Monday Empire Report

soaofny • May 20, 2024

The Empire Report – Monday, May 20, 2024 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NY Excelsior A, 3YO Filly Trot: (1) CENTRAL PARK was sent off favored at Lexington in her only

start at 2, but not up for the hot mile that day – she prepped nicely for her 3YO return, and just missed 2

nd (here at YR) in her first start of 2024 – followed that up with a very nice try in PA, and may be ready to grab her first career

victory. (4) COMMUNION MONEY faced NYSS company at 2, and did okay (though a bit below the better ones) –

she won a leg of the Weiss Series (Pocono) in her 2nd start back at 3, but has missed 3 weeks since finishing 5th in the

Consolation – definitely possible, but no value at that 8/5 ML price. (6) TWILIGHT DEO lacks early speed but she

stays trotting and finishes well...making her a good candidate to use underneath. (3) SEVEN SUMMERS added

hopples at 3 and shows a couple of nice preps – another to consider underneath. (5) DEVIOUS HOTTIE appears to

have some ability but has a bad habit of miscues at the start (including last week at Stga, at 1/5) – risky for sure. (2)

VERSACE BLUE CHIP is another with some ability that really struggles to mind her manners.


RACE 2 - NY Excelsior A, 3YO Filly Trot: (2) NYMERIA rallied for 4th in her career debut at Pocono then won

her next by 7 lengths – she jogged again in her local debut (last week, at 1/5) and is clearly the one to beat tonight –

but probably not a horse you should unload on at miniscule odds. (1) MS TITAN won 5 of 10 starts at 2, albeit vs.

easier – she started off her 3YO campaign with a pair of nice 2nds in the Weiss Series, but then broke in her next and

was no factor in her last – IF she can rebound to one of those better efforts, she can be a player here. (6) DEMIN N

DIAMONDS was 8-2-1-3 at 2, winning a couple of these – she added hopples last week (Stga.) and was a clean 2nd

best, suggesting she may be worth at least a look tonight. (4) BULLVILLES WINNER hit board in 5 of 6 starts this

year, has speed and Bartlett and stays trotting – definitely some things to like. (3) SHIV picked up a 2

nd here last year and was a winner 2 back (when Gingras pretty much just stole one, in a weak field) – another that can be in the

hunt if things go her way.


RACE 3 – NYSS, 3YO Filly Trot: (5) SADBIRDSTILLSING was good all through her 2YO campaign and came

up big in the Final, parking the beastly SENORITA PALEMA every step of the way before coming up 2nd best to her

– her last qualifier looks excellent, and she should offer some good value here (but will need some trip luck). (3)

SEVEN YEAR ITCH was scratched from last year’s Final but went a few sharp miles during the summer– her 3

starts back this year should have her plenty tight for this and she looms a very dangerous player (1A) HONORABLE

WAY started her career last year with a NYSS win at Stga., broke at Tioga then elected to focus on the KySS the rest

of the year (with mixed results) – very nice NJ prep last week and she could be a big threat right out of the box...but

not a big fan at that “even money” ML price. (4) ERIN made an unfortunate miscue in the NYSS Final after doing

some good work during the summer (and jogging the only other time she had a catch driver – 9/1 at Batavia, with

Morrill) – couldn’t blame anybody looking to give her a shot tonight after a couple of Stga. tighteners. (1) BILLIE E

seems like the lesser of the entrymates but is still Gingras from the pole. (2) HIPPIE SHAKE feels a bit overmatched.


RACE 4 – (6) DESPERATE MAN was flat out beastly throughout the Borgata Series, and his “best” effort may

have been the one race he lost (when viciously parked in the Final through insane fractions, yet still holding on for 3rd)

– he’s clearly in a different league from the others in here and while it’s hard to explain how he could have been

nailed late in that last qualifier, we’ll go under the assumption that he’ll be ready to deliver his best tonight – but

probably not a spot to bet the rent money on him at $2.10. (1) CAPTIVATE HANOVER has been sharp throughout

his 11 starts this year, and is holding that form even at this top level – he can’t help but get a good trip with the rail

draw, and he should be able to grab another nice chunk. (5) WHATS STANLEY GOT A was a nice surprise through

the Borgata Series, especially with his poor form just prior to that – he’s been in a couple of no-chance spots since

then, so it’s hard to gauge his current form...may not be a bad week to include him in exotics, hoping for a more

aggressive try. (4) HEMSWORTH N delivered a big mile in that victory 2 back but was just “good” in his last – he

remains one of the more unpredictable players from week to week. (2) AMERICAN DEALER N returns from NJ

off a trio of 2nds but his local efforts this year have been a notch below “Invitational level” – more comfortable with

a few others right now. (3) NANDOLO N finished alertly from an impossible spot last week but may be coming

from another bad spot tonight.


RACE 5– (4) BIG DREAM FELLA made a break on 3/28 but other than that has hit board in a zillion straight

starts, including 4 wins from his last 7 outings– he can race on or off the pace, and deserves top billing tonight. (1)

ARTIST BEST finally had the trip go all his way last week and was able to get over the hump, picking up the

victory (after 4 straight 2nds) – he moves to a new barn, but his new trainer sent out a jogburger winner off the claim

on Sat. night – legitimate threat. (3) CENTURY ENDEAVOR ships in off a pair of front end scores at Stga., albeit

vs. easier – he was 2nd in his only local appearance last year, and certainly deserves respect in here. (2) YS DO IT

RIGHT is often a contender, but has been light in the win column this year – remains a good one to include

underneath. (8) KB MAC is 0 for 13 this year and winless in 22 Yonkers starts – he does grab pieces, however, and

isn’t a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (5) THRESHOLD ships in off a couple of “ok” starts in NJ, after returning from a long

layoff – hard to gauge how well he fits here. (6) PRETTY HANDSOME has been racing ok, but likely needs a

better post to be a serious player. (7) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP seems unlikely to ever get close to the action.


RACE 6 – (1) ROCKIN JUKEBOX certainly benefited from the very hotly contested pace last week but he still

won with ease, and was very sharp prior to that mile as well – can decide what trip he wants for tonight, and has a

very real chance to repeat. (3) ANOTHRMASTRPIECE N recently worked his way back up the class ladder with

three straight victories – he’s leveled off a bit, but has also been in some tough spots...look for an aggressive try

tonight. (5) LEONIDAS A hasn’t “fallen apart” completely, but he also hasn’t resembled the top notch FFAller we

came to admire for several years – his last start was a useful 3rd (off 3 weeks) and perhaps this is a spot where he can

have a chance at the top prize. (4) BIG GULP delivered his best local mile to date last start, a sharp winner despite 3

weeks off – he’s missed another 3 weeks, however, and Bartlett opts for #3– mixed feelings. (7) LOUS SWEETREV

ENGE moved to a new barn 3 back and immediately found his better form – not sure he can pull off another field

sweeping victory against these, however. (2) WINDSUN RICKY rallied from well back for 2nd last week but passed

a bunch of exhausted rivals – not sure he can be as fortunate tonight. (6) FUNATTHEBEACH N wasn’t at his best in

most of the Borgata legs and makes his first start in a month – hard spot to jump on his team.


RACE 7 – NYSS, 3YO Filly Trot: (3) R MELINA was sent off favored in last year’s NYSS Final and can be

forgiven for making a break on a less than stellar surface – she followed that up with wins in the Kentuckiana and

the Matron, was right there in Breeder’s Crown Final and ended her year with a 3rd in the Goldsmith Maid– guessing

that her 2 qualifiers will have her ready to roll tonight. (6) DATE NIGHT HANOVER picked up early season NYSS

wins last year at Stga. and Tioga before focusing on the Grand Circuit (and showing high speed in several of her

starts) – she flew home in :26.1 in her only prep for tonight, and that suggests she’ll be ready to action – tough draw,

but a good price makes her worth using. (2) SISTER MARY MAUDE did some fine work early last year for low

profile connections, prompting the nation’s leading barn to acquire her – she ended her year with a 3rd in the NYSS

Final, and has a couple of nice tighteners since returning at 3 – use in exotics. (5) CHAPARMBRO showed plenty of

ability in her 5 starts at 2 but raced only on bog tracks – she’s a bit of a question mark as she makes her 3YO debut,

but her connections wouldn’t be dropping her in if they didn’t think she could get around the half miler – wouldn’t

take a short price, though. (1) STAR ATTRACTION hails from top connections, draws the pole, but isn’t as

accomplished as a few of the others – leaning elsewhere, but will watch closely. (4) JEANNIES ACTION was ok in

a couple of NYSS starts last year but does seem buried tonight.


RACE 8 – Sharp field! (6) POUND FOR POUND was winless (though racing pretty well) for his first 11 starts this

year but simply exploded on 4/22, crushing the field with a hot 1:51.4 mile – he proved it was no fluke when he

came back to take his next as well (over #8), then rallied nicely for 2nd behind the classy NANDOLO N last week –

giving him the slight edge despite the draw, especially since he should be a decent price here. (3) GDS THUNDER

GB came up 2nd best from the pocket to #8 in his last pair, but has a big post edge over that one tonight – maybe he

can parlay that into a victory? (8) JUST ENUFF STUFF was a razor sharp winner in his last pair after an excellent

2nd behind #6 three back – he’s more than sharp enough to take another, but the draw does present the possibility of a

pretty rough trip tonight. (5) HOPNROLL HEAVEN was a solid 4th upon arrival from Monti and an even better 3rd

last week – would consider if the price is juicy enough. (4) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A has been solid overall lately

but may prefer to be in a bit easier. (2) ADMIRAL HANOVER adds Lasix off a dullish try – keep an eye for any

improvement. (1) SHAKESPEARE just backed up through the field last week after re-qualifying – not ready to hop

back on his team yet. (7) TWIN B DELUXE disappointed in his first start off the claim and draws poorly tonight.


RACE 9 - NY Excelsior A, 3YO Filly Trot: (6) SHIRRIN held her own with some pretty nice NYSS fillies in her

limited 2YO campaign – she’s come back good at 3, following up a 2nd in her return try with 3 straight wins (out of

town) – meets nothing scary in here, and may be able to keep her streak alive. (4) RILEYS REBEL hit board in 3

straight to close out her 2YO campaign – she raced well in her 3YO return (rallied for 2nd behind a stickout winner)

but then made a costly miscue last week – a clean mile puts her right in the hunt. (2) GONE CRAZEE has 5 career

wins and recently held her own in the Weiss Series – worth considering here, and give her “extra points” if barnmate

MS TITAN races well in race 2. (1) KAROLINA SOLVEIG started her 2YO career with a pair of Excelsior A wins

(including one here at YR) but then seemed to level off – she really hasn’t clicked yet at 3, but it’s definitely too

soon to write her off! (5) PIZZA BIANCA qualified nicely on 4/26 (PA) then won her first career start the next week

– those lines are sandwiched between a pair of miscues, however, making her a bit risky (at a short price) tonight.

(3) OSODEVIOUS gets a massive driver change but it’s hard to say if she has enough ability for it to matter enough.


RACE 10 – (4) DUVAL STREET hinted at serious ability in that mile 3 back – didn’t even pretend to be interested

in his next but was hammered at the windows last week, and delivered a dominant 1:51.3 score...eligible to take

another. (1) KIMBLE A is definitely sharper than he looks on paper, and gets major post relief for tonight – Brennan

opts for #3, but this guy has a chance to grab a nice share...at a nice price. (2) SLING SHOCK had pace in traffic

last week after a pair of sharp tries prior to that – another logical player for exotics. (3) FORTIFY drops another peg

after last week’s drop failed to produce a better effort – he’ll come back around eventually, but is definitely on the

risky side right now. (5) THE REAL ONE has been finishing ok, gets a bit of post relief and the 14YO may be able

to rally late for a small share. (6) AIR FORCE HANOVER was a little disappointing on the lead 2 back but his

overall form has been solid – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (7) GAMBLINGTERROR draws outside and drops a win off the

bottom of his card after tonight – sticking with others. (8) KARLOO BRADLEY N weakened in the pocket 2 back

then got parked the mile in his last – look for him to get away in the back tonight, to wait for a better spot.

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