The Empire Report - Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - Race Analysis
RACE 1 - (5) STOWAWAY HANOVER has always been capable of big miles but she's now added
consistency to her game, and is developing rapidly into a VERY nice mare - she's shown the ability to
handle any trip, and comes into this race riding a very impressive 3 race win streak - she'll finally get some
respect at the windows at the windows tonight as she looks to notch her 4 straight! (4) PAIGES GIRL has
been very sharp for weeks, and her last is better than it looks (just an impossible spot) - she has the
misfortune of running into #5 for the 3rd straight start, and that'll likely leave her with a smaller piece once
again - but it should still be a good one. (3) PRECIOUS ALEXIS did some good work here in the NYSS,
grabbing a couple of 2nds and a 4th in the Final - hasn't been "great" out of town since returning as a 4YO,
but she does get both Lasix and Gingras for her local return - we'll see if that perks her up a bit. (1)
KICKUPYAHEELS N actually fits NW2, but her age makes her ineligible for some cheaper conditions -
recent import was favored for her Canadian debut and came up a bit short in 4th....she's probably a nice
mare, but would prefer to just watch her in her YR debut. (2) TURNTHEFROWNAROUND had success in
the M Life series until facing tougher ones in the Final -the jury is still out on her, but she'll be offering very
little value with that 2-1 ML price.
RACE 2 - (3) GALLERIA GAL can be forgiven for being a no-match 2nd to STOWAWAY HANOVER
off the layoff last week - she should only be sharper with that race under her belt, and that stamps her as the
one to knock off tonight. (6) ROSE RUN VICTORIA banged out $217K as a 3YO, highlighted by a win in
the Ontario SS Final - she changed barns after that win and while she didn't win in 5 starts after that, they
were all strong efforts against good fields in NJ and PA - been freshened up, qualified nicely, and just may
be ready right out of the box. (1) DRAGON ROLL was a solid 3rd behind the top choice in last, has been
racing well in general, and hails from a very hot barn - speed, rail and figures to be a close up player from
start to finish. (4) MOANING LISA was well back throughout off the layoff last week, but did finish with
plenty of interest - she loves a trip, and can grab a good piece of this if she lands on a good one. (2) PRAY
THE ROSARY just seems to be a couple of notches below the top ones - wait for an easier spot. (5) MAN
DONTFORGET ME has an owner listed to drive...but what's odd is that it's not HER owner - not sure
what's up there, but will upgrade her chances if a catch driver ends up being announced.
RACE 3 - (3) BEACH MOMENT wasn't horrible at 2, but she certainly didn't distinguish herself either -
looks like a much improved filly at 3, however, as she won her qualifier by 9 lengths, then jogged in her
2021 debut (in Canada) as well - looks like one of the two PROBABLE winners here...and she'll be the
better price. (1) ROCKAROUNDTHECLOCK N won 3 straight in Australia before shipping to the U.S. -
where she qualified beautifully, then jogged in her Stga. debut -- was sent off at 1/5 for her Yonkers debut,
but disappointed that night and was a so-so 3rd - has since won twice more upstate and is clearly the one to
beat - but likely will be the prohibitive choice, once more. (2) SEA OF LOVE BC showed some promise in
her 5 starts as a 2YO, including a 3rd here in a NYSS event - that return qua. looks a little ugly, but it's
possible that she just doesn't like cutting a mile at this point - ok for exotics, and worth watching for the
future. (4) UPTOWN CALLIE could only manage small pieces despite 3 straight rails - looking at another
smaller share tonight. (5) JM BETTING HEARTS was no factor at all here on 3/24 but then scored the 38-1
upset at Monti with her owner/trainer in the bike - gets Bartlett back for her YR return, and we'll see if they
have better success tonight. (7) DELIGHTFUL Z TAM struggled in most of her 2YO tries - looked better in
her return qua., but the draw will limit her involvement here - keep an eye for the future. (6) DOTTED
LINE has tailed off after starting the year with some good efforts - waiting to see better signs.
RACE 4 - (7) BULLY BOY made an early break 3 starts back but other than that, has gotten along
beautifully with McCarthy, just annihilating 3 cheaper fields - gets stuck outside vs. much tougher, but he
still figures to be able to make his way to the top...and he seems capable of beating these too in his current
raging form. (3) CRAZYCAT is sharp right now, easily beating a bit cheaper 3 back, then grabbing smaller
pieces at this level off a pair of tough trips - should be trotting strong late for a good piece...and a chance at
the top prize if #7 falters. (1) GOES DOWN SMOOTH was an excellent Post 8 2nd to Meladys Monet here
2 starts back, but then broke at Fhd. in his last (and has made breaks here too, in the past) - no question he
has the ability to beat these...but he's also a bit risky, at a short price. (2) LIMERENCE can be forgiven for
never getting close from Post 8 last week - gets major post relief here, and that should yield a much better
result. (5) RACEACE is another that was stuck with no chance in last, but he's been pretty solid since the
recent claim - chance for a small piece. (4) BARRY BLACK will attract plenty of attention with tonight's
class drop but he really hasn't been on his game lately, and there's no guarantee the drop will remedy that -
could be a bit vulnerable at a short price. (6) MUFASA AS has been pretty good lately, but really needs to
be in an easier spot to have any real impact.
RACE 5 - Totally wide open! (2) SHOWMEYOURGUNS was never involved last week but did flash
some good late life up the cones to snatch 3rd at the wire - he's way overdue for a big effort, and a few of
his barnmates are good right now...maybe tonight? (1) UKNOW WHAT TO DO has been picking up good
pieces most weeks down at Pompano - might be a little cheap, but he's pretty reliable and likely to get a
nice journey from this spot - has to get a long look at 9-1 ML. (7) KATLIN AND COKE was handled very
conservatively upon arrival from Florida (off a bad date) but did flash good trot (on his own) finishing -
was claimed that night, and while he does appear a bit risky, he's worth including...as long as the price is
square. (4) CYCLONE MAXIMUS remains a guessing game, as he tries hard to regain his solid (steady)
form - has made breaks in 2 of his last 4, but raced well in the other two (holding for a 2nd and 3rd to the
scary sharp BULLY BOY) - risky, but possible IF he behaves. (6) CON AIR HALL hasn't won yet in 2021
but his ability to leave the gate could put him in a spot to capitalize if some of the others falter - the price
should be pretty juicy. (5) LADY EAGLE is way off her game, finishing poorly every week - she'll still be
handled aggressively here and ultimately WILL perk up and win one...just not worth a shortish price right
now. (8) HAMMER CREEK really had no excuse to get beat last week, outbattled last week by a mare who
never wins here at YR - will need to be that much better now that he's stuck with Post 8. (3) MISS YOU
KELLY looked a but better last time, but has been struggling (in general) for a while - needs a wake up call
RACE 6 - John Brennan Trotting Series: (6) P L NOTSONICE missed the first leg due to sickness but
raced terrific in week 2, trotting a strong final half to finish 3rd behind standout GET LEGS - there's plenty
of ability here, and she may be able to rally past all of these with even a bit of trip luck. (1) SWISS HOUSE
ONFIRE elected to race in an overnight (rather than in the first leg) and it probably cost him a chance at
making it to the Final - was a hard used, dead-game 3rd in last, and will surely benefit from the move to the
pole tonight - major threat. (4) WINDSONG PIONEER loves the front end and he showed it again last
week, digging in determinedly to prevail in wire to wire fashion - may have trouble getting to the front
tonight, though, and while he can still win from just off the pace, he becomes a bit less attractive as the 9/5
ML choice - very possible, but also vulnerable. (7) KENOGAMI COCO has plenty of talent and will light
up the tote board one of these nights...just not sure it'll be tonight, from this spot (but don't hesitate to
include him on your tickets at long odds). (3) GREY raced very well last week, blasting to the top, yielding,
then trotting well up the cones to be right there 4th - can use that gate speed to pick up another good piece
tonight. Both (2) KASHA V and (5) TAD KRAZY HANOVER have been off their top form lately, and
both would need to improve to grab anything more than a minor share here.
RACE 7 - John Brennan Trotting Series: (1) GET LEGS was sent off as the 1/20 favorite in week 1, made
an unexpected miscue on turn two, finally landed and caught the pack on the back side then passed a bunch
of them in the stretch to be right there 3rd at the wire - made no mistakes last time, and demolished the field
as the 5 cents on the dollar favorite - clearly better than these, and going to win again....IF he continues to
behave (up to you if you want to play against him, hoping for another mishap). (3) MCMATTERS made a
break at the gate in last (he'll do that now and then) but did recover beautifully to make up a ton of ground
for 5th - was a solid 2nd best for the two starts prior, and has a chance to complete the exacta tonight if he
can trot cleanly all the way. (4) LADY JETER benefited from the prohibitive choice making a break in
week 1 and was able to wire the field - came up 2nd best to the top choice in last, and may be able to
complete the very short exacta once again. (6) GUILTY DESIRE was a front end winner in the first leg in
the race that #1 went offstride, and a solid 3rd (racing 2nd over) in his last - very logical one to include in
exotics once again. (7) DESWANSLITTLELORIE has been just "ok" in her 2 series tries, and things won't
get any easier from Post 7 tonight - not sure she'll be able to get into the mix with another outside draw. (2)
BAZILLIONAIRE had been doing some good things before regressing in last - he may not be a fan of the
quicker miles, and he'll probably be seeing another one tonight. (5) MANHATTANUP NO ICE was a solid
pocket trip 3rd in the first leg, but struggled in his last - not sure this is a good spot for him either. (8)
KANDY SWEET lands all the way outside with limited options - will look very good in a NW5000 race
after the series is over!
RACE 8 - John Brennan Trotting Series - good race: (2) LIFETIME ROYALTY may have struggled with
the off going in week 1 but was MUCH better in the 2nd leg, coming up a neck shy to the game winner -
may be able to get a little more aggressive from this spot, and he's definitely one of several with a
legitimate chance to take this. (3) TIMON AS endured a difficult trip in the first leg but did stay trotting
and finished very well - had no problem with the aggressive handling in last as he took his division, and the
oft-winning 5YO has a chance to take another, and lock up a spot in the Final...with any half decent trip. (4)
GRINDER was stuck racing from the back on an off track (into a very slow first half) and just couldn't get
involved in the first leg - was much better in his last, though, missing by only a nose despite a tough first
over trip - absolutely belongs on your tickets. (6) HALO ITS ME is finally functioning every week after a
rocky start upon joining her new barn in January - still needs to finish better, but is definitely ok to include
underneath at 15-1 ML. (1) BLUE AND BOLD grabbed 3rds each of the first 2 weeks but just hasn't had
his usual late pop - capable of better...and he'll need to find it if he hopes to contend for a better chunk. (7)
HUNTING AS has been rock solid for weeks....so last week's early miscue was highly unexpected - he's
stuck way outside now, and even his typical late rally may only get him a small share tonight. (8) LOOK IN
MY EYES draws her THIRD straight 8 hole - was able to make the lead the last 2X (a win and a 2nd), but
the guess is that things will be a lot tougher for her this time around. (5) J S JASPER failed to contend in
his YR (and series) debut, and just seems overmatched in here.
RACE 9 - (3) TOTAL DIVA is just 1 for 31 at YR (last 3 years) but she's good right now, picking up a pair
of hard fought 2nds behind runaway BULLY BOY the past 2 weeks (with legit excuses in several of her
starts before that) - it's rare that we've ever selected her on top...but this seems like a reasonable time to do
so. (2) ABBIES CELTICLASS was used a little harder early on last week that usual, and seemed to pay for
it a bit at the end - if she bounces back to one of her more typically sharp efforts, she'll be a legit threat here
(4) GETTIN MESSI hasn't been on his best game in ages but he gets a subtle barn change that may produce
a quick improvement tonight - worth a look if the price is decent. (1) WARRAWEE SHIPSHAPE arrives
from Ohio for a high % barn still looking for their first local win - his form is solid enough for a chance at
that happening, but he may also be a bit overbet from this spot. (6) SVF CASH DEPOSIT drops out of the
series off a pair of lackluster efforts - will need to elevate his game in order to be a player with these, with
the outside draw doing him no favors. (8) VINNY DE VIE finally showed some of the life we've been
watching for last week, and his barn is going strong now - not sure that THIS is the spot to take a shot with
him, though. (5) DIRTY SECRET hasn't been finishing well enough in any of her recent starts - may need
to be in a bit easier for a chance at a top prize. (7) DEW CAN DEW finally broke a long local winless
streak last week...and is a very unlikely repeater from this much tougher spot.
RACE 10 - (1) MARILYNS JO showed good potential in a handful of 2YO starts and continued to build
on that since returning recently as a 3YO - steps up in class off last week's pocket victory, but acts like she
can hold her own with these tougher foes as well - gets the nod in the finale. (5) P L NELLY got sharp into
the M Life series and was a short priced winner of the consolation - no prayer spot in last, but expect a
much more aggressive try tonight - legit player. (2) FLIRTY FORTY gets some important post relief and
that should make her a live contender again - just 1 for 20 at YR, but definitely belongs in exotics (4)
CHELSKI threw her first lesser effort last time but an off track and quick mile were contributing factors -
could easily bounce right back to be a player again this week. (3) SPRECKLES seems to have sharpened
out of town the past couple of weeks and she's gone some good miles here in the past - assuming she's a
decent price, she's worth including somewhere on your tickets. Both (6) WOODMERE HARRIET and (7)
P L NOTORIOUS fit as well as any of the others, but both of them draw outside for the 2nd straight week -
and both figure to be hampered by their posts once again. (8) RT DONT SPEAK already seemed badly
overmatched even without Post 8.