The Empire Report - Thursday, January 26, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (2) WANIA would normally not get our attention shipping in from Canada as he's just 1 for 32
lifetime and been away for a month....but he's debuting for a barn that resurfaced here last year and has
shown the ability to improve fresh stock by up to a few seconds...maybe this guy will be next? (5) SOUTH
WIND ARTURO put the hobbles back on for that Monti qualifier and went a strong mile (after making
breaks here in his last 2 starts) - he drops in to this NW2 class showing 7 wins (the money cap was adjusted
to fit him in), and he does have legitimate ability - the one to beat, if he stays trotting. (1) BUDWEISER
GIRL looked ready to put in a good move last week when taken out off turn three by a breaker - may be
able to make some noise here with a clean trip. (3) THEWALLOFLOVE AS was drifting badly in the lane
when 2nd here 2 back then started doing the same thing last week, actually crashing into an opponent then
making a break - the ability is there, but some fine tuning is needed. (4) A ONE A just never looked right
from before the start last week and struggled in NJ the week before that - prefer others. (6) WALK WITH
ME has used her speed to hit board in 5 of 9 local starts but her lack of late stamina has left her winless -
she's been away since 12/22, and draws outside...may need this start
RACE 2 - (6) NOWS THE MOMENT ended 2022 with a trio of powerful victories - came up a nose shy
(after a long battle) in his '23 return but he'll be a much better price tonight, and seems worth a shot to
avenge last week's tough loss. (5) HL REVADON came back a little sharper than the top choice and was
able to edge him out for the top prize last week - the draw makes him the one to beat for tonight, but HIS
price will now come way down. (1) FLIP THE SWITCH landed on a good trip last week and finished right
behind the top pair - he's going to win an Open one of these nights...and maybe even tonight, if everything
falls his way. (2) WILLY WALTON was inappropriately forced to draw for the OUTSIDE slots last week,
resulting in him going off at 52-1 and never entering contention - it seems the race office has corrected that
and allowed him to draw INSIDE...and that gives him a chance at a decent slice of this. Both (3) HEY LIV
VY and (4) GREY are off 5 weeks, and forced to take on the boys tonight...guessing that they'll both need a
start, but we shall see.
RACE 3 - Very tough race! (6) THUNDRA is as unreliable as they come but she'd had success here in the
past (when in the right mood), and does have the benefit of a couple of NJ starts during the winter break -
chance to rally for the win with the right pace scenario. (3) STELLENBOSCH was stuck chasing a hot pace
off a bad date last week and can be forgiven for bottoming a bit - should be tighter now, and in a good spot
for an aggressive try. (4) PULL ME THROUGH actually ended '22 well, delivering a trio of "sneaky good"
starts to close out the year - hard to say how serious she'll be off the hiatus, but the value should definitely
be there. (2) CHELSKI had success here in 2021 but struggled a bit last year - some overall decent form to
close out last year, and wouldn't really be a shock from this spot. (1) LOVE THAT SMILE was just 1 for 23
last year, and was struggling for the Dynamic Duo at the end of the season - comes back for a new barn
after missing 5 weeks, and it's hard to know what to expect here. (8) ANNE BONNEY N will be a huge
price from out here but does get Gingras- ok for those looking for a bomb to try. (5) BETTOR B SAWYER
was a bit better last start but her 7-0-0-0 local slate is hard to ignore. (7) HEY HEY DBAY just hasn't been
nearly good enough to consider from all the way out here.
RACE 4 - Good race: (2) TIMESTORM had to retreat to 6th last week after finding himself in no man's
land off turn one....and that pretty much sealed his fate -- should at least be tighter now, and he's right at
home against these types...give him the narrow edge. (6) CREDIT CON is really hitting on all cylinders
right now, finishing right there 4th in last week's Open (despite lacking room in the stretch) - may be able to
pull this off, but will need some trip luck from Post 6. (5) LEAN HANOVER drops down to the level he
beat twice not long ago and reunites with Marohn, who gets along well with him - classy 10YO is always
dangerous in spots like this. (4) BARRY BLACK was racing in the Open (off 6 weeks) and still only lost
by about 3 lengths - he has a shot to upset these, IF the trip goes his way. (1) BIZET has been racing well
but seems a bit below the main players in here - looking at only a minor piece, even from the pole. (3) INFI
NITY STONE is also pretty good right now, but taking on rivals that generally are a bit too tough for him.
(7) WINDSONG PIONEER lands all the way outside after being away for 6 weeks - pass for now
RACE 5 - (3) WICKENBURGH was heavily backed for his local debut but didn't fire at all, perhaps hurt
by the bad date and/or off going - his barn is off to a quick start this meet (5 for 11) and this guy might be a
lot better tonight...at a better price. (2) THE AMERICAN EAGLE has been sharp in all 4 starts since the
recent barn change, even if sometimes a little tired right at the end - gets to stay in this NW4 class, and
remains a serious threat. (5) FORREST won his last start here then picked up 3 more wins out of town -
hard to not respect his current 4 race streak, but it's hard to say if he's actually "better" than the other main
players in here - don't take too short a price on top. (4) GREG offered good speed arriving from Ohio and
just came up a little light at the end - could be tighter now, and is definitely a good value horse for exotics.
(1) MAKE IT EASY was sent off at 3/5 last week, had things all her own way in a NW2 race and still got
beat - she'll need to be much better for a chance to beat these tougher foes. (6) B THREEWINDS broke as
she was about to get the top last week, recovered, and was rallying when run into in the stretch - adds
hopples now and could definitely be even better...but the draw may hurt this time around. (7) LADYFLIX
has a win and close 2nd in her 2 local starts but it's hard to say she's been "impressive" - faces tougher now,
lands all the way outside, and may struggle a bit
RACE 6 - (7) SMOOTH DEBATE N was no threat in her first 2 U.S. starts (in NJ) but didn't finish too far
behind much better than these- may have just conceded from Post 10 in her last and while she draws poorly
for her Yonkers debut (with a pretty unaggressive pilot), it's hard to imagine that she won't be able to come
alive against this very soft bunch - here's hoping that Smith puts her in play. (3) CRUSH ME turned in a
much improved effort on 11/3 but was scratched from her next then went on the shelf for 2 months - her
tightener across the river wasn't very good, but she lands in a soft spot here and her barn did send out an
upset winner last week. (4) BROOKDALE JESSIE was involved in a hot pace in her last start of '22 then
was a decent 3rd last week - seems to fit well enough to be a player, but her 0 for 34 record last year is hard
to dismiss. (5) APRIL AVA was well backed last week (new barn plus Lasix) but came up dead empty the
minute Kakaley pulled her to 3/4s - she may race much better tonight, but that 2-1 ML price would be hard
to swallow (at least on top). (1) LOVIN MISS DAISY N shows a couple of weak efforts since arriving to
her new barn from Ohio - we'll see if the rail helps her improve in her local debut. (6) E R HILARY was ok
last week, even if helped by a good trip - may find herself too far back to threaten tonight, however. (2)
BETTORSHIGHLIGHT N held on by a nose here on 12/1 but has really struggled since - needs a wake up
call to be a player
RACE 7 - (3) SAID N DONE AS was handled conservatively last week and finished with life once finally
free late - he should only be sharper this week, and his local slate is strong (8-2-1-4) - definitely a solid
chance at the top prize tonight. (5) MUSCLE DAN has picked up lots of pieces since moving up to NW4
but hasn't found the winner's circle yet - definitely a shot do so against these, and certainly belongs in
exotics. (6) LIVINGONTHERAIL had to back off to last at the start last week and lost any chance - his
other recent starts have been good, however, and he could definitely add some value to the ticket with a
better trip tonight (1) HECKRAISER HANOVER sat pocketed last week and was able to rally by the
favorite as they neared the wire - seems a notch below the top trio, but we'll see if he built some confidence
with last week's victory. (2) POCAHONTAS actually owns 2 recent local victories, but with perfect trips
over lesser- hard to say if her late rally will be as effective against these. (4) COUNT JOGGING has shown
good speed, but has trouble finishing his miles - always a chance he can last for a piece. (7) JESSIES OUT
LAWED was 0 for 27 last year, and faces an uphill battle trying to reach from out here
RACE 8 - Wide open! (8) EDGE OF ETERNITY was well backed off the hiatus, Stratton drove her like
she was the best and she went on to crush 'em one level down - won't be nearly as easy with the move from
the rail to 8 hole, but she may still be able to beat these too...with a dash of trip luck. (5) SPORTS FLIX
was favored (against the top choice) last week but struggled first over into a hot 3rd quarter and had to
settle for a well earned 2nd place finish - has a post advantage this time, and may be able to turn the tables.
(1) VELOCITY MCSWEETS is in need of a wake up call but she's gotten them at times in the past - would
be dangerous from this spot if feeling anything close to 100% tonight. (4) SEZANA N enjoyed an easy trip
last week and finished 3rd behind the top two choices - the right trip could put her right there on the wire.
(3) LADY DELA RENTAA is a big question mark as she's missed 5 weeks AND goes for a new barn -
maybe the tote board will offer some clues? (2) TALL POPPY N landed in a live flow to pick up 3rd last
week, though well behind the top pair - she's also 0 for 15 here over the last 2 years, so perhaps the bottom
of exotics is the place to use her? (6) MONEYMAKEHERSMILE used a perfect trip to beat the bottom
class at the end of 2022, then raced ok for 4th (off poor cover) last week - would have liked her a lot more
from a better post, though. (7) FLIP THE SCRIPT was hurt by a shuffle in her first start for a new barn last
week - she's another that probably fits, but will have to find a way to deal with the bad draw
RACE 9 - (3) KENZIESKY HANOVER has remained sharp during the winter break with a couple of
starts at The Swamp, and returns to a spot considerably easier than she's used to facing here - deserves top
billing. (1) PROMISE FOR LIFE was just road tested after drawing poorly for his local debut but he
finished with a lot better trot than his line might suggest - hails from a very high % barn, and does figure to
be a lot more serious tonight - could be a player! (8) SHARE THE WEALTH seemed a little iffy coming
into his last but he showed up on his "A Game" and was a very strong winner - if Brennan can get him in
play from out here, he has a chance to make some big noise again tonight. (2) NEW HEAVEN showed up
ready off the winter break, and hats off to Holland for keeping the veteran motivated in that first over score
- the inside draw gives him a shot to grab a good chunk tonight too, despite the class jump. (5) KASHA V
has more good efforts than bad lately - he'll need a contested pace here to make his late rally count, but that
just might happen. (6) TOP ME OFF had a long rough patch in PA but started to come around near the end
of the year and closed out 2022 with a nice victory here at Yonkers - tough spot tonight off 5 weeks,
though. (7) PALERMO HANOVER appeared to have trot in traffic last week and may be rounding into a
sharp mile - she may also need a lot better spot before we can see that. (4) SEVENSHADESOFGREY just
seems a bit below a bunch of the main players in here
RACE 10 - (1) CAVIART CHERIE had her ups and downs last year but managed 5 wins and $85K - she's
been idle since 12/20 but her barn has had a few ready to fire off the hiatus...she'll be dangerous here close
to her best. (4) CORAL BELLA looked like she was going to go wire to wire off the winter break but came
up a little short and was nailed by the tripsitter - should be a player tonight once more, even up in class a bit
(7) LADYBELUCKYTONITE is better than most of these but draws poorly, and was just 1 for 33 last year
(13x second or third) - good one to use underneath. (2) ELLEOFADELI likely would prefer to be in a little
cheaper but the good draw should make her a contender for a piece here too. (3) FOR CHIPS SAKE was
3rd in her only local try last year and has the benefit of a start over the winter break - use underneath. (5)
POPPY DRAYTON N parlayed a perfect trip into a win vs. cheaper on 12/8 but was no factor in her next,
then no factor last week - maybe 3rd/4th? (8) ALWAYS BE TRUE couldn't hang on from the rail vs.
cheaper at Fhd, last week, and now starts all the way outside in her YR debut - prefer to just observe. (6)
CASIES BELIEVER ships in from Monti showing lines that are far from encouraging.