The Empire Report - Thursday, September 15, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (2) PRECISE FASHION was sent off favored in his local debut despite drawing way outside -
Stratton found him a nice spot in 3rd, but then elected to NOT pull....and that left him with no chance to be
better than 2nd (which he easily picked up) - faces a few interesting foes tonight, but we'll still give him the
nod to make amends this week. (5) MUSCLE DAN finished 3rd in his local debut, right behind the top
choice - he's eligible to be tighter tonight for his new connections, and could have a big say in the outcome
- should offer some value, as well. (1) CANTSTOP YANKEE was a winner here on 7/14 from a very
similar spot, debuting for a new barn - has a mixed bag of efforts since then, but can be a real threat tonight
if he brings his best game. (3) WALK WITH ME made 16 starts at 2 and already 17 at 3 (mostly at the
Indiana Fairs) - she was their 3YO filly champion this year, compiling a strong 17-8-5-1 record -- should fit
well enough with these to be part of the equation. (4) JULA SILVER STATE hails from a strong barn, but
lost to a lesser rival when 2nd here on 6/23 - willing to include underneath. (8) MAGICAL MAJOR has
been "ok" in 3 local tries - will definitely need some trip luck for even a piece from out here. (7) FLYING
FORMATION tried the half at Freehold last week and made a break - we'll just watch him from Post 7
tonight. (6) THE GREAT WALL is 0 for 15 lifetime and broke in her first Yonkers try
RACE 2 - Good race: (3) DARBY HANOVER lagged at the back with no chance last week, but definitely
looked good coming across the wire - she's held her own with better than these, and may be the one to trip
out in a race that can go a lot of different ways. (2) MIKI ROSE finally won her way out of that "NW9PM"
condition (NW15000) and has to bump up a notch - Bartlett gives her a big vote of confidence (by sticking
with her), and we'll give her plenty of respect too. (1) DC BATGIRL was used hard in the opening quarter
last week and it left her a little light at the end - an easier trip tonight could see her contending for the top
spot....or at least a good piece. (6) TECHYS ANGEL A just missed with a nice first over try here 3 back -
made a very costly break in her next, but rebounded with a career best win at Pocono - if things go her way,
she can be a live longshot. (4) BEST HEAD WEST can never be discounted at this level but she's definitely
not on her best game right now, and Bartlett even opts off to drive #2 - just not a lot of value tonight. (7)
JODY was a very game 2nd last week and is a proven player with this type - just not sure she can find a
manageable trip from this spot. (5) ANNABELLE HANOVER seems better suited vs. a bit easier
RACE 3 - (3) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA clearly isn't close to her best game and ended up stopping badly
after giving way in her last (after changing barns) - she gets in very soft tonight, however, and this could be
a spot where she can come around in a hurry - hard to back her with any real confidence right now, but she
does feel like the one to beat. (4) CALLMEQUEENBEE A beat a similar class at Chester 2 back, catches
an overall soft field for her Yonkers debut and gets Bartlett in the bike - solid chance if the top pick comes
up no good again. (2) VEL DONNA got beat by a mare that never wins last week, but she still raced well -
she fits nicely with these, and belongs in exotics. (1) CHECKERED PAST gets class relief and the rail...a
good combination - she hasn't been sharp, though, so we'll see if she can perk up a bit. (5) DRAGONS
LUCKY LADY picked up a 2nd at Chester and a 3rd here last week, but just hasn't been close to her top
form since returning at 4 - wouldn't be a shock, but the value seems to be in playing against her now. (7)
MILADY DENVER A throws a big one now and then, but it's still hard to believe she lost here 2 starts
back - will need a lot to go her way to threaten from out here. (6) SOUND IDEA was a winner 2 back in a
"fall apart" race, but has otherwise done very little in her other recent starts. (8) WOODMERE SKYROLL
ER tailed off quite some time ago, and has even become hard to steer many weeks - she'll reverse form
eventually, but this doesn't feel like the spot to look for it
RACE 4 - (2) P C FREE WHEELING went a big effort when 2nd from Post 8 two back (off a couple of
recent sick scratches) so it was no surprise to see her easily wire 'em as the 2/5 choice last week - she'll be
heavily favored to take another for the strongest trainer/driver combo around. (4) TRANQUILITY K went
some nice efforts in the Brennan Trotting Series this spring and returns to YR off a trio of solid efforts at
PcD - may be the main danger to the top choice. (5) BACKSTREET PLAYER rallied nicely for 3rd after
adding Lasix 2 back, then was a solid 2nd behind the top choice last week, despite getting a little rough in
the lane (nice job by Siegelman keeping him steady) - would definitely include in exotics once more. (7)
SECRET OR NOT made a costly break in his local debut but made amends last week when a solid first
over winner - gets a switch from Smith to Stratton, but also gets stuck moving from the rail to Post 7 - may
have to settle for a smaller share tonight. (1) JESSIES OUTLAWED had been having a rough 2022 season
before showing a couple of better efforts in his last pair - the good draw puts him in play for a small slice.
(3) STAMPED BY LINDY finished well back at Pocono for a new barn last week - he's capable of better,
and perhaps we'll see it tonight -- willing to throw in for 3rd. (6) EXCHEQUER just seems to come up flat
at the end way too often - looking for some better signs from him. (8) LIVINGONTHERAIL has
disappointed more than he's delivered since arriving at Yonkers - Post 8 won't make things any easier
RACE 5 - (1) UPTOWN HANOVER made her first Yonkers start in this class on 6/30 and was a blowout
winner - mixed bag of tries (vs. better) since then, but draws best for her Hilltop return, reunites with
Bartlett and is the one to knock off (won't offer much value, though). (5) SARAHS LILLY has been facing
some solid mares up at Plainridge and holding her own - should fit well with these, and a good trip could
make her a serious player. (2) HP XANADU won from Post 8 upon arrival from KY but immediately went
sour after that for our leading barn, and eventually changed hands - her lines have been all over the place
since them she's been in a few barns, and raced at a few different tracks....but she DOES look ready for
action off her most recent lines, and is worth considering. (3) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX landed on a
good trip last week and picked up a long overdue victory - faces tougher now, but may still be able to rally
for a small share. (6) SHEIKH YABOOTY N was able to win at the bottom level 2 back, lacked the pop
she needed moving up last week and now bumps up one notch more - minor share only. (7) SPORTS FLIX
found a better effort 4 back to pick up a win but she has struggled in most of her other starts (before and
after that - long way to come from Post 7 tonight. (4) BALFAST N has been away since 6/2 and her
qualifiers don't really hint at readiness - just watching, for now. (8) NORMANS MADELINE doesn't figure
to get near the action from out here
RACE 6 - (6) BABS JANSEN missed the board for the first time in a long time last week, but mostly
because she just got roughed up way too hard for the lead - faces a bit of an uncertain trip again tonight but
since she'll probably be a decent price, we'll go with her on top. (2) NUTTINBUTTHEBEST went through
a rough patch here this spring but came around after adding Lasix, and has been racing (very) well out of
town for the last few months - lands in a very manageable spot for her local return, and is definitely one to
include on your tickets. (3) GAME OF SHADOWS was racing off a bad date on 9/1 but still finished full
of pace for 4th - she won here one level down on 7/21, and was also a head back in 2nd in NW20000 on
6/16 - legitimate threat. (4) COMMANDER CATHY N was too far back to threaten last week but has
otherwise been racing well most every recent start - hard to use on top with her 0 for 24 Yonkers record,
however! (5) TOBAGO TIME has been in and out lately....but at least that's better than when she was just
"out" for quite a while - maybe throw in for 3rd? (8) GALLERIA GAL returned sharp from Monti 3 back
but she moves up in class while also drawing Post 8...and that's just not a recipe for success. (1) SEZANA
N picked up a rare local win off a pocket trip in NW7500 - no factor at all last week in NW10000, and now
she moves up yet again - seems a bit buried here. (7) ASHTINI figures to be too far back to get any kind of
piece here
RACE 7 - (6) CHAKE started off her 3YO campaign with seven straight wins (with a barn change early
on) - finished 2nd to a very sharp SPEED AWAY to see her streak ended on 7/28, then was simply
overmatched in her next - lost all chance at PcD when shuffled out of it (with a lesser pilot) but bounced
back in her next (the TSS Final) to just miss to WHAT SHOULD I GOO...who has been close here in a pair
of tries in the OPEN Mare trot - we'll go with her in her YR debut. (2) STARLIT RAMBO has been facing
some quality foes recently but still managed to be 3rd in his last 3 starts - this is a field where he can be a
bigger threat...and definitely belongs in exotics (4) MUSCLE DYNASTY (who always had ABILITY)
added hopples and qualified sharply at PcD - he won his next start with a lifetime best 1:55.2 mile (in the
slop), but reverted to bad habits with another miscue in his last - he'll be a good price if you think he'll
behave tonight. (3) SEVENSHADESOFGREY just hasn't been all that sharp lately - on his best, he could
be a live player here, but he'll have to find a better game for that to happen .(7) YUCATAN PARTY MAN
has become a solid trotter this year, and shows recent 2nds to FLIP THE SWITCH and X O X O - the issue
tonight is the draw, as he hasn't been nearly as effective from these outside posts. (1) BY A HOFF HANOV
ER has been very consistent, but vs. cheaper - his 1 for 26 record this year is also hard to ignore. (5) DRIB
BLING BI was just "ok" in a couple of local tries, vs. easier - will need to improve to be a player here
RACE 8 - Totally wide open! (8) GINGER TREE LIZ draws her 3rd straight 8 hole but does get a pilot
unafraid to try to send her - she's thrown some big miles this year, and this is a rare opportunity to get a big
price on our leading driver - one of MANY who could take this, depending on how the race plays out. (5)
REACHTHRUTHESKY AS has thrown some clunkers recently, but those are mixed with some very good
lines, as well - she goes back to her favorite pilot tonight, and is worth considering at any decent price. (4)
CHUPPAH ON figures to end up somewhere in a live flow from this spot, and young Braxten Boyd has
shown that he can get one to go - worth using on your tickets. (7) MCMARKLE SPARKLE may be a little
off her best form right now, but it's not like she's racing poorly - since she's a proven OPEN winner, she
surely has to be worth a look dropping to NW30000 - even from Post 7. (1) MORNING HAS BROKEN
really doesn't prefer to cut the mile (much less be used hard doing so), so she deserves a pass for last week -
more than capable of beating these on her best effort. (6) WESTBEACH got really sharp out of town and
brought that fine form back with her, barely missing last week despite a brutally long first over bid - the
only real knock tonight is the draw. (2) MAGICAL MISTRESS was an 11-1 upset winner in this class 2
back, and just took a little too long to kick in last week (just a head back in 3rd) - can easily grab a piece
with the right trip. (3) DRESDEN made an error NOT retaking last week and was left searching for room
through the stretch - she actually BEAT Racine Bell the week before, so she has to have a chance in here -
despite being listed at the bottom (and that's how tightly matched this field is)
RACE 9 - (7) BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N took some $$ for her U.S. debut at Chester, was used hard and
hung around to finish 3rd - lands at the bottom level for her first local try, attracts Bartlett, and catches a
pretty modest group - worth a shot against these. (5) ALWAYS BE COOL rebounded from that miscue 3
back with a pair of close 2nds in her last two starts - Bartlett opts for the top choice, but this mare still
deserves serious consideration. (4) E R HILARY is having a tough season but she looked a little better last
week in her first start back after a freshening - reasonable value horse to take a look at. (3) ALWAYS B
MIMI struggled here after shipping in from Ohio but has found some much better form upstate - Jordan
hops in the bike tonight, and this mare may be ready for a little more success here at Yonkers. (1) SCAND
ALICIOUS has been struggling for sure, but the move inside may make her a bit more competitive- willing
to throw in for 3rd/4th. (8) ALWAYS A MIRACLE was used hard last week but still able to tough out the
victory - she moves outside and loses Bartlett, however, and that figures to hurt her production tonight.
(2) ALMOST KAREN seems pretty cheap but she did with "Irish Joe" last week (at Fhd.) and gets Dube
for tonight - maybe she can stick close with the good draw? (6) BETABCOOL N is 0 for 21 here over the
past 3 seasons (with just one second)