The Empire Report - Thursday, June 23, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (6) WAKEMESHAKEME deteriorated beyond recognition almost immediately after changing
barns in April - returns to her previous connections after 5 horrible Stga. starts, and if she's anywhere close
to the form she displayed before that barn change, she'll be a solid threat against these (but the key word is
"IF"). (5) FLOSSIE N raced well in NJ off the barn change, then was an excellent 2nd here from Post 7 last
week - major player in sharp current form. (1) SEZANA N qualified nicely after a sick scratch then raced
ok across the river last week - should be a close up player from start to finish from this spot, but note that
she's just 1 for 34 over the past 2 years before using her on top at a short price. (4) AMERICAN TOUR N
raced well for a couple of starts after joining this barn (vs. much better) but then really started to hit the
skids - her last was at least a bit more encouraging, so perhaps she's ready to start heading back in the right
direction. (2) VEL DONNA has been showing speed at PcD but tiring at the end - maybe can pick up a
small piece? (3) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE is having a tough year (15-0-2-1), but draws well enough for
a chance at a piece of this. (7) MADAME LEZAA needs a better post (vs. an easier group) to be any kind
of serious threat. (8) ROYALTYWESTHO drops once again, but she's really struggling right now and lands
the worst post as well - wait for a better spot before considering
RACE 2 - (7) JULA SILVER STATE has hit board in 3 of 4 starts this year, and that includes a pair of
Excelsior A events - his barn has been doing outstanding work for the past couple of years, and his pilot is
certainly not afraid to leave hard from the outside - gets the narrow nod. (3) MR ZUANETTI has PA lines
that suggest he'll be a perfect fit with these, and he won back to back starts over the half in Canada, back in
April - the main danger. (5) HALLWAY BABE was a little disappointing last week when unable to at least
be 2nd, but she's been a steady YR performer and should be able to grab a piece of this. (1) PRAY AND
HUSTLE left from Post 7 last week and ended up right behind the top ones in 4th - moves all the way
inside, and is a threat to stick around for another piece tonight. (6) QUINNPATRICKSHEA hit board a
couple of times this year but definitely looks a bit below the top ones - another in the hunt for one of the
smaller slices. (4) ANOTHER LONG SONG has yet to hit board in 7 starts this year, and will need to
improve to grab a share tonight. (2) UNIQUE KEMP showed little in her first local try and feels like a
work in progress right now
RACE 3 - (2) YS TALLIA had been off form for a while but seems to have started to turn things around
since the recent barn change - rallied for 2nd last week, and may be able to get her picture taken tonight. (4)
SOUND IDEA had been struggling a bit but had "sneaky pace" at the end last week - this group is within
her wheelhouse when on her game, and she may be a good value horse to consider for tonight. (1) ANDRA
DAY would normally be a stickout in a spot like this but she just hasn't been good since the recent barn
change, and actually stopped completely last week - she'll probably turn things around soon...but it's hard to
take a short price HOPING that it's tonight. (6) PAIGES GIRL was a solid 4th last week and gets a class
drop for tonight - will need some trip luck from this spot, but she's still worth considering at the right price.
(5) WALTZWITHSIERRAA has been pretty good in 3 straight starts, and feels like she might be getting
closer to that elusive first U.S. victory - not sure she can beat all of these, but would definitely include her
underneath. (3) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has only been good enough to pick up minor shares for some
time...and seems destined for a similar result tonight. (8) MILLWOOD BONNIE N loved the class drop &
front end last week and scored as the odds on choice- figures to find things a lot tougher tonight, though.
(7) ALWAYS B MIMI has been ok in all 3 starts since arriving from Delaware but may have a hard time
finding a way into the hunt from out here
RACE 4 - Wide open race! (4) CORAL BELLA hasn't been close to her top form in some time, but her
barn has been on fire, and that's reason enough to give her a shot in this hard to decipher affair! (7) FEELIN
RED HOT has disappointed more than she's delivered lately, but she's eligible to throw a big one at any
time - hard to not consider her at that 15-1 ML price. (3) GINGER TREE LIZ has been strong for a bunch
of starts to start off the year but disappointed in 2 of her last 3 efforts - anything close to her best makes her
dangerous here, but that 2-1 ML price is hard to swallow right now. (6) ASHTINI was aided by some early
trouble for others when 3rd two back, but was a very sharp 3rd last week - the right trip could allow her to
show up late and be a player. (5) ROCKNROLL ANNIE went right to the top last week but blew up on the
lead - much better price tonight if you want to give her another shot. (1) THUNDRA has been good lately,
and was a sharp pocket rocket winner in her last - faces a lot tougher now, but does have the pole to help
her cause...prefer others, but she'd hardly be a surprise. (2) MILADY DENVER A throws some big efforts
at times, but usually vs. easier - wait for a drop. (8) HP XANADU was a well backed winner from Post 8 in
her return to YR, but faces tougher now and more importantly, has her trainer on board (instead of Bartlett)
- sticking with others this week
RACE 5 - (2) MAKADUSHIN N CHEEZ faced lesser at 2 but compiled an impressive 11-7-2-2 record -
he's done fine work at 3 as well, currently at 11-3-3-3 with wins in his last pair - he keeps improving, and
draws inside with Bartlett...may end up the best price of the main players. (3) CHAPHEART crushed a
NW2 field here on 5/5, won a NYSS at Buffalo the next week and just missed here in his last, despite being
used hard almost the entire mile - very dangerous rival. (4) VELVET STYLE rallied for 2nd in his only
local try this year, and has been picking up small pieces in NYSS races since then - retains Gingras, and
could be a late threat. (1) FLANAGAN DESTINY feels like she may be on the cheaper side but her current
form (out of town) is solid, and she picks up Stratton for her Hilltop debut - not impossible. (7) X O X O is
the "x factor" here - she's 2 for 2 in Canada since a recent barn change, and 27-11-7-2 overall - hails from
sharp connections, and that 20-1 ML price does look a bit enticing. (8) EXCHEQUER has come back sharp
off the freshening, but lands in a brutal spot - probably a minor piece only this week. (6) CHARLATAN
HANOVER fits at this level, but ran into some issues in 2 of his last 3 starts - prefer others tonight. (5)
MASSTRO just seems a bit overmatched
RACE 6 - (4) EASY TO PLEASE has remained sharp since just missing in the Matchmaker Final, and
looked super wiring the field last week in her first try back at Yonkers - gets to stay in the same class
("NW12 PM") and remains the one to knock off....though her price will come down this time. (6) DRAMA
ACT may be the one with the best shot to knock off #4 - she hasn't been able to get back to the stellar form
that propelled her to victory in the Matchmaker Final, but she does have legitimate excuses the last 2 starts
- look for a strong mile tonight. (1) MILIEU HANOVER was a talented 3YO and she's done terrific work
since returning at 4 (her stretch explosion to beat cheaper last week was VERY impressive) - rail draw
makes her a threat to grab a nice piece of this. (3) BEYOND WORDS N got away 3rd last week and safely
held the show spot - chance for a similar piece tonight. (5) DARBY HANOVER has been doing good
things since the recent barn change but comes into tonight off a sick scratch, and may be handled a bit
conservatively here - ok for 3rd/4th. (2) TEMPUS SEELSTER steps up off back to back wins over lesser -
may find these too tough, or she may have built enough confidence to hang around a long way - we'll find
out tonight. (7) SHES PUKKA N may be a notch off her best game, and also has to contend with a terrible
draw - prefer to wait for a better spot. (8) MORNING HAS BROKEN has been scary sharp, but she's been
away 3 weeks since the claim, takes a jump up in class and draws Post 8 - very tough assignment!
RACE 7 - (8) FLIP THE SWITCH couldn't stay trotting at all at 3 but he returned with hopples for his
4YO season and delivered a blowout qualifier at Nfd., won his first start in 1:56.4, was purchased by well
known connections after that and jogged at Pocono last week with his trainer in the bike (1:54.2) - surprised
we don't see Bartlett on board tonight, but we'll give him a shot with his conditioner at the lines again -
hopefully he'll have no trouble dealing with leavers to his inside. (5) IN A TINY WAY was terrific in her
first 4 career starts before a break at Buffalo last week - filly has shown some excellent potential, and will
be the main danger here...if she can shrug off that last miscue. (2) CHAPERIDGE is 11-0-0-2 to start his
career but seems to be improving, and gets Stratton on board here - could improve some more. (6) ORIGIN
AL SMOKEY is just 1 for 33 lifetime, but he's hit board in half of his 10 local starts - chance for a piece.
(4) SQUABLE is just 33-1-1-5 for his career, but he did qualify nicely behind the classy D P ROCKET -
one of several with a chance to land a piece of this. (1) CREDARENA cut the mile last week and dug in to
hold 2nd - we'll see if he continues to improve. (7) SV ROYAL FLUSH has speed, but doesn't always finish
very well - may be used too hard from out here to stick around late. (3) DIMANTE VIC was dull in his
local debut - we'll be on the lookout for any improvement
RACE 8 - (2) VIOLETS RAINBOW has gone some big miles this year (and last year too), but that win 2
back was probably the best effort of her career - she had no prayer last week but still kicked home in :27.1,
and the inside draw gives Yannick all kinds of options - gets top billing. (5) STAR CAPTAIN is a tough call
tonight - she's 6 for 13 here this year and shown all kinds of potential...but she's been no factor in her last
three, and her barn is also having a bit of a dry spell - IF she shows up back on her A Game tonight, she can
make a lot of noise here. (6) JIVE DANCING A can be a little in and out but she's raced well too many
times to be listed at 20-1 ML here - include her underneath. (3) GAME OF SHADOWS was "good" in her
local debut last week, but not "great" - she'll need to be a bit sharper if she hopes to contend for a top prize.
(7) GOLDEN QUEST N has been pretty solid all season, but lands in a tough spot tonight - will need some
trip luck to reach from out here. (4) LUCKY ARTIST A seems more comfortable facing a bit easier right
now - could improve for her new barn here, but we're still leaning to others. (1) PLZDONTLIETOME N
was an ok 5th in her first try tackling the older mares - draws best, but still needs to prove that she can be a
weekly player with this type. (8) MAJOR BATTLE could use both post and class relief
RACE 9 - (2) NO MAS DRAMA is a solid player in this class, although often rallying a little too late and
settling for 2nd - may benefit from a nice trip here, and not a bad spot to try her on top. (6) KENZIESKY
HANOVER has beaten these in the past, and always a threat - her last was NOT her best, however, so she'll
need to get back to top form if she wants to get her picture taken tonight. (3) THANKFUL NO finished 3rd
against the boys last week in just her 2nd start back off the layoff - she's won 5 of her 7 local starts, and
should be right in the hunt from start to finish. (7) I DA PRINCESS has looked excellent in 2 local tries for
her new connections, and she can probably leave well enough to work out a trip tonight - would be no
surprise to see her right there on the wire. (8) SORELLA has nearly $1M on her card but she's been away
since Nov., and gets no luck with the draw - have to believe she'll need a start or two before we see her best.
(5) KANDY SWEET is in a good way for a hot barn but really seems a notch below the top players. (4)
LADY JETER has been well off her form on her last few, and would need a major reversal to be a threat
tonight. (1) SPREE is 0 for 13 on the year and fits the BOTTOM class - it's really unfortunate that her
connections dropped her in this spot...and that the race office didn't suggest waiting for the right class
RACE 10 - Good race: (6) MAJORCA N lost all chance last week after trying to leave hard, then retreating
to last - she's proven she can beat these, and figures to be a nice price here - good value play. (1) SIESTA
BEACH was no match for EASY TO PLEASE last week but was still a solid 2nd (after winning her prior 2
starts) - she's finally starting to work her way back to "Open" form, and may trip out from this spot - worth
considering. (2) MCMARKLE SPARKLE has really thrived since joining this barn, and has a win and a
2nd from her last 3 Open attempts - another possibility. (7) RACINE BELL has been away for 25 days and
draws all the way outside - will still attract plenty of $$, but may not be fully cranked for tonight - may be
vulnerable. (3) DRAGON ROLL seemed to be a little off her best form but her last mile was awfully good,
parked every step and only weakening (a bit) from the top of the lane - can jump up and win pretty much
any week. (5) ROCKN PHILLY is likely a notch below the top ones, but she's been sharp for a long time,
and was very good last week - eligible to be right there if the trip works out. (4) BETTERB CHEVRON N
moved to Plainridge after winning 4 straight over here, and continued to race well up there - hard to say if
she's sharp enough to contend at this level, however.
RACE 11 - (5) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA started to perk up 3 starts back and was a sharp front end winner
in her last - she exits one high % barn to join an even HIGHER % one for tonight, and will be heavily
favored to make it 2 in a row (6) WESTERN WISH failed to thrive in the Matchmaker Series and even her
win here vs. NW10000 was "ugly" - the recent freshening might have been beneficial, and she qualified
nicely with her trainer on board - could make some noise here. (2) TOBAGO TIME is rock solid at this
level, and one to include in exotics. (1) WESTBEACH hasn't been great, but tonight's good spot could be
enough to land her somewhere on the ticket. (8) TALL POPPY N was much sharper in her last pair in PA -
brutal post, but a nice price makes her worth using for 3rd/4th. (3) MYSTIFYING has been off form for a
while - waiting for some better signs before hopping back in her corner. (7) SPORTS FLIX has been good
lately, but vs. easier - tough task trying to reach from out here. (4) LADYBELUCKYTONITE tired badly
in her last pair - hard to endorse at the moment.