Friday, October 17, 2025, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, October 17, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) JIVE DANCING A improved off the claim 3 back, disappointed in her next but was actually very good last week – anything similar to that effort would make her tough from this spot, but she does figure to end up overbet…don’t fall in love at too short a price. (5) CRÈME DELIGHT is another logical player in this spot but she also figures to take quite a bit of $$, and she’s just 2 for 35 at Yonkers. (7) UNDETERRED moved to a barn known to improve fresh stock dramatically, and promptly delivered a career best 1:50.3 demolition at Chester – it would be no surprise to see her beat these too, but note that she’s missed 3 weeks (after a sick scratch) before accepting too short a price in her Hilltop debut. (6) IDEAL SKIES failed to fire off a good trip last week but was also facing better –it’s possible she could be better in this spot, and the price should be pretty decent– worth a look? (3) STAY HAPPY would be hard to recommend in her current (weak) form, but she would at least become a possibility (at a big price) if she can somehow show up with one of her better races. (2) PURAMERI should appreciate the post relief but her last 34 local starts have produced just one win, and no seconds – minor share only. (4) KNOCK TWICE is 0 for 20 this year and comes into tonight off an empty try last week – sticking with others. (8) MC ANGEL would need a lot to happen to get close to the action from out here

RACE 2 – (4) PISCO SOUR stuck right with the leader through the hot 1:26 three quarters last week, but made a costly miscue to the top of the lane before she could take her shot – adds hopples this week, and we’ll see if that can help her make amends. (7) DIAMANTE TRIO IT weakened badly with no real excuse last week but she’s bounced back from clunkers in the past – she’s certainly good enough to be a real threat here if she can bounce back to one of her better efforts (3) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM had a disastrous outing 2 back but shrugged it off to race decently for 3rd last week– he’s not a prolific winner, but still feels like a legitimate player in here (1) BE DIFFERENT hasn’t been able to get back to “peak” form, but at least he’s competitive again – he’s done enough good work this year to be dangerous from this spot. (2) INTL BLOCKADE has struggled with cheaper much of the year so it was a surprise to see him hang in gamely to hold 3rd last week (at 60-1) – we’ll see if it was a one time fluke, or if he’s actually on the upswing. (6) RADIO LAB gets a class drop but so do several others in here – not sure he’s sharp enough right now to do any serious damage. (5) KASHA V is very inconsistent, but even his best effort would likely leave him a bit short against some of these. (8) PAPA DOC drops, but will have a time getting into play from this spot

RACE 3 – (5) LOUIES GIRL N is now 3 for 3 in the U.S. and has looked like the “real deal” all along – she gets Kelly on board tonight but that’s not really a concern, as he steered her in that explosive win 2 back – remains the one to beat! (2) LYDEO has been holding her own for weeks/months against the top mares, and should be able to grab a good piece tonight with any half decent trip. (1) PRESSURE COOKER shipped in sharp from PA and did a nice job holding 2nd last start after #5 put her away on the final turn – logical threat for another nice chunk tonight. (4) SHEER ARTISTRY N disappointed in her first 2 U.S. starts but quickly got her act together and has rattled off 3 straight impressive victories – she’s taking a big class jump tonight, and we’ll see how she handles it. (6) UPTOWN HANOVER returns from Plainridge after tiring badly last week, and the guess is that she’ll be handled pretty conservatively after drawing outside. (3) ELUSIVE A shows a 2nd in a $100K Group 1 race in Australia so we know the quality is there…she’s also making her first start in a year, and we’ll just observe for tonight

RACE 4 – Tough race: (7) BULLY BOY HILL gets a pass for last week (equipment break) and he’s a proven winner at this level (and just recently hit board twice vs. MUCH better – one of a few possible “value plays” in here. (8) CR EDIT CON was caught first over into (by far) the fastest part of the mile last week and wasn’t up for that kind of trip – brutal spot tonight, but he has a ton of back class and figures to be a big price. (3) DOROTEA TRIO IT has found a bit of a groove, behaving in 3 straight and winning 2 of them – legitimate chance to repeat, but that 3/2 ML price is a turnoff for a horse prone to miscues. (2) INFINITY STONE has been able to just outrun fields when in the right mood, but he clearly wasn’t up for that kind of try last week, racing off the layoff – he’ll probably try the same tactics tonight, and there’s always a chance he can pull it off. (4) ENERGYSOURCE is just 2 for 32 at YR but he’s hit board in 3 straight and is worth using underneath in exotics. (1) BLACK TIE BASH was shuffled inside last week and did finish well, after the fact – another with a chance at a small piece. (5) MR KNOWITALL was sent off at 75-1 from the 2 hole last week but he was handled nicely by his owner/trainer and picked up a nice 2nd – we’ll see if he can grab another piece tonight. (6) B NICKING gets a bit of post relief, but probably not enough to help

RACE 5 – (4) OVER AND BACK sustained his long wide move nicely last week, had no prayer the week before and was a close 2nd best (to a sharp front end winner) the start before that – feels like he just might be a good trip away from a win. (2) BLACKHAWK ZETTE has been very steady lately, hitting board in his last 3 starts (for a small, but solid trotting barn) – gets a good draw to go along with some class relief, and looms a very solid threat. (3) MY MAN PETER is a giant question mark – he raced super in his local debut 3 back (after joining our leading barn), got parked the mile in his next, raced “ok” (in some traffic) three weeks after that and now has missed 4 weeks since that last start – the ability is there, but he’d need to be a pretty nice price to be worth a stab on top. (6) TORRONE has been a steady performer lately, despite some tough spots – definitely a chance for him to outperform that 20-1 ML price. (5) MUSICAL RIDE has been stuck on minor pieces lately and seems destined for more of the same tonight. (7) SISTER MARY MAUDE added Lasix last week, hoping to find something to turn her tough season around – she gave it a go from Post 8, but ended up parked the mile…gets no luck with the draw once more. (1) HAND DOVER DAN recently reverted to bad habits, making breaks in 3 straight – a little too risky now to consider. (8) REIGN OF HONOR tired in the lane off a very aggressive try last week (parking out #7) and now is stuck behind the 8 ball.

RACE 6 – (3) HUNTING HULA had plenty of late life finishing last week from an impossible spot – she drops to a level right in her wheelhouse, moves inside, and is worth a good look tonight. (6) TURN THE PAGE was stuck in a tough spot last week and did well just to take home 4th – she can hang with much better than these, and may be able to find a way to be a big player here, despite another bad draw. (8) AMBUSHED may just concede from out here and take back to last but IF you think that Siegelman will at least take a shot at leaving, she’s absolutely worth at least considering for a piece – she has more than enough ability to be a player with these. (4) EASY TO PLEASE is still a very reliable mare when she finds herself in the right spot (usually well backed, and right to the top)– this field is definitely tougher, but she can still take home a piece with some trip luck. (2) REMY BROWN N shipped in sharp and picked up a nice pocket 2nd in her local debut – she faces tougher now, but can still take home a piece if things go her way. (1) CHIAPANECAS was never able to cross over to the cones on turn two after quarter moving last week, resulting in her getting parked (as the odds on choice) – she moves up TWO classes tonight, and may be vulnerable once again. (5) VIBRANCE had been struggling, suddenly got very sharp for a few starts but appears to have tailed back off again. (7) KATIES UP does her damage vs. much easier…and from better posts!

RACE 7 – (6) ACUSHLA MACHREE N benefited from an easy trip in her 2nd U.S. start but was still a very good 2nd best to a currently very sharp winner – this is a tougher starting spot, but we’d be willing to give her a try, as long as the price is fair. (2) IDEALINFUN hasn’t won in a while but she races well almost every start, always pacing well at the end – wouldn’t be shocked if she was right in the thick of this. (1) COACHELLABOUND N is having a tough year, and it doesn’t help that she ends up being overdriven almost every single week – maybe some patience could pay off here? (3) TWIST LITTLE GIRL N hung in nicely upon return from “The Aces” and she actually had pace finishing last week, even if well out of it…not a bad bomb for the bottom of exotics. (4) MACHS LEGACY A was 1 for 26 at Yonkers before being claimed on 9/6 but she just missed in her first start for new connections, then delivered back to back eye-popping blowouts in her last pair (for our leading trainer) – she goes for another new barn tonight and as sharp as she is, she’ll have to prove that she can be as effective with these much tougher mares. (5) KISS MY CHEEK does her best work with a bit easier- maybe some minor spoils? (7) PASS AND STOW has won 11 of 19 local starts and that makes her respect worthy every start -on the flip side, she draws outside after missing 3 weeks (scr. sick), so perhaps this isn’t the best week to hop on her team. (8) TONYS MOM has been holding form on a recent climb back up the class ladder, but may struggle to get involved from out here

RACE 8 – (3) AARDIE B MIKI N finished full of pace in a conservative first try off the freshening – she took plenty of $$ in her next start, dropped easily into 3rd but surprisingly refused to pull, gaining late up the cones but coming up a neck shy – we’ll give her a chance to redeem herself. (5) MY RED SEA is stepping up in class but she’s been very sharp since returning from Ohio, winning 3 of 4 starts – she may be sharp enough right now to be a big player here too. (2) STAYINGWITHTHEWIND never fired last week but had been a model of consistency for weeks just prior to that – could easily bounce back and be a threat tonight. (4) ODDS ON PLATINUM sat the pocket in a motionless race last week and couldn’t get to the pacesetting FRONT PAGE STORY to the wire – she fits for sure, but tends to be overbet. (1) ELEKTRA A may be a better suited for a bit easier, but the rail assignment could help her grab a good trip, and possibly a good piece. (6) FRONT PAGE STORY got to cut the mile in a $39K race where nobody even thought of making any moves– tougher draw tonight, and likely a lesser result. (7) DOUGS BABE A will likely be trying to rally from last…generally not a winning formula

RACE 9 – (7) NYMERIA was delayed in getting back to the races as a 4YO but other than that blip (miscue) 3 back, she’s just been getting sharper every week…culminating with last week’s powerful stretch rallying victory – she steps up a bit and draws poorly, but can still find a way to get it done. (1) MA ISABELLE finished up with trot from a tough spot last week and that was on the heels of hitting board in 4 straight – can grab herself another good piece starting from the pole. (4) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS doesn’t win often enough this year to merit that 9/5 ML price but he’s definitely a good fit in here, and a logical one to include in exotics. (5) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS isn’t as sharp as he was a while back but he’s still good enough right now for a chance at a piece against this crew. (6) MON AMOUR took a big step up after beating an amateur field at 2/5 two back but was able to beat much better ones in his next start as well, as the 7/5 favorite– he would have been listed higher tonight had he not been scratched sick from his last start. (3) BACKSTREET PLAYER’s overall recent form is pretty good, but predominantly vs. easier competition – needs to prove he can bang heads with these better ones too. (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE is 0 for 24 at Yonkers this year, often vs. easier than these. (8) WHEELZABLAZIN drops a peg after a couple of rough starts but he’s still in pretty tough, and also has to content with Post 8

RACE 10 – (4) MARIA ALLEGONDA N worked out a two hole trip in her U.S. debut and was strong all the way, a solid 2nd best behind the well meant EASY TO PLEASE – should only be tighter with that start under her belt, and we’ll give her the nod for tonight. (1) DONEGAL SPIRIT was “sneaky ok” last week, finishing with good energy from a no chance spot – she drops a bit, moves all the way inside, and should be able to make her presence felt. (2) ONE MORE BET took a couple of weeks off after getting parked the mile in her local debut – she’ll probably be ignored in the wagering tonight, but she feels like a decent bomb for exotics, assuming a much easier trip tonight. (3) HANGON COWGIRL is just 1 for 23 this year but she’s been pretty consistent lately and her barn is really thriving right now…ok piece. (5) BIG CITY DAISY was handled patiently last week (after a couple of recent miscues) and she did finish very alertly – another logical player for exotics. (6) A FEW CHOICE WORDS was conservative upon returning from Canada on 10/3 but was much more serious last week and able to deliver the victory, despite parking out the favorite – we’ll see how she responds to a class jump AND tough draw. (8) ALTA MADERIRA N qualified nicely off some time off but gets the worst of the draw, and is fairly camera shy here at Yonkers. (7) MISS PERIGNON N seems overmatched

RACE 11 – (7) SEEME ZOOM was well meant in his local debut on 8/16 but broke after leaving hard from Post 7 (then broke again 9/6) – he stayed trotting after adding hopples for his qualifier on 9/19, then wired a field at PcD right after that – has to be worth a look in his Hilltop return (at 20-1 ML), even after missing 3 weeks. (1) INTERN ATIONALCRAZE was handled conservatively last week (after a miscue the start before) and trotted a good final half – he moves inside, likes to win races, and is definitely one to consider. (2) FANATIC had a legitimate excuse 2 back so it was no surprise to see him race well last week (just missed to a horse from a barn that won 3 races that night) – no reason he can’t be in the mix tonight. (5) SHOW THE WILL finished with interest in his last couple and remains a threat to rally late for a share. (4) CROWN MONARCH is just 9-0-1-0 here at Yonkers, and that 3-1 ML price just seems too low, even with his top connections. (3) CREATIVE VENTURE is now 1 for 29 on the year and hard to consider for more than minor spoils. (6) FULL RIGHTS is just 19-0-2-0 this year and hard to make a case for right now. (8) BIG CHARLIE MORAN lands all the way outside after coming up empty with an easy trip last week – he’s also 0 for 33 locally over the past 2 years (1 for 49 over the last 3 seasons).