The Empire Report - Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (2) FIREINSIDEMYVEINS was 7-0-0-0 as a 2YO but the Canadian invader has been doing
much better at 3, and ships down off a Gold Leg ONSS 2nd place finish over the Western Fair half miler -
he lands in a barn that routinely picks these horses up significantly and even though this is a pretty good
NW4 field, we'll go with him on top. (3) CRESCENT BEAUTY won a zillion races at 2 & 3 at the Indiana
Fairs and is off to a great start since shipping East, winning at Pocono and crushing here at Yonkers- should
be able to handle the move up to NW4 without much trouble. (5) CASTLE HOUSE's last win was certainly
good, but the big margin was because the 1/10 favorite (PENELOPE J) bolted on the final turn - if he sticks
to trotting, he can be a part of the equation here too. (6) PENELOPE J, as noted, just bolted on the lead as
the 1/10 favorite last week - it may have just been the off going, but she lands in a tougher field tonight and
may be a bit vulnerable right now (or she may just come back and win tonight at a much better price)! (4)
THE BOSS MAN has been a steady performer, gets major post relief but does seem a notch below the main
players in here - maybe 3rd? (7) R DESIREABLE LADY was a nice 3rd in her local debut but a weak 4th
last week - tough spot, even if she brings her best. (1) HALLWAY BABE seems a bit overmatched in this
tough NW4 field.
RACE 2 - (5) KEYSTONE PHOENIX is the ultimate question mark tonight - after a LONG run of scary
good starts, he finally threw a dud 3 back in 75s - dropped to 50s and responded with a nose loss 2nd, but
then was an empty 6th after that - has been away for 3 weeks and plummets down to 30s for tonight - does
he crush 'em, or has a wheel just fallen off completely....suppose we'll find out tonight! (1) PICARD A
perked up with a front end jogburger 2 back (at the bottom level) but was a "meh" 3rd last week - he's the
one that figures to be sitting behind the top choice...possibly getting left in the dust, and possibly rolling on
by that potentially vulnerable foe. (2) THOR AND DR JONES has been just a "piece getter" in most of his
recent starts but he's looking at an easy trip from this spot, with a chance to take home a chunk. (4) AINTN
OBETTOR A is just 1 for 27 this year but does rally for pieces at times - ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (6) URBAN
RENEWAL hasn't been "bad" lately, but he's been way too sluggish early in the miles (leaving him too far
back to do any real damage) - one of several with a chance for a piece, with the right trip. (7) SULLIVAN
has been good since joining this barn 5 starts back, the only blemish being when he got too hot cutting the
mile and folded 4 starts back - the major knock here is the post, however. (3) FOX VALLEY INFERNO
was 3rd last week, mostly thanks to a very easy trip - may not get as fortunate tonight, however
RACE 3 - (1) WAITFOREVER N was handled conservatively from Post 7 in her U.S. debut (but finished
well) then picked up solid front end wins in her next 2 starts (as the odds on choice, both times) - she looks
for 3 in a row here, and the road to the winner's circle still goes through her. (3) COMMANDER CATHY N
left hard last week but had to back off to 3rd, finishing solidly for 3rd behind the top choice- her inability to
pick up a win in the U.S. has been well documented, but it's not like she doesn't race well most weeks - use
in exotics. (2) LOVE THAT SMILE landed on a tough trip from Post 6 last week and really wasn't a bad
4th - she's shown that she fits nicely with these, and it wouldn't be a shock to see her pull off a mild upset.
(4) FIND HAPPINESS struggled in her Lexington starts but was better prior to that, including a close 2nd
here on 7/13 - prefer a couple of the rivals to her inside, but she may still be able to make some noise here.
(8) JACANA gave it a good try for 2nd last off the barn change - she fits with these for sure, but will need
some trip luck from out here to threaten for the top prize. (5) SO FIA LOLITA tired badly two back after
cutting a hot clip, then had no pop at all from off the pace in her last - she needs to get back to her better
efforts if she hopes to have any real say here. (6) GABBYS GIRL wasn't terrible last week, but she'll need
to show more than that before getting any more serious consideration. (7) BEST KEEPSAKE picked up
only minor shares in her last couple, and now lands Post 7
RACE 4 - (4) BACKSTREET PLAYER is 6-1-2-2 since arriving and was a good 4th in that lone off the
board start - he handles any trip, and we'll give him a shot at the mile upset here. (1) NICE GUY EDDIE
was a winner (at 4/5) in his local debut but it probably wasn't his best effort - he'll likely be a very short
price once more, and he's certainly the one to beat...but maybe he's just a bit vulnerable now. (2) WEE JILL
has 2 breaks in her last 5 starts but was a close 3rd in all 3 starts that she stayed trotting - she's worth
considering here if the price is juicy enough. (6) PRECISE FASHION was a conservative 2nd in his local
debut - he was hammered to 2/5 the next week and just got the job done, then was a "meh" 4th last week -
draws poorly tonight, and the guess is that he'll be looking at a smaller piece. (3) LIVINGONTHERAIL
hails from a live barn, and gets post relief from his last local (8 hole) try - he really hasn't been overly
impressive in his local starts, however, and seems destined for only a minor piece here. (8) TAP ME BLUE
CHIP left from Post 8 in her last local try but tired in the stretch after cutting the mile - hard to know what
Bartlett's plans might be for tonight, but she's in a tough spot regardless. (7) EXCHEQUER finished up a
little better in his last couple, but another bad draw will likely leave him waiting for a better spot. (5)
VENDOR BILL has just one start since 8/18 and made a break in there
RACE 5 - (3) ODDS ON DELRAY wasn't able to thrive at the $40K level he was claimed for on 8/6 but
he's settled in quite nicely at this $25-30K price - definitely not a "cinch", but certainly deserving of top
billing in here. (5) MACHIAVELLI really hit the skids for a few starts but that last effort (despite the
horrendous trip) suggests he might be ready to start heading back in the right direction - not a bad week to
use him on some tickets. (4) CLASSIFIEDMATERIAL was incredibly well backed last week considering
his recent form, and he definitely did race a lot better for his new barn - another that could be part of the
equation tonight. (1) MISTER SPOT A bumps up a notch off last week's claim and is clearly in solid
format the moment - he'll no doubt be given every chance to succeed from this spot, but the possibility of
him being OVERdriven exists as well - be careful about taking too short a price. (2) LUCID DREAMS has
been racing well out of town and gets Bongiorno for his local debut - can see using him in exotics. (7)
TEXAS TERROR N finally woke up and delivered a sharp try last week after a series of poor efforts - the
double jump and Post 7 may really hurt tonight, however. (8) SWAGASAURUSREX just figures to be too
far back to do much damage from this spot. (6) MISTER HAT could use a class drop...and better post
RACE 6 - (2) WALK WITH ME had a strong season on the Indiana Fair Circuit then brought that good
form east with her, racing very well in both Yonkers starts - she has a pair of 2nds coming into tonight, and
perhaps this is the spot where she can get over the hump, and get her picture taken. (3) CANTSTOP YANK
EE is prone to the untimely miscue but he's also shown more than enough ability to be a threat with these
when he minds his manners - gets a new pilot for tonight, and Stratton does seem to get along well with
these types - possibility. (1) JULA SILVER STATE raced better when 3rd last week, and her barn seems to
be heating back up (including a sharp winner in the last race on Tues. night) - include in exotics. (5) MUSC
LE DAN has been "ok" since arriving from Indiana, and did make a nice recovery last week after an early
miscue - another one to include underneath. (4) CHAPERIDGE figures to do really well after the recent
barn change but he could only produce a pair of 4ths in his 2 recent local starts - needs to be better to
contend for one of the top prizes. (6) SAID N DONE AS has been racing "ok" out of town but draws poorly
in a solid field for his local debut, and we're leaning towards others. (7) STARLIT THISWANMAN had a
promising local debut last week but draws horribly tonight, and may have to wait for a better scenario. (8)
MAGICAL MAJOR draws horribly yet again, and looking at only a minor share at best
RACE 7 - (3) HUNTRESS looked like a stickout in her Yonkers debut (based on her Iowa lines) and she
certainly didn't disappoint, crushing her rivals with a sharp front end mile on a night when the track wasn't
particularly fast OR speed favoring - figures to have no problem taking care of business here either. (2)
ADDISON SEELSTER was sent off even money last start, had things all her own way and still lost to a
rival that came into that race with an 0 for 34 career record - that being said, she still seems the most likely
to complete the exacta behind the top choice. (5) BROOKLYN BLUES was taken under a hard hold early
on last week and that might have hurt her a bit - eligible to be better in her 2nd local start...and maybe add
some value to the exotics. (8) AMERICAN BEACHBABE totally lost action on the final turn last week in
the midst of her first over bid - she did finish pretty well in the lane after smoothing out, and a quick start
tonight would give her a chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (1) PINE BUSH LOVELIFE is probably
a bit better than her lines might suggest - she draws best, and that may help her earn a small share. (4) NOT
SO EVIL just hasn't thrived here at all - a small piece isn't out of the question, but she won't be offering any
value. (7) ODDS ON HARMONY hails from a top barn but just hasn't clicked at all in 3 local starts. (7)
MYMONSTERSAREREAL just seems awfully cheap based on her Fhd, lines
RACE 8 - (2) VELVET STYLE was a solid 3YO this year and did very good work at Yonkers - he showed
last week that he CAN leave the gate a bit, and it's hard to ignore the post relief he gets for tonight - this is a
pretty solid NW6 field, but we'll still give this guy the edge. (4) VALI HANOVER was 3rd at PcD behind
the talented DELAYED HANOVER 2 back, then finished with good, "sneaky" trot from an impossible spot
here last week - definitely a good "value horse" to consider. (8) QUINCY MARKET hadn't been clicking in
recent weeks but turned in a big effort in his last - wish he had drawn a bit better, but will still give him a
look if the price is big enough. (5) WILY WALLY has ability for sure, but hit a rough patch recently -
adding Lasix didn't solve the issues in his last, but maybe the 3 weeks off will help his cause for tonight -
not impossible. (7) TITANS HOPE stays flat, CAN leave well and gets a pretty significant diver change for
tonight - willing to include underneath. (1) DRIBBLING BI has been picking up smaller pieces only in
recent YR starts - draws best here, but is also off a bad date....mixed feelings. (3) SPUNKINSROC
KETMAN has a few good recent PA starts, gets a good driver change and may not be a bad bomb for
3rd/4th. (6) MUSCLE DYNASTY has been behaving himself lately, and rallying well most weeks - may be
a little too far out tonight, but would still throw in for 3rd/4th.
RACE 9 - (5) PREMIER SWEETALKER has shown ability since arriving from Canada recently but also
had trouble hitting a clean pace in her first couple of starts - she looked much better last week (with her
trainer at the lines) and now goes back to our leading driver...if she's that smooth tonight, she'll be very
tough in here. (1) CLEAR THE WAY has found herself sitting too far back for weeks, but that shouldn't be
a problem tonight - will be waiting in the wings should the top choice falter. (2) FOX VALLEY CACHET
is only 1 for 12 this year but she's been hitting board every week - include her underneath, for sure. (3)
MISS DOTTIE MAE was able to sit closer to the pace last week and that resulted in a solid 3rd place finish
- chance for similar tonight. (4) WINDY MICKI was a winner here 4 starts back but it was a pretty "ugly"
win - she returns from Pocono and races on Lasix for the 2nd time tonight, so we'll see if she can grab
herself a piece of this. (6) TONYS MOM was placed first 2 back when the top choice beat her, but was
disqualified - her overall form is just ok, and we're leaning towards others tonight. (8) ROBMOTION
BLUE CHIP goes for a new barn but draws all the way outside - will just watch, for future considerations.
(7) TAVA tends to really struggle from these outside slots