Monday Empire Report

soaofny • September 20, 2021

The Empire Report - Monday, September 20, 2021 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (5) HASH TAG SWAG is one of the only horses from this very high % barn that does NOT have

a recent win(s), but it's certainly not because he hasn't been racing well - might be in the right spot to get his

picture taken tonight. (1) BRACKLEY BEACH went a BIG front end try but came up 2nd best to a very

sharp winner - goes for a new barn tonight and bumps up in class...but the rail draw should guarantee a

good trip, and that should put him close from start to finish. (6) TREASURE MACH was a close 3rd

dropping to 30s last week and remains in the same class for his new barn - will need some trip luck from

Post 6, but can be in the hunt if he gets some. (4) TIGERS WAY wasn't up for the tough trip vs. 40s off the

claim last week but tonight's drop should help produce a better effort - willing to include underneath. (7)

BLUEBIRD RECON went an absolutely monstrous mile to win last week but that was for a barn that has

been sending out monsters - goes for new connections here, draws outside while moving up in class and

may have trouble replicating that performance. (3) ALOTBETTOR N was helped by a live trip when 3rd

two back, then was no factor in his last - still not sure he doesn't need to be in a bit easier, and will be using

him for only a small piece tonight. (2) JOJOS PLACE moves inside after three straight 8 holes - he'll likely

attract some attention, but he may need a drop to go along with the better post. (8) MY DELIGHT grabbed

3rds in his last pair but the move outside may slow him down considerably.


RACE 2 - (3) AINTNOBETTOR A looked done to the top of the lane last week but somehow just found

more in the final 1/8th of a mile, and finished a close 2nd in this class - barn is quietly winning at the same

incredible percentage as the Dynamic Duo (nearly 40%!), and may have another winner in this overall soft

field. (6) SOHO LEVIATHAN A is a rock solid $50K claimer and that makes him a major threat in a field

where many seem below that level - was reclaimed by his previous barn, and should have a big say here.

(1) IM SOME GRADUATE has struggled for most of the year but did have life finishing in last, and his

barn has sent out a lot of very live performers the past few cards - have a feeling he'll be a player this week.

(7) MELODIES MAJOR was struggling at the bottom levels at PcD before THE barn change on 8/3...and

has improved tremendously since then - probably not a $75K claimer (few of these in here are), but he can

grab a piece even from out here. (2) KEY ADVISOR seems a notch below the main players but the good

draw gives him a chance for a small piece. (5) BUY IN would need to up his game to make any noise in

here. (4) KEYSTONE PHOENIX hasn't clicked in either start for his new barn - wait for better signs.


RACE 3 - DESIRES CAPTAIN took a couple of weeks to take to the Super Sibling program -- then beat

the 12/5s, 20s, 30s, 40s twice, before having to settle for 3rd last week against the 50s (and amazingly

never got claimed any of those weeks) - drops back down to 40s, and will be the heavy favorite to start a

new streak tonight. (3) MAROMA BEACH has been sneaky sharp since the claim back in July - good

chance for a nice piece, and would even consider on top if the price was juicy enough. (4) BETTOR NOTB

ITTER A is another who recently made a nice climb up the class ladder - faltered in 50s last time but drops

back to the level he beat 3 starts back, and has to be considered for exotics. (5) BLACK CHEVRON N is

hard to gauge - moves to a new barn for tonight after a pair of "sneaky ok" lines sandwiched between a

couple of scratches - not quite sure what to expect. (1) VELOCITY KOMODO seems to prefer the bigger

track but the inside draw should give him at least a shot at a small piece. (6) HIGHLAND TARTAN hasn't

had any luck since the 7/26 claim and tonight's outside draw doesn't figure to make things any easier. (7)

DAVIDS COMING HOME got really sharp for a few starts before a no factor effort in last - will be coming

from way back again, and figures to struggle reaching once more. (8) GLENGARRY KNIGHT N hasn't

done much in 8 starts since arriving at YR, and now lands Post 8.


RACE 4 - (1) ROCK LIGHTS was last seen here in high priced claimers before heading up to The

Maritimes for a few starts (including the Gold Cup and Saucer) - lands in a pretty soft spot for his return,

moves to the owner's top trainer and should be able to just outrun these. (3) BALLERAT BOOMERANG

rallied nicely for 2nd in his first start for a new barn last week - has the back class to build on that, and be a

player tonight. (2) KNOCKING AROUND drops a level after a trio of 3rd place finishes - draws inside,

and seems like a logical threat to land somewhere on the ticket. (8) J B MAUNEY N landed on a brutal trip

in his only local try and had every license to weaken late - gets no luck with the draw as he returns from

Stga. but he goes 2nd time with Lasix, and is better than a bunch of these - definitely a chance to land in the

exotics. (4) ISLANDSPECIALMAJOR hasn't been all that sharp but he should appreciate the drop, with a

chance here at a minor share. (5) ZINNY MACH N tired after a first over try in his only local attempt this

year - may need to be in easier. (6) HES ELECTRIC makes his first local start of the year but he was just 1

for 19 here in the 2 years prior - prefer others. (7) BILBO HANOVER needs a better post in an easier class.


RACE 5 - Tough $50K claiming division: (1) SPORTSKEEPER threw a dud the night he was claimed but

came back with a big try in his next, just missing to a sharp rival last week - steps up a peg to 50s but he's

sharp enough to handle it, especially for a hot barn, from the pole. (2) FOREVER FAV is rock solid week

after week, and a major threat any time he's in the box....and tonight is no exception. (3) UPTOWN FUNK

had a bit of a rough patch but has been back on his game the last few starts, picking up a win, 2nd, and 3rd -

the right trip puts him right on the wire once again. (4) AMERICAN WIGGLE seems to have been

sharpening at PcD and as noted, his barn has really been alive lately - ok for a piece here. (8) TOPVILLE

OLYMPIAN is undeniably sharp, but facing a very tough task from all the way out here - guessing the poor

draw will limit him to a smaller piece this week. (6) ELWELL won his first start back off the layoff this

summer but then didn't win again until last week, at PcD - lands in a tough spot returning to YR, and Post 6

won't make his life any easier. (7) BETTOR AT HIGHTIDE could really use some class relief...and a better

draw too! (5) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N has been severely hampered by Post 8 in his last 3 starts - finally

gets a better draw, but may find these a bit too tough for his new barn.


RACE 6 - (4) MACH DORO A was our selection here on 9/6 (off the barn change) but he just didn't

function that night - must not have taken too long for his connections to figure out the issue because he

came back a week later to QUALIFY in 1:49.4 at Chester....and anything resembling that effort would be

more than enough to beat these. (5) OUR MAJORDAN A went a BIG mile in defeat last time, whacking

out strong fractions before getting run down late by the good trip, dropdown winner - no reason he can't

come up big again tonight. (2) SANTAFES COACH hit the wire with good pace last week from a hopeless

spot, vs. better - he's a good fit here, and should be finishing well late for a good piece. (1) FULLBACK

rarely wins, but he could easily land somewhere on the ticket from a good spot like this. (6) ANTHEM N

was hopelessly blocked in the stretch last week - pretty good bomb to throw in for 3rd/4th. (3) MOTIVE

HANOVER was dull in his last try here and is just 1 for 22 here over the past 2 years - minor share only.

(7) EPIC ACE drops, but gets stuck way outside - wait for a better spot. (8) BENHOPE RULZ N is another

that gets class relief, but in no spot to take advantage.


RACE 7 - Not that it really matters (since he drew Post 7 anyway) but it's pretty unfathomable that winning

machine (7) DRAGON SAID wasn't ASSIGNED Post 8 in this pretty modest Open field - he comes into

his with a 13-10-3-0 record here this year which includes multiple Open victories - clearly the one to knock

off. (3) NANDOLO N was 2nd best to the top choice last time as the 2-1 2nd choice...making it pretty

shocking that HE was allowed to draw for posts 3-5...classy import looms the main danger again. (4)

FRANCO TOTEM N was scratched last week as he raced 2 nights earlier in NJ (where he was a sharp

1:48.1 winner - could have a say here in his current form, especially with the good post assignment. (1)

PAT STANLEY N is on a fine form spree and has a chance to rally late for a piece of this, despite the class

jump. (5) ON THE CARDS N has a 6-2-2-2 local record and seems capable of thriving even at these top

levels - suppose we'll find out for sure tonight. (6) BELMONT MAJOR N transitioned to facing classy

older foes seamlessly, winning both local starts - gets a tough post while stepping up to the top level

tonight, and may have to settle for a smaller piece than he's used to. (8) FUNATTHEBEACH N benefited

from a "fall apart race" last week and was able to rally by late in a watered down Open (after being claimed

the week before) - gets seriously penalized having to draw for the outside, and has insult added to injury

when he lands outside DRAGON SAID - may be looking at a pretty tough trip tonight. (2) THE REAL

ONE has done plenty of damage in this class over the years but doesn't seem nearly sharp enough right now

to be any kind of serious player.


RACE 8 - (5) LEONIDAS A saw his form tail off when separated from his favorite trainer for a few starts

but the pair have been reunited and his last start was more like it - faces much softer tonight, and should be

able to get back to the winner's circle. (3) TOOKADIVEOFFDIPPER was in a no prayer spot last week but

was a winner (at 5/2) the last time he raced at this level - clearly has a big chance to outperform that 20-1

ML price. (2) FUNKNWAFFLES has been a little in and out this summer but when he's "good", he can

hold his own with these - comes into this sharp, and can grab a nice chunk of this. (8) PYRO was 2-1 in the

Open last week but made an early miscue in the pocket and lost all chance (the program line is incorrect) -

faces a major uphill battle from this spot, but is definitely playable underneath at a nice price. (1) CAN B

PERFECT ended up in the pocket last week after a bunch of others pulled but he was unable to capitalize -

he's in with a few classier foes tonight, but maybe the draw can help him grab a piece? (4) SHADOW CAT

is solid right now but also stepping up to face a bit tougher - one of several in here with a chance for a

piece, depending on trip. (6) MAJOR BETTS continues to race well for the Dynamic Duo but may be

looking at a less than stellar trip from this spot - leaning towards others. (7) DANCIN DRAGON figures to

be stuck too far back to threaten tonight.


RACE 9 - (1) WINDSUN RICKY took a while to find his best stride last week but was powerful once he

did - has more than enough back class to handle the jump to NW20000, and the rail should help him get

away in good order - chance to make it two in a row. (3) TITO ROCKS beat this class on 8/9 - had no

chance returning to this level here 2 back (8 hole), but will be a serious threat with tonight's much better

draw. (2) GUMPTION drops, moves back inside, and looks like a good one for the bottom of exotics at that

20-1 ML price. (7) MACH N CHEESE has been struggling lately but he goes back on Lasix tonight and

may not be a bad bomb to at least consider. (6) ROCKAPELO was bet down to 9/5 last week (off the class

drop) but continued to be no factor - he'll take $$ again this week as he drops yet another notch, but the

value remains playing against him....at least until he shows some better signs. (5) SHNEONUCRZYDIAM

ND A really had no excuse last week when outfinished and has been know to disappoint in the past - still,

chance for a piece with this bunch. (4) SO MANY ROADS will sit for as long as he can and look to rally

late - may be able to grab a minor share if things go his way. (8) ROCK THE DEVIL isn't bad right now

but will be coming from well back and just may have too many to pass for even a piece.


RACE 10 - (2) LYONS KING is just one of a zillion horses in this barn that has been beyond sharp for

weeks - his last local starts saw him aggressively handled in the Open before coming up just a little short to

a razor sharp rival -- this new $100K claiming class should be a perfect spot for him. (1) TALBOTCREEK

WHISKEY went a big mile for 2nd 2 back (paced 1:50.3 behind the horse that won last week's Open), then

was trapped too long behind the tiring leader in his last - seems sharp enough right now to be a legit player.

(5) WEONA SIZZLER A had no chance last week after getting stuck following a weak THE REAL ONE -

he won his prior two, and a good trip tonight puts him right there again. (4) FLYING FINN N is on the

cheaper side but he's also razor sharp right now - definitely worth using in exotics. (7) BEACH BOOGIE

brings a 3 race win streak into tonight but Dube will need to find him a trip from Post 7 - would need a

good price to use from out here. (3) CAVIART LUCA used an aggressive start to hold 2nd from the pocket

last week but his overall form has just been "meh" - leaning to others, but the classy veteran would never be

a shock. (6) ODDS ON DELRAY was a huge winner in last, but this is a BIG step up - tough draw, too.


RACE 11 - (3) RAUKAPUKA RULER N was sent off at 2-1 from Post 8 last week but never even

pretended to have any interest - he'll be backed even more heavily tonight...and it's hard to imagine him not

cutting this mile with the move inside...the one to beat. (2) KILOWATT KID N wasn't bad from a terrible

spot in his YR debut then raced very well for 2nd last week - belongs in exotics. (6) MONEYMAN HILL

made over $200K at 2 and 3 but has been experiencing a bit of the typical "4YO blues" so far - definitely

some more encouraging miles in Canada lately, and he ships down to a very live barn for his YR debut -

could make some noise here, at a price. (1) SOMEWHERE FANCY returns from The Maritimes and will

be debuting tonight for one of the most promising young conditioners in the game - classy veteran has

missed time, however, and it's hard to know just how cranked up he'll be for tonight. (4) BETTER

MEMORIES has always been inconsistent, but lately he's just been dull - seems overdue for one of his

form reversals....not a bad night to include underneath. (5) GINGRAS BEACH finally escapes Post 8 but is

still in a tough spot - maybe a minor piece? (7) DECISION DAY fits well with these but the outside draw

may leave him too far back to have any real say. (8) SOHO LENNON A will look very good with a class

drop next week...and hopefully a much better post.

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