The Empire Report – Thursday, December 5, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (4) TWIN B DELUXE hasn’t won in a while but he’s gone plenty of big efforts vs. (much) better than
these – look for an aggressive steer from Gingras...with a good chance for a trip to the winner’s circle. (1) ESCAPE
TO AMERICA is another that figures to really appreciate tonight’s class relief, even if his current tries have been
less than stellar – the 3YO has earned $131K this year, but his local record has been lacking (10-0-1-1 $16K) – hard
to ignore him from THIS spot, however. (6) BEHNHOPE RULZ N had dull tries 3 and 4 back but back on his game
11/19 and raced well from an impossible spot last week – may be able to add some value to the exotics. (3) THEBE
AUDENBLUES N pounced on a perfect trip in a soft field to grab the win last week – probably looking at a smaller
slice vs. these, however. (5) SCRIBBLERS finished 2 nd off the class drop last week (behind #3) but wasn’t “sharp” –
will need to better to be any kind of player tonight. (8) ALWAYS A THRILL was a good 3 rd in his local debut, even
if helped by an easy trip – brutal spot tonight, though. (2) SINATRA HANOVER arrives from NJ and seems to be
overmatched. (7) BRAEVIEW BONDI A figures to have a hard time getting close to the action from out here
RACE 2 – Tough race: (5) BLUEBIRD BISHOP was very sharp here for several starts this summer but then went
on the shelf after a miscue on 6/27 – qualified back sharply (for a new barn) on 11/6, just missed in his first start
back but then made a costly early miscue in his last – could be a good value play in this very competitive affair. (1)
P C FREE WHEELING hadn’t been at her “best” for a while but certainly showed up in top form last week,
crushing her rivals in her 3 rd start for new connections – anything similar to that effort would make her a big threat
once more. (2) MAHONE SEELSTER is 0 for 13 here this year but has been 2 nd nine times – remains a good one for
the bottom of exotics. (4) BULLY BOY HILL has been behaving every week and also racing very consistently –
he’s a possibility here for sure, and worth using if not overbet. (6) FULL SCALE has been terrific ever since joining
this barn this summer, hitting board in all but one start – he was 3 rd in his only try at this $40K level (after cutting the
mile), and tonight’s draw certainly doesn’t help his chances. (8) BROOKVIEW DARIUS raced well for 4 th from
Post 8 last week (after winning his prior pair) but he draws the same bad post tonight, while joining a new barn –
tough spot! (3) ICE BREAKERS K can hang with these on his best effort, but may be conservative tonight off the
qualifier. (7) MACMORRIS HANOVER will struggle to reach from out here
RACE 3 – (4) LOUS THE ATTITUDE has hit board in 7 straight starts, and that includes 4 wins – he was overbet
when 2 nd last week, but his price should drift up a bit tonight – we’ll give him top billing. (1) CAPTAIN T HANOV
ER rarely goes a bad effort, and has been remarkably consistent all year long – he moves back to a barn he’s already
raced for several times, and would be hard to leave out of your exotics from this spot. (7) I AINT NO MACK was
unable to get in gear in a hot mile last week, as his 4 race winning streak came to an end – he’s been going off the
prohibitive favorite for weeks, but HIS price will finally move up a bit tonight...hard to say if he can reach, but a
good enough price would make him worth a shot (for his new barn). (5) BIG DREAM FELLA is capable of big
miles when “right”, but he’s missed a month after a lame scratch, and drops below the price of his recent claim –
feels like a red flag. (6) KINGSTON PANIC can offer a good late rally when the trip goes his way – never a bad
bomb for the bottom of exotics. (8) UP THE CREEK probably should have held 2 nd after a pocket trip last week,
even if vs. better – tough assignment from out here. (3) HES SPECIAL has gone the wrong way recently – waiting
for better signs. (2) MY FAVORITE DALI is capable of better than his lines show, but tough to endorse right now
RACE 4 – (4) REAL WILLEY has been struggling for a while but did have some better life finishing last week –
the barn got a big wake up call victory from GINGER TREE PETE on Wednesday night...maybe this guy can be
next? (2) EASTON BEACH had some rough looking recent form up in Canada but was a respectable 5 th in his local
debut, racing for a top barn – could be even sharper in his 2 nd Hilltop try. (7) MULLINAX had been doing good
work before throwing a dud last week – he’s listed at 20-1 ML, Dube sticks with him, and perhaps he’s a good
option for the longshot fans? (5) SPRING BLAKE came up disappointing as the favorite last week, in his first start
off the barn change – definitely way too soon to write him off, but that 2-1 ML price makes it hard to ger excited
about hopping back on his team tonight. (1) ROYAL DESIRE can throw some pretty big miles at times but does
tend to disappoint more often than he delivers– would want a pretty nice price to try him on top here. (3) EMINEM
HANOVER wasn’t able to keep it going on the front end last week and his barn has gone ice cold again – leaning
elsewhere. (6) RICAR DOSHILYSHALLY had a couple of ok local tries but draws poorly for a new barn tonight,
and likely looking at a conservative steer. (8) SHAKE IT seems overmatched, especially from out here
RACE 5 – (1) CONQUEST SEELSTER ships down from Rideau Carleton showing stellar form, and one of the
horses he’s been battling up there (IRRESISTIBLE) has a win and a 2 nd from 3 Yonkers starts (after shipping down
himself) – we’ll give him a try right off the bat. (3) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE doesn’t have the greatest form right
now but he drops down to 20s, and his barn has sent out a bunch of form reversing winners the past few weeks –
maybe he’s the next one? (4) THAT DOG WILL HUNT has been 1 st or 2 nd in 12 of 27 local starts, and certainly is a
good fit with these – live player. (5) VICTOR CRUISE doesn’t feel like a threat for the top slot but an easy trip
could see him rally late for some minor spoils. (7) CLEVELAND B MIKI finally picked up his first win of the
season 2 back then was a close 3 rd last week – tough spot tonight, though. (2) LOU ON THE BEACH broke in his
local debut then was a “meh” 4 th last week – needs to be better to contend for a decent piece. (8) HOUND ON THE
BEACH hit board here for the first time this year last start but now moves from the pole to the 8 hole
RACE 6 – Very tough race! (1) TACHYON is a little hard to gauge as he’s been stuck facing much better in most of
his recent starts – barn is notorious for form reversals, and we know this guy is more than capable against these
types if on his best game – maybe we can get a wake up call tonight? (3) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS has been a
little tough to predict from start to start this year but he’s managed to earn over $140K and is always dangerous in a
spot like this. (6) RITSON came into his last off a pair of breaks and a qualifier but still managed to finish 3
rd despite a tough trip – at 20-1 ML, he’s worth at least a look. (5) ALL STAR SWAN took a while to start clicking but he’s
clearly hitting on all cylinders right now – he puts his 3 race winning streak on the line vs. a tougher crew, and we’ll
see if he’s up to the task. (2) I GET IT can still do major damage when he lands on an easy trip, as evidenced last
week – chance to be right in the mix with another kind journey. (4) VINNY DE VIE probably would like to be in a
bit easier, but a live trip could help him grab a good piece. (8) YANKS DUGOUT turned in his best effort in a while
when he picked up that dead game front end score 2 back, but he’ll have a hard time overcoming the draw tonight.
(7) ROYALTY BEER hasn’t been worse than 4 th since returning from Canada but he also hasn’t visited the winner’s
circle – another that figures to be hurt by the bad post.
RACE 7 – (4) LAZ was able to shoot right to the top from Post 7 two back (dropping to 20s) and crushed the field –
he ran into a much tougher trip from Post 8 last week but still just missed 4 th despite being out the entire way– worth
sticking with. (1) OVER THE HORIZON is 4 for 4 at this level since arriving on the local scene, and draws the pole
tonight – the one to knock off, but the top choice may offer better value. (5) MONACO HANOVER is probably
sharper than his lines look on paper – gets a big switch to Gingras, and may be able to find his way into the exotics.
(3) SECTIONLINE RACER was wide for a quite a bit last week and still ok to the end – good bomb for 3 rd/4 th . (6)
SHUFFLE UP HANOVER was an excellent 16-6-4-1 here in 2023 but sitting at 6-0-0-0 in ’24 – he has some decent
local tries (vs. cheaper) out of town, and may be able to take home a small piece. (7) IRRESISTIBLE got up in his
local debut, and dug in through the lane to hold 2 nd last week (behind a dominant LAZ) – may have trouble getting
close enough tonight, though. (2) SEEYALATERBYE feels a little cheap as he makes his local debut – we’ll find
out for sure, tonight. (8) CAHOOTS would be a player here on his best effort but not sure we’ll see that from Post 8
RACE 8 – Good race! (5) KHAOSAN ROAD saw his 4 race winning streak snapped in PA last week but did have
his trainer on board – goes back to Dube tonight (for whom he just won twice here), and should be offering a decent
price in this very competitive affair. (2) PAPPARDELLE finally escapes the MGM Grand Prix fields and gets an
excellent draw – very dangerous player. (3) STORMONT DIVIDE came up HUGE off the claim last week, and is
now 13 for 27 on the year – chance to take another with a similar performance. (1) DOMOVOY found his stride late
and rallied for 2 nd behind #3 last week – he gets assigned the rail here, and that could put him in position to be part
of the equation. (4) CANTSTOP YANKEE just missed behind #3 last week and has been on an excellent form spree
– chance to take home another piece. (7) IWONT BACKDOWN AS was hammered to even money for his local
debut but was worn into submission by #3, only losing the place spot late – much bigger price tonight, and he can’t
be taken lightly...even from out here. (8) KEG STAND is a proven player with these types but will need plenty of
racing luck to overcome tonight’s draw. (6) TORRONE has been good for some time but tonight’s draw may limit
his output
RACE 9 – (4) WILLY WALTON was re-claimed by the barn that won the last 2X he raced for them – we’ll see if he
can get the “hat trick” for his connections. (1) CANTKEEPMIASECRET was well backed and dominated her rivals
off the class drop at Pocono last week – she’s been streaky in the past, so that victory may be the start of another
form spree. (6) STEALING flew home in the lane 2 of his last 3 starts and rallied steadily for 4 th in the other – not
opposed to using him on top of some tickets if the price is juicy enough. (2) UNFORGETTABLE perked up for 2 nd
at a big price 3 back, then followed that up with victories in her last pair – has to be taken seriously in her current
form. (7) BEERTHIRTY K was no match for the very sharp front end winner last week but did dig in to hold on for 2
nd (over #6) – not sure he can replicate that effort from out here. (5) KENOBI usually races “ok” but may need a
class drop to threaten for a bigger slice of the pie. (3) J S HOPSCOTCH won a fall apart race 3 back but has
struggled in many of his other recent starts. (8) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO used a perfect trip to knock off cheaper
last time, but now faces much tougher from Post 8