The Empire Report – Wednesday, March 6, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (6) PEMBROKE SMOOTHIE was inconsistent last year but did flash ability in a number of her starts –
she gets a big switch to the Super Siblings for this year, and her qualifier looks like more than enough to score in her
2024 return. (1) HUNTING LINDY won her first 2 local starts last year then took some time off after finishing well
back on 12/3 – she qualified back effectively, and should be ready to be in the hunt. (8) HURRIKANE LADY LOU
drew Post 8 after a long layoff but did finish alertly – she was a little more aggressive in her last, and picked up a 4th
after leaving for position from Post 7 – still no luck at the draw, but seems ready to deliver a contending effort. (4)
DONTKARENIFIDO was left too far back to do any damage last week but she’s hit board in 11 of 13 local starts
and is always worth including underneath. (7) CLEAR THE WAY was 0 for 22 last year but does show a few decent
starts recently in NJ – not a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (5) DEVILISH DREAMS hasn’t been good for some time but does
face a bit easier crew tonight – we’ll see if that helps. (2) EBONY LADY has yet to hit board in 5 starts this year. (3)
MARATHON MARY has been dismal in both of her starts this year
RACE 2 – (4) DAAMERICANSKY hasn’t had any local success in some time but this is surely the “easiest” field
he’s faced – good spot for him to hit the top, get brave, and take a shaky bunch wire to wire. (6) CAMPORA N
woke up with a big effort on 12/7 then raced well again in his next pair – inclined to just give him a pass for his last
(impossible trip), and that would make him the main danger. (1) MINGO JOEL struggled through the latter part of
2023 and showed little in his ’24 return – he did win 7 races here last year, though, and could be worth at least a look
in his 2nd start off the layoff. (3) SWAGASAURUSREX figured to pick up off the recent claim but that just hasn’t
been the case – maybe the wake up call comes tonight? (5) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN has lost at least 33 straight
starts here since 2022 – tough one to endorse on top! (2) COALITION HANOVER just stopped functioning in the
last few months of 2023 – returns at the bottom level, but would still be hard to get behind right now
RACE 3 – (5) REAL WILLEY went a bunch of good starts here last year for a low % barn so it was hardly a
surprise to see him come out on top immediately upon joining the Dynamic Duo – he was freshened up after that
win, and returns showing the typical blowout qualifier the barn is known for – we’ll hop right on board. (2) ARDEN
MESSI N steps up off a 4th place finish but he was used hard and is definitely good right now – can be a part of this.
(7) KEAYANG KAMIKAZE A was very impressive in his YR debut, drawing off in the lane (as the odds on choice)
in a hot 1:52.4 mile – maybe he can crush these two, but he goes from the rail to Post 7, and loses Bartlett – could be
a bit vulnerable tonight. (3) HIMSELF N now has 3 starts in the U.S. and it’s still hard to get a good gauge on his
ability – worth including underneath. (4) HES SPECIAL used an easy trip to rally well late for 2nd behind #7 last
week – faces a tougher overall field tonight, but another piece is within reach. (5) TIM MCMIKI improved in each
of his last 2 starts but lands in a very tough spot for tonight. (1) INDICTABLE HANOVER picked up a recent win
and 2nd vs. easier, but hasn’t looked nearly as good facing better in his last pair
RACE 4 – Tough race: (1) MAJOR DESIRE has been a solid 15 recently and was claimed from his last (win) by a
trainer that achieved an unfathomable 33% win rate in just his first year in the business – steps up to 20s vs. a solid
bunch, and we’ll see if his barn can have the same impact at Yonkers that they have at multiple other tracks. (3) CAP
TAIN T HANOVER was an upset winner 5 starts back then literally just missed in his last 4 outings – has to be
respected ever start now. (2) IM J BEE N has won 4 in a row for four different trainers – steps up to 20s off last
week’s victory in the “Stake Your Claim” Final, and it would be hard to leave him off your tickets. (4) SMOKIN BY
N was scary sharp when 2nd two back, and equally sharp in last week’s win – would have been the top choice if not
for the claim last week – may still win, but a little more risky now. (5) LYONS JOHNNYJNR often figures but is
also light in the win column – make sure to get a good price if using on top. (7) KEYSTONE DASH draws horrible
for his 2nd try off the layoff. (6) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER has been terrible for weeks – his connections put up his
former trainer’s brother to drive tonight, assumedly hoping he can help get him straightened back out
RACE 5 – (5) OAKWOOD DYNASTY IR is the latest UK import for the nation’s leading barn and this mare
turned in a solid prep for her U.S. debut – since she won’t be the favorite, we’ll give her a try on top. (4) MISS
MAJESTY was sent off at an insane 1/20 on 2/14 then came up 2nd best to her main foe in what turned into a 2 horse
affair – she remains the one to knock off, but since she’s off a sick scratch (and DID lose at 5 cents on the dollar last
time), some caution is advised. (1) YOUCANCALLME DAISY was a distant 3rd when #4 finished 2nd (2/14) then
finished ok from a hopeless spot in her next– the move back inside could help her grab a piece here. (3) NIRVANA
HANOVER was an underwhelming 4th in her first try for our leading trainer – needs to up her game to be a bigger
player tonight. (7) NEITHER DO I has some “ok” form at the lower levels at Dover – tough draw for her local
debut. (6) URSULA BLUE CHIP has only managed a pair of 3rds (last year) from 9 local starts – prefer others. (8)
HURRIKANE APHRODITE lands the worst post for her first start since last summer – good week to just observe.
(2) TACOS AND TEQUILA made an uncharted break in her first start back at 3 – she’s still a work in progress
RACE 6 – (3) DARK MIND qualified back solidly so it was a surprise to see him so non-competitive last start – he
returns tonight on Lasix, and that may explain his last dismal effort...not a bad week to give him a shot, especially
with that 12-1 ML price. (4) NANCY LOU NO hasn’t really impressed so far, but she’s probably capable of better –
she’s facing a much easier bunch tonight, and should be a serious threat against these (but won’t offer much value on
top at that 2-1 ML listing). (2) WISTERIA HANOVER is in a good spot to leave quickly and set herself up with a
good trip – very logical player for exotics. (6) TOMBSTONE has a win and three 2nds from his last 5 starts (broke
in the other) and the only knock here is the draw – absolutely worth using if the price is fair. (5) ENERGYSOURCE
had 10 wins last year and was going well for a while at PcD (after arriving from Indiana) – his trio of preps suggests
that he may not be 100% to start off his 2024 season, however. (7) CREDARENA won his first start off the year but has only managed one 5th place check since then – hard to endorse from out here. (1) TO MY CREDIT is 11-0-0-2 at YR and has really struggled in his 2 starts since returning from the winter break
RACE 7 – (3) IMABEACHBOY shipped in off a win at The Swamp, held his own vs. better in a pair of starts then
raced ok a few days ago at Fhd. – returns at the bottom claiming level and unless a wheel fell off, he should be a big
threat tonight. (6) SOUTHWIND ONYX wasn’t at his best for several starts but raced MUCH better last week –
could be a very live player, despite the draw (4) ATLANTIS had been razor sharp for weeks, making last weeks total
non-effort a complete head scratcher – truly no clue as to what we’ll see from him tonight. (2) MIKI DE VIE ships
in from Stga. showing a zillion straight starts hitting the board – he was likely facing easier, however, and may be a
notch below the top players in here. (5) MACHLICIOUS was never close last week but was a big price 2
nd in his prior pair – willing to use underneath. (1) MAJESTIC KIWI N draws the pole but has been invisible lately
RACE 8 – (5) STONEBRIDGE BRAVE was an okay 2nd in her local debut, jogged in 1:56.4 the next week and was
even sharper in last week’s 1:55.4 score – will be heavily favored to make it 3 in a row. (2) ROSE RUN YANKEE
finished full of trot under a hold in traffic last week – he’s not the easiest horse to drive (especially at Yonkers), but
the inside draw does help – decent value horse to consider. (4) CASSIUS HANOVER has hit board in all 5 local
tries but has yet to find the winner’s circle – we’ll see if MacDonald can get more out of him than Lachance has. (1)
I GOT THE TAB was a no threat 2nd behind the top choice last week – he’ll need to be sharper tonight if he hopes to
narrow the gap between them. (3) CAL MILES N SHELL really had no excuse when a close 2nd two back then was
unable to sustain his bid last week – minor share? (7) WILD WAY was a very game first over winner last week and
adds Lasix off that sharp – the post could cause some difficulties, however. (6) ALLSUMMERLONG AS stole one
3 back, rallied decently for 4th in her next but failed to fire last week – tough post for tonight. (8) INTERVIEW FRAA is likely better than his last but another 8 hole may have him waiting for a better spot to show it
RACE 9 – Good finale: (4) FIX A DRINK was sent off favored in his local debut (arriving from Canada and joining
our top barn) but couldn’t hold off a charging TACHYON into the lane– he’ll probably be a little better price in here,
and may prefer racing from just off the pace – worth another try? (5) TACHYON has been good for a few starts now
and simply pounced on last week’s live trip, exploding in the lane to an easy victory – his price will come down now
but he remains a legitimate danger. (3) MAHONE SEELSTER is often ignored at the windows but he’s been sharp
since December and never goes a bad mile – good one for exotics. (1) YOU GOT IT was sent off at an absurd 1/20
last week but at least he didn’t make his backers sweat – faces MUCH tougher now, but can still be a player from
start to finish. (2) CREATIVE VENTURE was an 8-1 overlay winner 2 back, then an even 3rd last week – leaning to
a couple of others for the top slot, but he’d hardly be a shock. (7) MANCLANE was on a very nice roll before
making an unexpected early miscue last week – he’s a tough call for tonight, especially with the bad draw. (8) BON
TONI DEGATO S came into his last off 4 straight wins but he was a great “value play against” as he was exiting our
leading barn that night – sire enough he lost all chance with an early miscue, and now is stuck starting from all the
way outside. (6) ONION GUM is still a work in progress for his new connections.