Tuesday Empire Report

soaofny • October 17, 2023

The Empire Report - Tuesday, October 17, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (2) HP XANADU instantly improved in dramatic fashion upon joining this barn 7 starts back,

winning 4 straight, setting new lifetime marks and doubling in value - she's now riding a 3 race LOSING

streak, but all of those were close 2nd place finishes behind sharp winners - she's no longer an "automatic"

selection, but she still merits top billing vs. these (1) HEAVENISSOFARAWAY has been solid for a while

and likely looking at a nice trip from this spot - a logical threat, but note that she's just 1 for 23 at YR this

year before accepting a short price. (3) TERACITA has upped her game since arriving at Yonkers (to our

leading barn) and she makes an interesting switch to claimers for tonight - mixed feelings about taking a

3YO filly vs. seasoned older mares, but a good price would make her worth considering. (4) BELLADON

NA GIRL A was 2nd to the top choice 4 back and beat her the next week - she loses Bartlett tonight and

has speed inside of her...her trip will likely determine her chances. (7) CHUPPAH ON hasn't won in a long

time but continues to race well virtually every week for one of our highest % trainers - have to consider for

at least a piece at that 20-1 ML price. (6) BETTER DOUBLE FLIP perked up 3 back, threw a dud in her

next then was ok last week - hard to gauge her chances for tonight. (5) MIKI ROSE was on fire for a while

but immediately went the other way upon being claimed away from our leading trainer - leaning towards

others at the moment. (8) DREAM DANCING used a quick start to grab 3rd last week - seems destined to

be coming from well back tonight, but still a decent bomb for 3rd/4th.


RACE 2 - (1) GROOVY JOE had been very sharp but was sidetracked the last 2 starts by a pair of 8 holes

- look for him to control the action tonight, with a solid chance to report home a winner. (4) QUALITY

BUD hasn't been bad at all with better and will surely appreciate the class relief - good spot for an

aggressive try, and that would make him the main danger. (2) BENHOPE RULZ N continues to hold his

own despite getting no respect from the betting public - an easy trip could help him land another good

piece. (5) LAYTON HANOVER has won 5 of his 12 local starts but he's a bit unproven against these types

- possibility, but drawing outside a few main rivals could hurt his chances. (3) SHAKESPEARE generally

lacks early speed and that often hurts his chances...and could be an issue tonight. (6) SHINE A LIGHT

moves up in class and lands outside the others - generally not a recipe for success.


RACE 3 - (2) HEAVEN ON HIGH N qualified sharply upon arrival in the U.S., rallied for 4th in his debut

then jogged (at 1/5) in his last (all at PcD) - he'll face tougher in his Hilltop debut, but we'll roll the dice

that he's good enough to handle it. (4) WINDSUN RICKY was handled aggressively off the class drop last

week and turned in a decent 3rd - should be able to be part of the equation tonight, as well. (5) SLING SHO

CK was a big earner at 2 and 3 but only started to get his 4YO campaign untracked recently - he's good

right now, but also moving up in class off losses - definitely could be overbet with that 2-1 ML listing. (3)

KING JAMES EXPRESS has been pretty good since adding Lasix, and gets Bartlett on board for tonight -

definitely playable in exotics. (7) MY CARBON COPY N has been racing well lately but is moving up in

class and draws Post 7 - will probably look to save ground, and hope for a minor share. (1) CODY HANO

VER has done his best work with softer, but the inside draw may help him take home at least a piece. (6)

SAUVIGNON BLUECHIP was an excellent 2nd last week, overcoming an early miscue - moves up in

class here, draws poorly, and loses his favorite pilot- leaning towards others. (8) CAUGHTINALNDSLIDE

is listed on the bottom but only because of the draw- he's actually sharper right now than his lines may look.


RACE 4 - (8) COUNTER OFFER is the "best" horse in here by far...and probably the only horse that

alternates racing between Flamboro (Canada!) and Yonkers....he's also just 3 for 73, driven by a low %

pilot, and starts from Post 8....suppose it all boils down to the PRICE he goes off. (6) UNDER YOUR SCA

RS has a couple of local wins, and was a solid 2nd behind the stickout winner last week - very legitimate

threat, especially if he gets a much better trip than #8. (1) BOOM TOWN BOY moves all the way inside,

and is definitely sharper than his lines might suggest - look for an aggressive, contending effort tonight. (7)

CLEVELAND B MIKI does fit well with these - chance for a spot on the ticket if Lachance can improve

position at the start. (2) FENDI HANOVER hasn't had much success from his 5 local starts but his recent

tries out of town suggest he may be able to contend for at least a piece tonight. (5) INSTANT REPLAY has

speed, but his stamina is in question- his "good" version may be able to last for a small slice (4) KNOCKIN

OUT was ok in his first local try but disappointed in his last three- needs to be sharper. (3) BEST BETTOR

is now 1 for 59 and 0 for 44 here at Yonkers - sticking with others.


RACE 5 - (6) SWEET SANDY LOU was a very sharp winner 2 back - was heavily supported in her last

but just couldn't keep it going in the lane and weakened to 3rd - she'll be a much better price tonight, and

may be able to prevail if the trip goes her way. (2) NORMANS MADELINE should be able to step around

the rail horse and we know that she can be a very dangerous player when she's on the front end - possibility

in here. (3) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N is feeling pretty good these days, a winner in 2 of her last 3 starts

while 3rd from Post 8 in the other - belongs on your tickets. (4) HARMONY OF NOTES seems pretty

comfortable at this $20K level - she was stuck racing first over the last 2 starts, but an easier trip could put

her right into the mix. (1) PRAY THE ROSARY is just 1 fir 42 over the past 2 years but she does rally for

pieces - never opposed to using her underneath. (8) SHOTGUN PERSUASION has been very consistent

lately but she lands all the way outside, and will need a ton of racing luck to find a manageable trip. (7) IC

ARUS FALLS N likes to win races vs. cheaper, but may struggle against these tougher ones (5) WILDCAT

ANTONIA looked like a risky claim, and her first start for new connections wasn't very encouraging.


RACE 6 - (4) FREQUENT IMAGE has been on quite a roll, winning 4 of his last 6 with 2nds behind sharp

winners in the other pair - has the speed to go right to the front here, and that may give him a tactical edge

over a few other sharp foes. (6) FEARFUL INTENT is very good right now, but will need to overcome a

tough draw - can be right there if Buter can find him a decent trip. (5) ALLUNEEDISFAITH N is the "x

factor" - he's capable of beating even better than these, but he's been away for a month and it's anybody's

guess how serious he'll be off the bad date. (1) HAMMERING HANK really didn't fire last week but he's

capable of better than that - draws the pole, goes 2nd time Lasix, and may bring a better effort tonight. (7)

FORTIFY took full advantage of last week's class drop, making his way to the top and easily wiring the

field (beating tonight's top two choices) - gets to stay in the same class, but also lands all the way outside...

and that could definitely hurt his chances here. (2) THE REAL ONE is off 3 weeks and up in class but is

also pretty sharp - still think he's looking at only a small piece tonight. (3) THE REGULATOR used an easy

trip to pick up 3rd last week and gets a class drop for tonight - still leaning to others, though.


RACE 7 - (5) BLUE HUNT banked nearly $250K at 2 and 3 for his lower profile connections before being

sold for $120K in early September - he faced the best colts in the nation in his next 4 starts (without much

success) but would be hard to go past dropping into this much easier NW4 overnight event. (1) ELM GRO

VE QWIGGLY shipped down from The Maritimes with a good looking resume and had no trouble easily

handling a NW2 field - faces much tougher now, and we'll learn a bit more about him tonight. (2) CENTU

RY INSPECTOR is just 3 for 37 lifetime but regularly grabs good pieces against these types - may do so

again tonight. (6) HUNTING ZONE couldn't quite get to ROCK THE BELLES for 2nd last week (in a 1:51

mile) but that one came back to crush last week - he's having a solid season, and any decent trip could land

him in the exotics. (3) T DOG has disappointed here in the past but returns in good form, and gets a big

change to Brennan - worth using underneath. (7) RAYRAY lost all chance after a shuffle last week but still

figures to be sitting well out of it tonight. (4) CAPTAIN MIKEY got away poorly and finished well back

last week - sticking with others. (8) JOHNNY SACK is better than his last, but needs a better spot.


RACE 8 - (2) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A was a very good 3rd in his local debut and a very good 2nd to a

scary sharp winner last week - lands in a well matched field for tonight, and the right trip could see him

come out on top. (3) JIMMY CONNOR N is always tough when he can race on/near the lead and he should

get that opportunity tonight - could be a very live player. (5) LOUS BEACH needed that start 2 back (off

the layoff) then raced very well in his last, missing by a head - another possible threat in here. (7) FAMILY

RECIPE steps up a notch after easily handling softer last week but this class is well within his comfort zone

as well - the poor post is a bigger concern. (1) HECANDANCENCRUISE does better work vs. cheaper but

the right trip could make him a threat here too - barn had a big night on Monday. (6) AIR FORCE HANOV

ER can still rattle off a big one at times (see 3 back!) but generally doesn't fare as well vs. the tougher types

- would consider if the price was long enough. (4) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER has missed 24 days since

his last start in Canada and his new barn may not have him fully cranked for tonight - not impossible, but

definitely leaning elsewhere. (8) FROZEN HANOVER usually finds his stride way too late and he'll be

trying to rally all the way from last tonight.


RACE 9 - (7) DESPERATE MAN was an outstanding Canadian 2 and 3YO - he only picked up 2 wins and

$127K in his 19 starts at 4, and clearly was having trouble hitting top form at 5- he debuted last week for a

barn that has done amazing work with fresh stock and this guy was no exception, turning in an effortless

1:51 victory that suggested he's ready to head back to the top levels - anything close to that effort would

make him awfully tough here. (1) KASHED UP A shipped in off a pair of PcD wins (over cheaper) and

turned in a big one here too, kicking home crisply for 3rd from well back - he'll be much closer to the pace

tonight, and could be in line for a very nice chunk. (4) PEACE OUT POSSE seems to be a player almost

every time he races here - he beat this class here 3 starts down, and should be able to have a good say here

as well. (5) NIGHT HAWK was cut loose on the final turn last week and simply roared home from 7th to

2nd - have to consider him for exotics off that big mile. (2) ILL DRINK TO THAT has been having a rough

year and will try it for a new barn tonight - definitely prefer others, but wouldn't be shocked to see him

come up with a better effort. (3) SEVEN HUNDRED has made the transition from NW6-8 to facing older

in NW15000 pretty smoothly - others in here seem a bit sharper, but his best effort could still land him a

good piece. (6) VIVA LAS VEGAS N gets to stay in the same class he beat last week but may be hard

pressed to replicate that performance against this bunch. (8) SPLASH BROTHER is eligible to perk up

with a big one at any time but this just doesn't feel like the right spot for it.


RACE 10 - Good finale: (8) TRAFALGAR has taken 3 of her last 4 starts and had to pull up with some

issue in the other - she's nevertheless listed at 10-1 ML, even though she did win here from Post 8 on 8/1 -

definitely one to include on your tickets. (7) SALE EL SOL is hitting on all cylinders right now but it's not

really clear if she has the speed to create a trip for herself from Post 7 - Kakaley surely has plenty of

confidence in her right now, and will give her every chance to succeed. (6) GOLDEN QUEST N has found

her form again but like the top 2 choices, lands a very difficult post - the right trip could see her make it 2

in a row. (3) BOLT OF BEAUTY just missed her 2 and 3 back but was no factor last week - if you're

looking to spread a bit, she's worth considering if the price is decent. (1) SHECOULDBEGOOD N has won

in some time but her speed should put her in a good spot here to sit close and bring home a piece (5) LADY

NEWTON looked super in that big brush win 3 back but declined in each of her next 2 starts - needs to find

that "A Game" if she hopes to be a threat tonight. (2) MIKI THE CLOWN was no factor in her last pair and

really wasn't all that good in that win 3 back - leaning towards others right now. (4) NIGHT TIME DEAL

has been feasting on cheaper competition out of town lately but it's hard to overlook her 9-0-0-1 record at

Yonkers this year.

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