Wednesday Empire Report

RACE 1 - (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE has always been a steady sort since arriving on the scene last year but

has really upped her game in her last few starts - tonight's conditions were written to get her into the race

("NW$63,614 LT") and we'll see if she's able to pick up her first YR victory here (a more aggressive drive

from Marohn might help). (1) COALFORDSNSHINE GB is the latest of a growing string of UK imports to

arrive on the scene - solid 2nd in NJ in her U.S. debut, and a very logical threat for tonight. (2) SPEAKTO

YOURMANAGER seems to be sharpening across the river, and wasn't far behind #1 last time - could add

some value to the ticket. (4) ST LADS BIJOU was in a no-chance spot in her only YR start- been freshened

up, and did qualify nicely at PcD - could have a say here. (7) CATIE FAYE HANOVER is good for a late

rally almost every week - may be able to get there on time for a small piece of this. (3) HAILEYS SISTER

only raced a couple of times at 2 but showed some promise - return qualifier looks ok, but she may need a

start or two before we see her best. (6) RAISE THE ANTE draws outside again - wait for a better spot.

RACE 2 - (5) ROSE RUN X CON has been stellar since arriving at Yonkers, compiling a 12-4-5-2 record -

he was a no match 2nd to GREAT SOMEWHERE in last week's 1:51.4 mile but maybe he can use his post

advantage to reverse that decision tonight - this is definitely a field with some very sharp/solid players! (7)

GREAT SOMEWHERE is riding a 4 race winning streak, and that includes last week's 1:51.4 sizzler - goes

for a new (top) barn tonight and draws all the way outside - could never leave him out, but that 9/5 ML

price makes it tempting to try against him this week. (6) CERTIFIABLE is another hitting on all cylinders

right now - he was 3rd last week, and now debuts for a barn that seems able to improve any horse they pick

up - has to be considered! (3) STATE SENATOR was in a no prayers spot last week but still finished well

for 4th - he's been a solid YR performer, and does draw inside the top ones...not impossible. (4) JIM BLUE

really disappointed on the front end last week but he may just need to "relax and rally" to be effective - he'll

be a nice price here if you think he's worth another chance. (2) SILENT SPLENDOR rebounded from a

disappointing try 2 back with a solid 2nd last week - not sure he's up for a few of the top ones in here, but

the inside draw could help his cause. (1) COALITION HANOVER disappointed off the claim 2 back but

did race much better last week - he's in very tough here, however, even with another rail draw.

RACE 3 - (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE tends to be a bit camera shy but he gets a double class drop tonight

after only losing by 4 lengths in his last, despite being parked the mile from Post 8 - he's the one to beat, but

be careful about taking too short a price. (1) SHOWMEYOURGUNS has a couple of useful tighteners after

a long layoff and the guess is that he may be ready for a more aggressive try - not a bad week to consider

using him. (6) STEALING was off for a couple of months to his last but still rallied nicely for 2nd (at Fhd.)

behind a horse who came back to win again (vs. better) the following week - he's won plenty of races here

in the past, and that 10-1 ML price definitely makes him worth a look! (3) DOWN THE PIKE MIKE broke

last week but was solid for several starts prior to that - could definitely grab a good share with a clean

effort. (7) ARABELLAS CADET is more than capable of winning at this level but she does struggle with

poor posts, thanks to her lack of real gate speed and often "choppy" gait - may have to settle for a smaller

piece once again. (4) TORKIL was better last week, even if helped greatly by a very easy trip - we'll see if

he can build off that a bit. (5) BY A HOFF HANOVER was able to hang on to 2nd after sitting the pocket

behind a stickout last week - guessing he'll probably have a more difficult trip here. (8) CRAZY ABOUT

PAT is closing in on $1M in earnings and the 13YO can probably get there before he's through - he'll

probably need easier spots than this, however.

RACE 4 - (2) PRO BEACH was an ok 4th in a better field 2 back then raced ok from an impossible spot in

his last - he seems as likely as any in a pretty competitive race. (4) HES ELECTRIC will likely be the clear

favorite here off those last 2 (big) closing efforts but there's no guarantee he'll be as effective if handled

more aggressively (as he figures to be tonight) - could be a bit vulnerable. (5) AMERICAN BOY N has

been first over in his last 3 starts but hit board in the last two - could be the right one here IF the trip goes

his way. (8) BELTANE A is sharper than he looks on paper but also gets stuck all the way outside - he's at

least worth a look with Gingras at that 20-1 ML price. (1) LATE MAIL N is as unreliable as they come, and

camera shy as well - he is looking at a good trip, though, and that could at least put him in play for a piece.

(6) CHIEFS BEACH fits well with this crew but he draws outside and is just 1 for 16 at Yonkers - another

hoping to land on a live trip. (3) ON THE VIRG would never be a shock at this level but he would need to

be a bit sharper than he has been to contend for a top prize. (7) MENLO PARK raced much better in his

2nd local start than the first, but may be used too hard early from this spot to stick around.

RACE 5 - (1) BARRY BLACK hung in okay with much better in his last pair, and now double drops to a

level well within his wheelhouse - short price looming, but clearly the one to knock off. (2) BLUEBIRD

JESSE never really clicked after changing barns on 11/23, picking up only smaller pieces in his next 7

starts - he'll try it for a new barn tonight, and may land on a pretty easy trip - chance for a decent piece. (7)

KING ALPHONSO raced about as disappointingly as a 1/10 shot could here on 1/18 - apparently he bled,

because he returned on Lasix in NJ on 2/10 and was able to pick up a win (vs. much cheaper) - he moves

way up and draws poorly, but may still be worth considering if the price is good enough. (6) MUFASAAS

hit a rough patch for a while - was able to win at the bottom level 4 back, and has been "even" in a few

starts since then - at 20-1 ML, would consider using underneath, hoping for a good trip. (3) MISSION VO

YAGE has been just "ok" but drops out of 50s, draws well and gets a fresh set of hands for tonight - eligible

to improve. (5) STICK WITH ME KID has been holding form nicely as he climbs the class ladder - feels

like a tough spot, but a small piece is not impossible. (4) STARLIT RAMBO was able to pull out a win

over cheaper 2 back before making a break last week - may need a bit easier in his current form. (8)

WINDSONG PIONEER drops a bit but draws Post 8 after tiring from the pocket last week.

RACE 6 - (8) STATEMENT MADE A went a BIG mile off the claim last week, parked to a quarter in

:26.3 from Post 8 before finally reaching the lead, and only giving way lead to be a close 3rd - lands in the

same horrible post, but we'll give him a chance to get the job done this week. (4) BETTOR BE OSCAR

lacked room 2 back when he was right there 3rd - landed on an impossible trip last week but should end up

with a better journey from this spot - live player. (1) HEART ON MY SLEEVE elected not to pull last

week and might have cost him a victory (ended up flying home late to just miss) - steps up in class but

draws inside, and could be a big player with these too. (2) JK LUCKY CHARMS was solid from a bad spot

2 back so it was no surprise to see him charge home to last week's easy victory - steps up in class now, but

the bigger concern is that he exits a barn that has been simply unconscious since last year...we'll see how he

holds up. (5) KENRICK N can be pretty inconsistent but does have his good moments - not a bad value

horse to include in exotics (finished 3rd with Stratton in his only YR try this year). (6) BETTER B SWIFT

raced much better than expected in his first start off the winter break but hasn't been able to replicate that

effort - needs to find that form to grab a piece tonight. (7) FLYING ART A was 2nd in both local tries but

from inside posts with easy trips - not sure he can be as successful from this much tougher spot. (3) AWES

OMENESS just hasn't been clicking at all lately.

RACE 7 - Definitely the weaker of the 2 divisions of this class tonight: (3) STELLAR YANKEE wired

these back on 12/14 but has been in mostly tough spots ever since - this feels like a more realistic scenario,

and his barn finally got in the 2023 win column on Monday night....one of several possible winners in here.

(5) MOMENTSTHATMATTER has raced well many times in this class and actually finished with good

energy last week (after the fact) - a live trip puts him right in the mix. (1) WHAT ABOUT BOB was a

weekly throwout in NW2 for a long time (for top connections) but suddenly upped his game upon moving

to our current leading trainer, and just 3 starts later seems a legitimate threat in $50K claimer - possibility.

(2) SHIP WRECK BEACH K had a long winning streak last year before finally hitting a rough patch - was

able to grab a win off a dream trip last week, and we'll see if that puts him back in the right direction. (1)

DA GHETTO WIZARD wasn't bad 2 back so it was no big surprise to see him win last week (off a perfect

trip) - he's eligible to trip out and win from this spot too. (6) HURRIKANE GEORGIE has a terrific 2022

season but hasn't been quite the same in his last few - drawing outside 5 other legitimate contenders isn't

going to help! (7) AINT HE SPECIAL hasn't been sharp in a while and lands on the far outside.

RACE 8 - (2) P L OSCAR served notice 2 back with that strong 8 hole mile that he may be ready to start

doing some damage - was stuck outside again last week, was caught very wide looping around other leavers

into the first turn but made a break trying for the top soon after - somehow caught the pack, followed wide

on the last turn and had enough left to rally for 4th - meets a few very strong rivals in here, but not a bad

time to give him a shot. (3) INFINITY STONE dropped in for this tag last week and delivered the front end

score as the 4/5 choice - legitimate threat to make it 2 in a row. (6) LINDSEYS PRIDE never seems to take

the $$ he should despite racing very well week after week - his quick starts usually produce good trips, and

that may be the case again tonight. (8) ALL CHAMPY moves to a new barn and lands all the way

outside...but he's been sharp for ages, and some trip luck could put him right in the mix. (5) AFTER ALL

PAUL is good right now, but isn't the handiest trotter on the planet - a hotly contested pace would elevate

his chances significantly. (7) FIT BITT has been racing well in NJ for top shelf connections but faces an

uphill battle starting from Post 7 in his YR debut. (4) EMOTIONS RICHES is capable of big miles at

times, but is also prone to miscues and clunkers - would need a pretty big price to be worth a play. (1) JIVE

NINETY FIVE feels overmatched here, even from the pole.

RACE 9 - (7) MABALENE N did fine work here after arriving from NZ (3 for 4, with a break in the lone

loss) - was scratched on 11/30 and just recently re-qualified over in NJ - looked sharp, and may be ready to

roll right off the bat. (5) LOUISIANA GB arrived from the UK sporting an amazing 15-13-2-0 career slate

- her first U.S. start (in NJ) was against some good older mares, but she was still sent off as the favorite -

made the top, but was blocked into the stretch and shut off trying to duck to the inside - the ability is

certainly there but she arrives tonight off a sick scratch, and the barn sent one out on Monday off a scratch

(BURNHAM BOY N) that was handled conservatively - mixed feelings. (4) CAPTAINS STAR threw a

dud in her first start of the year but has been good every week since - no reason she shouldn't be a big

player again tonight. (3) LYDEO chased some good fillies at 3 and was able to bang out $110K from her 15

starts - has started off her 4YO season decently at The Meadows, and could be a good fit here too. (2)

AMERICAN HALO had a decent 10-2-3-2 slate here last year - was freshened up, won her first start back

at The Swamp, and is another that could be part of this...with the right trip. (1) CLEAR THE WAY draws

well once again and has the speed to work out a good trip - not sure if she can hang with these at crunch

time, however. (8) SOMESWEETSOMEWHERE stuck to the back of the pack after drawing outside off

the layoff and may be forced to do so once more. (6) DOCS DELIGHT has raced well at times but was dull

last week, and draws poorly for tonight.

RACE 10 - (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU had been off his game for some time but definitely looked

MUCH better last week, even if he was beating up on a softer bunch - we'll see if that effort helped restore

his confidence enough to handle these too. (7) ON HIGHER GROUND made a terrible choice to stay

inside last week, got shuffled way back then proceeded to launch wide and pick off the entire field except

for the winner - tough draw for tonight, but still belongs on your tickets...especially with Bartlett on board.

(2) BANK BOX TREASURE was racing well at Chester before taking some time off - qualified back

nicely and as noted, the barn did pick up a winner on Monday night. (3) IN MY DREAMS was struggling

badly for a few starts - his last 2 were better, but still not 100%....hard to say if he'll show up sharp enough

for a chance to beat these, but a good piece is surely within reach. (5) BIG CHARLIE MORAN is hard to

predict from week to week but he's always worth a look when the price is big, as he does come up with

some good ones when in the right mood. (1) THE LAST CHAPTER finally gets post relief and gets

Gingras as well - he's just far too unreliable (especially late in the miles) to ever back with confidence -

especially at a short price. (6) FULL RIGHTS gets a class drop but probably isn't facing any easier - prefer

others. (8) FASHION FOREVER will be hard pressed to find a way into the hunt.