The Empire Report - Thursday, March 3, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (3) CLASSY CHAPEL N took a drop to NW7500 last week and finished with some decent pace
- plunges to the basement tonight, catches a pretty soft bunch, and should be able to handle this assignment.
(5) BETCHA BABY shows a mixed bag of recent tries in Canada and NJ - she's had some success here in
the past, and Bartlett should be able to hustle her away to a good spot...seems like a logical player against
these. (5) A CRAFTY LADY is only 1 for 19 here over the past 3 years, but has faced better in many of
those spots - feels like a field where she can at least be in the hunt. (7) SLICK ARTIST A was claimed for
$25K on 7/1 in the midst of a 4 race winning streak - only raced twice for these connections before going
on the shelf, and she returns at a much reduced level after one tightener upstate - total guessing game as to
what we'll get from her tonight. (2) CABOWABOCUTTIE turned a perfect trip into a disappointing 4th last
week...and that's why she hasn't won a race here since 2019 - underneath only. (8) FEAR MY SHADOW
shipped in with some good Fhd. form but failed to contend at all last week - won't be any easier from Post
8! (6) BULLVILLEKARLA is 0 for 21 here over the last 2 years, and will likely be coming from too far
back for even a smaller piece. (1) PACIFIC DELIGHT draws best, but seems significantly overmatched
RACE 2 - Tough race! (2) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE is getting the tepid vote here - improved in her last
couple where she picked up a pair of 2nds, and she's probably looking at a pretty decent trip from this spot -
if she can improve just a bit more, she'll have a chance to take this. (7) WOODMERE HARRIET was an
easy winner 2 back (when the top choice finished 2nd) - had no prayer in her last and while she draws
another terrible spot, she IS good enough to win if Miller can get her into the race - decent value horse. (6)
PAIGES GIRL had pace finishing off the class drop last week, even if helped by an easy trip - another that
can have a say here if the trip works out. (1) SCANDALICIOUS was overbet last week but was able to just
hold on after cutting the mile (while fortunate that the pocket horse was never able to shake free) - steps up
and will get to control the action once more....but she'll need to be a bit sharper to take another. (5) DANCE
CLUB tailed at the end of 2021 and so far, hasn't been able to find her form in 2022 - this could be a "wake
up week", but hard to recommend as the 5/2 ML choice. (3) E R HILARY has been tailing lately, and
actually raced even worse after a class drop in last - maybe she'll perk back up for a new barn tonight, but
you'll want a good price if using her on top. (4) CHECKERED PAST was no good for several starts, woke
up for a couple of good efforts, then was no good again last week - sticking with others
RACE 3 - (2) MCMARKLE SPARKLE was a sharp 7 hole winner in her YR debut and even more
impressive in last week's grueling, first over victory - she'll face even tougher tonight but draws well, and
should get a pretty decent trip from this spot - we'll stick with her one more time. (3) FEELIN RED HOT
was a blowout winner in her last pair off the freshening - goes from the Super Siblings to a barn that's even
hotter right now (claimed for $50k), and it would obviously be no surprise to see her wire these too. (1)
SPORTS FLIX had a useful tightener off the layoff 2 back, and actually rallied very nicely from an
impossible spot last week - moves all the way inside, and seems like an attractive one to include in exotics
at that 10-1 ML price. (7) SO MIKI HANOVER had a solid 3YO season (9 wins, $130K) and has been
doing good work so far at 4 in NJ and Delaware - draws a very tough spot for her local debut, but she may
still be able to grab a piece of this. (4) SURREAL FEELING doesn't get the press clippings of her more
heralded sister (Racine Bell), but this mare had her own career year in 2021, banging out over $150K -
qualified ok up at Stga., but may need a start before tackling a tough crew like this. (5) DBLDELITEBRIG
ADE N should be feeling pretty good about herself off a trio off front end scores - does face tougher now,
and we'll see if she can duke it out with these ladies as well. (6) NEVERFORGETWHOUR charged home
to blow by the field 2 back, then lacked room in the stretch to any damage in her last - she's only being
selected this far down because of the draw....but she's sharp enough to make some noise IF somehow the
trip goes her way. (8) BOLT OF BEAUTY doesn't figure to be able to reach from out here
RACE 4 - (2) MUSCLE JACK shipped in sharp from NJ and was an impressive 1:55.3 winner (in a NW8
field) - appears to have one main rival in this NW6 event, but we'll give this guy the edge off that last mile.
(5) CAMDEN HILLS was a winner here in this class on 11/11, then took some time off - should be plenty
tight off those last 2 tries at The Swamp, puts the hopples back on for his return to the half miler, and he's
clearly the other main player in here. (6) BIG MONEY HONEY will likely be spotting the top pair a
tactical advantage tonight, but he still may be able to rally late to beat the others. (7) LADY ANN NO come
into this showing 3 straight wins, but this will be a much tougher assignment - suppose we'll learn a little
bit more about her after tonight. (3) STRIKING GENSON definitely seems quite a bit below the top pair,
but does stack up well against the others - chance for a small share. (1) GRAFENBERG got lost in the back
last week but usually can be counted on to finish well - one of several looking to take home a small piece
here. (8) CREDIT CON behaved with the hopples added last week, but did come up a little light at the end
- tough draw tonight figures to slow him down quite a bit. (4) PERRON has disappointed more often than
he's delivered since arriving on the local scene
RACE 5 - (7) EDGE OF ETERNITY was holding her own in the Open not that long ago - appreciated last
week's class drop to NW15000 (rallying crisply for 2nd to a sharp winner), and now dips another notch to
NW10000 - it's up to Siegleman to find her a manageable trip from out here. (1) BABS JANSEN had some
life finishing last week despite missing time (sick scratch) - we'll see if she can build off that effort, and
have an even bigger say tonight. (8) BETTERB CHEVRON N is pretty good right now, drops in class, but
lands yet another terrible post - she did tire badly when she blasted 3 weeks back and that may be on
Bartlett's mind when he decides how to drive her tonight - still worth a look if the price is juicy enough. (4)
ANNE BONNEY N picked up a 3rd the last time she was at this level - worth including in exotics at what
figures to be a pretty good price. (5) ITTY BITTY raced well for a couple of starts in NJ before landing in
no chance spots in her last couple - wouldn't be a shock to see her grab a piece tonight. (6) CAMPUS
QUEEN is yet another getting a class drop, but the outside draw figures to hurt her chances. (2) PONDER
THE ODDS landed on a dream trip last week and used it to beat cheaper - not sure she's ready to tackle
these, however. (3) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX probably needs an easier spot to be any kind of threat
RACE 6 - (6) EASY TO PLEASE turned in a BIG effort in her first start of 2022, waiting a long way in
5th before finally being cut loose to 3/4s, getting pushed wide on the final turn and still just missing to a
pretty talented winner - not a great spot tonight, but we'll still give this good looking 4YO the nod. (1)
COOLNC ALCULATING N beat the bottom class here on 1/13, finished very well from Post 8 in her next,
then rallied crisply for 2nd to a sharp winner in the start after that - returned on Lasix in NJ for her last, and
came up 2nd best in a hard used mile....use in exotics. (3) WESTBEACH disappointed with a dull try in her
last but she's capable of much better - she'll probably be ignored at the windows tonight, but she's not a bad
bomb to use in exotics. (7) DELITFULCATHERIN N has been holding her own with better, but gets stuck
outside off the class drop - may still be able to beat a bunch, and brig home a decent piece. (4) VIOLETS
RAINBOW ran and hid from a much lesser bunch last week, and now steps up to face older mares - might
be able to be effective against these too, but wouldn't want to take a short price to find out. (2) ANDRA
DAY has been "ok" lately, but needs to find more if she hopes to be a serious threat against these types. (5)
COUSIN MARY gave it a big go in her return to Yonkers but came up just short at the end - steps up to
face tougher tonight, and we'll see if she can build off that last effort and hang with these too. (8) CASH
ROLL has been away since November, and draws all the way outside - pass (and watch) for tonight
RACE 7 - Good Race: (1) THE FUN MARSHALL made up a ton of ground last week in the final 3/8ths of
a mile, and was strong right through the wire - may end up with a pretty good trip from this spot, and she'll
also be a decent price in a field with several live contenders - worth a shot. (5) MYSTICAL CARRIE
almost beat the Open 4 starts back - threw a couple of dull ones after that, but rebounded last week to be
part of a 3-way, ultra tight photo - could be very dangerous here with the right trip. (4) JIVE DANCING A
should be tight now with 3 starts under her belt and she also gets important post relief - she's beaten this
type in the past, and can't be overlooked tonight. (2) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA had the class opened up to
fit her in, and she's in undeniably sharp form - may end up a little overbet against a few of these worthy
opponents, though. (3) VELOCITY MCSWEETS continues to thrive since the recent barn change, even at
these higher levels - not sure she can beat these, but would still include her underneath. (7) MYSTIFYING
wasn't bad in her local debut, with a tough trip, off a bad date - has to face older tonight, and also gets stuck
outside....wait for a better spot. (8) DEMETER N failed to threaten from a similar spot last week, and this
field is even tougher. (6) LAURIE LEE was no factor off the layoff last week - just observing, for now
RACE 8 - (2) RACINE BELL started off 2022 on the right foot with a nice win over at The Swamp -
looked like a winner in her Yonkers return as well, but was nosed out at the wire by the cone skimming
ROCKN PHILLY - should be in position to control things pretty easily from this spot, and that makes the
classy 5YO the one to beat. (5) KARMA SEELSTER won both of her local starts in 2021, but has had to
settle for a 2nd, and nose-loss 3rd in her two tries so far in 2022 - remains a dangerous threat. (4) ROCKN
PHILLY has really been thriving for her current connections and after last week, was able to add "Open
Winner" to her Yonkers resume - her price will come way down now, but she can't be discounted in her
current form! (8) DRAGON ROLL has already won 3 of 5 starts here in 2022...and that's after finishing 1st
or 2nd in 22 of 32 starts last year - frequently takes off the gate when she draws outside like this, and that
makes her far more likely to pick up a smaller piece, rather than a bigger one. (3) BITTY BITTY won her
way right up to Open with 7 wins in the "NW PM" classes, and hasn't embarrassed herself at this top level -
may be a notch below a few of the main players, however. (6) BEST HEAD WEST is another that has been
a winning machine at Yonkers (6 for 7), but she draws poorly for her Open debut and that may see her too
far back to have a serious say at the end. (7) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL A went a BIG mile in last week's
victory, but the combination of the class hike and move outside may be tough to overcome. (1) GOLDEN
QUEST N catches a tough spot for her 2022 return...even with the rail draw
RACE 9 - (4) DROP THE MIC showed quite a bit of potential in his starts here this summer/fall but was
scratched injured on 12/9, and been away until now - the Pocono qualifier looks solid, and his barn has
been doing a lot of winning lately (even more than usual) - gets the nod in the finale. (7) KEEPER OF
SECRETS has been a little disappointing in his last couple of local tries, but he could perk up in a hurry in
this field - could add some value to the exotics. (5) SEVENSHADESOFGREY may have won the NYSS
Final (opportunistic) but he's really struggled for his current connections - maybe this is the week he
behaves, and wires the field...but he surely won't be offering any value. (6) BIG CHARLIE MORAN
actually has a few good recent efforts and shouldn't be 20-1 ML here - ok to include underneath. (8) TORN
TO PIECES has some solid Dover tries but he's been away for 24 days, lands all the way outside, and exits
a pretty good trotting barn - maybe 3rd/4th? (2) SQUABLE just hasn't done much of anything lately, and
really needs a wake up call. (1) CHERRY MASON has been away since November, and is 1 for 27
lifetime. (3) SV ROYAL FLUSH was sent off at 65-1 from the rail last week, and tired off an easy trip