The Empire Report - Tuesday, January 11, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (1) IMOUTTHEDOOR dominated the 3YOs in Iowa this summer, winning 9 of his 10 starts -
shipped East and was right there 3rd in his YR debut, followed by last week's easy front score - clearly the
one to knock off. (5) HIGH ST CORRIDOR has shown legitimate ability in the past, but his limited racing
schedule suggests he has some issues as well - expect a much more involved effort than we saw last time...
and he's not a bad one to consider if looking to take a shot against the heavy favorite (2) MASK ON MASK
OFF raced a few times this summer as a 2YO - was freshened up, and returned a winner (12/29) in his
Chester return - we'll see if he can build off that effort and be a player here too. (7) JET ACE was well
backed in his last but came up a no-match 2nd behind the top choice - the outside draw may compromise
his chances in his 2022 debut. (4) ZOES LUCKY GUY hasn't shown much in his local efforts but draws
well enough for a chance at a small piece. (6) WHAT ABOUT BOB is now 1 for 32, and has disappointed
far more often than he's delivered - he did grab a 2nd with Lachance 2 back, so maybe he can earn a minor
share tonight? (8) HUMBOLDT HANOVER picked up a win in PA during the winter break, but lands in a
brutal spot to start off 2022 - pass for tonight. (3) COUNTER OFFER ships in from Canada from low %
connections - we'll just observe, for now
RACE 2 - (2) SKIP TO MY LOU never fully clicked after the August purchase but did race "ok" vs. better
stock for a few starts - been freshened up, qualified behind some high end rivals and may have found
himself a winning spot to start off the new year. (4) MCERLEAN does his best work at this bottom level,
beating this class back on 10/15 - ships back off a couple of decent efforts out of town, and is a logical
threat to take home a nice chunk here. (6) TITANIUM N was an interesting claim, considering he was just
2 for 64 here over the past 3 seasons - we'll see if he can really up his game for his new connections. (3)
ASTON HILL DAVE was just 1 for 34 last year, but his last few efforts weren't bad - maybe a small piece?
(1) CHARLIES DRAGON has disappointed in most of his local starts - draws best in an overall soft field,
but we're still leaning towards others. (7) WAR DAN DELIGHT N was 1 for 33 last year, and draws all the
way outside for his seasonal debut - hard to see a way into the hunt for him. (5) CARRACCI HANOVER
just wasn't clicking before the hiatus, then made a break up at Monti - waiting for better signs from him
RACE 3 - (4) SETH HANOVER debuted here for his new barn on 11/9 and went a monstrous effort, just
missing despite being parked the mile from Post 7 - won his next 2 handily (as the favorite), but just wasn't
able to get into the mix last week - should be able to handle this assignment, assuming he's not too rusty
after the winter break. (3) LINCOLN BOULEVARD just missed in his 2nd local try, then stayed sharp with
a pair of 3rds across the river - if Bartlett can coax some speed from him at the start, his chances for the top
slot would go up considerably. (6) COLONEL BAYAMA was 2nd in a pair of Nov. local tries, and stayed
sharp over the hiatus racing PA (winning on 12/19) - belongs in exotics, despite Post 6 (1) BRAZEN
BRAZILIAN has the speed to establish a good trip from this spot...another that should be included
underneath. (2) ARTS ATTITUDE has hit board in 8 of 9 career starts, with a break in the other - ships
away from Chester for the first time, and we'll see how well he fits with the locals. (5) PINEBUSH LIFESA
VER moves up to NW4 after picking up only smaller pieces at the NW2 level - probably looking at only a
minor piece vs. these. (8) ELS DISCO JOHNNY had a few good efforts here a while back but seems off his
game right now...and also has to deal with Post 8. (7) OHARE HANOVER draws poorly in his 2nd start off
the layoff - we'll just watch, for now
RACE 4 - (8) OUR MAX PHACTOR N blasted from Post 6 in his last start of '21 and chased the favorite
right to the wire with a :27.3 final quarter - faces a pretty shaky bunch tonight, and does have the speed to
overcome Post 8 - gets top billing. (4) KERRIN JOSEPH A was facing much better when last seen here in
Oct. - returns off a close 2nd at Fhd., gets Marohn in the bike and seems like a logical player. (2) ST LADS
NEPTUNE rallied steadily at Monti in his 2nd off the layoff, and was racing well at "The Ridge" back in
Sept. - might be able to make some noise in his YR return. (3) ABERDEEN HANOVER definitely seemed
to have lost a couple of steps in 2021 (at age 9) - he's been inconsistent at best, but has a chance at a piece if
he brings one of his better efforts. (1) EGOMANIA was just 1 for 32 last year and at one time, was the
ONLY horse failing to thrive for our highest % barn - was okay 3 back in his first try off the claim (3rd),
but then no factor in his last pair...we'll see if his fortunes change as we flip the calendar. (5) WALTER MI
TTY was a solid 2nd 3 back, but came up horrible in back to back starts to end the year - hard to hop on his
team right now. (7) STOP ACTION shows a bunch of recent 3rds upstate - this figures to be a tough spot,
though. (6) CHACHING HANOVER was winless in 30 starts last year...often against easier than these.
RACE 5 - Good race! (5) SEE YA WRITE N made a strong middle move in his U.S. debut (at Chester)
before flattening a bit at the end - he won a Group 3 race in Australia this summer, adds Lasix for tonight,
and could be worth a play...if the price is decent. (3) FEELIN WESTERN seems a bit cheap on paper but he
moves to a barn that enjoyed outstanding success with fresh stock in 2021 - worth a look in his YR debut?
(6) ULTIMAROCA jogged upon arrival at 1/5 two starts back - won again at ten cents on the dollar in his
last, but definitely didn't dominate the competition - may be a bit vulnerable with the move outside. (4)
RHODEN ROAD was 4 for 4 at Yonkers before coming up 2nd best last week (to #8) - steps up to face an
even tougher field tonight, and we'll see if he can elevate his game enough to be a serious threat. (7) BET
ON BLAKE was solid before the 12/3 claim and has held that form for his current connections - was a
winner in PA over the winter break, and would probably have been listed higher if not for the poor draw.
(2) GAMBLING ADDICTION has a pair of 2nds and a 3rd since arriving from Canada and lands a good
post for tonight - one of many with a chance to have a say in here. (1) NATIVES FILOU beat a NW4 field
on 10/19 but hasn't fared as well up at this NW6 level - does draw best, but still seems a bit below a few of
the others. (8) DANCE IT OUT scored the 19-1 upset to close out 2021 but he moves up in class (while
drawing Post 8) after being away for a month, and may need to wait for a better spot to be a player
RACE 6 - (5) CALVIN K had some issue in his last Dover start (11/18) but qualified back solidly after a
month off - he'll be going for a new barn tonight and with the BIG class drop, may be able to provide his
new connections with a quick return. (3) MARCO BEACH only made 10 starts last year and was REALLY
struggling until a couple of sharper tries in September - was scratched sick on 10/2, however, and didn't re-
qualify until 2 months later - perhaps check the tote board for some clues? (1) FOUR STAR FLASH was a
solid 3rd 2 back and looked like a winner on the final turn in his last...before coming up disappointingly
short in the stretch - looks like a good one for exotics from this spot. (4) HES ELECTRIC was just 1 for 17
last year and the 7YO owns only 8 career victories - hard to like on top, but ok to use underneath. (2) KEPT
UNDER WRAPS A failed to thrive in his 5 starts after the claim on 10/22 - we'll see if the month off helps
perk him up a bit. (6) TIGERS WAY was sharper in his last start of the year after a string of dull efforts -
tough draw may limit him tonight. (7) SECRECY just hasn't been a threat locally in some time (and gets
stuck all the way outside)
RACE 7 - (2) RED RIGHT HAND exploded when called upon to score as the 4/5 choice on 11/30 -
stepped up to face NW8 in his next and was a VERY impressive first over winner, boosting his earnings
over the $100K mark to end the year - he's looking for 3 in a row now, and definitely has a solid chance to
get it done. (4) CAPTAIN FANCY came up 2nd best to the top choice last start, and has been very good
since recently adding Lasix - belongs in exotics once again. (5) L DEES JACK LOPEZ was right there with
the 1/10 winner last week, and that was his 3rd straight very sharp effort - has been outracing his odds
every start, and may do so once more tonight. (6) TELL THEM LOU can be somewhat unreliable but he's a
pretty good horse "when right" - his barn ended 2021 on a high note, and we'll see if that carries over into
the new year. (1) CAPTIVATE HANOVER loves to sit for as long as possible, then rally late - include him
underneath. (7) HIPPESTCATINTOWN qualified back after 2+ months off and that 43 length winning
margin could be the largest we've ever seen -- tough spot for his 2022 return, so we'll probably just observe
for now. (3) CRUNCH HANOVER was racing well through the summer but disappeared for a couple of
months, and is currently trying to get back to that better form. (8) SHINY BLACK BEAMER is the
outsider, literally and figuratively.
RACE 8 - (4) APRIL AVA made a break here on 11/18 (at 4/5) but rebounded to put in 4 sharp tries out of
town since then - deserves the nod here as she drops in for the $50K tag. (3) MILLWOOD BONNIE
finished 3rd in 4 straight starts to close out 2021 - gets a good draw for tonight, and can land somewhere on
the ticket once again. (5) COWGIRL LILLY won 4 of her last 7 to close out the year, including a pair of
victories in this class - may be hurt by the top choice leaving to her inside, but still a logical player. (1)
BALFAST N likes to sit and rally, and that helped her pick up a pair of 2nds from her last 3 starts - could
grab another good slice if the trip goes her way tonight. (2) WOODMERE HARRIET can be inconsistent,
but one of her better efforts could see her grabbing a piece....at a nice price. (6) CHECKERED PAST was
racing well in several starts at the end of the year, even if helped by easy trips - the outside draw may leave
her as an outsider tonight, however. (7) POPPY DRAYTON N lands all the way outside for her first start of
the year, and may have a hard time finding a way into the hunt.
RACE 9 - (5) CAVIART LUCA banged out 9 wins and $166K at age 10 and ended the year as sharp as he
was at any point during the season - veteran classmaster deserves top billing in his 2022 debut (4) PRETTY
HANDSOME was dull in his first try off the barn change but was all business in that sharp front end score
the following week - a similar effort could make him the main danger. (2) BRACKLEY BEACH upped his
game after the 10/20 claim, and his recent out of town efforts could give him a conditioning edge here - use
in exotics. (7) AUDI HARE N came up 2nd best to a streaking winner as he looked to end the year with his
own 3 race winning streak - moves way up tonight (while drawing outside, off a month), but he also moves
to a very sharp trainer....maybe a small piece? (3) DON DOMINGO N does his best work vs. a bit easier
but he was racing well at the end of 2021, and may be able to grab a piece here if he's been able to hold that
good form over the break. (8) SILAS SEELSTER has been keeping good company, but figures to be too far
back to do any real damage here (1) UNCLE JORD A was scratched from his U.S debut on 11/17 -
qualified back a month later, but was no factor in his first start, vs. much easier than these - sticking with
others. (6) J B MAUNEY qualified on 12/7 after taking a month off, then was no factor in his start at Fhd. -
guessing he'll be handled conservatively tonight.
RACE 10 - (1) ARI ALLSTAR was only 2 for 39 last year but he's still a "steady" performer in spots like
this - if the barn has been sending out live ones over the first couple of nights, definitely consider using this
guy -- IF the price is fair. (6) FASHIONONTHEBEACH only made 9 starts last year but he had 4 wins and
2 seconds - he's probably the one to beat, but definitely wouldn't be willing to take a very short price with
him (as he'll likely be). (3) SPORTS HERO has been racing ok at Monti since being claimed in Nov. -
seems like he should be able to hold his own here. (4) OUR REGAL IDEAL N was a no factor 4th in his
last start here, but he did pick up 9 wins and 9 seconds in 2021...at 15-1 ML, he's not the worst bomb you
could come up with. (5) MACH TIME N has a new trainer listed, although the same owner is still listed in
the (early) program - regardless, he'll need to improve quite a bit to be a player here. (7) RANSOM
DEMAND trailed all the way when dropped to 15s on 12/17, then was scratched from his next - drops
again, draws outside, and there are too many red flags for our tastes. (2) GOTHIC ROCK seems to have
gone the wrong way in his last pair after being claimed - we'll see if he can rebound tonight
RACE 11 - (3) TOM ME GUN N disappointed 2 back but was a solid 2nd in his last - moves to a sharp
conditioner for tonight, figures to be headed right to the top, and should be a serious threat in the finale. (5)
BARBADOS is used to facing much better, and should be tight for his return after a 10 hole speed try at
The Swamp - the main danger. (2) PEPPER GUY gets some class relief, draws inside, and should be able to
pick up a decent piece here. (8) VENENO will need some racing luck from out here but does fit well
enough for a chance at a piece....IF Bongiorno can find him a manageable journey. (1) BETTER UP was a
winner here vs. cheaper in his last start of 2021 (11/12) - shows a couple of hard to gauge qualifiers (Monti)
since then, and also has a new trainer listed - not quite sure what to expect from him. (4) BEACH BOOGIE
hasn't been sharp, and finished up the track for a new barn last start - in desperate need of a wake up call.
(6) ALEPPO HANOVER was winless in 2021, and really does his better racing vs. cheaper. (7) DING
DING DINGER hasn't really thrived since arriving at YR 4 starts back