The Empire Report - Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (5) SOCRATES BLUE CHIP was handled very conservatively from Post 8 in his local (and
3YO) debut last week but still paced an excellent final half to pick up 3rd - moves inside a bit and if he
continues to mind his manners, will be a in a good position to pick up the first win of his career (after a
bunch of solid tries vs. OnSS colts last season). (3) HIGH ST CORRIDOR made his 3YO debut here on
2/23 and delivered the 51-1 shocker for his barn - came back with a fast closing 2nd in a NW2 at Pocono,
then landed on a couple of tough trip in the Weiss Series - fits these perfectly, and deserves a good look. (2)
THE COOKIE MONSTER was 2nd to a very promising 3YO in his local debut then was an easy winner in
his last (bringing his career slate to 8-4-3-0) - clearly he has a very legit chance to take another one tonight,
but he'll also be the favorite...and there may be better value with a couple of others (6) MAJOR SHOW was
purchased after a nice return qualifier at PcD on 3/24 - had to re-qualify after a couple of scratches but
looked good in that mile too....might be as good as these right now, but also figures to be conservatively
handled from this spot. (8) HURRIKANE GEORGIE showed some potential early on at 2, and has looked
good prepping at PPk for his 3YO season...but he's another that may be conservatively driven from this bad
spot. (4) YER SO BAD wasn't bad at all last week - not a bad bomb to throw in for 3rd, if spreading in tris.
(1) AIR GUITAR has looked fine in a couple of Monti starts since returning at 3 - may be a bit below the
main players, though. (7) NUTHIN BUT FINESSE was dull in his local debut and now draws poorly
RACE 2 - (1) LEVINE really started to blossom late in his 3YO season for Zeron and has continued to
thrive ever since - draws best for his Hilltop return, and he's gone plenty of big efforts here - gets the call,
although he's not a "cinch" against a couple of very legit opponents. (3) GENIUS MAN was one of many
from this barn to really up their games over the past month or so - was 2nd best to the razor sharp Galante
A last week (after winning his previous two), and figures to give the top choice a battle tonight. (2) SO
MANY ROADS was a winner 4 back, couldn't get involved in his next 2 but did offer his typical late rally
last week for an excellent 3rd - if he just sits to the stretch and shakes free, there's always a chance he could
rally by late (if the top ones falter at all). (4) MAJOR BETTS has plenty of ability but took a month off and
wasn't very good last week - could wake up at any time....but would be hard to play tonight off that last
effort. (6) NOME HANOVER returns from PcD off a lifetime best 1:51 victory - but he's never been as
good as these in past efforts here, and he'll have to prove that he's improved enough to battle them now
RACE 3 - (3) QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP beat a NW7500 field here on 1/29, won again in NW10000 in his
next, was 2nd to a good one in NW15000 after that, then continued to hold his own in NW20000 fields
after that - has finally started to get some class drops, and lands at the bottom level tonight - good spot to
get back to the (virtual) winner's circle. (2) FOREVER FAV went some nice miles here this winter against
some solid competition - dropped in for a $20K tag in his last and was a close 4th, despite an outside draw
and horrible trip - was claimed that night by a barn that's been known to succeed with fresh stock right off
the bat, and a big effort is expected tonight - the main threat. (4) BRACKLEY BEACH changed hands two
starts back and went from a string of 7th and 8ths to a win (as the favorite), and a close 2nd - will face
tougher here than he was in his pair at Monti, but definitely sharp enough to have at least a say in the
outcome. (1) MR BIG WIG didn't have the best looking Dover lines when he shipped in last start but he did
finish with some life for his new connections - was scratched from his next, but does draw the pole for
tonight - playable underneath. (6) TITANIUM N didn't fire in his first off the layoff but really wasn't
terrible, and is eligible to improve tonight - ok to throw in for 3rd. (7) SUNKEN TREASURE left well and
established a good trip last week...only to squander it -- maybe can land a small piece trying those same
tactics? (8) KILLER MARTINI quickly regressed off the form reversing win 2 back - hard to see him
reaching from out here/ (5) SCRUB HANOVER raced well in this class a couple of times but his last
couple of efforts have been empty.
RACE 4 - (4) CIGAR SMOKING TONY is now 9-5-1-2 on the year, and the only "blemish" is when he
landed on a very tough trip in the M Life Final, and folded in the stretch - wouldn't have really stood out
here if not for those last 2 PcD wins, where it seems like he elevated his game to a higher level - we'll see if
he can be just as sharp returning to YR. (1) ROLLING WITH SAM always figures, seems to race well
every week, but his local record now stands at 0 for 11 - he's truly been knocking on the door for ages...
maybe he can finally break through tonight? (2) SALT LIFE can be a very dangerous horse when on the
front end, but he showed in the M Life Final that he CAN race ok from off the pace as well - has 2 wins
from 6 local starts and can't be discounted. (5) SHINY BLACK BEAMER looked good at Fhd. 2 back
when rallying crisply for a close up 3rd, then was a close 3rd again HERE last week, also finishing well - if
they battle a bit up front, he may be able to make some late noise, at a nice price. (7) ILLBEWATCHINGU
beat the top choice on 1/19 as the 2/5 choice and raced well several times after that - came up short off the
qualifier last week, though, and lands all the way outside tonight - tough spot. (3) GAMBLINGTERROR is
always eligible to pick up a piece, but his 3 for 64 career slate makes him a tough one to use on top. (6)
SOCIAL THEORIES can sometimes save ground and land a share - not impossible for 3rd/4th
RACE 5 - (6) FOX VALLEY INFERNO was on a long form spree that suddenly went the other way after
being claimed on 3/8 - continued to struggle in a couple of different barns the next few starts, but came
back to life in his last, just missing in a quick mile - perhaps he just appreciated the easy trip, but we'll give
him a chance to build off that wake up mile and get the job done tonight. (1) DEEDENUTO A still hasn't
won a race since arriving in the U.S. but he's shown subtle improvement in a few recent efforts - gets major
post relief here, and we'll see if that helps his cause - he figures to be a decent price. (2) FIREBALL has
had very few "good" starts lately, but he was also facing much better - had no chance for a new barn in last
(Post 7), but he almost has to be a live player from this spot - not a fan of that 8/5 ML price, though! (7)
ABRAXAS BLUES A is an interesting bomb - finished with pace from an impossible spot in last, and did
wire a (cheaper) field at Fhd. from Post 8, 3 starts back - he won here 6X last year, and is worth considering
if spreading a bit. (8) REAGANS AVENGER comes up with a big mile or two every year - barn has been
hot enough to at least give him a look, at what figures to be a huge price. (4) REAL LUCKY N has only
one win since the 2/20 claim, and that was vs. easier at Chester - ok for a piece, but his 1 for 19 record here
(past 3 years) makes him hard to use on top. (5) ALBERTO CONTADOR N has a few decent tries at Fhd.
but vs. much easier - seems a bit below the main players here. (3) CONSTNTLYSIDEWYS A would need
a major form reversal to have a chance here
RACE 6 - (3) IDEAL ARTILLERY rebounded from the suicide mission in his first start back with an
outstanding win on 4/13 - wasn't at his best last week (a little hard to steer, at times), but was still a close
2nd, and he gets Siegelman to jump off #5 to drive him again tonight - guessing that his sharp trainer will
make the necessary adjustments to have him at his bet again tonight. (5) DIAMONDBEACH had been
scary sharp for weeks before making a break on the first turn in last - did recover to put in a big effort for
4th, but we'll see if that was just a minor blip, or if he's about to start going the wrong way - mixed feelings
about tonight. (1) BETTOR AT HIGHTIDE looked terrific beating a NW4 field in his YR debut - took all
kinds of $$ from Post 8 last week (despite the class jump), but never got close to contention - we'll see if
the move all the way inside gets him back to the form he showed 2 weeks ago. (2) REIGNING DEO hasn't
been nearly as sharp since that win here on 3/9, but hasn't been "bad" either - definitely a chance for a good
piece...and maybe even a shot at the top prize? (6) QUAGMIRE BLUE CHIP took advantage of a lack of
leavers last week and was able to assume command early...then safely held off the top choice to win his 4th
out of the last 6 starts - looking at a tougher trip here, and probably a smaller piece. (4) PANTHER TIME is
a notch below the main player, but another inside (easy) trip can land him a small share. (7) IM A GIGOLO
N was hurt by poor cover last week, but never fired at all himself - won't be any easier from Post 7 tonight.
(8) SUMTHINBOUTIM is still racing well, but not "well enough" to be a major threat from Post 8
RACE 7 - (2) IMSTAYNALIVE finished with good pace from well back last week, showing no ill effects
from the sick scratch (the week before) - he hasn't been in this cheap in a long time, and will be hard to
deny late if Lachance just keeps him reasonably close to the pace. (1) ONE OFF DELIGHT A was 2nd
twice at this level in his last 5 starts....with 7/8 holes vs. better in the other 3 miles - looking at a good trip
tonight, and looms a legit threat to the top choice. (7) HIGHLAND TARTAN wired this class 2 back, and
cut the mile from Post 8 vs. NW10000 the start before that - IF Marohn is willing to roll the dice and send
him from Post 7, he'd have a chance to beat these...at a nice price. (6) EGOMANIA looked like he may be
heading the wrong way for a couple of starts but rebounded with a big try for 2nd for a new barn in last -
will need a lot to go his way here, but it's not impossible that he could beat these...with the right trip. (5)
MISTER SPOT A weakened to 2nd vs. cheaper last start but he also was offstride turning to the car, and
lost quite a bit of energy just getting back into position - definitely ok for a piece. (4) SPORTS BETTOR
does his best work with cheaper, but is always eligible to grab a share at this level , with an easy enough
journey. (3) MOTIVE HANOVER picked up small pieces one level up in his last pair - even with the drop,
probably looking at only a smaller piece once again. (8) TIGER BARON is good right now, but lands Post
8 while up in class, and that's not usually a winning formula.
RACE 8 - (8) SHNEONUCRZYDIAMND A was purchased after that "distanced" effort on 4/2 and was
able to qualify back nicely 2 weeks later - new connections aren't afraid to race aggressively from outside
posts and when on his game, this guy can beat better than these - worth a play, hoping that Dube will find a
way to get him into the race. (1) CAROLINA MAGIC has been finishing well in all his recent starts, his
barn is going well right now, and he's looking at a nice trip starting from the pole tonight - very logical
threat. (6) ALTA LEROY N was a bit disappointing 2 back but rebounded with a much sharper effort in his
last - he's shown that he CAN leave the gate when Lachance asks him to, and this would be a good time to
do so - chances go way up if given an aggressive steer. (3) MACINTOSH N was right there in NW10000
last week and fits perfectly in here - doesn't win that often, however, and he figures to take plenty of $$
from this spot - legit chance, but perhaps better value with a couple of others. (7) CLIFFHANGER just beat
similar across the river 3 back, and has shown that he can leave the gate at times - if the price is right, he's
not a bad one to include in exotics. (2) MISSILE SEELSTER has been racing well at Fhd., even if vs. a bit
lesser - has raced well here in the past, and he may be able to pick up a small piece from this spot. (5) TOM
ME GUN N hasn't looked sharp in his last couple, and would prefer to be in cheaper. (4) ALWAYSYOUR
WAY ships down from Canada off a win, but does seem to be on the cheaper side.
RACE 9 - (1) MARK WITHA K has been stuck racing from 7th or 8th in 4 of his last 7 starts - had no
chance in any of those, but did grab a win and two close 2nds in the races with better trips - draws the pole
tonight, and the expectation is for a big effort. (8) FINE DIAMOND had no offer at all as the favorite 2
back but blasted off the car to the top last week (:26.2) and never looked back...scoring in a sizzling 1:51.4
- and paying 5-1 for those that stuck with him -- the possibility of a repeat performance can't be dismissed,
even from Post 8. (2) PERFECTLY CLOSE was able to make his way to the top last week and he's just a
tough horse to beat (in that class) when that happens - inside draw will help him offset the class hike
tonight, and that could help him take home another good chunk. (6) SILAS SEELSTER grabbed a long
overdue win 2 back, but seemed to struggle chasing the very hot pace in last - license to rebound quickly,
but the outside draw will require him to find some trip luck in order to be a player. (3) VELOCITY
KOMODO probably didn't love the off going last week but still put in a gutsy first over effort for 2nd -
moves up a notch, and likely looking at a smaller piece here. (5) EPIC ACE is pretty good now but he's not
super handy, and that will likely have him looking at only a minor share here. (4) WAY TO CLOSE won 5
straight upstate but has been a non factor in 2 local tries - waiting for a better effort before considering. (7)
CHANGE STRIDE N wants both a much better post...and much easier field - pass for now.