The Empire Report- Thursday, January 13, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (6) SLY ELEANOR N beat similar up in Canada this summer - has been freshened up, qualified
sharply (twice), and joins one of our most powerful barns for her local debut...solid chance in tonight's
opener. (1) CHUPPAH ON just never clicked after being claimed for $50K in November, but now joins a
(small) barn that was improving horses dramatically over the past few months - expect to see a major wake
up tonight, although you can also expect her to be pretty heavily backed. (3) COOLNCALCULATING N
had a useful start at Chester off the qualifier and lands in an (overall) soft bunch for her YR debut - decent
chance to grab a piece of this. (7) SANDYS BEACH wasn't sharp at the end of the year so perhaps the few
weeks off will help her - chance to rally for a piece? (5) OLIVIA CAMDEN GB was short in a pair of PA
starts after returning from a long layoff...we'll see if she's a little tighter tonight. (8) TELL ME A JOKE
usually comes alive when down at the bottom level, but she draws Post 8 after several weeks off and may
need to wait for a better spot. (2) NARINA HANOVER is off a bad date (and scratch) and just seems a bit
overmatched. (4) CRYSTAL SPARKLES N only raced 9X last year...and failed to hit board in any of them
RACE 2 - (6) YOU WILL BE QUEEN has compiled a strong 5-1-3-1 local record and has the benefit of a
start last week in NJ (where she just missed by a nose) - deserves the nod with the conditioning edge she
has over these. (2) CREDIT CON has 3 wins and 2 seconds from his last 5 starts, and has been a rock solid
player in this class - could be the main danger if he's on his toes after the winter break. (7) SHADRACK
HANOVER had been doing excellent work in PA after a December barn change, but did make a break (on
the lead) in his last - draws horribly for his local debut, and that could limit his output tonight...but at that
20-1 ML price, one could at least make a case for including him. (4) STORM BRINGER seems a bit below
these but does debut tonight for top connections - we'll see if he can improve enough to be a player. (1) BIG
MONEY HONEY was a steady performer after returning to YR in Oct. - he did make a break in his final
start of the year, though, and does catch a tough field for tonight...prefer others. (5) AWESOME TRIX
showed that the ability is there with that nice win (vs. cheaper) on 12/9, but that effort is sandwiched
between a pair of miscues - may be handled conservatively in her 2022 return. (3) WISHFUL MAR did
better than his 99-1 odds predicted two back, but failed to build on that in her last - prefer to just observe,
for now.
RACE 3 - (4) GREENHILL HANOVER was picking up pieces with better here late in the year - kept
sharp with a couple of nice tries across the river, and that may give her the edge in what looks like a pretty
wide open race on paper. (2) SHECANDANCE N was picking up pieces vs. the $50K claimers here back in
Nov - she was 0 for 17 at Yonkers in 2021, however, so don't take a short price if considering her for the
top slot. (6) SCANDALICIOUS hadn't been a factor vs. better in her last few starts of the year but can now
start dropping, as most of the $$ has dropped off her card - not sure if tonight will produce the wake up call
she's looking for, but it wouldn't be a shock to see her show up with a much better effort. (1) BYE BYE
MICHELLE drops to a level where she can usually have a say - if her connections have her on her toes off
the hiatus, she can definitely be a live player from this spot. (7) SOMEBEACHSOMEFRA is a solid YR
performer and definitely fits with this bunch - not sure if Stratton will be able to get her in play from out
here, however. (3) IDEAL HANNAH has been ok since the recent barn change, but moves up in class after
missing time, and may struggle a bit tonight. (5) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX does her best work vs. softer
- wait for a better spot. (8) ANNE BONNEY N can be a player with these on her best effort, but Post 8 (off
a month) will probably leave her waiting for a better scenario.
RACE 4 - (4) THE FUN MARSHALL has remained tight racing in NJ and ships in sharp, with a win and a
2nd in her last pair - she's Bartlett's choice, and may just be tighter right now than her main foes. (3) ELLA
GATOR has 2 recent wins at this level, and was better in her last start of the year than her line may suggest
- that 1/8 qualifier should have her ready for tonight, and she looms the main danger. (7) LADYBELUCKY
TONITE used a fine form spree to earn her way up to the Open in October, and she hasn't embarrassed
herself at all at higher levels than this - she only has ONE start in 2 months, however, and that may leave
her at a major disadvantage for tonight. (2) ROBYN CAMDEN can be a big threat at this level when on her
game, but she just didn't seem all that sharp (at Stga) before the winter break - leaning towards others. (1)
IRON MISTRESS was sharp in her last 3 starts before the break, but vs. much softer - maybe the rail draw
can keep her close enough to take home a minor piece? (6) DBLDELITEBRIGADE N just hasn't been
close to her top form in a while, and draws outside for her 2022 debut - prefer others. (8) SHELLIE DE
VIE can definitely contend with these but she draws Post 8 off a month, and may not be ready to deliver her
best just yet. (5) PAIGES GIRL is generally camera shy with cheaper than these
RACE 5 - Tough race! (6) STRIKING GENSON had a solid 15-5-4-0 3YO season in Ohio - he's been
away since 12/6 but he lands in a very sharp local barn, adds Lasix, and could be worth a shot at that 15-1
ML price (in what shapes up as a wide open affair). (3) IDENTITY POLICE is also moving to a high %
local outfit, is listed at 12-1 ML, and note that nice effort on 9/18 at Fhd. -- the one time he had a top catch
driver. (5) BLANK SPACE AS was really getting better when last meet ended, blocked with trot 3 back
then winning his last pair - we'll see if he can continue to get better in the new year. (7) GRAFENBERG
definitely has some ability, but tends to be his own worst enemy at times - tough spot, but maybe can rally
late for a piece? (4) EXCHEQUER made a costly break in his last start of 2021, but was racing well prior to
that - has the ability to be a player here, but hard to know how tight he'll be after the winter break. (8)
GREG has disappointed more often than he's delivered in his 9 local tries - hard to like his chances from
Post 8, off a month. (2) SEARCHING FOR YOU won a couple recently at Chester, but does seem below
many of the main players in here. (1) CHROME PACKAGE is 1 for 46 lifetime, and has lost many times at
the (cheaper) NW2 level
RACE 6 - (4) MACHNHOPE was last year's Matchmaker winner, and the 7YO returns to Yonkers after a
brief freshening, and solid (NJ) qualifier - wouldn't say this is an "easy" spot, but she certainly deserves top
billing with the good post position. (2) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL A actually beat the top choice in that
qualifier, and has displayed solid ability when she shows up in the right move - could be a legitimate player
if she brings her best game. (8) ALEXA SKYE won all of HER Matchmaker legs last year, but was just an
"ok" 4th in the Final - makes her YR return off a sharp score at The Swamp, but that was almost 4 weeks
ago AND she draws Post 8 - should still be able to make some noise in here, but may have to settle for a
smaller piece from this spot. (1) BETTORS HEART N should end up with a decent trip (thanks to the
draw), and that might be enough to help her take home a minor share. (3) CORAL BELLA was razor sharp
in her 3 starts after the $12500 claim (11/18), and probably wishes the meet wasn't ending - faces a tough
field in her 2022 return, and we'll see if that stellar form is still holding up. (5) BETTERB CHEVRON N
picked up a 2nd and 3rd to close out the year - returns at a higher level, and we're leaning to others for
tonight. (6) ROCKNROLL ANNIE is another than ended 2022 in fine form....but tonight's spot (off a
month) may leave her waiting for a better scenario. (7) PRAY THE ROSARY seems too far out to have any
say - look for her in the next couple of starts as she starts dropping in class.
RACE 7 -(7) TUESDAY MORNING, like so many before her, improved by leaps and bounds after joining
forces with the "Super Siblings" - she's jogged in all 3 starts since being acquired by last year's leading
training tandem, and may even offer a decent price in her YR debut (because of the draw) - worth a shot.
(2) ALTUS HANOVER has raced well in a few local starts, and could be the beneficiary if things become
hotly contested up front - good value horse to consider. (5) TOKYO SEELSTER was cruising along on the
lead in his local debut when he suddenly got steppy on the final turn and went offstride - rebounded with a
nice score at Chester, and probably deserves a chance to make amends tonight. (3) BELIEVER jogged in
his only local try, albeit against softer - have a feeling he'll be able to hold his own with these too, and
should be included in exotics. (4) VINNY DE VIE always hinted at having more ability than he was
showing, and his last couple out of town suggest he may finally be starting to click - willing to include
underneath. (1) ONEMORESWAN is 4 for 4 (all jogburgers) since a recent acquisition, but will be facing
much tougher in his local debut - will have to prove that he can trot with this caliber as well. (6) KANDY
SWEET does her best damage on the lead...and it seems unlikely that she'll be there tonight
RACE 8 - (3) LIT DE ROSE tasted defeat at Yonkers for the first time in her last start before the break, but
raced just as big as she did in 3 prior victories - if she's ready to roll off the winter hiatus, she'll be a handful
with the inside draw. (6) DRAGON ROLL missed by a nose in her final start of the year, ending 2021 with
an outstanding 33-12-10-6 record ($283K) - if SHE comes back as sharp as she left, that would stamp her
as the main danger. (2) MYSTICAL CARRIE is likely a notch below the top pair, but could be next in line
should those 2 falter (with the time off). (1) JODY shipped in on 12/1 and proceeded to register 3 straight
wins over cheaper - she'll be tested for class tonight, but the inside post assignment may help her to be an
up close player. (4) DELITFULCATHERIN N earned her way up to the Open level and was a decent 5th in
her first try - we'll see if she's able to be a weekly presence with these, or if she'll need to be in a bit easier.
(5) ROCK N PHILLY didn't function in her first start off the claim but did qualify back decently - have a
feeling she'll need to be in softer before having any big impact. (8) WESTBEACH failed to get close in her
first Open try and tonight's draw will likely put her in the same boat. (7) ANNABELLE HANOVER lands
Post 7 for her YR debut and hasn't raced in 6 weeks - pass for now
RACE 9 - (3) PERRON only has 3 career wins but he made them pay off (one being in the Ohio Sire
Stakes Final at 2, and a Currier and Ives win at 3....helping him to $333K in career earnings) - he's really
supposed to handle this modest bunch with ease...but since he did just fail up in Stga., don't be too quick to
unload tonight at a short price! (2) SPELL CUTEYPIE jogged at Chester off the barn change, then rallied
for 3rd the next week - logical one to use if looking to beat the top choice. (5) MNEMONIC was 2nd in her
first local try, and able to get up in time to win her next - definitely capable of grabbing a decent chunk here
as well. (7) HOPE SO has disappointed so far in her 3 local starts (including 2 breaks), but still can beat a
bunch of these...IF she behaves. (4) REAL MCCOY was a so-so 2nd in his only local start - will need to be
sharper to be a threat tonight. (6) DUKE OF LINDY gave the longshot fans a thrill on 12/9 when he cut the
mile at 135-1...before giving way and tiring - seems a bit below the main players. (1) SQUABLE was dull
to end his 2021 season - we'll see if a few weeks off helps him at all. (8) WORLDSSTONECOLD AS was
no factor in 3 Yonkers starts and now draws Post 8.
RACE 10 - (7) WOODMERE SKYROLLER ships down from Canada and shows enough speed to suggest
that Zeron may be able to send her out of there, despite Post 7 - her new barn usually does well with these
types, and the price should be good enough to make her worth a look. (3) SEA CHANGE N was 1st or 2nd
in an incredible 27 of 46 starts last year (2-1-0-1 here at Yonkers) - with all those trips to post she may
really appreciate the 3 weeks off she just got...one to consider. (1) CABOWABOCUTTIE was winless in 23
starts last year but grabbed 3rds in her last 2 starts before the winter break - good one to include
underneath. (2) SANDY WIN picked up a win and a 2nd at this level back in December, and that qualifier
in NJ should help with her fitness - another that belongs in exotics. (4) GETTIN GONE has some decent
local efforts but is also prone to miscues - would be willing to consider ONLY if the price is decent. (5)
AMERICAN TOUR was 0 for 33 last year, but does pick up her share of pieces - one of many with a
chance to land somewhere on the ticket (with the right trip). (6) THE CHARGING MOA was just 1 for 19
here in 2021 and definitely appeared to have lost a step or two - she returns off a win over much cheaper at
Fhd., and will need to be even better just for a piece with these. (8) WAKEMESHAKEME beat this class
here on 11/4, but tonight's draw figures to hurt her chances considerably.