Wednedsay, November 19, 2025, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (5) FOXHUNT drew horribly in all 4 starts since arriving from Canada but still turned in some HUGE efforts (especially his last pair) – gets a much kinder draw tonight and while his price will come way down, maybe it’ll get him to the winner’s circle. (3) AMERICAGREATAGAIN drops down to 20s after a pair of strong efforts at the $30K level – assuming a wheel hasn’t fallen off, he’ll be a major threat tonight. (8) CAPTAIN T HANOVER turned his season around in late September, finally finding some consistency after a rough year – he may be able to leave quickly enough to get himself in play from out here…and that could land him another good piece. (2) PIRATE S CODE arrives off a mega-clunker at Dover but he did win 3 in a row just prior to that – he lands in a barn that can improve one in a hurry, but he may just be a little on the cheaper side – we’ll find out tonight. (6) OVER THE HORI ZON really loves to win races, and his last two efforts are prime examples – he does move up in class here, and the draw is tough as well – not sure he can overcome it. (4) IM THE PRINCE just stopped before 3/4s last week in his first try off the claim – he’s capable of much better, but we’re still sticking with others. (7) AUSSIE HANOVER will finish with some life at times, but would need things to really fall apart to reach from out here.

RACE 2 – (5) EUGENIO RL IT is one of many horses in the barn that are incredibly sharp right now and he comes into tonight off an effort that saw him charging at the wire to be 2nd, despite being parked out every step of the way – he still figures to be a fair price, and that makes him worth using. (4) YOU GUESSED IT has won 4 of his last 5 starts and it would have been 5 for 5 if not for a miscue 3 back (while coasting a big final turn lead) – clearly a real threat once more. (3) BLESS ME FATHER was 8-7-1-0 in the Maritimes this year before facing tougher in NJ in his last pair – should fit well here, and could have a big say. (1) SIX QUESTIONS has some mixed KY form but debuts tonight for a barn having an amazing year, winning nearly 1/3 of their starts despite many being at the top levels, with a variety of imports…we’ll see if that magic will also work on a young filly trotter. (6) MANFORCE added Lasix last week but still tired, despite making the lead fairly easily (from Post 8) – feels like it’s time to give him a more conservative steer. (2) WISH LIST has some ok recent efforts – chance for a minor share, with an easy trip. (7) GILLYS DE VIE had some nice efforts here earlier in the year but is just getting his legs back under him after a layoff – tough spot, but worth watching for next time

RACE 3 – (6) BO SILAS had no trouble blasting to the top from Post 7 last week, let the prohibitive favorite cut the mile and still held very nicely for 2nd despite chasing a very fast mile – he’s been on the upswing in general, and may be ready to finally pick up his first Yonkers win of the year. (1) SEVEN LAYERS was racing off a month for a new barn last week and did finish with good trot up the cones after a conservative trip – drops right back in the box, and looms a major threat from the pole. (4) KEWPIE DOLL adds hopples tonight after making a break near the quarter last week for no apparent reason – it’s possible she could make amends for her top shelf connections, but there just seems to be better value to be had with the top pair. (2) BIG SHOT often “figures” but has only one YR win this year and seems better used underneath, rather than on top. (5) BIZZY BRENDA has ability, along with 2 wins and a 2nd from her 6 local tries – she did come up dull off a perfect trip last week, however, and will need to be better tonight if she hopes to have a bigger say. (3) JAKEY JUMPUP is struggling, and seems unlikely right now

RACE 4 – (3) MILLIE MAY HANOVER hasn’t been able to do a lot of damage in most of her stakes races but the only recent time she was in an overnight race (8/1, at Woodbine) she won as the favorite, in 1:51 – she’ll be a very short price tonight, but the guess is that she’ll be able to handle this (much) easier spot. (1) TIME TO STRIKE came up a nose shy here 2 back when she disappointed as the odds-on choice, but did hold well for 3rd against some tough older mares last week – could be the main danger. (5) TH SANDRA DEE has done well overall since arriving at YR this Fall, and may be able to rally her way into the exotics with some trip luck. (2) SHANGRI LA HANOVER beat #1 by a nose in her last start, lighting up the tote board at 69-1…suppose she has to at least be considered for a piece here with the inside draw. (4) PROMISING MOMENT looked ready to quit and finish way back last week but found life from the final turn and was actually pacing ok late – decent bomb for 3rd/4th. (6) TH RIZZO lands in our leading barn upon arrival from Ohio but was in top hands out there– she may be a bit on the cheaper side, but maybe we’ll get a clearer picture after tonight. (7) BETTORS TICKET figures to sit back most of the way tonight after caving badly last week after cutting the mile – prefer others. (8) CRYSTAL COAST lands Post 8 off a sick scratch

RACE 5 – (1) ILIKEMEBETTOR A has had some success here in his local starts over the past 2 years and was racing in 40s when last seen here (for the barn he returns to tonight) – we’ll assume that Stratton knows that this guy has good speed, and will look to wire ‘em in his Hilltop return. (2) C BET HANOVER was very aggressive from the pole last week and was simply 2nd best to a sharper rival – should be sitting a good trip tonight, with a solid chance at another nice chunk. (5) HEAVE AWAY seemed to have been struggling badly before turning in last week’s form reversing 3rd place finish – he can be right there again tonight, with even a little more improvement. (6) GOLIATH HANOVER was doing well in 40s when he arrived here this summer but gradually started to tail off – he did perk up at PcD last week (now at tonight’s $25K) level, and a similar effort would put him back in the mix tonight. (3) SCRIBBLERS would look better one level down, but could still rally for a piece with these, with the right trip. (4) KARLOO BRADLEY N’s recent efforts have been pretty inconsistent – the “good” version could contend for a share. (8) CHANTEE is 0 for 33 this year and gets stuck all the way outside once more. (7) MY ULTIMATE STAR A lands Post 7 off a layoff after finishing distanced in his qualifier (and is 18-0-0-0 at Yonkers this year)

RACE 6 – (4) BEACH BABE has been a notch below her rivals in most of her stakes endeavors but note that her last 2 NON stakes events produced a pair of blowout, odds-on victories…new barn tonight, but still the one to catch and beat in her local debut. (5) WIN WITH LYNNLY got a little shaky in the first turn last week and had to back off into 3rd, and was only able to take home the place spot in a pretty fast mile – looms the main danger. (3) DREAM SHOT added Lasix last week and did finish well after sitting back most of the way – chance to rally for a piece here. (7) SHESINQREDIBLE DEO won a bunch of races at the PA fairs this year, and was a winner at Monti last week (2nd time for a new barn, first time Lasix) – a good start could put her in the mix for a small share, despite drawing poorly for her Yonkers debut. (2) LUCEAN was in a good spot when she made a costly miscue on the final bend last week – one of several that figure to duke it out for some minor scraps. (1) FOX VALLEY SHOWGAL rallied for 3rd in her first local try but has been just “meh” in her last couple – the rail draw can’t hurt. (6) PAPIS OPINION towed along decently for 4th last week, but may be too far out to threaten much tonight. (8) GUMBELL grabbed 2nds in her last 2 starts but figures to be too far back to have that kind of impact tonight

RACE 7 – (5) BIG CITY DAISY dropped in for this $20K tag last week, was sent off at 3/5 and delivered a very easy front end score…her price may go down even more tonight, but there’s a good chance the result can be the same. (3) HARPER SEELSTER sat an easy trip last week, and was able to kick home well for 3rd – she’s been known to string good efforts in the past, and may be able to add some value to the exotics. (1) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL is just 1 for 42 locally over the past 2 years but CAN grab pieces from spots like this – another that could help juice up the exotics a bit. (4) LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK really hasn’t been “sharp”, but she’s a consistent performer in this class and always a threat to land somewhere on the ticket – does tend to get overbet, though. (6) WHOS PERFECT can be pretty inconsistent at times, but she has been 1st or 2nd 13X this year – on the flip side, it won’t help her chances that the top choice will likely be leaving hard right inside of her. (2) ON THE MONEY GB has been a bit of an “all or nothing” type recently, but comes off a pair of weak efforts and is hard to back at the moment. (7) DEFININGTHE MOMENT turned in a much sharper try last week but tonight’s draw may make it tough to match that performance tonight. (8) YOU BEDA ROCK has tailed a bit in recent starts, and would be hard to endorse starting from all the way out here.

RACE 8 – Good race: (5) FIRST CLASS RULE was doing good work in Canada before recently joining the nation’s leading barn – raced very well in NJ on 10/25 (after a month off), but made an uncharacteristic miscue here 6 days later – bounced right back to win his last across the river, and figures to be a good price as he tries his luck at Yonkers once again – worth a look in a very competitive affair. (2) GREEN MEL just missed to a very sharp one 3 back, made a big recovery after an early miscue in his next, and was an easy front end winner in his last – remains a major threat, even if Bartlett opts off tonight. (4) MISPANZEE (Bartlett’s choice) shows a bunch of excellent races in KY, usually rallying full of trot – she moves from one top shelf barn to another tonight, and may very well prove best in her local debut…but be careful about taking a short price as she makes her first try over the Hilltop half-miler (1) SENSEI AMNESIA, like most of her barnmates, has enjoyed excellent success since making the move from MN – she does face some tough foes tonight, and we’ll see if she can be as successful in this more challenging spot. (8) INCANTATION has done excellent work since arriving from Canada to her current barn…but she’ll need plenty of trip luck to overcome a terrible draw, in a good field. (3) ALL TOO WELL finally won his way out of NW2-4PM two back but still needs to show he can hang with these tougher ones. (6) SUNDAYS BRUNCH has been a bit of a disappointment since joining this barn in late Sept. – needs to find some better form. (7) COUSIN HALIFAX has come up big here a couple of times but his last few suggest he’s tailed significantly

RACE 9 – (1) DELIGHTFUL TERROR may be worth a stab in here – after a pair of dismal starts (off the barn change) he turned in a much better effort 2 back – he made no moves last week (after getting away 8th), but still wasn’t far back at the wire – maybe he can spring an upset in a field with no real stickouts? (4) SHADOW CAT has been somewhat of the “black sheep” in the barn for out leading trainer but he did have life finishing last week (off a bad date), and this is the kind of spot where Bartlett has been able to “steal” a zillion races over the years – maybe it’s a spot he can handle? (3) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH looked super winning 3 straight then didn’t function AT ALL in his last, getting away last and finishing way back – of course he should have been made to re-qualify after that effort but since he wasn’t, it’s anybody’s guess as to what we’ll get from him tonight. (8) BLACK HAWK JOE was a dead game first over winner 2 back (dropping to this level), then missed by a nose last week – hard to NOT give him a look at that 20-1 ML price, even from out here. (6) CELLMATE picked up his 2nd win in 4 weeks last start but moves from a high % barn to one that has struggled to win races this year…insist on a good price if trying on top. (2) DONTTELLMENOW was empty in the stretch off an easy trip last week and will need to be better to be any kind of serious threat tonight. (5) FAMILY RECIPE just hasn’t looked good since returning from a recent layoff – waiting for better signs before considering. (7) ON DAYBOO has been stuck on smaller pieces from much better spots – tough to back from out here.

RACE 10 – (5) MUSCLE BART A raced big in all 6 starts for his last barn, and was finally claimed last week – the guess is that he’ll continue to thrive for his new crew, and we’ll give him the nod tonight. (1) NEYREIT’s last 4 starts for this barn were all front end tries, resulting in 3 wins and a nose loss – he’ll be the one to catch and beat. (2) GOTHIC ROCK has been very camera shy this year but should be in a good spot to follow along and bring home a piece of this. (3) CENTURY IGLESIAS isn’t a threat to win, but he picks up his share of small pieces when he sits an easy trip…as he figures to tonight. (6) HOOSIER CELEBRITY perked up with an improved try 2 back but failed to build off that last week – minor share? (4) THRASHER feels like he’s just been going through the motions for some time – maybe Yannick can find a way to get him at least a bit more motivated? (7) DANCE ON THE BEACH had an encouraging try last time as he was actually pacing well at the end of the mile – tonight’s draw does figure to slow him down considerably, though. (8) DEEDENUTO A lands the 8 hole once more – wait for a better spot