Monday Empire Report

soaofny • September 19, 2022

The Empire Report - Monday, September 19, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) DON DOMINGO N won 3 in a row (all at good prices) before getting stuck with Post 8 last

week (but still rallying very nicely for 3rd) - moves back inside for his new barn, and deserves top billing.

(3) BLUEBIRD RECON started remembering how to win races here last year and that really continues into

2022....as he's now 7 for 12 locally, while holding his form right up the class ladder - tries the 75s tonight,

and has to be given plenty of respect in his current raging form. (2) PAT STANLEY N has seen his form

really fall off lately - finally gets reunited with Jordan tonight, and we'll see if that can result in a quick

wake up call. (7) SHNITZLEDOSOMETHIN always seems to "figure" when he ships in to town, but he

hasn't been to the winner's circle here since 2020 - using underneath only. (6) BELTANE A was tested off

turn three by the winner last week and literally raced as a team with that one the rest of the way before

losing out in a tight photo - tougher post here, and probably looking at a smaller prize. (5) CHANGE STRI

DE N has enjoyed terrific seasons the past 2 years but does seem to be tailing a bit in his last couple - we'll

see if he can rebound tonight. (1) YANKE BOOTS was claimed for $50K on 8/2, scratched sick the next

week and only now making back to the box - seems ambitiously placed in for $75K. (8) GALANTE A has

been away for over a year, and draws Post 8 - we'll just observe, for now.


RACE 2 - Good race: (2) MACH DORO A has been plagued by bad posts lately but did manage to pull off

the 37-1 upset 3 back (from Post 6) - gets a good draw for a change, so perhaps that can help him land a

winning trip in this wide open affair. (5) FOREVER FAV has been pretty solid lately, and was just claimed

by a barn that's had him a few times - another hoping to land the winning trip in a race that's tough to

predict. (4) KEYSTONE PHOENIX always figures, almost always goes a big mile, but he's now lost 6 in a

row and was favored in 4 of them - absolutely can take this but at that 7/5 ML price, the value may be in

playing against him. (3) TROJAN BANNER N was able to hang on for the win in his first local try but

came up a bit short from the pocket the next week (facing a bit tougher field) - worth a look IF the price is

decent. (6) MANKAT was plagued by terrible posts in his last 3 starts - doesn't draw much better for his

new barn tonight but he does fit, and would have a chance if things fell apart up front. (1) MACINTOSH N

won 3 in a row for our leading trainer back in June/July but has been limited to smaller pieces since being

claimed 5 starts back - needs to find a bit more. (7) WEONA SIZZLER A is the outsider, both literally and

figuratively.


RACE 3 - Lot of sharp ones in here: (1) BIG BAD SWAN started to come around with a 3rd and a 2nd

then picked up wins in his last pair, after drawing the pole - lands in that same spot tonight and we'll give

him a narrow edge for that reason...but there are several in here sharp enough to come out on top with the

right trip. (6) EMOTIONS RICHES dropped down to this level 3 back and just missed to #2 - was a winner

the next start (over #7), then came charging home late last week to finish right behind #5 - would be no

surprise here at all. (5) TESLA SEELSTER struggled in his first local try (new barn, plus Lasix) but came

around right after that - he finished just behind HL REVADON two back (who looked super winning on

Sat. night), then was a winner last week - very live player. (8) BLENHEIM struggled here last year (1 for

17) but the streaky veteran has been terrific at PcD lately, and may be able to make some serious noise here

-- even from Post 8. (3) LINDSEYS PRIDE threw a clunker 2 back but bounced right back with a nice try

(for 3rd) last week - capable of grabbing a piece with a similar effort. (7) ALL CHAMPY seems a little too

far out but he debuts tonight for a barn that wins with about HALF of their fresh stock - hard to leave off

your tickets if spreading a bit. (4) FOR A DREAMER was riding a nice form spree when claimed on 8/22 -

came up terrible in his last pair since then, but drops and get post relief- not impossible. (2) BLUEBIRD

JESSE is listed here on the bottom but he beat this class 4 starts down, and gets post relief for tonight.


RACE 4 - (4) SHERIFF N wasn't quite as sharp with last week's first over trip but still ended up a close 3rd

- was reclaimed (for $10K more) by the barn that won with him from Post 8 the week before...and he feels

like the one to beat tonight. (6) CAVIART SARGENT changed it up from frontrunning to racing from

behind on 8/6 and has been on a form spree ever since - steps up to face his toughest field yet (after being

claimed last week) and has to be respected, even from this tough post (3) ROCK LIGHTS hit a rough patch

not too long ago but bounced back and has been racing well again - did well to be 4th after an eventful trip

last week, and could easily do better than that 10-1 ML suggests. (2) APEX SEELSTER hasn't won since

shipping back from Stga in July but he generally races well every week - eligible to pick up a good piece

here. (7) EL JACKO N was handled very aggressively last week, popping out of the pocket early to come

after B LIKE CRUISER - never could get by his old barnmate, however, and had to settle for a sharp 2nd -

clearly he fits nicely with these, but will need to find a way to overcome Post 7. (1) FULLBACK just gave

way after a decent first over bid last week and tired to last - seems a bit ambitious dropping him in for $50K

off that mile. (5) LONG WEEKEND A just didn't look right in his last 2 starts here - waiting to see a better

effort before hopping back on his team.


RACE 5 - (2) RUNRUNJIMMYDUNN N was given a nice pocket trip off the long layoff last week and

was able to outkick NOWHERE CREEK A for the win after finding room inside - should be even sharper

with that mile under his belt, and has to get the slight edge for tonight. (8) B LIKE CRUISER puts his 5

race win streak on the line tonight and it won't be easy to get #6, moving up in class and starting from Post

8 - he won 3 starts back for tonight's connections, and is just too sharp to leave out....even from this tough

spot. (3) NOWHERE CREEK A went a BIG effort last week, almost beating the top choice despite moving

up in class, and dealing with a LONG first over trip - a similar effort would give him a chance to get the job

done tonight. (6) ROLLING WITH SAM saved ground and rallied for a nice 3rd two back, despite missing

3 weeks - dropped right back in the box for his last, but lacked the stretch kick to be a more serious threat -

he just seems a little off his best game right now, and that could leave him looking at only a smaller share.

(7) FEELIN WESTERN was well backed and beat these two back, but that was with a good post and a

pocket trip - will need lots of trip luck to replicate that performance from out here. (4) MIKEY CAMDEN

beat the 50s last week with the help of a perfect two hole trip - faces tougher here as he bumps up in class,

and he'll need to be that much better to be the same kind of player tonight. (1) CHIEFS BEACH was a

game DH winner last week, but that was vs. easier - he'll need to prove that he can race as well at this high

claiming level. (5) AIR FORCE HANOVER tired badly in his last and missed a month (scratched sick)

after that - prefer to just watch this week.


RACE 6 - (5) GEMOLOGIST raced hard last week and did well to hold 2nd after the winner blew by in

the stretch - was reclaimed by his previous connections, and he had been racing well for them lately - meets

an overall soft $50K claiming field, and seems ready to pick up a win (after four recent 2nd place finishes).

(1) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO rattled off 3 in a row vs. cheaper recently, but didn't finish well enough in

his last pair at this level - can be a big player here, but needs to bring his "A Game" to threaten for the top

slot. (4) DELTASUN A hasn't done all that well in his handful of local starts the past few years, but he did

race a little better last week - we'll see if he can build off that, and make some noise tonight. (3) CREDIT

CON ships in pretty sharp from out of town, and has raced well here at times in the past - chance for a piece

of this. (2) P L OSCAR hasn't been on his best game lately but the post relief could help - willing to use

underneath. (7) COCKTAILS N DREAMS has a couple of good finishes recently - he's up in class from a

bad post, but still has a chance to rally for a piece. (6) JIVE NINETY FIVE shows a mixed bag of tries

since arriving here in early August - would have liked his chances better from an inside post. (8) JUST

MAYBE THE ONE took plenty of $$ last week, landed on a good trip but still came up empty in the lane -

Post 8 won't make things any easier tonight.


RACE 7 - (4) LOUS SWEETREVENGE has been 1st or 2nd 20X here in the last 2 years - he had no

prayer in his last 3 starts (kicked home in :26.4 last week and still didn't get a check!), but he may land on a

live trip in this very competitive race....good value play to consider. (7) SEMI TOUGH put it all together

last week, crushing the competition with his 1:51 blowout - he'll have to work a lot harder from this spot,

but the classy 6YO will be dangerous if Brennan can find him a good early spot. (2) VENIER HANOVER

has made a turnaround in his last 3 starts that would (properly) be deemed miraculous in almost any other

barn...but for this outfit, creating these massive form reversals has become commonplace over the past year

or so - he was a bottom level throwout less than a month ago, but is now a serious contender against Open-

type rivals...and just might beat them. (3) BUDDY HILL has found his form and is clearly on the upswing -

he should be brimming with confidence off a pair of wins, and can't be discounted tonight. (1) PACE N PRI

DE made an unexpected miscue on 8/23- he was nevertheless very well backed the next week and delivered

the very sharp victory - was scratched sick from his next, however, and has to be seen as a bit risky tonight.

(6) WESTERN JOE figures to be coming from well back tonight, and will be hard pressed to make too

much noise at the end - waiting for a better spot. (5) ROCK THE DEVIL hit the board in his last 2 but is

starting to look like he'd prefer to be in a bit easier - sticking with others tonight.


RACE 8 - (1) IGNATIUS A went VERY slow on the lead last week and was simply outkicked home by a

"sprintier" rival - he's proven that he can hang in the Open when on his best game and with Lachance

obligated to drive THE REAL ONE tonight, this guy "gets stuck" with our leading driver - could be very

dangerous here. (4) AMERICAN COURAGE is 10 for 13 here at Yonkers, with major excuses in the 3

losses - been freshened up off a (slightly) disappointing 2nd in the Kane at Batavia, and is always a threat

when entered here at The Hilltop. (2) CASUAL COOL gets a kind post assignment after finishing 2nd in

the Open 2 back, then losing by less than a length last week - eligible to grab a good piece with the right

trip. (3) FUNATTHBEACH N hasn't been in top form lately, and even last week's win DH was just "good"

- always deserves respect, but a couple of others just seem more appealing right now. (5) JACKS LEGEND

N was surprisingly off the gate last week and even more surprisingly, never even came off the cones - it's

probably a good sign that he drops right back in the box, and he can never be discounted here at Yonkers.

(6) THE REAL ONE had been making a steady climb back up the class ladder and it was nice to see the

mega-classy 12YO be part of the win DH last week - not sure he'll be able to reach tonight, though. (7)

BEE TWO BEE is a nice horse, but will probably be used too hard if he tries to blast from out here, and

will have a tough time rallying if he takes off the gate.


RACE 9 - (2) OUR CORELLI N had been racing well for several starts before coming up flat last week -

he may have simply disliked the off going, and probably deserves another chance....especially with the

move inside - he certainly won't be hurt by the switch to Bartlett. (4) SOHO LENNON A is the "x factor"

in here - he's had his picture taken MANY times here over the years, but he hasn't raced since 6/6 - the barn

is bringing back several that have recently been freshened up....check the tote board for some clues as to his

readiness. (8) WALKINSHAW N fits beautifully at this level but gets no luck at all with the draw - he

needs Marohn to be willing to take some chances in order to get him into the mix....and has a chance for a

big piece if that happens. (5) GINGRAS BEACH just didn't fire last week after finishing up the track the

week before - he does go some big miles, however, and is worth considering IF the price is right. (3) VIVA

LAS VEGAS N has been doing good overall work lately, and is just one of many from this barn that's been

thriving these days - still think his best work comes with a little easier, but willing to include him for

3rd/4th. (1) ST LADS BEAT IT is 5 for 17 here this year and capable of big efforts at times - he's really

been struggling with his gait here lately, and his new (young) pilot may have some trouble because of that -

leaning to others here. (6) MACHEASY A and (7) REIGNING DEO figure to be coming from too far back

to do any real damage tonight.


RACE 10 - (2) GAMBLINGTERROR hit a rough patch but did show some better life last week - may end

out tripping out from this spot, and he's always a good price - decent value play in a race with no stickouts.

(1) BIG SIR will attract plenty of attention from this spot and rightfully so - on his best effort he'd be very

tough here, but he's been pretty inconsistent and his barn hasn't had their best year...be careful if the price is

too low. (6) BOILER MAKER was in a tough spot last week but just missed by a nose the week before -

his efforts have been all over the place since arriving at YR, but he's very capable against these if he brings

his best - another that may be overbet, however. (3) SO MANY ROADS is yet another sharp horse from

this barn, but his 1 for 24 record this year makes him hard to endorse on top at a short price - definitely ok

for exotics, though. (4) CAMPORA N seems like a good fit off the drop here, but note that he's 10-0-0-1

here this year before getting too excited about his chances - ok at the right price. (5) LUC ROCKS beat the

bottom class here 5 starts back but has struggled since- leaning to others. (7) MAJOR DESIRE lands in a

tough spot for his YR debut.


RACE 11 - (4) BRAEVIEW BONDI A wasn't "great" in that win last week, but it was his first start for the

new barn and he's eligible to be even sharper tonight - gets the narrow vote in a field with question marks.

(6) PADUKA N was a solid 1st over 3rd last week - tough post, but Stratton sticks and he may land a

decent trip. (3) ALTA BLUES A disappointed in his first 2 U.S. starts then went on the shelf - see how

barnmate SOHO LENNON A does in Race 9, and also check the tote board. (2) SOUTHWIND PETYR

was 3rd here on 8/30 but still disappointed off an easy trip (forgive his last from Post 8) - chance here on

his best, but not sure we'll get that from him right now. (5) IMSTAYNALIVE gets a class drop but he's just

1 for 17 here this year - use underneath. (1) HEAVENLY SOUND does his best on the lead, vs. cheaper -

prefer others. (8) MAXIMUS RED A may have trouble reaching from out here - ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (7)

SAUVIGNON BLUE CHIP just didn't look good last week and now is stuck with Post 7.

By soaofny February 21, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 21, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 20, 2025
The Empire Report – Thursday, February 20, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 19, 2025
The Empire Report – Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 18, 2025
The Empire Report – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 14, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 14, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 13, 2025
The Empire Report – Thursday, February 13, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 12, 2025
The Empire Report – Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 11, 2025
The Empire Report – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 10, 2025
The Empire Report – Monday, February 10, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 7, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 7, 2025 – Race Analysis
Show More
Share by: