Monday Empire Report

soaofny • August 22, 2022

The Empire Report - Monday, August 22, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (4) BARON MICHAEL has never been one of our favorites but his form has definitely taken a

turn for the better lately, and he raced well from an impossible spot last week - gets Bartlett back on board,

and we're willing to give him a shot tonight. (2) CONBOYVILLE is winless here in 2022 but has been

close many times vs. much better than these - gets major post relief, and belongs on your tickets tonight. (5)

MISTER SPOT A made a miscue last week but he was reclaimed by the barn that he does his best work for

- could easily rebound with a contending effort tonight. (8) R MADDY BLUE CHIP took a while to get

going after being claimed by this crew, but he's clearly racing much better right now (in PA) - faces a

daunting task from Post 8, but some trip luck could see him land somewhere on this ticket. (3) PICARD A

would be a solid threat here on his best, but just seems a bit off form right now - at that 5/2 ML price, there

may be some value looking to go against him tonight. (7) CLASIFIEDMATERIAL raced well in both starts

since arriving at YR, but gets no luck at the draw box - maybe can rally for a small piece? (1) MARL

BANK ROAD is 1 for 14 this year and probably needs to be in a bit easier to be a threat. (6) CAMPORA N

probably needs a cheaper field and better post to be a serious player.


RACE 2 - Tough race! (1) BEACH BOOGIE really elevated his game the last 2 starts...coinciding with his

owner-trainer listing a new conditioner in the program - he steps up to tackle a strong group of 50s, but he

also draws the pole with Brennan and may land on a pretty nice trip - chance for a mild upset. (5) AMERIC

AN BOY N is a perfect fit at the $50K level and perked up with an excellent 2nd last week dropping back

down to this class - solid threat again tonight. (3) MARINER SEELSTER had an outstanding year as a

12YO and is doing even better at 13 - ageless gelding rarely throws a bad one, and is a threat every time

he's in the box. (2) MOONLIGHT SHADOW has raced well many times at this level, and scored last week

over a bit easier - the inside draw gives him a chance at a decent chunk of this. (6) MACH DORO A's only

recent win came vs. much softer, but a live trip gives him a chance at a piece vs. these too. (7) EL JACKO

N will attract attention at the windows just because of the incredible success of his connections - but this

really does seem like a tough spot for him. (8) WEONA SIZZLER A shocked at 120-1 two back but last

week's (sneaky) solid effort showed that it was no fluke - hard to see a way for him into the race tonight,

however. (4) MIKEY CAMDEN gets some post relief but he's still unproven at this level, and has also been

away for 3 weeks - leaning towards others.


RACE 3 - (4) FOR A DREAMER has been sharp since the recent claim, and jogged last week in his first

start back in for $50K - remains the one to knock off tonight. (3) BIG BAD SWAN has been steady lately,

draws well and gets Bartlett on board....can be a threat if the trip goes his way. (5) LINDSEYS PRIDE has

been a very consistent performer for a while, and wired this class from a similar spot 2 back - on the flip

side, he exits a very sharp barn and lands in one that has struggled here this year (2 for 61) - still, willing to

use as long as the price is decent. (7) STEUBEN HANOVER picked up 2nds in his last pair, from off the

pace 2 back and with a pocket trip (behind the stickout winner) in his last - clearly he fits beautifully, but

will need racing luck from out here - consider if the price is juicy enough. (6) PLUMB has always been a

solid player in this class but draws poorly after making a break last week (then recovering nicely) - prefer

others, but she'd really be no surprise. (2) HOBBS has really upped his game since the recent barn change -

hard to say if he can handle tonight's big class jump, but it wouldn't be a shock if he did (still sticking with

the more PROVEN commodities in here, however). (1) ABSOLUT UNCERTENTY gets a pass for his last

(8 hole off a bad date) but it does seem like he's fallen off form - prefer to just observe, for now. (8) GREY

picked up that pocket win 3 back but has done little else recently - at least wait for a better spot.


RACE 4 - (2) OZONE BLUE CHIP is in career form right now and comes into tonight off a pair of

bruising victories - he meets a bunch of solid rivals here, but sometimes you just stick with the hottest hand.

(5) BENJIS BEST saw his 4 race win streak snapped last time but he was still an excellent 2nd to a razor

sharp BARBADOS - he's been away for 3 weeks since then, but this high % barn has done very well with

other horses off similar freshenings - expect another big effort tonight. (3) MOTIVE HANOVER has

obvious excuses in his last pair, and was rock solid in this class prior to that - good one to include in exotics

at that juicy 12-1 ML price. (1) DELIGHTFUL TERROR hasn't won in some time, but he always races

well in this class when the trip is kind...as it could be tonight - another to include in exotics. (4) DON DOM

INGO N had been holding his own at this level and was able to finally get in the win column last week,

helped by the beautiful trip - probably looking at a smaller share here, though. (7) WICHITA LINEMAN is

sharper than he may look, but has been plagued by horrible posts - unfortunately, he's stuck outside again,

and may have to wait another week to show his best. (6) TRACEUR HANOVER certainly hasn't been

"bad" but it does seem that he may have leveled off a bit in his last few - outside draw doesn't help. (8)

ROCKATHON seems like the outsider...literally and figuratively.


RACE 5 - (7) PEACE OUT POSSE has been sharp vs. (much) better, including a sneaky good try last

week - the obvious concern is Post 7, but he can overcome that with some trip luck...worth using as long as

the price is fair. (5) OUR CORELLI N looked like a winner through the stretch last week before taking a

bad beat at the wire - his recent form is excellent, and maybe Stratton can get him over the hump tonight.

(1) WATERWAY has been having a solid season, is sharp right now and his barn has really started to come

to life recently - would definitely include him on some tickets. (6) OAKWOODINITOWINIT IR can be

very inconsistent from week to week - was horrible 3 back after going OFF Lasix, but his last pair were

much better - definitely capable of beating these, but he's just 1 for 24 at Yonkers, and figures to attract

decent $$ tonight - better value with others, on top. (8) SAULSBROOK HERO continues to race well week

after week, but he has limited options tonight from Post 8 - will need things to really fall apart up front to

contend for one of the big prizes tonight. (4) BIG SIR hasn't been bad, but probably needs to find an easier

spot to contend for a win photo. (2) GAMBLINGTERROR weakened in the pocket last start and has been

away 3 weeks since then - prefer others. (3) SO MANY ROADS will save ground and hope to rally late for

a minor share.


RACE 6 - (4) SKY CASTLES dropped down to the 75s from the Open last week and went a strong first

over try, coming up a close 2nd to a horse that just recently joined our winningest barn - should be able to

find an easier trip tonight, and that would stamp him as the one to beat. (1) ALTUS HANOVER beat this

class 3 back, and was a solid 4th last week (in the same race the winner finished 2nd) - could be the main

danger from the pole. (2) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN was a pocket winner 2 back but reverted to his

more typical form last week, tiring in the latter stages - always a good one to include underneath. (5)

HOMER HALL would look a lot better in for $50K, but a live trip would at least put him in the hunt for a

small share against these too. (3) HAMMER TIME is 3 for 3 since a recent barn change but despite

winning his local debut last week, he really didn't look all that convincing - we'll see if tonight's class jump

is just a bit too ambitious. (6) LOOK IN MY EYES held form nicely for this barn after the recent claim but

made an early miscue last week and had trouble landing after that - prefer to just watch tonight. (7) BIZET

seems to have bounced back from a brief rough patch , but draws poorly for the first timer in ages - may not

be able to get into the hunt tonight. (8) PLEASURE SEEKER will get a more serious look when he's in a

bit cheaper...and draws better!


RACE 7 - (6) NONE BETTOR A has been very solid for a while, and obviously gets a pass for last week

(7 hole, with his owner taking him out for a spin) - gets Bartlett at the controls tonight, and we'll hop on his

team. (3) WESTERN JOE was outbrushed in a hot 3rd panel last week (by #7) but never quit, less than a

length back at the wire - he's in a good way these days, and may be able to make his presence felt tonight,

even moving up in class. (2) ULTIMAROCA continued to thrive even after winning his way out of the

"NWPM" classes, and has developed into a very nice 4YO - his current out of town lines suggest he can

have a major impact in his Hilltop return. (7) PRETTY HANDSOME was an outstanding winner last week,

launching a long first over bid to the half, then pacing a sub-:27 third panel to outblitz WESTERN JOE to

3/4s, staying strong to the end for the victory - might have given him a longer look for the top slot had he

not drawn so poorly. (8) ILL DRINK TO THAT is sharp right now, but likely facing a very tough trip from

out here - still a chance for a small piece, though. (4) ROCK THE DEVIL brought his best last week, and

was a good looking front end winner over lesser - he'll probably have to settle for a smaller share against

these, however. (5) VELOCITY KOMODO is a very honest performer, but may find a few of these a little

tougher than he'd like to face right now. (1) AMERICANLIGHTNINGN likely bled when he finished up

the track 2 back, and was no factor adding Lasix last week - draws best now, but loses Bartlett and may not

be up for a top effort right now.


RACE 8 - (1) SMOKIN BY N went on a nice run after the 7/8 claim, making it all the way up to the Open

(where he wasn't bad) - faltered on the lead last week, but we'll see if he perks right back up joining a barn

that wins over 50% of the time with horses entering their barn. (2) AIR FORCE HANOVER has been

really consistent lately, hitting board 4 straight times (and 6X in his last 7 starts) - could land on a good trip

here, and that would make him a candidate for a big piece. (4) BARBADOS has been razor sharp, and can

be forgiven for not being able to run down last week's winner (#8) after that one got over the half in a

ridiculous :58 seconds - remains a major threat. (5) HEISMAN PLAYER has been a very good $75K

claimer, and the jump to the $100K class isn't all that concerning - a good trip could land him a nice piece

for his new connections. (3) PAT STANLEY N moves inside but Jordan still opts for #2 - maybe he can

land a decent enough trip to grab a small piece with Cory? (7) MACH N CHEESE did a really nice job

holding 2nd last week after the winner obliterated the field - terrible draw prevents him from being picked

any higher, but some racing luck may help him land a share. (8) JOESSTAR OF MIAA somehow was over

the half in :58 last week (racing for $32,500) and the race was basically over - he's a strong player at this

level, but definitely seems vulnerable with the move all the way outside. (6) THE WILD CARD looked

very good winning 2 straight but wasn't quite the same moving up in class last week.


RACE 9 - (3) WALKINSHAW N has 11 local wins over the past 2 years and is still a tough customer when

he lands in the right spot - was a winner (as the favorite) the last time he dropped down to this level, and

may be able to pull off that same feat tonight. (1) GARDYS LEGACY A finished up the track last week

but it's probably a good sign that he drops right back in the box - he should really appreciate both the class

drop and move inside, and can be a serious threat on anything close to his best effort. (5) SAUVIGNON

BLUECHIP showed a ton of promise in an abbreviated 2YO season - never really got things going at 3, but

has been hitting all on cylinders in recent weeks, following up his win here on 6/14 with 3 sharp starts at

Monti - seems capable of being part of the equation with these as well. (6) SETH HANOVER didn't show

up at all for his new barn two back but did finish with alert pace for 4th last week - worth using in exotics at

that 20-1 ML price. (7) EHRMANTROUT has been good for a while, and is a good fit at this level - gets no

luck with the draw, however, and that might slow him down a bit tonight. (4) MACHEASY A is good right

now, but he's also taking a double jump off last week's 2nd place finish - maybe a minor piece? (8)

STONEBRIDGE DUEL only made 7 starts at 3 but he's been racing regularly at 4, and has enjoyed a solid

summer campaign (mostly in PA) - not sure how much damage he can do from out here, though (perhaps

check the tote board?) (2) L DEES JACK LOPEZ is racing himself back into shape - maybe he can be a

bigger player tonight?


RACE 10 - (2) EMOTIONS RICHES didn't fire in his last start (vs. the 75s) but most of the barn was on

empty that night - he drops down to a pretty soft $50K division tonight, and that may get him back to the

winner's circle. (3) BLUEBIRD JESSE was well backed against FOR A DREAMER and came up a clear

2nd best in his first try at this level - Bartlett stays on board, and he should be a very live player once again.

(6) ALL CHAMPY was a very sharp winner 2 back despite racing off an "injured" scratch, then was 2nd

best to a streaking HAMMER TIME last week - should be one of the main players tonight, as well. (1)

KANDY SWEET would normally be rated even higher in a spot like this, but she was just scratched sick

and has missed 3 weeks...making her a little chancy for tonight. (4) MUSKINGUM seems better suited to

race with a bit easier, but draws well enough for a chance at a small piece. (5) FASHION FOREVER has

been picking up minor shares at best recently, and figures to find himself in that same boat tonight. (7)

PREACHER MAN has been ok lately, but faces a daunting task from Post 7 - keep an eye for the future.

(8) P L OSCAR got parked 2 back then broke in his last - draws Post 8 for tonight, and may be content just

to get a clean mile in.


RACE 11 - (3) ARRHYTHMIC SURGE has done good work since being claimed in May and the barn has

done exceptionally well since joining forces with Bongiorno around that same time - returns off a nice win

at Chester, and should offer some good value in the finale. (6) FAST N FIRST was absolutely hammered at

the windows for his 2nd start off the layoff and raced BIG, coming up 2nd best after being used hard -

could easily be the one tonight. (2) BALLERAT BOOMERANG somehow was over the half in :58.3 last

week as the winningest trainer/driver team at Yonkers basically just stole another one (somehow the other

drivers keep letting this happen) - may be able to beat these too, but it can't possibly be as easy this time.

(1) ROCKIN JUKEBOX drops down to 50s, draws the pole and should be able to stick pretty close all the

way - use underneath. (7) ELWELL is always dangerous in this class but he was off 3 weeks to his last, and

now has missed 3 weeks since that start - may be at a little disadvantage here. (8) MACINTOSH N fits well

enough, but the 13YO has Post 8 to contend with. (4) SPOILERONTHBEACH has been struggling with

easier - seems overmatched here. (5) FINE DIAMOND was "distanced" in his last 2 starts - pass for now.

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