The Empire Report - Thursday, March 31, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (2) FOUR UNDER PAR displayed ability in the Midwest as a youngster so it was no surprise to
see her come up with a close 2nd in her first local try (in December) - took some time off after that but
qualified back at PcD for a hot barn, and we'll assume that she'll be ready to go right off the bat - gets top
billing in the opener. (5) BY A HOFF HANOVER was a solid PA Fair horse, winning 11 races this year -
moves to a new barn now, and should fit well enough to be a player tonight. (6) GLACIER HANOVER
shows a couple of recent duds at The Swamp but sandwiched in between them is a victory (on 3/4) - can be
right in the hunt IF the "good" version shows up tonight. (8) TRAIN was an even 5th in his first start off the
layoff (adding Lasix, for the first time) - eligible to be sharper tonight, and the poor draw means a good
price - include underneath. (4) INFINITE ZETTE is just 3 for 33 lifetime but does have 17 seconds and
thirds - chance for a piece. (3) BIG CHARLIE MORAN got away to a good start last week but squandered
his 2 hole trip, weakening to 4th in the lane- needs to be better. (1) SQUABLE has just one win and one
2nd from 30 lifetime starts - keeps drawing well, but just can't take advantage very often! (7) JESSIES
OUTLAWED is eligible to be sharper in his 2nd off the layoff but the outside draw is going to hurt again
RACE 2 - (2) QUEEN LOSTRIS N only raced 3X in 2021 before going on the shelf for a year - qualified
back nicely at PcD for a barn going well right now, and we'll give her a shot in what seems like a wide open
affair. (8) MILADY DENVER A weakened after cutting the mile as the favorite 2 back but that effort is
sandwiched between a pair of solid 2nds - has the speed to at least improve position from out here, and may
be able to pull off an upset with a bit of trip luck. (5) SLICK ARTIST A had legitimate excuses 3 and 4
starts back, then was close up in her last 2 (2nd and 3rd) - may be a bit overbet tonight, but certainly has a
chance. (1) SILVER TAIL has lines out of town that would make her a good fit with the locals, and she
draws the rail as well - she's also missed a month, and that makes it tough to take a short price with her on
top here. (4) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX really hasn't had much pop in any of her recent starts, but this is
the type of spot where she at least has a chance to come to life - worth a look if the price is juicy enough.
(7) BRIAR grabbed a win here last year, and makes her 2nd start on Lasix upon returning from NJ - not the
worst bomb you could consider. (6) STICK THAT LIP OUT has been picking up some smaller pieces out
of town, and might have gotten a little more consideration had she drawn a bit better. (3) FLASH A SMILE
was no factor in either of her local attempts
RACE 3 - (5) JOJOS PLACE has been popular at the claim box lately and tonight he debuts for an
ownership team combining one of THE sharpest trainers, with an owner that almost always seems to land
with the hottest barns - wasn't great in his last couple, but may show up on his best game tonight. (1) MARI
NER SEELSTER seemed to have become stale racing for the same barn for so many years but he's thrived
immensely at ages 12 and 13 since bouncing around from stable to stable - 2nd best to a pair of sharpies in
his last two, and a big threat to come out on top from the pole. (2) SWEET N FAST is hard to gauge - he's
been no good at all in his 3 starts since the most recent claim, but he does drop down to 30s tonight, and he
just missed the last time he was at this level - tough call. (3) SOUTHWIND ONYX seems better suited to
20-25s, but the inside draw at least puts him play for a piece tonight vs. the 30s (where he was 3rd last
week). (6) BROTHER JAMES has been sharp out of town where he's been climbing back up the class
ladder lately - tough draw for his local debut, however. (7) MAJESTIC KIWI N really got sharp for a few
starts after being claimed recently for $15K but he's leveled off lately - goes for a new barn tonight, but it
won't be easy to reach from out here. (8) ROCK THE NITE has some good recent efforts but primarily
from the inside - not sure he can have much impact from Post 8. (4) WHATS YOUR BEEF was 0 for 16
last year and now returns after 2 months off for a new barn - prefer to just observe this week
RACE 4 - (5) QUEEN OF ALL was one of the best fillies in Indiana last year, banking nearly $200K - she
was an excellent 2nd in her one local try, then was put on the shelf for three months - qualified sharply, and
looks ready to roll right off the bat. (6) STRIKING GENSON has really upped his game the last few starts,
and was a sharp "pocket rocket" winner in his last - should be a very live player again tonight. (3) TITANS
HOPE has good speed and stays trotting...and that puts her into the mix every week - belongs in exotics. (2)
HEARTOFGOLD DEVIE can be a bit unpredictable from week to week but she gets major post relief, and
could easily rally her way onto the ticket....if in the right mood! (1) SOUTHERN SWAN MAN qualified
back beautifully then landed on a very nice trip in his first start back - rallied to the lead to the top of the
lane but just didn't have nearly enough in the final 1/16th of a mile and weakened to 3rd - seems destined
for only a smaller piece once more. (4) COCKTAILS N DREAMS was really struggling across the river
but raced much better last week in her local return - we'll see if she can continue to build off that effort
tonight. (8) CREATIVE VENTURE was a nice 3rd off the layoff in NW4, but struggled moving up to NW6
last week - Post 8 makes it even harder to like his chances. (7) KEEPER OF SECRETS struggled in NW4,
and now lands in NW6 after a Fhd. win - seems up against it
RACE 5 - (4) BABS JANSEN has turned in a trip of VERY sharp efforts, including last week (where she
paced her final half in a hidden :54.1, from a hopeless spot) - drops in class, moves inside, and seems ready
to finally pick up her first Hilltop victory. (3) CASH ROLL was up the track in her first start back off the
layoff but improved quickly the next week, finishing a close 3rd (in NW15000) - just too far back to get
involved last week, but she draws better tonight (while dropping in class), and should be able to make her
presence felt. (7) CORAL BELLA went on an insane run from 12.5s to the Open but soon saw that form
deteriorate rapidly - showed a little better life last week, and drops another peg tonight - has the speed to
blast off the car (even from Post 7), and we may see Bartlett handle her aggressively this week. (1) CHECK
ERED PAST is a total in-and-outer, but could easily grab a piece from this spot if the "good" version shows
up. (5) WALTZWITHSIERRAA had a useful tightener off the layoff last week - may be ready to at least
contend for a minor award now. (2) NORMANS MADELINE took no $$ and was no factor in either of her
first 2 starts off the layoff - inclined to pass on her again here, but will at least take a peek at the tote board
for some guidance. (8) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE has some good recent tries, but seems unlikely to get
close enough to make much noise here. (6) BETTOR LADY was 61-1 for her local debut and no factor
RACE 6 - Sharp field of mares! (5) DEMETER N has been on her game the last few starts, and that
includes last week (when she finished with good interest from an impossible spot) - may prove to be the
"sharpest of the sharp" in a field stacked with in-form contenders. (2) WESTBEACH came to life 2 back as
she blew out cheaper, then built off that mile with an excellent first over 3rd last week - a good trip puts her
right there again tonight. (6) GINGER TREE LIZ was a sharp winner (NW6) in her 2nd start off the layoff
- stepped up to face tough older mares last week and was FULL of pace at the wire after finally finding
some room - absolutely worth including in exotics at that 15-1 ML price. (8) JIVE DANCING A was 2nd
best to the currently raging BETTERB CHEVRON N two back, then raced super in defeat last week to the
very promising TECHYS ANGEL A - the only (obvious) knock is Post 8!(4) STAR CAPTAIN is another
that made the big jump to tackle older rivals last week and she was very good too, though never able to find
the room in the stretch to show just how much she had - wish she wasn't listed at such a short price on the
ML, though! (1) LADYBELUCKYTONITE hails from a sharp barn, has a couple of recent 2nds and draws
best - could certainly find her way onto the ticket, but prefer others for the top slot. (3) TEAM KIWI N has
been very consistent, grabbing 2nds in her last 3 starts - this is a tougher field, however, and she may have a
tougher time matching those results tonight. (7) WESTMONT Z TAM beat easier upon arrival from PA but
was an "ok" 3rd from the rail in her last, and draws poorly for tonight.
RACE 7 - Another tough one: (5) TECHYS ANGEL A was hammered down to 3/2 fort her U.S. debut
(thanks to an impressive Down Under resume) and she was able to deliver, despite a pretty tough trip -
faces a solid group of ladies tonight, but we'll stick with her once again. (2) BITTY BITTY is a tough call -
she went on an outstanding run right through the "NW PM" classes then held her own when forced to
graduate right up into the Open - got some class relief last week but faded in the stretch after cutting the
mile - we'll see if she rebounds tonight, or if maybe all those hard miles have left her a little off form at the
moment. (6) MAGICAL MISTRESS is in the hunt week after week, and tonight should be no exception -
any decent trip gives her a chance, and that 9-1 ML price does look appealing. (7) HEAVENS SHOWGIRL
A is the "x factor" here - had some issue in the first leg of the Matchmaker and had to pull up - her qualifier
suggests that it was no big deal, but it's hard to know just how aggressively she'll be handled with the
terrible draw - another tough call! (3) SPORTS FLIX has looked good since returning from the layoff and
steps back up tonight after last week's dropdown victory - a live trip could land her somewhere on the
ticket. (4) TOBAGO TIME has been outracing her odds pretty much every start since arriving here in Feb. -
never a bad bomb for the bottom of the gimmicks. (1) CRAZTY CUTE makes her 2022 return after an 11
win, $108K season last year - not sure why there's a one month gap between qualifiers, and she may need a
start or two before we see her best. (8) MAJOR BATTLE shows up more often than not, but will have her
work cut out for her from Post 8.
RACE 8 - (2) BETTERB CHEVRON N is a streaky mare, and she's hitting on all cylinders right now -
moves up in class but if she's as sharp as she was the last 2 starts, she'll be a handful once more. (7)
SHELLIE DE VIE went really bad for a while, but does seem to be heading back in the right direction now
- she's listed at 20-1 ML, and seems like a good bomb to try to get onto the ticket somewhere. (1) MACZA
FFAIR N was clearly a bit short off the layoff, but she certainly wasn't terrible - tighter now, draws best,
and could easily be ready to grab a good piece. (8) SEZANA N picked an odd spot for her return mile
($40K claimers, against the boys!) but she wasn't bad at all - may find herself unable to get in play from out
here, but she's another good bomb to consider for exotics. (5) JOSSIE JAMES A looked like she was ready
to finally go on a tear after that blowout win 2 back but she quickly reverted to her lesser form last week -
hard to say which version we'll see tonight. (4) SOUND IDEA qualified very nicely after a 4 month break,
and has shown that she can hold her own at this level - perhaps the tote board will offer some clues? (6)
ANDRA DAY was able to grab that pocket victory 2 back but most of her other efforts in 2022 have been
sub par - tends to be overbet, and this really isn't a great spot. (3) PONDER THE ODDS could really use
some class relief.
RACE 9 - Tough finale, with all the main players looking somewhat shaky! (4) MALNIFICENT didn't
perk up with the drop to NW10000 but did come up with a better effort last week in NW7500, rallying for
2nd behind the standout winner - takes another class drop tonight and if she's as good as last week, she'll
have a decent chance to beat these. (2) COLOR ENVY wasn't bad on 3/10 in her first start in a YEAR, but
failed to build off that effort in her last pair - perhaps tonight's drop to the basement will perk up a bit? (1)
BYE BYE MICHELLE has been burning a LOT of $$ lately - maybe this is the spot where she finds her
form and wires the field (as she's done many times in the past).....or maybe it's not! (5) FIRSTUP has been
"meh" in her 3 starts since returning to Yonkers....but "meh" may be enough for a piece of this. (7) A
CRAFTY LADY had some mild pace finishing last week - terrible draw, but still a chance at a minor piece.
(6) NO STONE UNTURNED has some ok tries at Fhd. but just seems a little cheap for these. (8) PLAY
TO THE CROWD may or may not fit with these, but we may not get to find out conclusively here as she
draws post 8 after missing 24 days. (3) CRYSTAL SPARKLES N is now 15-0-0-1 over the last 2 years