The Empire Report – Thursday, May 16, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (4) FINAL CHEESERECIPE has raced well in virtually all of his local starts, overcoming tough trips in
several – he’s usually a fair price, and could be a good play in tonight’s opener...hoping for a kind journey! (2) LAZ
started off the year with a few very good efforts, but hasn’t been quite as sharp in his last couple (though still “ok”) –
moves to a new barn for tonight, and could be a major threat if he ups his game just a little. (1) AIRY SHADOW
shipped in sharp from Monti and picked up good pieces in 2 of his 3 local starts – he’ll surely use his speed from the
pole, and belongs in your exotics. (6) HUMAN COCKTAIL is the “x factor” – he had some modest success at 2 and
3 (including a 5-3-0-1 record here at Yonkers), but was no factor in his 2 (PA) starts so far in 2024 - he drops in for
a tag looking for an easier spot, and it’s tough to say just how well he’ll fit here, especially with the outside draw –
mixed feelings. (5) J B GRAM has been “meh” at best in his 4 local tries– minor share only. (3) KINGSTON PANIC
was no factor in either local try – waiting for better signs. (7) CENTURY IGLESIAS figures to be too far back
RACE 2 – Short, but well matched field: (1) I GET IT has done good work in almost all his Invitational starts, even
picking up a win – he gets his first class drop in a long time, and also gets his chance to control the action (or sit the
pocket, if he prefers) – the one to beat. (5) SEVENSHADESOFGREY reverted to bad habits with that miscue 2
back but bounced right back last week, kicking home crisply for 3rd – he’ll likely be the longest shot tonight, and
perhaps he can rally late and add some value to the exotics. (3) HIGHLAND MOWGLI got over the half in :58 last
week and that was all he needed to deliver the front end score – faces a tougher field tonight, and is unlikely to have
the same easy trip – could be looking at a smaller share. (2) JULA MUSCLE PACK started the year off slowly but
has been sharpening since late March– an easy trip can put him close at the end (4) DWS POINT MAN disappointed
in his first start with Lasix but was able to deliver the sharp first over score last week – faces tougher now, but a live
trip could make him a late threat (at least for a share).
RACE 3 – (4) TAKE ALL COMERS was 3 for 4 here in 2022 and his 2 starts last year consisted of a win in the
Open, and a 3rd in the $250K Miecuna Trot – his qualifier suggests that he’ll be ready for action right off the bat, and
we’ll try him in his seasonal debut. (5) KEG STAND showed sharp moves to win both of his local starts, albeit vs.
easier – he’s certainly classy enough to bang heads in the Invitational as well, and could be the one should the top
choice not quite be at 100% just yet. (1) SWAN IN MOTION was an excellent 2nd upon arrival from Delaware –
wasn’t quite as sharp last week, but still raced “ok” – no reason he can’t be part of the action from the pole. (2) ROY
ALTY BEER has now hit board in 15 of 17 Yonkers starts, and was sitting last in the other two – he’s usually a
decent price, and never a bad one to include underneath. (3) TACHYON has put together a terrific season, holding
form far better than he has in season’s past – he’s only listed on the bottom because he’s facing tougher tonight
RACE 4 – (5) TIPSY MONI, other than when she makes the occasional miscue, is generally untouchable against
these types – hard to go against, although obviously the price will be pretty short! (6) P L NOTSONICE has been
razor sharp, winning 3 of her last 4 Invitationals (finishing 2nd to #5 in the other) – next in line should the top one
falter. (3) PARISO was an excellent 3rd in her first try at this level and a “good” 2 nd last week – she’ll be rallying late,
probably for a decent piece. (2) MAY BABY has been doing terrific work out of town but she’s a bit of a question
mark at this level, and also was scratched sick from her last – definitely a bit iffy for tonight. (4) QUEEN OF ALL
was finally hitting on all cylinders and had just taken 2 in a row when she just disappeared for a month, and then
re-qualified on 5/1 – total guessing game as to what the issue was, and just how tight she’ll be for tonight. (1) LADY
JETER remains a tough one to ever endorse on top, but does pay her way with her share of smaller pieces
RACE 5 – Good race: (6) YANKS DUGOUT was terrific for a while (even winning an Invitational) but then hit a
major rough patch – he started to rebound here 3 starts back, then picked up a pair of wins in PA and NJ – the classy
7YO is a streaky sort, and he’s definitely feeling good again – gets the narrow edge. (5) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS
had trouble finding his best form for a while but his last few starts have been much more like it – he bumps back up
off last week’s victory and has a chance to be a big threat again tonight...with a decent trip. (2) IMMANUEL K S
caved badly in his last, but he’s always been an in-and-out type – if he brings his best, he can make some noise here
– at a decent price. (3) STEUBEN HANOVER has won 5 of 14 starts this year but his best work comes vs. a bit
easier – make sure to get a good price if using on top vs. these tougher ones. (4) LIGHTFOOTEDLEGEND is
another that thrives vs. the 40s, but becomes far more vulnerable against these tougher ones – playable if the price is
right. (1) HAT TRICK MARLEAU probably needs a bit easier to threaten these days– rail does help. (8) FERRETTI
has some good local efforts but faces a daunting task starting from Post 8! (7) TOP ME OFF has thrown some big
miles this year but seems to be in a bit of a rut at the moment
RACE 6 – (2) MAX made a solid recover after an early miscue last week and was a pocket winner (over #3) the
week before – he’ll be a square price tonight, and is one of a few worth considering in this well matched field. (1)
BAR COINS trotted his best mile of the year last week and may be able to build even more off that effort – another
decent value play. (3) ALL CHAMPY missed 7 months and needed a couple of starts to get back on his game – he
has 2 wins and a close 2 nd (to #2) since then, and remains a very dangerous player for tonight – he does figure to be
overbet, however. (6) MANCLANE was hung out to dry vs. better last week and gets a full pass for the mile – he’s
back in where he fits best, but does face a somewhat unpredictable trip from Post 6 – certainly worth a look if you
think that Holland can find him a manageable trip. (7) SHARE THE WEALTH shipped in very sharp from PcD and
has remained in fine form in the 3 starts since then – the obvious knock for tonight is the draw, but a big price makes
him worth considering, at least for exotics. (5) AIRMANS JACKPOT delivered a 24-1 shocker 2 back but then blew
up in her last – the jury is still out as to whether the 4YO really fits with these on a weekly basis. (4) NO TURNING
BACK has been on the upswing lately, but has missed 3 weeks after being scratched injured from her last
RACE 7 – Amateur Race: (6) BEACON BEACH had been having a very tough year but came to life in a big way 2
back (with pilot Joe Lee), out a LONG way but still missing by just a nose – he proved it was no fluke with last
week’s big effort at Freehold, and that 10-1 ML price makes him worth a play in this well matched field. (3) CAL
MILES N SHELL was sent off as the odds-on choice last start, had things his own way but was collared late by #5 –
remains a very dangerous threat. (5) DOO WOP KID knocked off #3 (from the pocket) last time, and his 79 year old
pilot has been red-hot at Yonkers this year (13-6-2-2) – deserves plenty of respect. (1) BONTONI DEGATO AS got
caught wide leaving last week and was still wide when he made a break heading to the quarter – he did recover, but
was never able to get back into the hunt – on his best, he’d be very dangerous here...but the rail could prove a tricky
spot for him. (2) ALL RISE was a winner in his first start of 2024 (4/20) then just missed at Fhd. last week – leaning
towards others on top, but he’s definitely playable underneath. (7) ALLINDOTIME has enjoyed some success in the
amateur races but faces a tough task starting from Post 7. (4) ZLATAN is 0 for 43 over the last 2 years– prefer others
RACE 8 – (1) WILLY WALTON can be a bit unpredictable from start to start but he finished with good trot for 3
rd in his last, and was a 19-1 upset winner 4 back – he’s in line for a good trip, and figures to be the best price of the
main players. (5) INN AT RODANTHE has been very solid for some time and just missed in his last (off the claim)
– a good trip makes him a big threat. (5) THE BALLYKEEL DEAL was able to grab pocket trips the last 3 weeks
and hut board all 3 times – he may have some speed to his inside here, so make sure to get a fair price if considering
him on top. (2) FLIP THE SWITCH rattled off 4 straight not long ago but then took a turn in the opposite direction –
he raced better last week, and that may indicate a return to form...possibility. (3) J S HOPSCOTCH hasn’t been
sharp since the recent barn change, and it’s hard to understand why he’s been installed as the ML favorite – prefer
others. (6) INFINITY STONE delivered an eye popping, impossible to predict blowout 2 back but was unable to
replicate it last week, moving up in class – hard to like his chances tonight from Post 6. (7) PERRON wasn’t as good
as the lines might look 2 and 3 back so it was no big surprise to see him struggle last week – now lands all the way
outside
RACE 9 – (3) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE’s form was sullied up a bit by a string of 7 holes but he raced much
better in his last pair (from better posts) and draws well again tonight – may have found a spot he can handle. (2)
THE REGULATOR would normally be a pretty automatic selection dropping down this low but he definitely hasn’t
been on his best game lately – still, has to be feared in a spot like this. (6) TYPHOON BANNER N just hasn’t lived
up to the promise he showed upon arriving in the U.S. last year – he plunges all the way to the bottom level tonight,
but draws outside and has only 1 start in the last 6 weeks – insist on a fair price if using on top. (1) AUSSIE HANO
VER hasn’t clicked in his 3 starts since the claim but he’ll get the benefit of both post and class relief tonight and
that may help him come up with a much better effort – use in exotics. (4) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N has raced well
at this level in the past, and is a candidate for a minor share tonight. (8) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER has been
having a tough patch recently, and drawing Post 8 probably isn’t going to help him snap out of it. Both (5) SHORE
HIMSELF and (7) SOMEBEACH BARON just seem a little cheap for this bunch