Wednesday Empire Report

soaofny • Apr 24, 2024

The Empire Report – Wednesday, April 24, 2024 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (8) SWAGASAURUSREX landed on a terrible trip last week but was still a pretty close 3rd at the end –

obviously he faces the possibility of another bad trip from out here, but a decent price still makes him worth another

shot. (5) CENTURY IGLESIAS shipped in sharp from Fhd. and parlayed a perfect trip into victory last week – if

Lachance can find him another nice journey, he’ll have a chance to repeat. (1) LYONS JOHNNYJNR just missed to

#5 last time and really had no excuses – he has to be respected here (thanks to a big post advantage over his main

foes), but he’s very likely to be way overbet. (7) PRESTIGE SEELSTER drops back down to his preferred 15s but

he draws outside and does seem off form – one to consider if the price gets juicy enough. (3) MACAHOLIC was

distanced in his first start off the barn change but was much more competitive last week – with some additional

improvement, he may be able to contend for a piece. (2) PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN is just 1 for 49 over the last 2

years and hard to consider for more than a minor piece. (4) PHELGON raced ok vs. better in a few starts this year

but his current form (in NJ) seems lacking. (6) KEYSTONE DASH has yet to get untracked at all in 2024.


RACE 2 – (4) TRUE BLUE HANOVER has been holding her own in the Matchmaker Series and now plummets in

class to this much softer spot – pretty hard to go past! (5) HURRIKANE LADY LOU started her 4YO campaign

here with a trio of horrible posts – headed to PA where she picked up a pair of 2nds, followed by a pair of wins...

may prove next in line. (3) HONEY LOVE got sharp at Rosecroft, winning 4 in a row before faltering in the Open

last week – gets Gingras for her YR debut, and should fit nicely here...solid chance to land somewhere on the ticket.

(1) DEVILISH DREAMS isn’t on her best game right now, but also isn’t at her worst – eligible to grab a piece from

this spot. (6) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT had some success in PA at 2, but may be handled conservatively here as she

makes her 3YO return. (2) FRONDEUR will be on the “watch list” tonight after qualifying three times.


RACE 3 – (2) ITALIAN DELIGHT N took a bad step off turn three last week and that probably cost him a victory

(as he still only lost by 3⁄4 length after racing wide a long way AND also allowed the race winner to get out) – he gets

a surprising switch to Bartlett tonight, perhaps hoping to bring back the success that the pair had last fall/winter –

one more try. (3) ALOTBETTOR N clearly benefited from a few weeks off as he almost pulled off the wire to wire

victory from Post 8 last start – remains a very dangerous player. (5) LIBERTY N FREEDOM beat BOTH of the top

two choices last week, giving his trainer his first victory of 2024 – suppose he could do it again, but still leaning to

the other two. (1) ATLANTIS has obviously been struggling in his last 4 starts, although his last was better than it

looks – maybe he can perk up at least enough for a small piece? (6) GOLDEN GESTURE benefited from an inside

trip last time but still raced much better – maybe 3rd/4th? (4) BEST BETTOR is now 1 for 70, and 0 for 55+ at YR –

sticking with others (8) LYONS PRIDE wasn’t nearly as sharp last week as he was in his previous pair and now gets

stuck all the way outside. (7) MAJOR MAKEOVER would be a surprise, even shipping in for his hot barn.


RACE 4 – (6) OAKWOOD DYNASTY IR was off to a rough beginning in the U.S. but improved in her 3rd start,

won her 4th, then was able to last for 2nd to a runaway “first timer” who just crushed the field – the one to beat here,

but not one to bet the rent money on (at a short price). (4) URSULA BLUE CHIP finished right behind the top

choice last time and usually races ok when aggressive early – if Smith puts her in play, she can have a say tonight.

(7) PINE BUSH MAGA has been racing a bit better than her lines might suggest, and figures to be a big price here –

good bomb to try to slip into the exotics. (1) SHES NEVER WRONG raced 6X as a 2YO but then missed her 3 and

4YO seasons – has returned now at 5, and has a couple of ok Stga. tighteners under her belt – maybe she’s ready to

be a contender down here? (2) PULL THROUGH qualified back nicely at 3 for our leading barn but then folded

badly in her first 2 starts (at PcD) – total guessing game as to what we’ll get from her tonight. (5) DUCK INTO THE

NITE was dull vs. softer at Fhd. in her first start back at 4 – prefer to just observe, for now. (3) GANDY DANCER

has struggled all year here. (8) GROOVY JANE ANN draws post 8 after showing little in her 2 previous YR starts.


RACE 5 – (5) DOWNRIGHTDELICIOUS lit up the tote board with that powerful win 2 back then proved it was no

fluke after turning in another excellent effort last week (rallying for 3rd from a tough spot) – the race just may set up

well enough for him to score a mild upset tonight. (6) ADAM TWELVE has come up just short in his last 4 starts,

but has still never been off the board at Yonkers (17-8-8-1) – remains a very real threat. (3) THUNDER HUNTER

JOE dropped out of the Borgata Series last week and came up with a big mile, just missing despite a very tough trip

– could have a very big say tonight with the move inside. (1) ULTIMAROCA gets a kind post assignment

considering he was a sharp 2nd two back, and finished strong from a hopeless spot last week – chance to outperform

that 20-1 ML price. (8) TAKE A GAMBLE comes into this razor sharp, with 3 wins and a 2nd from his last 4 starts –

he also draws Post 8 in a solid field, and that could hurt his chances significantly. (4) GREG THE LEG was invisible

at the back last week but he drops right back in the box, moves inside, and could rebound quickly – willing to use

underneath. (2) KINGSVILLE probably would like to be in a bit easier – may look to just save ground, and hope for

a piece. (7) NIGHT HAWK couldn’t overcome a tough trip last week and could be looking at another one for tonight.


RACE 6 – (3) SISTER MARY MAUDE was purchased after a couple of impressive victories early on in her 2YO

campaign and finished the year 8-5-1-1, with a 3rd place finish (at Yonkers) in the NYSS Final – she shows a pair of

nice preps for her 3YO season and while this particular race may not be high on her priority list, she still figures to

be a serious threat tonight. (4) CAL MILES N SHELL would be very tough on his best game, but he’s just been way

too unreliable this year to endorse on top at a short price. (5) EL MISSION GODDESS has started to turn things

around and has been bringing solid efforts every week– belongs in your exotics. (1) VOSS BLUE CHIP was

handled surprisingly aggressively in his first start of the year but broke on the first turn – he requalified back nicely,

adds Lasix for tonight, and could be a player...if he minds his manners. (7) MR KNOWITALL has been 3rd or 4th in

all 5 local starts and remains a good bomb for the bottom of tris and supers. (2) BARN DREAMER was a bit short

in her 3YO return and may need another start before we see her best – leaning towards others for the top slots. (8)

WAYS AND MEANS showed ability at 2 but lands all the way outside for his 3YO return and figures to be handled

very conservatively. (6) BEACON BEACH hasn’t been sharp in a while.


RACE 7 – John Brennan Trotting Series, Leg 3: (3) ROYALTY BEER has a pair of effortless victories in the series

so far...no real surprise since he’d been right there in the Open in most of his starts this year – faces a little tougher

task tonight, but we’ll stay on board. (4) WARRAWEE YANG arrived riding a 4 race winning streak and has

extended that to 6 in a row, with wins in both of his series starts – he’ll need to be pretty good to beat #3, and get

that streak up to 7! (5) MOHATU AS was a solid finishing 4th in Leg 1 (his first start of the year) then built off that

with a nice 2nd place finish last week (behind #4) – chance to land somewhere on the ticket once again. (7) IMMAN

UEL K S has started the year at 5-0-4-1, including a pair of 2nds in this series – he can be in the hunt once again, but

will need some trip luck starting from Post 7. (1) BONTONI DEGATO S was a no threat 2nd to the top choice 2 back

and a no threat 3rd to him last week – the rail draw gives him a chance to grab another small piece. (6) WICKENBU

RGH had been looking very good since arriving from Ohio 4 starts back but lost all chance after breaking before the

start last week – tonight’s draw could cause some trouble, as well. (2) LAVA FIELD picked up small pieces in the

first 2 legs but may have a tougher time doing as well in this solid field. (8) CITY OF HOPE seems too far out to be

any kind of serious threat this week.


RACE 8 - John Brennan Trotting Series, Leg 3: (1) BY THE BOOK shipped in with Stga. lines that suggested he

was a pretty nice trotter – he rallied for 4th from an impossible spot in Leg 1, then was a solid 2nd best after a pocket

trip behind ROYALTY BEER last week...maybe he can pull off the mild upset tonight? (3) SEA CAN was an

excellent 2nd behind TACHYON in the first leg then picked up the win in Leg 2, though he was definitely handled a

bit carefully in the lane...he’s clearly the one to knock off, but may just be a tad vulnerable at a short price. (2) OPT

RIX kept coming in Leg 1 to pick up the win in his first start of 2024 – he raced “well” to be a close 3rd in his next

start, but it would have been nice to see a little better finish – the good draw puts right in the mix tonight, and he

should be able to grab another nice chunk. (6) DYLADMAR shook free a little too late to do more damage two back

then was a nice 2nd behind TACHYON last week – the post is a concern, but he can still add some value to the

exotics. (5) COVENTRY HALL tried to cut in the first week and came up a little light at the end – he raced off the

pace in his last and made a menacing move entering the stretch...only to hang late and finish 2nd – we’ll see if he can

up his game a bit more for tonight. (8) RESOLVE TO WIN was underestimated last week and was able to hit the top

from Post 7 and go 2 for 2 in the series – he’ll really need to be good to get it done again, from yet another tough

spot! (4) CREATIVE VENTURE was dull in his last pair and in need of a wake up call to be a player. (7) STONGE

RWITHLINDY wasn’t bad in his 2nd start of 2024 but the draw figures to really hurt his chances tonight.


RACE 9 – (1) BARN CREDIT had a solid 2YO campaign, culminating with a 2nd in the Excelsior Final – she

moves to a new barn for her 3YO season, and had a useful tightener in PA (adding Lasix) to start off the year – may

have her sharp enough to get it done tonight. (5) WAVERLY HANOVER, like barnmate EL MISSION GODDESS,

has picked up her game lately – feels like a very live player, but the bad post and short ML price make her tough to

endorse on top. (6) MAGIC MELVIN was handled extremely conservatively last week, somewhat surprising

considering the connections – willing to consider here, if the price is good enough. (4) SHIV had some good starts at

2, qualified ok (in Florida) for her 3YO season and may be able to have some say tonight. (2) TO MY CREDIT is 0

for 17 locally and only hit board 3X – minor share only. (7) FULL SCALE fits well enough, but may have a tough

time getting close from out here. (3) LIGHTNING TAMER feels like a work in progress at the moment.


RACE 10 - John Brennan Trotting Series, Leg 3: (6) TACHYON has already won 5X this year including his last 3

in a row – he’s hitting on all cylinders right now and while that can change at any time, he’s still pretty tough to go

against at the moment. (1) YOU GOT IT was handled conservatively last time after a miscue 2 back – he’s capable

of better, and may have a chance to complete the exacta with the good starting spot. (2) DRACO S finished decently

for small pieces the last 2 weeks – he draws inside, with a chance to grab a piece with a decent trip. (7) DEADLINE

HALL was stuck first over in both legs and wasn’t bad either time – he’ll be a big price tonight, and may be able to

add some value to the exotics. (8) FERRETTI raced well in both local starts, rallying for a 2nd and a 3rd – the ability

is there for sure, but he does face the possibility of a pretty tough trip starting from Post 8. (3) MYCROWNMYKIN

GDOM has been a little disappointing in the first 2 series legs but he’s capable of better, and his barn did send out a

pair of bomb winners on Monday night – not a fan of that low 4-1 ML price, though. (5) CASSIUS HANOVER

picked up a pair of 3rds in the first 2 legs but still seems a bit cheaper. (4) CRAZY BROTHER JIM was hurt by

terrible cover last week but didn’t really have much to offer of his own.



RACE 11 – Good finale: (4) IM J BEE N went his best mile for his current connections last week, almost pulling off

the 35-1 upset – obviously that price will come down now, but he should still offer decent value in a pretty wide

open affair. (1) OZONE BLUE CHIP dropped from 40s to 20s last week, raced very hard but was done in by a very

tough trip – will probably look to control the action from this spot (despite plenty of other “speeds”), and he may be

able to pull it off. (5) SMOKIN BY N was just reclaimed by his favorite barn and absolutely is worth considering,

especially at that 8-1 ML price! (7) IMABEACHBOY puts his 3 race winning streak on the line tonight and he’ll

certainly have his work cut out for him from Post 7 – but definitely not impossible! (8) CAPTAIN T HANOVER

lands outside all his main foes but he CAN leave fast off the car, and is a good one to use underneath at what figures

to be a big price. (6) ROCK THIS WAY tripped out last week and picked up his first win of the year – will be much

harder to replicate that vs. these. (2) JOJOS PLACE is as unreliable as they come, but even his best effort may only

be good enough for a small slice. (3) SHARK PLAY was a “drop and flop” special moving down to 20s last week –

prefer others here.

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