The Empire Report - Thursday, October 7, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (3) MARYMACISBACK landed on a tough trip here 2 starts back and still raced well for 4th -
her overall recent PA form is much better than most of these, and she should have a decent chance in a
pretty lackluster field. (1) FREE EXCHANGE made a break 2 back but that line is sandwiched between a
pair of solid 2nds - logically the one to beat from this spot, but she's 1 for 39 over the past 2 years and listed
as the 6/5 ML choice...just not much value to be had! (2) MORE THAN MANY still has just one win on
the year (on the lead, from Post 8, off the barn change to the Super Siblings!) - she has been a steady player
lately, and does have a solid chance to be in the hunt tonight from this spot. (6) ESCAPE AGAIN was a
winner 3 back (Chester) and has 14 wins over the past 2 seasons - if willing to ignore last week's clunker
(in the amateur event), she's actually a pretty decent 20-1 ML horse to consider. (5) WINDSONG PARISI
AN is just 2 for 47 over the past 2 years, and winless in 21 local tries - minor share only. (7) QUITE A
DELIGHT N would be a player with this type but she's just been well off her game lately - Post 7 won't
help her cause tonight. (4) GRANT ME THIS doesn't seem all that sharp at Tioga lately, and she's winless
in 7 local tries - prefer others. (8) FEAR MY SHADOW seems unlikely to ever get close to contention
RACE 2 - (1) OPERATION SHIPLEY was a strong 8-3-1-3 at the Iowa fairs as a 2YO but her 3YO season
was excellent, going 13-10-2-0 including an easy win in the Final - these types have handled the NW2
locals pretty consistently over the years, and this filly should be no exception. (6) DROP THE MIC has
some ability but struggled through most of the summer - those last 2 wins at Monti should have him feeling
pretty good about himself right now, and he's probably the main danger. (7) FUNKY BISCUIT exits a very
low % Meadows barn and moves to a solid local outfit - he has 3 wins this year, and may be able to add
some value to the exotics. (5) CHERRY MASON finished alertly last week but from too far back - one of
several in here with a chance at a smaller piece. (4) DRAVEN HANOVER looked smoother with the
hopples added last week but she really should have been able to win her last - chance for a minor award. (3)
SV ROYAL FLUSH gets the same comment almost every week - "speed, tired" - have a feeling we'll see
more of the same tonight. (2) KEYSTONE CECILIA won her local debut but has been struggling ever
since - needs to be sharper. (8) FLEXIBLE CREDIT ships in with some ok Stga. lines but just seems a bit
cheap...and also draws Post 8.
RACE 3 - (6) GREG just missed upon arrival from Canada, took his next start handily then was 2nd best
last week to a very well meant winner - he's been a steady performer since arriving, and looms the one to
beat tonight....but probably not worth going overboard at a pretty short price. (5) SAN CRISTOBAL was
used to make the top from Post 8 last week and only tired in the latter stages - an easier trip could see him
end up closer tonight. (7) CHURCH SOUT weakened to 3rd after a pocket trip 2 back but rallied nicely
from well back last week lose by a shrinking nose - willing to use even from out here but ONLY if the price
is right (he's just 1 for 44 lifetime)! (1) EXCHEQUER seemed overbet 4 back but landed on a perfect trip
and scored the victory - has really struggled since then, and it's hard to know what to expect from him
tonight (great spot IF he's on top of his game). (4) CHROME PACKAGE lost any real shot with an early
miscue last week but he'd been picking up pieces prior to that - ok to use underneath. (3) INFINITE ZETTE
is winless here in 7 starts but he's another that's picked up some smaller pieces. (2) ORIGINAL SMOKEY
was in the right place at the right time last week and was able to break his maiden in start #23 - not looking
for him to repeat here, but he's another with a chance for a small piece. (8) PINE BUSH WILBUR ships in
off a slow maiden with at PcD,. draws all the way outside, and we'll just watch him for tonight.
RACE 4 - (2) POPPY DRAYTON N was helped by an inside trip last week but was still a close 3rd from
Post 7 - drops into a softer spot, moves inside, and this is a good week to hop back on her team. (6) CLASS
Y CHAPEL N built some confidence beating cheaper in PA 4 back and has been racing well since - if she
can work out a decent trip, she can be part of the equation here. (4) FEELIN RED HOT will reverse form
and wire one of these softer fields one of these weeks...but for right now, she seems pretty vulnerable and
worth taking a shot against. (7) WATCH MY LUCK is a typical "in and outer" from this barn - terrible
draw, but not the worst bomb you could consider. (1) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX would like to drop down
a bit more, but she does seem capable of squeezing out a small piece from this spot. (3) SEZANA N is now
0 for 23 on the year and many of those losses have come vs. cheaper - wouldn't be a surprise to see her grab
a piece, but hard to consider for the top slot. (5) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE only seems to come alive
when she hits the bottom class - we'll wait for an easier spot. (8) PRAY THE ROSARY moves up and
draws Post 8 after faltering cutting the mile from the pole in last - prefer others
RACE 5 - Very good NW4 field! (3) GAB IN MOTION would make the occasional break up in Canada
but does some serious damage when he behaves himself (9 for 26 lifetime) - ships down to an always solid
barn that happens to be on a good roll right now, and worth a shot here as long as the price is square. (6)
CAMDEN HILLS was a sharp purchase for the Super Siblings, as he already earned over $40K in just 3
starts (thanks to taking the NJSDF Final at Freehold - has to get plenty of respect tonight. (7) CREDIT
CON raced well enough on the tough NYSS circuit to make this year's Final - has more than enough ability
to trot with these, but he's also off a month, and starting from Post 7...may not be cranked up for his best
effort here. (1) SHENZI AS added the trotting hopples last week and rallied nicely for 2nd in NJ - if he
continues to behave, he can grab a piece of this too. (5) BRILLIANT BOB was way back early on last
week and wasn't beaten by all that much at the end - his efforts are all over the place, however, and it's hard
to ever gauge him from week to week. (4) GRAFENBERG was a bit lazy much of the way last week but
did find good life at the end (after the pace began to slow) - could easily grab a piece with the right trip. (2)
DA BOOGIE MAN beat this class 3 back, was 2nd the next week, but gave way and tired after cutting the
mile in his last - another that's hard to really gauge right now. (8) SJS LADY LOU seems buried tonight
RACE 6 - (3) MACZAFFAIR N has been struggling for sure, but she had much better life finishing last
week, and now gets both post and class relief - logical spot to look for a big effort from her. (2) PAIGES
GIRL continues to pick up smaller pieces at this level and it looks like she can do more of the same from
this good spot tonight. (1) EYE POPPING finally showed up with a big mile 2 back after a long streak of
poor performances - was a bit erratic racing from off the pace last week but it's likely that she'll be back to
being aggressive tonight - we'll see if she can be a player at this higher level. (7) BYE BYE MICHELLE
lands a terrible post but she does drop a notch, and may not be a bad one to include underneath, hoping to
add some value to the gimmicks. (5) SCANDALICIOUS steps up off last week's win and while she
definitely prefers to be in cheaper, she may be able to beat a few of the shakier ones in here. (4) MALNIFI
CENT will appreciate tonight's class drop but she may not be sharp enough right now to really take
advantage of it. (8) ASHTINI used live trips to surge late and win her last pair right at the wire - have a
feeling she'll have a hard time getting close to the action tonight, however. (6) TOPVILLE ANGELINA
hasn't functioned since the barn change 3 back - waiting for some better signs before considering
RACE 7 - (7) RACINE BELL was (somewhat) surprisingly run down by Dragon Roll last week but it's not
like she wasn't "good" - should actually be able to make the top relatively easily tonight, and she's the one
they'll have to catch and beat. (3) BETTERB CHEVRON N has held her form beautifully since getting
sharp this summer - gets a nice draw, and has a good chance to land somewhere on this ticket. (8) IMPRIN
CESSGEMMAA lands all the way outside after handling cheaper last week, but she can still be a player
here IF she finds some trip luck - she can be pretty inconsistent but her best effort does put her in the mix.
(5) SNOBBYTOWN has a lost a bit off her best game lately but she still tries hard, and is still capable of
picking up good pieces against these...as long as the trip isn't too brutal (2) DBLDELITEBRIGADE was
doing good work on a weekly basis but she's missed some time due to sickness, and it's a little tough to
know what to expect from her tonight. (6) NORTH STAR IDEAL is another coming into this off a sick
scratch, and she also draws outside on top of that - would need a pretty good price to get interested in her
tonight, under the circumstances. (4) DANCE CLUB struggled a bit at this level last time, and may need a
little easier to strut her best stuff. (1) LADYBELUCKYTONITE was a low level claimer earlier this year
so congrats to making it all the way up to the top....not sure she's going to thrive at this level, though
RACE 8 - (5) ETHAN T HANOVER's last 2 non-stake appearances saw him easily handle a NW2 field
here, and similarly jog in a NW3 at Chester - not sure why he was so bad last start at Hoosier but assuming
he rebounds from that start with no issues, the Yonkers Trot Finalist should be able to handle these. (3)
ILLUMINATA went a nice mile last week dropping out of the NYSS races - gets a better draw, and can
grab a nice piece of this. (4) FIRST GUNNER won his first 3 local starts before coming up a little light last
week (2nd best to a winner off a big barn change) - no reason he can't grab a big piece tonight. (1) NANCY
BAR responded to last week's barn change with a Tioga demolition - facing tougher now, but still would be
hard to NOT include him underneath. (6) PREACHER MAN was a NW2 winner 2 back, then a decent 4th
from Post moving up to this level last week - willing to use him for 3rd/4th. (8) BACARDI was finally
handled aggressively last week and responded with the sharp score - steps up and lands Post 8, but he's
another with a chance to be 3rd/4th, with some luck. (2) BROOKFIELD MASTER broke shipping in last
week - prefer to see a clean mile from him before backing. (7) MAKING SPARKS probably needs a better
spot to be a serious player.
RACE 9 - (3) TEMPUS SEELSTER clearly appreciated the new barn and change of scenery as she's 3 for
3 since arriving from Illinois, scoring blowout wins each time - steps up yet another notch, but remains the
one to beat. (4) SOUND IDEA was very well backed on 9/23 and delivered the very easy win - moved up a
notch and rallied very well from an impossible spot in last and may be sharp enough right now to handle
yet another class jump, and be a part of this too. (2) CASH ROLL beat a basement field here in August, just
missed to a sharp winner 2 back, then rallied nicely from a hopeless spot in last - yet another "cheaper"
mare that still figures to be a player tonight. (5) GOLDEN QUEST N was way overbet last start and it was
no real surprise that she was just an "ok" 4th - will continue to use her for smaller pieces only. (1) ANN
HILL will be helped by the class drop and the rail, though she'd probably like to be in one more level down
- chance to race close up to the action, and last for a minor piece. (6) JUXTA COWGIRL led every step last
week....except the LAST one -- moves up a bit, draws outside, and others just seem more attractive tonight.
(7) PETTYCOAT BUSINESS doesn't figure to be in the hunt from out here - look for her dropping NEXT
week. (8) GREENHILL HANOVER is the outsider...literally and figuratively
RACE 10 - (5) SCUOLA HANOVER raced super upon arrival from Harrington, rallying from well back in
last to be a hard charging 3rd (and almost 2nd) - drops a bit, gets some post relief, and will be very tough if
she races the way she did last time. (7) SHEIKH YABOOTY N drops down to a more suitable level and has
done some good things since recently moving to this talented training tandem - definitely a chance to land
somewhere on this ticket (at a decent price) if Bartlett can find her a decent journey. (2) JOSSIE JAMES A
is hard to gauge right now as clearly she's not 100% - she does drop right back in the box, so maybe that's a
good sign - anything close to her best effort gives her a decent chance for a good piece. (3) MAJOR
BATTLE was used hard last week so she gets a pass for weakening a bit at the end - include her
underneath. (4) SHECANDANCE N has been a weekly player, and she'll have a chance for a piece if the
trip works out - she does lose Stratton to the top choice, however. (6) SHELLIE DE VIE finally got in the
2021 win column last week in start #26 - moves up, draws outside, and may struggle a bit tonight. (1)
WOODMERE HARRIET hasn't been the same for the last few weeks since recording back to back upsets -
sticking with others. (8) BRONZE OVER N was no good last start off a bad date, and now missed more
time again...while also drawing Post 8
RACE 11 - Interesting race: (3) WET MY WHISTLE faced stakes competition all year and certainly didn't
embarrass herself - should benefit from that last start in NJ (off a bad date), and the barn has always had
success here using Dube in the bike - if she gets around the half, she can be a solid player tonight. (6) ALT
US HANOVER is hard to gauge class-wise off his Stga. lines but he's definitely sharp, and he'll definitely
be a nice price - willing to use in exotics. (4) MOON BRIDGE always "figures", always takes $$, but he's
just 1 for 20 in 2021, and it just seems others will offer better value for the top slot. (1) COCKTAILS N
DREAMS has been a steady performer in her 4 local starts - draws best, and has to be included underneath.
(5) SEVENTIER wasn't quite up for the top NYSS colts but he was a good Excelsior A performer, and
returns from Fhd. off good NJSDF efforts - the knocks are that he'll be a short price, and that there's some
speed inside of him, making his trip tonight a little questionable. (8) DC ANNA kicked in late in her local
debut and almost pulled off the upset - had no prayer in her last, but was trotting well at the wire once again
- she'll likely be coming from last tonight, but throw her in for 3rd if spreading a bit in trifectas. (7) VICTO
RIANA broke in her first try off the barn change (sloppy track) but made amends by running down the
favorite in her last - faces a much better field tonight, lands outside, and will need to prove that she belongs.
(2) YOU MAKE IT EASY has been very solid when she minds her manners - may be a notch below a few
of these, but we'll find out more tonight.
RACE 12 - (5) JIVE DANCING A was right there 3rd behind Dragon Roll and Racine Bell 2 back, then
raced super from Post 7 to pick up 2nd last week - drops into a spot where she just seems too sharp to go
against! (6) MAND DONTFORGET ME transitioned seamlessly from the "NWPM" races to facing tough
older mares - she's been sharp for ages, and belongs on your tickets, despite the tough spot. (4) SPORTS
FLIX' only local win came on the lead vs. easier, but she's pretty good at finding ways to pick up pieces -
use her underneath. (2) LOVELY DONNA was terrific in that blowout win 2 back...making last week's
tiring 4th all the more disappointing - we'll see if she can bounce back with a better effort tonight. (1)
LUCKY ARTIST A was an "ugly" winner 4 back when sent off at 1/10 at the bottom level, but she
continued to sharpen every week as she's run back up the class ladder - draws best, and have to at least use
her for 3rd/4th. (7) YS TALLIA is having a terrific year since being sent to the young training phenom, and
comes into this off a game win last week - hard to see a way into the race for her tonight, however. (3)
NEVERFORGETWHOUR came back very sharp off the layoff but moves way up tonight off a total dud
and is hard to like under the circumstances.