The Empire Report - Thursday, May 25, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - the first of many well matched fields tonight! (3) P C FREE WHEELING was stuck in the FM
Open in her first 2 starts off the claim and really didn't embarrass herself - got some class relief last week
and put in a dead game first over try, right there 3rd on the wire - that 7-1 ML price makes her worth a look
in this very evenly matched field. (2) GREY's recent form is mixed at best, but she gets some more class
relief and moves inside - a wake up call is definitely possible. (6) SEVENSHADESOFGREY has been
behaving week after week, and finishing his miles alertly every time - if things get testy up front, he may be
able to make some late noise...at a nice price. (4) STREET GOSSIP got some class relief last week and was
right there at the wire at 35-1...drops another peg and may be able to put himself into the hunt again tonight
(5) B NICKING is as good as any of these but he's listed as the 2-1 ML favorite and MAY end up with a
less than stellar trip - better value with others? (1) THE LAST CHAPTER showed uncharacteristically
good finishes to win his last couple - faces much tougher, and may struggle a bit with these (but he may
also do better than this listing with an easy trip)
RACE 2 - (2) SOUTHWIND PETYR is just one of many recent acquisitions that this barn was able to
immediately improve by leaps and bounds - he has two wins and two seconds since joining the Dynamic
Duo, and clearly a very big threat to come out on top. (4) PHOENIX OF FLUZZY was an excellent, hard
used 3rd upon arrival from Pocono 2 back then followed that up with last week's powerful victory - very
legitimate threat with the right trip. (1) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK has improved considerably in the four
starts since the barn change, and was a solid 4th (from a tough spot) in his first try at this level - moves all
the way inside, and could be a player from start to finish. (5) KOOTENAY SANTANNA has solid overall
form since arriving here 5 starts back, but may be a notch below the top ones - a fast start (and easy trip)
would help his chances considerably. (3) CAVIART SARGENT has picked up a trio of 3rds (at big prices!)
since moving into this class - remains a good one for a small slice
RACE 3 - (1) BALLERAT BOOMERANG probably isn't on his best game right now but it's not like he's
been racing poorly - he's been holding his own vs. much better, and tonight's class drop may be enough to
help him find the winner's circle. (6) GENERAL MONTANA N came into his last off a pair of clunkers
and a bad date, but flashed good speed and hung in well for 3rd - pretty much anything this barn sends out
these days merits a look...especially when listed at 10-1 on the ML. (3) FOREVER FAV is good right now,
and just beat this class last week - he doesn't appear to fit the conditions but assuming that he's not
scratched, he should be able to make his presence felt again tonight (4) C BET HANOVER shipped in from
PcD and delivered a powerful blowout win on 5/12 - tonight's class jump isn't as big a concern as last
week's sick scratch, however.(5) IMSTAYNALIVE is extremely camera shy, but the type that's always
eligible to take home a small share with an easy trip. (2) PASS A GRILLEBEACH has been off 3 weeks
after a trio of weak efforts out of town - leaning towards others right now. (7) KB MAC looks like a 50-1
shot on paper...but he makes his local debut for a barn with a good history of improving fresh stock -
perhaps it would be a good idea to check the tote board for clues?
RACE 4 - (2) CINCINNATI HELP has won 3 of 4 local starts, the lone loss being when he was stuck
facing the like of SEVENSHADESOFGREY in a NW7 field (where he actually raced pretty well) -
deserves top billing in this very modest NW4 field. (1) STRONGERWITHLINDY added Lasix in NJ last
week and raced pretty well - feels like the main danger, but his 2 for 37 career slate makes him tough to like
on top. (5) AVACAKES used good starts to take home a pair of 3rds and a 2nd from her last 3 starts -
license to pick up another decent chunk tonight. (3) CREDARENA is listed as the 9/5 ML favorite...a bit
puzzling since he's failed to hit board in 6 straight starts! (4) STRIKING COUNT just has never clicked
since joining this barn back in late February.
RACE 5 - (3) PAST DUE is 8-0-0-1 at Yonkers and had no luck for our leading trainer - on the flip side, he
joins a new barn tonight that has shown the capability to improve just about any new horse...regardless of
where they come from...may be worth a stab in this pretty formless field. (4) THREE IN HEAVEN A is just
1 for 16 this year and 5-0-0-0 here at Yonkers....he does have some decent recent starts, however, and this
may be a group where he can have a big say. (5) KERFORD ROAD A just 1 for 30 locally over the past 2
years but he drops to the basement, and may be able to at least be a contender with this crew. (2) OUR
CORELLI N will surely take a LOT of $$ with tonight's class drop and he may get a long overdue wake up
call -- he's really been no good for a while, though, and it may not be a bad idea to try to take a stand
against him tonight. (1) SWAGASAURUSREX draws best but really disappointed 2 and 3 back when he
found himself closer to the action than usual - maybe a small piece? (8) VEL MR NICE GUY fits okay
with these but just doesn't seem sharp enough right now to be a serious threat from all the way out here. (6)
DARLINGS DRAGON hasn't looked good in any of his 5 local starts this year - waiting for some better
signs. (7) CASHNCAM would be a bit of a shock, to say the least (7 hole, off a sick scratch)
RACE 6 - (3) ALL CHAMPY was underway to the quarter last week but mercilessly parked by MISSION
VOYAGE (forcing him to a rarely seen :27.4 SECOND quarter!) - he's been a beast for seemingly forever,
and deserves a chance to bounce right back...for his new connections. (4) VALI HANOVER benefited most
from last week's insane duel and charged on by easily into the lane - hard to imagine him getting that same
great fortune tonight, but he's still a very viable player with any decent journey. (2) MISSION VOYAGE
went on that suicide mission last but still raced super, eventually fending off ALL CHAMPY and doing a
great job holding 2nd after #4 flew by into the lane - he beat this class twice in April, and always has to be
respected. (5) LINDSEYS PRIDE hit board in 8 of 9 starts since being claimed but has just one victory -
always a good one to include underneath. (6) I DA PRINCESS hit the skids in a big way late '22/early '23
but a switch to our leading trainer got her turned back around in the right direction - drops in for a tag
tonight, but draws outside a few pretty tough campaigners...maybe a small piece? (1) AFTER ALL PAUL
hasn't been on his best game and comes into this off a sick scratch - leaning towards others. (7) IN MY DR
EAMS can hang with these from the right spot...but this probably isn't it
RACE 7 - (2) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS made $134K at 3 (up in Canada) and showed flashes of real
ability in the recent Brennan Trotting Series - he was clearly short when 3rd last week (at 3/5, off a bad
date), but he's definitely one that deserves a chance to make amends. (1) BACKSTREET PLAYER has
raced well in all 3 starts since returning to Yonkers, and can sit much closer to the pace tonight with the
move inside - include in exotics. (5) VELVET STYLE took a shot at blasting hard from Post 8 last week
but didn't survive the first turn - he was doing good things before that, and can be part of the equation
tonight with a clean mile. (6) DOWN THE PIKE MIKE benefited when VELVET STYLE broke last week,
then REALLY benefited when the sharp tripsitter failed to pop out of the pocket at any time, resulting in
getting free way too late - this feels like a much tougher spot, and it'll be hard for him to repeat. (3) TAP
ME BLUE CHIP has been hanging in there since moving up to NW6 recently - chance for a minor share.
(4) ER NO MORE was handled very conservatively last week after making a break the week before - prefer
others, but wouldn't be that surprised to see him race better tonight. (7) HOOFBEATS DE VIE draws
another poor post after failing to get involved from Post 7 last start
RACE 8 - (4) CREDIT CON has been solid for some time, even more so since adding Lasix three back -
he can handle most any trip that comes his way, and that may give him the edge in a race that's pretty hard
to predict. (3) MISSISSIPPI STORM has been having trouble winning races here this year, but he's hot
board in 7 of 8 local starts - decent chance he can do so again tonight. (1) GHOSTINTHESHELL AS was
off for 6 months and likely needed that start across the river - she won 4 of 5 starts here last year (broke in
the other), and may be ready for a much sharper try tonight. (6) HIGHLAND MOWGLI goes back to his
favorite pilot after getting used pretty hard from Post 8 last week - he MAY be looking at another tough trip
tonight, but that 9-1 ML price does make him worth at least a look. (5) OUTSIDE THE FIRE has been
"good" or "very good" in most of his starts this year - not bad at Chester last week (trying the Open for the
first time), and we'll see if he can be competitive in our Open as well. (7) STORMY KROMER was a bit
disappointing when 2nd three back but he's also taken 3 of his last 4 starts - not sure he's sharp enough to
win from out here, especially with #6 likely leaving right to his inside. (2) HAYEK looked good beating
cheaper 3 back but that's his lone local win from 17 starts (over the last 2 years) - hard to endorse on top
here at that 5/2 ML price! (1) HOOLIE N HECTOR should have been allowed to draw for one of the 2
inside posts but instead ends up with Post 8...and we'll probably be the longest shot in the field
RACE 9 - (1) FLASHY SWAN was handled very conservatively in her local debut before charging home
to just miss at the end (she wins easily if cut loose just a bit sooner) - moves all the way inside, and should
have a solid chance to pick up her first win for her new connections (2) IM AN ANDOVER was hammered
at the windows in his 2nd of the year (in PA) and was an open length, front end winner - could be the main
danger in his YR debut. (5) WARRAWEE YIMA was well backed for his YR debut and was able to get the
job done - he wasn't overly impressive, however, and will have to be sharper tonight if he hopes to repeat.
(6) KENNEBAGO did enough good work to make the NYSS Final at 2, but did finish well back - he was in
way too tough in his return qualifier, and is a little tough to gauge for tonight - would include in exotics if
the price is decent. (7) BYINVITEONLY crossed the wire first in his only start here this year but the 5YO
was highly erratic a couple of different times, and was disqualified (placed 2nd) for causing interference at
the head of the lane - seems like a tough spot tonight, but this trainer/driver team always bears watching!
(8) SQUABLE is hard to take too seriously from Post 8, but he does have a knack of usually bringing home
a small check. Both (3) BARCELONA PRINCESS and (4) MY BELFAST ANGEL have struggled in their
local starts and need to be better.
RACE 10 - (1) BALENCIAGA returned from a 7 month layoff, added Lasix, and was able to deliver a
1:51.3 victory across the river - the talent has always been there, and we'll hop on board his team as he tries
his luck here at Yonkers. (3) WHAT SHOULD I GOO picked up her first local win last week when able to
outkick SWEET SOUL DAVID home off the pocket trip - we'll see if that helps her build some confidence,
and allows her to be a threat tonight, up in class. (2) HERCULISA was a little short at the end when 2nd in
the FM Open in her last start, and perhaps last week's sick scratch played a role in that - she's more than
capable of being a solid threat here if ready to deliver her best. (5) TACHYON grabbed a live trip last week
and was able to charge home to score the 9-1 upset - another live journey could lead to another good chunk
for tonight. (4) SWEET SOUL DAVID was well backed and cut the mile last week but was outsprinted
home by #3 - chance for a good piece tonight if the trip goes his way. (6) ZIG ZAG was clear too late to do
more significant damage last week - he's good right now, and could add some value to the exotics. (7)
TIMESTORM has to re-qualify after a miscue on 5/11 - expecting a conservative steer tonight after
drawing so poorly. (8) PROMISE FOR LIFE was dull last week and now draws Post 8.