Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • April 27, 2022

The Empire Report - Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (1) TIMESTORM never got involved from Post 8 last week but he did have some sneaky trot at

the end of the mile - moves all the way inside, catches a field with some iffy main players and is definitely

worth considering at that 8-1 ML price. (6) VINNY DE VIE is having a slow start to his 2022 season and

doesn't have the greatest YR history - he WAS a lot better last week, though, and may be able to build on

that with the big class drop tonight - worth including on your tickets. (3) LINDSEYS PRIDE was claimed

for $50K by top connections recently, but has been unable to deliver as the favorite the last 2 weeks - may

get it done tonight, but he remains a bit risky at what figures to be another short price (congrats to those

connections....who won last night's Borgata Pace with Funatthebeach N)! (4) CIRCE OF LIFE AS had a

solid 4YO season but has been a little slow to get untracked at 5 - shows a better effort in PA last week, so

we'll see if she can continue to improve. (5) OOH RAH used a string of good efforts to climb all the way up

to NW20000 recently...and now a series of weaker tries has landed him back in the basement - hard to

predict when he might get a wake up call. (7) ZOOMING raced well to be 3rd last week - the youthful

14YO would need to improve at the start for a chance at a piece tonight. (2) MISS YOU KELLY needs to

land in an easier field for a chance to be a serious player.


RACE 2 - (4) MEMO was sharp right off the bat for his new connections upon arriving from PPk, picking

up a win and a 2nd across the river (before tiring a bit over the off going last week) - should be a perfect fit

with the locals, he's Buter's choice, and deserves top billing. (3) IN MY DREAMS has been very sharp and

would have almost certainly won last week.....except for a (rare) terrible steer from Marohn (one he'd surely

like a "do over" for!) - legitimate threat again tonight. (2) FULL RIGHTS had been sharpening nicely, but

threw a disappointing effort when handled more aggressively last week - has a license to rebound. (1) DEL

TASUN A will attract plenty of attention off his recent out of town form (while drawing the pole tonight),

but he's been "shaky" in his handful of local tries in the past - may put it all together and beat these, but it

seems there could be some value taking a shot against him here. (6) ABSOLUTCERTENTY trailed all the

way at 50-1 in his local debut, but could easily race much better tonight (race under his belt, class drop) -

take a peek at the tote board for clues? (5) LIMERENCE failed to get involved last week after a few good

starts - may just need a little easier at this point in his career to do his best work. (7) SUMATRA draws post

7 for his first start in 4 months - will just observe, for now.


RACE 3- (3) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN couldn't hang on in his last 2 tries at the $75K level so he

drops down looking to make his speed hold up vs. the 50s....there's a good chance it will, but he'll also be a

very short price and at least a bit risky- the one to beat, but not one to bet the rent money on. (1) BIG RICH

is another that will be heavily backed, as he ships in for top connections and draws the pole - he'll probably

get to sit right behind the top choice, and that makes him the main threat...but he's another that MAY be a

bit vulnerable at a short price. (4) MANHATTANUP NO ICE went sour for a few starts but his last effort

was much better - would have a chance here if the top two fail to deliver. (7) KANDY SWEET tired last

week chasing the hot pace in the FM Open Trot, but she turned in a series of very good efforts prior to that -

she would have a chance here IF Siegelman can hustle her away to a good start without using her too much.

(2) FASHION FOREVER was racing well week after week but is showing signs of going the wrong way

now - willing to consider for exotics if the price is juicy enough. (6) OUR WHITE KNIGHT looked really

good into the final turn last week but then failed to sustain his bid into the stretch, tiring badly at the end -

he wouldn't be a shock, but he's just a little too unreliable for our tastes. (5) MUSCLE STAR gets a pass for

last week (trapped from the final turn) but is probably a notch below these even with a clean trip. (8)

TORKIL has been having an excellent year so far...but lands in a brutal spot for tonight.


RACE 4 - Tough race: (2) KELE KELE started off her 2YO season looking promising, but seemed to go

the wrong way before being turned out for the year - hard to gauge her qualifier (she was in with beasts!),

but she still may be worth a stab in this very modest NW4 field. (5) MARVELOUS KISS was our selection

last week and raced well for 2nd to the dominant winner - certainly willing to include her once again. (1)

MAJOR LOVER had a very disappointing 3YO campaign - just been "ok" to start off her 4YO season, but

she draws the pole for a strong barn and has to be seen as a threat against this bunch. (6) BUMP IN THE

ROAD needed her last off a bad date (sick scratch) - just 2 for 26 lifetime, but really does fit well with

these - decent value horse to at least consider for exotics. (3) WIGGLE MY COOKIE grabbed a nice 2 hole

trip for her YR debut but weakened to a well beaten 4th - she was off 3 weeks that night (and debuting for a

new barn), so there's at least a possibility that she can be better tonight. (4) PARTY QUEEN was dead short

for her 2022 return, yet is still listed as the 5/2 ML favorite - she MAY be a lot better tonight, but it would

be hard to play her at a short price! (7) TWENTY GRAND seems likely to be handled conservatively from

this spot as she makes her first start since last September.


RACE 5 - (8) WILD AND CRAZY GUY steps up and draws Post 8 (normally NOT a good pairing), but

he still could be sharp enough to beat these- he's won 3 straight, and that last win was exceptionally

impressive - if Bartlett can improve position at the start (without using him too hard), he may be able to

extend this one's winning streak to 4. (3) D P ROCKET has her own 3 race winning streak, and showed a

ton of heart in that last first over victory - very dangerous, once again. (1) ON HIGHER GROUND was

about to angle in the stretch last week when he made a costly miscue - it seemed the whole barn was

struggling early last week, so perhaps we'll see a better version tonight - he's a proven threat at this level,

when on his game. (4) STEUBEN HANOVER didn't care for the first over trip 2 back but that mile is

sandwiched between a pair of solid closing efforts - of to include in exotics. (2) BIZET had been ultra

consistent for weeks, so it was a surprise to see him just tire off an easy pocket trip last time - he drops right

back in the box, so we'll find out if it was just a minor blip. (7) STONEBRIDGE GAMBLE has been sharp

since arriving mid-March, but another bad post may see him starting his rally from too far back

tonight....just as happened last week - still would include underneath, though. (5) VOYAGE TO PARIS

struggled when the pace was hot last week but did find his best later on, as the pace finally started to slow -

not impossible, but still leaning to others. (6) SO LONG HANOVER goes for a new barn tonight off last

week's claim - doesn't get any draw luck, and we'll stick with others this time around.


RACE 6 - Another tough, well matched race: (4) NADINA HANOVER did good work as a 2YO, going

8-3-3-2 -- solid return qualifier behind the talented MIKALA, then just toured the Freehold oval when she

landed the 8 hole for first start back at 3 - this is a much more realistic spot, and we'll see if she's ready to

deliver her best. (1) MARILYNS JO always hinted at some ability, but didn't make many starts at 2 and 3 -

just recently returned from a LONG layoff, and has been sharpening each week at Fhd. - draws best, and

seems ready to battle these, as well. (6) CAVIART CARMEL was another that showed plenty of potential

at 2 (8-5-2-0), and her 3Y) debut last week was very solid - worth a look tonight, especially if the price is

right. (8) COZ IM SPECIAL was unsteerable in her first local start but that was quickly remedied, and she's

been very good in her last 3 outings (including a win, last week) - will need trip luck from out here, but

she's not impossible. (2) TAVA had been doing good work, but just came up weak looking to cut the mile

last week - look for her to race from behind tonight...and possibly bounce right back with a better effort. (3)

IDEAL CHIP picked up a rare win last week (vs. cheaper) after a long run of 2nds and 3rds - seems a notch

below these, though. (5) PLEASURE SEEKER had a couple of decent efforts for pieced in the MGM

Ladies series, but was no factor in her last pair in PA - maybe a minor share. (7) PULL ME THROUGH

was well backed last week (considering her 8-0-0-0 local slate), went right to the top and dominated a much

softer group - will have a hard time replicating that against these, however.


RACE 7 - John Brennan Trotting Series Consolation: (5) PLUMB added Lasix last week but was stuck

behind weak cover and unable to really make a dent in the stretch - she's done good work with better than

these many times in the past, and this feels like a good spot for her to shine - look for a better effort from

her tonight. (4) P L OSCAR disappointed a bit when he couldn't hold 2nd last week but his overall form has

been terrific - should be a live player in here. (8) SEVENSHADESOFGREY rebounded from a miscue 2

back with a strong 2nd last week - will have to find a way to overcome Post 8 but with a bit of trip luck, he

can be a contender...at a nice price. (2) THE IRISHMAN has shown flashes of ability at times, and did put

together a strong effort last week when he rallied to beat out #4 for 2nd - we'll see if he can string together

2 good efforts in a row, and grab a piece tonight too. (7) BAZILLIONAIRE is just 1 for 45 over the last 2

years but he does grab pieces, often at prices - maybe include him for 3rd? (1) CREATIVE VENTURE

could only grab minor pieces in his series tries and seems destined for similar tonight...even from the pole.

(3) CREDIT CON used good trips to pick up a 2nd and a 3rd in his 2 series tries, but may need to be even

better tonight if he hopes to pick up another good chunk. (6) GOLDEN GENES left from an impossible

spot last week and was predictably parked - guessing he'll be more conservative now, but that could leave

him too far back to really threaten.


RACE 8 - John Brennan Trotting Series Final, $76,000 -- should be an excellent race, with a field full of

sharp horses, a pair of entries, and the potential for plenty of action: (1) JULA MUSCLE PACK should

certainly be fit coming into this Final, as he's raced 3X in the last 10 days....including his last start in NJ,

just 4 days ago -- he picked up a 2nd and a 3rd in his 2 series starts, but had tough trips each time...maybe

racing luck will shine on him tonight? (2A) SEVENTIER came back sharp at 4 off the layoff, finishing 3rd

vs. the tough (older) $75K claimers in his first start of the year - he's been very sharp throughout the entire

series, and gets a big switch to Bartlett for the Final - tough post (PP6), but very capable if things go his

way. (3) HAT TRICK MARLEAU was 3 for 3 in his series starts....which should come as no surprise, as he

was battling Open trotters prior to that - obviously he's as good as any of these, but his trip could be a lot

tougher tonight - be careful about taking too short a price on top. (1A) TOCCOA FALLS shipped in sharp

from NJ and was a winner in both of his series starts - hard to fault his form, and he's part of a powerful

entry along with JULA MUSCLE PACK. (6) B NICKING got over his breaking issues as the series began,

and his last 2 starts were excellent (a win, and a 2nd) - not sure he'll be able to get in play from Post 8 but

since he'll be a big price, he IS worth including in some exactas. (2) LADY ANN NO seems to only go as

fast as necessary to win, but she did trot in 1:56 in her nose loss to TOCCOA FALLS - entrymate SEVENT

IER does look more appealing tonight, but she's still a great "bonus" horse to have as part of the entry. (5)

EMOTIONS RICHES was a good rallying 3rd in the first leg, jogged in Week #2, but broke before the start

in his last - would have given him more consideration here had he not been stuck with Post 7. (4) TOP ME

OFF shocked 'em in the first leg when he won at 19-1 off the long layoff - could only manage 3rds in his

last 2, however, and faces a really stacked field tonight.


RACE 9 - (5) IM THE MUSCLE got a class drop last week but was handled conservatively from Post 7 -

drops a bit more for tonight, and draws a much better post - look for a more aggressive effort...and perhaps

a victory in the finale? (1) LOOK IN MY EYES was better two back than his line might look (lacked

stretch room for too long), so it was no surprise to see him deliver the sharp first over win last week -

moves up a bit, but this crew is well within his comfort zone - legitimate threat. (3) BULLY BOY had a

useful start here off the layoff on 4/13, then shipped over to PcD and beat cheaper in his next start - hard to

say if he's sharp enough to beat these too, but he's definitely worth a look IF the price is right. (2) BLENHE

IM has been racing ok in PA and more importantly, behaving himself every week - has struggled here at

Yonkers the past couple of years, but still willing to include him in exotics. (7) IT AINT THE WHISKY

wasn't bad (vs. a bit better) in his last couple of starts, but those were from the rail - not sure he can be as

effective from all the way out here. (8) SOOT HANOVER perked up with a much better effort when 4th

last week - lands in a brutal spot for tonight, but may be a good bomb for 3rd/4th, if spreading in the

gimmicks. (4) HOBBS finally got a long overdue win 5 starts back, but has done little since. (6) EVA

DAIRPET FR has struggled/disappointed way too many times lately to recommend right now.

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