The Empire Report – Thursday, August 22, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (2) JUDDY DOUGLAS A’s recent PA form has been somewhat mixed but he does show an easy win 2
back, and is no stranger to Yonkers (often facing better than these) – look for him to be aggressive here, possibly
taking these wire to wire. (7) ALABAMAJAMMA left from Post 7 last week and picked up a solid 3rd after landing
in the 3 hole – no reason he can’t be a serious player tonight with a similarly alert start. (6) THRASHER is hard
NOT to consider at this lowly level, especially getting a barn change for tonight – he’s also in poor form, draws
outside, and generally lacks any real early speed – hard to get too excited at that 2-1 ML price. (4) EMINEM HANO
VER found himself too far back to threaten last week but did pick up 3rds in his prior pair, and is eligible to land
somewhere on the ticket tonight. (5) MARLBANK ROAD perked up with a better effort 2 back but reverted to his
lesser form last week – needs to bring his best to be in the hunt. (8) FOREVER FAV did show some life 2 back (barn
change and easy trip) but was massively overdriven in his last and tired badly to last – hard to like his chances from
out here. (3) HEISMAN PLAYER is having a brutal year, currently 15-0-0-1 here at YR. (1) YOUAREMYROCK
dropped in for a tag on 6/15, lost by 22 lengths then went on the shelf – prefer to just watch, for now
RACE 2 – (4) P L NOTSONICE is putting together an outstanding Yonkers season, currently at 15-6-2-4 ($152K) -
she returns from Pocono where just finished not all that far behind the likes of JIGGY JOG S and LEXUS KODY,
and she should be able to work out a decent enough trip here – gets the narrow edge. (2) DIAMANTE TRIO IT won
this race last week, and she’s another that’s been thriving locally this year (24-7-4-2, $132K) – very real chance to
take another. (5) WARRAWEE XENIA is used to keeping classy company but she hasn’t WON a race since 2022,
and really had no excuse to come up short last week (in her Yonkers debut) – she’ll be in the hunt, but a tough one to
take on top at a short price. (6) QUEEN OF ALL is steady right now, but gets the worst of the draw – will need
some trip luck to grab a decent share. (3) CANTKEEPMIASECRET made the jump from 40s to the FM Invitational
a winning one 2 back, taking her 5th in a row after a claim the start before – she didn’t come close to replicating that
form last week, however, making her a question mark for tonight. (1) HELPOFTHERSEASON got beat 4 straight at
short prices before finally winning 2 in a row vs, easier – was a no threat 3rd last week (up in class), and still needs to
prove she can bang heads with these
RACE 3 – (1) ALOTBETTOR N and (6) MIGHTY SANTANA N are both very sharp right now, and the pair traded
victories the last 2 weeks – we’ll give #1 the edge, due to both the clear post advantage, and also because he just
loves to win races. (5) GOTHIC ROCK came up with a big one for a hot barn last start, used very hard and still able
to prevail – seems next in line should the top pair falter. (3) CAVIART ROCKLAND was a weakish 3rd off an easy
trip 2 back, then caved after trying to cut the mile last week – his hot barn always deserves respect, but this guy’s
lone win this year came at Monti, and he’s 8-0-0-2 locally over the past 2 years. (6) GOOD INVESTMENT
struggled on the rim last week and gets a tough draw for tonight – minor share only. (2) TUXEDO BAY drops from
30s but may not be sharp enough for it to matter
RACE 4 – (4) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE is just 1 for 19 this year but he’s been facing better than these, and his
current form is actually very solid – he should appreciate the move to this easier claimer, and will be very dangerous
late if close turning for home. (2) TWO FACED suddenly got very sharp around mid June but may be leveling off a
bit recently – remains a big threat against this bunch, but definitely feels a little risker than he did just a few starts
back. (3) PORTERS MAN was entered for $15K in one of the cards that got canceled – he raced in a NW1 last week
and did so well that night (an excellent 2nd), that his connections drop him in for double that claiming price tonight
($30K) – if he races as well as he did in his YR debut, he can be a big player here too. (1) VICTOR CRUISE has
done little locally but may be able to tow along for a minor share from the pole. (5) VANDALISM usually finishes
well – maybe he can rally late for a small piece? (6) BEGGIN FOR BACON continues to race ok since arriving
from PA but may get hurt a bit by tonight’s draw
RACE 5 – NAADA Summer Finale: (1) STICK WITH ME KID saw his 5 race winning streak broken last time but
it took and absolutely brutal trip to do so – faces a (much) easier overall field tonight, and draws the pole with the
hottest amateur pilot around – the road to the winner’s circle goes through him. (7) PSLAMSFORTYSEVEN really
turned things around since adding hopples in early July, and continues to get even better – he feels like the main
danger (even from Post 7), but it won’t be easy to knock off the top one from out here. (3) BEACON BEACH has
been mostly just even going lately, but that may still be enough for a decent piece tonight. (5) SHOEMAKER HAN
OVER is an excellent 12-5-0-3 out of town this year, but just hasn’t thrived at Yonkers (5-0-0-0) – we’ll see if a new
pilot can help his (local) cause. (4) RACEACE would normally have been a very live player against these types but
he comes into tonight off a pair of uncharacteristic duds...and that makes him a bit iffy here. (6) MUFASA AS has
been limited to smaller pieces lately and seems destined for more of the same tonight, especially with the bad post.
(2) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE has gone the wrong way since the recent claim, and hard to recommend at the moment. (8)
CALL ME THEFIREMAN has a good local history but seems to be struggling lately, and lands all the way outside
RACE 6 – (2) PASSIONATE PROMISE was an excellent (tough trip) 3rd two back (in a hot 1:54 mile) but had no
trouble hitting the top and wiring ‘em last week as the odds-on choice – will be heavily backed as she looks to take
another. (3) MAX landed on a perfect trip last week and knew just what to do with it – he’s right at home in this
class, and has a big chance for another nice chunk tonight. (5) ROGER RABBIT is just 1 for 9 since arriving from
Ohio but he’s also hit board 7X – very logical player for exotics. (1) CARERRA HANOVER raced well in his first 2
starts off the barn change but really struggled in his last pair – which version tonight? (8) P C FREE WHEELING is
a very solid $40K claimer but faces a very tough trip from out here – likely looking at minor spoils only this week.
(6) J S HOPSCOTCH picked up an easy trip 3rd last week but has been struggling overall – leaning more towards
others. (7) MISSION VOYAGE was a good trip 3rd two back but disappointed in his last – tonight’s draw won’t help
(4) QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP feels a bit overmatched at the moment
RACE 7 – (6) TO THE HUNT raced big upon arrival from Plainridge, just missing to the currently raging GENTLE
GIANT – he got stuck battling a LONG way with that same rival the next week, still right there 2nd at the wire –
avoided that foe last week and jogged off the claim, and goes for another new barn tonight...still feels like the one to
beat. (1) LAZ was “sneaky ok” 2 back then was one stride away from circling the field last week – he’s finally sharp
again, and could be the main danger. (2) MIND HUNTER couldn’t hold off the mind-boggling, form reversing 80-1
winner last week, but he DID race well regardless – he’s a little too camera shy to accept a short price on top, though
(5) LAST POUND has hit board in all 4 local tries, though still hasn’t found the winner’s circle – would consider if
the price was good enough. (4) HUNT FOR CASH picked up a win 3 back but landed on a dream trip that night –
may be a notch below the top players. (3) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL rarely wins, but usually ok for a small share
RACE 8 – (6) INCOMMUNICADO was no threat here in his first start of 2024 but he’s 3 for 3 since, and getting
sharper every start – he’s still lazy early in miles but Dube knows how to motivate him well enough to overcome
that – remains the one to beat. (2) CRYSTAL TRIO IT returned from PA last week and was a sharper mare than the
one we saw here during the Brennan Trotting Series – chance for another good piece tonight (she’s forced to take on
the boys as stablemate DIAMANTE TRIO IT is racing the FM Invitational Trot tonight). (3) MISSISSIPPI STORM
is feeling good these days, and trotting well at the end of his miles – use in exotics. (1) INFINITY STONE could
always throw a big one out of the blue but he’s suddenly found some consistency – still has to prove he can do it at
this top level, though. (5) ONCE IN A LIFETIME has been off 19 days since racing in the Vincennes (in NJ) and
may be handled a bit conservatively from this spot. (4) WARRAWEE YANG just hasn’t clicked at all since returning
from some time off
RACE 9 – Tough race: (1) SKYWAY PROFESSOR bounces around between the amateur events and these $40K
claimers and has been quite capable in both – should be able to work out a good trip here, and is one of several with
a chance at the top prize. (4) STEUBEN HANOVER got caught in a mini shuffle last week but was trotting well late
once clear – he hasn’t won in a while, so his prices have been fair – possibility. (6) WILLY WALTON has been
plagued by horrible posts but has left the gate a few times – chance to make some noise if Marohn gets aggressive
here. (7) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO tired last week but his previous 4 starts in this class produced a pair of wins
and a pair of 2nds – if he can loop to the lead, he’ll certainly have an upset chance. (5) NO MORE SWEETS is sure
to attract attention moving to last year’s leading trainer but he’s been idle for 4 weeks, and it’s hard to figure how his
competition in Ohio will match up vs. these. (2) NO TURNING BACK has been very inconsistent – needs to show
up on her best game to be any kind of serious player. (8) BAR COINS has a pair of wins and pair of 3rd from his last
4 starts but may be compromised severely by the draw. (3) ATTA GIRL DANI has done good work since arriving
from Hoosier but has missed 3 weeks after a sick scratch.
RACE 10 – (2) CECIL HANOVER showed ability at 2, then banged out almost $300K in an abbreviated (12 starts)
3YO campaign – he’s now starting to hit on all cylinders at 4, and brings a 3 race winning streak into tonight – we’ll
give him the narrow edge to take another. (4) TACHYON drops down to NW20000 after a bunch of tries at the top
level and also adds Lasix tonight for the first time – his barn is humming right now, and he deserves plenty of
respect here. (1) ARI FERRARI J has no shortage of ability but he’s prone to the occasional miscue, and just
re-qualified after taking 5 weeks off – he’d be no surprise at all...but may be overbet. (6) KEG STAND has won back
to back starts as the odds-on choice (one at PcD, one here) and he has experience at the Invitational level – he also
draws poorly with a few live players to his inside, and that could leave him looking at a smaller piece tonight. (8)
UNEVERGONNAGETHIS really battled #6 hard last week, making that one work hard to the wire to secure the
victory – he’s another that figures to be badly hurt by the draw, however. (3) STREET GOSSIP is feeling pretty
good these days, but really pushing it against these types. (5) BEERTHIRTY K found a soft spot last week and took
advantage with a front end victory – won’t be quite as easy against these, however. (7) ENERGYSOURCE seems
unlikely against these, especially starting from all the way out here.