevated his game even more since

moving to this barn late this summer - he has a ton of speed, and can overcome the draw the against this

crew....but note that in his only local try, he did make a break on the final turn, while enjoying a clear lead

(so don't fall in love at too short a price)! (2) STREET GOSSIP is becoming a "habitual disappointer",

racing well enough to take plenty of $$ every week....but just not well enough to win - still hard to leave

out of exotics, however. (6) SWANSEA had actually been holding form nicely even as he climbed the class

ladder, making last week's mile at Fhd. all the more disappointing - we'll see if he can shrug that off, and

bounce back with a better effort tonight. (3) FULL RIGHTS reversed form with that surprise win on 11/23

and has continued to race well since then - chance for a small piece. (5) MARION GONDOLIER would be

a player in here on his best game, but his last few have seen him tail significantly - not really sure what to

expect from him tonight. (1) LIFETIME ROYALTY is a slow starter, and the rail may not make much of a

difference - always a chance he can rally late for a piece. (7) SEVENSHADESOFGREY picked up a long

overdue win last week, but was helped significantly by a "fall apart" race - faces tougher, lands outside, and

may have a tough time getting in the mix tonight. (4) JULS MUSCLE PACK only seems to stay trotting in

qualifiers these days.

RACE 10 - (7) ITS MESMERISE N was sneaky good in both starts for her new barn (vs. 50s) - obviously

this is not an ideal spot, but it's a chance to end the 2022 season with a nice priced winner. (4) STELLEN

BOSCH picked up a pair of 3rds in her last 2 tries at this level and fits well with this group- definitely a

chance to be part of the equation. (2) SEZANAA has been struggling with better but she did beat a

NW10000 field 6 starts down - doesn't win very often, but worth a look if the price is right. (3) LAURIE

LEE has been hurt by several bad posts recently, but she also feels like she's just off her game - we'll see if

the class drop can perk her up a bit. (5) FOR CHIPS SAKE has looked solid in NJ (vs. cheaper) since

returning from some time off, for a new barn - Yannick knows her, and she'd be no real surprise here, even

moving up in class. (6) POPPY DRAYTON N landed on a live trip and was able to score as the heavy

choice vs. cheaper last week - she fits ok with these too, but may not land as good a trip from this spot. (1)

CORAL BELLA just hasn't been sharp for a while - drops from 50s, but so do several others that just seem

sharper....will need to be a lot better for a real chance. (8) ALKIPPE figures to have a hard time reaching

from out here.