The Empire Report – Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (1) ITALIAN DELIGHT N has now won 6 of his last 7 starts and is just a head shy of a perfect 7 for 7 –
he returned from the winter break as sharp as he left, and we’ll give him the edge here over his main foe. (3) DON
DOMINGO N was a 2/5 jogburger here last week vs. the 20s and gets a confident boost to 30s after being claimed
that night – he has a ton of back class, and can give the top choice a real tussle if on his best game. (2) CHIEFS BE
ACH was an easy trip 4
th last week and may be sitting 3
rd behind the top pair tonight...and that gives him a decent
chance to stick around for a decent piece. (5) SULLIVAN was solid in 3
rd from start to finish last week, looking
good off the winter break – bit of a tougher spot tonight, and his success will probably boil down to trip. (6) MOVIN
ON UP does fit well with these but he endured a terrible trip last week and may be looking at another tough journey
tonight. (7) GLACIS is an infrequent winner but does rally for pieces at times – not sure he can find a way into the
mix tonight, however. (4) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP just feels a bit below the main players – could use a class drop
RACE 2 – (1) PIVOTAL comes off a qualifier that would probably be more than enough to beat this short, soft field
and he draws the rail with Bartlett - he’s clearly the most “likely” winner...but he’ll also be a VERY short price –
probably a good spot to tread lightly. (2) IM THE MUSCLE has his moments and is probably the main danger – he’s
also off 7 weeks, and really prefers to be on the lead. (4) SHEENA SOLDIER went a couple of good efforts vs. the
50s back in Nov. but saw his form tail a bit since then – was dull in his 2024 return, but the barn did have a couple of
longshot winners the other night – maybe he can be a bigger player tonight? (3) EXPLOSIVE RIDGE shows mostly
cheaper efforts but he did win here 4 back and that at least puts him into the conversation. (6) SAID N DONE AS
had good effort here in 22-23 but at lower levels– bad draw tonight off the bad date. (5) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO
hasn’t even earned a paycheck in his last 6 starts – hard to get behind
RACE 3 – (2) WORLD FOR TWO made a break on 12/14 but other than that has hit board in 8 straight starts – he
was a rock solid 2
nd best behind a prohibitive favorite last week, and now it’s HIS turn to be the one to knock off. (5)
YS DO IT RIGHT can be a little inconsistent but he does throw his share of decent efforts – wasn’t terrible when 4
th
off the hiatus last week, and may be able to complete the exacta tonight (with some trip luck). (1) MERITO HANO
VER was a distant 3
rd last week in the race where the top choice was 2
nd – the rail draw makes him a threat to land
somewhere on the ticket once again. (3) JIM BLUE finished well back last week but almost his entire barn was dead
short after the winter break – maybe he can stay closer tonight and pick up a minor share? (7) ONE CRAZY GUY is
in a bad spot off a dull try but at least he hails from a hot barn – maybe a good bomb for 3
rd//4
th? (4) COLD CREEK
FELIPE was a dull 4
th last week and will need to be better for a chance at a better share. (6) JK STANDINGOVATI
ON continues to underwhelm in the majority of his starts
RACE 4 – (1) ROYALTY BEER sat a beautiful trip last week and was solid to the end, though not finding quite
enough to go by the top pair – perhaps if they mix things up a bit more this time around he’ll be able to rally on by –
at a decent price. (6) NOWS THE MOMENT was a dead game nose winner to close out 2023 (his 11
th victory of the
year) and returned the very same way, a gutsy head winner last week (over #4) – remains a very dangerous threat,
but don’t take too short a price from this trickier spot. (4) CREDIT CON stayed sharp with a win in Ohio over the
winter break – he gave it his all last week and LOOKED like a winner turning for home...only to find himself
denied at the wire by #6 – he’ll get his chance to reverse that decision tonight. (5) WARRIOR ONE made an
unexpected miscue on the 2
nd turn last week losing all chance – if the classy 8YO ends up a juicy price tonight, don’t
hesitate to consider him on top. (2) B NICKING closed out 2023 with 4 straight wins then came up 2
nd best to start
off 2024 – may find these a little too tough, though. (3) P L OSCAR rattled off sizzling fractions last week but still
held them all off except for the winner – he’s another that may be in a little too steep here, however
RACE 5 – Good race! (3) ABRUZZO was brutally parked last week (into the vicious 1:24.4 clip) and somehow
never quit, still beaten only about 3 lengths (finishing 4
th) – he’s always a bit of a risky proposition but he reunites
with Kakaley tonight, and the last time they paired up it resulted in a front end score – narrow edge in a wide open
affair. (2) DONATO PATRIOT K made an early miscue last week then turned in a BIG recovery, catching the pack
and actually rallying for 3
rd – decent value horse to consider. (7) YANKS DUGOUT was helped a bit by a final turn
breaker last week but that doesn’t take away from his very sharp victory, coming back off a 3+ month layoff –
remains a viable threat, even from Post 7. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK was unbothered by the time off and was able
to sustain his LONG three wide rally to go on by in the lane last week – can’t remember the last time he failed to hit
the board, and obviously his connections have to be feared almost every race. (4) FOR A DREAMER was
outmuscled when it mattered last week, though he may have been hurt by chasing the hot clip, after missing a few
weeks – would never really be a surprise against these. (5) STREET GOSSIP was clearly short in his last and may
need another. (8) HAT TRICK MARLEAU drops a bit, but not enough to make him a serious consideration from
Post 8. (1) KILIMANJARO NL draws the pole but backed up badly from the same spot last week
RACE 6 – (4) J S HOPSCOTCH won 9 races and $86 K last year (out of town) and debuts tonight for a barn that
routinely improves any fresh stock – solid qualifier and worth a play here, though it seems unlikely that he’ll be sent
off at that 10-1 price. (1) STEUBEN HANOVER was handled aggressively off the hiatus and just not up for it –
several from the barn have raced better the 2
nd time around, and he could easily be next – legitimate threat, but the
6/5 ML price is a turnoff. (2) VEGAS TICKET finished ok for 4
th last week and should get a decent trip tonight –
chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (3) IN MY DREAMS is always a dangerous player against these types but
he’s been away since 12/21 and he may not be at his absolute best tonight. (6) WILLY WALTON was behind a tiring
one last week but looked pretty tired himself – could be tighter tonight, but the post could be tough to overcome. (7)
QUIKSILVR BLUECHIP almost lasted with an aggressive speed try last week and would probably have been listed
higher if not for the bad draw. (5) BIG BAD SWAN has been struggling for some time
RACE 7 – (7) HELPOFTHESEASON moved to our leading trainer, and is now 3 for 3 in the FM Open Trot – she’s
overcome outside spots before, and remains the one to beat. (3) LINDYS IRISHCREAM can be a little in and out
but she does throw some pretty nice efforts when on her game – she gets class relief from her last start, picks up
Brennan in the bike, and may be able to make some noise in her Hilltop debut. (2) DESWANSLITTLELORIE
missed a lot of time to her last start but still finished with solid trot for 3
rd – decent value horse for the bottom of
exotics. (5) NO TURNING BACK was all out to be a distant 2
nd to the top choice last week but several of her
barnmates were much sharper in their 2
nd starts of the season – would be no surprise to see her right in the hunt for
another good chunk. (1) QUEEN OF ALL was only good for part of an abbreviated 2023 campaign and she
definitely wasn’t at her best in her ’24 return – will need to be better if she hopes to take advantage of the rail
tonight. (4) LADY JETER is off a poor try then sick scratch – pass for now. (6) CLEOPATRA AS still seems a bit
overmatched...and moving from the rail to Post 6 isn’t going to help her cause.
RACE 8 – (3) STATE SENATOR closed out the year in fine form and was claimed by our leading trainer – gets a
pass for his start (parked the mile in NJ), then simply came up 2
nd best to a razor sharp foe last week – may be able
to make amends tonight. (2) FULL SUPPORT has a history of tiring late in miles but he seemed to love racing off a
helmet last week, and charged home powerfully to win going away – threat to repeat if he’s as sharp tonight. (4) HU
RRIKANE GEORGIE hesitated a bit early on and ended up parked as a result– gets a full pass for that, and he could
be a threat here (at a decent price) if the trip goes his way. (5) ARTIST BEST finished with life from an impossible
spot last week– a live trip could see him land somewhere on the ticket. (1) DA GHETTO WIZARD used an easy trip
to pick up 3
rd last time – would need a similarly easy journey to do as well in here. (6) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL
wasn’t bad last time from a hopeless spot but tonight’s spot isn’t much better
RACE 9 – (6) EMOTIONS RICHES may be tough to gauge from week to week but when he’s good, he’s a very
tough player in this class (as we saw last week) – maybe he can make it two in a row? (1) BRAVE BY DESIGN
weakened off the pocket trip last week but was probably facing a bit better, and may have needed that start – great
spot if he’s on his game tonight. (4) PERRON visited the winner’s circle 9X last year and had a useful tightener last
week – worth a look here if the price is right. (7) IMMANUEL K S is another inconsistent player coming off a sharp
mile (2
nd behind #6) – not impossible, and may even be a decent price for a trainer/drive combo that usually goes off
heavily favored. (3) MUFASA AS is racing ok these days – chance for a minor share. (5) CHAPOLIER was an even
4
th in a start he clearly needed – we’ll see if he can build off that and be a bigger player now. (2) NEWSBOY looked
good beating an easier field last week but may have a tougher time with these – wouldn’t shock, by any means
RACE 10 – (2) ELS ROCKER finished alertly at the end last week vs. better – may be the right one dropping in
class tonight in a wide open finale. (3) C BET HANOVER had an eventful mile last week, first getting bothered into
the first turn, recovering, and then causing interference himself on the last turn – a “clean” effort makes him a threat
here. (1) INDICTABLE HANOVER won in a similar spot with Bartlett on 11/29 but his current form seems iffy –
may be overbet here. (4) TWO FACED is good at picking up smaller pieces and may be able to do so from this spot.
(8) DOUBLE METAL could only manage 3
rd from a tough spot last week and now has to overcome Post 8 – another
minor share? (5) CIGAR SMOKING TONY steps up off a hard fought win – may find these a little steep. (6) FORE
VER FAV was dull off the hiatus and draws poorly here. (7) HES SPECIAL may need one off the qualifier