Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report - Thursday, August 18, 2022 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 - (3) STAMPED BY LINDY was a bit under-driven 3 back but still finished well for 3rd (behind

the streaking FLIP THE SWITCH) - did cut the mile the next week but was roughed up early, and had to

settle for 2nd best (to a fresh closer) - drops back down to NW2 after trying MUCH better stakes company

in NJ last week, and may be in a good spot to pick up his first Yonkers victory. (6) MAGICAL MAJOR

moved to one of the sharpest barns around last week and trotted home steadily for 3rd - could be even

sharper tonight, and should be able to have a big say here. (1) BANGIN IN THE HALL was an even 4th

last week and now gets a big driver change to Bartlett (while drawing another rail) - could be an even

bigger player this time around. (5) THE BOSS MAN was an "ok" 2nd in his local debut, but didn't fire at

all last week - needs to be back on his better game if he hopes to be a serious player here. (8) MAGNOLIA

VOLO has really been struggling lately and draws Post 8 (off a bad date) for her local debut - on the flip

side, she adds hopples and debuts tonight for a trainer/driver team that has done good things together

recently - maybe check the tote board? (4) SQUABLE has just one win and one 2nd from 36 career starts

but did race ok last week - ok bomb for third? (2) UNIQUE KEMP draws well but is 9-0-0-0 to start her

career. (7) MIDNIGHT ICE is just 2 for 30 lifetime despite racing vs. cheaper in Canada most of her life -

last couple at PcD don't really inspire a lot of confidence

RACE 2 - (1) AMERICAN TOUR N has been sharp for weeks, and moves all the way inside after

finishing 3rd from Post 8 last week - seems the most likely among the contenders in here to land on a good

trip, and that earns her top billing. (4) NORMANS MADELINE seems to go through long dry spells,

followed by a few strong starts - she comes into tonight off a 2nd and a win, and should be a major threat

once more in her current good form. (5) TOBAGO TIME was starting to really struggle for her previous

barn - was no good in her first try off the barn change, but was MUCH improved when 2nd last week - she

can be a legit threat tonight if she can build off that last effort. (3) BRIAR has held her own with better and

should fit nicely with these - would like her a bit more if her barn wasn't struggling so badly (at Yonkers) in

2022 (no wins or 2nds from their first 22 starts). (6) IDEATION HANOVER has been doing her best work

with a bit cheaper but she hails from a strong trainer/driver combination, and can't be dismissed too quickly

- possible value play? (2) ACEFOURTYFOUR ALEX remains winless on the year but was a good 2nd last

week - definitely willing to include underneath in exotics. (7) PAIGES GIRL is just 1 for 20 this year, and

doesn't figure to land on too good a trip from Post 7 - prefer others. (8) SOUND IDEA would be a surprise

from out here in her current (dullish) form

RACE 3 - (3) BETTERB CHEVRON N was facing much better here in June/July and more than holding

her own - returns from "The Ridge" off a couple of tries at the their Open level, and lands in a spot that she

should be able to handle (5) ANNABELLE HANOVER is a solid Yonkers performer (5-1-2-1) and Bartlett

should be able to find her a good trip here - figures to contend for a good chunk of this. (7) SO IRRESISTI

BLE had a strong 3YO season, banking almost $180K - she's finally starting to get into a groove as a 4YO,

and does fit well with these...chance to be a player if Siegelman can hustle her away to a good start. (1)

MILLWOOD BONNIE N gets some major post relief and that should at least put her in the hunt for a small

share. (2) SPORTS FLIX had really been struggling before finding a better effort last week to beat cheaper

- she debuts for a new (top) barn tonight, so we'll see if she continues to head in the right direction. (4)

SUMMER RAE continues to struggle at 4, now just 1 for 17 on the year (and 0 for 9 at YR) - needs to step

up her game to be a player here. (6) LADYBELUCKYTONITE has some decent recent tries but she's

forced to move up in class here, while also drawing outside - tough spot. (8) VEL DONNA needs an easier

class and much better post - pass for now

RACE 4 - (5) STARLIT RAMBO was purchased out of the midwest and was sent off at 1/5 in his Chester

debut....delivering the victory, and taking a new 1:55.4 mark -- meets nothing scary in his Hilltop debut,

and has a solid chance to make it 2 in a row. (1) MR ZUANETTI was a close 3rd in his first YR start but

made a break in his next, then was no factor in his last- he does draw best tonight, and that might be enough

to give him a chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (8) VENDOR BILL has more ability than most in

here, but he's stuck outside and did make a break 2 back - bit risky, but worth including if the price is good.

(2) EXCHEQUER often "figures", but is now just 1 for 24 locally (last 2 years) and does throw his share of

total duds - another worth considering underneath if the price is right. (6) WEE JILL was an ok 2nd in her

local debut (behind a sharp winner) but just had no offer last week - she can grab a nice piece if she brings

her best...but hard to accept too short a price, especially from Post 6. (7) SOUTHERN SWAN MAN raced

better last week and gets Marohn on board once more - tough post, though. (4) JESSIES OUTLAWED is

7-0-0-0 here this year, and 15-0-1-0 overall....suppose the right trip could land him a minor piece in this

field. (3) MATT SO SURE is 6-0-0-0 at Yonkers, but really no worse than a few of the others

RACE 5 - (1) WESTERN ROSIE landed in a very tough spot for her local debut but still did well to rally

for 4th - moves all the way inside, and meets a field filled with question marks - worth a play, as long as

she's not overbet. (5) BEYOND WORDS N faced better in her 2 local starts - the class drop would

normally make her pretty tough here, but she came up short in NJ last week (after a sick scratch and qua.)

and it's hard to know just how sharp she'll be tonight. (3) COMMANDER CATHY N charged home to just

miss to the heavy favorite last week - hard to back her with confidence, however, as she's 0 for 21 at YR

since arriving from Down Under! (6) LINE EM UP has looked in all 3 starts since the recent barn change -

steps up once more and draws outside, but may be sharp enough to overcome it...consider if the price is

right. (4) THINK OF GALAXIES has the ability to beat these...but she's still looking for her first 2022 win

and she'll definitely be at a disadvantage with her owner handling the driving tonight. (8) TEMPUS SEELS

TER got sharp for a few starts but that landed her up a little too high in class - drops back down to a more

comfy level, but the outside draw figures to really hurt her chances. (2) HEY HEY BDAY comes into

tonight off a pair of upset wins, but jumping all the way up to this level does figure to slow her down a bit.

(7) ENGLISH ROSE N beat the bottom class 4 back, but hasn't fared as well against better ones

RACE 6 - (4) CHUPPAH ON was racing off a bad date in her YR return last week but still came up super,

right there on the wire (even though 4th) - her trainer does an incredibly outstanding job with her small

barn, and this mare is no exception - faces a few strong foes in here, but still worth using. (6) PURE COTT

ON has 6 wins and two 2nds from her last 8 starts, and can race from on or off the pace - Marohn knows

her well, and may be able to steer her to yet another victory. (2) SHES PUKKA N is always dangerous at

this level, but may also be a bit overbet in here - hard to leave her off your tickets. (5) HEAVENISSOFAR

AWAY used a perfect trip to beat the 50s two back (2nd time in her current barn), then wasn't bad bumping

up to this level last week - chance for another decent piece here if she lands on the right trip. (7) SLY ELE

ANOR won a few times for us earlier this year - she never really seemed to love racing over the half, so it's

no surprise to see how well she's been racing out of town, on the bigger tracks -- lands a tough post for her

YR return, and may just have too far to come tonight. (1) DRESDEN has found some very good form in PA

vs. a bit easier - the rail draw gives her a chance at a piece tonight, even in this tough field. (8) JOSSIE

JAMES A was an easy winner last week moving to a barn that routinely wins off the claim - not sure she'll

be able to overcome both the class jump and Post 8 tonight, however. (3) YS TALLIA is having a nice

season so far, but may be pushing her luck with tonight's big class jump

RACE 7 - (6) FLIP THE SWITCH took a couple of local starts to work out the bugs but he's hitting on all

cylinders right now, and looking like a very nice trotter - hard to go against in his current raging form. (1)

SEVENSHADESOFGREY just never looked comfortable last week, and perhaps an equipment issue was

the reason why - he finished 2nd to the top choice 2 back, and may be able to complete the exacta once

more. (4) BIG CHARLIE MORAN has been in career form for a while, and seems equally solid on or off

the pace - definitely one to include underneath. (8) YUCATAN PARTY MAN was an underachiever for a

long time, but he's finally blossomed into a very reliable 4YO - willing to throw him in underneath even

from Post 8, assuming the price is juicy enough. (5) CREATIVE VENTURE has been outracing his odds

the past few starts, and figures to be a big price once again - include him underneath. (2) LOVE THIS BAR

was a winner back in May in his 2nd start off the barn change but has been limited to smaller pieces since

then - more of the same tonight. (3) WILY WALLY was well backed off a bad date in his local debut and

ended up making a break on the lead - behaved all the way last week and scored the easy win over cheaper,

but his final half was quite slow - could be vulnerable here. (7) TITANS HOPE leaves well and stays

trotting and that earns him a lot of pieces - may be in for a tougher trip tonight, however

RACE 8 - (4) DRAMAACT went through a drought after winning the Matchmaker Final here this spring

but came to life at PcD recently, scoring a pair of powerful wins followed by a sharp 2nd in NJ - we'll hop

back on her team this week. (7) DELITFULCATHERIN N has been out of her mind sharp since joining this

potent owner-trainer/trainer combination 4 starts back - she gets assigned Post 7 tonight, but is sharp

enough to overcome it...if the trip luck comes her way. (5) EASY TO PLEASE has been terrific since

joining this barn during her 3YO season and she's particularly fond of Yonkers...where she sports a

17-8-6-2 record - that "maintenance qualifier" should have her on her toes for tonight...with a chance at a

big piece here. (2) DRAGON ROLL is feeling good again, and comes into tonight off a pair of wins and a

3rd - use her in exotics. (6) BEST HEAD WEST quickly fell apart after her owner decided to move her to a

new trainer recently - she was returned to her favorite barn last week, and raced a bit better...though still not

at peak form...we'll see if she continues to take strides in the right direction. (3) REACHTHRUTHESKY

AS has done good work since arriving here in early June, but mostly against a bit softer - probably looking

at only a smaller share tonight. (1) TECHYS ANGEL A looked like a winner last week but just couldn't get

(and stay) by the stubborn winner (#3) - may do better than this rating, but still figures to be outdone by a

few of these

RACE 9 - (1) JODY shipped in off a sharp win at Chester but ran into a tough/unlucky trip in her Hilltop

return - she still was finishing well late to be 3rd, and the streaky mare is definitely feeling good right now -

good week to hop on her team. (2) GINGER TREE LIZ continues to race well week after week and

actually gets Bartlett to hop off his main meal ticket barn (#5) to drive this one - deserves plenty of respect.

(7) SIESTA BEACH was a game 2nd to a sharp winner 2 back, then was able to "pop off the drop" in her

last - classy mare is sharp right now, and has a chance to be right there...with some good racing luck. (3)

ROCK N PHILLY has been away for nearly 4 weeks but it may actually help here, as she was clearly

struggling prior to that - not ready to use her on top, but would consider including underneath. (4) DBLDE

LITEBRIGADE N made a break 2 back but came back to race pretty well last week, showing no ill effects

from that miscue - ok for a small share tonight. (8) DANCE CLUB lost all chance after a shuffle last week

and gets a pass - unfortunately, tonight's draw may end up providing her with another excuse for next week.

(6) MAJOR BATTLE is returning sharp from out of town, but also stepping up to a level that's really

slowed her in the past - prefer others. (5) IMPRINCESSGEMMAA must really be struggling if Bartlett is

abandoning her to drive #2

RACE 10 - (2) ASHTINI was no factor in her last couple but they were from terrible posts, vs. much better

- this is a likely wake up spot, and her best would make her very tough against these....but definitely not

one to bet the rent money on. (8) ALWAYS BE COOL paired up with Bartlett for the first time, found

speed she had never shown and turned it into a major laugher last week - gets stuck behind the 8 ball here,

but still a major threat if Bartlett can coax the same kind of effort from her. (5) ANNE BONNEY N was a

(very) surprising leaver from Post 8 last week, and almost lasted for a board spot - draws much better now,

is listed at 20-1 ML, and is worth including in exotics. (1) SEZANA N never wins and is almost impossible

to consider on top...but this is a spot where she may at least be able tow along for a piece. (3) SCANDALIC

IOUS landed on a very nice trip last week but could only parlay it into a weak 3rd place finish - needs to

start finding some sharper efforts if she wants to be a more serious player. (4) DRAGON SPARKS drops a

notch, but will still need to up her game to be any kind of contender. (6) ALWAYS A MIRACLE paced

evenly last week after folding badly the week before - needs to get back to her better form to be any kind of

threat. (7) WOODMERE SKYROLLER was a good $50K claimer for some time, but has been in a tailspin

for a while - she'll probably reverse form one of the nights, though it's hard to predict when!