The Empire Report - Thursday, April 22, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - Tough race to really love ANYBODY! (7) SHELLIE DE VIE looked awful warming up and
was scratched lame here on 3/25 - came back to qualify nicely at Fhd., then finished with good life for 4th
here last week - has some speed if Bartlett wants to take a shot at leaving the gate...if he's able to get her
into the hunt, she'd have a chance to pull off an upset against these. (5) FREE EXCHANGE is generally a
player most weeks at this level - probably only a matter of time before she wins one, and tonight MAY be
that night. (2) MORE THAN MANY came up with a massive form reversal for a new barn to score at an
astonishingly low 2-1 price (from Post 8!) back on 3/3 - raced well (vs. better) in her next two, but started
to tail after that and now shows up back at the bottom level for another new barn - may be able to use her
speed to pay instant dividends for her new connections. (3) TELL ME A JOKE is still nowhere near "top
form", but at least she showed a bit of interest in her last pair - maybe she can build off that and be a player
tonight? (1) QUITE A DELIGHT N takes a class drop here (from the pole) but her problem has been more
a lack of recent form, than being in too tough - would hardly be a surprise to see her perk up in this highly
vulnerable field. (4) ALL ABOUT MADI has really been no more than "even" in most of her recent starts -
needs to find more. (6) LADYBELUCKYTONITE has been dull/sluggish in most of her recent starts and
will be coming from well out of it tonight - will need things to just fall apart up front to have any chance.
RACE 2 - (5) BLUFFINER gave it a good speed try here 2 back (in NW4) then built on that over at
Chester, crushing the field in a lifetime best 1:54.3 - meets a couple of legitimate foes as he returns to YR
(at the lower NW2 level tonight), but he just may be too good for them at this moment. (1) DESTINY
BLUE CHIP sat the two hole upon arrival from Canada but couldn't get to the winner, after that one just
crawled around the track for 3/4s of a mile - looking at another good trip from the pole tonight, and may
have the best chance at knocking off the top choice. (4) INSURED AM S had a solid 2YO season, finishing
a close 3rd in the NYSS Final to cap off a 6-1-2-2 freshman season - had no chance at PcD in her 3YO
return, and will surely be tighter tonight....while also getting the services of Brian Sears, who makes his
2021 Yonkers return...just not sure how aggressively she'll be handled, with bigger fish to fry down the
road. (6) MOMMS MY DAD was a winner at Fhd. (vs. cheaper) to score his first victory for his current
barn (in his 3rd try) - will face tougher now, and draws all the way outside - probably looking at a smaller
piece here. (3) BREEZING PRAYER had trouble making breaks and getting too hot in his 1st two (short)
racing seasons - seems to be doing better so far at 4, and has a chance to pick up a small piece here. (2)
CHERRY MASON seems highly overmatched.
RACE 3 - Tough race! (4) CLASSY CHAPEL N wasn't bad from an impossible spot 2 back then put in a
very game first over try in last, just missing 2nd - hopefully Bongiorno will see this as a spot to leave hard
and work out a nice trip...because that would give her a good chance tonight. (6) MILADY DENVER A
crushed a field at The Swamp on 2/5 then basically didn't function for the next 6 starts - drew Post 8 at Fhd.
last week and was incredibly hammered down to 8/5...and went on to sweep the field and win going away -
if she can replicate that, she can be a major threat here! (5) BETCHA BABY ships down from Canada with
lines that would make her the one to beat....but she'll likely be the favorite, and the barn is an astounding 2
for 56 since 3/1 -- hard to take her at a short price. (8) TELLITSASSYMAE drops to the basement after an
excellent 2nd to a very sharp winner in NW7500 last week - would have been the top choice with a better
draw, but still worth using at the right price. (2) MILLWOOD BONNIE N is one of the few horses that this
barn has just been unable to get going - did have an excuse in last (shuffled) - maybe can do better tonight?
(3) CABOWABOCUTTIE is much better now than she was for a long time, but still seems a bit below the
main players - maybe a minor piece? (1) FOX VALLEY CHARLIZ woke up with that win 4 back but was
no good before and no good since - sticking with others. (7) FEAR MY SHADOW needs an easier spot
RACE 4 - Another tough one! (7) ANN HILL hasn't won in a long time and for many weeks, just wasn't
good at all - some better signs lately, though, and her barn has been sending out more live ones too - might
be able to leave and improve position quickly here, and certainly is worth a look at what figures to be a
decent price. (4) POPPY DRAYTON N would normally be a pretty automatic choice dropping to this level
(and likely a very easy winner) but as noted, her barn has been beyond ice cold for nearly 2 months - would
hardly be a shock if she won, but it would be hard to key her on top (at a short price) right now. (5) THREE
DEEDELIGHT A was good for some time but hit the skids in her last few - she'll surely attract a lot of
attention with the significant barn change she's getting here, but keep in mind that she's also just 1 for 56 at
YR over the last 3 years - insist on a nice price if using on top. (1) DIXIE STAR N ships in with sharp lines
from Nfd. but that was facing much cheaper - she's listed at 7/5 on the ML, and that makes her one that's
worth taking a shot against. (3) SUDDEN CHANGE N can be highly inconsistent but at her best, would
have a chance to be a player here (7 wins here in 2019-20) - willing to consider. (2) KEENE OLIVIA was
solid 2 back but just stopped on a dime in her last (and is just 1 for 20 over the last 2 yrs.) - she does get
Sears tonight, and the barn has a couple of recent winners - another to at least consider. (6) ACEFOURTY
FOUR ALEX just hasn't been sharp enough to consider from out here for more than a minor share. (8)
BETABCOOL N needs a much better spot for any chance at being a serious player.
RACE 5 - It's a trend...another wide open affair! (7) ROCKIN THE BOYS A went completely off her
game for a few starts - a move to a new barn 2 back seems to have her heading in the right direction, and
Stratton may finally have enough confidence to put her in play tonight - she'll be a nice price, and CAN
beat these - with the right trip. (3) COVEREDNDIAMONDS N moves to a new barn and gets the post
relief her prior connections kept waiting for - last 2 weren't bad from impossible spots, and she may be able
to be a real threat here. (2) ROCKNROLL ANNIE was well meant in last but brutalized through the
opening quarter, losing any realistic chance - a better trip would make her a legit player here, (1)
CINDERELLA DELIGHT steps up a notch off the claim and it's hard to say if she can be as effective
against these tougher mares - new barn often does well with their fresh acquisitions, so we'll see how this
one works out. (4) ANGELS PRIDE will likely attract support off the class drop but she was definitely a bit
disappointing off LAST week's drop - may disappoint again. (8) LIVELY ROCKET is a good fit at this
level but gets no luck with the draw - will need some major trip luck for a chance at a piece. (6)
WINDSONG PARISIAN struggled with turns last week but to her credit, kept trying hard to pick up 3rd -
outside draw may limit her tonight. (5) LAAWALYS AMARTINI has been doing decent work lately, but
vs. lesser - wait for her to drop
RACE 6 - (4) BONTZ N beat this class back on 1/28, was 2nd one level up the next week, then beat a
NW15000 field one start later - returns from Stga. in fine form, at a winning level, and reunites with Zeron
- deserves top billing. (1) BRONZE OVER N clearly had some issue here in her last start but the nice
qualifier suggests it was nothing major - she's very dangerous at this level, especially from the rail - the
main danger. (5) IRON MISTRESS is the "x factor" here - has always raced well here at YR for a low
profile barn, and now moves to new connections after a purchase (off last week's Fhd. win) - wouldn't be
shocked to see a big mile from her. (6) AMANDEROSA was one of several from this barn to come up with
big efforts last week - steps up and moves outside but may be sharp enough for a minor piece. (3) ONEIDA
BLUE CHIP moves up a class after a win and 2nd one level down - seems a bit below the top ones, but a
small share is a possibility. (2) FRANSCHOEK is hard to gauge right now - would normally be a threat for
a decent piece from a spot like this but her form suggests she may be tailing now - we shall see. (7) ALL
ABOUT AMY raced very well last week and her overall form is good right now - not sure she'll ever get
close from this spot, though. (8) CHASE YOU wants a much better post....in an easier class
RACE 7 - (8) RACINE BELL has made the transition to 4YO mare with complete ease, and has elevated
her game to a pretty scary level right now - her last 2 wins here were as outstanding as they look, and she
certainly seems destined for a big season - not overly concerned with the 8 hole assignment but would have
preferred to see Bartlett stick with her - hopefully Sears will drive her with as much confidence tonight! (6)
BRONSKIMACKENZIE A doesn't wind up in a great spot, faces an uncertain trip but the price will likely
be fair, and she's worth using in exotics. (4) DEMETER N was Bartlett's choice (barn loyalty) and we know
she has the ability to win at this level - the concern is that she's been off almost 4 weeks...and it's hard to
know if she'll be tight enough to be a serious player. (3) GOLDEN QUEST N hasn't won yet in 2021, but
she's hit board in 5 of her 6 starts - always a good one to include underneath. (2) FEELIN RED HOT really
wants to be in easier at this point in her career but she does draw inside, and there's always a chance for an
easy trip - throw in for 3rd, if she's a decent price. (5) ROBYN CAMDEN is good right now, but has been
facing lesser - needs the trip to go her way to make her late rally count. (7) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA is
good right now, but faces a potentially terrible trip from all the way out here - sticking with others tonight.
(1) JEWELS FORREAL is in fine form, but is really pushing it up at the Open level - even from the pole
RACE 8 - Another tough race on a very tough card! (3) SALLY FLETCHER A gets her first good post
since the claim back, and really hasn't been bad (from impossible spots) - should be a decent price, and is
one of several with a chance to come out on top here. (2) VICIOUS CIRCLE has been hurt by bad posts
and/or tough fields in most of her recent starts - seems like she should be a good fit here, draws inside, and
the right trip could put her right there at the end. (4) HIGH ROLLING A charged hard from way back to
pick up 2nd to the runaway winner last week - moves up a notch, but she can go with these when on her
game - possibility. (1) BUZINGA N N had to need her last after missing 5 months, and catching a filed
with Racine Bell didn't help either - might have ordinarily been the choice tonight but until this barn starts
sending out a few winners, it'll be hard to take a short price on any of their starters. (8) NORMANS MADE
LINE must have gotten pretty brave after beating up on cheaper at Chester because her last win here was
terrific - no idea how serious she'll be up in class from Post 8, but she IS sharp enough to have a say....IF
Holland can get her into the race. (5) THE CHARGING MOA N isn't on her best game right now and even
her "good" miles are a bit lacking at the end - minor piece only. (6) ANNABETH just doesn't seem sharp
enough right now to be a player from out here. (7) E R HILARY often takes $$ but is only 1 for 7 locally,
and draws Post after a miscue in last - definitely leaning to others tonight.
RACE 9 - (3) DONGAL RUNDLSCRK N has been on an extended form spree that has carried her from
the bottom class all the way up to (almost) the top - came up 2nd best to the very well meant Robyn
Camden in her last, but can make amends tonight against this somewhat softer bunch. (4) MALNIFICENT
has found her form the last few starts and looks like a live player, once again - if the trip is kind, she has a
legit chance here. (8) STOWAWAY HANOVER just wasn't herself last week, tiring from the top of the lane
while also getting a bit hard to steer - a bit surprised to see her right back in the box, but perhaps that's a
good sign....Zeron may handle her conservatively off that last mile, so make sure to get a good price if
using from Post 8! (2) JOSSIE JAMES A has been on a roll but all those weeks of front end tries may be
taking a toll - not writing her off here, but definitely concerned that she may be starting to go the other way.
(5) BEST HONEY HANOVER got parked 2 back and was up the track in her last - clearly much better
than those lines, and should do better tonight...but definitely prefer several ahead of her right now. (6)
JUXTA COWGIRL has recent wins in NJ and PA, but vs. lesser - may find these a bit tough, especially
with the outside draw. (7) IDEAL CLASSIC was an upset winner in her last but a repeat of that seems
unlikely with the class bump and moves from the rail to Post 7. (1) DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE is forced
to move up off an empty try vs. easier - seems a bit overmatched, even from the pole
RACE 10 - (3) JIVE DANCING A was well backed and well meant debuting here for a new barn last week
- brushed to the lead early but couldn't make it hold up late against a better bunch than these - one more
chance! (2) PONDER THE ODDS has done nothing since winning off the layoff here 4 back, but she's
been known to reverse form on a dime - not a bad week to give her a look. (6) IM VERY SPECIAL just
hasn't been able to get back to her top form in some time, but she certainly hasn't been "bad" either - could
easily grab a decent piece against these. (4) SCANDALICIOUS prefers to be in cheaper but the right trip
could still see her land a share against these too. (8) MOTU MOONBEAM N has been on a scary roll for a
long time, but now steps up again (from Post 8) and it just seems like she may hit a snag this week - insist
on a big price if looking to try her from out here. (1) SANDYS BEACH came alive from those terrific wins
4 and 5 starts back but hasn't come close to that form since moving up in class - not sure the rail draw is
going to help her enough to be a player here. (5) BYE BYE MICHELLE looked good beating a NW7500
field 2 back but was short last week in NW10000, and now moves up again - prefer others. (7)
CHECKERED PAST has elevated her game quite a bit...but not so much that she can overcome this spot.