Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • July 6, 2022

The Empire Report - Wednesday, July 6, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) SHANGHAI SEELSTER was sent off at 4/5 for her local debut (for new connections) and

was the easiest of winners - followed that up with an equally easy 1:52.1 win across the river, and remains

the one to beat returning to Yonkers...even if facing better tonight. (7) HAMPTONS BABE was a close 2nd

here last year to GOTTHEGREENLIGHT then finished 3rd behind her in the NYSS Final - hasn't quite

been as good vs. the stakes fillies this year, but she picked up a win and a 2nd in PA when facing these NW

PM types - should be a solid player, despite the outside draw. (6) NITE TIME DEAL also had some stakes

action at 2, and is doing ok (so far) in her 3YO starts - her speed should put her in play for another good

piece here, especially dropping a bit from NW6. (2) FOX VALLEY CACHET seemed to be heading in a

good direction but last week's 3rd was just "ok" - needs to be a little sharper. (1) LADY ELECTRA may be

showing some better signs in her last couple - perhaps the inside draw can help her grab a piece of this. (5)

MARILYNS JO put in a good first over bid before tiring last week - gets a class drop, and is another with a

shot at a small piece. (3) PATTY JO M is racing well upstate, but has to prove she can hang with these.


RACE 2 - (3) KEYSTONE DASH is as inconsistent as they come, but he does throw some big miles, when

in the right mood - he's stepping up from 12.5s to 20s here but the reality is that if he shows up anywhere as

good as last week, it won't matter (eternally red-hot barn was 3 for 3 on Monday night, including putting a

new 1:50.3 lifetime mark on 9YO Wichita Lineman....in his 195th career start)! (4) LOVE THE BLUES N

has been going some competitive miles vs. the 30s, from difficult spots - should be a live player with the

drop to 20s....but may need the top choice to throw one of his duds for a chance at the top prize. (1) REAL

LUCKY is just 1 for 16 here this year, and that win was on the lead, in the bottom condition class - he does

get a class drop here, and could be a player from the pole....if he brings his best. (6) GOTHIC ROCK failed

badly on the front end off the claim last week. and will go for more new connections - look for a more

conservative drive tonight, with a chance to rally for a piece. (5) MISTER HAT enjoyed success here last

year, but 2022 has been an overall struggle so far (13-0-1-1) - waiting for some better signs. (2) SPORTSK

EEPER is another that can't seem to get rolling here at YR in 2022 (7-0-0-1).


RACE 3 - (1) BROKNHEARTSVILLE was racing well every week at Stga, this spring but has tailed a bit

recently - lands now in a very high % barn (with a particularly strong trotting touch), and draws the pole

with the man who won EIGHT races here on Monday night - lots to like. (6) DYLAN THE GREAT was a

successful OHSS horse at 2 and 3, then continued to race well at 4 - missed his entire 5YO season but has

come back to do some good things at 6 for his current connections - would have liked to see him with a

local catch driver for his Hilltop debut, but he has a legitimate chance to get it done for Smith, as well (this

class was opened up to "NW5281" to fit him in) (2) MOMMS MY DAD made a break 2 back then was

stuck too far back last week (thanks to a gapper)- draws inside, gets Brennan on board, and may have a

chance to make some late noise. (7) CIRCLE OF LIFE AS was 3 for 9 here last year, and has left hard from

outside posts in the past - not the worst 15-1 ML horse you could consider. (5) CAVALIER GEORGE is off

to a slow 2022 season but his barn does pop these types at the bottom level sometimes - another possible

bomb to look at? (4) GRUDEN was claimed for $18K on 12/13 then immediately went on the shelf for 5

months - made a couple of breaks right off the bat, raced well for a couple of starts, but does seem to have

gone the wrong way once again - not worth that 3-1 ML price. (3) LUCKY WEEKEND finished well back

returning to Yonkers last week and is hard to get excited about, even with the class drop.


RACE 4 - (3) EMOTIONS RICHES put in a good looking move off the claim (3 back) but suddenly just

fell apart from the top of the lane - raced big in his next, rallying for 2nd despite an early miscue, then was

an excellent 8 hole 2nd last week, despite racing with a broken Martingale - may be time for an

incident-free journey! (1) LOOK IN MY EYES really upped his game the past few starts and that likely

attracted last week's claim - lands in a high % barn, draws best, and looms a major threat. (6) D P ROCKET

was sent off at 3/5 last week (despite racing off a bad date) and had no trouble completing the front end

score (while beating the top choice) - tougher draw tonight, so things may be a little tougher. (2) BIG BAD

SWAN was stuck in the back with no real chance for 4 straight starts - moves inside, and CAN be a player

with these if the trip goes his way. (5) ZIG ZAG has been up and down lately, but thrown some good efforts

when in the right mood - may find these a little too tough, even if on that A Game tonight (4) GREY shows

2 qualifiers, 3 sick scratches, and one start from her last 6 lines - prefer to just keep an eye on her, for now.

(8) KANDY SWEET is a proven player with these but her best racing comes on/near the front, and that

seems like a tall order from this spot. (7) COCKTAILS N DREAMS has raced well here in the past, but

lands in a very tough spot returning from PA.


RACE 5 - (7) AMERICAN HALO was a solid 3rd in her first start (NYSS) at 2, but was up the track in her

next then went right on the shelf - has come back doing good things (so far) at 3, finishing 3rd in an Excel

A at Buffalo, then knocking off the 1/10 NADINA HANOVER at VD last start - should have a big chance

against these, even from Post 7. (1) LET ME BE ME hinted at some talent from her 2YO season, but also

seems to have a ton of issues - has bounced around between barns but the Dynamic Duo may have figured

her out, judging by that last qualifier (where she crushed a couple of decent, OLDER rivals) - could be a

very dangerous player tonight. (5) HESTON HONEY has been doing good things here, with a win and

three 2nds in her last 4 starts - belongs in your exotics. (4) BLAZING SPIRIT was a winner at Chester in

her first start back at 3, then rallied decently for 3rd here last week (from well back) - can definitely grab a

decent chunk here. (8) NEW VIEW just missed at PcD in her first career start then won the next week -

been a little tougher for her since taking on Excelsior A rivals in her last pair, but she definitely fits ok with

these - Post 8 is the obvious roadblock. (2) BETTE TINA is just 1 for 28 but races well enough for a

chance at some minor spoils. (6) BEACHBLANKETLINDY is just 1 for 36 but has grabbed smaller pieces

in many of her starts - may not be on her best game right now, though. (3) RAISE THE ANTE ships in

from Harrington for a new barn - form looks fine on paper, but the guess is that she may be a little cheaper.


RACE 6 - (3) MUSCLE JACK is 2 for 2 since the recent claim and looked terrific both times - no reason he

can't take another. (4) SEVENTIER got Bartlett back in the bike last week but lost all chance when shuffled

out by a tired one - could easily rebound tonight, and the price should be decent - good one to use in

exotics. (2) BIZET was driven much harder than he'd prefer last week and paid for it - an easier trip could

see him bounce back with one of his better efforts...with a chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (6)

SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN has been extremely consistent for weeks, although he's been just a little

lacking at the very end of his miles - willing to include underneath. (5) STONEBRIDGE GAMBLE was

used very hard to make the lead last week and ultimately gave way and folded badly (after winning 4 of 5

starts prior to that) - his new barn will be tasked with getting him to bounce right back from that mile, and

it's hard to know how successful they'll be - would want a decent price to consider on top this week. (1)

STRIKING GENSON was able to parlay a pocket trip to victory last week but this is a much tougher field.


RACE 7 - (2) MIKKI ROSE saw her 3 race win streak snapped when outblitzed to 3/4s last week by a

razor sharp HEAVEN SENT ME (but still was able to beat the others for 2nd) - meets some decent looking

shippers tonight, but still deserves top billing. (1) COZ IM SPECIAL is racing well again, and gets major

post relief tonight - could definitely find herself in the mix with the right trip. (8) JOYRIDE HANOVER

has been inconsistent since returning for her 3YO season but the ABILITY is certainly there to beat these -

Bartlett took her over the top choice so it does seem likely that he'll handle aggressively despite the draw -

definitely a shot. (5) FANCY AND FAST has been handled conservatively at PcD since arriving from Ohio

but seems to have some ability, and may look to be a bit more aggressive tonight - may be a good fit here.

(7) COUNTERPARTY RISK flashed some ability at 2, and has looked solid at 3 as well - hard to say

whether or not she'll be able to get involved from Post 7 in her YR debut, though. (4) COMMANDER

CATHY N has gone from grabbing checks in the Matchmaker Series to struggling at this NW6 level - she's

still looking for her first U.S. victory! (6) PULL ME THROUGH hails from a VERY live barn, but she's

just 1 for 21 this year and would be a bit of a surprise. (3) SOME KINDAANGEL ships over off a PcD

win, but may be a notch below these - suppose we'll find out tonight.


RACE 8 - (5) KEYSTONE BLADE can be excused for his last (7 hole with his owner on board) but he was

definitely sharp prior to that - gets Kakaley in the bike tonight, and we'll look for an aggressive, sharp try.

(6) WILD AND CRAZY GUY was sent off at 2/5 off the class drop last week but weakened to 3rd with no

real excuses - a decent percentage of horses from this super-barn bounce right back with huge efforts after a

disappointing mile...he could be one of them, but the value may be to go against him here. (8) LINDSEYS

PRIDE has been hampered by bad posts and gets another one tonight....but if Stratton is willing to gamble

on putting him in play, he would have a shot to be part of this. (2) IN MY DREAMS can be a very tough

horse to predict from start to start but if he's in the right mood, he could do a little damage here - ok for

exotics. (1) OUR WHITE KNIGHT is another plagued by inconsistency, but the good draw at least makes

him a candidate to pick up a small piece. (3) ABSOLUT UNCERTENTY picked up a 3rd in this class 2

back, but was dull last week - leaning towards others. (4) MUSCLE STAR could really use a class drop -

suppose a minor share is possible with an easy enough trip. (7) FASHION FOREVER is a steady piece -

getter, but may have trouble reaching from out here.


RACE 9 - (8) AINT HE SPECIAL was well backed for his local debut (new barn, adding Lasix) and

though he was way back to the half, he put in a serious bid to get up to the leader by the final turn, then

wore that one down through the lane - Stratton opts of his brother's horse (from the pole) to stick with this

guy, and we'll stay on his team too. (3) STILL THIRSTY is prone to miscues, but he's shown to be a pretty

decent horse when he minds his manners - legitimate player IF he behaves. (1) THOR AND DR JONES

had been a bit better than his lines might have suggested so last week's solid 3rd place finish was no real

surprise - draws the pole, and should be able to contend for another good piece tonight (with Zeron taking

over from Stratton). (2) JMS ROLLIN was handled very aggressively in his YR debut and held the lead

right up until the last couple of steps - he can contend once more, but may need to be a bit sharper for a shot

at the top prize. (6) MAKE MY DEO ships in sharp from PA and should fit nicely here - faces a somewhat

unpredictable trip from Post 6, however. (7) BORN A REBEL charged home last week to collar #2 on the

money -- a bit of a surprise because he's needed the lead to thrive in the past - another that could be facing a

tough trip this time around. (4) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK gets a pass from Post 8 last week but his

previous 3rds were just ok - needs to find a bit more. (5) SHIP WRECK BEACH K seems a little cheap,

but we'll learn more tonight.

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