Friday Empire Report

soaofny • June 16, 2023

The Empire Report - Friday, June 16, 2023 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (3) ROCKN PHILLY returns from PA off a victory and lands in a field where she should be very

comfortable - she deserves top billing here, but she CAN be a little unreliable at times...don't fall in love if

she ends up way overbet. (4) VALAR DOHAERIS banked $238K at 3, and has been racing well (in NJ)

since returning at 4 - she did charge home late for 3rd in her only start here last year (NYSS), and seems

ready to take on older mares this year (& hails from a potent trainer/driver combination) - live player. (5)

ANNABELLE HANOVER was a very sharp winner here 2 back, even if facing easier - she fits nicely, and

can be right in the hunt IF Kakaley can get her off to a quick start (1) TECHYS ANGEL A is finally adding

some consistency to her game - draws best, and is more than eligible to grab a decent piece of this. (2) CH

ERYLS SHADOW has been doing excellent work since returning at 4 but has missed 3 weeks after tiring

in her last - leaning towards others this week. (6) MISS DOTTIE MAE is another that has really thrived so

far as a 4YO but she's been away for a month (after a freshening) and draws outside - prefer others tonight.


RACE 2 - (1) RACINE BELL landed on a nightmarish trip last week and certainly gets a pass - she gets a

rare drop out of the Open, and she's beaten much tougher than these way too many times to try to take a

shot against her tonight...but don't rush to the windows to unload on her at the expected 1/10 price. (5) JIVE

DANCING A missed out on some wins thanks to tough trips earlier in the year but she's been making up

for those lost opportunities lately, taking her last 3 in a row- look for another sharp effort tonight. (2) JODY

has been camera shy at Yonkers over the past 2 years but still manages to hit board in half of her starts - the

good draw puts her in play for another good chunk tonight. (7) TONYS MOM loses Bartlett to #1 but gets

a pilot that may not be afraid to leave with her - she looped to the lead from similar spots the last 2 weeks

and IF she does that again, she may earn a trip that could land her somewhere on the ticket (at a good price)

(4) PURE SILKY rallied late for 3rd last week, bringing her outstanding 2023 slate to 19-7-4-6....a live trip

gives her a chance at another small piece. (3) MILLWOOD BONNIE N has been an iron mare this season,

already winning 9 of 15 starts- she did weaken in the lane last week, however, and we'll see if perhaps she's

ready to tail off a bit. (6) SILK CLOUD A has shown legitimate ability in her limited U.S. starts but faces a

class hike, bad post, and the loss of Bartlett tonight...may find herself too far back to seriously threaten.


RACE 3 - (3) BETTER DOUBLE FLIP is racing off a bad date for her new connections but this top shelf

barn knows how to have them ready - she figures to end up with a two hole trip here, and we'll give her the

narrow edge over the likely prohibitive favorite. (4) HUNTRESS had been suffering from "seconditis" until

adding Lasix last week and getting back to the winner's circle - she's the one to beat tonight, but she was 5

cents on the dollar last week, and another very short price is looming. (6) SMOOTH DEBATE N was a

blowout winner 2 back, and just missed to the heavy favorite in her last - if Smith can hustle her away to a

good early spot, she's the one mare in here with a chance to threaten the top 2. (2) MAGICAL MISTRESS

just kept grinding last week and earned that 3rd place finish - she moves up even higher now, but still has a

chance at a small share. (1) CAPTAINS STAR was dismal last week off the qualifier and is just one of

many from this barn that has hit the skids lately - looking for some signs of life from her, and others. (5)

CATIE FAYE HANOVER tries hard but does seem overmatched from this spot.


RACE 4 - (4) HEISMAN PLAYER isn't the same horse he was last year but it's not like he's been "terrible"

- lands in a shaky field tonight, and Dube can handle him more aggressively with the post improvement -

good week to give him a shot. (3) SO MANY ROADS has been camera shy the past 2 years (2 for 40) but

he's also grabbed a ton of smaller pieces, vs. better - maybe this is a spot where he can rally on by late for a

victory? (1) MAJOR DESIRE would be in a great spot if he was on his game right now...but he's definitely

looked off his best the past few starts - becomes very dangerous if he gets a wake up call, and is worth a

look if the price is decent. (6) WARDAN EXPRESS A had some issue last week (beaten by 15 lengths) but

almost pulled off the 8 hole upset the week before - couldn't blame anybody looking to take a stab with him

IF the price is juicy enough. (5) OUR CORELLI N hasn't been close to top form in some time, though he

did pick up a 3rd last week - he's another hoping for a wake up call tonight....but won't offer much value at

that 5/2 ML price. (2) GINGRAS BEACH draws well again but hasn't even hit the board here is some time

- hard to make a case for him right now. (7) EPIC ACE has just one 3rd from 9 starts this season and draws

poorly. (8) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE finished 3rd in 3 straight but draws Post 8 with his trainer on board.


RACE 5 - (3) LOUIE THE HORSE N is still seeking his first win of the season as he returns from PA off a

close 2nd - he's raced well here is several starts this year (vs. better) and maybe he can finally get over the

hump tonight? (4) SAUVIGNON BLUECHIP finally sharpened at Monti and his connections (wisely)

brought him down to YR last week....where he delivered a very good looking victory over a bit cheaper -

seems sharp enough right now to be a big threat here too. (1) ISLANDSPECIALMAJOR had a poor local

history and was shipping down from Canada showing some dismal form....but he was arriving at a barn that

has performed similar "miracles" in the past and the public, having seen this movie before, sent him off at

an amazing 1/5...and he predictably was able to deliver the victory, despite a tough trip - he does face better

now, and maybe tonight isn't a bad time to take a shot against this high-flying barn. (8) ODDS ON CAPIT

ALISM has plenty of ability, but still hasn't gotten untracked in 2023 - not sure that THIS is the spot to look

for the big wake up call. (5) ALEX TYE is having a solid season overall, but may not be sharp enough right

now to handle a few of the (sharp) top choices - maybe a small slice? (2) SHARK PLAY has been

struggling for weeks, and is hard to endorse right now, even with the good draw. (6) JIM BLUE is another

that has been unable to get untracked this year, with no wins and just one 2nd from his 14 starts - he also

draws poorly, off a sick scratch. (7) LISBURN delivered solid efforts for 2nds in 2 of his last 3 starts but

lands in a solid field tonight, and draws poorly - wait for a better spot.


RACE 6 - (5) LYONS JOHNNYJNR is a solid player at this level and goes from one top barn to another

tonight - he's a versatile sort that can handle a variety of trips....and that may serve him well tonight in this

pretty evenly matched field. (4) HEART ON MY SLEEVE suddenly sharpened recently and comes into

tonight off 3 straight wins in 15s, 20s, and 25s - if he stays as sharp tonight for (another) new barn, he'll be

a big player once more. (2) BETTER UP broke a long Yonkers drought with last week's victory - he bumps

up from 20s to 25s, but seems sharp enough to still be a live player. (1) MINGO JOEL hasn't been "bad" in

his last few starts, but he also hasn't been nearly as sharp as he was for much of the year - his connections

resist dropping him in class, and we'll see if he can find a little better effort this week. (3) MISSILE SEELS

TER has done good work since recently being claimed for $15K but he tries to jump to 25s without having

beaten the 20s yet, and that may leave him a little short against these. (6) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP never

got going in his starts earlier this year - was freshened up, but drew a bad post for his return last week and

lands another for tonight - may need to wait for a better post. (7) DESIRES CAPTAIN has a few good

recent efforts but failed to get in the hunt from a similar spot last week, and now loses Boyd.


RACE 7 - (2) BLOOD BROTHER found some better form recently and has picked up a win, 2nd, and two

3rds from his last 4 starts - should be able to hold that form tonight for his new barn, and is a very logical

threat from this spot. (1) PICARD A was able to get up by a nose over HEARTLANDBANYSBRO 3 back

then came up 2nd best to that one last week- he's obviously a big threat from the pole tonight, but any value

he may have offered will likely be sucked out by that 7/5 ML price. (4) HEARTLANDBANYSBRO has

been sharp for weeks, and recently traded decisions with #1 - he'll be racing for a new barn tonight, and

losing Bartlett also figures to hurt...make sure to get a good price if sticking with him here. (5) MARTY

MONKHOUSER A seemed to be tailing a bit recently but a start (vs. easier) at Monti was just what the

doctor ordered - he's back tonight and facing tougher, and likely looking at only a smaller share. (3) FOLL

OW YOUR HEART hasn't been terrible in PA recently but he's 12-0-0-0 at YR over the last 2 seasons -

minor share only. (6) JK LUCKY CHARMS hails from a hot barn, but hasn't had much luck himself lately

- Post 6 doesn't figure to help his cause. (7) SHOREVIEW rallied at 60-1 two back to be a close 3rd but

ended up parked last week - not a lot of good options from Post 7 tonight. (8) MINK STREET has been

better in his last few, but faces an uphill battle trying to get in play from out here.


RACE 8 - (4) JOINT ACCOUNT shipped in sharp from NJ/PA last week - he was ignored in the wagering

(37-1) but after being used VERY hard to finally make the top, held the lead into the stretch before finally

weakening a bit to 4th - faces easier tonight, and this may be a field he can wire. (7) STATEMENT MADE

A went offstride in his first start off the claim but bounced right back with an excellent try for 2nd last week

- legitimate threat here, even from Post 7. (3) ZIGGY SKY disappointed in his YR return last week but

may not have been fully cranked from Post 7 - too soon to write him off, and he may come up with a much

better try with the move inside. (6) MAJESTIC KIWI N got pretty good for a few starts but does feel like

he's been leveling off in his last few...he'll be a good price tonight if you think he can rebound with one of

his better efforts. (5) CAVIART VAL had been a bust since the 4/9 claim (at PcD) but did come up with a

better one last week (vs. easier) - we'll see if he can build off that mile, but that 3-1 ML price makes him

somewhat unappealing from a wagering standpoint. (1) MY MIND IS MADEUP is having a tough year at

YR, managing just one 3rd from his 9 local starts - we'll see if an easy trip from the pole can help his cause.

(2) MACINTOSH N was claimed for $20K on 5/5 and the 14YO just requalified last week - his owner is

driving tonight, and we'll pass...unless there's a late driver change. (8) SWAGASAURUSREX wasn't bad in

his last few, but figures to be way back after drawing Post 8.


RACE 9 - Five horse field, but could still be a good race: (4) DRAMA ACT rallied for a check from a

tough spot in the Betsy Ross, won the Chester Open the next week then raced very well here in her last,

used VERY hard and only giving way late - faces a sharp bunch, but may be able to get the job done. (3)

LIT DE ROSE is a threat every week from any spot...so last week's 6-1 payoff was really a generous

overlay - it's hard to ever really know what trip she'll land on, but it's hard to imagine her getting a "bad"

one in this five horse field - hard to leave off your tickets. (1) VIOLETS RAINBOW made last week's road

trip to Ohio a winning one, and just missed to #3 here back on 5/5 - draws best for a red hot barn, and can't

be discounted. (5) MAN DONTFORGET ME is hitting on all cylinders right now but could face trouble if

she tries to leave, and will have a tough time outkicking a couple of these if racing from behind - may have

to settle for a smaller share tonight. (2) KARMA SEELSTER is very classy, but may be a notch below a

few of these right now.


RACE 10 - (5) RJ SPORTS IMAGE qualified nicely for his new connections on 5/30 (off the layoff) then

raced very well in a "once around" try at Chester - catches a very beatable field for his YR debut, and may

even be a "fair" price for our leading trainer (with Smith on board). (7) CANTSTOPLYING seems to have

found some better recent form out of town (down in class) and did have some success here last year - worth

at least a look at that 15-1 ML price. (3) SOUTHWIND BRONN came up weak in the lane last start but in

hindsight, that's probably why Bartlett didn't retake the lead to the quarter - he's capable of better, and he

does drop right back in the box -- mixed feelings. (8) BARON MICHAEL would surely be a threat against

these from a decent post but he had a hard time getting involved from a similar spot last week, and faces the

same dilemma tonight. (2) TIN ROOF RAIDER A is listed as the ML favorite but hasn't been sharp in a

long time - may get a wake up call tonight, but hard to take at a short price. (6) ROCKATHON added Lasix

last week but the results were no better - just one of many from this barn that are having a tough time lately.

(4) FRANCO NANDOR N ships in from Fhd. with uninspiring recent form - hard to recommend in his YR

debut. (1) AINT HE SPECIAL has struggled every start since being claimed back on 4/7.


RACE 11 - (3) ICE HOUSE went a BIG mile from Post 8 last week while debuting for new connections -

he moves inside and anything close to that effort will give him a big chance tonight - just don't expect

anything close last week's 25-1 price (Siegelman's choice over #6). (4) ONTO EL DORADO N hung in

well for 3rd after chasing a hot pace 2 back, then was a game first over 2nd in his last - solid chance to land

somewhere on the ticket. (2) SHANWAY N kept grinding 2 back to be a close 2nd, then rallied for 4th from

well back in his last - moves inside, and is looking at a good piece of this. (6) LONG WEEKEND A drops

down to a better level after faltering on the lead (vs. better) last week - tough draw, and certainly hasn't

been on his best game lately....definitely could perk up with a better effort, though. (5) GALANTE A was

caught in no man's land early last week but got a free pass to the lead, a :58.4 half., and was able to handle

things after that- he's looking at a much tougher trip here...and likely a smaller share. (8) GOTHIC ROCK

may be too far out to get in play but he'll be a huge price, and does have a good late kick - ok bomb for

3rd/4th. (1) RHODENA ROAD draws the pole again but has thrown too many duds this year to really

recommend. (7) BLUEBIRD RECON seems to need a better post, in an easier field, to do his best damage.

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