Friday Empire Report

The Empire Report - Friday, September 10, 2021 - Race Analysis

NYSS Night of Champions

RACE 1 - Trot NW20,000

1 - HIGH GEAR NO FEAR has thrived ever since shipping down from Canada to this very high % barn -

been right there in his pair at this level, and looms a major danger from the pole tonight

2 - KINDA LUCKY LINDY just hasn't been on his best game in a while, with his only recent win coming

on the lead, from the rail, vs. easier - will need to up his game to be a serious player tonight.

3 - TRUMP THIS was sluggish off the claim last week - probably needs a class drop to show his best

4 - HUNTING AS was forced to re-qualify after a pair of miscues - expect a conservative effort tonight,

and wait for some class relief before giving serious consideration

5 - IT AINT THE WHISKY moved to a very high % barn for his last start but didn't fire his best effort -

wouldn't write him off too quickly, and he's worth a look tonight if the price is decent

6 - GREY has continued to hold her form as she's climbed the class ladder, and gets Zeron at the controls

once again - hard to say if she can hold her own with these too, but definitely ok to consider underneath

7 - WHAT CHAPTER was right there at the end last week, benefiting from the ground saving trip - clearly

a good fit with these, but the outside draw may limit him to a smaller share tonight

8 - MOSTINTERESTINGMAN continues to have strong years even at age 8, and is definitely the "class"

of this field - it's never easy from Post 8, though, so make sure to get a fair price if using him on top

RACE 2 - NYSS Final - 2YO Filly Trot - Purse $200,000

1 - GERTRUDE made a break at Tioga but has otherwise enjoyed a solid 2YO campaign, with 2 wins, a

2nd and a 3rd - has speed from the pole, and figures to be around a long way...with a chance for a big piece

2 - VALENTINA BLU's lone win this summer came here at Yonkers but she's been a solid player in all of

her starts - been finishing very well, and will be very dangerous tonight with the right trip

3 - SEVEN ON THE ROCKS was 2nd to #1 in her first 2 NYSS attempts but didn't finish strong enough in

her last pair - will need to be much sharper tonight for a chance at a big prize

4 - LITTLE PINK LIES elevated her game when 2nd at Tioga on 8/8, was 2nd at YR (to #8) in her next,

then an even 4th at VD - may be a notch below the main players, but definitely a chance for a smaller piece

5 - GETTINMYSTEPSIN seems a bit below the top ones, and made a break in her local try - prefer others

6 - BOMB HUGGER started her career winning her first 4 starts (all with different trainers!), but made a

break here at Yonkers and has been idle for 3 weeks since then - the "x factor" for tonight, but can see why

some will look her way at that 15-1 ML price

7 - CASH INFUSION cruised on an easy lead at VD last week and that led to a nice 2nd place finish - not

sure she can have anywhere as easy a trip from Post 7 tonight, however

8 - JOVIALITY AS showed plenty of ability from her first baby race, and has impressed all season long -

will need some trip luck from out here but she's still the one to beat (just don't take a very short price)

RACE 3 - NYSS Final 2YO C&G Trot - Purse $200,000

1 - GRAND SPA started the year with a 2nd and a win but saw his season derailed by a couple of breaks

and a sick scratch - back on track in his last (2nd in a Reynolds division in NJ) and chance for a piece here

2 - MOLOTOV COCKTAIL was a steady 3rd here to start his career and has won 3 NYSS legs since then -

still seems a bit below the top players (#4 and #5), though, and likely looking at a smaller share tonight

3 - QUINCY MARKET won here in his career debut and took a leg at Batavia as well - has been a steady

player all summer, and definitely a threat to grab a decent piece tonight

4 - JUSTICE was very impressive here on 6/28 when he won his career debut - has only raced twice since

then but won both times, and will surely be ready for action in tonight's Final - the one to beat

5 - COOL PAPA BELL started his career with 3 straight wins before coming up just a head shy vs. #4 at

Stga. (in a race where both were off 5 weeks) - the main danger, and could easily turn the tables tonight

6 - CHAPHEART has done enough to make the Final but was winless on the year, and draws outside

tonight - tough assignment

7 - SECRET RULE came up 2nd best to #5 when favored in his career debut, and then saw his season

slowed by miscues, and tough trips - drawing outside tonight will only make his assignment even tougher

8 - VELVET STYLE does his best work on the lead, and that seems unlikely here - prefer others

RACE 4 - NYSS Final - 2YO C&G Pace - Purse $200,000

1 - FLIP MY CHIP comes into tonight in peak form, with a pair of NYSS wins (Monti and Tioga) followed

with a 2nd here last week - draws best, and is potentially looking at a nice piece of this

2 - PLEASELETMEKNOW's 2YO season has somewhat paralleled that of classy stablemate American

Courage in that he took his Springfield leg and the Final, showed plenty of ability but was slowed by

sickness heading into the Final - solid 3rd last time in preparation for this, and a very legit threat tonight

3 - STRETCH THE LINE is 5 for 8 this year...with breaks in all 3 losses - he's established that he's the most

"talented" of these, but clearly he remains his own worst enemy - as long as he's a decent price he's

definitely worth a play...but proceed with caution if he winds up being overbet!

4 - HURRIKANE CHUCK was off to a good start to begin his career but hasn't looked good in either of his

last 2 starts - needs a quick rebound if he hopes to be a contender tonight

5 - JD grabbed a NYSS win early in the season at Buffalo but has settled for smaller pieces in his last few

attempts - likely looking at only a minor share tonight, as well

6 - FORREST BLU disappointed in his Reynolds start last week but was 7-4-2-1 prior to that mile - could

bounce right back, but his chances may be compromised by the outside draw - will need some trip luck

7 - PICKUP MAN HANOVER has hit board in all 7 career starts including 3 NYSS wins, and a nice 3rd

last week in NJ - very legit player, but the outside draw may leave him at the mercy of the trip - possibility

8 - GREG THE LEG seems a notch below these AND he gets stuck all the way outside - very tough spot

RACE 5 - NYSS Final - 2YO Filly Pace - Purse $200,000

1 - HAMPTONS BABE was an excellent 2nd here to GOTTHEGREENLIGHT on 8/3, beat that rival at

Stga. the next start, but regressed a bit in her last couple - will need to bounce back to her top form for a

chance to be a serious threat tonight (she should be a nice price, if you think a rebound mile is coming)

2 - JOYRIDE HANOVER has flashed serious ability from day one BUT has just one start in 38 days and

faces a few pretty nice fillies in here - tough task for her trainer to have her tight enough, but it's possible

3 - GOTTHEGREENLIGHT is another that showed her talent from early on and comes into this with 5

wins in 6 starts (the only loss coming to #1, at Stga., without Dunn driving) - she's defeated JUST DIVINE

a couple of times, and will have to do it once more to take this Final

4 - JUST DIVINE looked super in her 3 NYSS wins (including one here at YR), and raced big in her 2

losses to #3 - major threat tonight in what shapes up as an excellent race!

5 - KELE KELE was dull in her last couple and looking at only a minor share, at best

6 - A GIRL THAT TWIRLS has been solid throughout the season, but seems a notch below the main

players (who have all drawn well inside of her) - faces a tough task, but a win tonight would be a feather in

the cap of her talented young conditioner, who has done outstanding work in just her first year of training!

7 - REENACTMENT pulled off the upset at Tioga but on the whole, has been a bit below the top ones in

the division - much luck will be needed to reach from all the way out here

8 - TWENTY GRAND failed vs. Excelsior A fields in her last pair and now draws Post 8 - prefer others

RACE 6 - NYSS Final- 3YO Filly Trot - Purse $200,000

1 - MONI FOR LINDY sports an outstanding 9-5-3-1 slate this year and is 18-7-7-3 for her career - came

up 2nd best here as the favorite 8/9, but draws the pole with Gingras, and is one of several possible winners

2 - ILLUMINATI has disappointed more than she's delivered this year, but she does throw some big efforts

- not a bad bomb to use underneath in exotics

3 - SPLASH BLUE CHIP rattled off 3 straight NYSS wins before a dull 3rd at Stga., followed by a dud in

the Zweig - adds Lasix for tonight, and that may bring her back to peak form in a hurry...very legit threat

4 - CONTESTED HANOVER is somehow 0 for 10 this year despite trotting some big miles - comes into

tonight in excellent form, and it would be incredibly timely for her to grab her first 2021 win in this Final

5 - TITANS HOPE has been 3rd in 4 straight starts but is likely a bit below several of these - tough spot

6 - ITERATION is 9 for 19 lifetime, and that includes a wins here in last year's Final, and in this year's

"NYNY" mile - she went a BIG mile from Post 10 when 2nd in the Hambo Oaks recently, and is probably

the one to beat....definitely a bit vulnerable with the outside draw

7 - SWEEPING RAINBOW has proven she can hang with these but gets no luck at all with the draw - hard

to see her winning from this spot, but a pretty good bomb to include underneath

8 - SOUKUP BLUE CHIP is still a maiden and draws Post 8 - the outsider, both literally and figuratively

RACE 7 - NYSS Final- 3YO Filly Pace - Purse $200,000

1 - TAVA hit board in 4 straight NYSS races earlier this year - adds Lasix for her Hilltop return, draws best,

and is one of MANY hoping to pick up 2nd or 3rd behind the standout (5) TEST OF FAITH

2 - RIGHTFULLY MINE rallied for 3rd here (at 100-1) on 7/15 and has also raced well in other NYSS

events this year, and last - if she lands on a good trip, a good piece is within reach

3 - DELIGHTFUL Z TAM has continued to improve all year and comes into this off a strong 3rd (in PA)

behind a pair of Open mares - she's 10-4-4-0 at Yonkers, and definitely one to strongly consider underneath

4 - SUMMER RAE has been a little inconsistent this year, but does sport an 8-1-5-0 local slate - prefer a

few others, but still respect her chances of taking home a piece of this

5 - TEST OF FAITH is now 17-5-2-0 for her incredible career, her lone loss this year coming vs. Open

company, from the back row, in a 1:49 mile - she's 5 for 5 at Yonkers, has push button speed, and will be

the prohibitive choice to repeat her victory in last year's NYSS Final

6 - HEART OF MINE was won 8 of 11 starts this year, and is 6-5-1-0 here at YR - the draw may cause a

problem, though, as she lands outside #5, and could end up with a less than stellar journey tonight

7 - THINK OF GALAXIES flew off the car here from a similar spot on 7/15 and that got this talented filly

a 2nd behind #5 - if you think she may be able to do that again, she's a good one to use for 2nd/3rd

8 - PURAMERI really needs an inside draw to have any chance to hang with these - brutal spot

RACE 8 - NYSS Final - 3YO C&G Trot - Purse $200,000

1 - CREDIT CON has been a bit below the top few in the division all year but has routinely finished just

behind them - should be able to take home a nice piece, though probably not a real threat to win

2 - SEVENSHADESOFGREY is just 1 for 25 and will need lots of trip luck for even a minor share tonight

3 - DEWEY ARNOLD has 10 wins in 17 starts this year and has come up 2nd best to #6 on 3 occasions -

he may end up with the best trip of all tonight, and he definitely has a shot to pull off the mild upset

4 - AMBASSADOR HANOVER was very sharp all through June and July then started off Aug. with a fast

charging 3rd in the Hambletonian - he tired badly in his last 2 starts, however, and just doesn't seem to be in

peak form right now - he disappointed in last year's Final, and may be headed for a similar fate again

5 - DEES RED DELICIOUS showed plenty of ability at 2, even if not all that consistent - he's struggled all

through 2021, but gets a barn change for tonight...good one for fans of big longshots

6 - AHUNDREDDOLLARBILL hinted at a ton of talent at 2 but really blossomed at 3 after a barn change

over the winter - he's taken 7 of 9 starts this year, setting a few track records along the way- on the flip side,

he surprisingly got beat last start, and MAY land on a difficult trip tonight - possibly a bit vulnerable?

7 - BALENCIAGA surprisingly ran down #6 at Tioga - he paid 1/5 (because he was coupled that night with

#6) but might have otherwise been at least 50-1 -- came back to prove it was no fluke with a fine try in the

Zweig, and seems sharp enough right now to be a player again...but overcoming Post 7 won't be easy!

8 - SEVEN NATION ARMY will be hard pressed to find a way into the hunt from the dreaded 8 hole

RACE 9 - NYSS Final - 3YO C&G Pace - Purse $200,000

1 - SOUTHWIND PETYR hasn't been able to beat a few of the main players in here but he's been finishing

right behind them, week after week - would hardly be a shock to see him come out on top from this spot

2 - ILL DRINK TO THAT has banked over $168K so far this year but he's definitely lacked consistency -

he's still winless in 5 local tries, and he'll need to bring his best if he hopes to get into the win column

3 - STOP STARING seems a bit below several of the main players in here - minor share only

4 - TOWN GOSSIP is frequently lazy and sometimes a bit green but Bongiorno always seems to find a way

to get him motivated - he's a major threat for sure, but likely to be overbet (from a wagering standpoint)

5 - KING JAMES EXPRESS was able to win last year's Final when that race fell apart, and he's come up

big in a few spots this year as well - in general, he's probably a notch below a few of these, however

6 - NATAMERI has been hitting on all cylinders for weeks, but draws outside a few pretty tough rivals -

he'll need some trip luck for sure, but the price should be decent and he's definitely worth including

7 - MULLINAX has been close in several recent tries but helped by some pretty easy trips - may be looking

at a pretty tough journey from Post 7 tonight

8 - MAJOR BEAN came up with a very nice effort off the barn change last week but gets stuck with the

worst post and will be hard pressed to replicate that mile from this very difficult spot

RACE 10 - Open Handicap Trot

1 - MADHATTER BLUECHIP missed all of 2020 but has suddenly started hitting on all cylinders in 2021,

racing in career form (at age 9) as he has won his way up to the Open with 4 straight sub 1:55 victories -

will be severely class-tested tonight, but it's possible that he COULD be up for it right now

2 - BARRY BLACK has been very steady lately, but usually needs to be in easier to be a serious player

3 - MAGIC VACATION was racing at the bottom level at Pocono just 6 starts back, but a major form spree

has carried him up to the top level - have to believe he'll struggle a bit against some of these classy rivals

4 - MAGICAL JOURNEY has beaten this level in the past but seems to be struggling to find his top form

at the moment - could probably use a class drop (or two) to boost his confidence a bit

5 - MELADYS MONET now has as many victories this year as his age (12!) - the amazing veteran is

creeping closer to the $2M mark, and he remains a threat pretty much any week he's in the box

6 - ITS ACADEMIC appeared to be a solid play shipping in last week but really disappointed on the front

end (even though his effort doesn't look bad, on paper) - he's too good to write off after just one loss, and

he'll be a much better price tonight - may be worth sticking with

7 - GUARDIAN ANGEL AS capitalized on a perfect trip last week but it's only because he's so good right

now that he was able to capitalize - faces a much less certain journey from this spot, so insist on a good

price if using him on top.

8 - MISSISSIPPI STORM has won 8 of his 22 local starts over the past 2 seasons and has won from tough

spots in the past - he'll be a good price tonight, and absolutely deserves serious consideration