The Empire Report - Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (2) SAUVIGNON BLUE CHIP displayed plenty of talent in his five 2YO starts - clearly dealing
with some issues since returning at 3, but it does seem the speed/talent are still there...willing to give him a
shot tonight, since he'll probably be a fair price (hoping to see the "good" version this week) (7) MICKEYS
SPIRIT showed nothing in his 2 preps but the 4YO improved dramatically in his first career start (at 55-1),
then was a winner at Chester in his next, delivering a 1:53 mile while sent off at 5/2 - assuming he can get
around the half miler, he'll be a very dangerous threat tonight. (6) EL DISCO JOHNNY may be able to add
some value to the ticket - he seems to be steadily improving this year in his new barn, and should be a good
fit with the locals - worth including in exotics. (5) JOSE raced evenly for 3rd and 4th in his last pair here,
and looks very similar to several of the players in here - since he'll be a good price, we'll throw him in for
3rd. (4) HURRIKANEKINGCARLO cut the mile the last 2 weeks and held for 2nd both times, after
getting blown away in the stretch by the winners - definitely a shot for another small share tonight. (3)
ROSE RUN WOODROW raced ok for 3rd last time after a recent sale purchase - yet another with a chance
to take home a small piece, with the right trip. (1) TRIBAL SPORT failed to bring his Monti form with him
in last week's local try - will need to be better if he hopes to be a more serious contender. (8)
PINEBUSHDRAGONROLL was no factor last week and now lands Post 8 - pass for now
RACE 2 - NYSS 2YO Fillies - (4) JUST DIVINE has really impressed so far in her handful of starts,
displaying both sharp speed, and excellent stamina - she'll probably sport her main rival a tactical edge
tonight, but she'll likely also be the better price - should be a great battle, and we'll give her the advantage.
(2) JOYRIDE HANOVER flashed her ability from day one, and comes into tonight off a track record win
in her last up at Monti - really hard to fault her, and it should be fun when these top two hook up for the
drive home. (5) KELE KELE has been solid from her first baby race, and took a NYSS division at Monti
last week - she does seem a bit below the top ones, however, and also hasn't shown any early speed - small
piece only. (1) REENACTMENT was a little steppy up at Monti but still a good 3rd behind a pair of good
ones - she's looking at an easy, up close trip tonight, and that gives her a decent chance to pick up 3rd or
4th. (6) NITE TIME DEAL has been developing nicely for a sharp barn, but gets the worst of the draw and
will need some major trip luck to take home a good chunk here - not impossible, though. (1A) SINGLE
SOURCE shows a mixed bag of tries so far - she draws outside, and her entrymate looks like the better one
here. (3) MISS MAJOR HUNT tries the NYSS again after picking up an overnight win at Stga. - not sure
she's up to these right now.
RACE 3 - Excelsior A 2YO Fillies - (8) DUDES SWEET BET won both of her preps at Nfd. then was
right there 4th in a NYSS race at Buffalo - elected to drop down to the Exclesior A class and blasted to the
top at Monti, enjoyed a big lead around the track, but wilted unexpectedly from the final turn - she certainly
has the right local pilot to send her out of there from Post 8, and perhaps he'll be able to keep her going a bit
better this week - worth using, as long as the price is right. (3) PERFECT QUEEN was sent off at 31-1 in
her career debut upstate and was able to deliver the big upset, rallying stoutly through the stretch to collar a
leader that really had things her own way - very promising start to her career, and she deserves plenty of
respect tonight. (1) HESTON HONEY definitely didn't appreciate both the turns and tough trip at Monti -
she does try hard, though, and could be around at the end tonight with a little easier trip. (6) NADINA
HANOVER continues to get a little better each week, although she really should have been able to hang on
at Monti last week off that slow clip - ok to include underneath. (2) WHERES MY GIRL was a decent 3rd
at Monti in her career debut, after winning her two preps prior to that - would rate her a bit higher if she had
a more experienced pilot at the controls. (5) FLIP THE SCRIPT makes her first try over the half and it's
hard to know how she'll do - maybe check the tote board for clues? (7) LIEWHENTRUTHWILLDO was a
front end winner at Buffalo but was scratched sick at Monti, and draws poorly for tonight - no value as the
5/2 ML choice. (4) TIME TO ROAR made improvement last start at Monti after showing little prior to that
- we'll see if she continues to develop.
RACE 4 - Excelsior A 2YO Fillies - (2) PATSVILLE rallied nicely for 2nd up at Buffalo, was a game front
end winner at Monti (at 2/5), then absolutely crushed a NW2 field last week at PcD - clearly the one to beat
tonight. (6) JACANA broke her maiden at Monti by 9 lengths as the 1/2 choice, then benefited from a
beautiful drive from Kakaley to take her Excelsior A division up there - seems like the main danger, but her
barn is just 1 for 58 here at Yonkers in 2021. (1) SCANDALOUS IDEAL rallied nicely from way back to
be 3rd in her career debut - seems to be on the upswing for a top shelf barn, and should be able to grab a
good piece tonight. (3) ON MY WAY HANOVER is another that seems to be improving, and she was a
solid 3rd in her Monti (Excelsior) debut - another candidate for a piece of this. (8) PICK IT UP has been ok
so far in her preps and lone start, but figures to have a hard time getting into the action from all the way out
here. (7) MRS TETRICK has shown little so far but does hail from top connections, and may improve at
any time. (5) HUNTING FOR WEALTH seemed to get lost in the back in her career debut - eligible to
improve in her 2nd attempt. (4) HEAVEN SENT ME feels like the outsider.
RACE 5 - (3) UNCONTROLLABLE went 3 sharp miles at PcD recently, grabbing a win and two 2nds to
Serious Miki, who'd be the heavy odds-on choice against these - ships back down from Canada (2nd time
Lasix) to a new barn, that does very well with these types - deserves top billing. (1) SOLID ALIBI hit
board in his last 3 starts, draws best and gets Brennan back on board - should be right there from start to
finish. (2) IDEAL BEACH has a win and a 2nd from his 3 local tries, and the inside draw makes him a big
threat to land somewhere on the ticket once again. (6) ART SCAPING should be "speed tight" off all those
NJ efforts, and he does have 4 wins this year - could easily outperform that 20-1 ML price. (4) DEAL THE
CARDS landed in a very soft spot for his YR debut and was able to easily break his maiden in start #15 -
faces much tougher now, and will likely be looking at a much smaller piece. (5) SCOTT ONTHE ROCKS
is just 1 for 23 and his recent (out of town) form is uninspiring - we'll just watch, for now. (7) MACHPHE
US was just "meh" in his local debut, and now goes rail to 7 hole - wait for a better spot to consider. (8)
MOMENTSTHATMATTER lands Post 8 after finishing up the track last week - pass
RACE 6 - Excelsior A 2YO Fillies - (1) GOODLUCKSWEETHEART finished 2nd in overnights in her
first 2 attempts, then was a good 3rd in her NYSS debut at Buffalo - got stuck in the back in a track record
mile at Monti in her next, but now takes a drop down to Excelsior A competition, gets Bartlett and the rail
and looms the one to beat in a race that is otherwise very evenly matched. (6) SEAHUNTSIDEALBEACH
finished 2nd in all 3 of her starts, showing speed each time - if Macdonald can get her another quick start
tonight, she has a chance to grab another big slice. (4) KING PRINCESS upset this class at Buffalo in her
career debut, then was able to reel in a tiring leader to score at Monti as well - no match for PATSVILLE at
PcD last start (finished 2nd), but looks like a solid threat to pick up a good piece again tonight. (7) SU SU
SUSSUDIO was scratched from a NYSS at Monti then qualified nicely at PcD on 7/28 - she's finished first
all 3X she's gone behind the gate, but is a question mark off the sick scratch, and from Post 7 - worth a look
if the price is really juicy. (8) LORRIE SUE hails from low profile connections but does appear to have
some ability - not sure she'll be able to work out a manageable trip from this spot, however. (3) SO FLO
broke in her first two times behind the gate but then qualified nicely at VD, and was a good 2nd to PATSVI
LLE at Monti - the ability is there, but she does show those breaks, and is being driven by an inexperienced
pilot - mixed feelings. (2) TWO PROUD appears to have some ability but may be a work in progress...also
is trying the half for the first time. (5) AMERICAN JAZZ improved last start dropping out of the NYSS -
we'll see if she continues to develop, now at the proper level.
RACE 7 - NYSS 2YO Fillies - (7) GOTTHEGREENLIGHT will have her work cut out for her from Post 7
in her NYSS debut but she arrives with a 3 for 3 record across the river (including a win over the top 2
choices in Race 2), and we'll give her a shot to remain undefeated, despite the tough spot (2) THROW THE
DICE picked up a nice win at Chester to start off her career, then was a solid 2nd best in her NYSS debut at
Monti - hails from a barn that's won a zillion NYSS races, and deserves major respect with anything they
send out. (5) HAMPTONS BABE was a solid 4th (behind 3 good NYSS fillies) in her NJ debut, then was
2nd best to JUST DIVINE up at Monti - can definitely be a serious player again tonight. (6) WICKEDLY
INNOCENT is an interesting bomb in here - won both of her preps and was sent off at 1/5 for her debut...
but got lost from the start in a race contested in what looked like a monsoon, and should probably just get a
complete pass...her connections seem undeterred as they drop her right in a NYSS event, and she just may
be ready to do some damage here. (3) SYMPHONY GIRL was a close 2nd at Buffalo, then was shuffled
out badly last week at Monti - she seems a bit below the top players, but it would hardly be a surprise to see
her pick up a decent piece. (4) TWENTY GRAND was ready right from the start, as one would expect
from this barn - she did give way and fold badly at Monti, however, so we'll see if she can rebound with a
better effort tonight. (1) AMERICAN TICKET weakened at Buffalo after a big move, then was scratched
sick from her last - we'll just watch her this start
RACE 8 - NYSS 2YO Fillies - (4) WINE N DINE ME paced a big final half in her career debut at Monti
to be right there on the wire with JOYRIDE HANOVER in a track record mile - since there's a few
impressive fillies in here she'll likely still be a decent price...and that would make her worth a play. (1) LEE
LOO missed 6 weeks after her first qualifier but was sharp in her next prep when she returned - was sent
off as the prohibitive 1/10 choice in her Chester debut and did not disappoint, taking them wire to wire in
1:52.4 - she did get a little hot in the middle half, so we'll see if she's a bit more relaxed tonight - major
threat! (2) APRIL ANGEL jogged in both of her baby races before finishing 2nd in her Pocono debut to
TWENTY GRAND - went a big mile in her NYSS debut at Buffalo, dead heating with A GIRL THAT
TWIRLS in track record time...but she was scratched sick from her last at Monti, and that makes her a bit
iffy tonight, especially as the 2-1 ML favorite. (5) A GIRL THAT TWIRLS as just noted, was part of a
track record DH at Buffalo, before coming up 3rd best in a solid Monti try - definitely eligible to pick up a
good piece again tonight, if the trip works out. (3) YES INDEED is the "x factor" tonight - she's been
improving each week in PA and NJ, but it's hard to know how she'll handle the half (and her first NYSS
start) - definitely could outrace that 20-1 ML price. (6) AMERICAN HALO picked up a 3rd at Monti, but
does seem a bit below some of the top ones at this point. (7) VALAR DOHAERIS is probably better than
her lines suggest, but she's unlikely to be able to show it tonight with the poor draw.
RACE 9 - (1) HEARTLAND DANDY sips in from The Meadows where he's won 5 of his last 6, the lone
loss coming when he had a brutal trip, against tough OLDER foes - looks pretty solid from this spot in his
Hilltop debut. (4) SARANAC BLUE CHIP had to back off when others left last week, then never found
room in the stretch - a better trip would put him right in the hunt tonight. (8) SWEET ANGEL BOY seems
to have enough speed to at least improve position at the start - everything the barn ships in is live, so
include him underneath in exotics. (5) KEYSTONE NOLAN lagged a long way last week but paced home
with excellent energy once Lachance cut him loose to the top of the lane - absolutely one to include
underneath. (2) L DEES JACK LOPEZ was full of pace once finally free late in his YR debut - we'll see if
he can continue to improve in his new barn. (3) ANDRES HANOVER was a bug overlay winner 2 back,
but unable to get by the frontrunner late in last - steps up to NW4 tonight, and that could slow him down a
bit. (6) FOLLOW YOUR HEART was handled aggressively last week in his first try for a new barn -
wasn't quite up for it, and the guess is that he'll be handled conservatively from this spot tonight. (7)
CAPTIVATE HANOVER is struggling - waiting to see some better signs from him
RACE 10 - (4) TALBOTCREEKWHISKEY got caught behind a tiring leader last week but finished with
good pace for 3rd once clear (behind a sharp top pair) - drops to a level he hasn't seen in some time, and it's
a very logical spot for him to grab a win. (1) ALTA LEROY N dropped to this class last week but could
only manage a 3rd behind a pair of very sharp rivals - if he shows up on his "A Game", he'll be a threat to
take this. (3) FLYINGEVENBETTOR N went on the shelf for 5 months then qualified 3X before dropping
in the box - grabbed a pair of 2nd vs. comparable at Pocono, then an even 4th vs. better a Chester - legit
player here. (7) BIGONPERSONALITY N had a tough first over trip in his only local attempt (then held
ok for 4th) - Holland may take a shot at leaving here...and that would make him a good bomb for exotics.
(8) MELODIES MAJOR has been facing cheaper in PA but the former 2YO star has certainly been sharp -
his owner/trainer has decided to give this guy over to the conditioner that has been making him some pretty
good $$ lately...not impossible, at least for a piece. (5) VELOCITY KOMODO tends to race better on the
bigger track - maybe can rally late for a minor piece? (2) AUDI HARE N used an easy trip to grab 2nd last
week but moves up tonight, and doesn't figure to have things work out as well. (6) WAIMAC ATTACK N
draws outside and is 1 for 28 at Yonkers
RACE 11 - (3) CRUNCH HANOVER was a winner 3 and 4 starts back, then came up 2nd best in his last
pair to Water Sports Teen....who then went on to dominate his (fastest) Adios division, before finishing 3rd
in the final - tonight they'll have him to catch. (5) SHINY BLACK BEAMER wasn't as sharp in his last pair
but he does add Lasix tonight, and that might explain things - can give the top one a tussle if on his best
game. (2) BETTOR AT HIGHTIDE becomes the latest horse that his owner (trainer) has decided to pass
along to the conditioner that has been doing excellent work with all the new stock - expect a good mile
from this guy tonight. (4) ROLL WITH TIME was purchased out of Indiana after his last and has lines that
suggest he'll be a good fit here - no idea how he'll handle the half miler, but I guess we'll find out tonight.
(6) GET LIT got life when dropping down to the lower levels at PcD, taking his last pair - will probably
have a harder time against a few of these, though. (8) GAMBLINGTERROR continues to do good work
most every week, and does sometimes leave from outside posts - check the tote board for clues. (7)
ROLLING WITH SAM figures to be severely hampered by the post.
RACE 12 - (3) TYGA HANOVER went a big mile vs. much better last week, stuck making a long
uncovered move and holding right to the wire, almost getting 2nd - class drop should make him very tough
in the finale. (6) BRAEVIEW BONDI A was sharp in his first 2 starts here but really put it all together in
last week's powerful win - legit threat even moving up from Post 6. (5) ON THE VIRG threw a rare dud
last week but he drops down to the level of his last win and anything close to his best effort will put him in
the hunt for a big piece. (2) WARDAN EXPRESS A was very good last week when 2nd best to #6 - use
him underneath. (7) SEEUINNASHVILLE A is sneaky good right now for a barn that's sending out all live
ones - very tough spot, but good bomb for 3rd/4th. (1) ABRAXAS BLUES A was a huge overlay at 40-1
last week considering he won the last time he dropped to that level - steps back up tonight, though, and will
need an easy trip just for a chance at a minor share. (4) TIGERS WAY looks good on paper right now but
this is a much tougher field, and he may have trouble being as close with these. (8) KASEY JOHN A draws
terribly for his new connections and will likely have to wait for a better spot to be a player.