Wednsday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (5) BETTORBUCKLEUP may be worth in a stab in here – he drops back down to 25s, and was a winner the last 2X he raced at this level – decent value play in tonight’s opener. (1) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N lost his first 21 starts this year but has now won his last 4 in a row – goes for another new barn, and definitely had to work harder last week to get the job done…maybe a bit vulnerable at a pretty short price? (4) MAXIMUS RED A is good right now, and comes into this off a pair of 2nds to #1 – worth a look if the price is good enough. (3) SAILBOAT HANO VER failed to hit board in his first 10 starts this year but then hit board in 12 straight – he does come into this as a question mark, however, after tiring on the lead 2 back, then failing to threaten from the back last week. (6) SPINDO CTOR HANOVER has been racing ok, and may have been closer last week if not for a bobble to the top of the lane – ok for the bottom of exotics. (2) CHANTEE is now 0 for 27 this year– minor spoils only. (7) BLACK HAWK JOE gets a pass for that miscue 2 back but he did come up a little short in the lane last week – leaning elsewhere, but it would be no surprise to see him outrace his odds, with some trip luck. (8) MOVIN ON UP failed to threaten from bad posts the last 2 weeks but gets an even worse draw tonight 

RACE 2 – (1) THIRD EDITION has hit board in 8 of 15 local tries and that includes a pair of wins with Cory S. on board – he catches a very modest bunch tonight, draws the pole, and we’ll give him top billing. (2) REAL PEACE has 3 recent wins but does his best when left alone on the lead, in weak fields – he definitely could be vulnerable at a short price tonight. (6) IM SOME GRADUATE faltered badly cutting the mile 2 back but has otherwise picked up 4 seconds from his last 5 starts – can have a say here, even with the bad draw. (4) HANK THE HUNK is racing better than his lines might suggest, and is a good bomb to include in exotics. (5) MUSCLE BART A is just 16-1-1-1 this year, and 13-1-1-0 at Yonkers over the last 2 seasons – he still might be able to beat out a few of these for a small piece, though. (8) CAPTAIN HANOVER was a surprising claim last week, as he’s just 1 for 27 this year, and not sharp at all right now – obviously Post 8 isn’t going to help his cause. (3) LOORRIM LAKE A is 18-0-0-1 this year, and still makes breaks 132 starts into his career! (7) HOPNROLL HEAVEN has Post 7 off a bad date, was scratched sick from his last and struggling in the starts prior to that 

RACE 3 – (3) GINGERTREE CARILIN moved to this high powered barn this winter, qualified super, then was a solid 3rd in a pair of PcD starts, in a couple of very nice fields – she was scratched lame on 3/31, took 5 months off and her qualifier wasn’t bad, considering the winner was just 4th in NYSS Final – she was handled conservatively last week, but did finish well…maybe it’s a good week to hop on board? (7) DOCS LOVE got an easy trip in her YR debut (for new connections) and just exploded in the lane, charging right on by the favorite – chance to repeat, even from out here. (1) SHEER ARTISTRY N disappointed in her first 2 U.S. starts but landed on a perfect trip last week and pounced on it – certainly eligible to build off that and be a big player once more. (6) BETTORS TICKET has won 4 of her 10 local starts, can rally from tough spots and is a good one to include in exotics, despite the draw. (4) INTRICACY was in a pair of no-chance spots for her last 2 local tries but did pick up back to back wins after shipping over to PcD – leaning more to a couple of others, but she’s more than playable underneath. (5) SPACE CA DEBT added Lasix for her last start in Canada and did finish 3rd (at a big price) – maybe 3rd/4th? (2) CATNAP seems overmatched, despite the good draw. (8) KNOCK TWICE seems to far out to make any noise tonight 

RACE 4 – (5) BIZZY BRENDA gets a pass for her last (parked the mile in the PASS Consolation) but has put together a strong season so far (10-1-4-3, $55K), with her lone win coming right here at Yonkers – should be very tough tonight with the class drop. (1) NOBLE WINE changed hands for his last in KY – he goes back on Lasix for his local debut, and the guess is that he’ll be ready for a contending effort from the pole. (2) BIG SHOT qualified well adding hopples last week, and has shown that he does have ability, when behaving – he’ll be a player here if he stays trotting. (3) DULCES SUENOS DEO is 14-0-0-3 up North but we’ve seen this barn send out live longshots (for pieces) many times in the past – ok bomb for underneath. (6) MICHELONS TITAN has ability, but seems to self destruct in her local tries – would need a big price to consider. (8) COUSIN HALIFAX was in a hopeless spot for his local debut but things don’t get any better for tonight – he does add Lasix, so perhaps consider for 3rd/4th? (4) HIPPE SHAKE has missed time after a sick scratch – pass for now. (7) VANGUARD is 8-0-0-1 here at Yonkers 

RACE 5 – (3) ELISES DELIGHT had missed about 8 months prior to her last start and really wasn’t bad, considering she caught a pretty quick mile – drops right back in the box for a white-hot barn, and may be ready to do some damage. (6) STONECOLD GIRL gets a tough draw but she’s won 3 of her last 4 starts and that alone makes her hard to ignore. (4) GOT BEACH BODY outraces her odds most every week, but will probably still be a nice price tonight – never a bad one for exotics…maybe even on top? (1) PIRATE BOOTY had mild pace at best once free last week but she drops to 20s, draws the pole, and figures to be part of the equation – may get overbet, though. (2) HARPER SEELSTER was ok 2 back and while she raced better last week, she really should have been able to win that night – possibility, but would want a decent price to use her on top. (5) JAZZY VESPA drops in for a tag after some mixed tries in the NW2-4PM class – leaning elsewhere. (7) LINDYS LOLITA has been 5th in all 3 local starts and probably needs a better draw to be a threat. (8) ALWAYS BE CITY seems unlikely to get close from here 

RACE 6 – (4) DONTTELLMENOW has been picking up some smaller pieces vs. considerably better in his last few starts – he drops back down to age-restricted 20s, and he was a winner the last 2X he raced at this level – assuming he’s not overbet, he’s worth a shot here. (2) SOUTH POINT may have beaten a bit easier last week, but he was very sharp in doing so – he has no problem holding his own at this level too, and could be a big player once more. (1) HE AVE AWAY got stung a bit to make the top from Post 8 last week and probably deserves a pass for backing up badly – he has 4 recent wins, and can be very tough tonight if he can shrug off that last mile and bounce right back for his new barn. (8) MINOTAUR is tough to gauge class-wise off his Ocean Downs lines but he won his last pair, and joins a sharp barn for tonight – check the tote board? (3) ROCKET FREIGHT benefited from an easy trip last week but was definitely pacing well at the wire – ok for 3rd/4th. (5) ARMED BANDIT actually left before retreating to the back last week – he has a couple of ok recent tris, and has a chance for some minor spoils (7) KINGSTON PANIC used a fast start to grab the pocket and last for a distant 2nd last week – seems unlikely he can be as fortunate tonight, though. (6) BLUE COLLAR MAN (2nd time Lasix) draws poorly, and has just one 2nd from his 6 local tries 

RACE 7 – (6) SHOW ME has been terrific since the barn change 2 back, an excellent 2nd on 8/30 followed by an even better 2nd the next week (from Post 8) – he’ll be a fair price tonight (despite the sharp efforts), and he seems worth a play. (5) YANNICK G KEMP will be the deserving favorite off his efforts vs, better out of town – he may just crush these, but he may also be a little risky trying Yonkers for the first time. (3) MA ISABELLE is a consistent performer who really didn’t embarrass herself even vs. the FM Invitationals – she should be able to make her presence felt, at some point. (1) THE THING IS picks up a lot of smaller pieces, and Karna drives him well - ok for the bottom of exotics from this spot. (2) ENERGY KING came into his last start at 1 for 26 this year but he doubled that win total with a 15-1 (perfect trip) blowout – he’ll have to prove that wasn’t a fluke. (4) STAR HAIRDRESSER has been much better since adding hopples but may find this bunch a little tougher than he’s prefer. (7) MEETMEAT THEBAR is capable of some big efforts, but may need a better spot before we see one 

RACE 8 – (1) DANCIN SANCHO was on everybody’s radar after finishing full of pace (from Post 8) in his first local start, and that’s why he was sent off even money last week – he had room up the cones and just missed to ROY AL DESIRE, who came back to win again, up in class, on Monday night – deserves a chance to make amends. (3) BONDI SHAKE A threw a rare clunker last week but he may have had tonight’s class drop already on his mind – if he brings any of his other (good) recent efforts, he should be able to have a big say here. (2) ITALIAN LAD N really wasn’t bad last week, racing off a 2 month layoff – good one to use underneath, in exotics. (6) BRUTALLYHANDS OME A is a solid fit at this level but he’s not all that handy, and could be looking at a rough trip from this spot – be careful about taking too short a price with him. (4) THONG CONTROL was the beneficiary of a hotly contested pace at the bottom level last week, and able to cash in – maybe a smaller slice tonight? (5) AIR FORCE HANOVER hails from a very hot barn, but looked dull last week – if the tote board suggests he’s “live” tonight, you may want to give him extra consideration. (7) TWIG gets a drop but he’s gone off form and lands outside – leaning to others, (8) SAVE ME A DANCE was able to take advantage of a perfect trip to beat softer in his last – moves up, and 8 hole 

RACE 9 – (4) JIMMY CONNOR B lands in a very soft spot and would seem a good candidate to go to the top and wire these…but he’ll almost certainly be overbet, and he’s surely not the most reliable horse on the planet. (2) CAVI ART SKIPPER outraced his odds here a couple of times, with a couple of dull tries mixed in – not a bad bomb for longshot fans in a race that COULD fall apart. (6) JMS DELIGHT was a “meh” 3rd last week but he’ll get familiar hands back in the bike tonight, and that could help his chances. (1) SIP OF BOURBON has thrown way more duds than good ones the last few months, but could be a threat tonight IF he decides to bring one of his better efforts. (7) ALADDIN showed his first life in a long time 2 back – he took $$ last week, but was an “ok at best” 2nd - suppose he’s worth a look if the price drifts up. (5) CAPTAIN BATBOY is just 1 for 20 here over the last 2 years but it was at this level, 6 starts back– not impossible. (3) BUDDYVILLE was 38-1 and no factor at PcD arriving from Canada, and just seems cheap. (8) CASINO ACTION N draws Post 8 and is just 2 for 49 here at Yonkers