The Empire Report - Thursday, October 26, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (6) UP THE CREEK has 2 starts in this class - he missed by a nose from Post 8, then was a
winner from Post 7 last week...tonight's draw isn't much better but his barn has been sending them out
breathing even more fire than usual lately (35% winners the past 2-3 weeks) and this guy remains the one
to beat. (1) BARRYWHITE HANOVER raced well from Post 8 the last 2 weeks and now moves all the
way inside - he should sit a nice trip here, and we'll see if he can pull off the upset. (3) COLD CREEK
FELIPE does well when he can sit an easy, up-close trip - one to consider for the bottom of exotics. (2)
ARTIST BEST can be pretty unreliable and comes off a disappointing try last week - still, chance to land
somewhere on the ticket if he can bring one of his better efforts. (4) PEPPERMINT MAN broke in BOTH
local starts, though he did recover and pick up 2nd in one of them - he seems to be sending out some red
flags by dropping in for a tag, and he also figures to be overbet...proceed with caution. (7) WHAT ABOUT
BOB is sharp for sure, and probably making a parallel class move...it's the draw that causes concern, and he
may be in for a less than stellar trip. (5) DA GHETTO WIZARD has missed 3 weeks after a few rough
starts - leaning towards others. (8) VIRGIN HONOR arrives from Stga. and figures to struggle with
tonight's draw
RACE 2 - (7) SWAGASAURUSREX may be worth a stab in here - he drops back down to a more
comfortable level, and lands in a field where most of the main players have some major knocks - he has 3
recent victories, and does figure to be a decent price tonight. (2) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES always seems
to "figure", usually races well but he's been stuck on just 2 victories this year for some time, while piling up
lots of 2nds and 3rds - make sure to get a fair price if trying him on top. (5) ROAN COLOR gets a vote of
confidence from Bartlett, who choices off his main barn (#6) to drive this guy - on the flip side, neither of
his last 2 starts were all that good, and he's going to be pretty well backed- possible, but not much value. (3)
LOORIM LAKE A seemed to be sending out red flags when he dropped in for a tag on 9/22 and sure
enough, he broke that night (while also getting claimed) - he broke again in his next qualifier, but did go
cleanly in his last Q....risky at that 5/2 ML price. (1) PICARD A has been away 3 weeks after struggling
since the recent claim - add him to the list of "question marks" in here. (8) LYONS LIBERTY isn't terrible
by any means but he's just 1 for 20 on the year, and 0 for 26 locally over the past 2 seasons- hard to endorse
on top. (6) GOLDEN GESTURE debuts for our leading barn and is somehow listed at 20-1 ML, with
Gingras - on the flip side, Bartlett passes on this drive, and that suggests we may not see his best tonight.
(4) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP has been begging for some class relief for months
RACE 3 - (7) STRAIGHT UP COOL really isn't bad right now, but he's been hurt badly by some terrible
draws - obviously he gets no luck again tonight but he does get Bartlett to take him (over #3) - his barn is
going well right now, and we'll see if he can find a way to work out a manageable trip. (3) ONTO ELDOR
ADO N has held his own with much better most of the year but he's also just 1 for 31 (9 seconds), with that
lone victory coming when the leader made a break - certainly possible, but also sure to be overbet. (2) GIN
GRAS BEACH is another that's struggled to win this year (1 for 30), but he also figures to be able to be a
player with this bunch - just don't take a short price if he's your play. (4) MAJOR SHOW is just 1 for 24 at
YR but he does seem sharp enough right now to at least contend for a minor share. (5) HES ELECTRIC
has shown little since returning from a recent freshening - he's eligible to perk up at any time, but he'd be
hard to take at any kind of short price. (6) BLUEBIRD RECON would be a player here if even close to top
form but he's definitely struggling at the moment. (1) HES GONNA GETYA tends to get away poorly
every week, and drawing the pole may not help all that much. (8) HEART ON MY SLEEVE moves all the
way outside after squandering easy trips from the RAIL the last 2 starts
RACE 4 - (6) JIM BLUE was blasting right to the top when he broke on the first turn two back - he was
handled conservatively last week, and did finish full of pace for 2nd - his 0 for 26 record this year is a big
negative, but he'll be a big price for a hot barn and may be worth a stab. (4) KB MAC has been racing
decently despite some less than stellar trips - goes for a new barn tonight, and might be able to beat these
with a bit of better racing luck. (2) ONE CRAZY GUY wired these with Bartlett 2 back and has to be seen
as a threat to do it once again - the price will likely be shorter, however, and he's far from a cinch. (3) HUR
RIKANE GEORGIE bobbled on the back side 2 back before recovering to be 3rd, then was a perfect trip
winner last week - he's functioning for this barn for the first time all year, and is a legitimate player in his
current form. (7) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL was good for a couple of starts upon arrival, tailed for a few
weeks but was good again in his last, just missing to a sharp winner - chance if the trip luck falls his way.
(1) WHAMMER JAMMER has yet to impress in 2 local starts but seems capable of better - would need a
pretty nice price to try him right now, however. (5) JK STANDINGOVATION disappoints more often than
not - maybe Yannick can have better luck with him? (8) BUCKEYE EMERY is the outsider, for sure
RACE 5 - (4) PAPA DOC made an impressive brush to take command on 9/28 but suddenly switched over
to the pace on the final turn, and ended up inside the cones after Dube tried to get him back trotting -
qualified back sharply, just missed in his next and completely dominated last week - Brennan stays loyal to
#6 tonight, but Siegelman can still get the job done too. (5) PERFECT TITAN has been good here this year
and just missed after cutting the mile last week - his 8-0-1-6 local record is a little concerning, but he still
deserves plenty of respect tonight (8) BRAVE BY DESIGN is just one of seemingly a zillion Super Sibling
horses that have been particularly good over the last 2-3 weeks - can't dismiss his chances here, even from
Post 8. (2) IN MY DREAMS has 4 starts since the recent claim and the lone win was when he just stole a
half in :59.2 - definitely ok for exotics, but leaning elsewhere for the top slot. (1) P C FREE WHEELING
was an ok 3rd two back, then a dull 5th last week - draws yet another rail, and should probably be included
underneath. (3) KOSHER MAHONEY thrived upon arrival on the local scene but has really leveled off
lately - needs to up his game to be a serious player tonight. (6) BIG BAD SWAN has been away since Feb.
and his qualifier is hard to gauge - Brennan does take him (over #4), so perhaps at least give the tote board
a look? (7) PIVOTAL hasn't been as sharp in his last couple, and draws poorly for tonight
RACE 6 - (2) CREDIT CON isn't on his absolute best game right now but he hasn't been "bad" by any
means - he's not that far removed from winning Opens and as noted, his already mega-high % barn is
winning at an even higher rate these days - deserves top billing. (5) HIGHLAND MOWGLI should have
been able to hang on last week but the winner did charge home stoutly to beat him - should have no
problem leaving again from this spot, and figures to be a close up player from start to finish. (3) HUNTING
AS didn't have the greatest trip last week so perhaps he deserves a bit of a pass for his "ok" 3rd - draws well
with Gingras, and could be looking at a good piece tonight. (4) SEVENSHADESOFGREY really benefited
from the hotly contested pace last week but that still doesn't take away from his long, powerful move - will
be trotting well late, and can do some damage with the right scenario. (1) KINDA LUCKY LINDY has
been solid out of town recently vs. a bit cheaper - an easy trip from this spot can help him bring home a
small share. (8) BALENCIAGA came up 2nd best at 2/5 on 9/7 then lost to that same rival last week at 1/2
(also failing to rally by #5 in the lane) - could face a pretty difficult trip from out here, but does have the
right pilot to help some luck come his way. (7) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS has been right there every week
for months but that streak could be in jeopardy tonight, as he'll likely be coming from way out of it. (6)
SWEET SOUL DAVID will be hurt by a leaver right to his inside and is looking at a tough journey here
RACE 7 - NAADA Amateur Fall Series: (8) LIONHEAD, while somewhat overbet last week, did manage
to overcome a brutal trip to pick up the victory - he gets the worst of the draw tonight but that also means
his price should be much better....if he can improve at least a bit at the start, he may be able to take another.
(2) CALL ME THEFIREMAN really should have been able to win off that trip last week but he just
couldn't hold off the much harder used LIONHEAD....he'll get his chance to turn the tables tonight, though
it probably won't be on the lead. (1) BY A HOFF HANOVER picked up his first win of the year at Monti
two back (in his 31st start) and now will try to pick up his first ever Yonkers victory (currently 0 for 25) -
he was forced to drop in behind #2 last week, but will get his chance to cut the mile tonight - maybe he can
hang on? (3) SHOEMAKER HANOVER does like to win races but he also likes the lead....which will be
tough to come by tonight - insist on a decent price if trying him on top. (4) STRAVINSKY was a close 2nd
with Beltrami last week and the two pair up again tonight - may benefit from a contested pace, and that
would give him a chance to rally late again. (7) FAIR GLIDER has been very consistent lately but is really
facing a difficult journey starting from Post 7. (5) JUDGE KEN seems off form lately, showing some dull
tries and miscues - leaning elsewhere. (6) SWAN HILLUVA TIME seems a bit overmatched from this spot
RACE 8 - (3) PAPPARDELLE launched a breathtaking rally from last on the final turn last week to be
right there with the mega-classy HILLEXOTIC on the wire (just one of many from this barn to deliver
eye-popping performances the past few weeks) - he got to draw for posts 3-8 this week and landed on the
best one possible....faces some very nice foes, but has the edge over them from this spot. (4) HL