The Empire Report - Tuesday, August 9, 2022 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - Excelsior A, 3YO C&G: (7) BLUESVILLE is hitting on all cylinders right now, winning 3
straight and looking good each time - he overcame Post 7 to win at Batavia last week, and we'll look for
him to be able to do the same here at Yonkers. (5) HUNTED HOUSE chased the top choice from the
pocket last week and came up 2nd best (his 4th straight 2nd place finish) - he may be looking at a similar
outcome tonight. (2) FOXHUNT had every chance to be 2nd at Btva. last week but lacked the stretch kick
to get by HUNTED HOUSE to the wire - remains a solid contender for another good piece tonight. (6)
ARMED BANDIT is having a solid season, and beat the top choice back in June - he doesn't seem as handy
as a couple of the others, however, and tonight's draw may limit him to another smaller share. (3) STREET
BEATS had no chance in his only local try but does draw much better tonight - maybe he can improve
enough to grab a small piece? (4) JITTERBUG FLIP was in tough spots in his last 2 local tries - another
with a chance for a minor piece, with the right trip. (1) BEST BETTOR is 7-0-0-0 here at Yonkers, and the
rail draw may not be enough to help him contend for a chunk of this
RACE 2 - Excelsior A, 3YO C&G: (7) LANJO LEE has won 10 of his 13 starts this year - one loss came at
the hands of the talented (tripsitting) KINGSVILLE, one was when he got parked the mile at Goshen, and
the other was a 3rd place finish vs. good OLDER foes at Tioga - clearly the one to beat, even from out here.
(4) BLOODHOUND was a sharp winner at Monti 2 back, then a good 3rd behind the top choice (and
KINGSVILLE) last week - would seem like the one with the best chance to knock off #7. (1) SHAKERTO
WN ended 2021 with a very nice 10-2-6-1 record - found the NYSS competition a little too tough to start
off his 3YO campaign, but has had only mixed results since dropping to this Excelsior A class - the rail and
Bartlett should make him a prime player for a piece of this, though. (6) HUNTSVILLE PLACE was no
factor at Batavia last week, but did hit board in 4 straight prior to that - would have liked his chances a bit
more from a better post. (3) THIRD POWER hasn't really clicked since joining this barn recently but is still
eligible to improve - maybe he can grab a small piece here? (5) GALACTIC STORM has an overall solid
record this year (8-2-3-1) but he made a break on 7/18, then was scratched sick from his last - just seems a
little iffy right now. (2) TAKECHARGEBLUECHIP has 5 starts this year and still hasn't hit the board
RACE 3 - (1) AINT HE SPECIAL looked terrific in his first 2 local tries, but wasn't a factor in his last pair
- moves inside tonight, and he'll get his chance to show if the FIRST two starts best represent his ability...or
the last two - looking for him to come up with a good one here. (3) HP LIS SHADOW was sent off favored
last week but lost all chance with an early miscue - the price figures to be a bit better now, and he probably
deserves a chance to make amends. (5) JK STANDINGOVATION debuts for the Super Siblings tonight and
while his recent Hoosier lines look mixed, he has won 6 of 18 starts this year - have to believe he'll be a
good fit, but we'll see if he can find some of the early speed he's been lacking out of town. (5) LATEST
ERA shipped in sharp and raced well in both local starts - could easily pick up a nice chunk of this. (6) JMS
ROLLIN was helped by a tiring leader last week, but he raced very well nevertheless - tonight's outside
draw does figure to hurt his chances a bit. (7) DANCING JOE was better in his last couple, but from inside
posts - figures to have a much harder time being part of the action from Post 7. (2) SNAP CALL seems to
need easier to be serious player - prefer others. (8) GOTAFOOLISHDESIRE is 0 for 18 on the year, hasn't
been sharp at all, and lands all the way outside - pass for now
RACE 4 - (8) UNSUNG HERO was sent off at 1/10 after taking 4 months off and won by 10 lengths at
Chester - tough spot at The Swamp the next week but returned to PA and delivered a pair of sharp efforts -
gets a major barn change for tonight, gets a big driver switch as well and we'll look for him to be able to
overcome Post 8 in his Hilltop debut. Both (5) PICK A GENRE and (6) COLD CREEK FELIPE shipped in
to Yonkers on July 19th, have faced each twice and both have raced well each time - either/both of the
should have a decent chance to be part of the equation tonight, as well. (3) DANCE MONKEY has 3 starts
up in Canada and seems to be getting better each week - debuts tonight for a top local barn, gets Stratton,
and may very well be as good as the top picks - perhaps the tote board will provide some additional clues?
(4) HURRIKANE MON AMI was a decent 4th last week - seems a notch below the top ones, but may be
able to grab a good chunk, with the right trip. (7) LOUS BEACH has been using quick starts to grab good
trips and take home good pieces....but he needs to be stronger at the end of the mile if he hopes to contend
for a top prize here. (1) SEE ME SHINE seems to have gone in the wrong direction recently - will need a
big wake up call to be part of this, even from the pole. (2) JERSEY JUSTICE ships in from Pocono and just
seems to be a bit overmatched - we shall see
RACE 5 - Tough race: (5) SOMESWEETSOMEWHERE made over $100K at 2, compiling an 8-2-1-3
record - she's winless so far at 3 but continues to race well, hitting board in 6 of her 8 starts - she picks up
Bartlett upon arrival from PA, and perhaps that can get her to the winner's circle. (1) BETTER WATCH IT
ships down from Canada with less than inspiring recent form, but she lands in a barn that routinely does
well with these, and also draws the pole with Brennan - definitely worth considering. (2) CHERYLS SHA
DOW shipped in from Canada to a new barn, added Lasix, and was able to deliver as the prohibitive 1/10
favorite - really only had one horse to beat that night, and this crew is definitely tougher...we'll learn more
about her tonight. (3) CAVIART CARMEL raced well from a tough spot on 7/20, then came up 2nd best to
a stickout winner last week - she definitely fits, and is another that can have a say in the final outcome. (6)
SHORTYS GIRL went a much better effort in her 2nd local start, holding well after a first over bid - had
she drawn better tonight, she probably would have been ranked a bit higher. (7) YS ISA is a bit of a puzzle
- won easily as the 3/5 choice in her local debut but really didn't beat much - looked choppy at times in her
next and was a disappointing 3rd as the 1/10 favorite, then was scratched from her last - draws poorly for
tonight against a solid overall group, and may be pretty vulnerable from out here. (4) HESTON HONEY
had been on a nice roll until coming up well short in her last - hard to say if it was just a bump in the road,
or if she really needs to be in easier to do her best work - suppose we'll get a better picture after tonight. (8)
TAVA is clearly doing better work in her last couple, but the outside draw really figures to hurt her chances
RACE 6 - (2) CAPTAIN FANCY went some big miles when sharp here this winter - returns from Pocono
looking pretty sharp again, and may be able to get it done from this spot. (4) FEELIN WESTERN probably
should have been able to win last week but the winner did end up with a perfect trip - his overall form has
been excellent, and he looms a serious threat tonight. (1) ROCK THE DEVIL couldn't fully sustain his first
over bid when dropping last week, but does drop another notch for tonight - has to respected with the rail
and Bartlett. (5) GENIUS MAN can be a little in and out at times but he's actually put together a nice series
of starts lately - he's moving up in class and does draw outside his main foes, but still seems capable of
picking up a nice piece if the trip goes his way. (3) THE REAL ONE has been on the upswing and certainly
is more than capable at this level when sharp - would definitely include in exotics. (8) WALKINSHAW N
drops in class and fits beautifully with these....but his late rally may be coming from too far back for
anything more than a smaller piece. (7) SARANAC BLUE CHIP is an excellent 6 for 13 at YR this year,
but is unproven at this higher level - Post 7 only makes his task that much tougher. (6) SETH HANOVER
just isn't sharp now, and would be a big surprise in here
RACE 7 - NYSS, 3YO C&G: (3) JD figures to get overbet here but he's won 3 in a row, and owns a
significant post edge over his main foes - solid chance he can extend that streak to 4 (8) TWIN B DELUXE
is 2 for 2 at Yonkers this year, though not in NYSS races - he's a solid weekly performer, but may be used a
bit harder than he'd like (from Post 8) to get into the race tonight - make sure to get a good price if using
him on top. (7) BOUNTY HUNTER is a legitimate NYSS player but really disappointed at Batavia last
week (when sent off favored, off a bad date) - good chance he'll be sharper tonight, but he'll also have to
contend with Post 7 - another that will need to be a good price to be worth using for the top slot. (2) SYRA
CUSE EXPRESS has been unreliable all year, but does come into tonight off a nice rallying 2nd in his last -
maybe he can replicate that effort and grab a nice share here too? (4) BLUE COLLAR MAN had a nice win
at Stga. 3 back, rallied for 3rd at Monti but was too far back at Btva. last week - willing to include
underneath, for a small piece. (5) FOREST BLU was 9-4-3-1 as a 2YO, including a 2nd in the NYSS Final
- has been slow to get untracked at 3, however, and will need a quick wake up call to be a threat tonight. (6)
STRETCH THE LINE has a few good recent efforts but he's 3-0-0-0 here at Yonkers- outside post doesn't
help either. (1) LANNISTER HANOVER seems ambitiously placed tonight at the NYSS level but he does
draw best, and we'll see if that's enough to help him pick up a small share.
RACE 8 - NYSS, 3YO C&G - tough race! (5) ROLL WITH THE FLOW won his only local start and while
it may have only been a NW2 race, he did wire 'em from Post 8 - he just missed in NYSS legs at Stga. and
Btva., and maybe tonight he can get over the hump - should offer some decent value in a very competitive
affair. (1) SEVEN HUNDRED has a pair of NYSS wins this year (including last week) and draws the pole
tonight - should be a serious threat from start to finish. (2) HUNTANOVER feels like he's on the upswing,
he draws well, and he usually finished with pace - include him in exotics. (4) KINGSVILLE has been
racing primarily in Excelsior A races but his best efforts suggest that these are within his comfort zone too -
a bit puzzling that Bartlett isn't driving for his main client, but perhaps it's a program error....regardless, has
a chance to be a player here. (3) SHAKE IT is the one Bartlett IS listed on, but he faded badly off a two
hole trip last start - legit player on his best, but not all that appealing at the 3-1 ML price. (7 FLIP MY
CHIP broke at Monti then weakened at Batavia, but he's gone better efforts in the past - will need to be a lot
sharper to do any real damage from out here. (6) TE AMO BLUE CHIP feels a bit overmatched tonight
RACE 9 - Wide open finale: (5) AHOY was hammered down to 3/5 last week but her first over bid was
repelled by VELOCITY MCSWEETS, and she had to settle for 2nd - she'll be a much better price now, and
may prefer to make just one late brush at the end....one of many with a chance to take this. (7) LAURIE
LEE definitely is a good fit with these, but is stuck with another outside post - since the price will be
decent, she's worth including. (1) CAVIART CHERIE hasn't been able to deliver a victory lately, but she
does have a bunch of excuses - maybe this is the spot where she can get it done? (4) JOSSIE JAMES A
exits her long time barn and lands with our leading conditioner - would obviously be no surprise at all.(2)
VELOCITY MSCSWEETS tailed off for a while but has bounced back with 2 wins and a 2nd from her last
3 starts - has to be respected in her current form. (3) LOOKATMYART was able to wire these 2 back from
the pole, but landed on too tough a trip from Post 7 last week - license to come out on top if the trip goes
her way. (8) MILLWOOD BONNIE N has picked up 3 minor pieces since moving back up to this level -
seems unlikely to improve on that starting from Post 8. (6) BRING ME DIAMONDS always feels a little
overmatched in this class, but picks up pieces occasionally - will be harder from this spot, though