Friday Empire Report

soaofny • December 15, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, December 15, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (1) MILIEU HANOVER wasn't on her best game in her last few starts here but it was also vs.

MUCH better - that confidence building win at Dover last week should have her feeling pretty good about

herself as she lands in a very nice spot for her Hilltop return. (4) MILLWOOD BONNIE N wasn't up for

the aggressive try off the layoff 2 back but last week's mile should have her tighter - drops again, draws

well, and should be able to have a big say here. (3) LADY NEWTON was trapped through the lane last

week or might have had a shot to be a winner - Stratton stays on board, and a good trip may land her right

in the hunt. (5) PRANCING QUEEN shows a new first initial for her trainer but no real change in

performance is expected - she did throw a dud here on 10/20 but any of her other more typical starts would

put her in the mix for a piece of this. (8) PROUD MARY has raced well since a recent barn change but the

filly lands a brutal spot tonight and may have to wait for a better scenario. (2) CHARMING VIXEN is

sharp, but also cheaper - may find these a little too tough. (6) LARJON LEAH picked up a (very) rare

victory last week, but the class jump and bad post figure to hurt. (7) MAGICAL MISTRESS feels like she's

tailed off (and draws poorly too).


RACE 2 - (3) STICK WITH ME KID made a break off turn three last week as he was about to come after

the leader, recovered at 3/4s in the back and was somehow trotting fastest of all at the wire, a close 4th -

makes his 2nd start for a new barn tonight, and gets the lukewarm nod in a shaky field. (1) GEMOLOGIST

has been in a funk for some time but may be showing some signs of coming out of it - he has plenty of back

class if he shows up in the right mood tonight. (2) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE tired after a first over bid in NJ last

week in his first try for a new barn- eligible to be a player with this bunch, and that 20-1 ML price does

give him some appeal. (4) BAZILLIONAIRE rarely wins, but this is definitely a spot where an easy trip

could land him somewhere in the exotics. (6) MR CONTESTANT seems cheap and draws poorly but also

goes for a new barn and gets Bartlett - suppose he's playable underneath. (7) DOUBLE DEALING tried to

leave last week and made a break - likely will be handled very conservatively tonight. (5) LIVINGONTHE

RAIL is the outsider, once again.


RACE 3 - (4) SANTANA HANOVER was in a good spot last week, but shook free a little too late and

couldn't get there in time - chance to make amends tonight. (7) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N can beat much

better than these when on his game, but he's thrown duds in 2 of his last 3 starts - willing to consider if the

price gets juicy enough. (6) YOROKOBI N has been the fastest horse at the wire in a lot of starts this year

yet Siegelman always seems to have in a bad spot - never a bad bomb for exotics. (1) PRETTY HANDSO

ME was able to run and hide from cheaper 2 back but wasn't into the tougher trip last week - moves up a bit

more, but an EASY trip from this spot could still land him on the ticket. (5) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A

has a mixed bag of tries since arriving here this fall but he does get a better draw tonight, and that may help

him grab a decent slice. (3) INDICTABLE HANOVER string together a few good starts before a weak one

last week - we'll see if he rebounds, or if he's just starting to go in the other direction. (8) MR DS ROCK

does fit very well with these but he draws Post 8 (off 2 1/2 months) and may not be all that cranked up for

this. (2) SWEET TROY wasn't bad last week, but probably needs to drop to an easier spot.


RACE 4 - (6) BALENCIAGA has had some poor luck lately and has valid excuses in his last few starts -

he drops all the way to the basement despite beating a NW20000 field on 9/14 (as the odds on choice!), and

this could be the spot to get him back on track. (4) HAZYSHADEOFWINTERS had a brutal trip in his

U.S. debut (at The Swamp) - goes from Skoglund to Bartlett tonight, and the unfathomable success his barn

has had this week has been well documented (13-8-3-0 on Tues/Wed) - would anybody really be surprised

to see him take this? (1) CALLE PALEMA hasn't been sharp lately but he's looking at an up close trip here

and may be able to take home a share. (5) THE LAST CHAPTER hasn't been a threat recently but the drop

to the basement may perk him up enough to at least pick up a share. (3) INFINITY STONE had trouble

finding a gear last week but still managed to be 3rd - chance for a similar result tonight. (2) ETHAN T HA

NOVER was better in his 2nd off the layoff than in the first but still didn't really look ready to be a player.

(7) DRACO S continues to decline, and now has to deal with Post 7 as well.


RACE 5 - (7) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was doing terrific in 25s and is now 2 for in 30s since the claim

- can leave enough to at least improve position (if not make the lead), and gets top billing despite Post 7. (4)

ARRHYTHMIC SURGE had a run of very sharp efforts before delivering a pair of weak ones - appeared

headed for another disappointing try last week but eventually found a gear, and just missed winning -

anything close to his best effort makes him a dangerous late threat. (6) LUCIANO N rarely wins but he

does grab pieces, and he may get an aggressive steer from Bartlett tonight - willing to include in exotics. (3)

QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP has been "ok" in his last few, though he'd look much better in for $25K - a good

trip could land him a piece of this. (5) JOJOS PLACE used a good trip to pick up 2nd last week but at least

it was an improved effort - he's been unreliable for some time, so make sure he's a fair price if using him on

your tickets. (8) MISSILE SEELSTER fits well enough here but may have a couple leaving right to his

inside and that's going to hurt his chances. (2) COALITION HANOVER had been terrible for weeks but

was "less bad" on 12/8 - we'll see if he starts to head in a better direction now. (1) ON THE VIRG draws

the pole in an overall soft group of 30s but just hasn't shown that he's ready to do any damage right now.


RACE 6 - (3) BARABOBBITT S doesn't look like he raced well in his first local try (6th by 13 lengths)

but he actually flashed good trot coming across the wire - he was obviously very good in his next,

overcoming a less than stellar trip to just miss to a frontrunner that crawled around the track - time to pick

up his first U.S. victory. (6) NO DRAMA PLEASE left from Post 8 last week, worked out a good trip and

was a solid 3rd, right behind the top choice - can be part of the equation again, despite another bad draw.

(5) PERFECT VIXEN failed as the favorite in her last pair (off the barn change) but was still 2nd and 3rd -

can grab a good piece here too. (2) NEWSBOY had been showing some better signs recently so last week's

11-1 win payoff was pretty generous - faces tougher now, but a good trip could see him rally for a nice

chunk. (1) CREDARENA looked good when 2nd 3 and 4 back but came up dull in his last pair - maybe he

can perk up with the rail and Bartlett? (4) LUCKY WEEKEND was a nice winner shipping in from PA but

was scr. sick from his next and has missed a month - leaning towards others tonight. (7) WINDSONG

PIONEER lands yet another bad post, and hasn't been able to overcome them recently. (8) BY A HOFF

HANOVER is just 2 for 36 this year and BOTH wins came with Joe Faraldo on board (he's also just 1 for

27 lifetime at Yonkers) - may have to wait until he reunites with his favorite pilot again!


RACE 7 - (3) OUR LADY LARA A finished full of pace after shaking free last week and raced well here

vs. even better not long ago - maybe the switch to Bartlett can help her find the Yonkers winner's circle for

the first time? (2) MAN DONTFORGET ME was part of that horrible accident here on 11/17 so it was nice

to see her back racing last week - kicked home solidly after saving ground and may be ready for an even

bigger one tonight. (1) FADE OUT sometimes seems like she may need to be in a little cheaper but she did

upset a NW20000 field 2 starts back, and is 9 for 31 on the year - has to be respected from this spot. (8) HE

AVENS SHOWGIRL A charged home full of pace from the back last week but draws poorly for the 6th

straight week and may have a tough time getting in play once more. (5) SWEDISH STARLET N has been a

steady performer out of town but may be on the cheaper side - we'll get a better idea how she fits class-wise

after tonight. (6) HELLO YES HI banged out $200K so far at 2 and 3 but the month off may leave her at a

disadvantage here against some tough older foes. (7) GOT SEXY SCARS tried to wire 'em up in class last

week and tired in the lane - bad spot tonight. (4) IRON MISTRESS could really use some class relief.


RACE 8 - (2) NO WIN NO FEED A was last seen here in 2021 racing in the Matchmaker Series - she

ships in off a pair of Illinois wins, joins a new high-powered ownership team and debuts for a trainer that

could probably win with a zebra right now - lots to like. (3) PROBERT was no factor last week but she sat

in the back while racing off a sick scratch - she could be tighter now, and it sure won't hurt getting Kakaley

- decent value horse for exotics. (4) SWEETEST BELLE has shown no problem taking on older foes as the

3YO has 2 wins and a 3rd from her 3 local starts- can be in the hunt here too, even moving up another level

(5) DELITFULCATHERIN N hasn't been "bad", but she's also not looking much like her "Open" version -

a good trip could help her grab a piece. (1) VILLAGE JADE was a determined winner vs. easier last week -

maybe the good draw can help her hold her own with these too. (7) LUCKY ARTIST A has perked up in

her last 3 starts but the double class jump and Post 7 may slow her momentum a bit. (6) BOORAA N seems

a bit overmatched arriving from The Ridge.


RACE 9- (1) UPTOWN HANOVER has been sharp for a long time and bounced back from a rare

no-threat effort 2 back with a hard charging 3rd last week - hopefully Stratton will have as much

confidence in her as we do, and put her in position to succeed. (5) TONYS MOM took a couple of starts to

sharpen after returning from a layoff this Sept. but is hitting on all cylinders right now - her quick starts are

a huge asset, and her trainer/driver could not be any hotter right now. (4) COACHELLABOUND N came

back from a short freshening with a big one last week, just missing by a nose to #5 - the right trip makes her

a big threat here. (6) DOUGS BABE A has come back around recently, winning 4 of her last 5 starts - she

also has just one start in 5 weeks, and that may leave her a little short from Post 6 tonight. (3) LA BELLA

VITA N moves to a barn that had been improving fresh stock dramatically for a long time, but has leveled

off just a bit - we'll see how she does shipping in from PRc tonight. (2) INTOTHEMYSTICMOON lands in

a top barn upon arrival from Canada, but hasn't raced since late September.


RACE 10 - Tough race! (6) SWAN FLYER took some time off, jogged in his qualifier then came up 2nd

best in NJ in a quick mile - he's had success here in the past, and that 12-1 ML listing makes him a good

value horse to consider. (1) STREET GOSSIP gave it a good 8 hole try 2 back then raced huge last week,

only to come up a nose shy of a very determined KILIMANJARO N (a recent import for our white-hot

leading trainer) - figures to have a big say from this spot. (2) GRINDER was "sneaky ok" in his last couple

and has gone some big miles here in the not too distant past - another that could outrace his odds tonight.

(3) B NICKING is a little hard to evaluate as he comes into this off 3 straight blowouts, but all over much

easier - tough call. (5) IMMANUEL KS was terrific in that win 2 back then just didn't fire at all last week -

if the "good" version shows up again, he can have a big say here. (4) BARRY BLACK has been idle for a

month - sticking with others here. (7) KINDA LUCKY LINDY has outraced his odds over and over again

recently but may struggle to get in the hunt from out here. (8) BIG AL M lands in a brutal spot from PRc.


RACE 11 - (7) WHATINEEDISAMAN is listed at 20-1 ML and off her Canadian lines, she'd probably go

off longer than that....except she'll be debuting tonight for our leading trainer/driver tandem, and we've seen

these types improve drastically overnight under similar circumstances, and win their local debuts easily -

we may see more of the same here...and likely at a very short price. (4) GAME OF SHADOWS took a long

time to shake free last week and when she did, she kicked home alertly - could be part of the ticket tonight.

(5) CASH ROLL has been racing decently across the river, even if in lower classes - she fits well with

these, and figures to make her presence felt. (3) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N had a LITTLE life here 2 back,

then was used aggressively in NJ before tiring - ok to use underneath. (2) THUNDRA is 0 for 26 here this

year but a better post and Kakaley may be enough to help her grab a small slice. (8) MY RED SEA has

rallied from way back for 2nd and 3rd twice recently - if the price is right, consider using for 3rd/4th. (1)

VALLEY OF FEAR qualified ok at Fhd. after missing a month (arriving from Canada) - seems cheap, but

we'll learn more tonight. (6) SPROUT feels like she may need to face easier to be a serious player.


RACE 12 - (1) BONTONI DEGATO S weakened a bit in his U.S. qualifier but since he was in with FFA

trotters, he deserves a little slack - didn't win a ton of races or earn a lot of $$ in Sweden, but we'll trust that

our leading trainer will get him to thrive here in the U.S. (4) B MEDITHREE is a good fit with these and

should be a solid player tonight. (3) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM has been very good since adding hopples

so last week's 3rd was just a bit disappointing - not ready to give up on him just yet, and he still belongs in

exotics. (5) BULLY BOY HILL stayed trotting 2 back and went a big mile for 2nd but reverted to bad

habits last week - risky, but playable if the price is right (as he goes for a new trainer tonight). (6) CALL

ME DANI had a bad trip last week and may be capable of better - not a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (2) X O X O

was dull last week but her overall form is ok - chance for a minor share. (8) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO

would be tough to play off his last few efforts...but his barn did have a big night on Thursday! (7) BEERTH

IRTY K shows a slow qualifier after missing a few months - pass for tonight.

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