The Empire Report - Monday, January 10, 2021 - Race Analysis
Welcome Back!
RACE 1 - (7) VENIER HANOVER won 4 of his 12 starts here last year and charged home nicely for 4th
in NJ last week (with a very young pilot on board) - he'll need some major trip luck to reach from out here
but at 20-1 ML, he's worth a stab in tonight's opener. (3) HASH TAG SWAG won 2 of 17 local starts in
2021 and hit board in half of his losses - he won at this level 2 back, and should be a live player here. (1)
SOHO WALLSTREET A can't really be seen as "sharp" right now but at least he's been racing (across the
river) - he'll no doubt be handled very aggressively from this spot, and we'll see if he can stick around to the
end. (4) OZONE BLUE CHIP is a good fit at this level and was 2nd in his last 2 starts of '21 - he's also
missed 5 weeks (after being scratched sick off the claim) and would be hard to endorse as the 5/2 ML
choice. (6) MACHIAVELLI scored as the favorite to end 2021 (2nd start off the claim) but insist on a
decent price if using on top from Post 6. (5) MARINER SEELSTER is the "x factor" in here - just stopped
in his last start on 12/8, then was scratched off the claim the next week - he's been away since 12/8, and has
to be seen as pretty risky at the moment. (2) SHOREVIEW draws well and should get a decent trip, but he
may be better suited vs. the 25s - small piece? (8) ROCK N TONY is quite capable at this level, but may
need to wait for a better spot before we see his best.
RACE 2 - (2) ELWELL ended the year in raging form, with 2 wins and 2 seconds from his last 4 starts -
clearly the one to knock off if he returns anywhere near as sharp. (1) EDDARD HANOVER struggled a bit
first over last start but did hang in gamely for the show spot - solid chance to pick up a good piece from the
pole tonight. (4) MELODIES MAJOR may benefit from that "maintenance qualifier" in NJ last week - he
tends to be a bit unpredictable, but his best effort could land him a piece of this. (8) WESTERN HILL was
hammered at the windows despite the class jump last week and absolutely jogged for his new connections -
won't be so easy from Post 8, however! (3) JOJOS PLACE beat the 30s off the claim 4 back but remains
unproven at this level - would consider for a minor share only. (5) CHANGE STRIDE N had a strong 2021
campaign but may have been finally tailing a bit at the very end - we'll see if some time off does him some
good. (7) REAL LUCKY N benefited from an opportunistic trip to grab 2nd last week - not sure he'll be as
fortunate from all the way out here. (6) CINNAMACK beat the 30s and was 2nd in the 40s to end 2021, but
benefited from close up trips both times - may have a tough time getting involved from this spot.
RACE 3 - (3) JESSE DUKE N was "good" off the claim 3 back, but absolutely dominant in a pair of
blowouts after that - this is not an easy field, but he does deserve top billing off his last two miles. (2)
HERRICKROOSEVELT N took off a few months at the end of July but has looked very good since
returning - his barn ended 2021 on a strong note, and this guy definitely can have a big say tonight. (4)
ITSMYCHECK GB is 3 for 3 since arriving at The Hilltop, and moves up once more for tonight - has
earned plenty of respect, but MAY find the going a little bit tougher against these. (8) THE WILD CARD
was a solid 2nd the last time he was at this level, and has been facing tougher in all of his recent starts -
may have to settle for a smaller piece from all the way out here, though. (1) SANTAFES COACH was just
2 for 31 at YR last year, but the rail draw at least puts him in play for a small piece. (5) MACHEASY N
won 4 of 15 here last year, but does do his best work vs. a bit easier - likely looking at only a minor share
against these. (6) GRIFFON HANOVER can hold his own at this level with an easy enough trip, but the
outside draw figures to leave him as an outsider tonight. (7) PATRIOT NATION wasn't bad in the latter part
of 2021, but this seems like a spot that will slow him down considerably.
RACE 4 - Tough race: (2) AMERICAN BOY N has 3 recent wins against this type, should be looking at a
good trip and is a logical player here...he's listed as the ML favorite, though, and he's not one to get overly
excited about if the price is too short. (3) VELOCITY KOSMOS has raced well a bunch of times at this
level, and is another logical player....but also another that could end up overbet. (7) WATERWAY was able
to nip a razor sharp rival last week, and Yannick is back on board for tonight - definitely worth using in
exotics. (8) ROBBIE BURNS N was very good here earlier in the year, but struggled quite a bit to end the
season - gets a meaningful drop and debuts for a new barn....but also lands Post 8, off 6 weeks - check the
tote board? (1) ALOTBETTOR N is very hard to gauge tonight - just didn't function in his last 2 starts of
2021, so it's anybody's guess as to which version we might see tonight. (5) HEISMAN PLAYER remains
unproven at this level - would consider for a smaller piece only. (4) MARK WITHA K finally escapes Post
8, drops in class, but hasn't raced in 6 weeks - perhaps the board will yield some clues? (6) BARON
MICHAEL beat the 30s three back, but still has to prove that he can contend up at this level.
RACE 5 - (1) REGAL SON was solid in all 4 local tries to end 2021, and was especially sharp in that 7
hole win 2 back - tonight marks his debut for a high % outfit, and he looms the one to beat from the pole.
(2) GINGER TREE PETE was a scary-sharp winner over the 30s three back - raced gamely for 3rd off the
claim in his next (vs. 40s), and just never was able to get involved in his last...his best effort puts him right
in the hunt here. (3) RECORD YEAR was a no match 2nd to the well meant winner in his last, and a solid
rallying 3rd the start before that - include in exotics. (5) LATE MAIL N was just 1 for 14 here last year but
did hit board in 7 of the 13 losses - ok to include underneath. (4) ER VEGAS is off a month and MAY be a
little cheap for these - would consider for a minor share only. (6) AMERICAN WIGGLE tripped out to pull
off the mild upset 2 back, but he has more lesser efforts at this level than better ones - prefer others. (7)
KASEY JOHN N draws Post 7, up in class, after missing a month - was just 1 for 26 here in 2021, and
we'll wait for a better spot before considering (8) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN will be hard pressed to make
any real noise from this brutal spot
RACE 6 - (4) LOUS SWEETREVENGE won 8X here last year, and ended the season with a crisp rallying
3rd at this same level - if he lands on a live trip tonight, he may be able to start off the new year with a
victory. (2) IM SOME GRADUATE had a very rough 2021 Yonkers season (21-1-2-2), but was racing
decently to end the year, and may land on a pretty nice trip from this spot - possibility. (5) WAR N MUNN
was solid in most of his starts the last few months, but was winless in 6 local tries (hit board in 3 of them) -
would be willing to give him a look if the price is juicy enough. (6) BELTANE N won 5 races here in '21 -
and FOUR of them came from his last 5 starts (after moving to a barn to that arrived on the scene here last
year, and was winning at an unreal 40% clip for quite a while) - definitely ok to use in exotics. (3) ALEX
TYE was claimed at PcD for $40K on 10/23 - beat the 50s here the next start, and also beat the 75s 2 starts
after that - was no factor in his last, and has missed 5 weeks since his last start...leaning towards others. (8)
RUNRUNJIMMYDUNN N was moving way up to this level 2 back but came within a head of the upset -
tough spot tonight, after being away for a month. (1) EPIC ACE seemed overmatched in his last (way up in
class) and may be in the same boat tonight. (7) MYKINDACHIP returns off a layoff, lands outside, and
we'll just observe, for now
RACE 7 - (5) FUNATTHEBEACH was banging heads at the top level in most of his 19 starts here last
year, and was right there in many of them - hard to go against him in this much softer spot. (2) SHANWAY
N found the Open level a bit too tough, but should find this spot more to his liking - should be in line for a
nice piece tonight. (4) MICKY GEE N has been unpredictable for some time, but still throws enough strong
efforts to use in exotics here. (6) ROCK CANDY threw a dud here on 11/29 after a pair of sharp efforts -
hails from a crafty barn, and could be a good bomb for the bottom of the ticket. (3) NVESTMENT BLUEC
HIP was struggling for a while but came to life in his last 3 after dropping in class - may have built back
enough confidence to pick up a small piece of this. (7) KILOWATT KID N got VERY sharp here in late
Oct. but was dismal after a sick scratch, and shows a couple of qualifiers after that - guessing he'll be
handled conservatively tonight, but bears watching for the future. (8) BRAEVIEW BONDI N was hitting
on all cylinders before the winter break but lands in a pretty rough spot after a month away - we'll just
observe, for now. (1) CONBOYVILLE has done good work since arriving on the local scene but may
struggle with these tougher foes, even from the pole.
RACE 8 - (1) WALKINSHAW N has outraced his odds in several recent starts - may end up with a good
trip in a race with several live players, and that would give him a chance to spring the upset in this wide
open affair. (4) FOREVER FAV was already razor sharp before being claimed by one of our sharpest barns
on 12/13.....then scored at The Swamp in a career best 1:49.3....remains a very dangerous threat! (6) JOESS
TAR OF MIAA was a winner one level down to end 2021, but he's beaten this class several times as well -
would definitely consider IF the price is decent enough. (7) SOHO LENNON A beat this class in 2 of his
last 3 starts, and was one of several very sharp performers for this barn at the end of the year - very tough
spot, but worth a look if the price is really juicy. (5) MONEYMAN HILL probably wishes there was no
winter break as he was a winner in 3 straight to end his 2021 campaign - the fact that he's listed this far
down speaks volumes about how solid this field is. (8) WHITECOOKIE has more than enough ability to
beat these, but he's a hard horse to drive and is stuck with Post 8 (off a month) - demand a big price if using
him on top. (2) WEONA SIZZLER A has proven he can go with these when on his game. but he may not
be quite at that level right now - prefer others tonight. (3) GLOBALDOMINATION N seems a bit
overmatched up at this top claiming level.
RACE 9 - (3) SHADOW CAT was 1st or 2nd in 11 of 22 local starts last year, and seems to have come
back sharp off a recent freshening - one of several possibilities in tonight's wide open, Open! (2) SAVE ME
A DANCE, much like barnmate FOREVER FAV, immediately took a liking to his new barn and scored a
career best 1:48.4 victory in NJ last week - gets an excellent draw, and has to be given plenty of respect in
his stellar current form. (5) SEMI TOUGH has also been thriving across the river, and has enjoyed plenty
of success here in the past - another legitimate player. (1) IM SIR BLAKE A was full of pace finishing here
on 12/13 (off the layoff, vs. a bit cheaper) - the rail assignment may allow him to grab a piece with these
too. (7) DIAMONDBEACH was hitting on all cylinders before the winter hiatus but draws horribly for his
first start of the new year and may have to wait for a better spot. (6) SPEED MAN N, like several barn
mates, ended his year in fine form....may find this spot a little tough to handle, however. (8) NO LOU
ZING was a winner in his only local try, but that was with an easy lead, vs. softer - we'll see if he can
handle starting from Post 8, against a tougher bunch. (4) NOCTURNAL BLUECHIP was a winner of 4
straight to close out 2021, but may not have the same success at this much tougher level
RACE 10 - (7) MAGRITTE is a very streaky horse (in BOTH directions), and was clearly feeling awfully
good right before the end of last meet (winning 4 straight) - if the others from this barn are racing well
earlier in the card, feel free to fire away on this guy. (6) BEVANS CULLEN N suddenly remembered how
to win again and picked up 4 victories after 10/15 - not sure what trip he'll land on tonight, but he can be a
legit player if it's a good one. (3) JIMS PERFECT TEN has gone a few decent efforts at nice prices - decent
value horse to include in exotics. (1) MISTER SPOT A definitely would look a lot better one level down,
but the prospects of a good trip from the pole make him playable underneath. (2) DESIRES CAPTAIN was
one of several horses that was winning races left and right for the "Super Siblings" earlier this summer, but
who then tailed off later in the year - was dull off the claim in his last, and we'll see if a few weeks off helps
his cause. (8) BAMSKI is a decent fit here, but the terrible draw figures to limit his production this week.
(5) IDEAL STAR N was unable to win dropping from 75s to 30s, then was no good at all after being
claimed from that start - pretty risky at the moment. (4) FOX VALLEY INFERNO suspiciously dropped to
30s right after being claimed for $40K - was VERY lucky to win that night (where he was also claimed),
then was scratched lame before his next - pretty hard to back as the 5/2 ML choice
RACE 11 - (2) REDBANK BLAZE A is normally very solid at this level - draws inside his main rivals,
and we'll give him the edge in the finale. (6) REVELRY showed unexpected life here on 12/10 and was
able to build off that in PA, picking up a win and a 2nd in his next pair - definitely one to consider, at a
good price. (5) GINGRAS BEACH shows some less than stellar recent form but the class drop makes him
a threat for a wake up call - see how barn's other starters do earlier in the night. (7) CYCLONE BANNER
N appears to be a bit inconsistent but on his best effort, would have a chance to be a player in his YR
debut...even from Post 7. (4) LIKE CLOCKWORK was a solid 2nd at this level back on 11/8 - should
appreciate tonight's class relief for sure, and is definitely playable in exotics - just not excited about using
him on top as the ML favorite. (1) KIMANI N was 1 for 36 last year, but does make his 2nd start for a barn
that improves most everything they get their hands on - still prefer others, but wouldn't be stunned to see
this guy come up with a big effort. (3) CAPOZZO hasn't done much winning here over the past couple of
years, and comes into tonight off a 6 week layoff...pass for now. (8) KNOCKING AROUND has also been
away for 6 weeks, and is stuck with Post 8