Friday Empire Report

soaofny • September 16, 2022

The Empire Report - Friday, September 16, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (5) AWESOMENESS doesn't have a ton of natural gate speed so it was really no surprise to see

him end up parked by UPTOWN FUNK last week - drops back down to 20s tonight ands meets a MUCH

easier group....one that he should be able to handle, even with a less than stellar trip. (3) WON LAST FEEL

ING looked (sneaky) better in his last pair after being claimed - he'll be a good price here, and may be able

to add some value to the exotics. (6) OUR THIRD ROCK is another that's probably sharper than his lines

might suggest - another good one to include underneath what figures to be a pretty short priced winner. (8)

PACING MAJOR N has held his form pretty well since being claimed recently - obviously a brutal spot,

but some trip luck may help him land a share. (2) OHIO VINTAGE was able to win off the claim last start

but he was all out to beat a camera shy rival, who endured a very tough trip from Post 8 (at about 60-1!) -

could be a bit vulnerable here. (4) DAVIDS COMING HOME was a "meh" 3rd off the claim then never in

the hunt last week - another that could be vulnerable, at a shortish price. (1) RYCROFT N seems a bit

cheap but draws the pole and wasn't terrible last week - chance for 3rd? (7) KIMANI N picked up a rare

win 2 back but failed to threaten at all from Post 7 last week - moves up for a new barn tonight, and we'll

stick with others.


RACE 2 - Tough race! (2) KEYSTONE DASH was claimed for $12,500 on 7/23 while still trying to find

some consistency in his game....but he's really taken off since then, coming up big week after week, and

almost beating the 40s last week (just missing to #3) - one of several sharp performers with a chance to

come out on top tonight. (1) TIN ROOF RAIDER just missed in his YR return 3 back despite racing off a

bad date - dropped in for $50K the next week and was too far back to threaten....then landed in another bad

spot last week - drops a peg, draws the pole, and may come up with a big one tonight. (3) GHOST DANCE

went a big mile last week to nail the top choice on the money - his barn continues to do good work, and a

repeat performance would be no shock at all. (4) SAILBOAT HANOVER was a very sharp winner for

$30K in his first start off the claim - steps up a notch, but may end up with a very live trip from this spot -

he may be a bit overbet, however. (5) MONTY MONO is just 1 for 16 here but he's hit board 10X - he gets

along well with Boyd and is a reasonable horse to include underneath. (8) MARINER SEELSTER has gone

big miles week after week for almost 2 years (at ages 12 and 13!) - will appreciate the class drop, but won't

be a fan of Post 8 - just a very tough spot tonight. (6) I GET THAT gets a pass for 2 back (parked) and he

did rebound with a solid try for 2nd last week- would have liked him a lot more from an inside post, though

(7) TOM ME GUN N seems unlikely to get into play from out here in this very solid field.


RACE 3 - (1) BARN HALL has been right there almost every week in the Opens at The Meadows and

Nfd., and was a winner the one start that he had some class relief - lands in a very comfy spot upon arrival,

and looms a pretty short price with the rail and Bartlett. (4) KINDA LUCKY LINDY is rock solid at this

level, and comes into tonight off a 2nd to the streaking FLIP THE SWITCH - the main danger? (5) TIMES

TORM shows lines out of town that would make him a legit player here, but he's also just 9-0-1-0 in his YR

starts - mixed feelings about his chances tonight. (3) MEMO isn't at his sharpest right now, but he does

continue to pick up good pieces most weeks - include him underneath. (2) HOOLIE N HECTOR will be

class tested tonight but he's won 3 of his last 4 starts, and figures to land on an easy trip from this spot - ok

for a small piece. (6) KASHA V has some better efforts lately, though he's still a bit of a guessing game

from start to start - will be coming from well back, and there just may not be all that much pace for him to

rally into. (7) GREY has really been struggling, and draws terribly off a break in her last - she does get the

same barn change that resulted in a victory for NONE BETTOR A on Mon. night...good one for longshot

fans. (8) LADY JETER will have a hard time getting involved from out here.


RACE 4 - (4) BEACH BOOGIE has been very sharp for several weeks, especially when in for $40K - he

gets along very well with Allard, and just seems overdue to get his picture taken -- maybe tonight? (5) SHI

NE A LIGHT was well supported from Post 8 for his local debut (joining our leading barn, while also (of

course) adding Lasix) - he found a spot in 5th but was trapped for too long and had no chance to get to the

very well meant winner in the lane, settling for an excellent 2nd - he figures to have a big say tonight...but

he also figures to be a lot shorter than that 6-1 ML would suggest. (1) BLACK CHEVRON N got important

post relief last week and was pacing very well late for 3rd - draws all the way inside tonight, and will make

his presence felt, for sure. (2) WHITE HAIR ROCKS continues to be popular at the claim box, despite his

2 for 57 record (over the past 2 years) - he's also moving up in class, and we'll be using him underneath

only. (3) ALOTBETTOR N got involved parking another rival 2 back and tired badly - last week he got to

sit back while two OTHER horses got involved in a duel up front...and was able to charge right on by at a

juicy 11-1 payoff - probably looking at only a smaller share against this crew, however. (7) BETTOR BE

OSCAR A is actually pretty good right now but he's looking at a tough time trying to get into the mix from

out here - not a bad one to use for 3rd/4th. (6) TOWNLINE ALL GOOD made a break last week in his first

try for a new barn - we'll just observe, for now. (8) BETTER UP has been just "ok" draws horribly here,

and will likely need a much better scenario before he can be a player.


RACE 5 - (1) FLIP THE SWITCH has now won 7 of his last 8 (mostly blowouts) and the only horse to

beat him would likely be the heavy choice against these - obviously there won't be any value betting ON

him tonight....but it would also be pretty tough to pick against him. (5) B NICKING can be a very good

horse "when right", but he's having some issues these days - he adds hopples tonight, and that may be a big

help...probably the one to take a shot with if you want take a swing against the top one. (2) SWEET SOUL

DAVID raced better than expected last week, and could be in line for a close up, easy trip tonight - chance

for a small piece. (6) NEXTROUNDSONME is having a good year, finishing 1st/2nd in 10 of his 21 local

starts - he MAY be a touch off his best game right now, but is still worth considering for exotics if the price

is decent. (3) NO DRAMA PLEASE had been racing well in his last couple before getting wiped out on the

final turn last week - he may be a little cheap, but a minor piece is still within reach. (7) NO MAS DRAMA

got really good for a while, tailed for several starts but then started to find her game at Chester in August -

would have been mentioned higher up if not for the horrible post. (4) IM THE MUSCLE towed along

pretty well last time, but his best game is on the lead, vs. cheaper - leaning towards others tonight.


RACE 6 - (4) ALWAYS AT MY PLACE, despite his terrific history here years ago, ships in from Hoosier

showing lines that normally would see him go off at about 30-1 here....but since he's landing in perhaps the

most dominant barn we've ever seen here at Yonkers, it's a good bet that he'll be sent off as the prohibitive

favorite...and a better than 50/50 chance that he'll reverse form completely, and beat this $25K claiming

field. (6) MARTY MONKHOUSER was no factor last week but he did race much better than he usually

does from similar spots - maybe Stratton will take a shot at sending him out of there tonight...and that could

make him a player. (2) SECRECY has been "ok" lately, and even attracted a claim last week - might be

good enough right now to grab a piece of this. (8) SHOREVIEW comes into tonight off a game win last

week, and is definitely better than a lot (most?) of these - if you can see a way for Siegelman to get him into

the race tonight, he'll definitely be offering some good value. (3) ARTMAGIC moves to a new barn and

may respond to the change of scenery - he's not a prolific winner, though, so perhaps consider using him

underneath. (1) MISTER HAT gets the best post, but really would look better in for $20K - one of several

with a chance to grab a share, with the right trip. (5) CINNABAR DRAGON won a "fall apart" race 2 back,

but did little before that, then was no factor last week - leaning towards others. (7) SWAGASAUR USREX

has been just "ok" - figures to be too far back to threaten tonight.


RACE 7 - (5) AMIGO VOLO is 5 for 7 here at Yonkers (3 for 5 this year) and the short field should insure

that he doesn't land on a "bad" trip - he was able to knock off #1 at Chester 2 back, and we'll give him the

slight edge tonight, despite the post disadvantage. (1) STORMY KROMER has won his last 3 Yonkers

starts and surprisingly, wasn't the favorite in any of them - he gets to call the shots in here and he did beat

the top choice here back in July - hard to leave him off your tickets! (3) MISSISSIPPI STORM seemed to

gain confidence with those two wins over cheaper as he finished right behind #1 moving back up to the

Open last week - he's won 14 of his last 40 starts here, and can't be dismissed here too easily. (4) HEY

LIVVY probably isn't on her absolute "best" game right now, but she's certainly racing very well now -

we'll see if she's up for this assignment against the boys tonight. (2) WARRIOR ONE looks good on paper

right now, but still seems like he could be the weakest of the players in here - will probably need to up his

game to hang with these.


RACE 8 - (1) PERFECTLY CLOSE has been holding his own vs. much better most weeks - the last time

he got a similar class drop to tonight resulted in an easy win at Chester, as the odds on choice -- look for a

similar result tonight. (2) MY MIND IS MADEUP raced well at this level 2 and 3 starts back - the good

draw makes him a prime candidate for a spot in the exotics. (3) HES ELECTRIC doesn't win very often,

but he sure did look good in last week's (easy) score - include him underneath tonight. (4) SANTAFES

COACH had no prayer against the 50s last week but this crew should be right up his alley - another one to

include underneath. (6) L DEES JACK LOPEZ was sent off favored last week, got to cut the mile but still

proved no match late for #3 - gets a tough draw for tonight, and is likely looking at only a minor share. (5)

VIRGIN STORM is having a tough year, and is definitely one of the barn's few underperformers - he's 0 for

13 here in 2022, and that includes several losses against even cheaper - prefer others. (7) EPIC ACE used a

ground saving trip to pick up 4th last time, but may not be as fortunate tonight - tough spot. (8) SOHO

CHELSEAA was handled aggressively off the claim last week but backed through the field - hard to like

his chances from Post 8 tonight.


RACE 9 - (6) LEAN HANOVER has always been on the streaky side and he's definitely good right now -

gets a free ride off last week's victory (as a win dropped off the bottom of his card) and he may be able to

take another....even with the outside draw. (1) SKY CASTLES threw a clunker when claimed for $75K last

week but he's capable of much better than that - his (very) young trainer owns a piece of him, along with a

couple of well known players in the game...could show up with a big one right off the bat (5) KENZIESKY

HANOVER sports a strong 10-4-2-2 record here this year and has used her speed to create good trips many

of those starts - could happen tonight, as well. Both (2) HAT TRICK MARLEAU and (3) NEW HEAVEN

ended up in a win DH last week (one of THREE DHs on the card!) after the 1/20 leader blew up on the

turn, leaving these two to fight it out - either could grab a piece here, but both seem a bit below the top ones

(4) ON HIGHER GROUND seemed to be in a good way lately but really squandered a good trip last week

and finished a disappointing 4th - not quite sure what to expect tonight. (7) I DA PRINCESS has sued her

speed to pick up good chunks almost every week, but may have a tougher time from Post 7 - leaning to

others this week.


RACE 10 - (4) DIAMONDBEACH is clearly not on his best game (and does make some breaks), but it's

still hard to imagine him losing to this bunch - no value, but hard to find anybody worth taking a shot

against him with. (1) MISTER SPOT A drops in class, gets big time post relief, and may be able to

complete the (short) exacta. (2) REMEMBER THE BEACH hasn't really been "good", but at least he's

been functioning - maybe the good draw can help him land a share? (6) ROCKINMYSHOE has a few "ok"

efforts in Ohio and doesn't exactly catch a stellar field for his local debut - he lands in a sharp barn, but note

that he's also exiting a barn that wins at a 21% clip - ok to include underneath. (5) ROCKIN JUKEBOX

gets some serious class relief, but he's barely been functioning lately - would be willing to include in

exotics if the price is decent, but may look to toss if he gets overbet. (7) PICARD A is well off his game

and lands far outside - maybe he can perk up against this uninspiring crew? (3) SEEUINNASHVILLE A

hasn't beaten a horse in 4 straight starts - maybe tonight he can beat a couple, and start to build off that

going forward? (8) KNOCKING AROUND has missed 3 weeks, draws Post 8 and just hasn't been any

good lately - waiting for some better signs.

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