The Empire Report - Thursday, January 19, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (1) EDGE OF ETERNITY didn't have the greatest end to last season but she was facing better
and did have some excuses - draws best in a race with no stickouts, and may be able to come up with a
winning effort (if ready off the winter break). (3) SPORTS FLIX is a streaky sort who could definitely
handle these if in the right mood - she was ok in her last start of '22, and we'll see if that carries over into
the new year. (4) MONEYMAKEHERSMILE improved 2 starts back then pounced on a perfect trip to
crush cheaper in her last - can probably be a live player with these too, if primed off the hiatus. (2) STELL
ENBOSCH picked up a couple of 3rds after arriving from PA but was dull on 12/13 then scratched in her
next - would consider underneath, but sticking with others on top. (5) SEZANA N is usually pretty camera
shy but did have a better 2022, winning 3X - has the benefit of a Jan. start in NJ, and is a logical one to
include in exotics. (6) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N added Lasix and was able to beat the bottom class on
12/1, but was no threat in her next few - tough draw here, and may look more appealing with a class drop
next week. (7) ANNE BONNEY N was just 1 for 24 at YR last year, but did race well a bunch of times -
pretty tough spot for her seasonal debut, though. (8) POPPY DRAYTON N was dull in her 2022 finale and
lands all the way outside off the hiatus - Stratton opts off (for #1), and we will too...at least for now
RACE 2 - (4) MAKE IT EASY likely has the most ability of any of these, but she broke in both of her
Yonkers starts - stayed trotting in her qualifier and start in NJ (after adding hopples), and deserves top
billing tonight....but not they type you'd want to bet the ranch on! (1) A ONE A is just 1 for 23 lifetime but
he's 3-0-1-2 locally, usually stays trotting and starts from the pole - major threat, even if by default! (5)
BUDWEISER GIRL was "ok" in her 5 starts at 3 (in PA), picking up a couple of 2nds and a 3rd - another
with a chance in here, thanks to the short field and shaky contestants. (6) SQUABLE enters his 6YO season
with a 1 for 48 record, and gets stuck outside...still ok to include underneath, though. (2) HECKRAISER
HANOVER is listed at 5/2 ML but his current form is dull, and that's when he doesn't make breaks - tough
to really consider at that price. (3) KNIGHTS GUARD seemed to struggle with the off going in his last 2
starts here, and rain is in the forecast once again
RACE 3 - (7) OUTSIDE THE FIRE is a talented trotter, who has done exceptional work lately (except for
a couple of miscues) - if he minds his manners he has a chance to beat these even from Post 7...but insist on
a fair price from this tough spot. (5) CALL ME DANI had a terrific 3YO season and was holding her own
vs. solid older foes in NJ and PA the last couple of months - she ships in off a close 2nd at The Swamp, and
looms a very dangerous player tonight. (4) PALERMO HANOVER was a talented 3YO filly that changed
hands at the end of 2022 - her last can be excused (racing in the Open FM, in terrible weather), and it's
possible she could rebound with a contending try tonight...at a nice price. (1) KASHA V is a major
in-and-out type but IF he's in the right mood, he could be rallying late for a piece of this. (2) SHARE THE
WEATH was winless here in 9 starts the past 2 years, but did hit board in 7 of those starts - the bigger
concern is that he just seems a bit off his game right now - leaning towards others. (3) INFINITY STONE
returns off a good looking jogburger in NJ, but he may need a bit easier to be most effective....also figures
to be overbet off that really good looking line. (6) PROMISE FOR LIFE debuts for a high % barn but hasn't
raced since a Monti qualifier 5 weeks ago, and also lands in a very tough spot - may just watch, for now.
RACE 4 - (6) NOWS THE MOMENT was really hitting on all cylinders to close out 2022, taking 3
straight (in impressive fashion) - meets no killers in tonight's Open, and has a chance to extend his streak to
4...assuming he comes back as sharp as he left. (7) HL REVADON came up 2nd best to the top choice last
week after cutting the mile (on a track very unkind to speed) - he's really upped his game since joining his
current barn and has a chance to be a serious threat here...with some trip luck. (3) TIMESTORM may have
disliked the terrible surface in his last start and probably deserves a pass - he's a bit unproven at this level
but any of his better efforts would at least put him in the hunt for a piece. (5) LEAN HANOVER finds a
way to grab his wins (and earn his $$) every season, so he's worth at least a look at that 15-1 ML price - a
hotly contested pace would surely help his chances. (2) FLIP THE SWITCH really blossomed at 4 and felt
like he was going to become an Open performer at some point - his first try at the top level didn't go so well
but it's way too soon to give up on him - ok to use in exotics. (8) WILLY WALTON was somehow forced to
draw for the outside despite doing all his local racing in claimers and to add insult to injury, ends up with
Post 8 - he goes 2nd time Lasix tonight (and is very sharp), but it would still be hard to endorse him from
this spot. (4) CREDIT CON has been very good lately but he's another moving up in class here - we'll see
how that goes. (1) BARRY BLACK gets the pole but still seems overmatched against these
RACE 5 - (2) THE AMERICAN EAGLE was done in by an early miscue last time, making a big recovery
before folding on the tiring track - his prior 2 starts (both 8 holes) were excellent, and he's the one to knock
off tonight. (1) MUSCLE DAN hasn't won since exiting the NW2 class but he's grabbed pieces and raced
well most weeks - good spot to grab another nice chunk. (6) CIEL BLUE had this class opened up for him
("NW $53,313 LT) and does fit beautifully - he also lacks gate speed, and may be rallying from too far back
for more than a smaller piece. (4) SAID N DONE AS has appreciated racing here at YR, compiling a
7-2-0-4 slate...definitely worth including in exotics. (5) WICKENBURGH ships down from Canada to a
barn that was definitely slumping at the end of 2022, and has been going off big prices up North - he
probably fits well with the locals, but that 5/2 ML price makes him a bit unattractive this week. (3) GREG
raced well here at 3 (9-2-3-3) but he had a rough 4YO campaign out of town, going just 1 for 18 with $10K
in the bank - he goes for a new barn now, so perhaps check the tote board for some clues? (7) LIVINGONT
HERAIL recently exited one of the top barns in the nation but has actually improved quite a bit for his new.
low-profile connections - rough spot tonight, though!
RACE 6 - (8) KARMA SEELSTER has been just "ok" up in Canada lately but she's a GOOD Open mare
when anything close to her best, and this is a field she should be able to handle in her YR return...even from
Post 8. (6) TECHYS ANGEL A dropped down to this level and was handled aggressively, going right to
the top - speed was no good at all that night, but she still was an excellent 2nd to a mare that came right
back to jog again this week - look for another good effort tonight. (5) AMERICAN EMPRESS N was
claimed in Ohio for $30K but took off a couple of months right after - hasn't really clicked since returning
recently, but still looks like she should fit okay in her first local start since 2020 - ok for exotics. (4) ITS
MESMERISE N was "sneaky good" here for a few starts so it's no surprise that she was able to win over in
NJ during the winter break - not a bad value horse to include underneath. (7) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY
ships back sharp from NJ and does fit nicely with these...the obvious concern is the draw, and she'll need a
bit of trip luck to get in play tonight. (2) ELLEOFADELI used an aggressive steer to beat (much) easier in
her last start before the winter break, but may have a hard time doing as well vs. these. (1) FLIP THE
SCRIPT goes for a new barn after missing 6 weeks - prefer others. (3) TALL POPPY N was 14-0-1-1 here
last year and seemingly in a bit too tough here.
RACE 7 - (2) LADYFLIX was well backed for her YR debut and delivered the methodical first over
victory over the soupy surface - steps up to NW4 now, but this is pretty much a NW2-type field...decent
chance to take another. (3) POCAHONTAS kicked home strong to win here on 12/1 then stayed fit with last
week's Monti qualifier - could prove the main danger. (1) COUNT JOGGING has speed from the pole and
may look to take these a long way...would give him a look IF the price was juicy enough. (6) B THRE
EWINDS grabbed a win and a 2nd (in NW2) after first arriving here but was no threat in his next couple -
solid try at Fhd. during the hiatus, and may be able to pick up a share, despite the tough draw. (5) MATT
SO SURE managed only 1 third from 11 local starts last year but his last couple at The Swamp suggest he
may be a bit sharper now - would still need a pretty good price to consider him for a top slot, though. (7)
THEWALLOFLOVE AS offered good promise at 2, going 11-2-4-2 and finishing 2nd to the top choice in
her only local appearance - the time off and horrible draw make her a bit less appealing for TONIGHT,
though. (4) JESSIES OUTLAWED raced well here in 2021 but was 11-0-0-1 in '22 - needs to be better
RACE 8 - (5) HAT TRICK MARLEAU was just one of many to struggle on the front end on 12/22 but he
fought hard and only gave way late - he's used to facing better, and should be a better price tonight - worth
sticking with? (3) SWEET SOUL DAVID suddenly turned things around on 11/20 (at Chester) and has
come up with several big efforts since then - feels like a big threat in his current form. (2) BIZET was 2nd
at this level back in Oct. then won here 2 back, dropping to this class - legitimate threat, if ready to roll. (1)
DAGON HANOVER picked up a couple of even 4ths in his last 2 starts of the year - the inside draw puts
him in play for another small piece. (4) FULL RIGHTS struggled badly for months but reversed form on
11/23 and has stayed pretty good since then - one of several with a chance at a piece. (6) DRIBBLING BI
has come up with a mixed bag of efforts since changing barns in late October - one of his better tries may
be enough for a small share. (8) JULA MUSCLE PACK managed to behave 2 back and took home 2nd
after a good trip - no threat in NJ last week, though, and now lands a brutal spot returning to YR. (7) CHA
MPAGNE ON ICE hasn't hit board since changing barns 4 starts back - pass for now
RACE 9 - (7) APRIL AVA has struggled here the past 2 years (20-0-2-2) but she faced better than these in
almost all those starts - she goes for a new barn tonight, adds Lasix, and maybe the changes can perk her up
enough to take this tough to figure finale. (2) CORAL BELLA cut the mile on that night terrible for speed,
got hounded from past turn three and still was a safe 2nd best - always a threat against a field like this. (1)
CORSINI A is just 1 for 19 locally but this is a spot where she can be a player from start to finish - belongs
in exotics, for sure. (3) BROOKDALE JESSIE was 0 for 34 last year but finished ok from Post 8 in her
first local try, then got buried in a speed duel in her last - hard to call her number on top, but maybe she can
add some value to the gimmicks? (6) ENGLISH ROSE N would be a big threat against these if close to
"good", but she was really struggling to close out '22 and has been idle for 6 weeks. (4) HEY HEY DBAY
has done some good work at this level but she's another that finished the year well off form. (5) E R HILA
RY disappointed in the majority of her starts last season.