The Empire Report - Thursday, February 3, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (6) HAT TRICK MARLEAU had a successful stint for his previous connections, and now
debuts for his new barn after last week's $50K claim - definitely has the speed to blast from Post 6, and his
new barn is off to a strong start in 2022 - gets the nod in tonight's opener. (1) BELIEVER finished steadily
for 3rd last week (from Post 6) and is looking at a much easier trip from the pole tonight - legitimate threat.
(4) YOU WILL BE QUEEN hit board in 6 straight local starts before giving way and tiring on the lead last
week - is more than eligible to bounce right back tonight, and would be worth considering if the price drifts
up quite a bit. (2) ONEMORESWAN picked up a 3rd and a 4th in his 2 local starts and could easily go
home with another small piece tonight - prefer the top few, however. (3) SWEET HEART AS was grinding
first over last week when she went offstride on the final turn - she may not be on her best game right now,
and also figures to be handled more conservatively off that miscue. (5) VINNY DE VIE has been away for
3 weeks, and figures to be coming from the back of the pack here - sticking with others for tonight
RACE 2 - Tough race: (5) STRIKING GENSON shipped in from Ohio on 1/13, added Lasix, and was a
close 2nd despite racing off a 5 week layoff - not sure why he was such a non-factor in his last, but he
probably deserves another chance in this somewhat shaky NW4 field. (2) JOE EXOTIC is just 1 for 46
BUT he gets a pretty significant barn change for tonight, has picked up 2nds in 2 of his last 3 starts, and
should be able to land on a good trip - possibility. (7) SEVENSHADESOFGREY was a winner in the 3YO
NYSS trot last summer, but really hasn't quite clicked yet for his new connections, and did make a break
last week - wouldn't be shocked to see him beat these, but make sure to get a pretty good price if trying him
from this spot. (1) PEACEFUL MISSION NO is a sister to the other mare that Smedshammer brought over
from Norway (LADY ANN NO, Race 5), but she's 5 years old and only has 8 career starts - qualifier does
look ok, and Trond did try right out of the box with the sister last week - possibility. (4) DUKE OF LINDY
always gives his supporters a good root, cutting the mile at 135-1 five starts back, then losing by just over a
length in his last pair, at 38-1 and 62-1....always ok to include underneath. (6) GRAFENBERG behaved last
week, landed on a perfect trip but hung late with victory in his sights - will need some trip luck tonight, as
he'll likely be coming from well back. (3) FASHION ON A STAR is just 1 for 26, and has just 1 start in
almost 7 weeks - prefer to just watch tonight in his YR debut
RACE 3 - (5) VELOCITY MCSWEETS was an excellent after the barn change on 12/16 - came up a little
short cutting the mile in her next (racing off a bad date), but was a powerful "pocket rocket" winner in her
last, and seems eligible to take another despite bumping up a notch in class. (6) SOMEBEACHSOMEFRA
has always done well at Yonkers and fits perfectly at this level - on the flip side, she has just 1 start in 6
weeks, and draws outside - still worth using at what figures to be a square price. (2) COOLNCALCULATI
NG N was a pocket winner at the bottom level in her first local start but actually raced pretty well last week
up in class, from Post 8 - moves inside, and can have a say here. (1) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX rallied
nicely for 2nd in her first start of the year and she's just another from this barn that is thriving right now -
she has only one start in almost 9 weeks, though, and it's hard to know just how tight she'll be for tonight.
(3) E R HILARY moves inside for her new barn and has been a hard hitter for a long time - normally does
her best work with a bit cheaper, but still have to respect her chances for at least a piece tonight. (8) DEME
TER N had no excuse when unable to hang on at 3/5 last week, and now moves up in class and draws Post
8 - likely looking at only a minor piece in her current form. (4) JUXTA COWGIRL has missed almost a
month since her last start in NJ, and was just 1 for 18 here over the last 2 years - prefer others tonight. (7) A
CRAFTY LADY has been away since 12/9 and draws Post 7 - good night to just observe
RACE 4 - (5) NO WIN NO FEED A was sent off at even money in her YR debut, battled a very long way
with the talented JODY and only gave way in the shadow of the wire - deserves a chance to get it right
tonight. (1) PRAY THE ROSARY just missed nipping the top choice for 2nd last week after following the
winner's cover - looking at another good trip tonight, with a good chance to take home another big chunk.
(7) BETTERB CHEVRON N isn't on her "best" game right now, but she hasn't been bad, either - Zeron
will need to make something happen from out here, but she can probably contend for a piece with an even
half decent trip. (2) ANNE BONNEY N was pretty good off the hiatus last week, draws inside and may be
able to land somewhere in the exotics...at a big price. (4) MALNIFICENT is just one of many from this
barn to be racing very well right now - another with a chance at a decent piece, depending on the trip. (3)
EYE POPPING just followed along inside last week but wasn't bad - not usually a fan of hers, but at least
willing to keep an eye on her, especially since she may be dropping in class next start. (8) DANCE CLUB
had a strong 2021 season, even making it all the way up to the Open level - her qualifier suggests she may
need a start, however, so we'll just keep an eye on her...for now. (6) MORNING HAS BROKEN has been
away for 4 weeks after a recent sick scratch - another that will look better with a drop in class (next week?)
RACE 5 - (1) PREACHER MAN seemed to go sour along with several of his barnmates, but he did make a
big recovery after a miscue 2 back, and was a decent 4th in his last - it seems like he MAY be coming back
around, and this isn't a bad week to give him a shot. (2) LADY ANN NO gave it a go from Post 8 in her
U.S. debut but just didn't have enough at the end to last for the win - eligible to be much tighter tonight and
may just run off from these....but she also figures to be way overbet, and could be a bit vulnerable. (3)
SPELL CUTEYPIE had dead aim but just missed in her YR debut 2 back, but weakened a bit off a pocket
trip in her last - logical contender from this spot, but she'll need to find a bit more at the end for a chance at
the top prize. (7) KEEPER OF SECRETS was an ok 3rd in his YR debut after a conservative trip - has a
chance against these, but hard to say if he's sharp enough to get it done from all the way out here. (5) MNE
MONIC usually finishes decently, and was able to use an easy trip last week to pick up 2nd - if they mix
things up a bit up front, she could be the one to pick up the pieces late. (4) REAL MCCOY dug in gamely 2
back to hold off #3 and score the 12-1 upset - didn't fire at all in his last, though, so we'll see which version
shows up tonight. (8) IDENTITY POLICE has gotten away to poor starts, and figures to be coming from
way back from Post 8 - will wait for a better spot before seriously considering. (6) SHENZI AS hasn't done
much in her local starts, and made a break last week
RACE 6 - (2) SLY ELEANOR N was headed to the top when she made a break in her first local start -
didn't look "pretty" last week, but ended up obliterating the field in what was a very fast mile for that night
-- steps up to face tougher, but still deserves the nod off that blowout victory. (5) DBLDELITEBRIGADE
N was a lot sharper in her last than the line might suggest - having only one start in 5+ weeks may hurt her
chances a bit tonight, but she's still worth using on your tickets. (1) ROBYN CAMDEN has just looked
"ok" in her last 2 starts, but it would be hard to leave the classy 7YO out of your exotics from a good spot
like this. (7) TANGO DANCER ships in fairly sharp from Ohio, has the speed to improve position at the
start, and did win her only local start of 2021 - at 20-1 ML, she's definitely worth at least a look! (3) WOO
DMERE SKYROLLER was heavily backed for her YR debut and did go a BIG mile...but her difficulties
on the turns cost her dearly and she ended up 3rd - had no problem beating a soft field in her next, but she
was on the lead and didn't have to be used hard on any of the bends - we'll see how she does tonight against
this tougher crew. (4) SWEET SALLY SUE hasn't clicked since arriving from Ohio 3 starts back - waiting
for a better effort before seriously considering. (6) WOODMERE HARRIET just hasn't been on her best
game lately, and drawing outside tonight isn't going to help her cause. (8) AMERICAN TOUR N remains
in and out from week to week - tough spot here even if she shows up on her best game
RACE 7 - (3) LA BELLA VITA N was sent off as the odds on choice in her US debut (at The Swamp) and
rallied well from far back to be a close 4th - absolutely jogged in her next pair (also at very short prices),
and we'll jump on board for her first local try. (2) NEVERFORGETWHOUR qualified nicely at Fhd. (now
on Lasix), and seems ready for action in her first start of the new year - should be a major player with the
inside draw. (5) WESTBEACH was stuck racing from the back of the pack in three straight Open efforts, so
she gets a pass for those less than stellar looking lines - just prior to that she rattled off 5 wins in a row
(including 3 here at Yonkers), and it's reasonable to expect that she'll be a much bigger player with the class
drop tonight -worth using on your tickets. (1) IRON MISTRESS has been good for awhile, and she finished
surprisingly well against some good competition last week - chance for a piece from the pole. (4) LADYBE
LUCKYTONITE was good enough to beat lesser from the pole last week, but she'll need to up her game
that much more to be a threat against the top ones in here. (7) ROCK N PHILLY will appreciate the class
drop, but not the draw - may have trouble overcoming Post 7 against a few sharp inside foes. (6) MAGICA
L MISTRESS ended up parked the mile after trying to leave last week - may just take a more conservative
approach from a similar spot tonight.
RACE 8 - (1) MACHNHOPE was an excellent 3rd off a 3 month layoff 2 back, and went a HUGE mile
last week, losing by less than 2 lengths despite being parked every step of the way, and three wide twice --
last year's Matchmaker champ somehow gets assigned the rail off those efforts, and may be sharp enough
now to take advantage. (3) DRAGON ROLL was just a bit short 2 back off the winter hiatus (while
enduring a tough trip), but pounced on the live cover journey to win last week's Open - she won 12X here
last year, and remains a solid threat almost any time she's in to go! (6) LIT DE ROSE has been a beast since
arriving from Canada, compiling a 6-4-1-1 record so far - almost has to be included on your tickets, even
from Post 6. (2) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL A has finally started to live up to her potential lately, beating a
solid NW30000 field 2 back, then finishing a solid 3rd in her first Open attempt - the good draw puts her in
play for another good piece. (4) LUCKY ARTIST A needed her last start (off the bad date) but was right
with the pack at the wire - could definitely land somewhere in the exotics with the right trip (5) CORAL
BELLA was helped by the trip last week, but still exploded over the entire field despite the bad date -
somehow has climbed from the basement claimer she was taken from all the way up to the Open in just
FOUR starts, and may be good enough to still grab a piece with these for her red hot barn. (7) JODY made
amends for that miscue 2 back with the gutsy first over win last week - she's now won 4 of 5 local starts,
but will really be up against it from Post 7 tonight. (8) DELITFULCATHERIN N has held her own since
moving up to this top level, but does figure to be too far out to threaten from Post 8
RACE 9 - (3) AWESOME TRIX has proven to be a pretty nice mare when she behaves herself (and that's
regardless of trip) - was an easy winner at 2/5 last week, and will be very tough again...as long as she
continues to stay trotting. (5) STORM BRINGER was a good 2nd (behind a very sharp winner) debuting at
Yonkers for new connections - eligible to be even better this week, and could be the main danger. (2) BIG
MONEY HONEY tends to be a little sluggish early, but often finishes pretty well - seems more likely to
grab a smaller piece than a bigger one, but his barn is always dangerous, and always worthy of respect. (4)
SHADRACK HANOVER was better than his last couple of lines might suggest, and may be helped by the
addition of trotting hopples tonight - interesting bomb to at least consider. (7) BLANK SPACE AS won 3 in
a row vs. much softer, but more than held his own when tying for 2nd last week after bumping up in class -
may be looking at a tougher trip tonight, though. (6) TITANS HOPE was a nice 7-1 overlay winner in his
last, but he'll need to up his game to be the same kind of threat against this tougher crew (8) CREDIT CON
was empty in his first try of 2022 but much better in last, picking up the place DH - has a long haul from
Post 8 tonight, though. (1) PERRON looked all done on the final turn last week but somehow came back on
through the stretch for an improbable victory - not sure he can hang with these, though, even with the rail
draw
RACE 10 - (3) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE qualified nicely, and does tend to come alive at this bottom
level at times - might be worth a stab in a finale filled with questionable main players. (1) WAKEMESHA
KEME managed to earn $65K last year, but only got her picture taken twice - overall recent form has been
lacking but she does move to a new barn (while drawing the pole, and getting Brennan on board), and a
wake up call can't be ruled out. (5) SHELLIE DE VIE is hard to like off her recent form, but she also beat a
NW20000 field just a couple of months ago - another that could be very dangerous if suddenly feeling good
tonight. (6) CHUPPAH ON improved significantly last week...but that was no real surprise, as this barn has
been excelling with fresh stock for some time - would like her chances better had she drawn a bit further
inside, though. (4) CABOWABOCUTTIE hasn't won here in eons, but did actually show life finishing last
week - maybe can grab a small piece, at a big price? (7) YS TALLIA was beating much better last year, but
hasn't been close to her best game in some time - waiting for better signs before endorsing. (2) BULLVILL
EKARLA is winless here since 2019, but it's possible that she could grab a minor piece thanks to the inside
draw 9definitely prefer others, though, (8) READY SET ROCK is the outsider - literally and figuratively