The Empire Report – Saturday, September 7, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – NYSS 2YO Filly Pace Final - $225,000
1 (PP6) – BRONX MIXER started off the year well but quickly went the other way – really struggling coming into
this, and the outside draw just makes things even harder
1A (PP7) – SEND IT DOWN SLIM is a talented filly and she was an easy winner in her only local try – she does
seem a notch below the two “big guns” in here, and drawing Post 7 figures to limit her to a smaller piece tonight
2 (PP1) – CHANCEOFLIGHTNING backed up badly at VD last start – if she can bounce back to one of her better
efforts, she’d have a chance to tow along for a piece from this spot 3 (PP2) – THE LAST MARTINI took a couple of starts to find her game but she was a winner in her 3 rd outing, then was able to beat (previously undefeated) barnmate COWGIRL HANOVER at Batavia – was an excellent 2 nd to that
same rival at VD last week, and looms the main danger again tonight.
4 (PP3) COWGIRL HANOVER won her first 5 starts in impressive fashion - she tasted defeat (to stablemate #3)
the next week, but was hurt when that one stole a half in :59.1 and was able to win the sprint to the wire – she came
right back to reverse that decision at VD last week, and looms the one to beat tonight
5 (PP4) - AMERICANBEACHDREAM hasn’t clicked for her current connections and would be a big surprise
6 (PP5) – BLIND DATE HANOVER hails from top connections but does seem badly overmatched in here
7 (PP8) – SHES A STREAKER has raced very well in 4 of her 5 starts but is still without a win – it would be asking
a lot for her to knock of the top ones from Post 8, but she can still grab a good piece, with some trip luck
RACE 2 – NYSS 3YO Filly Trot Final - $225,000
1 – WINNING ALLIANCE started off the year in fine form up in Canada, then shipped down to pick up a win, 2 nd ,
and 3 rd in 3 NYSS races – she feels like she’s tailed a bit recently, and may be looking at only a smaller share today
2 – SEVEN YEAR ITCH just seems overmatched against several of these – the inside draw is her best asset
3 – SENORITA PALEMA was off 3 weeks to her last but carved out the fractions at Batavia and it took a track
record mile from #4 to beat her – she was super winning her Final here LAST year, and deserves plenty of respect
4 – SISTER MARY MAUDE sat the pocket and was able to collar #3 last week in a track record performance – she
sports an incredible 18-8-7-2 career slate, and is obviously a big threat any time she’s in to go!
5 – HIPPIE SHAKE has no wins and just one 2 nd from her 19 career starts – would certainly be a major surprise
6 – SADBIRDSTILLSING won her first start of the year here at Yonkers and while she’s been 2
nd or 3rd several times, she hasn’t won since then – drawing outside may limit her to a smaller piece once again
7 – R MELINA banked $374K in a terrific 2YO campaign and has continued to excel at 3, already earning $340K
(including a recent win in her Hambo Oaks elim.) – she’s probably the most talented of these, but she’s been away
for 3 weeks, draws poorly and did make breaks in 2 of her 4 Yonkers starts – maybe a bit vulnerable at a short price?
RACE 3 – Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot – 1 /16 th miles - $250,000
1 – TIPSY MONI dominated the local mares all year...until her last couple of starts – she may not be coming into
this at her best, and that’ll make it tough taking on a field like this one.
2 – ARI FERRARI J had a big year at 2 and an even bigger one at 3 – he started off this year thriving in the KYSS,
and he won his only local start last week – not much experience facing top OLDER trotters, but he may be up for it
3 – AMIGO VOLO was 2 nd in this race last year, and he’s thrived here in the past – his overall recent form is “good”
and may get even better with Dunn at the lines tonight – live player here if the trip goes his way
4 – VENERATE has a ton of talent, but his tendency towards miscues makes him incredibly frustrating – he came
into last year’s International off a break in the Maple Leaf Trot, and never got into the hunt – he comes into this off
another miscue up in Canada...but he’ll be very dangerous here IF he minds his manners
5 – CECIL HANOVER showed plenty of ability at 3 and picked up 3 recent wins here at 4, before coming up 2nd
best to ARI FERRARI J last week – major test taking on seasoned veterans like these, though
6 – M MS DREAM was the winner of last year’s Miecuna, thanks to a big effort and an excellent steer from Miller –
she started off 2024 at 10-6-4-0, but tired badly in Canada last week after a brutal trip – can she rebound quickly?
7 – TAKE ALL COMERS hung a bit in the lane in last year’s race, and he may have been sharper coming into that
than he is right now – will need to pick things up to threaten here, especially with the outside draw
8 – STORMY KROMER is a local favorite for sure, and the 10YO recently became a millionaire – he’s still looking
for his first win of 2024 however, and this would be a very tough spot to get it!
9 – NOWS THE MOMENT has won a zillion Yonkers races but primarily on the lead – bad draw for him
10 – BLACK MAGIC was only 1 for 18 at 3 but he’s already 5 for 10 as a 4YO, including a perfect 3 for 3 here at
Yonkers (including last week’s Open victory) – he gets a top European pilot (Bjorn Goop), and isn’t a bad bomb!
RACE 4 – NYSS 3YO Colt & Gelding Trot Final - $225,000
1 – NOTTINGHAM has generally been a notch below the division leaders – the rail helps, but probably not enough
2 – VICTOR LASZLO has 5 wins this year but 4 came at the start of the year, vs. easier – he’s been limited to
smaller pieces in his NYSS engagements, and seems destined for more of the same today
3 – SUPER DUPER COOPER has just one NYSS win this year (Buffalo) but has been a good 2 nd a few other times
– he draws inside the other top players, has speed with Gingras, and certainly can be in line for a mild upset
4 – MISTER MELLBY was lightly raced at 2 and only recently has started to blossom at 3 – he just missed at Btva.
2 back, was a winner at Stga. last week, and will surely be forwardly placed tonight – possibility!
5 – THINKER MONKEY generally stays trotting and grabs smaller pieces...but still looking for his first win of ‘24
6 – KEEP ASKING is a talented colt, though perhaps not as consistent as a couple of the others in here – he did fly
home to win at Btva. 2 back, and he’s a viable longshot ...if you think things might get testy up front
7 – WILD TICKET gave SIR PINOCCHIO all he could handle at Tioga recently, and even went off favored against
him last week at Stga. -was no match that day but he picks up Dunn, and that can only help – threat despite Post 7
8 – SIR PINOCCHIO has put together an outstanding year (for long time Yonkers connections!) and couldn’t have
looked any sharper in last week’s Stga, score – he’ll need some trip luck for sure, but has the right pilot to find it!
RACE 5 – MGM Yonkers International Trot – 1 1⁄4 miles – Purse $1,000,000
1 – ECLAT DE GLOIRE is a classy 10 year old that has banked over $1M in his career, but not much of that has
come in the last couple of years – he’ll look to find some of that old magic against this terrific group
2 – IDEAL SAN LEANDRO doesn’t have the credentials of some of the others but he IS sharp, and his trainer has
experience in this race before – we’ll see if Bjorn Goop can coax a big effort against some classier foes
3 – CASTOR THE STAR S seems to be improving with age, and has certainly been sharp in Sweden (won his last
pair, and was recently 2nd to FRANCISCO ZET, who just set a world record last weekend) – upset chance?
4 – JIGGY JOG S has nearly $2.5M in the bank, was 2 nd in last year’s International Trot and is already 4 for 4 to
start off 2024 – gets a good draw for her regular pilot (Dunn), and looms a very big threat today!
5 – LOGAN PARK raced in last year’s Miecuna Trot and wasn’t able to use his best weapon (speed!) – he’ll likely
be more aggressive here, and we’ll see how long he can stick around against this world class field
6 – ITS ACADEMIC put in a big move to the mile marker in last year’s event but wasn’t able to sustain it well
enough into the stretch – he’s had mixed results so far in 2024 (2 wins, and a couple of duds), but he didn’t earn
$2.5M by accident...could be a big player if on his game today
7 – HAIL MARY S got brutalized in the Hugo Abergs Memorial (his last start) but had otherwise been racing very
well just prior to that – he’s earned $1.7M, has a top pilot on board, and could be a legitimate threat here
8 – VERNISSAGE GRIF IT looks to give his trainer back to back wins in this race (won with VIVID WISE AS last
year) – he’s battled the best in Europe for years, and might have a lot more $$ on his card this year if not for some
bad luck – tough post, but worth a look if the price is decent.
9 – GET A WISH DK failed to threaten in last year’s race (tough trip, then broke) and faces another uncertain
journey starting from the back row, behind a longshot – will need some good fortune to get himself in play
10 – PERICULUM was “good “ at 2 and 3, but never really suggested that he could be a “world class” trotter – he
struggled all year in Europe at 4, but something just clicked recently and his last 3 efforts have been outstanding – if
Zeron can negotiate a good trip (starting from the back row), he may prove to be the strong horse in the lane
RACE 6 – NYSS 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace Final - $225,000
1 – AMERITRIC has consistently been a notch below the division leaders most of the year – the rail may help him
follow along for a small share, but probably no more than that
2 – VANDIEMEN BLUECHIP was a good 2YO, just missing in last year’s Final (3 rd) – he’s finished just behind a
few of the top ones in several starts this year, and just picked up his first win of the season in an overnight at Tioga
last week, adding Lasix for the first time – decent value horse for the bottom of exotics
3 – TARANAKI’s wins this year have come in easier overnight events – adds Lasix, but still seems overmatched
4 – BOSTON ROCKS was a dead game winner in his 2YO Final, and has continued to enjoy success at 3 (12-4-6-1)
– he draws inside his main foes, has Bartlett on board (as always), and should be a threat from start to finish
5 – HUNTINGFORCHROME changed barns in July and has been terrific ever since, recently rattling off 3 NYSS
wins – he loses Kakaley (to barnmate HOWLENTHEHILLS) but can still be a big threat, with the right trip
6 – TEXAS HOLDEM’s wins have come vs. much easier – the poor draw certainly won’t help his chances
7 – SPRING BLAKE had some good starts early in the season, tailed of for a while, but was a close 3rd at Tioga last
week in a much improved effort – gets Yannick tonight, and may be a good bomb to consider for exotics
8 – HOWLENTHEHILLS came back a different horse at 3, and comes into tonight having won 11 of his 12 starts
(the lone loss coming here at Yonkers in the Messenger, when he finished 2 nd despite some bad steps in the lane) – it
won’t be easy to overcome Post 8, so he may at least a bit vulnerable this afternoon
RACE 7 – NYSS 3YO Filly Pace Final - $225,000
1 – CAMERICAN doesn’t always bring her absolute best, but has still come up big often enough to bank $170K this
year (and $440K lifetime) – she draws the pole for the leading barn in the nation, and has to be respected
2 – STEPABOVETHEREST hasn’t been at her sharpest recently and meets some very good fillies here – tough spot
3 – PEACE TALKS won last year’s Final (with Dave Miller!) but did go through a rough patch this summer, losing
5 straight as the favorite – raced much better here on 8/15 (off the pace), and put in a big move at Tioga last week
before weakening just a bit when it mattered most - would consider if the price was good enough
4 – SHES EPIC has one NYSS this summer and hit board a couple of other times – not sure she’s good enough to
threaten for the top slot, but a good trip could help her grab a nice share
5 – AVYANNA recently moved to our leading trainer and has absolutely improved – she was hurt badly behind a
quitter at Tioga last week, and is definitely capable of making some noise here...at a good price
6– A FEW CHOICE WORDS moved seamlessly from Excelsior A races to NYSS and has held that form
beautifully – she had both #3 and #1 all over her from the top of the lane last week and still prevailed – look for a
big effort
7 – TARRIFIC has been handled by Bartlett 5X this year and won each start – she’s hitting on all cylinders right
now, and shown that she doesn’t need a perfect trip to win – the one to beat, even from Post 7
8 – HUNTING HULA was a very game winner here on 8/15 after hitting board in a pair of NYSS prior to that – she
did tire badly after giving way at Tioga last week, and now lands all the way outside – very tough assignment
RACE 8 – NYSS 2YO Colt and Gelding Trot Final - $225,000
1 (PP6) – HAPPY JACK B picked up 2nds to SUPER CHAPTER at VD and YR before grabbing an easy win at
Tioga on 8/4– like barnmate GANGSTA TALK he’s been on the shelf since then...but expected to be ready for this!
1A (PP7) – GANGSTA TALK hit board in all 4 career starts including 2 wins (one here at Yonkers) – as noted, he’s
been rested since 8/4, but his barn has never had trouble getting one ready off a bad date – the post is a real concern
2 (PP1) – SUPER CHAPTER was 2 nd at Stga. to a very talented MR MOUTON to start his career, then rattled off 3
straight (easy) victories – won a KYSS on 8/5 in a lifetime best 1:53, but landed on a horrible trip in his next, still a
close 3 rd (behind a pair of nice colts) – the one to beat tonight!
3 (PP2) – CIVILIAN DRONE started his career with 3 solid NYSS tries but made breaks in a pair of Canadian starts
and had to re-qualify – hails from top shelf connections, and could be a big player IF he minds his manners
4 (PP3) – BJMS LIL MAN has bounced around between Excelsior A and NYSS events but done well in both – he
may be a notch below a couple of these, but the good draw (and addition of Bartlett) could help him grab a piece
5 (PP4) – KARINCHAK benefited from the rail and an easy opening half when he scored the upset at Monti 2 back
– in general, probably a bit below the top ones in here
6 (PP5) – VARIEGATED stays trotting, and that has helped him put up a solid 6-0-3-1 record this year – he’d likely
need a few others to falter for a chance at one of the top prizes in here, though
7 (PP8) - MOONSHOT S has never been better than 3 rd , and now has to deal with Post 8
RACE 9 – Aria Invitational Pace - 1 1/16 th miles - $250,000
1 – DESPERATE MAN is 8 for 9 at Yonkers this year, and his “best” effort may have been the lone loss (brutally
parked in the Borgata Final and still 3 rd!) – he’s been hurt by bad luck in most of his big money races this year, and
is due for that to change – Kakaley can work out the winning trip from this spot.
2 – ENERGETIC HANOVER was on an outstanding roll here this spring but hasn’t been the same since a sick
scratch on 6/24 – in need of a big wake up call
3 – WHATS STANLEY GOT A has been very solid lately, but generally a notch below the “better” Open horses –
he may be able to use his speed to grab a good trip here, with a chance to stick around for a decent share (at a big
price)
4 – HELLABALOU benefited from some final turn confusion in the Kane last week and picked up a 4
th...but he
really hasn’t been on top of his game in a while – hard to ever count him out completely, though, as he did win
back-to-back Borgata Finals right here at Yonkers!
5 – DUNKIN was the winningest horse in the nation last year (21 victories as a 3YO) then elevated his game even
more at 4, already winning 9 races THIS year, including the Dan Patch 3 weeks ago – he’s had issues behind the
gate at times, but can be part of the equation here with a clean getaway (as Tetrick takes the lines for today)
6 – VENTURESOME ARDEN N was handled conservatively last week but was still full of pace in 4 th –
he has 9 local victories this year, handles any trip, and isn’t a bad value horse to at least consider
7 – REDWOOD HANOVER lands a tough draw for his Hilltop debut, and takes on classy older foes – tough spot!
8 – ROCKROLL RUNA A has been a bit inconsistent this year, but he recently upset at 68-1 in the McKee, and was
2 nd to DESPERATE MAN on a few occasions – not a bad one for longshot fans, though lots of luck will be needed
9 – COACHES CORNER has developed into a very good 4YO, doing fine work all through the Borgata then
battling hard in big races all over the country (highlighted by his win in the Gerrity) – he wasn’t at his best at Btva.
last week, but he could easily bounce right back, especially starting right behind #1 – playable if the price is fair
10 – ITS A ME MARIO gets a terrible draw, loses Bartlett, and has to be seen as an outsider from this spot
RACE 10 – NYSS 2YO Filly Trot Final - $225,000
1 – MY DEBT COLLECTER was good from the start, but seems to really be coming into her own right now
(setting a Batavia track record with that last blowout) – the one to beat from the pole, and likely a very short price
2 – DWS LADY DIVA seems significantly overmatched at the NYSS level – at least it’s only a 6 horse field
3 – MORNING ANGEL is another that seems better suited at the Excelsior A level – hoping for some minor spoils
4 – CALCULUS RISK has stayed trotting in all but one start, and is always going well at the end – candidate for a
good piece, but will need some luck for a chance at the top prize
5 – BEAUTIFUL SIGHT has ability and tries hard but she’s made a couple of breaks and was locked on a line pretty
badly in that last Monticello start – leaning towards a couple of others
6 – ROYAL MISSION was strong in her NYSS starts, trading decisions with #1 a few times – she won her Peaceful
Way elim. up in Canada, but tired badly in the Final – look for her to rebound and she’s definitely the main
danger...but will also have to overcome the post edge she spots to MY DEBT COLLECTER
RACE 11 – NYSS 2YO Colts and Geldings Pace Final - $225,000
1 – IDEALOFTHEDAY used a nice trip to pick up a 2 nd (here at Yonkers) in his first start, but hasn’t been nearly as
effective since then – needs to be better for a chance at a piece
2 – SILENT WEAPON finally got to avoid both FAST CHOICE and THIRSTY THURSDAY at Tioga, was sent off
the heavy favorite but just didn’t bring his best effort – can grab a piece if he shrugs that mile off and rebounds
3 – FAST CHOICE looked SUPER winning his career debut here on 6/27, took 3 more NYSS events but made an
unexpected miscue at Tioga last start and was out of it – he can be very tough today if that was just a blip, but it does
add at least an element of uncertainty!
4 – THIRSTY THURSDAY was also an outstanding winner in his first lifetime start (Yonkers, 6/27), and his only
defeat this summer came at the hands of FAST CHOICE (at VD) – very dangerous here even if #3 is on his game!
5 – WATCH MY WARRIOR was helped by a beautiful trip when 3 rd last start but overall, has been a bit below the
top ones all summer long – likely looking at only minor spoils
6 – COURTS ON FIRE went a BIG mile here in a career debut that saw him come up 2 nd best to FAST CHOICE –
he’s continued to thrive all season long, though unable (so far) to beat neither #3 or #4 – he does reunite with
Gingras, but that may not be enough.
7 – OOGLEVILLE is 0 for 7 but does have 4 seconds – not sure he can find his way into the hunt from out here
8 – HOLT HANOVER has been solid all year, though usually finishing right behind the top ones – he was dead
game in last week’s Tioga score, but the better ones weren’t in there – ok bomb for 3
rd/4th