Wednesday Empire Report

The Empire Report

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - M Life Rewards Gents pacing Series 3&4YO - (4) SCOOTNROLL won an Excelsior B start

here last summer (early in his career) then was a solid first over 3rd in his only other local appearance

(NW4) - been chasing tougher ones in NJ recently, and should be an excellent fit here - narrow edge in

tonight's opener. (3) PANTHER TIME got very sharp for several weeks at Nfd. this fall, but faltered in the

Series Final then went on the shelf for 3 months - qualified back nicely, and now goes to a barn known for

improving horses extraordinary amounts in their first start...may just run and hide from there, but also

figures to be very heavily backed. (2) LEVEL UP finished with some better life in last, and is likely better

than his current lines might suggest - expecting an improved effort tonight. (1) GONNAHAVEONEMORE

got erratic at points in both starts since the recent purchase...but kept trying hard to the end - draws best in a

short field, and that may help him pick up a decent piece here. (6) SURFER BEACH just got acclimated to

the track after drawing Post 7 for his YR debut - no better draw luck tonight, but he should be able to at

least stay closer to the action. (5) ROCKNROLLS SHADOW moves to a new barn and adds Lasix - but his

lines suggest he just might be a bit below these.

RACE 2 - (7) YES joined up with his current barn back in Oct 2019 and did excellent work as a 3YO out

of town - shipped in to YR, won 4 straight FAST miles and climbed right up to the Open...but then after a

couple of troubled efforts, landed on the shelf for an extended period -- comeback began in Canada this

past Oct. and was going well until a couple of unexpected miscues at Nfd. - stayed flat at the Meadows in

last, and now rejoins his favorite barn - IF he behaves, he shouldn't have any trouble with these. (4) SEVEN

KNIGHTS beat this class back on 11/30 then won in NW7500 2 starts later - been facing light years better

in his last few, and would have a big chance here if the top choice fails to function. (1) PRESIDENTE

ZETTE disappointed in his last try here but his last couple of starts look better - draws best for one of our

top trainer/driver combos, and should be part of the equation here. (2) CON AIR HALL may not be on his

absolute best game right now, but he's still a weekly threat at this level...at least to land somewhere in the

exotics. (3) BLENHEIM is going to put it all together and crush one of these basement fields one of these

nights - but for now, he just continues to burn $$. (5) BARNEY MAC looked much better finishing in last

and his barn seems to perking back up, overall - may be able to rally for a small piece. (8) SIR JOHN F gets

stuck outside and will have a hard time reaching contention from this spot. (6) TEARDOWN THIS WALL

seems a notch below several of these...and the move outside just makes it even tougher to like his chances

RACE 3 - M Life Rewards Gents pacing Series 3&4YO - (2) RETOUR AU JEU qualified back nicely on

1/22, added Lasix for his return try and came up with a HUGE effort to be 2nd to the favorite - came back

the next week with an impressive 1st over score (now the favorite himself), and remains the one to beat

tonight. (5) ROLLING WITH SAM faltered badly in his first try for new connections at The Swamp but

was still well backed shipping into YR for his next start....and came up with an excellent try this time,

pacing well at both ends of the mile to be 2nd best to the top choice - we'll see if he can turn the tables here.

(1) ODDS ON BREXIT finished 3rd in his last pair but definitely wasn't quite as sharp as in his prior few

tries - draws best (with a new trainer listed for tonight), and he can be right there if he can get back to his

"A Game". (4) GOT THE MOJO was unraced at 2 and made only one start at 3 -- but he's developed

rapidly in his 4 starts this year, and just may be able to hang with these too - he'll get his chance to prove it

tonight. (3) PUMA has been well backed in all 3 local tries but has been unable to beat even the NW2 fields

- if he has more in the tank, he'll need to start showing it. (6) TREVORS ACE broke off the qualifier, and

we'll just watch him, for now.

RACE 4 - M Life Rewards Gents pacing Series 3&4YO - (6) LOUS SWEETREVENGE probably upset

his backers when taken off the gate at 4/5 last week but it was the correct trip from that spot, and he did

charge home full of pace - might go off a better price now (despite the 9/5 ML), and there may be a bit of a

battle at some point with three likely "speed horses" to his inside - maybe can charge on by and make

amends? (4) CIGAR SMOKING TONY showed some promise early on but soon landed on the shelf last

July - came back in a new barn this winter, and has won 4 of 5 starts, the only loss being here at YR, to a

sharp rival out of the pocket - adds Lasix tonight, is Bartlett's choice and looms a very legit threat. (3)

DIAMONDBEACH was out of sorts for a while but re-qualified sharply, then was a solid 2nd last week -

guessing that he'll be more aggressive tonight, and a very good trip MAY be in the cards - Bartlett opts for

#4, but don't rule this guy out too quickly. (5) SALT LIFE has a win and a 2nd from 2 local starts, and

comes into this series off a nice qua. upstate - he does seem pretty one-dimensional, however, and he could

be in line for a tougher trip than he'd like. (1) WINDEMERE FRANK has been no better than 5th in 8 tries

since leaving the Maritimes - needs to do much better! (2) REDDING HANOVER just seems overmatched

against the top ones

RACE 5 - M Life Rewards Gents pacing Series 3&4YO - (5) MY PAL JOE shipped in sharp from NJ on

2/9 and raced big first over, even if collared late by a sharp Tito Rocks - weakened late after cutting the

mile in the "Winners Over" back at The Swamp in last, and just seems to have a major class edge over his

rivals - wouldn't bet the rent money on him at 1/5, but still clearly the one to beat. (4) SAILBOAT HANOV

ER was a non-threatening 2nd to the top one back on Jan. 2nd but didn't really build off that mile until

recently, when 3rd at PcD on 2/20, and then a WINNER there, just 3 days ago - assuming he's still fresh

enough on short rest, he could be the main threat. (1) DRAGON SAID is the "x factor" in here - came

under the care of the "Super Siblings" before his last and the improvement was off the charts, as he charged

home from the final turn looking like Pegasus himself, somehow blowing past a rival that looked like a 5

length winner turning for home - IF he can build off that scary mile, he's eligible to beat these too! (2)

SOCAL THEORIES was off a bad date in his last - an easy close up trip could land him 3rd/4th in here. (3)

STOP ACTION added Lasix 4 back and shows 2 ok efforts, and 2 mega-clunkers since then...but even one

of his "good" efforts would only be good for a minor share with these. (7) SWEET TRUTH has been weak

since the sale purchase in January - outside draw won't help his cause tonight. (6) CHIEF OF STAFF seems

badly overmatched - the outsider, for sure

RACE 6 - (2) PAIGES GIRL was beyond disappointing as the 2/5 choice 4 starts back then really wasn't

good in her next two either....making last week's upset over Pettycoat Business all the more surprising - if

that same "good" version shows up again tonight, she may be able to win again. (3) MAN DONTFORGET

ME has no wins from her 5 local tries but did race well, and hit board in all of them - she's going to come

out on top one of these weeks...maybe tonight? (6) STOWAWAY HANOVER was just used way too hard

to make the lead last week and paid for it late - she's proven she can beat these, and she's already scored

here twice, at big prices - don't ignore her. (7) VICIOUS CIRCLE was sent off at 6/5 two back (off the

layoff) and was just used too hard brushing for the lead (before tiring late) - was somehow 21-1 from Post 2

the very next week, and sure enough she was able "circle" the field, for the massive overlay victory- clearly

a much tougher spot from Post 7, but still playable if ignored in the wagering again (4) TIPPERARY HILL

really wasn't bad in her last couple - decent bomb for 3rd/4th. (5) ACEFORTYFOUR DOME hasn't found

that form she had this fall since returning in Feb. - hard to get excited about her at 3-1 ML. (1) THUNDRA

just hasn't found her "good" form in a long time - and we've lost patience waiting for that to happen

RACE 7 - (1) LUCKY WEEKEND isn't always the smoothest looking trotter but he's been behaving

himself for many weeks now, and gets both a drop AND the rail tonight off last week's solid rallying 2nd

vs. better - guessing Marohn can work his way to the lead early on, and be a handful after that. (4) RACEA

CE had legitimate excuses in his first 3 starts off the claim so it was no surprise to see him win easily last

week when things finally went his way - gets a free ride at this NW7500 level, and looms a big threat once

again. (2) IN MY DREAMS has a whole variety of efforts that he throws...and some of them are pretty

good - never a bad play at this level, when sent off at a good price. (5) FULL RIGHTS got good and stayed

good for quite a while...but has been showing some major deterioration in his last few starts - drops tonight,

and it's hard to know if it'll wake him up, or if the decline will continue - tough call. (3) MAJESTIC KAT

was hammered down to 4/5 off the layoff shipping in from Buffalo and looked strong to the final turn -

before tiring, against cheaper - steps up now, but could be a little tighter - maybe a small piece? (6) FREDD

IE MAC has never been a good "Yonkers horse" but you wouldn't know it from watching last week's sharp

pocket score (vs. cheaper) - barn seems to be heating up now, so maybe throw him in for 3rd? (8) ABBIES

CELTICLASS had been good for a while but lands Post 8 here off a sick scratch - guessing we'll see a

conservative mile. (7) TOTAL DIVA will be worth a look when she drops back down to NW5000

RACE 8 - (4) WATCH MY LUCK qualified nicely at PcD for his new barn - took the conservative route

in her first start back and was full of pace finishing against a much better field than this - Buter's choice,

and hopefully will handle her aggressively dropping in class tonight. (5) JOSSIE JAMES A figured to be a

major contender last week but lost all chance when given a bizarre drive by Dube (yet still only lost the

whole race by about 5 lengths, despite the nightmarish journey) - assuming that she gets a more viable trip

tonight, she looms the main threat to the top pick. (1) THREEDEE DELIGHT A has just one win in her last

52 local starts (and maybe even more), but her CURRENT form is solid, and the rail draw makes her a

must-use underneath in exotics. (3) PITTSTOP DANIKA generally races well when drawn inside so there's

a good chance she can outperform that 20-1 ML price - good one to use for a piece. (6) GRANT ME THIS

has been steady late - Buter opts for the top choice, but no harm as Stratton hops on board - can rally late

for a small share. (2) MADAME LEZA A started the new year with a win, but hasn't done much since -

listed to go without Lasix tonight, and sometimes that's a change that works - consider for a minor share.

(8) WOODMERE OLEKSIAK draws Post 8 after being up the track in NJ last Friday - seems like an

unlikely spot but she has blasted out before, so at least consider for 3rd/4th if the price is juicy enough. (7)

CABOWABOCUTTIE is struggling - wait for better signs before considering.

RACE 9 - (4) LIMERENCE may offer some value tonight - he's been on his game for a long time now,

and holding his own in tougher fields than this - one of several sharp players in this well matched

NW10000 field. (1) SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN was an excellent 3rd when hard used from Post 7 in

his return to YR - dominated a cheaper field in last, and is probably feeling pretty good about himself right

now - may just take these wire to wire. (6) SECRET BRO finished with good trot against better in his last

pair, and beat this class back in early Dec. - will need some trip luck from Post 6, but still worth

considering at the right price. (2) TAD KRAZY HANOVER has been behaving herself on a regular basis

now and that's an excellent sign - talented enough for a chance to upset these IF the trip lands in her lap. (3)

WHETHER OR NOT FI is 2 for 2 since returning to his favorite track, but the competition will be a lot

tougher now - not saying he can't beat these...but insist on a good price is using him on top. (5) LUCKY

ARNOLD proved that his form reversing shocker 2 back wasn't just a total fluke with his solid first over

3rd in last - he'll have to prove that he can contend with this tougher field, though. (7) KING CAST wasn't

terrible jumping up to this level in last but another poor draw will probably keep him from ever getting

close again. (8) WINNERESS finally found a soft field he could beat last time...but he'll be a major

outsider tonight.

RACE 10 - (5) ALL ABOUT AMY tracked CHECK MACH from start to finish in last, had dead aim in

the stretch but just couldn't get by - willing to take a shot that this week she's able to deliver in what shapes

up as a wide open finale. (4) CHECK MACH perked up with a better effort 2 back and was able to build on

it with last week's gutsy victory (over #5) - she'll have every chance to repeat, but may be overbet off that

win (8) MORE THAN MANY made me look 3X before believing that she was purchased by the "Super

Siblings" after her last start - would normally be an easy pass from Post 8 but with the barn change, has to

get legitimate respect, with the possibility of a major form reversal on the horizon. (2) LA ALWAYS

AMARTINI is 0 for 35 over the past 2 years but does have a few ok tries lately - willing to include in

exotics, at a nice price. (6) QUITE A DELIGHT N fires once in a while - may follow live cover tonight,

and that would give her a chance to pick up a piece. (3) CRYSTAL SPARKLES N is the ML favorite but

hasn't really gone a "good" mile in weeks - should be some value playing against her. (1) CHECKERED

PAST hasn't been a threat in a long time but the rail draw makes her one of several with a chance for a

minor share. (7) HURRICANE CALLEIGH ships in off a PcD win but she was 0 for 17 here last year and

starts from Post 7 - not sure she'll be able to get involved.