The Empire Report - Wednesday, August 11, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (1) ROLL WITH SHORTY didn't really get the hang of things at 2 (10-0-0-0) but she's doing
much better at 3, and came close in her last 2 tries at this level - definitely a major threat to handle this
modest bunch in tonight's opener. (5) MAKE A SCENE is an interesting proposition - showed a little
ability at 3 but only made 8 starts - began her 3YO campaign her at YR and made an early break in her first
start, only to make a big recovery for 3rd...started to struggle right after that, though, and was soon back on
the shelf - just re-qualified after 4 months off, adds Lasix, and just may be a sleeper here. (4) KEYSTONE
DELIGHT wasn't bad in her first local try on 7/14 but was scratched injured from her next, and been away
for a month - hard to know how serious she'll be tonight, so perhaps a check of the tote board will help. (2)
YOUR MOMMA was well backed for her local debut but weakened in the pocket as the 3/5 choice - can
absolutely come with a better effort and beat these, but it would seem the value is playing against her right
now. (3) VALERYA STEEL was 2nd in her last Ohio try before shipping east, and was an even 4th here last
week - small piece? (7) PRINCESS ALTA was "gaining late" last week but so were 3 others as the leader
just folded in a very slow final 1/8th of a mile - maybe when she draws better? (6) RENATUS was up the
track in her local debut and draws outside again.
RACE 2 - (1) LARJON LEAH beat good older mares in a NW15000 race on 5/27 then went a few good
miles against tough NW6 mares like Man Dontforget Me, Galleria Gal, etc. - makes her debut tonight for a
new barn off a solid qualifier, and is Stratton's choice (over #6, whom he just won with) - feels like a good
spot to reward her new connections with instant dividends. (4) WAKEMESHAKEME is rock solid against
this type and the class was opened up tonight just to fit her in (NW $79,700 lifetime) - should grab her
usual big chunk. (5) LET ER BUCK was trapped on the cones for way too long last week and raced better
than the line looks - should offer some decent value in the exotics. (6) THUNDRA just missed 2 back
(probably should have won) but was able to cash in on a "can't miss" trip in last - moves up in class and
draws outside, and that will probably limit her to a smaller piece tonight. (2) WOODMERE HARRIET was
scr. sick from her last after a trip of 3rd place finishes - willing to use her for 3rd again. (3) FOLLOW
YOUR NOSE seems a little cheaper than the main players.
RACE 3 - (6) FAST ON THE DRAW only has 5 career wins but he does put together some streaks of good
efforts at times - his last pair were both sharp, and he's definitely worth a stab (at 15-1 ML) in what shapes
up as a pretty wide open affair. (2) NORTHERN SPORTSMAN was always an in-and-out type and it seems
that still hasn't changed - among his recent mixed bag of tries are 3 wins (in PA), and he's won races here in
the past as well - definitely one to consider. (3) ENERGYZONE HANOVER was a close 3rd two back and
raced very well for 4th from a terrible spot in last - logical player with the move inside. (4) AMERICAN
NITRO gave way and folded badly as the odds on choice in last - goes for a new barn tonight, figures to be
well backed again, and could definitely be vulnerable. (1) LODI MACHETTE MAN was a "meh" 4th last
week but raced well for 4ths in his prior pair - new trainer listed for tonight, and not all that sure what to
expect from him -- maybe use underneath? (8) FOX VALLEY NEMITZ was favored here on 5/1 and that
was vs. 20s (his lone local try) - missed time after that and returned at the $10K level in PA, and his lack of
starts the last couple of years suggests he has some kind of hole in him - very tough spot for YR return. (7)
SKYWAY BILLY's Chester lines aren't bad, and he'll probably fit with these - tough spot for his Hilltop
debut, though. (5) CHACHING HANOVER is just 1 for 36 over the past 2 years - that's just a little too
camera shy for our tastes!
RACE 4 - (5) EYES DONT LIE enjoyed breaking her maiden so much that she came right back to win her
last as well - stays in the same class tonight, and there's a decent chance she can complete the "hat trick",
making it 3 in a row. (1) QUICK SIX looked all done on the final turn last week but was able to come on
late as the leader suddenly tired, just missing the win - draws best, and that could lead to an easy trip... and
another good piece. (4) IDEAL CHIP shipped in showing some less than stellar Chester form but she raced
well here, coming 1st over to finish 2nd to the top choice - we'll see if she can build off that much improved
effort. (6) FRENCH SHAKER had been picking up good pieces every week before last week's early miscue
- can definitely bounce back and land herself a board spot. (3) HIPHOPMOMMA picked up small pieces in
both local starts - if she has some more to offer, now would be a good time to show it. (2) ROLL WITH
KAY won 3s straight at Stga. before making a break in the pocket in her last - not quite sure how well she
fits with the locals, but we'll find out tonight. (7) LINE EM UP probably is a good fit with these but se
draws Post 7 after missing 2 months - prefer to just watch for tonight
RACE 5 - (4) TELLITSABB has always loved Yonkers so it was no surprise to see him race so well in his
Hilltop return (for a new barn), coming up 2nd best to a currently raging Sugartown - drops, faces a pretty
modest field, and looms the one to beat tonight. (1) MOTIVE HANOVER returns off a win over cheaper at
PcD - gets major post relief from his last couple of starts here, and that should keep him close throughout.
(2) HEAVENLY SOUND is just for 1 for 38 over the past 2 years but he's been holding his own vs. much
better lately - solid chance to land somewhere on the ticket from this spot. (5) KILLER MARTINI didn't
fire in his first attempt for the Dynamic Duo but that doesn't mean he won;t wake up tonight - barn has had
some major hot streaks in the past, but they've been on a flat-out scary tear since late Friday night! (3)
ROCKATHON was away for 8 months and that's not the qualifier his connections were hoping for - we'll
see if he's a little tighter tonight. (6) IWONTDOTHATAGAIN hasn't even grabbed a check in his last 4
starts - needs to be a LOT better. (7) MACH TIME N was away for 3+ months then backed up from the
pocket in his return try, followed by a sick scratch the next week - draws post 7 after missing 3 more weeks,
and is just hard to recommend right now.
RACE 6 - (2) SHARED INTEREST was 2nd in this class in his first 2 local tries - was uninvolved in last,
but that was a MUCH tougher field (even if technically, the same class) - meets a pretty shaky crew tonight
and this feels like a spot he can handle. (3) SEVEN KNIGHTS will attract plenty of $$ off the class drop
but he's really been off form for some time - no guarantee the drop will perk him up enough to come out on
top. (7) BAZILLIONAIRE is just 2 for 46 over the last 2 seasons but he's been facing much better lately -
chance to land somewhere on the ticket, even from Post 7. (5) SKYWAY TINACIOUS went a couple of
decent efforts here earlier in the year - decent one to include underneath in exotics. (4) MAKING SPARKS
doesn't show the greatest recent form at Monti but he did race ok here at times in the past - maybe Stratton
can perk him up a bit? (1) TEDDY BROSEVE LT has done little in a pair of local tries but has a chance at
a minor piece just by virtue of having the rail. (6) WATKINS must be checking the calendar these days,
waiting for January 1st...when the 14YO can enjoy his retirement. (8) PETERS EXPRESS doesn't figure to
have any impact from out here.
RACE 7 - (4) ISLAY N was no factor on last week's sloppy track but she was sharp in her previous three,
grabbing 2nds in each start - drops into a very winnable spot and she deserves top billing - but note that
she's just 1 for 39 over the past 2 years before accepting too short a price! (5) MILADY DENVER A can be
frustratingly inconsistent but on her best, she would be very tough against these - hard to leave her off the
ticket, but her barn has just 3 wins and 2 seconds from 62 YR starts this year. (6) FOLLOWTHEWIND N
was dull 2 back but back to better form in last - draws outside her two main foes, but should still be able to
grab at least a piece even from Post 6. (7) MADAME LEZAA has been much better in her last few, but
gets no luck with the draw tonight - at 20-1 ML, still worth throwing in for 3rd. (1) WINNING WORDS
looks like she could be a little cheap, but she ships in sharp, and has speed from the pole - another with a
shot at a minor piece. (3) FREE EXCHANGE was good for a couple of starts but disappointed in her last
couple - needs to find that better form if she hopes to grab any kind of decent piece here. (2) MORE THAN
MANY has been "even going" for quite some time - hard to make a case that tonight we'll see a big wake
up call. (8) SPECIAL GRADUATE had some good starts here last year but lands in a seemingly impossible
spot returning from Monti - we'll just watch for tonight.
RACE 8 - Tough race! (4) BROWNIE picked up a win and a 2nd at Chester 3 and 4 back - made a break
here in his next but was a solid 4th (vs. better) at Chester after that - never been the most reliable Yonkers
horse, but he's worth a stab at 10-1 ML. (6) CREW HILL TOPPER qualified without Lasix last week at
PcD and looked good - the newcomer shows good speed, and gets a pilot not afraid to send one... another
good value horse in a wide open race. (1) BANGE BI was an even 4th after sitting a two hole trip in his
local debut - can definitely be a live player here, but not a fan of that 2-1 ML price. (5) SVF CASH
DEPOSIT's recent starts have been all over the place, but he won at PcD 2 back and has raced well here on
occasion too - has a chance IF he shows up on his best game. (2) FOMOR does have a chance to beat these
- but since he disappoints far more often than he delivers, insist on a good price if considering him for the
top slot. (3) TOTAL DIVA was overbet last week but able to beat a very soft field with the benefit of a
perfect trip in a race that fell apart - just too camera shy to look for her to step up in class and repeat. (7)
KING CAST fits well with these but gets stuck outside again, and may prefer to wait for a class drop (next
week), and better post. (8) TORKIL looked a little better in his last couple, but this is a brutal spot
RACE 9 - Wide open race: (3) ROBMOTION BLUECHIP hasn't won in a while but she always seems to
use her speed to get into the hunt - she had no room at all last week (or she would have been closer), so
maybe it's time for the trip luck to go her way - one of several with a chance to take this. (2) IDEAL IN
MIRACLES won her local debut on 6/16 - cut the mile in her next before weakening late to 4th, then just
missed first over last week - another that may just be a good trip away from another victory. (6) SEA OF
LOVE BC never seems to race the same way twice - disappointed on the lead as the even money favorite in
her last...but maybe she can win from off the pace tonight, at a much better price. (1) IDEAL HANNAH's
win here on 6/23 still stands as the barn's only victory so far in 2021 - draws best, but may be a notch below
the top ones...make sure to get a decent price if using her on top. (5) CHELSKI was way back at the half
last week, had some road trouble but still was able to work her way up to 3rd at the end - she won 3X here
earlier in the year, and isn't a bad bomb to consider. (8) SOCIETY JILL was very good 3 back. overcoming
a bad final turn shuffle to be 3rd (placed 2nd) - toughed out a first over win in her next, but was outkicked
in last and finished 4th - even if she rebounds to her best effort tonight, she'll have a hard time winning
from all the way out here. (4) BEAUTY BAYAMA had a new owner and trainer listed last week and was
listless in the back - prefer others tonight. (7) AVERYS HAILSTORM was 4-0-0-0 here last year, and her
recent out of town lines don't look all that inspiring - just observing, for now.
RACE 10 - (1) SUMATRA was floundering in the lower classes for a while this year but upped his game a
couple of months ago and has looked more like his old self lately - gets a drop AND major post relief, and
seems good enough to take advantage. (4) BLENHEIM has been having a rough season and made a break
last week - he also made a pretty nice recovery, and his previous start wasn't bad either - willing to use him
tonight, assuming he's a fair price. (5) GOTWHATEVERITTAKES is a tough call - many of his NJ efforts
would make him a real threat here, but one also has to wonder WHY his connections seemed to have
deliberately avoided racing at Yonkers...would need a decent price to use on top, and that 9/5 ML price may
prevent that from happening. (3) WHETHER OR NOT FI drew Posts 7 or 8 in his last 4 starts - not a bad
week to consider using him, hoping for a better effort with the move inside. (6) WARRAWEE SHIPSH
APE moves to a new barn and has a license to improve - tough spot tonight, but willing to throw in for
3rd/4th. (7) MADHATTER BLUECHIP will appreciate the class drop but he lands yet another outside post
and may have trouble working out a manageable trip. (8) TRUMP THIS has now taken 3 in a row (2 here at
YR) but that streak is in serious jeopardy with the combination of a class jump AND Post 8 - will need
some major trip luck to be a serious threat tonight. (2) IN MY DREAMS is as unpredictable from week to
week as any horse that races here - does draw well, and has a chance at a piece if in one of his good moods
RACE 11 - (5) SHARP RAZOR is an interesting one in the finale - his current Monti form is sharp, and
he's actually been facing some legit stock - gets Dube for his YR debut, and may be able to score at a nice
price...with some racing luck. (2) RECORD MACHINE went a strong mile for 3rd arriving from PcD - he's
done well here in the past, and could be a player once again. (1) SPORTS BETTOR made the lead fairly
easily from Post 7 last week but couldn't keep it going - chance for a sharper try from the pole, but also
figured to be overbet. (7) ROCK N BLUE didn't function in his first start for the Super Siblings but did
qualify back quickly then win his next start at Chester - this incredible training tandem has recorded NINE
wins and a second in their last 13 Yonkers starts, and every horse they send out has to be feared... but this
guy has a history of fizzling out when blasted hard off the car, and that MIGHT happen again tonight. (4)
ALBERT A SCOOTIN generally isn't a threat to win, but he can pick up pieces in a field like this. (6)
BALLERAT BOOMERANG raced ok in his last pair after returning from a layoff - may be ready to be a
serious player, but may also need a better draw to do that. (3) PIRATES ALLEY was no factor in his first
local starts and seems overmatched again. (8) ARQUE HANOVER lands Post 8 off a sick scratch - not a
winning combination.