Monday, November 3, 2025, Empire Report
The Empire Report – Monday, November 3, 2025 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (5) WHY TOMORROW RAY was outleft into the first turn last week and had to work very hard to make the lead past the quarter, rolled a sharp half then accelerated even more to 3/4s, opened a clear lead and was just one of the many eye-popping winners the barn has sent out over the last couple of weeks – he definitely earned tonight’s class bump, and may be worth sticking with, as long as the price is decent. (2) SLING SHOCK landed on a tough trip vs. the 60s last week but drops back down to 40s tonight, and he jogged in this class in back-to-back recent starts – logical threat! (4) PYRO raced well from no chance spots in his last pair after winning the start before – he’s sharp enough to have a say here, if he can find a decent trip. (6) SOUTHWIND PETYR may have benefited from a contested pace last week but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t terrific himself – he may not be 21-1 tonight, but he’ll still be a good enough price to merit a look. (3) SPEAKER OF PEACE has now been claimed from 6 straight starts, and the only “bad” line on his card is when he got parked from Post 8 – another that becomes dangerous here with the right journey. (1) ULYSSES has Bartlett and the rail but even his best effort may leave him a notch below a few of the others. (7) ROCKIN N TALKIN puts his 3 race winning streak on the line for a new barn but to keep it going, he’ll need to win up in class, from a terrible post – leaning more towards others. (8) WALKINSHAW has been able to pick up lots of decent pieces lately but tonight’s draw may leave him waiting for a better spot
RACE 2 – (1) WARRIOR FOR TRUTH looped to the lead from Post 7 last week, let WHY TOMORROW RAY go and can be forgiven for coming up 2nd best to that beastly winner – he owns 4 recent wins (3 in blowout fashion) and is clearly the one to beat from the pole…won’t offer much value, though (3/5 ML)! (3) ALWAYSCUTTINSCHOOL was a perfect trip winner 3 back then raced well for pieces from impossible spots in his last pair – worth a look if trying to beat #1. (6) CELLMATE may have trouble ever getting into the hunt but he did win 2 back (off a perfect trip) then did finish well in some traffic last week – he’ll certainly be a big enough price. (2) DONTLIKEITLEAVE failed to threaten at all last week with the class drop but he figures to be much closer to the action tonight, and that may help him at least contend for a share. (5) SURFSIDE BEACH came out of a rough patch with a recent pair of 2nds but quickly threw a dud in his next, and was no real player in his last – would need a pretty big price to try him tonight. (4) LOUS THE ATTITUDE does hail from a scary-hot barn but he’s also 11-0-0-0 at Yonkers this year, and that’s hard to ignore. (7) DONTTELLMENOW never got close from a similar spot last week
RACE 3 – (6) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR has lost 9 straight but that’s largely due to the fact that he’s been facing the top horses in North America during that stretch – his two starts prior to that were wins here at Yonkers, and he’s won 11 of his 17 starts over the Hilltop oval…we’ll give him a chance to have a successful homecoming. (2) ALWA YS A THRILL just missed 2 and 3 back and was hurt badly in his last when caught behind a tiring leader into the stretch – could be the right one if #6 doesn’t bring his best. (1) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A has only ONE win over the last few months (and vs. cheaper) but he does pick up a ton of good pieces in most of his starts – the rail draw could help him grab a good slice tonight. (3) COMBUSTION was a little too far back to any real damage the last couple of weeks but he’s been finishing his miles well, and grab a piece if a bit closer to the action tonight. (4) AME RICAN DEALER N lone recent win came on the lead, vs. cheaper – he is good at grabbing pieces, however, and is eligible to grab a slice with the right trip. (5) RACING RAMPAGE fits well, and is only listed on the bottom because of the draw (he seems destined for a tough trip whether he leaves, or takes off the gate).
RACE 4 – Tough race! (5) ROYAL DESIRE is putting together a solid season and drops back down to the level he beat (easily) on 9/15 – on the flip side, he was scratched sick from his last, making him somewhat more “iffy” here – willing to give him a try IF the price is fair. (7) TWIN B POWERBALL went through a recent rough patch but he did add Lasix last week, so that may explain some of his struggles – won’t be easy to win from out here, but a juicy price makes him worth at least a look. (3) SAVE ME A DANCE has been unpredictable lately but he did just miss 2 back, and picked up a win back in early September (vs. easier) – possibility here IF he brings his best. (4) TWIN B DELUXE was facing (and beating) much better not long ago, but he’s fallen on some hard times lately– he’s eligible to turn things around at any time, but it’s tough to accept a short price at the moment. (1) FAMILY RECIPE is too classy to just ignore from this spot but he’s having a tough season overall, and looked short off the layoff last week – could end up overbet from this spot. (6) MYULTIMATEBAXTER N is just 1 for 22 at Yonkers this year and draws poorly tonight – not impossible, but definitely leaning elsewhere. (2) CASINO ACTION N gets a good draw and hasn’t been terrible lately – he’s also 2 for 55 at Yonkers, and hard to endorse on top! (8) TEXAS HOLDEM seems to need a good draw in an easier field to be a serious threat.
RACE 5 – (2) GDS THUNDER GB appreciated a drop to 30s and easy trip last week, finishing with good pace for 3rd – he gets a better draw tonight, and lands in a field with no standouts…chance to pull off an upset with the right trip. (5) MAXIMUS RED A has picked up a pair of 2nds since moving up to this level and has been sharp for the past 2 months– more than capable of getting over the top tonight if things go his way (1) DONTBOTHERMENONE A is hard to gauge off his current out of town form but he’s had success here in the past (for a different barn) and may be able to do some damage returning from upstate. (7) ITALIAN LAD N was winless in his first 27 starts this year but it only took him 2 weeks in a new (smoking hot) barn to get his picture taken– hard to say if he can replicate that effort from out here, though. (3) JIMMY CONNOR B probably needs to be in a little easier to threaten for the top slot but the good draw does give him a chance for a piece, though. (4) DEETZY found a soft spot two back and was able to squeeze out a win, but his overall recent form hasn’t been up to par…always respect the 13Yos chances, but others are more appealing right now. (8) SADDLE UP has a scary 14 for 29 record this year but his form certainly tailed dramatically in his last few starts (after a claim) – he goes for a new barn tonight, but his connections may need to wait for a better scenario before a return to better form. (6) REIGNING DEO draws poorly, and has just one win and one 2nd from 25 local starts this year
RACE 6 – (1) JUST ENUFF STUFF has been sharp for weeks, his only blemishes the couple of times he was used hard cutting the mile – could be very dangerous tonight with a patient trip. (2) BB LUCKY BOY returns off a razor sharp win at VD and he’s thrown some BIG efforts here in the past (including a blowout win with Kakaley) – he’s prone to clunkers, but a “fair” price makes him worth including tonight. (3) MOOD CONTROL did benefit from a contested pace last week but that doesn’t take anything away from his own career-best effort…don’t know if he can replicate that mile but IF he does, he can be a threat here too. (6) THEMASKEDCRUSADR N should appreciate the drop to 30s but that may be offset by the bad draw – a good trip would boost his chances a bit. (5) BETTOR BY SEASIDE has some solid out of town form but is hard to gauge class-wise – may take a conservative approach as he makes his local debut for a new barn. (4) ON DAYBOO hurt a couple of others when he left last week, ultimately backing off himself and then making a break – hard to like his chances tonight, moving up in class. (7) SMOKIN HOT SCOTT is outsider, both literally and figuratively
RACE 7 – (1) DANCIN SANCHO rallied for 4th from Post 8th in his first local try and has been razor sharp since then, picking up a pair of wins and three narrow-loss 2nds – he draws the rail after just missing from the same spot in his last pair, and perhaps the 3rd time will be the charm! (4) MANFERNO settled for 3rd after a tough first over try 2 back then appreciated last week’s sit in trip, finishing full of pace once clear in the stretch – would be no surprise at all for a barn hitting on all cylinders right now. (5) TRENDY TEEN never seems to go a bad one, though he usually relies on his trip…if he’s close turning for home, he can certainly be a serious late threat. (7) TYPHOON BANNER N drops in for a tag after struggling through much of 2025 (compared to last year) – he figures to get overbet from a tough spot, and there just seems to be better value with a few other sharp rivals. (3) ALL ALONE was a solid 4th moving up to this level off the claim last week – can’t rule out his chances, though we’re still leaning to a few more “proven” players in this class. (6) MELANION N was a little disappointing in his 3 local Sept. starts – returns for a new barn, and we’re leaning elsewhere. (2) JMS FINALTREASURE gets a good draw, but still seems a notch below
RACE 8 – (2) REDWOOD HANOVER couldn’t have looked any sharper in his 2 recent local wins, jogging under wraps both times – he was full of pace from a no-luck spot on 10/20, and returns from Canada after getting beat by a length (as the favorite) in a FFA pace – Bartlett can find him the winning trip tonight. (1) VERDUN should end up sitting pretty close to the pace tonight, and he’s finishing up his 2025 season in fine form – he can never be counted out…especially from a spot like this. (4) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE shipped in sharp and has held form nicely in 3 local starts – can see him grabbing a piece with a bit of racing luck. (6) WHATS STANLEY GOT A took a while to find his best game in 2025 but he’s been rock solid for weeks, and has a chance to rally here for a piece, even from Post 6. (5) SPRING INHIS STEP A has won 4 of his last 5 out of town, with a tough spot 3rd being the lone loss – he makes his first ever Yonkers start tonight and while it would be no surprise to see him race well here, we’re inclined to stick with the local players, for now. (3) THE GREEK FREAK is 5 for 5 since arriving at The Hilltop, but will be asked to take on MUCH tougher tonight – he’ll have to prove that he can be as effective with these types!
RACE 9 – (5) HIMSELF N had no chance off the class drop last week (8 hole) but he drops again, and has way more options with tonight’s better draw…anything close to his best effort would make him very dangerous from this spot. (2) CAMARA MOMENT is 6-0-0-0 at Yonkers this year but is used to facing tougher – he’s shipping in from NJ is fine form, and worth a long look tonight if the price is decent. (6) SILKY CHOICE is just 3 years old but has proven that he can hold his own vs. his elders – tonight’s draw may limit him to a smaller share, however. (3) STEL LAR YANKEE would look better vs. a bit cheaper but an easy trip could land him a piece in here – good one for 3rd/4th. (1) SEASIDEESCAPE gets post relief but showed little in either local start and is actually moving UP in class – we’ll see if he can find a better effort from the pole. (8) SANTANA HANOVER was able t deliver at 1/5 in his YR return last week but he draws Post 8 while moving up in class, and Bartlett did opt for #1 instead – we’ll follow his lead. (4) COLLECTIVE WORKS A is winless in 7 U.S. starts and feels like he may need to get in a little easier before we see his best – minor spoils? (7) WINDSUN RICKY moves up AND lands outside…not usually a recipe for success for him.
RACE 10 – (4) DEUCE HANOVER raced pretty well here recently, holding his own vs. some tougher stock (THE GREEK FREAK, HELLABALOU, PANNETONE HANOVER, etc.) – he catches a beatable field (after a couple of tries in NJ) and could be a good value play in tonight’s finale. (1) SIX DEGREES is just 1 for 16 here this year but did hold his own vs. much better, not long ago – look for an aggressive try from the pole tonight. (5) ROCKNROLL GOLD had no chance in his only local try this year but his recent out of town lines suggest he can be a good fit here – figures to be a decent price. (2) EUPHORIA N has struggled overall for some time but he did just miss 3 back and the good draw at least puts him in play for a piece of this. (6) SUPID SHUFFLE will attract some attention here but he’s just 1 for 21 on the season, and 0 for 11 here at Yonkers – others figure to be offering better value, at least for the top slot. (8) BONDI SHAKE N raced better here in 2025 than in the past but he’s still 0 for 25 at Yonkers (since 2023) and hard to consider on top from Post 8. (3) LEVINE has just one start in over 7 weeks and would be a surprise tonight. (7) ALADDIN has far more duds than good ones the last few months – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help.