The Empire Report - Tuesday, Mach 9, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series - (1) RABLE won her career debut at Dover back on
12/29 - was scratched sick from her next 2 starts and forced to re-qualify but came back just as sharp,
rattling off 4 more wins, including last week's 1:52.1 (lifetime best) blowout - missed the first leg of the
series, so you know they'll have her ready to go tonight...with a strong chance to extend her streak to 6! (4)
PAIGES GIRL tailed off for a few starts before the big wake up call win 2 back - got unlucky when trapped
behind a tired leader in last, but should be able to bounce right back tonight - the main danger? (5) SOMEB
EACHSOMEFRA is a solid YR performer (8-3-1-1) but did come up a little short at the end of her last pair
- legitimate player for sure, but will need to be a little sharper in the latter stages. (7) FLIRTY FORTY
woke up with a sharp try 4 back and has been good ever since, culminating in last week's upset victory - no
luck with the draw tonight, so that might limit her to a small piece this leg. (3) DOTTED LINE never got
involved last week but was sharp in her prior pair - willing to throw in for 3rd. (6) MOANING LISA's 2
YR wins have come in races that just fell apart - stuck outside, and seemingly looking at only a minor share
tonight. (2) CHUPPAH ON seems a bit below these, but at least the inside draw may help a bit
RACE 2 - (5) OUR WHITE KNIGHT was winless in 7 tries here in 2019-20 but faced considerably better
- lands in a very beatable NW5000 field for his return, and looks like the one to knock off. (2) CLARION
HALL is definitely off his best game but the drop to this class almost got him home a winner last time - no
value, but have to respect his chances. (4) BROWNIE never really developed after showing potential as a
youngster, but Dube's own does throw a good one now and then - finished with interest in last, and is worth
a look here IF the price is right. (1) WATKINS was racing over his head for several starts and it seems to
have soured the 14YO a bit, as he now is struggling even at the bottom levels - can rebound at any time, but
still prefer several others tonight (needs just $1744 to go over the $1M mark - hope he gets there soon!) (8)
WHAT CHAPTER was 0 for 16 last year but was right there on the final turn in his last local start (before
making a costly break), then did win at Fhd. last week - not a bad bomb to at least consider. (7) LUCKY
JUNE BUG throws a good one at times (see last week) but the terrible draw may leave him waiting for a
better spot. (3) TORKIL just disappoints way too often to ever really "like" - needs to do better, and more
often! (6) ROSE RUN SPEEDSTER threw a weak try from the pole last week and now moves outside.
RACE 3 - M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series - (3) PETTYCOAT BUSINESS came into this series
looking like the one to beat....but she wasn't even able to win the first leg, outbattled in the stretch and
weakening to 3rd even after having things all her own way - clearly she can no longer be labeled a
"cinch"....but the talented 4YO does deserve another chance to make amends for that last unexpected
defeat. (1) SOUND IDEA sat pocketed to the top choice last week, actually got by into the stretch but was
then collared herself by the winner - suppose she has the best chance to knock off the top one again. (4)
DRAGON ROLL has a pair of odds-on wins from her last 3 starts but both were kind of "ugly" victories,
all out to hang on - still seems next in line tonight, though. (2) PRINCESS SHARKTANK raced her once
in the past (first start after shipping in from Running Aces) and was a solid 2nd place finisher - total mixed
bag of effort since then (out of town), but she did just qualify decently after a pair of total Fhd. clunkers -
hard to know what we'll get from her tonight. (7) P L NELLY didn't like be taken off the gate last week and
her fate was sealed even after she settled down - Bongiorno might consider leaving tonight and hoping for a
seat...because that would at least give her a shot at a piece. (5) EVEN LOUDER is an all-or-nothing
type...and clearly the "nothing" version was on display in last - we'll see if she can bounce back with a
better mile tonight. (6) LADY IN FASHION hung in well to the top of the lane before tiring in last - may
be tighter now, but the move outside will hurt. (8) SUNSHINE HALL was an opportunistic winner in her
only local try but caved badly in NJ last week and lands Post 8 for her YR return - not sure she'll be able to
get close to the action from this spot.
RACE 4 - M Life Rewards Ladies Pacing Series - (4) MOUTH WATERING picked up 2nds in 2 of 3 local
tries last year and wasn't bad in the series opener last week, rallying for 4th from way out of it - if things
break her way tonight, she'll have a shot to upset at a pretty nice price. (1) PRAY THE ROSARY got a
strange late driver switch to Holland last week (regular driver Dube WAS here) and she put in a big mile,
leaving from Post 8 for a seat, then battling first over before holding gamely for a close up 3rd - draws best
now, and would be no surprise from this spot. (5) TURNTHEFROWNAROUND will be the logical
favorite off a pair of recent wins but she also figures to be overbet, and may not get the easiest of trips -
can't toss her, but hard to "love" her, especially as the 7/% ML choice. (2) BREAK THE DEAL bottomed
chasing a hot pace 2 back but charged home full of pace in last - one of several in here with a chance, with
the right trip. (3) AMERICAN CHANCE just toured the oval from Post 8 last week but she moves inside
now, and could be part of this with one of her better efforts. (6) READY SET ROCK tends to run hot and
cold - capable of grabbing a piece IF in the right mood (and with a good trip). (7) SPECIAL ACHIEVER is
another that fits nicely with these but the outside draw will probably leave her too far back to threaten. (8)
AVAYA HANOVER will likely need to wait for a much better spot in order to be a player.
RACE 5 - SUMTHINBOUTIM is winless in 14 Yonkers starts but his last several have been sharp,
finishing just behind horses that are much better than these - he's not the handiest horse on the planet, but
he should still be able to find a way to beat this bunch. (2) WALK IT TALK IT won his last 2 Canadian
starts, qualified nicely upon arrival at Yonkers, but never even pretended to be interested after drawing Post
7 in his last 2 starts - moves inside now, and a much more involved effort is expected. (1) NOME
HANOVER had no success in 4 previous starts here but he shows a few recent out of town lines that could
at least put him in contention for a piece tonight - use in exotics. (6) BRAZEN BRAZILLIAN is quick off
the car and that has allowed him to set himself up with good trips in the past....leading to some good pieces
- another worth using in exotics. (8) ROLL WITH DOM had been underachieving but followed up his local
win (2/9) with another win at PcD, before landing in a no-chance spot in NJ last start - horrible draw, but
ok to use for a small piece IF the price is decent. (3) FRISKY PEDRO shows some pretty uninspiring
recent form - maybe can save ground for a tiny piece? (4) VILLAGE CHAMP came up terrible in his local
debut then was scratched sick the next week - prefer to just watch, for now. (7) BEACH BLOGGER draws
Post 7 and just seems significantly overmatched against these.
RACE 6 - (4) MYKINDACHIP finished up ok after a bit of a shuffle last time - should be able to race
aggressively from this spot, and should be a threat to take this whether on top, or from the pocket. (1)
MARTY MONKHOUSER A has been holding his own pretty often vs. the tough $30K claimers, and the
last time he raced at this level he was a winner (also from the rail)-hard to NOT include him on your tickets
at that 10-1 ML price. (5) TALBOTCREEKWHISKEY woke up in a big way when he just missed cutting
the mile 2 back, then raced very well from off the pace in last, rallying for 2nd behind the perfect trip
winner - the right trip could put him right on the wire tonight. (3) YAYAS HOT SPOT was very good week
after week but does seem to have tailed a bit recently - this is definitely a price wake up spot but he's still
trip-dependant, and may be overbet off the class drop - mixed feelings. (7) EGOMANIA steps up and
draws outside off last week's win, but he's been very good since the freshening and may be sharp enough to
rally for a small piece...even from out here. (2) TOM ME GUN N finally found a field to his liking and
picked up his first local win last week (in start # 16) - faces much tougher now, and he'll have to be even
better to hang with these. (8) CAMPORA N is good right now, but will be hard pressed to find his way into
the hunt from out here. (6) JK MUSICMAN was an upset winner 2 back but helped greatly by a perfect trip
- outside post efforts haven't been nearly as good.
RACE 7 - Pretty good NW10000 field! (4) INDICTABLE HANOVER may be worth a stab in here - all
the attention will likely go to the inside pair but this guy shipped in very sharp last week, and actually made
a sneaky good recovery after making a break before the start - he's raced well over the track in the past, and
he'll definitely be a decent price. (1) FLAMING FLUTTER N comes into this off a trip of sub-par efforts
but if he rebounds to anything close to top form, the classy 12YO will be a handful...but hard to know what
to expect from him tonight! (2) THE REAL ONE was definitely bothered entering the stretch last week, but
it didn't seem that he was "overloaded", regardless - by no means has he been "bad", but he's going to take
plenty of $$ here and just may be a bit vulnerable right now. (6) HUNDIE N drops off a good 3rd vs. better
in last - definitely fits, but the draw will put him at a disadvantage...willing to include underneath. (7)
MOHAWK WARRIOR is solid right now, but it may be hard for him to find a manageable trip from this
spot. (4) ROCK N TONY was definitely disappointing last start moving up NW7500 - moves up again,
catches some pretty classy rivals, and may need a drop before we see his best. (8) TIGER BARON can grab
pieces at this level...but probably not from Post 8 against these. (5) GINGRAS BEACH seems overmatched
and the bad date is an issue too.
RACE 8 - (8) LYONS KING would have been a strong selection in here had he draw inside, but we're still
going to give him the edge, even from Post 8 - he'll need some trip luck in order to get into the hunt, but
he's still worth using as long as the price is fair. (4) MISTER SPOT A just gave way badly last week but it's
a good sign that he drops right back in the box - willing to give him a look as long as the odds are juicy
enough. (6) BENHOPE RULZ took back to last from 8 holes in his last pair and had no chance at all - may
do the same from Post 6 tonight but IF Bartlett sends him, he's good enough to be a player. (2) PEPPER
GUY will be without his favorite pilot tonight but he's definitely sharp right now, and would benefit from
any hotly contested pace - another possibility in this very tough race. (3) EPIC ACE is going pretty well
right now, and gets away from Yankee Roller A this week - include in exotics. (1) KEPT UNDER WRAPS
A is on the heap side, but he's also sharp and draws the pole - not sure he can win, but a smaller piece is
within reach. (5) ANTHEM N's best moments seem to come vs. a bit easier - would rather wait for him to
show up in a softer spot. (7) SPROCKET seems up against it vs. these from all the way out here.
RACE 9 - Another extremely tough race with plenty of possibilities! (4) GALANTE A has been improving
rapidly since coming to the U.S. at the start of the year - his last couple of NJ starts suggest that he'll fit
nicely here, and he should be a pretty good price - definitely worth using. (1) REIGNING DEO adds Lasix
for tonight and that may explain his disappointing efforts the past 2 weeks - more than enough ability to
beat these IF bleeding was the recent issue. (3) SO MANY ROADS is sharp again, and has been finishing
full of pace every week - when he finally lands on the right trip he's going to win one of these. (8) MISTER
REBBILY A has been razor sharp, but he'll still need plenty to go his way to win from out here - playable,
but only if the price is right. (5) IM A GIGOLO N has been 1st/2nd in all his starts since arriving in the
U.S., including 2 straight wins here at The Hilltop - would surely be no surprise, but he is facing tougher,
and may be overbet. (2) GENIUS MAN couldn't finish the job 2 back, then tired badly in last - in need of a
wake up call right now if he hopes to be a serious threat (7) WESTERN VACATION qualified nicely off a
freshening and as noted, the barn is en fuego right now - may not be 100% serious from this spot, however.
(6) SUN OF A SHOW has raced well here in the past, but lands in a tough spot for his local return.
RACE 10 - (7) PICARD A is listed at 20-1 ML and a pretty good horse to key in exotics - the start 2 back
was better than it looks as he made an uncharted break before the start, then recovered nicely - his last was
excellent, sitting well back before swinging 4 wide on the final turn then charging home in the stretch - this
is a suspect field, and he's as good, if not better, than most of them. (2) LISBURN raced well many times.
but usually with a tough trip, vs. better horses- fits beautifully here, and looms a dangerous threat. (3)
BUDDY HILL is pretty good right now, but overdriven in his last couple - easier journey could see him
right there at the finish. (6) JAHAN HANOVER would seem to fit well with these, but draws outside
(while facing older foes) and may just be one to keep in "watch mode", for now. (1) DOCTOR BUTCH
wakes up with a good one at times but he hasn't earned a nickel in his last 4 starts and he's sure to take
plenty of $$ - better value elsewhere. (4) CHANGE STRIDE N hasn't been doing much in NJ but this is a
soft enough spot that he MAY show up with a bit better performance. (5) MCERLEAN hit the top and was
a winner 3 back, but that mile is surrounded by an assortment of 7th and 8th place finishes - prefer others.
(8) SPORTSKEEPR raced better than expected in last, but still seems like a stretch from this spot.