Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • July 20, 2022

The Empire Report - Wednesday, July 20, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (3) INTO THE UNKNOWN must have attracted some attention prepping for her debut as she

was sent off favored with her trainer driving in her first start, and was able to rally through the stretch to

score at first asking - was sent off at an absurd 1/5 price for her next, and failed in the stretch after trying to

cut the mile - switches to a (talented) young pilot for her local debut, and we'll look for her to rebound. (6)

BETTE TINA put in strong rallies in her last starts to pick up a pair of 2nds - guessing that Dube will look

to handle her more aggressively this week, and she should be a legitimate threat - her 1 for 30 career slate is

a concern, though! (7) RAISE THE ANTE showed speed 2 back (arriving from Harrington) but weakened

a bit to 4th - put in a good rally from well back in her last, and definitely can be included in exotics at that

20-1 ML price. (2) RUMORED sat an easy trip in her 2nd start of the year and finished well for 2nd (at

PcD, same race as #3) - may continue to improve, and that could land her in the thick of this. (1) CLEAR

THE WAY is 0 for 15 but did hit board 8X - rail draw puts her in play for a small share. (5) MAJOR LOV

ER only made 12 starts over the past 2 years and lost them all - she's hinted at some ability, but has never

been able to really put it together - we'll see if the latest freshening helps her. (4) RAISE THE RENT was

ok for 3/4s in her local debut but then really fell apart - we'll just observe, for now. (8) ROLL WITH SHOR

TY has shown little in her 3 starts this year...and draws Post 8.


RACE 2 - Tough race: (5) SAILBOAT HANOVER was racing well for several starts before getting in too

tough in his last couple - drops a notch and faces several suspect rivals tonight...maybe he can rally by them

with the right trip? (4) SPORTS BETTOR came to life 4 starts back and has hit board every week since

then - did disappoint a bit moving up to 25s last time, but still figures to have a good chance against these.

(1) SWAGASAURUSREX came back to life last week, even if helped by a trip he likes in a "weird" 5

horse race - would absolutely consider if the price was decent. (7) RISKY MILLION is legitimately sharp

right now and would have been the top choice with a better post, & with Siegelman still on board - tougher

scenario now but on the flip side, the price will be a lot better - consider. (3) HAPPY TRIO has gone in the

wrong direction since the 6/9 claim - could perk up tonight with the class drop, but not ready to take a short

price HOPING he races better. (2) ABRAXAS BLUES A is 0 for 17 on the year and coming off a total

clunker - hard to get excited about his chances for a wake up call. (8) MAJESTIC KIWI N was a winner

last week, but it was more of a "right place/right time" kind of win (5 horse field, leader tired, etc) - would

want a pretty good price to use him from Post 8. (6) WON LAST FEELING can be excused for failing in

40s but it's the fact that he just LOOKED so poor last week that makes it hard to hop on his team here --

and the double drop to 25s just feels like a red flag.


RACE 3 - (7) LINDSEYS PRIDE had some excuses in recent races so even though he was 39-1 last week,

it really came as no surprise to see him race so well - unfortunately he lands yet another terrible post, but

may still be worth a shot, especially at another good price. (1) PLUMB has proven herself at this level, and

comes into tonight off a close 2nd, and a win last week - looms a prohibitive favorite from the pole, and

she's the one they'll have to catch, and beat. (4) MUSKINGUM raced ok here in a couple of NW15000

starts this spring, and seems to be returning from Pocono in fine form - could have a big say tonight. (6)

OUR WHITE KNIGHT is pretty unreliable, but usually one good brush in him - maybe can rally late for a

piece? (3) BEABOBS BOSS ships in sharp from KY, but it's hard to know where he fits class-wise -

suppose we'll learn more tonight. (5) FOR A DREAMER delivered a nice stretch kick to beat lesser last

week- not sure if he can go with the top ones in here, but he's one of a few with a chance to grab a small

share. (2) SVF CASH DEPOSIT was 0 for 25 here last year, and seems pretty cheap (off his out of town

lines) - sticking with others. (8) MY BOY CHRISTIAN figures to be too far back to threaten tonight.


RACE 4 - Very tough race: (4) SPEAK YOUR MIND flashed some ability at 2 for her prior connections,

and made a big move (at PcD) to crush in her first start of 2022 - disappointed a bit in her next pair, but was

probably facing better than these - may be able to handle these in her YR debut. (8) CAVIART CARMEL

ships in with lines as good as any of these, but has Post 8 and faces an uncertain trip - if she's a big price,

she may be worth a stab in a race loaded with question marks. (5) YS ISA was sent off at 3/5 for her local

debut and was a very easy winner - she was also facing a very soft bunch, and her last quarter was less than

stellar - she may have just gotten lazy with the big lead and loafed to the wire, but it does seem a little risky

to take that same kind of price on her tonight, against a bit better. (1) HESTON HONEY is 6-2-3-0 at YR

this year, including a win last week - she steps up in class tonight, loses Bartlett, and is another contender

that may not be as reliable tonight. (3) TAVA is really the "x factor" in here - she can be REALLY

in-and-out, and was struggling badly for a few starts (and qualifiers!) before finally looking a bit better last

week - no way to know what we'll get from her tonight. (2) LOUD BRAZILIAN has been "ok" Monti, but

is 12-0-1-0 at Yonkers - sticking with others. (7) CATIE FAYE HANOVER has PcD lines that would seem

to make her a player, but she's 20-0-0-6 on the year, and draws outside. (6) PEMBROKE IDEAL BJ will

need to be a lot better than last week just to grab a minor share.


RACE 5 - (2) SWANSEA is having a tough year, with just one win from 20 starts - he's struggled bit at the

end of his miles, and end up 2nd or 3rd in half his starts....but did look better rallying for 3rd last week, and

may be in a spot where he can get his picture taken. (5) ALL CHAMPY got caught in a bad shuffle last

week and that's why his line looks so bad - gets class relief here, and may be able to do some damage

against these. (6) HOOLIE N HECTOR was "sneaky ok" 2 back, then rallied nicely for 3rd last week - if he

can find a decent trip, he'll have a chance to outperform that 15-1 ML price. (4) BROKENHEARTSVILLE

made his YR debut for a new barn last week, and was able to power on by in the lane as the favorite - this is

a much tougher field, so we'll see if he can be as effective against these. (8) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO

never got involved in his Yonkers debut last week but did finish with good energy - he'll probably be too far

out to do any serious damage tonight, but he's worth watching...for the future. (3) CHIEF JUSTICE doesn't

win too often here, but he does race well at times - would consider using underneath. (1) LIMERENCE acts

like he may have gone off form, but he's also eligible to perk up with the move all the way inside - mixed

feelings about his chances. (7) ARMAGEDDON SEELSTER feels like he may have started tailing after

raving well in his first couple off the layoff - Post 7 won't make things any easier.


RACE 6 - (6) PACING MAJOR was solid in his 2nd start off the layoff then really put it all together last

week, sustaining his long move to collar the leaders in the lane - bumps up to 20s, but that last effort

suggests that he's more than up for it. (3) MISTER SPOT A was better last week than his line probably

looks, only losing 2nd (to the runaway winner) into the stretch - could add some value to the exotics here.

(1) MISTER HAT is having a tough 2022 season so far, but this is a spot where he may be able to tow

along, and take home a piece of this. (4) GOTHIC ROCK gets a pass for last week, when brutally parked -

his best effort would give him a chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (8) LOVE THE BLUES N is good

right now, and it's unfortunate that he gets stuck starting from Post 8 - may still be able to pick up a minor

piece with some trip luck. (2) LORD OF MISRULE is 0 for 17 this year but has hit board several times -

the significant post relief he gets for tonight should have him closer to the action...with a chance to take

home a slice of this. (5) LETTUCRIPRITAA was entered by this same barn for $12,500 two starts back,

then REclaimed for $15K the next start after losing him - now jumps back up to 20s, and hard to endorse

with his owner in the bike. (7) BOURBONS COURAGE hasn't been good, and has just one start over the

last 6 weeks...and draws Post 7].


RACE 7 - (2) TIMESTORM always hinted at more ability so it was no real surprise to see him really

elevate his game after the May barn charge - catches an overall modest group of 75s for his YR return, and

may be worth a play here. (6) EMOTIONS RICHES looked terrific in his first start off the claim last week -

steps up to 75s after easily handling the 50s, and belongs on your tickets once again. (1) SMALLTOWNTH

ROWDOWN always figures, is almost always well backed, but he just hasn't been finishing his mile well

enough (and still hasn't beaten the 75s) - he definitely CAN win here, but the better value may come from

playing against him, on top. (3) LOOK IN MY EYES has been a rock solid $50K claimer, and now tries to

jump to 75s for his new connections - seems sharp enough to still contend for a piece. (5) STRIKING GEN

SON was ignored from the pole moving up to 75s last week (29-1!) but was able to hang in there from the

pocket for a piece of 2nd - may have a tougher time tonight, without the benefit of the rail. (4) KANDY

SWEET is a decent 50 when the trip goes her way, and now she'll try to tackle the 75s after being claimed

last week - definitely iffy! (7) P L OSCAR just missed 2 back then was able to wire softer last week - hard

to see him overcoming Post 7 against these, though.


RACE 8 - Wide Open: (8) PLZDONTLIETOME N fits beautifully with these and is 12-4-2-4 here at YR -

clearly a lot of luck will be needed to overcome the horrible draw, but there's a chance that the abundance

of live players in here can create a scenario where the trip works out - decent value horse to consider. (4)

SHALLOW makes her Hilltop debut showing 15 wins over the past 2 seasons - she shows plenty of speed,

but looks like she can race from behind as well - could be a very live player. (2) COMMANDER CATHY

N's U.S. losing streak has been well documented, but she was well meant last week and did race well for

2nd - could see her stepping up to be a player here too. (6) LARJON LEAH put in a long first over bid

against males two back, then was stuck trying to rally into a :55 final half last week - could easily see her

outperforming that 20-1 ML price. (1) FANCY AND FAST was an ok 3rd two back, then offered some

mild late pace for 3rd last week - rail draw makes her threat to be part of the action. (7) THINK OF

GALAXIES has ability for sure, and her last start saw her finish 2nd to the Mistletoe Shalee winner - on the

flip side, she has just one start in six weeks, draws Post 7 and has her owner at the lines. (5) THUNDRA

had a nice little form streak going until a dull one last week - we'll see if she can rebound quickly. (3)

BRUSH N CRUSH has been sharp in NJ...but vs. much easier.


RACE 9 - (3) HOCKEY HANOVER drops to the bottom level after a good 8 hole try vs. better - he's 2 for

6 here this year, and the one to knock off in the finale. (2) TITANS HOPE has speed, usually stays trotting,

and fits well at this level - good one for exotics. (6) BROWNIE can be pretty unpredictable, but his 1 for 29

record here (last 3 years) makes him particularly hard to use on top - willing to include underneath. (7)

CREWS HILLTOPPER has a few good recent tries out of town, and moves to a very sharp barn for tonight

- worth using on some tickets at that 20-1 ML price. (1) MAKING SPARKS has shown that he can pick up

pieces when he behaves (which he usually does) - another live bomb for exotics. (5) STORMY DANGLES

has some ability but has just one start in 6 weeks....and that was a break, sandwiched between a pair of

scratches - hard to make a case for her tonight, especially with her owner on board. (4) WORLDSSTONEC

OLD AS hasn't hit board in 5 local tries, and may be a bit cheaper than the main players in here. (8) GOTW

UTEVERITTAKES has the ability to beat these (and better), but disappoints far more often than he delivers

- also has Post 8 off a break, and sick scratch.

By soaofny February 21, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 21, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 20, 2025
The Empire Report – Thursday, February 20, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 19, 2025
The Empire Report – Wednesday, February 19, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 18, 2025
The Empire Report – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 14, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 14, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 13, 2025
The Empire Report – Thursday, February 13, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 12, 2025
The Empire Report – Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 11, 2025
The Empire Report – Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 10, 2025
The Empire Report – Monday, February 10, 2025 – Race Analysis
By soaofny February 7, 2025
The Empire Report – Friday, February 7, 2025 – Race Analysis
Show More
Share by: