Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, November 21, 2024 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) I AINT NO MACK had to work a little harder last week but still took home his 4 th in a row without

too much trouble – there’s a good chance he can extend that streak to 5 tonight...but hard to get excited about a

wager with the 3/5 ML price (he’s been the prohibitive choice for weeks). (2) CAPTAIN T HANOVER has had an

outstanding season – he wasn’t at his best in his last couple but he moves to (another) new barn tonight and could

easily find one of his better efforts. (1) SIP OF BOURBON gets ignored in the wagering every week but has now hit

board in all 3 local starts, including a 2 nd behind the top choice last week – goes with Lasix for the 2

nd time, and could land on the ticket yet again. (4) KINGSTON PANIC was hurt by the draw last time but was right there in his

prior 2 starts – a good trip puts him in play for a good piece. (5) TO THE HUNT is undeniably sharp, but also has

the misfortune of drawing outside 4 OTHER sharp ones – will all come down to trip. (7) FLIP MY CHIP has looked

very good winning his last pair and is only listed this far down because of the draw – if you think Stratton can get

him in play, the value will be there. Both HES SPECIAL and (8) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK seem to have gone in

the wrong direction lately...and the draw won’t help either in their quest to get untracked!

RACE 2 – (1) BLUEBIRD BISHOP took a few months off after making a break on 6/27 (while in the middle of a

good form spree) – he qualified sharply, and his return try last week (strong up the cones to be 2 nd) should have him

ready for his best tonight – chance for the minor upset. (5) WILLY WALTON has won 3 straight, and 4 of his last 5

(with a miscue in the other) – he returns to a barn that’s very familiar with him, and the road to the winner’s circle

probably goes through him. (2) MAHONE SEELSTER drew Post 8 off the layoff but then hit board in his last 3

with better draws – looking at an easy trip from this spot, with another board spot well within reach. (4) INFINITY

STONE looked like he had hit the skids completely but came up with the form reversing victory off the pocket trip

last week (he’s been known to do that) – can’t discount the possibility that he could take another, but losing Dube

won’t help his chances. (6) UNFORGETTABLE broke a streak of 5 straight 6 th place finishes when 2 nd to #5 two

back, then built off that with last week’s first over victory – she’s good now, but may be a bit compromised by the

draw. (8) BROOKVIEW DARIUS hit the top the last 2 starts and took home his first 2 Yonkers victories – another

that could have a hard time overcoming a terrible post. (7) BULLY BOY HILL gave it a good try when 2

nd to #6 last start but faces all kinds of possible obstacles starting from Post 7 this week. (3) BIG CHARLIE MORAN just seems

badly overmatched

RACE 3 – (6) KOOTENAY SANTANNA lost plenty of momentum when bothered on the final turn last week but

was still pacing up a storm at the wire, a strong 3 rd dropping down to 25s – no luck with the draw again, but a good

price makes him worth a good look! (4) PRETTY HANDSOME looked to leave from Post 8 last week but lost all

chance after having to retreat to last – he’s very solid at this level, and looms a big threat with the post relief tonight.

(1) KOUNT BLASTER never looked all that “strong” last week, but was able to take advantage of a pocket trip to

take home 2 nd – could improve tonight off the claim, and it would be no surprise to see him land somewhere on the

ticket. (2) PAT STANLEY N may have been able to make some stretch noise last week had he not been wiped out on

the final bend – maybe 3 rd/4 th? (3) VESPA N was a little more competitive last week, but the jury is still out as to

whether he needs some class relief to deliver his best effort. (5) LYONS PEGASUS picked his game up dramatically

when his barn got very hot recently...but his trainer has gone cold again, and that makes us concerned that this guy

will continue to tail off again as well. (8) SHADOW IN RED raced so well at 38-1 two back that he was wildly

overbet down to 4/5 last week...and made a break on the final turn after being wide for a while – brutal draw here,

and he may be handled more conservatively. (7) BETTORBUCKLEUP looked dead short off the year layoff

RACE 4 – (1) PANETTONE HANOVER can be inconsistent but anything close to his best would make him very

tough in this class...especially starting from the pole for a white-hot barn – he won’t offer any value, but it’s also

hard to go against him tonight. (4) CAVIART SARGENT is also inconsistent but at least he usually goes off at good

prices – willing to use in exotics tonight. (3) JUSTASEC N was racing (and looking) terrible for his previous trainer

but a recent barn change had produced a close 2 nd , and a victory – he seems back on track, and that would put him in

play for a good piece. (5) CENTURY HEINEKEN won 2 of 9 here earlier this season but failed to hit board in the

other 7 – he’s another that can be pretty unpredictable, but he ships in off a win in PA and we’ll see if he can

continue to thrive here. (8) FAMILY RECIPE recently tailed off a bit after a long form spree – he did race a bit

better last week, and Brennan stays on board – not a bad bomb for longshot fans. (2) C BET HANOVER was a dull

4 th from a similar spot last week – he’ll likely hope to tow along here for a small share. (6) THE REAL ONE has

done pretty good work this year for a 14YO but seems off his best right now – hopefully he can go out with some

better efforts as the year winds down. (7) GINGRAS BEACH landed on a golden trip last week and cashed in – up

in class with a bad draw tonight, however

RACE 5 – (1) SHADOW CAT doesn’t have the best looking lines right now but he’s also been facing much better,

and hardly embarrassing himself– feels like a spot where he should have no trouble finding a way to win...but likely

at a very short price. (3) QUALITY BUD was finally putting in a good effort last week, but made an unexpected

miscue while challenging nose to nose on the final turn– maybe he can bring another good one tonight? (4) SON OF

A TIGER N has held his own with much better this year but is now 0 for 28 on the year (he was stuck behind

QUALITY BUD when that one broke last week) – hard to leave him out of the exotics. (2) GAMBLINTERROR

was the one battling hard with #3 when that one broke last week – just a temporary reprieve before he gave way

once into the stretch and tired– may enjoy following this week, rather than cutting the mile (7) AUSSIE HANOVER

lands a terrible post but may be in cheap enough for a chance at some minor spoils. (5) BUCHANNON HANOVER

is struggling – needs an easy trip for a chance at some scraps. (8) SHAKE IT was good in 2023 but comes into this

just 13-1-1-1 for $5665 in 2024 – the draw probably seals his fit. (6) TRANSFER THE ERA seems overmatched

RACE 6 – (8) LAZ seemed to sense the class relief last week as he found sharp gate speed and rocketed right to the

top, jogging with ease – no reason he can’t do it again. (4) THAT DOG WILL HUNT is having a solid season and

comes into this off victories in his last pair – may prove the biggest threat to the top choice. (2) MANHATTAN ART

IST hasn’t raced in 3 weeks but he turn in an improved effort dropping to this class last week – certainly playable in

exotics. (6) SOUTH POINT made contact with #5 early on last week (causing him to break) and that’s why he was

disqualified from 3 rd – he has several recent efforts that could land him in the exotics here, provided his trip turns out

ok. (3) PORTERS MAN had been a very reliable player in this class before last week’s clunker – it’s anybody’s

guess as to what we’ll get from him tonight. (1) LAST POUND figured to be in a good spot last week but he still

came up dull after an easy trip into slow fractions – just seems iffy at the moment. (7) MONACO HANOVER used

a good trip for 3 rd last week in a nice try – not sure he can find as good a trip tonight, though. (5) LOU ON THE

BEACH is still a mystery as he was wiped out early in his local debut – he’s been good out of town with cheaper,

but the jury is still out as to how well he fits with these.

RACE 7 – (4) LAVA FIELD was right there on the wire in a NW30000 field on 10/3 but broke in his next – he’s

done good work in PA in a few starts since then, and this field might be to his liking. (1) I GET IT is a tough call –

his current form doesn’t look all that great but he’s in a spot where he can be more aggressive and that might suit

him – would consider IF the price is fair. (2) ROGER RABBIT is just 2 for 19 here this year but he’s been 2

nd 10X and is currently racing very well – the good draw could make him a player. (7) PAPA DOC is a streaky sort and his

overall form is good (though he did make a break at PcD last week, battling for the lead) – never a bad one to use at

a big price. (6) VINNY DE VIE is good right now, but may have to race from off the pace in this spot...and that

may leave him looking at only a smaller piece this week. (3) RITSON had to requalify off a pair of miscues – may

be handled conservatively tonight, just looking for a clean mile. (8) ENOLA has done all good work since the claim

but tonight’s draw may slow him down considerably. (3) HAT TRICK MARLEAU fits much cheaper, and we’ll wait

until he’s entered in a class that suits him better.

RACE 8 – (1) BRAVE BY DESIGN had a good run here recently (pair of wins and a 3 rd) but then came up with a

couple of clunkers – his last effort doesn’t look like much, but he was handled conservatively and DID finish with

very alert trot – we’ll give him the tepid nod for tonight, looking for him to build off that mile. (7) STEALING

charged home powerfully to win 2 back – he was caught in a blindswitch last week, and clear too late to do any

more stretch damage...another bad draw, but worth a look at the right price. (2) BEERTHIRTY K fits very well with

these but has been away for 4 weeks (after a sick scratch on 11/8) – hard to say if he’ll be 100% for tonight. (5) P C

FREE WHEELING hasn’t been in “peak” form for a while, but last week was encouraging (wide a long way, and

only flattened late) – could have a real say here. (3) KENOBI is still looking for his first local win but has done ok

picking up pieces – may grab another tonight. (6) ENERGYSOURCE is very unpredictable from start to start – he

should be a pretty decent price, if you want to consider him for exotics. (4) MR CONTESTANT would probably like

some class relief, but he’s still capable of a small share vs. these. (8) J S HOPSCOTCH lands all the way outside,

and his best work has definitely come vs. easier

RACE 9 – Interesting race! (1) DOMOVOY was an excellent 3 rd in his local debut, just behind CHAPERCRAZE –

he broke in his next, but made amends last week with a powerful win, at a very good price – he gets a kind post

assignment, figures to be a good price once more, and is one of several possibilities in here. (2) THE HAZLETON

won his only local start in 2023 and has a win and a 2 nd so far in 2024 – he’s missed 3 weeks, but he’s another that

could benefit from a kind post assignment. (3) I WONT BACKDOWN AS makes his Hilltop debut and his $452K

in lifetime earnings suggests he has some class to him – he shows several sharp recent tries out of town, and hails

from a very sharp barn...possibility! (5) TORRONE has been 1 st or 2 nd in 5 of his last 6 starts and is a model of

consistency right now – would really be no surprise at all. (6) BIG BOX HANOVER always seems to ship in

showing stellar form out of town but he’s 3-0-0-0 here over the last 2 years – we’ll see if he has some better luck this

time. (4) CANTSTOP YANKEE suddenly caught fire recently and looked super in his 3 recent victories – on the flip

side, he’ll be taking on tougher tonight, and hasn’t raced in 3 weeks. (7) STORMONT DIVIDE is being listed on the

bottom, but primarily because he drew so poorly for his new connections – very capable on his best effort

RACE 10 – Wide open finale: (3) SNOUZE U LOUZE was bothered early last week, and had Post 8 the start before

– he’s as good as any in here, and should offer a decent price. (1) VICTOR CRUISE finished ok the last 2 weeks,

lands the rail with Bartlett and figures to be a serious player tonight – but note that he’s just 15-0-0-3 locally before

taking a short price! (7) OVER THE HORIZON has won 3 of his last 4 starts and has to be respected off that alone –

he also will be a short price from a bad post, so factor that in as well. (5) SWISS COTTON raced ok a couple of

times but had an 8 hole 2 back, was no good in his next then scratched sick from his last – maybe if the price gets

very juicy? (2) VALENTINO OF LEDA seems to be on the cheaper side but he does have some good lines up North

and moves to a barn that can improve one in a hurry – not impossible. (6) FULL SUPPORT won 3X here earlier in

the year but was no good at all in his 3 starts AFTER The layoff, and seems a bit risky for that 3-1 ML price. (8)

VANDALISM may be able to take advantage of the drop to 20s at some point, but perhaps not from Post 8. (4) SEC

TIONLINE RACER seems a bit cheap off his Monticello lines.