Friday Empire Report

soaofny • July 29, 2022

The Empire Report - Friday, July 29, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) BELTANE A dropped down to this level last week and did as well as possible from Post 8,

rallying well to be a close 3rd - can be put in motion a lot earlier tonight, and should be a big threat with the

post relief. (5) ODDS ON DELRAY is a little tough to predict, with "good" efforts mixed with a bunch of

lesser ones - if he's in a good mood tonight, he can be a dangerous player down at this bottom level (but

note that he's 0 for 20 this year before falling in love with his chances). (2) JOJOS PLACE had been

struggling for ages before coming up with a much better try last start - if he can build off that, there's a

chance he can grab a chunk of this. (1) PRINCE MCARDLE N is even more erratic that #5, and has

become almost impossible to predict from week to week (as a quick look at his lines will confirm) - another

puzzle piece in this somewhat confusing race. (6) HES ELECTRIC usually isn't a threat to win, but he does

have a decent brush in him most week - ok to use underneath. (3) SANTAFES COACH has been "ok"

lately - another with a chance at a piece, depending on how the race plays out. (8) MOHAWK WARRIOR

will probably win one down at this level, but he's not likely to be able to get involved from out here. (7)

AINTNOBETTOR A has been sluggish in his last couple, and figures to be coming from well out of it.


RACE 2 - (2) PACING MAJOR N was razor sharp in that win 2 back and probably wins his last too if

Siegelman hadn't "fallen asleep" late, failing to see the winner coming to his inside and then starting this

guy back up too late - can make amends tonight. (1) LOVE THE BLUES N has been very good since

dropping to 20s and goes from 8 hole to rail tonight - can be a very serious player here. (5) AWESOMENE

SS was an all out winner for his new barn last week, finally wearing down the mega-form-reversing SETT

LEMOIR near the wire - certainly a chance to win another, but figures to get overbet against a couple of

sharp foes to his inside. (6) MISTER SPOT A has some recent excuses and is sharper overall than his lines

may suggest - chance to add some value to the exotics if he can find some trip luck (7) DAVIDS COMING

HOME fits well with these but faces a tough haul from Post 7 - may just have too far to come. (4) TERRIT

ORY has fallen off form after a few decent efforts - we'll see the class drop can help him perk up a bit. (3)

ABRAXAS BLUES A has shown little lately, and is in need of a big wake up call. (8) GOTHIC ROCK

seems damned if he leaves and damned if he doesn't - prefer to wait for a (much) better spot.


RACE 3 - (1) KINDA LUCKY LINDY was holding his own vs. better, despite several tough spots - was

handled more aggressively dropping in class 2 back and was an excellent 2nd, followed up with a nice first

over 3rd last week - drops again, draws the pole, and should have a solid chance to pick up a win tonight.

(3) TOCCOA FALLS raced well here several times this year, and returns from NJ at a level that should be

right in his comfort zone - legitimate threat. (2) P L OSCAR has seen his form pick back up the past few

weeks, and is looking at a pretty good trip from this spot - absolutely belongs in your exotics. (4) MADHA

TTER BLUECHIP had been struggling a bit before beating cheaper 2 back - chased solidly for 2nd in his

last, and seems to be headed back in the right direction now for a barn that has been pretty hot lately - could

easily land somewhere on this ticket. (6) LADY ANN NO has thrived since arriving in the U.S. this year,

and owns a strong 11-6-1-3 local record - on the flipside, she has only one start over the past 6 weeks, and

may be at a conditioning disadvantage tonight...especially from Post 6. (5) WINDSONG PIONEER usually

needs to be in a bit easier to be a serious threat - may be able to grab a small piece with an easy enough trip.

(7) KNIGHT ANGEL shipped in 2 back and picked up a nice (trip) 2nd vs. better, but made a break in his

last - does drop, but the outside draw figures to hamper his chances. (8) BLUEBIRD JESSE is good right

now, but faces a tough field from Post 8 - may just be a spectator tonight.


RACE 4 - (2) RISKY MILLION has been pretty good lately, and now debuts for a barn that's been known

to step up fresh stock considerably - faces a few solid foes, but we'll stick with what has been a strong angle

(3) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN dropped below the claim price at Chester last week and went a pretty

strong multi-move mile - have to believe Bartlett will look to air it out from this spot, and that led to a

victory 4 starts back - very legit threat. (1) SPORTS BETTOR comes into tonight having hit board in his

last 5 starts - may land on a beautiful trip from this spot, and that would give him a chance to finally grab

his first win of the season. (7) MAJESTIC KIWI N was good the last 2 weeks, but may have a hard time

matching last week's big rally with several solid foes well to his inside - maybe can come on late for a small

piece? (4) POSHONTHEBEACH A drops a peg tonight, and that might help his chances a bit - still prefer

others for the top spots, but willing to throw this guy in for 3rd/4th. (6) SWAGASAURUSREX charged

home to just miss at 47-1 two back, then full of pace in the lane when he broke last week - he's good right

now, but will still need some trip luck from this spot to have a major late impact tonight. (5) HAPPY TRIO

weakened to 4th after trying it on the front end dropping to 25s last week - it was an improved effort, but he

still seems below the main players right now. (8) IDEAL WHEEL has been holding his own vs. the 30s

recently and now drops to 25s - might have given him a lot more consideration had he not drawn Post 8.


RACE 5 - (1) HAT TRICK MARLEAU appreciated the class drop last week and put in a solid effort for

3rd (the winner came back to take his next start as well) - draws best now, and look for him to be primed

for an aggressive try. (5) VINNY DE VIE took all the $$ last week and GOT the $$ as well, responding to

Stratton's aggressive handling with a powerful front end victory - faces tougher now and his trip figures to

be tougher...but he's sharp enough to still be a threat here. (2) FANATIC had some life finishing from an

impossible spot last week (off the class drop) and now moves inside after a pair of 8 holes - anything close

to his best would make him a very live player here. (4) FOR A DREAMER seems a little cheaper on paper

but is eligible to pick up quite a bit off the barn change - still prefer others on top, but willing to include

him in exotics. (3) LIFETIME ROYALTY bumps back up a class but he can hang in there with these too -

always a chance he'll rally late for a piece. (7) THANKFUL NO loves Yonkers (8-5-1-2) but she's having a

slow start to her 2022 season - would never be a surprise at this level, but hard to take her at a short price

right now. (6) MEMO was doing good work before last week's disappointing try - might be able to bounce

right back here, but he's up in class and draws outside - leaning towards others. (8) CRAZYCAT remains a

hard hitter at age 9, but this spot seems a bit more than he can handle.


RACE 6 - (1) SHERIFF N's drew the pole twice since April and wired the field both times - he gets the

best draw again tonight, and makes his first start for the top trainer/driver combination on the planet --

they'll have him to catch and beat. (5) I GET THAT was unable to have any impact in a pair of starts at the

$50K level but rattled off 3 straight when he was in 40s - we'll see if tonight's drop helps him get back to

that top form. (3) URBAN RENEWAL has been holding form nicely for different barns, and was good last

week (despite a terrible trip) trying the 40s for the first time - could add some value to the play here. (2)

SEAFARER wasn't a factor for the first time in ages last week - we'll chalk that up to Post 8, and look for

him to bounce back with one of his more typically sharp efforts tonight. (6) THE DOWNTOWN BUS still

has only 1 win this year but he's managed to come up 2nd best 8X already - he'll need some trip luck to do

as well from this spot, however. (4) WHAT THE LUCK shipped in sharp from NJ and picked up a pocket

2nd at this level last week - not 100% certain that he's a "real 40", but we'll get a picture after tonight. (7)

EDDAR HANOVER and (8) NOWHERE CREEK A both figure to be hard pressed to do any real damage

from out here, especially against the solid bunch drawn inside of them.


RACE 7 - Tough race! (1) ON HIGHER GROUND suddenly found his form late in May and beat the 75s

twice, followed by a 2nd in the Open - been a little overmatched in his last couple but drops and draws the

pole, and that could make him a major threat tonight. (8) WARRIOR ONE had a VERY long form spree

before throwing a couple of lesser efforts and finally getting a short break - his return mile last week wasn't

bad at all, and he's certainly worth at least a look at that 15-1 ML price. (5) B NICKING has been a steady

performer week after week, although it did look like he should have been able to win off last week's trip

(missed by a neck) - a live journey should put him right there at the end. (7) HEY LIVVY is the "x factor"

in here - it LOOKS like she just may be off form right now, but she's capable of throwing a winning mile at

any time - tough call. (6) QUEEN OF ALL suddenly starting hitting on all cylinders around mid-June at

Pocono, graduated from the "W4-7PM" class and started beating older horses instantly - returns to YR off a

blowout win at Plainridge, and we'll see if she can continue her hot streak against this tough bunch. (3)

NEW HEAVEN came up with what was likely his sharpest effort of the year in last week's victory over

cheaper - not sure he can keep it going against these, though. (4) LOOK IN MY EYES was an 18-1 upset

winner last week stepping up to 75s off the claim - still prefer others tonight, but he certainly earned some

additional respect with that (surprise) victory. (2) ARABELLAS CADET has been away since 6/10 thanks

to a sick scratch - prefer others for tonight.


RACE 8 - (5) ON THE VIRG is having a tough year (1 for 15) but he's been facing tougher, has an excuse

for last week, and drops all the way down to the basement against a field full of suspect contenders - chance

for a wake up call in this spot. (3) GLENGARRY KNIGHT N has seen his game improve since dropping in

class, but he still hasn't been able to find the winner's circle - definitely a chance here, but also figures to be

overbet. (7) TOPVILLE OLYMPIAN showed a hint of life 2 back - took some $$ last week, but landed on

a bad trip and seemed to lose interest - should be a decent price here if you want to give him another shot.

(1) VENIER HANOVER has been no good in the 5 starts since the claim and has been away since July 4th

- hard to even consider a play at that 9/5 ML price! (4) MY CARBON COPY N will likely be ignored off

that last horrible line, but he does drop right back in the box and there's always a chance he could shrug it

off and bounce right back - the price will certainly be juicy enough. (6) LORD OF MISRULE is 0 for 18

this year, and 0 for 14 at Yonkers over the past 3 seasons - minor piece only. (2) KAUAI KING moves

inside but his 15-0-1-1 local record doesn't inspire much confidence. (8) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES lands

all the way outside and is 0 for 23 at Yonkers since 2019.


RACE 9 - (1) IDEAL LINER N hasn't won a race since 2020 (28 starts, Down Under and U.S.) but he's

raced well at this level recently, goes from Post 8 to the rail and may have finally found a spot where he can

get his picture taken. (6) LUCIANO N was sent off favored last week and raced very hard, a close 3rd

when they hit the wire - not sure why he's listed at 20-1 ML tonight, but he's certainly worth using at

anything close to that price! (2) HEAVENLY SOUND finally moves inside after a pair of outside posts

following the recent claim - look for some major improvement now. (3) BETTER UP has also looked good

recently in this class, and his connections are clicking right now - live player. (7) MACHEASY A is sharp

enough to win right now, but continues to draw horrible posts - would still consider using him at what

figures to be a pretty nice price. (4) WEONA SIZZLER A was a dullish 5th in this class last week off the

claim - not sure how he ended up being listed as the ML favorite for tonight. (5) TOM ME GUN N is still

winless on the year, and his best efforts have come vs. lesser. (8) MARTY MONKHOUSER A wired softer

last week but the class jump AND Post 8 really figure to hurt his chances tonight

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