The Empire Report - Thursday, April 7, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - Tough opener! (6) DELITFULCATHERIN N has held her own several times at the Open level
but was clearly a bit out of her league the last couple of weeks vs. the Matchmaker ladies - gets significant
class relief for tonight, and may be able to spring the upset if the trip goes her way. (3) ANDRA DAY has
lacked consistency so far in 2022 but still throws some strong efforts (2nd in last, winner 3 back) - has legit
chance here if she brings her best. (1) VELOCITY MCSWEETS has definitely leveled off a bit after a good
string of sharp efforts - lands another good spot, and can be a threat if she can rebound to her top form. (8)
MAGICAL MISTRESS drops down a level she excels at, but this is obviously a very difficult draw - if you
think Brennan can find her a way into the race, the price will definitely be right. (2) HIGH MINDED was a
talented 2 and 3YO but is still trying to find her form (and proper level) as a 4YO - this could be the spot
where she perks up, but make sure to get a good price if trying her on top. (4) SHEIKH YABOOTY N was
a good looking two-move winner vs. cheaper last week, but may not have the same success against this
tougher group of mares. (5) LADYBELUCKYTONITE hasn't been "bad", but also hasn't been on top of
her game - leaning towards others in here. (7) SOUND IDEA was a solid 3rd in her first start off the layoff,
but tonight's draw may leave her looking for a better spot.
RACE 2 - (4) IN SPADES was the ultimate question mark heading into his last race (dropping from 40s to
20s off a lame scratch) but he hit the top and won convincingly, with no issues (and he wasn't claimed!) -
bumps up one notch to 25s, but that's no problem if he's feeling as good as last week - gets the narrow nod.
(5) LETTUCERIPRITAA reversed form on 3/4 when he crushed the 12.5s, trounced the 20s the next week
then beat the 30s in his last - the drop tonight is at least a little suspicious...but not enough to scare you
away from using him on your tickets. (1) DING DING DINGER struggled for a bunch of starts but looked
much better in his last pair - rail draw puts him in play for a good piece. (7) FOX VALLEY INFERNO
drops a peg to 25s and that should help - unfortunately, he also draws all the way outside...and that's NOT
going to help - maybe can still pick up a small piece? (3) FOURBOLTMANE shows some decent NJ lines
but it's hard to gauge how he'll fit with the locals at this level - tough call. (6) LL MYSTRO was a solid 2nd
two back, and left with no chance last week when caught behind poor cover - exits the Super Sibling barn
for tonight, moves up in class and draws outside -- leaning to others. (2) AMERICAN REBEL just hasn't
done much since arriving here in February
RACE 3 - Another wide open race: (5) MORNING HAS BROKEN has unleashed some of the most
vicious late explosions you'll ever see in the past few weeks, including one to beat this class 2 back - will
try it for a new barn this week...and we'll see if she can make it 4 out of her last 5. (6) SPORTS FLIX may
end up with an impossible trip from this spot but she's been sharp for weeks, and still figures to be a nice
price - not a bad bomb to at least consider. (7) GOLDEN QUEST N has been sharp since returning from a
short winter break, and tonight's class jump (after last week's victory) won't bother her at all...of course, the
DRAW may ultimately slow her down, but she's still reasonable to consider if the price is right. (4) EDGE
OF ETERNITY went a sharp mile last week, battling hard before getting reeled in by #7 - she held her own
in the Open not long ago, and does have a post edge here on some of her main rivals. (2) BITTY BITTY
gave it a big try last week, used hard and almost holding off the promising recent import to the wire - she's
won too many times to ignore from this spot. (3) BETTERB CHEVRON N faces much tougher now after
rattling off 3 straight (easy) wins - another that's way too sharp to count out, even with the class hike. (1)
VIOLETS RAINBOW has 3 wins and 2 close loss 2nds from her last 5 starts- the fact that she's being listed
this far down is a perfect indication of just how solid this field is! (8) ROCKNROLL ANNIE draws Post 8
off a layoff, and is truly the outsider tonight
RACE 4 - (8) FOUR UNDER PAR shipped in here on 12/9 and was an excellent 2nd for his new barn -
took a couple of months off and promptly reported home a 7 length winner last week, as the 3/5 choice -
faces tougher now while also drawing all the way outside...but we'll still make him the top choice off that
very impressive looking victory. (5) SPREE was facing MUCH tougher fields in NJ and finishing right up
there - landed in a brutal spot for her local debut (FM Open), but never even had a chance to show if she fit
thanks to a 2nd turn miscue - very dangerous player against these IF she behaves! (6) TITANS HOPE made
a rare miscue herself last week, but almost any of her other recent (clean) tries would put her in the hunt for
a good chunk of this. (1) YUCATAN PARTY MAN moves up after last week's win, but seems sharp
enough to still contend for a good share tonight - use in exotics. (4) SWEETLIES N ALIBIS shows several
out of town efforts that would make her a player with the locals (and also moves to a live barn, while
picking up Kakaley in the bike) - one to include underneath. (2) BY A HOFF HANOVER was a little
disappointing in his local debut, a dullish 4th behind the top choice - we'll see if he can find a better effort
in his 2nd start for new connections. (3) INFINITE ZETTE is 0 for 14 at Yonkers, and moving up in class
here - prefer others. (7) GRAFENBERG figures to be coming from too far back to have any real impact
RACE 5 - (1) HAPPY TRIO gave it a big try from Post 8 in his first start off the claim - moves all the way
inside now, and his amazing barn has been finishing 1st or 2nd with an almost unfathomable 50% of their
starters since December....the one to beat tonight. (6) IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE seemed to regain some
confidence with that blowout win at Freehold as he was pretty solid for 3rd here last week - he was claimed
for $40K not all that long ago, so this class shouldn't be too much of a reach for him. (2) MONTY MONO
has been doing some good work at The Swamp since changing barns 5 starts back - draws inside, and looks
like he can land somewhere on the ticket in his YR debut. (3) DESIRES CAPTAIN bumps back up to 30s
after dropping down to 25s last week and picking up the win - no reason he can't race well here too, for his
new connections. (7) SOUTHWIND ONYX was a sharp "pocket rocket" winner last week, but may find it
a little tougher to get into the mix from out here - willing to include underneath, as long as the price is
decent. (4) SWEET N FAST N picked up 3rd dropping to 30s last week but never actually looked like any
kind of serious player (more "3rd by default") - will need to be sharper to do as well tonight. (5) SELECT
FRIDAY just seems overmatched in this spot. (8) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN does his damage on the lead
- and it seems pretty unlikely he'll be able to get there from Post 8
RACE 6 - (1) SLICK ARTIST A has been a solid player at this level the past 3 weeks, picking up a win,
2nd, and a 3rd - she draws best while facing a pretty uninspiring bunch, and she certainly seems like the
one to beat. (8) MILADY DENVER A went off at 29-1 from an identical spot last week and didn't make
any moves....but she also left to grab a two hole trip the week before, and just missed...not the worst bomb
you could take a shot with. (6) E R HILARY has been off form lately, but has gone a ton of miles over the
years that would make her tough against these - at 20-1 ML, perhaps worth a look (hoping for a wake up
call)? (3) ALWAYS BE COOL ships in from PA and was facing much cheaper there - wouldn't even be
getting a mention here except that she'll be making her first start for a barn that's been known to turn around
these types in the past - not out of the question. (2) CRYSTAL SPARKLES N wasn't necessarily "good"
last week, but she did pick up a (distant) 3rd, as opposed to just finishing out of it (as she's done for most of
the last 2 years - suppose it could be a sign that she's ready to start improving a bit. (7) QUEEN LOSTRIS
N had no pop last week but was also making her first start in almost a year - eligible to improve tonight, but
the draw figures to be a major roadblock. (4) FLASH A SMILE hasn't been good, but hasn't been terrible -
chance for a minor share with an easy trip. (5) COLOR ENVY wasn't terrible in her first try off the layoff,
but has failed to improve at all in her 3 starts since then.
RACE 7 - (6) NO MAS DRAMA has come back super after her 3 months off, and was an excellent 2nd in
this class' initial offering last week - loses Bartlett, but Buter has handled her in the past and knows what
she's capable of - we'll take a shot that she can come out on top this time. (7) HEY LIVVY has had her
rough patches, but the hugely talented mare is back on her game right now - she won this new "FM Open
Trot" last week, and has a very real chance to win it again tonight...despite Post 7. (4) KENZIESKY
HANOVER was sharp winning her last pair in NJ (as the favorite), even if facing a bit easier - should be a
very live player, and may even be able to give the top pair a tussle. (1) BROADWAY ATHENA blossomed
into a nice Open trotting mare at age 6, but only made 4 starts at 7 before going on the shelf - returned after
missing a year, and that last mile at PcD suggests she may be ready to hang with these - we'll see if she can
use her late rally to have a say in this. (3) GREY is a bit below the top ones but may be able to use her
speed here to grab a decent trip...and perhaps stick around for a decent piece. (2) CASINO CUTIE IT
wasn't involved last week but did have some steady trot finishing - chance for a minor piece, but would
look a lot better in NW10000. (5) KANDY SWEET has been holding form beautifully for weeks, and
picked up 3rd last time - may be looking at a tougher trip tonight, though
RACE 8 - (4) TOBAGO TIME has been a very solid performer since arriving here from Dover back in
Feb., and this is probably a spot where she can use her speed to work out a good trip for herself - not happy
with that 5/2 ML price (she always goes off MUCH longer than that), but still worth using in here. (5)
SHELLIE DE VIE is interesting at 20-1 ML - her form started to pick back up in NJ recently, and she has
to get a better trip tonight than she did last week - she can beat this type when on her game. (6) GINGER
TREE LIZ came back sharp off her winter break, and showed the last 2 weeks that she can hang with these
older mares - a live trip gives her a chance at a big prize. (1) BETTOR LADY was no factor in her first
local try, but kicked home full of pace for 3rd in her last - moves inside, and is very playable in exotics. (8)
FIGHTING EVIL has been very consistent, but does seem to hang a bit right near the wire most weeks
(with the top spot right there waiting!) - may have a tougher time working out a manageable trip from out
here, though. (7) JIVE DANCING A was hurt by the outside draw last week but unfortunately, gets another
- not a bad bomb to throw in underneath, as she'll probably be a big price. (3) SEZANA N is just 1 for 30
over the past 2 years, but does pick up her share of smaller pieces - prefer others, but wouldn't be shocked if
she picked up a minor share. (2) SCANDALICIOUS does her best work with easier -- and a win does drop
off the bottom of her card after tonight
RACE 9 - (2) MISSILE SEELSTER has been solid since being claimed for $30K on 2/28 - look for an
aggressive try from Bartlett in this modest field....and a chance for him to pick up his first win of the
season. (1) BROTHER JAMES was an okay 4th from a tough spot in his YR debut - should land on a good
trip from the pole, and could easily be part of the ticket. (4) MISTER SPOT A hit board in 3 of his last 4
starts, albeit vs. a bit lesser - tough horse to take on top (just 1 for 33 at YR last 2 years), but definitely ok
for a piece of the exotics. (6) SHOREVIEW was wildly overbet 3 back but did come up with his best mile
in ages to win at this level - was no factor in his last pair, but anything his crafty connections drop in the
box is always worth a look. (8) ROCK THE NITE would get some more serious consideration against these
if not for the brutal draw - if you think Marohn can get him into the race, by all means use him on your
tickets. (5) AWESOMENESS did NOT get parked the mile last week, so that's a start (he did the previous
three weeks!) - he still can't find a good gear during his miles, however, and that figures to hold him back
here as well. (3) CENTURY GRIZZLY just hasn't clicked since being claimed back on 2/11 by his current
connections - needs to find a better effort. (7) WHATS YOUR BEEF was no factor at all in his first local
try and now draws Post 7