Friday Empire Report

soaofny • September 23, 2022

The Empire Report - Friday, September 23, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN hasn't raced well from OFF the pace in a long time, making last

week's tough trip, near-miss all the more impressive - we'll hop on board in tonight's opener, hoping he's

just as sharp tonight. (1) POSH ONTHE BEACH A is a solid 25, especially with the rail and Bartlett - good

chance he can land somewhere on the ticket from this spot. (2) MACHIAVELLI is the "x factor" tonight -

he flopped horribly off the barn change 2 back (exiting a pair of top barns), but failed to fire from the back

last week, as well - on his best he could do major damage here, and he does get big time post relief....maybe

he comes to life tonight? (5) KENRICK N was handled aggressively from Post 8 two back (despite his 26-1

price) and delivered the big upset against the 15s - bumped up to 20s last week and was just as good,

coming first over to score the victory - may be able to threaten the 25s tonight in his excellent current form.

(7) MAJESTIC KIWI N has been a very solid $25K claimer for a while, but will need some major trip luck

from out here - would certainly include him underneath in exotics, assuming the price is decent. (6) SHOR

EVIEW wasn't up for last week's tough trip at all, after winning from a much easier spot the week before -

figures to have some trouble getting a decent journey from out here. (3) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES has

lost 24 straight here, and seems ambitiously placed for his current form. (8) FOX VALLEY INFERNO

drops back down to 25s but draws Post 8 and goes with a "fill in" driver tonight.


RACE 2 - (6) ALWAYS AT MY PLACE would have been at least 25-1 last week shipping in with those

poor Hoosier lines but the public has seen a zillion of these types just improve by multiple seconds upon

joining our leading barn, and sent him off at 3/5....and to the surprise of virtually nobody, he improved by

several seconds and absolutely demolished the 25s - steps up to 40s tonight and draws outside...but still has

to be respected as the one to beat. (3) DESIRES CAPTAIN was a winner at this level 3 back and was better

in his last couple than it might look on paper - good one to include on your tickets. (4) AMERICAN BOY

N wasn't as sharp in his last couple but it's not like he was "bad" - could easily perk up tonight with the

drop down to 40s. (8) LYONS JOHNNYJNR was a sharp winner here 3 back debuting for his new team,

then was 2nd best the last 2 weeks behind a couple of mighty sharp opponents - license to do some damage,

despite the terrible draw. (2) TIN ROOF RAIDER A is pretty good right now, even if not quite up for last

week's hot mile (where he finished 3rd) - a live trip puts him in play for a good piece. (1) ROLL WITH JR

was 2nd best in his last pair and draws the pole for his new connections - he also moves up to 40s, however

and we'll see if the class hike slows him down a bit. (5) MARCO BEACH had been doing good things but

wanted no part of last week's terrible trip - wouldn't be shocked if he was able to bounce back with a better

mile tonight, but still leaning towards others. (7) MOONLIGHT SHADOW has had some good moments

vs. even better but he was pretty dull last week, and draws poorly tonight - prefer others.


RACE 3 - (3) BETTER B SWIFT finished up well from impossible spots the last 2 weeks and in general,

is used to facing better than these - he's still looking for his first local victory, but this feels like a spot

where maybe he can get it. (1) MISTER SPOT A did a nice job rallying for 2nd behind the stickout winner

last week - he draws best again, and should be able to grab another big chunk tonight (5) MISSILE

SEELSTER has gone some brutal trips lately but oddly enough, he seems to race better with THOSE, than

when he actually lands on a decent journey - willing to include him in exotics. (8) SOUTHWIND

MOROCCAN was an ok 3rd two back (he was beaten by about 5 lengths, not the half-length shown in the

program) but he was very good in his last, wide a long way and continuing to rally - good bomb to throw in

underneath. (2) REMEMBER THE BEACH left around #1 from a similar spot last week, and almost held

2nd - he's been better lately, and a good trip may help him grab a minor share. (6) KAUAI KING has a few

decent tries lately, but it's hard to justify that 3-1 ML price when he's 21-0-2-2 at Yonkers. (7)

GLENGARRY KNIGHT N usually races well at this bottom level but tonight's post may make it difficult

for him to have that same success. (4) HENRICO was struggling for the Dynamic Duo - not sure his new

barn will have the answers to turn him around.


RACE 4 - (4) HL REVADON was solid in that win off the barn change 2 back but was REALLY good in

last week's victory - steps up seeking 3 in a row, and has more than enough back class to pull it off. (5) NE

XTROUNDSONME was too far back 2 starts down then landed on a brutal trip last week (left uncovered to

3/4s into a :27.3 quarter) - could easily show up with a good one tonight off the class drop. (6) NO MAS

DRAMA is another dropping in class off a pair off "excuse" efforts - have a feeling we'll see a better effort

here, though this is definitely a tough spot. (3) SWEET SOUL DAVID hung in ok for a pair of 4ths vs.

better in his last couple- would certainly include him for 3rd/4th tonight in exotics. (2) IM THE MUSCLE

usually races best on the lead vs. cheaper, so it was encouraging to see him going forward at the end from

off the pace in his last couple - maybe can add some value to the exotics? (1) HOOLIE N HECTOR has 3

recent wins (over cheaper) but may be pushing his limits against some of these - his chances for a piece

probably go up if Holland doesn't over-use him early on. (8) KINDA LUCKY LINDY threw a clunker last

week and now draws Post 8 - wait for a better spot. (7) CASINO CUTIE IT hung on for a rare Yonkers win

last start vs. much easier - faces a very tough assignment from Post 7 against this much tougher crew.


RACE 5 - (4) DIAMONDBEACH was in a very soft spot last week and was able to easily deliver the front

end score - he'll face a couple of tougher ones tonight, but he should be able to handle these too. (3) TELL

THEM LOU was very well backed last week (despite some shaky form coming into the race) and was a

very easy winner - if the top one falters, he seems next in line to pick up the pieces. (2) MIDNIGHT LIGH

TNING is just 1 for 36 here over the past 3 years but he's racing pretty well right now - maybe he can add

some value to the exotics? (1) BETTER UP drops from the 40s, gets full post relief and is definitely one to

include underneath. (8) MOHAWK WARRIOR handled cheaper at Fhd. 2 back but then raced well here in

his last too, rallying for 3rd - brutal post, but an ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (5) STANFORD COURT had some

better life here 2 back but reverted to his lesser form at Chester last week - just hasn't been able to get back

to his better form in a long time. (7) VIRGIN STORM is 0 for 14 here this year, though he has hit board in

half those losses - not sure he'll be able to do that from out here. (6) AINT HE SPECIAL has been in a

tailspin lately - looking for some better signs before considering.


RACE 6 - (5) LEAN HANOVER has been holding his form nicely and simply rallied from too far back

last week - if things get a little hot and heavy up front tonight, maybe he can rally by late...at a decent price.

(4) INCOMMUNICADO earned nearly half a million at 2 and 3 but like so many others, has struggled just

a bit to get into a good groove as a 4YO - there's plenty of ability here and he's navigated the Hilltop Oval

pretty well in the past....but he figures to be overbet and may be a little vulnerable. (2) NEW HEAVEN has

been good lately, but lost all chance after a shuffle last week - he's always a good price, and is worth using

here in exotics. (3) IN MY DREAMS didn't win in his first start off the claim (he was 2nd) but he did take

his next 3, and shoots for 4 in a row tonight - this is a tougher bunch, and he's another that could be a but

vulnerable tonight. (7) TIMESTORM has been sharp out of town, and brought that fine form here to

Yonkers last week, picking up his first ever local win with a powerful first over score - draws outside vs.

better tonight, but don't dismiss him too quickly. (1) SKY CASTLES was dull two back when claimed, then

broke for his new connections last week - definitely risky at the moment. (8) WARRIOR ONE drops from

the Open, but doesn't seem sharp enough right now to do a ton of damage from Post 8. (6) PLUMB landed

on a beautiful trip last week and charged home to win right off the bat for her new connections - this field is

a lot tougher, and it'll be hard for her to match that effort tonight.


RACE 7 - (4) MARTY MONKHOUSER A wasn't bad from Post 8 two back and just missed 2nd last week

- look for an aggressive try with Bartlett in the bike tonight...and possibly a victory. (2) GOTHIC ROCK is

rock solid at the $25K level and also moves back inside - might have been the top pick here if he wasn't

riding an 0 for 29 streak here at Yonkers. (3) CINNABAR DRAGON was an opportunistic winner in a "fall

apart" race 3 back, but he was legitimately sharp last week, beating the top choice for 2nd (behind the fire

breathing winner) - a similar effort would give him a legitimate chance here. (5) AWESOMENESS has 4

recent victories (including last week) but they came while racing for our leading barn - he goes for new

connections tonight, and it's hard to endorse him on top as the 2-1 ML favorite. (1) SWAGASAURUSREX

moves inside, and any type of decent trip would put him in play for a piece of the exotics (with his late

rally). (8) NOAHS MILL is a solid 25 when he draws inside...but may struggle to get involved from out

here. (7) SWEET N FAST N picked up 3rds in his last 2 tries at this level but those were from better posts -

he's another that may have trouble overcoming the outside draw. (6) CLASSIFIEDMATERIAL feels like

he tailed after a couple of decent tries....and his barn in now 2 for 71 here on the season.


RACE 8 - (2) AMIGO VOLO is now 8-5-1-1 here at YR and the losses have generally been attributable to

bad posts - the move inside tonight (after winning the 2-6 draw) stamps him as the one to beat. (1) GANGS

TER HANOVER was on the shelf for 9 months but returned with a blowout qualifier at Pocono, followed

up with a 1:52.1 jogburger right out of the box - he'll face much tougher now, but he sure looks like he's

ready to be a serious player. (3) HILLEXOTIC almost always races well here, and sports a 16-7-6-1 local

slate - hasn't been able to get his picture taken for several (local) start, however, and that has us leaning to a

couple of others for the top slot. (7) STORMY KROMER has won his last 4 Yonkers starts and hasn't been

favored in any of them - he won't be favored tonight either...but that streak will definitely be at risk after

being assigned Post 7. (5) QUEEN OF ALL has really blossomed as a 4YO, but faces some tough (male)

rival tonight - maybe she can rally for a piece? (6) MISSISSIPPI STORM has been looking more like his

better self lately, but tonight's draw may leave him in a tough spot- leaning towards others. (4) SMALLTO

WNTHROWDOWN is good right now, but does seem overmatched against these.


RACE 9 - (1) B NICKING added hopples last week and raced super, using a sizzling :27.3 third panel to

discourage heavily favored FLIP THE SWITCH, on his way to the blowout victory - can take another IF he

continues to behave. (3) HOMER HALL has been very steady lately, and gets his best post in a long time

tonight - finished 2nd last week, and has a shot at another good chunk tonight. (7) BARN HALL was sent

off favored last week upon arrival at Yonkers and was simply no match for the very sharp winner (while

racing well for 2nd) - his price will go WAY up tonight but he has a very live pilot at the controls, and is

worth including on some tickets. (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU has been a little in and out lately, winning 2

back (in a DH) then faltering first over last week - the "good" version would have a chance to threaten for a

piece here. (2) MEMO looks pretty good on paper, but he really hasn't been finishing that great in a bunch

of his recent starts - use underneath only. (5) ROCK OF CASHEL was sent off favored last (dropping in

class) but was clearly 3rd best - chance for a similar result against these too. (6) TOCCOA FALLS has been

1st or 2nd in 7 of his 12 local starts but does feel like he may a bit off form right now - leaning to others.

(8) ALTUS HANOVER has been very steady for some time, but will be coming from way out of it - not

sure how much damage he'll be able to do tonight.


RACE 10 - Wide open finale: (7) ROCKIN JUKEBOX went sour for a few starts but last week was a good

step back in the right direction - tough post but he's used to facing tougher, and will be a good price here -

worth a stab in a tough race to gauge. (1) SOHO CHELSEAA was well backed off the claim and gave it an

aggressive try against the 40s - caved on the lead that night, then sat in the back with no chance last week -

eligible to come to life with the big time post relief. (6) COALITION HANOVER couldn't last on the lead

last week at Chester, and will surely be aggressively handled tonight - definitely a chance he can beat these,

but he's just 1 for 15 at Yonkers, and is listed at 7/5 ML - just no value on top tonight. (4) ITSMYCHECK

GB looks pretty unplayable off his recent form but he drops in class, and has reversed form to win races a

couple of times in the past - maybe he can pull it off tonight too? (2) MY MIND IS MADEUP would be a

big threat here "on his best" but like many of these, his current form is lacking - maybe if the price is juicy

enough? (3) AINTNOBETTOR A is now 1 for 25 on the season and pretty rough to consider on top - the

good draw may help him take home a minor share, however. (5) PICARD A has been struggling lately, and

would be hard to make a case for tonight. (8) SEEUINNASHVILLE A failed to beat a horse in 4 straight

starts before at least finishing 5th last week - tough spot to look for improvement, though.

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