The Empire Report – Thursday, March 14, 2024 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (2) SURFSIDE BEACH has been facing better in his last few starts, usually putting in some decent
moves before coming up a little short – should appreciate the drop into claimers, and Kakaley gives him a vote of
confidence taking him over #1 (despite last week’s sick scratch – maybe we should hop on board too? (1) BIG DRE
AM FELLA has been a solid player week after week as he’s moved from one top barn to another – goes for another
new (top) outfit tonight, and looms a very dangerous threat from this spot. (6) THE FLYING ROCK just missed 2
back as the chalk at this level but had nothing left at the end of his last after working hard early to improve position
– he’ll be a better price tonight, and could offer some value. (8) GDS THUNDER GB has been a different animal
since pairing up with Gingras but it remains to be seen if they’ll be able to find a manageable trip starting from Post
8. (3) HURRIKANE GEORGIE doesn’t look bad on paper, but he just doesn’t feel like he’s on his best game right
now – leaning towards others for the top slots. (5) YS DO IT RIGHT hasn’t won in some time but he continues to be
part of the action most weeks – we’ll see if he’s 100% off that sick scratch. (7) GANDOLF THE BLACK probably
fits ok and has raced ok here in the past – terrible spot returning from PA, however
RACE 2 – (5) TIPSY MONEY certainly looked terrific just running and hiding from the field in her first 2 Open
wins this year but she was REALLY impressive getting it done from off the pace in her last – gets the nod in what
shapes up as a 2 horse affair. (4) NO MAS DRAMA had things her own way but just couldn’t hold off the top
choice 2 back – she avoided that rival last week and delivered an absolute blowout, crushing her rivals by more than
8 lengths – we’ll see if she can turn the tables on her nemesis tonight. (2) PERFECT VIXEN is in career form right
now, and has really looked super since adding Lasix 2 back – we’ll see if she can hold her own against the top pair
as she tries her luck in the Invitational tonight. (3) NO TURNING BACK just bottomed out and tired trying to chase
#4 last time – still a threat to land on the bottom of the exotics somewhere. (1) LADY JETER earns a nice living
picking up minor scraps in these lucrative 5 horse fields!
RACE 3 – (2) VENIER HANOVER was terrific from an impossible spot 3 back – he got cooked after brutal
fractions in his next then simply came up 2nd best to a very sharp tripsitter last week – time for him to pick up that
first win of the season. (3) CAUGHTINALANDSLIDE was hammered at the windows last week after a very solid
first start of 2024 but he could only manage an even 4th – could be the main danger, but he’ll need to be a little
sharper for a chance to knock off the top choice, (4) DIAMONDBEACH has been behaving and racing decently –
good chance to grab another good piece tonight. (6) WON LAST FEELING was better last week than his line might
suggest and his overall form has been solid – good chance he can outperform that 20-1 ML price. (8) KOMODO BE
ACH was very well backed from Post 8 last week (debuting for a new barn) but raced more like a 50-1 shot – maybe
Kakaley will look to be more aggressive here? (5) TALK RACY TO ME was an ok 3rd with an easy trip in his local
debut – could use another easy journey if he hopes to grab another small slice. (1) LONG WEEKEND A drops and
draws the rail but he may not be sharp enough to capitalize. (7) FOREVER FAV draws another bad post after
finishing well back from similar spots in his last pair
RACE 4 – (1) FLIP THE SWITCH moves from one his owner’s trainers to another, despite winning his last pair –
he remains the one to beat, but probably not one to bet the rent money on at a very short price. (3) IN MY DREAMS
wasn’t right 2 and 3 back but rebounded with a big one last week, getting to the winner’s circle for the first time this
year – classy 9YO has been known to string good efforts in the past. (4) LIGHTFOOTEDLEGEND was sent off at
85-1 off the layoff but went a BIG mile that night (when 2nd to #1) – wasn’t quite as sharp in last week’s 2
nd placefinish, but clearly he’s come back sharp and deserves respect right now. (5) WILLY WALTON was forced to drop in
3rd last week and was unable to produce a 2nd move in the stretch – if he can bounce right back tonight, he can
contend for a good piece. (7) PERRON is more than capable against these but he made a break last start and may be
handled conservatively from Post 7. (2) CRESCENT BEAUTY had no real pop after shaking free last week, after a
“won by default” victory the week before – will need to be sharper to beat these tonight. (6) BELLA CACALLA
draws poorly after having to re-qualify (after a couple of miscues) – just watching, for now
RACE 5 – (5) RICARDOSHILYSHALLY was sent off at 1/5 debuting for our leading trainer last week but he was
no match at all for the tripsitter once they turned for home – he had been off for nearly a month prior to that, and
could have been a little short – deserves a chance to make amends. (2) KIMBLE A has shown little in his 4 local
starts despite a pretty impressive Down Under resume – he’s also had horrible draws facing better, and this is
probably a “put up or shut up” spot for him. (3) BEEBEETEE hit board in both tries since arriving from Monti, gets
Gingras once more and could be right back in the hunt tonight. (4) MR MATT MAJOR N is the “x actor” – he was
hammered down to even money for his U.S. debut (off a pair of good qualifiers) but was a very disappointing 6th –he was scratched sick from his next, so perhaps he wasn’t 100% for that first start...would hardly be a shock to see a
big one from him tonight. (7) IM A GIGOLO N definitely fits with these but he draws another terrible post and he’s
yet to show the early speed crucial to working out a better trip – may have to wait another week. (1) ROSE RUN
WOODROW really wasn’t a bad 4th last week and may be able to land somewhere in the exotics with a kind
journey. (8) TYGA HANOVER probably needs a much better post to be a player right now. (6) ICE HOUSE is
struggling, to say the least
RACE 6 – (4) CREDIT CON may not be at his absolute best right now but the class drop is hard to ignore – has to
get top billing after being a solid Open player for so many recent starts. (2) HIGHLAND MOWGLI should have
some confidence after last week’s wire to wire score – may be able to sit a close up trip here and be around from
start to finish. (1) GRINDER finished just behind a trio of sharp foes last week and is looking at another decent trip
from this spot – no reason he can’t land somewhere on the ticket. (5) DWS POINT MAN is really clicking right now
and seems sharp enough to handle the class jump – will need some trip luck, but can be around for a good piece if he
gets some. (3) TOP ME OFF had been on a very good roll but just didn’t look the same for his new barn last week,
shaky from the start and then making a break in the lane – may look to be a little conservative here off that shaky
mile. (6) JULA MUSCLE PACK took three weeks off after a dull one at Pocono last start – leaning towards others
for now. (8) FOR A DREAMER lands another disastrous draw and may have to wait another week before strutting
his best stuff. (7) P C FREE WHEELING has been solid since returning but lands in a brutal spot here.
RACE 7 – NAADA Amateur Spring Series: (2) CALL ME THEFIREMAN won 5 of 14 starts here last year and
scored 10X overall – he’s done some good work with his owner at the lines in the past, and catches a pretty soft
bunch tonight – major player. (4) SOUTHWIND LARADO hit board in 27 of 42 starts last year and has already hit
board in 5 of 8 in 2024 – gets a decent draw against some shaky foes, and could have a say here. (5) BY A HOFF
HANOVER was a winner at Monti last start and it’s the FIRST time he’s won for anybody other than Joe Faraldo
since at least 2022 – his speed will put him into the mix here, but that 3/2 ML price is hard to swallow on a horse as
camera shy as he’s been. (1) SWAN FACTOR shows a couple of solid qualifiers but has been away since October,
and was 5-0-0-0 here last year – small piece? (8) ZLATAN is 0 for 38 over the last 2 seasons but does show a few
decent tries recently – maybe not a bad bomb to try to slip into the exotics. (3) MAKING SPARKS may not be on
his best game right now and was 10-0-0-1 locally in 2022-23 – still a chance for a piece with there, however. (7) KA
SHAS BOY was just 1 for 22 last year, and draws poorly for just his 2nd start since last July. (6) MUSCLE DAN has
been tiring and making breaks in a lot of his recent starts – we’ll see if hopples help.
RACE 8 – (2) J S HOPSCOTCH was a winner in his first 2 local starts – raced ok vs. tougher in his next, but just
never fired last start – the extra week off could help him rebound to one of his better efforts...with a chance to come
out on top in this difficult race. (1) DRACO S struggled a bit with better in his last couple but the drop back to 40s
could help his cause – logical spot to look for a wake up call. (5) SHEENA SOLDIER had a trio of sharp tries
before getting stuck in tough spots in his last couple – worth at least a look at that 10-1 ML price. (6) INN AT
RODANTHE took way too long to find his stride last week and could only rally for 3rd – he’s gone some miles this
year that could make him a player tonight IF the trip goes his way. (3) CANTKEEPMIASECRET was scratched
here on 10/12 and was on the shelf until qualifying back last week – leaning towards others tonight. (4) MUFASA
AS had some better life finishing last week but it was into a :31 final quarter – just seems a bit below several of the
others. (7) PIVOTAL won his first start of the year (at a short price) but has done little since then
RACE 9 – (6) NOWS THE MOMENT was used a little harder than he might have liked for the lead last week and
can be forgiven for losing 2nd after the classy winner blew by him in the lane – he’s been ultra reliable here for a long
time, and has overcome these draws many times in the past – still the one to beat. (1) EUROBOND is moving up but
he has more than enough back class to handle it – the rail draw can only help his cause, and he may be able to be a
threat if things go his way. (2) TACHYON is hitting on all cylinders right now, finally performing like the horse he
always hinted he could be – will be interesting to see if he can continue to thrive even at this top level. (4) WARR
IOR ONE seemed to be tailing a bit but he bounced back beautifully with wins (over cheaper) in his last pair – hard
to say how he’ll be moving back up to the Open, especially with 3 weeks off (5) ROYALTY BEER has been beyond
consistent, but could be hurt a bit by tonight’s draw. (3) ON HIGHER GROUND makes his first start since late
November and may need a start or two before we see his best (he also drops over $22K off his card after tonight).
RACE 10 – (5) ANOTHRMASTRPIECE N was no factor in NJ in his first 2 starts of the year but he’s a borderline
Open horse when “right”, and he does figure to come up with a big dropping to a level way below what he’s used to.
(1) DP REALORDEAL had some crazy numbers in 2023 – although racing well a bunch of times he was 0 for 22
here at Yonkers...but also sported 14-6-5-3 in races AWAY from The Hilltop – he starts off his 2024 campaign in a
new barn, and the qualifier suggests he’ll be ready for action – live player tonight. (2) DOUBLE METAL has a 2nd
and a pair of 3rds from his 3 local starts – gets a good draw, and a chance for another good chunk. (4) GINGRAS BE
ACH was the ultimate “pocket rocket” winner last week, exploding by the favorite to win going away – he faces
much tougher now, but an effort like the last one could put him into the mix. (6) GAMBLINGTERROR wasn’t at
his best last start but he remains capable when on his game – never a bad one to include in exotics when the price is
juicy. (3) TIM MCMIKI drops in class, but certainly isn’t facing any easier – likely looking at only minor spoils. (8)
HES SPECIAL seems unlikely to have much say from out here. (7) NOWHERE CREEK A moves to a new barn but
what he could really use is a better post in a much easier field.