The Empire Report - Thursday, July 7, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (1) A NEW LEADER is just 1 for 11 this year, but could have had a couple more wins with
some better luck - there's definitely some ability here, and you know Bongiorno will give him every chance
to succeed in his YR debut....hard to say how he'll handle the 4 turns, but we'll find out tonight. (6) IN A
TINY WAY started off her career with lots of promise but was derailed in her 5th start with a break at
Buffalo, then went offstride here at Yonkers as well - re-qualified cleanly adding the trotting hopples, and
she's worth using tonight....as long as the price is decent. (4) UNLEASHED KEMP can be excused for her
last in NJ, catching a 1:52 mile after making breaks the previous 2 starts - her "typical" effort would make
her a player here but like a few of these, it's hard to say how she'll take to the half miler. (8) LIVINGONTH
ERAIL showed good half-mile form up in Canada, but that was probably against softer - hard to get a good
read on his 2 NJ starts (since moving to his current connections), but this barn has won with way too many
of these over the years to ever ignore at that 20-1 ML price. (3) HONORABLE LADY hit board in 7 of 12
starts this year, but hasn't been able to win yet - prefer others, but could see her racing well for a smaller
piece. (5) IMPORTER EXPORTER was an even 5th in his local debut - eligible to improve, and ok to
include underneath. (2) PRAY AND HUSTLE behaved in both local starts and was able to pick up a pair of
4ths - seems a bit below several of the main players in here. (7) SV ROYAL FLUSH draws Post 7 off a sick
scratch (bad date) and we'll just keep an eye on him...for now.
RACE 2 - (3) SOUND IDEA was handled aggressively off the class drop last week but was simply no
match for the razor sharp winner - drops again, and may have finally found a field she can handle. (4) ALW
AYS BE COOL has a racing style that makes it hard to ever "love" her chances (lags a long way before
finding her best stride in the lane) - she's definitely sharp, though, and may be able to charge by these IF
things get a little testy up front. (6) AMERICAN TOUR N showed some sneaky improvement 2 back, then
paced a strong final 3/8ths to be right there last week - would definitely include her on your tickets tonight
(she'll need some trip luck from Post 6, though) (2) CHECKERED PAST is hard to like on paper but she
does show up and win a few starts every year - this is a spot where one of her "wake up calls" is possible.
(1) VEL DONNA enjoyed an easy trip in her YR debut and finished solidly for 3rd - prefer others for the
top spot, but the rail draw definitely puts her in play for a good piece. (5) AHOY will attract some attention
off the class drop but she'll need to be sharper if she hopes to be a serious player. (7) BET IM LUCKY was
handled very aggressively last week and was able to hang on to cross the wire first....only to be DQ'd to 2nd
for a pylon violation - looking at a much tougher trip from out here, though. (8) NO STONE UNTURNED
is the outsider- both literally and figuratively
RACE 3 - (1) VENDOR BILL gets a new trainer listed for tonight....but more importantly, draws the pole
with speed and Brennan - worth a play in his Yonkers debut. (3) EXCHEQUER has been good since
returning from the layoff, and draws well enough to be in striking distance - definitely can make some
noise if close when they turn for home. (5) MUSCLE DYNASTY broke in 2 of his 5 starts this year but
also trotted a couple of solid miles when he was able to behave - should fit nicely there, and a legitimate
threat if he stays trotting....not a fan of that 2-1 ML price, though. (6) BY A HOFF HANOVER won 11
races last year, but mostly on the PA Fair circuit - he's just 1 for 17 to start off 2022, but he does have speed
and Bartlett - ok to include in exotics. (2) CHARLATAN HANOVER really hasn't clicked yet since coming
to YR - eligible to improve, but leaning to others for now. (8) BEYOND THE HILL shows PA lines that
suggest he'll be a good fit with this type, but he makes his local debut from Post 8, after missing 3 weeks -
may need a better spot before we see his best. (4) OCEANVIEW PRINCE shipped in sharp and raced well
for a couple of starts....but really has gone south lately, and hard to endorse right now. (7) DIMANTE VIC
draws poorly for his new connections tonight...and does already seem a bit below these
RACE 4 - (5) ANDRA DAY is the somewhat reluctant selection here - she just fell apart after the 5/19
barn change but perhaps last week's sick scratch has something to do with her problems - if she's anywhere
even close to her "usual" self she'll beat these....but definitely don't take a very short to find out. (4)
RABLE made a nice recovery after an early break last week and is dropping significantly in class tonight -
she won 9X last year, and this may be a good spot to look for a wake up call. (2) VELOCITY MCSWEETS
fell off form suddenly in May - looked 2 back like she might be ready to turn things around, but she
disappointed again last week - she's another who could easily perk up with tonight's class relief. (3)
SCANDALICIOUS had a useful qualifier after a recent sick scratch - she fits well at this level, and could
be a big threat if a couple of the top choices just fail to show up. (6) MILADY DENVER A throws some
big miles without notice but generally does her damage vs. a bit easier. (8) POPPY DRAYTON N seems a
little better since the recent barn change but would need a lot to go her way to reach from out here. (7)
ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has been "ok", but generally needs a better post to contend at this level. (1)
NORA TOVA makes her local debut with some shaky looking recent form - prefer to just watch, for now
RACE 5 - (3) TRANQUILITY K held his own with some pretty nice trotters in the Brennan Series - took a
couple of months off then drew Post 8 for his return try last week, trailing all the way but hitting the wire
with sneaky trot, suggesting he's probably ready for a bigger effort - decent value play in this pretty wide
open affair. (6) X O X O was a bit of an unknown shipping in from Canada for new connections but raced
super in last week's victory, hinting at some legitimate ability - belongs on your tickets again tonight. (5)
VELVET STYLE was in the midst of a big effort when he broke on the final turn two back, so last week's
hard charging victory was really no surprise - can be a late threat if Stratton can find him a live trip. (2)
COMPLETE LIFE shipped in sharp and was a solid 3rd in her local debut - another quick start could land
her a good trip...and a chance for another nice chunk. (1) BIG CHARLIE MORAN was sharp in his last
pair in NJ before shipping back in last week, and trotted well to the wire to be a close 4th - draws best, and
another decent piece is possible. (7) P C FREE WHEELING was sent off at an amazing 2/5 for her local
debut, no doubt thanks to the big trainer and driver switches - she went a decent front end try before getting
hauled in by #5, but may have a tougher time from Post 7 tonight. (4) STAMPED BY LINDY was an even
5th in his Yonkers debut - eligible to improve, but still prefer others. (8) TAP ME BLUE CHIP was a sharp
pocket popping winner last week but no moves up in class, and moves all the way outside - just a very
tough assignment!
RACE 6 - (4) SUNDAY AFTERNOON is shipping down from Canada in the midst of a nice form spree,
and lands in a barn that has definitely been heating up (won 2 races on Tuesday night) - she figures to be
the best price of the main contenders, and that makes her worth a look. (1) UPTOWN HANOVER was very
well supported for her local debut and delivered a powerful front end score for a strong trainer/driver
tandem - steps up but the rail draw can really help offset that - chance to make it 2 straight. (5) BABS JAN
SEN saw her own form spree derailed for a couple of weeks (7 and 8 hole) but was right back on her game
last week, an excellent 2nd after cutting the mile - solid threat. (3) INTHESKYROCKET A may need a bit
easier to do her best work but she's good right now, and has a chance for a piece with the good draw. (2)
DBLDELITEBRIGADE N has been sharpening at Chester vs. much easier - she can certainly go with this
type when sharp, but it's hard to say if she's up for these right now. (6) GAME OF SHADOWS just missed
in her local debut but really had no excuses - tired from a pocket last week and even though she's dropping
tonight, we're still sticking with others. (7) LUCKY ARTIST A failed to get involved from a similar spot
last week - will look much better with a class drop next week...& hopefully a better post. (8) TALL POPPY
N can go with these from a better spot, but tonight's draw really figures to hurt her chances.
RACE 7 - (5) DRAMAACT was terrific throughout the Matchmaker Series and especially good when she
was able to nose out the razor sharp Racine Bell in the Final - incredibly she hasn't won a race since then (6
starts), but she looked much better in her last couple, and would be hard to go against vs. this softer bunch.
(3) MAN DONTFORGET ME was senselessly overdriven in her last start and paid a price for it - she's had
3 weeks to recuperate, and could end up with a pocket trip tonight....and that could lead to a nice chunk of
this. (2) BETTERB CHEVRON N was really dull 2 back in her YR return but her last was more like it,
rallying very nicely for 3rd - chance for a piece tonight too. (4) DELITFULCATHERIN N did some very
good things here earlier in the year - appears to have changed barns a couple of times recently, and ships
back sharp from Ohio to her new connections - one of the most successful owner-trainer/trainer
combinations around - could be a player here. (1) SPORTS FLIX had been on a nice roll before failing to
get involved last week - these are probably a bit too tough for her, but the rail draw could help her grab a
minor piece. (6) JIVE DANCING A has been in and out all year - tough spot here, even if she shows up on
her "good" game tonight. (7) DC BATGIRL shipped in very sharp from Pocono and made it 3 in a row in
her Hilltop return - not sure she can get herself in play from this spot, though. (8) PLZDONTLIETOME N
did better than expected the past 2 weeks after moving up in class, but really figures to struggle from here
RACE 8 - (1) MCMARKLE SPARKLE has done excellent work since arriving here this spring and has
proven herself at the Open level - she starts with a significant post advantage over her main rivals, and that
may help her get the job done this week. (2) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA is a streaky mare and now races for
the winningest trainer/combination in the land - she's taking a big step up here, but would anybody really be
surprised if she was able to pull it off? (8) MAJORCA N is a hard hitter that can race well off a variety of
trips - she'll need all kinds of luck to win from out here, but she's still worth considering IF the price is juicy
enough. (7) BEST HEAD WEST has done incredible work all year and has blossomed into a weekly hard
hitter at the top levels - it seems, however, that her owner has split recently with his trainer, and this mare
will now be conditioned by the Dynamic Duo - she's been off for 3 weeks, and MAY not be at her absolute
best tonight. (3) REACHTHRUTHESKY AS has looked good since arriving here recently, but will get a
big test tonight - we'll see how she fares. (5) VIOLETS RAINBOW has been good in almost all of her 21
local starts, but she's gotten even better in her last few - makes it all the way up to the top level now, and
we'll see if she can do as well against these.(6) SIESTA BEACH went through a rough patch but has started
to rebound to her better form - she's not quite 100% right now, and this is also a pretty tough spot - leaning
towards others. (4) MORNING HAS BROKEN has gone some BIG miles this year, though not (yet) at this
level - she still needs to prove she can hang with these
RACE 9 - (1) JODY was doing some excellent work when she arrived at Yonkers but soon starting making
some breaks, then was simply overmatched in the Matchmaker - she's been freshened up, and was a winner
at PcD in her first start back off the two month hiatus - may be able to build off that and beat these too. (2)
ANNABELLE HANOVER moves up one level after effortlessly wiring a NW7500 field last week - more
than sharp enough to take another, but may also be overbet. (4) ASHTINI is razor sharp at the moment -
she'll probably still be a square price, and she's absolutely playable in her current form. (6) SHEIKH YAB
OOTY N shipped in sharp and raced as well as could be expected from Post 8 last week - she does fit with
these, but it hurts drawing outside a few main rivals - still worth considering at what figures to be a pretty
good price. (3) GINGER TREE LIZ was good every week to start the year but has leveled off a bit lately -
needs to find her better game if she hopes to contend for a top prize. (8) CASH ROLL continued to free fall
through the classes after climbing them equally quickly not long ago - she's back at a level that suits her,
but may need to wait for a better draw before making any real noise. (5) CHELSKI has struggled since
moving up to this higher level. (7) NORMANS MADELINE draws poorly once more, and that figures to
hurt her chances yet again