The Empire Report - Thursday, November 2, 2023 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (4) DP REALORDEAL is having a solid season overall but just can't buy a win here at Yonkers
- his last was actually must better than it looks, however, and he was a fame first over 2nd the week before -
maybe he's found a spot he can handle? (5) STRAIGHT UP COOL picked up a 2nd last week after a good
start from Post 7 but was no threat at all to the winner - he definitely fits well here and his barn is going
well right now....but he's also just 2 for 31 on the year and listed as the 7/5 ML favorite...may not offer the
best value in here. (3) MAXIMUS RED A is another camera shy contender, currently 1 for 26 locally on
the year - he fits very nicely with these, however, and figures to be able to be a big part of this. (6) MAURI
ES BONUS A continues to draw horribly since arriving on the scene but his overall form isn't bad - may be
able to outperform that 20-1 ML price and grab a piece here. (2) LITERL LAD HANOVER has some good
out of town recent efforts but vs. softer - not really sure how well he'll fit with these. (1) PROVOCATIVE
PRINCEN had been awful for ages - got a Monti wake up call then raced well here for a start...before
reverting to that lesser from last week - sticking with others
RACE 2 - (5) UP THE CREEK just missed from Post 8 in his first try at this level on 9/25 - he won his
next (from Post 7) and ALMOST won again last week, despite an eventful trip in a wild race - the one to
beat tonight. (1) ARTIST BEST landed on a good trip in last week's hotly contested mile and was able to
nip the top choice at the wire - he'll likely sit a pocket tonight, and he'll get his chance to come out on top
once more. (4) LAZ was an "ok" 3rd in his first try at this level then wore down the favorite to win last
week - logical threat to land in the exotics tonight. (3) ROSE RUN WOODROW thrived immediately off
the recent barn change, winning at Monti, winning at Fhd, then picking up a check in the Stga. Open - his
last pair at Fhd. weren't close, however, and it's pretty much a guessing game as to what we'll get from him
tonight. (7) WHAT ABOUT BOB is good right now, and almost used a rail skimming trip to win from way
back last week - he'll need lots of trip luck to overcome this spot, but a good price makes him worth a look.
(6) KB MAC always seems to "figure" but is now just 6-0-0-1 here at YR - tonight's tough draw won't help
his chances. (2) JK STANDINGOVATION wasn't part of the highly contested pace last week, moved into
traffic to the final turn and was able to pull off the win after finding a friendly miracle seam in the lane -
just way too many duds to look for him to make it 2 in a row
RACE 3 - (2) WALKINSHAW N was poorly driven last week and parked as a result - drops back down a
notch, gets a big switch to Bartlett and looms a very short priced favorite. (4) LYONS LIBERTY is just 1
for 21 this year and 0 for 27 in his YR career.....but he was actually very good last week, and may be able to
land somewhere on the ticket in this pretty tough race to figure. (5) GAMBLING TERROR was "sneaky
ok" in his last couple and may be able to leave here (if #4 doesn't)- maybe could add some value to exotics?
(3) REIGNING DEO has been decent in several recent starts but he was scratched sick on 10/19 and comes
into tonight having missed a month - could be risky at a short price. (1) KERFORD ROAD A was a dull
5th last week but it was his first start in 3 months - eligible to be a bit more competitive tonight. (6) ROSE
RUN X CON has been solid lately and was actually very good last week - it's strictly because of the draw
that he's listed here on the bottom
RACE 4 - (5) LOORIM LAKE A felt a little risky heading into his last, coming off multiple breaks and
dropping instantly below the $30K claiming price - he did race well, however, rallying for 2nd in an
encouraging effort - gets Brennan tonight, drops right back in the box, and we'll give him the edge. (3) RO
AN COLOR grabbed an easy half last week but still was outmuscled when it mattered most - he remains a
legitimate threat, but has to be a "fair" price to be worth using on top. (6) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES beat
both of the top choices last week in the 3 way battle to the wire - the win was long overdue, and we'll see if
he can build off that...though tonight's draw may make things a bit tougher. (1) GOLDEN GESTURE was
making his debut for our top barn last week but was off a month, took no $$ and was no factor - he may be
quite a bit better the 2nd time around, and is worth considering for exotics. (2) MISSILE SEELSTER has
been "ok" lately, but would probably look more appealing one level down/ (7) SWAGASAURUSREX
failed to have any impact in his last pair and lands all the way outside for tonight. (4) QUATRAIN BLUE
CHIP never gets any class relief despite struggling at this level for a long time
RACE 5 - (3) IM THE MUSCLE is a different horse on the lead and he gets the right pilot tonight for his
best chance to get there - not one to fall in love with if he ends up way overbet, however. (5) PIVOTAL was
good for several starts, tailed for a couple, but was "sneaky ok" in his last - could be worth a look tonight at
the right price. (7) GRINDER fits very nicely with these and may have even been the top choice had he not
drawn so far outside - if you think Brennan can work out a decent trip here, he's worth a look. (4)
STEUBEN HANOVER had a very promising try on 10/12 returning from a long layoff - he missed by a
nose in his next, but folded badly after cutting very reasonable fractions last week - total guessing game for
tonight. (1) MUFASA AS isn't usually on our radar but he recently has a win and pair of 3rds at this level,
and has to at least be considered for a piece starting from the rail. (6) JACKED raced ok in his last couple
and he may or may not be a good fit at this $50K level - could have made a bigger case for him with a
better draw. (2) SHEENA SOLDIER has enjoyed some success in amateur races lately but seems a bit of a
stretch dropping in for the $50K tag. (8) P C FREE WHEELING was ok at best from 4 straight inside posts
and now starts from the 8 hole - sticking with others
RACE 6 - (1) HURRIKANE GEORGIE is finally making the loyalty his connections have shown him pay
off, picking up a win and a pair of 3rds in his last 3 starts (after struggling for them almost the entire year) -
may be able to take advantage of the draw and pick up another "W" tonight. (5) JIM BLUE was very well
meant 3 back but blew up on the first turn after blasting hard off the car - bounced back with a very nice
rallying 2nd in his next, then was in a tough spot last week - he's far too camera shy to play on top at any
kind of short price, however. (6) BARRYWHITE HANOVER didn't bring his best last week but to be fair,
that was a pretty crazy race - he's gone several good miles recently, and that 12-1 ML price makes him
worth at least a look. (4) COLD CREEK FELIPE's fate was sealed last week when he was outleft so just
give him a pass - anything close to his "typical" effort would put him in the hunt for a decent piece. (3) DA
GHETTO WIZARD has been struggling, but a live trip would at least give him a chance for a small slice.
(7) ONE CRAZY GUY wasn't all that great when he won here 3 back and really had no excuse to get beat
last week (off a beautiful trip) - the poor draw has us leaning elsewhere. (2) WHAMMER JAMMER has
done little to impress in his 3 local starts. (8) BRUSHING UP lands behind the 8 ball in his return from
Ohio and that may have him waiting for a better spot before we see his best
RACE 7 - (3) DRACO S didn't miss a beat after changing barns on 10/5, finishing 2nd despite a month off
- he won his next, then was hurt badly by the draw in his last pair - moves back inside, and gets the narrow
nod in a very well matched field. (6) PAPA DOC was FAVORED in this class last week, racing well for 3rd
despite a less than stellar drive - hard to NOT use on your tickets at that 20-1 ML price, even from a tough
post. (5) DOO WOP KID got a pretty significant driver change last week, attracted plenty of tote action and
was able to deliver the victory - this will be a tougher spot, but he's sharp enough to be a player with the
right trip. (7) BRAVE BY DESIGN just missed 2 back then was able to wire 'em from Post 8 last week,
pretty much stealing the victory with the uncontested lead - just one of MANY sharp ones from this barn
that are all going big efforts week after week. (4) FOR A DREAMER has wins in 2 of his last 4 starts and a
near miss 2 back as well - add him to the list of possible winners, with the right trip. (1) HAT TRICK
MARLEAU has been having a tough year overall but his last couple were encouraging, and he may be able
to have a say from this good spot. (2) IN MY DREAMS has one win from 5 starts since being claimed and
a :59.2 half was a big help in that victory - may be just a tad below some of the others right now. (8) PERF
ECT TITAN draws Post 8 off a break last week - sticking with others this week
RACE 8 - (5) CREDIT CON looked more like his good self last week, delivering a powerful brush and
drawing off to the easiest of victories- no reason he can't take another for the Dynamic Duo (3) TACHYON
has been sharpening lately and that last victory was VERY good - might be able to step up and grab a piece
with these better ones too. (1) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS showed surprise speed last week and did a nice
job somehow holding 2nd after being blown away by the top choice - good chance to hit the board for what
feels like the zillionth straight week. (4) SOUTHWIND ARTURO drops from the Open but this level may
still be just a bit higher than he'd prefer - chance to rally for a minor share. (8) HIGHLAND MOWGLI can
probably still leave from Post 8 and get himself a close up spot but stamina has been an issue, and that may
come into play tonight, as well. (6) VALI HANOVER wasn't able to make much of a dent trying to rally in
the Open last week but the class drop may allow him to show up late for a small slice. (2) SWEET SOUL
DAVID should be able to sit relatively close to the pace tonight - maybe he can pick up some minor spoils?
(7) VINNY DE VIE has struggled from similar spots at this level and the same may happen tonight
RACE 9 - (2) BLUEBIRD RECON has been off form for a while but did look a bit better last week - he
can probably step right around the rail horse and cut this mile tonight (or sit the pocket), and this may be a
spot he can handle. (5) BETTORBUCKLEUP has gone good miles chasing better many times this year and
this is a field he's really SUPPOSED to beat....but he's also just 2 for 26 this year (after going 1 for 18 last
year) and just seems a bit risky at that 9/5 ML price. (4) HES ELECTRIC rarely wins but this is the type of
field where he MAY be able to use his one late move if the main players falter - consider at the right price.
(7) B LIKE CRUISER hasn't been on his game and draws poorly for tonight - that being said, this is a soft
enough field where he MAY be able to get a wake up call. (6) HEART ON MY SLEEVE has really been
struggling and the only real angle here is getting Bartlett on board - not an unreasonable stab if looking for
a late night longshot. (1) HES GONNA GETYA just hasn't been sharp all year, and comes into tonight with
a 17-0-1-1 slate - hard to endorse, even from the pole. (8) SHARP RAZOR raced well in his last pair at
Monti but seems unlikely to be able to be a serious player from out here. (3) AINT HE SPECIAL hasn't
been a player for months. but at least he rarely gets in the way