The Empire Report - Thursday, June 16, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (7) ANDRA DAY struggled in her first try for a new barn 2 back but her last was much better,
offering sneaky late pace from an impossible spot - takes a nice class drop tonight, and definitely has a
chance for a mild upset if the trip goes her way. (1) INTHESKYROCKET A kicked home full of pace for
4th from Post 8 in her YR debut, but was just an "ok" 4th last week - that start was off a bad date, and she
may be a bit sharper this time...possibility. (4) YS TALLIA delivered a blowout qualifier off a brief
freshening and barn change, then wasn't bad at all last week after being handled conservatively - she was
Brennan's choice in here, and may be ready to come up with a big mile. (2) SPORTS FLIX was able to wire
softer last week and may have built back some confidence with that mile - could definitely be a player here,
but hard to endorse her on top at that 2-1 ML price. (3) SUMMER RAE has struggled to find any consistent
form so far as a 4YO, but did race better last week (helped by a perfect trip) - ok for a piece tonight. (5)
CORSINI A beat lesser 2 back, and is still somewhat unproven against this level - would consider for a
minor piece. (6) LARJON LEAH picked up a 2nd off the layoff vs. better, but was helped by a two hole trip
- drops after being no factor in her last, and also draws outside - maybe 3rd? (8) SOUND IDEA just hasn't
really been able to sharpen so far this year, and Post 8 isn't going to help the matter
RACE 2 - (2) PERFECT TITAN shows a pair of solid qualifiers since returning at 3 sandwiched around his
lone start, where he made a break but recovered from well back to be a fairly close 4th - should get a good
trip here, and can only be helped by the big switch to Stratton. (1) T REX BLUE CHIP hit board in 6 of his
13 career starts but still remains a maiden - certainly has a solid chance from this spot, but that even money
ML price makes him hard to endorse on top. (6) HALLWAY BABE won an Excelsior B race here last year
with his trainer on board, and wasn't bad in either of his 2 local starts this year - reasonable to consider if
the price is decent. (3) UNIQUE KEMP hasn't really impressed in his 3 lifetime starts but he hails from a
solid barn and does have license to improve - ok for a piece. (7) PRAY AND HUSTLE is 10-0-1-0 to start
her career and lands all the way outside - maybe can grab a minor piece if Buter can improve a bit early on?
(5) CREDARENA is also 10-0-1-0 but he does stay trotting all the time - that alone gives him a chance to
take home a piece. (4) CANTAB THE FOX is 0 for 25 and prone to miscues
RACE 3 - (3) SLICK ARTIST A has been a notch below facing better lately, but drops back down tonight
to the level she beat twice not too long ago - deserves top billing in this pretty modest bottom condition
field. (1) LAALWAYS A MARTINI hasn't won here since 2019 (maybe longer?) but she had a good
season down in Florida, and was only beaten by 3 lengths here in a NW10000 field 4 starts back - looks
like a very legitimate threat, but that long local losing streak is a bit scary (and she'll probably be way
overbet with the switch to Bartlett). (4) ALWAYS BE COOL usually finishes well, and finally put it all
together last week to pick up her first Hilltop victory - if she lands on a live trip tonight, she can be a late
threat once again. (5) HEY HEY BDAY hasn't hit board in 5 local tries but raced well (vs. better) in a
couple of them - decent one to include in exotics. (2) E R HILARY still isn't close to her top form, but she
racing a bit better lately - willing to include underneath. (7) CHECKERED PAST would normally be a
threat against this type but she's missed a month (sick scratch) and draws Post 7 - prefer to just observe this
week. (6) DIBABA N is 7-0-0-0 in 2022 and lands outside - hard to recommend from this spot. (8) STICK
THAT LIP OUT is 1 for 16 this year and that's despite facing mostly cheaper fields - tough spot to back her
RACE 4 - (2) ITZPAPALOTL missed by a nose last week but really should have been able to win off that
perfect trip - she adds Lasix for tonight, and that might explain why she hasn't been at her best since
returning recently for her 4YO season - willing to gamble that she's much better this week. (6) AHOY's 2
local starts this year were vs. the 50s, and she wasn't beaten badly in either - drops to a much easier spot,
and may be able to make some noise here. (7) CYCLONE SISTER is another that has been facing better in
her last couple of local starts, and she also may be able to do some damage here - could be time for a more
aggressive try. (3) ALWAYS B MIMI raced ok in both starts since arriving from Delaware - ok for a piece,
but she'll need to be a bit better for a chance at the top prize. (4) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX has been
taking home minor pieces vs. a bit better lately - the drop should help, but she's just 2 for 51 over the past 2
years, and hard to consider for the top slot. (5) THUNDRA steps up off a couple of solid tries vs. better -
seems sharp enough for a piece with the right trip. (8) WALTZWITHSIERRAA raced well in her last pair,
but she's still winless in the U.S. and has to deal with Post 8 tonight. (1) NO STONE UNTURNED draws
best, but is hard to consider off those recent out of town efforts
RACE 5 - (3) YUCATAN PARTY MAN charged home from well back to grab 2nd last week, gaining on
the winner at the wire - anything close to that effort would make him awfully tough in here, but note that
he's 3 for 48 lifetime (and figures to be a VERY short price) before betting the rent money! (2) CHARLAT
AN HANOVER was pretty well backed for his local debut 2 back but made a costly miscue - was handled
conservatively last week and rallied a bit for 4th....could definitely have a say tonight, if he continues to
behave. (1) EXCHEQUER was a surprising 3rd off the layoff 2 back (at 43-1!) then too far back to threaten
last week - moves all the way inside, and is definitely one to include in exotics. (7) PROTOSTAR raced ok
in both starts (in PA) since the recent barn change, and gets a mice switch to Miller for tonight - hard to
predict his trip from all the way out here, though. (4) DIAMANTE VIC is hard to gauge off those Canadian
lines, and he does land in a very high % barn for his local debut - 0 for 21 over the last 2 years, though. (6)
MASSTRO had some success here last year but has struggled (overall) in 2022 - needs to build off last
week's improved performance. (5) OCEANVIEW PRINCE raced well in his first few local tries but
regressed suddenly in his last couple - feels a bit risky at the moment. (8) SLEW FOOT draws horribly for
his local debut and doesn't figure to be part of the action
RACE 6 - (7) EASY TO PLEASE was doing good work at 3 prior to the barn change, but really elevated
her game after that - didn't miss a beat after returning for her 4YO season, winning a couple of Matchmaker
legs before finishing a close 3rd in the Final - has continued to do good work out of town since then, and
avoids having to race in the Open in her Hilltop return - has to get the nod, even from Post 7. (1) SIESTA
BEACH took a while to find her game this year, but the talented 6YO seems to be feeling good about
herself again - comes into tonight with a 2 race winning streak, draws best, and figures to be a strong threat
from start to finish. (2) DARBY HANOVER picked up her first win since the barn change 2 starts back (at
The Swamp), and that mile is sandwiched between a pair of fine tries at the top level over there - can be a
big player here if the trip comes up kind. (3) BEYOND WORDS N makes her Yonkers debut and she's
really been thriving in NJ and PA recently - may be sharp enough to pick up a decent piece here. (4) VIOL
ETS RAINBOW has been sharp in most of her 13 starts this year but last week's win was absolutely her
best effort to date - she's facing some pretty tough foes tonight, but that last mile suggests she may be able
to hold her own, and grab a share. (5) REACHTHRUTHESKY AS returned to Yonkers for a new barn last
week and successfully wired the field - faces tougher tonight, and we'll have to see if she can be as effective
against these. (6) STAR CAPTAIN had no chance last week after drawing Post 8 off a bad date - difficult
draw tonight as well, and that may limit her for another week. (8) SEA SHADOWS shows fine form at
multiple tracks but lands in a brutal spot for her YR debut - we'll just watch, for now
RACE 7 - (1) GINGER TREE LIZ threw a major (unexpected) clunker 2 back but it's likely that she bled,
as she returned on Lasix the next week - was back to her usual solid self in that mile, and now draws the
pole against a pretty modest NW15000 field - gets top billing. (3) DANCE CLUB just never looked right
last week after a few horses had to avoid early breakers - she was very sharp just prior to that, and drops
right back in the box for a hot barn - worth considering. (6) TEMPUS SEELSTER still hasn't found her
best form, but last week's front end score (over easier) could be a step in the right direction - worth a look if
the price is decent. (4) WESTBEACH was 3 for 4 here last year but hasn't been nearly as good in 2022,
sporting a 13-1-1-3 local slate - she does fit pretty well with these, though, and she may be able to grab a p
piece of this. (2) CHELSKI has definitely sharpened lately, even if vs. lesser - may be good enough right
now for a chance at a small piece, with an easy trip. (5) ASHTINI avoided trouble last week and did a good
job picking up 3rd - may not be as fortunate tonight, though. (7) MYSTIFYING has disappointed far more
often than she's delivered here this year - she's capable of big miles when "in the mood"...she's just not in
that mood nearly enough. (8) CORAL BELLA hails from a hot barn, but she'll look better NEXT week,
with a class drop and (hopefully) better post.
RACE 8 - Good race! (7) MAJORCA N is razor sharp right now and wired this class last week - she gets
assigned Post 7 for tonight, but she's probably an even better horse from odd the pace....if they mix things
up a bit in front of her, she may be able to take another...at a decent price. (6) DRAMAACT clearly hasn't
been as sharp as she was when winning the Matchmaker Final on 4/25, but she was better last week than
her line might suggest - figures to be a decent price here, and not a bad week to include her on your tickets.
(4) BEST HEAD WEST continues to race well week after week, regardless of trip - she's a threat every
start, but won't offer much value tonight with that 9/5 ML price. (2) BOLT OF BEAUTY has maintained
her fine form for some time - if things get testy up front, she may be able to rally for a good chunk here. (5)
DRAGON ROLL can never be counted out, but she probably wasn't at her absolute best the last 2 starts
(even though 2nd and 3rd) - may be a bit vulnerable right now. (3) ROCKN PHILLY has done excellent
work since joining this barn, but really does her best work vs. a bit easier. (1) MAN DONTFORGET ME is
never too far back, but does seem to be seeking a little easier company - maybe a minor share?
RACE 9 - Tough finale: (7) BABS JANSEN had been razor sharp for weeks but was left with no chance
last week after taking back to last from Post 8 - doesn't draw much better tonight, but maybe Zeron will
take a shot to go forward at the start and give her a chance - decent value play in a wide open race. (4)
MILIEU HANOVER has come back sharp at 4, and comes into tonight off a win and a 2nd - may land on a
bit tougher trip here, however. (1) MAGICAL MISTRESS has been climbing back up the class ladder off a
series of solid efforts - inside draw should make her a live player once more. (2) GAME OF SHADOWS
ships in sharp from PA off the purchase by a barn that seems to have settled on going with its owner as the
listed trainer recently - we'll have to see how she does tonight...and how her barnmates continue to fare. (6)
JIVE DANCING A has been inconsistent so far in 2022 but does own a 74-1 upset over this class 3 starts
back - couldn't blame anybody for including her tonight at another good price. (3) CASH ROLL climbed
the classes during a recent form spree, but does seem to have petered out a bit in her last couple - we'll see
if she can bounce back here. (5) PLZDONTLIETOME N steps up off a nice win last week but will meet a
tough test vs. these older mares - we'll stick with the more proven players....at least for now. (8) DASHINT
OTHEBEACH N had no prayer from Post 7 last week shipping in from Stga. and unfortunately, may end
up in that same boat tonight (from Post 8).