The Empire Report - Thursday, October 19, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (4) BLENHEIM had no chance in his first PcD try off the barn change (8 hole, off track) but was
a 1:54.1 winner the next week - landed in a MUCH tougher field in his next, but should be right at home in
this $50K claimer for his YR return - barn has definitely been hot lately. (1) PERFECT TITAN was 1 for 2
here last year but so far this THIS year has 6 thirds from his 7 starts - he ships in sharp from Stga., draws
the pole with Holland, and could have a big say here. (3) DOO WOP KID was destined to be parked when
he tried to leave from Post 7 last week (with his owner/trainer in the bike) - moves inside, and gets a major
switch to Brennan...could be a very live player! (5) BRAVE BY DESIGN is listed at 5/2 ML despite being
9-0-1-1 here at Yonkers - would have been easier to just dismiss had his barn not been sending out total
airplanes the last couple of weeks (9 for 21 since 10/6)! (6) KOSHER MAHONEY usually gets bet but his
only win in this class came over a softer bunch - tough post, and it just feels like others offer better value.
(2) PIVOTAL threw a dud as the favorite last week after a trio of 2nd place finishes - tough call for tonight.
(7) BELLA CAVALLA raced better in her 2nd local start but may get buried by the draw tonight
RACE 2 - Tough race: (4) NO MAS DRAMA may not be the "best" mare in here, but she's the only one
that comes into this with no real question marks - she was a winner in this class 2 back, and may be able to
pull it off again tonight. (1) ABBEY D came up 2nd best in this class on 9/21 and also has a couple of
recent 2nds vs. the $50K claimers - gets a pass for her last at PcD (facing tougher, off a sick scratch) and
could have a real say tonight. (6) WHAT SHOULD I GOO has shown that she's better than these when on
her "best game", but she has to be seen as questionable for tonight as she's missed a month (off a sick
scratch) and draws outside - hard to take a short price, no matter how insanely hot her barn is. (5) QUEEN
OF ALL finally found her best form of 2023 recently and easily beat this class on 9/21 - no threat vs. the
boys in her next, then made a break on the lead last week (after coming CLOSE to breaking a few times in
recent starts) - hard to say which direction she'll head tonight. (2) DREAMONHIGH is inconsistent but
capable of some big miles - she puts the hopples back on for tonight, and may be worth a look at the right
price. (3) LADY JETER was better last week, but remains an outsider
RACE 3 - Another wide open, short field: (5) ABRUZZO blasted right to the top last week but made an
unfortunate miscue early on- he has no shortage of talent and should be a decent price is a very competitive
affair....worth a play? (2) CREDIT CON beat similar 2 back before struggling in last week's Open - he's
WON at the top level several times this year and when on his game, is likely best of these - as noted, his
barn has also been en fuego, but HE may not be at his absolute best right now - the one to beat, but figures
to be a pretty short price. (1) VALI HANOVER is more dangerous vs. a bit easier but he's been sharp for an
eternity, is always charging late, and may end up with a pretty good trip from this spot - worth considering
if the price is right. (3) TORRONE kicked in a little too late when a close 3rd two back, then was able to
kick in on time to win last week- another sharp player in a race full of them (4) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS
is a big player week after week, though doesn't WIN as often as he probably should...legitimate player, and
worth a look if not overbet. (6) SOUTHWIND ARTURO is listed on the bottom but only because of the
draw - he's been sharp all year, and comes into this off a pair of wins!
RACE 4 - (4) EPOS OSTERVANG DK left hard last week before being forced to retreat hard to 5th,
gained then lost cover to 3/4s, picked up NEW cover on the final turn but had to top wide around that one,
continued to rally hard into the stretch and ended up right there in 3rd - he figures to be headed right for the
top tonight, and looms the one to knock off. (3) STEUBEN HANOVER was making his first start since
January last week and turned in a big one, putting a big rally before weakening just a bit to 3rd - could be a
major threat with that start under his belt. (1) CRESCENT BEAUTY had everything go her way last week
and was able to get up late for the opportunistic win - has to be considered a player from the pole, but she's
not the type to take at a short price (tends to be inconsistent). (5) FOR A DREAMER was much sharper last
week and went a big mile before losing to the tripsitter - faces a tougher task tonight and may have to race
from off the pace), but still belongs in exotics. (6) GRINDER ships in sharp from Stga. and has raced well
in some of his local tries too - he'll need some action up front to make his late move pay off, however. (7)
DRACO S collared #5 from the pocket last week but now gets stuck on the outside (and Bartlett opts for
#4). (2) MUFASA AS won a "fall apart" race 2 back but generally prefers to be in a bit easier
RACE 5 - NAADA Amateur Fall Series: (4) ALL RISE won his last amateur race at Fhd. and had a win
and a 3rd here at Yonkers in late August - he's listed at 8-1 ML, and seems like a decent value horse to
consider for tonight. (3) CALL ME THEFIREMAN is a strong 10-4-1-2 at YR this year, and has 3 wins
from his last 6 starts - he has the speed to secure a good trip here (top or pocket), and looms a very solid
player. (7) BY A HOFF HANOVER was 1 for 33 in 2022 and 0 for 30 in 2023...until Mr. Faraldo was able
to get him to the Monti winner's circle last week - gets rewarded with Post 7 for tonight, but he does have
good gate speed....can he break his 0 for 24 Yonkers streak too? (5) LIONHEAD is 1 for 4 here this year
and did win an AHDC Final at PcD 4 starts down - he does have a chance tonight, but that 9/5 ML price
makes him pretty hard to consider on top. (1) NATURAL KEMP probably fits well with these but he's
missed 3 weeks off a sick scratch, and may not be on his best game for tonight. (2) BLOGMASTER picked
up a 2nd at Monti last week but he's 9-0-1-0 locally, and may just be a little on the cheaper side. (6) JUMPS
HOT was a Monti winner last start but faces a potentially very difficult trip from this spot
RACE 6 - (4) ROLLING WITH SAM was just a different horse last week, delivering a bruising "brush and
crush" victory over a bit easier - if he brings that same kind of effort tonight, he'll have a chance to beat
these too. (6) PEDRO HANOVER was very well meant last week, and might have been even closer if he
didn't spend so much time trying to angle free into the stretch - barn remains very hot, and this guy has to
be considered a serious threat here. (8) MAURIES BONUS A raced well from impossible spots in his first
2 local tries then was a solid 2nd last week behind the top choice - obviously a brutal spot for tonight, but a
big price makes him worth using in exotics (1) HEART ON MY SLEEVE was terrific 2 back so last week's
dull try was certainly disappointing - he's in a bit easier here, and does have license to be a bigger player.
(3) ROCK THE DEVIL clearly has issues (9 starts last year, only 11 so far in '23) and returns tonight after a
couple of months on the shelf - his best effort would make him a legitimate threat...but will we see that
from him right off the shelf? (2) ONTO EL DORADO N was a popular weekly $40K claim not too long
ago despite that fact that he's only 1 for 30 this year (and actually inherited that win from a breaker) - his
last was "ok", he drops in class, and is playable underneath in exotics. (5) REAL WILLEY just stopped
from the top of the lane in his YR debut, and seems prone to those kinds of efforts - sticking with others
right now. (7) SWEET TROY beat cheaper on 9/22 but has been away for a month after a sick scratch, and
draws Post 7 up in class - pass for now
RACE 7 - (4) BALENCIAGA was simply in over his head in that last start in KY (a long way to ship for a
90-1 shot!) but his prior two starts (at Yonkers) were sharp, producing a win and a 2nd - no reason he can't
bounce back with another good one tonight. (5) VINNY DE VIE beat the top choice 4 back, got stuck
sitting last (with no chance) the next 2 weeks but was a solid 3rd behind the talented PAPPARDELLE last
week - a live trip makes him a major threat. (1) B NICKING figures to be an up close player from start to
finish - but needs to be a little stronger at the end to be a serious threat. (6) HIGHLAND MOWGLI came
up a little short in the lane last week racing off the layoff - could be tighter now, but will also have to
overcome a tough post. (2) TIMESTORM was hammered at the windows 2 back and delivered the wire to
wire score over cheaper - failed to build off that in his last, and now had to move up in class once more. (3)
HAT TRICK MARLEAU drops a peg but still seems a bit overmatched. (7) CREATIVE VENTURE draws
all the way outside while facing tougher - usually not a recipe for success
RACE 8 - (1) REIGNING DEO rallied nicely from an impossible spot 2 back then was a close 2nd behind
a sharp, well meant favorite last week - figures to land on another very nice trip here, and his main rivals
have some question marks - could be a winning spot. (4) B LIKE CRUISER picked up a close 2nd in
NW10000 off the claim but struggled in 50s in his last few (with a couple of excuses) - definitely could be
a wake up spot. (3) DP REALORDEAL showed a lot of promise here at 3 (6-3-2-0) but has really struggled
through a tough 2023 local campaign (14-0-1-1) - this is a logical spot for him to race aggressively and be a
contender, but he also figures to be overbet. (5) GAMBLINGTERROR may not be a threat here for the top
prize but he really wasn't bad last week and has a history of picking up good pieces at big prices - maybe
tonight too? (2) TYGA HANOVER drops and draws inside but he hasn't beaten a single horse in his last 3
starts - hard to back with any confidence right now. (6) ALEX TYE used a quick start to pick up a 2nd last
week but then came up empty last week - tough post even if he brings a better effort. (7) VILLIAM used an
easy trip to pick up a 3rd in NW15000 2 back but pulled too early last week and faded to 7th despite the
class drop - moves down another notch, but the draw figures to hurt his chances. (8) C BET HANOVER
failed to threaten from a similar spot last week - maybe next week with a drop and better post?
RACE 9 - (1) ODDS ON PICK SIX had been really struggling before suddenly turning things around with
a much better 2nd two back - he raced well again last week, and may be able to take advantage of the draw
tonight to pick up a victory. (6) BETTORBUCKLEUP has been holding his own with better much of the
year, though without too many victories - hard to predict his trip from Post 6 but IF it's a decent one, he
figures to be right there at the end. (3) GOOD INVESTMENT landed on very tough trips in 2 of his last 3
starts and paid for it - he was actually very good in the start in between, and does fit with these - consider if
the price is decent. (4) ROSE RUN X CON had pace for the show spot 2 back, then raced ok despite a poor
trip last week - good enough now to land somewhere on the ticket if some trip luck comes his way. (7) HES
ELECTRIC finished way back last week but he was off a layoff and landed on a trip he really doesn't like -
if he just sits back and looks to rally late, he may be able to grab a minor share...at a big price. (2) HESTO
NS LUCKY CHIP has been a steady Monti performer and can get a pass for falling apart in last week's
sizzling mile - hard to say how he fits with these, but he's probably playable for 3rd/4th at that 20-1 ML
price. (8) CAPTAINS PLACE probably needs a better post to be any kind of serious player. (5) AINT HE
SPECIAL has just been going through the motions for months