Monday Empire Report

apatchworkdesign • May 8, 2023

The Empire Report - Monday, May 8, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) HECANDANCENCRUISE showed little in his 4 starts in 2023 (for a previous barn) but he

was hammered down to 2-1 here last week (just off the big barn change) and improved massively,

delivering a fire-breathing, "brush and crush" victory that included a vicious :26.3 third panel (AFTER

already rushing up from 5th from turn two)- barn is en-fuego right now, and hard to ignore with any starter!

(3) ARDEN MESSI N has been 1st/2nd in 4 of his 10 local starts this year and a proven threat vs. even

better - didn't care for the trip last week, but becomes a much bigger player tonight if things go more to his

liking. (6) MICKY GEE N had a disappointing 2022 campaign but has looked very good in both starts this

year since returning from the layoff - tough draw, but can be a late player if things get contested up front.

(1) CHANTEE draws the pole and that puts him in position to get away decently, save ground and maybe

finish up well for a small piece. (2) HEART OF DIXIE was right there on the final turn last week when he

made a very costly miscue - wouldn't be shocked to see him show up late for a piece, but sticking with

"safer" rivals for the top slots this week. (5) FEARFUL INTENT shipped in sharp and was well backed for

his YR debut but didn't care for the tough trip at all - he may race much better tonight, but he's hard to back

at that 2-1 ML price. (7) GREAT SOMEWHERE has gone a bunch of miles that would make him a major

threat here but he seems like he MAY be tailing, and Post 7 isn't going to help.


RACE 2 - Tough race (one of several on tonight's card): (5) PEACE OUT POSSE is yet another sharp one

from this white-hot barn and his quick starts often put him in position to do damage - he should be a fair

price in here, and he's one of several with a legitimate chance to take this. (4) DEAN B HANOVER seemed

ambitiously placed in the Borgata Series but he held his own all the way through, picking up several good

chunks - it's always hard to say how "sharp" a horse will be right after a grueling series, and another new

variable is that this guy debuts for a new barn tonight...possible for sure, but not worth a very short price.

(1) BILL HALEY N tends to be a little inconsistent from start to start and his last 2 Pocono races are a

perfect example - on his best effort, he would be very dangerous from this spot. (2) BELTANE A has been

feeling pretty good lately, and handling the class hikes seamlessly - chance to win it, but seems more likely

to end up somewhere on the bottom of the exotics. (3) MARLBANK ROAD has been good in most of his

starts this year but has only visited the winner's circle once in 13 starts - another to consider underneath. (7)

HICKFROMFRENCHLICK has held solid form as he's risen in class but faces a tall task from out here. (6)

JACKS LEGEND N picked up a win 2 back but the classy veteran clearly hasn't been on his best game.


RACE 3 - (3) OUR CORELLI N was lazy early on last week but got better as the race went on then found

himself in traffic through the lane - he gets a nice class drop and while he's not always the most reliable

horse on the planet, anything close to his best would make him a major threat. (4) LOUIE THE HORSE N

may just be off form, but he does have legitimate recent excuses (4 straight horrible posts) - drops, moves

inside, and could be primed for a nice wake up call. (5) BALLERAT BOOMERANG is another getting

class relief, and he looms a very live threat in this spot - does figure to be a bit overbet, though. (1) PINEB

USH LIFESAVER was 0 for a Zillion here at Yonkers but it only took TWO starts (and one good post) for

the Super Siblings to break that schneid, and get him to the winner's circle last week - he faces better here,

but would anybody really be surprised if he was able to take another? (2) WARDAN EXPRESS A caught a

1:49.4 mile in PA last week (with his trainer on board) so he probably should just get a pass - drops, moves

inside, and that 20-1 ML price makes him worth at least considering for spread tickets. (6) DEETZY has

raced well in many of his starts this year but has just 1 win, and gets a tough draw for tonight. (8) JUDDY

DOUGLAS A is good right now, but may have a tough time overcoming the terrible draw. (7) ESCAPETO

THEBEACH will look much more appealing with a class drop, and better post.


RACE 4 - (4) NONE BETTOR A didn't return in peak form for the Borgata Series but it's not like he

embarrassed himself, either - he'll get to call the shots in this easier spot, and we'll see if he can pick up his

first victory of 2023. (1) WINDSUN RICKY had to pace his 3rd quarter in :26.4 last week (first over) just

to get up to 3rd, and can be forgiven for leveling off a bit - if he can work out an easier trip tonight, he'll at

least have a chance at the upset. (2) QUALITY BUD has continued to race well all year, even at these

higher levels - Holland sticks with him (over #1), and he's another possible upsetter with the right journey.

(7) NANDOLO N just wasn't on top of his game during the recent series but he certainly appreciated the

class drop last week, scoring very easily - this is a (much) tougher field and a terrible post...but he's still

worth considering IF the price is good enough. (3) CERTIFIABLE elevated his game significantly after

joining our leading barn in Feb. but he MAY finally be starting to level off (hard to say) - his best effort

would give him a chance in here, but insist on a decent price if using on top. (5) OAKWOODNITOWNIT

IR rallied crisply last week but it may have been a little deceptive, as he and the winner were the only ones

with fresh legs in the stretch - his overall form is fine, but a few others just seem a little more appealing

right now. (6) NOME HANOVER was winless at Yonkers until 2 back...which just happened to be his first

local try for the Super Siblings -- was very well backed in his last but hurt by a tiring leader...still needs to

show that he can beat these types...even for this red hot barn. (8) BOILING OAR has done very good work

here at Yonkers but faces an uphill battle from all the way out here.


RACE 5 - (7) TOWNLINE ALL GOOD drew outside of WICHITA LINEMAN the last 3 starts and was

unable to beat him in any of those starts - he's stuck outside his rival once again, but he does have 5 wins of

his own this year, and he'll definitely be a nice price tonight - he has the versatility to win from off the pace,

and maybe he can find himself a winning trip this time (6) WICHITA LINEMAN comes into tonight riding

a 3 race winning streak, and has taken 5 of his last 6 - hard to NOT have him on your tickets, but he does

go for a new barn and driver, and starts from a tough spot...maybe he lands on a tougher trip and ends up a

bit vulnerable? (1) GINGER TREE PETE has taken 3 of his last 4, and maybe it's 4 for 4 if not so under-

driven two back - goes for a new barn and has the right pilot to keep him motivated throughout the mile -

faces a tougher bunch, but still looms a very live player! (2) MAJOR DESIRE was hopelessly blocked in

the lane last week or might have been right there - his only win this year came vs. the 25s, but he definitely

is sharp right now....not a terrible value horse to consider, at least for exotics. (4) DELIGHTFUL TERROR

shook free on the final turn last week and charged home for 2nd (after being "sneaky good" the week

before) - if things get testy enough tonight, he may be able to show up late and be a threat. (8) PRETTY

HANDSOME is hard to fault form-wise but his best efforts come near the lead...he'd need a lot of trip luck

to get himself into play from out here. (3) SHERIFF N acts like he needs some class relief before he can be

a serious threat again. (5) KERFORD ROAD A is racing "ok" since recently adding Lasix, but does seem a

bit below the main players.


RACE 6 - (1) TWIN B HEART THROB raced very well in almost all of his starts here this year, despite

coming up 2nd best more often than he was able to win - returns from PA after a couple of sharp tries over

there, and draws best in a modest field...gets top billing. (5) MACHEASY A was deceptively sharp heading

into his start 2 back so that first over victory was no surprise at all - moved up in class and raced very well

again from a tough spot last week, and does have a chance tonight with some good racing luck. (6) MY UL

TIMATE STAR A took a while to find his form in the U.S. but he's been racing well for a while now -

would have liked him a lot more from a better spot, but he does have at least a shot at the upset if things go

his way. (4) SO MANY ROADS hit board in 5 straight and 6 of his last 7...as always, WINS are hard to

come by for him, and he's a better choice to use underneath, rather than on top. (3) ROLLING WITH SAM

will attract attention off the class drop but note that his 2 wins here this year came vs. cheaper than these -

not a fan at a short price. (7) ALEX TYE has been good all year, and definitely sharp right now - if you can

see a way into the race for him from out here, by all means include him on some tickets. (2) CAPTAINS

PLACE hasn't been as effective since recently moving up in class - good post does help.


RACE 7 - (7) COVERED BRIDGE was outstanding week after week throughout the Borgata Series but

was definitely hurt when forced to move very early in the Final - if this was still a Series leg, he'd be the

stickout choice even from Post 7....but there does exist the possibility that after all those tough races, he

MAY not be as fully cranked tonight for his first start back in overnights - he's still gets top billing, but with

some caution. (4) PRICELESS BEACH grabbed a couple of 2nds in the Borgata legs and was also 2nd in

the Consolation - he's a rock solid Open pacer, and seems next in line should the top choice not be 100%.

(2) SEMI TOUGH is a tough call - he SHOULD be feeling pretty confident after winning 3 of 4 but for the

most part, he was pretty opportunistic/fortunate in those (easier) races - mixed feelings. (3) AMERICAN

DEALER has had a tough time getting untracked in 2023 but did use a dream trip to score the mild upset in

Consolation #2 - leaning towards others while recognizing that this guy CAN be a real player IF he shows

up on his best game. (5) SPLASH BROTHER suddenly found his form in mid-March and outran 4 straight

(cheaper) fields - he did almost hang on in Consolation #2, but still remains a bit of a question mark against

the better ones in here. (1) SHINE A LIGHT comes off a very sharp win last week but will need to prove

that he can hang with these too. (6) PYRO loved racing in the "non Borgata Opens", but the tough draw

(and tonight's better field) may slow him down a bit.


RACE 8 - (3) MOONSHINE KISSES won 3 in a row here before finishing 3rd on 4/17 (loaded with pace,

from a tough spot) - stayed sharp with a win at his home base in Stga., and we'll give him the narrow nod

over a couple of VERY dangerous rivals! (5) FUNATTHEBEACH N seemed to be peaking heading into

this year's Borgata Final (the race he won the year before!) but just didn't fire at all that night (one of a few

disappointing performers in that race) - he could easily bounce right back and beat this more modest crew,

but he's another that may or may not be fully cranked for tonight's overnight - perhaps note how talented

barnmate COVERED BRIDGE does in Race 7, and act accordingly? (4) TAKE A GAMBLE has won all 6

local starts this year and will be getting his toughest test to date in here - we'll find out tonight if he's good

enough to beat these too! (7) SPEED MAN N just missed to #4 last week or he'd be riding a 3 race winning

streak of his own - seems like an unlikely spot, but he's lit up the tote board here in the past....good one for

longshot fans. (2) CAPTIVATE HANOVER is in career form right now and looked like he was going to

upset the Open last week...before coming up a little short and finishing 3rd - ok to include underneath. (1)

THE REGULATOR started to really feel good on the lead last week and was way ahead at the wire in last

week's eye-catching 1:51.3 victory - still has to prove he can BEAT these, however. (6) ULTIMAROCA

went his best local effort to date in that victory 2 back but reverted to his inconsistent ways when he

faltered on the lead last week - lands in a tough spot if he's hoping to bounce right back. (8) ODDS ON

CAPITALISM has been away since 12/5 and gets stuck behind the 8 ball.


RACE 9 - (3) JOJOS PLACE took his first loss for this barn last week, but a brutal trip (in 40s) had a lot to

do with that - drops back down to 30s, and looms the one to beat. (1) PEDRO HANOVER has finished 2nd

three straight starts after winning 3 in a row - the main danger from the pole. (7) CHANGE STRIDE N was

going nowhere fast until being moved to our highest % barn....and immediately went on a nice form spree -

he'll move to a new (hot) barn for tonight, and stays in the same class after winning his last pair - spots the

top two a major post advantage, however. (2) GENTLEMANJIM II IE fits with these and draws well for

the red hot Super Siblings - he's a little camera shy, however, and may be better slotted underneath. (5)

WAR DAN DELIGHT N has lost AT LEAST 52 straight starts at YR but has nevertheless been claimed in

4 straight starts - not ready to use him on top, but he IS sharp enough to include underneath. (4) CONBOY

VILLE started the year slow but has now hit board in 5 straight - one of several with a chance at a small

piece. (8) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES is pretty good right now, but another terrible draw figures to limit

his participation. (6) SHARK PLAY has dropped off since racing well in his first two starts for our leading

trainer- minor share only.

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