Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) MADE OF DREAMS returns from Indiana after a trio of decent efforts in minor stakes, and moves back to our leading trainer (for whom she’s already raced well a few times, including that close 3rd, vs. better, on 10/29) – deserves top billing in this overall solid NW2-4PM field. (5) THE TIME MACHINE rallied for a nice 3rd in NJ off the barn change, then was a very good 2nd here last week, behind a blowout winner – look for another big effort tonight. (7) THEOBALD was content to race conservatively last week (after a couple of recent miscues) but did have trot in traffic coming to the wire– terrible spot, but a big price makes him worth considering for exotics. (4) WISH LIST remains winless in 2025 but that might have changed had she found room sooner last week – she’s been racing ok for a while, and remains a possibility for a small piece. (1) SEISMIC STEP was a winner last week, but crawled on the lead, was fortunate that #4 was locked in and also benefited from 4 breakers – may end up (way) overbet from this spot. (6) MANFORCE hasn’t been able to finish well enough since adding Lasix, but may race better tonight from the back – another ok bomb to include on the bottom of exotics. (2) BLESS ME FATHER has a pair of “even” 4ths since arriving at YR – needs to be sharper. (8) FLIGHT OF FRITZ fits well enough, but will be hard pressed to have any real impact from out here

RACE 2 – (1) FOXHUNT finally avoided any bad luck last week and easily dominated his rivals – he would have been an automatic play tonight had he not been moving to a new barn (that has recently claimed some fresh stock) – he still gets the nod, just a bit more tepid. (5) CELLMATE comes into this riding a 3 race winning streak, retains Bartlett, and has earned plenty of respect – dangerous player. (4) LOUS BEACH has done terrific work at this level and probably deserves a pass after a hopeless trip last week – he gets a good draw off the re-claim, and could have a big say here. (8) PINK FLOYD HANOVER was right there in 4 straight in PA off the recent claim, and could have the speed to blast out of there and put himself into play…certainly deserves some consideration with that 10-1 ML price. (3) HURRIKANE MIKI probably isn’t a threat to win, but he’s been good for some late pace when not used hard – maybe 3rd/4th? (6) HES SPECIAL and (7) ON DAYBOO finished 3rd and 2nd behind the top choice last week but were well beaten, and chased from up close – both figure to have a much harder time being part of the action tonight. (2) MANHAWK draws well for his local debut but does seem to be on the cheaper side

RACE 3 – (1) DIPLOMACY recently joined our leading barn, added hopples, and was steered beautifully to victory by Bartlett last week – remains the one to beat…but at another very short price. (5) COUSIN HALIFAX had gone in the wrong direction for a few starts but his last was much better – could add some value to the exotics. (3) FIRST CLASS RULE has ability for sure, but he did make breaks in both local starts – feels pretty risky, especially at a short price. (6) INCANTATION may have just lost interest after being mired in the back last week – all her other recent efforts were very good, and she may bounce right back with a good one tonight. (2) EUGENIO RL IT left a bit last week but made a break on the first turn after being caught wide, and refused to ever get back trotting – has the talent, but hard to know if he’ll rebound quickly or not! (7) YOU GUESSED IT has won 5 of his last 7 starts but broke in the other two, including a miscue in his last – may just take a conservative approach here after drawing so poorly. (4) MEETMEATTHEBAR (new trainer listed) gets a better draw, but may not be on her game right now. (8) SUNDAYS BRUNCH figures to be too far out to have much say this week (2nd time Lasix)

RACE 4 – (6) SHAKE IT qualified solidly after 3 months on the shelf and was excellent in his first start back as well, turning in a big rally to be sharp 2nd behind a perfect-trip, “threepeat” winner – he can handle any trip, and we’ll hop on board tonight. (1) SURFSIDE BEACH finished 8th in his last 2 starts but was hurt by a terrible drive 2 back, then was stuck sitting 8th last week – maybe he’s just no good now, but the guess is that he’ll turn in a much better effort from the pole tonight. (7) TWIN B RISENSHINE is another of the claims these connections made over the last few racing cards– he has the speed to overcome the draw, and definitely has appeal at that 20-1 ML price. (3) ROCKET FREIGHT tired after being used early last week and he just seems to race better when allowed to “relax and rally” – another good value horse for exotics. (5) TWO FACED took some time off after a couple of “lame” scratches this summer, qualified nicely, but came up empty in his first start back – he drops off that effort, but seems way too suspect to consider at that 8/5 ML price. (2) KOURAGEOUS KEY was a decent 3rd in his first local try but no factor in his last pair – needs to be better. (8) PYRENEES HANOVER has been no factor (at long odds) in recent starts out of town – sticking with others. (4) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH just feels way off his game right now

RACE 5 – Tough race: (3) HEAVE AWAY was sharpening coming into his last and parlayed an easy 3 hole trip to his 9th win of the season – license to repeat with another good trip, but definitely a few others that could take this too. (1) CHICKEN N DICE was doing excellent work vs. the 30s here this summer but his recent out of town form hasn’t been as good – still has to be seen as a legitimate threat after drawing the pole in 25s. (6) MAXIMUS RED A could only manage a 4th when a little too far back last week but his previous 3 starts at this level produced victories – worth a look at a good price. (4) SCRIBBLERS may not be a threat to win but he’s generally been finishing up well in his recent starts, and may be able to rally for a share, at a nice price. (2) GOLIATH HANOVER has more lesser recent tries than good ones, but his connections always deserve respect – leaning more towards others, though. (5) BETTORBUCKLEUP has reversed form with some good efforts this year, but usually the tote board offers hints – worth keeping an eye out for that possibility. (7) KARLOO BRADLEY N won 2 of his last 3 starts but comes into this having missed 3 weeks (after a sick scratch) and lands a terrible post. (8) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING is the outsider, both literally and figuratively

RACE 6 – (1) DURANTE HANOVER may have been a little short last week (off 3 weeks, and after racing in the Matron) but he still raced pretty well, cutting the mile and holding on for 2nd (after the very sharp winner blew by into the lane) – look for him to control the action and get the job done tonight. (4) SENSI AMNESIA picked up 3 seconds and a win from her last 4 starts, always at decent prices – no reason she can’t be part of the equation again tonight. (3) THE THING IS has just 3 wins this year but has been 3rd 11X, including a nice rallying effort last week – remains a good choice for the bottom of exotics. (2) GREEN MEL has been a little disappointing lately, and may be a notch below the top choice…still in line for a nice chunk with tonight’s good draw, though. (5) ALIMONY MIKE raced well in 3 of his 4 local starts, and really didn’t weaken badly after coming first over last week – another eligible to take home a good piece, with the right trip. (8) KEWPIE DOLL was a winner in her last pair but gets stuck all the way outside in a tougher field tonight, and does feel somewhat vulnerable. Both (6) BANK ON ME and (7) MRSTERY DEAL have one local try each, and they were unable to have an impact in those starts – they MAY still be good fits vs. these, but may also need better draws to be more significant players

RACE 7 – (4) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N really struggled for the first several months of this year but started to really turn things around in August and has raced well/very well in most of his starts since then – he’s one of several possibilities in here, and almost certain to be a good price. (3) ALTA CLASSIC A picked up a win and a 2nd at this level recently, and wasn’t bad vs. the 30s in his last – drops back down, and is another possible upsetter. (1) C BET HANOVER has been very consistent lately, and his chances may go up a bit if somebody else cuts this mile – legit threat. (5) ULYSSES dropped down to 25s last week and raced much better, though he really should have been able to WIN off that trip – he would be no surprise here, but that 8/5 ML price just seems too low. (2) SMOOTH LOU was stuck with 7 holes vs. 30s in his last pair but he drops and moves inside tonight, creating the possibility of a wake up call – worth a look at the right price, at least for exotics. (7) BETTOR BY SEASIDE beat the 20s two back and raced “sneaky ok” vs. the 25s last week – would have looked better with an inside draw, though. (6) BLOWIN SMOKE disappointed in his local debut last week– he drops to 25s, but we’re still leaning elsewhere. (8) ALADDIN has been struggling for a long time…Post 8 isn’t the answer!

RACE 8 – (3) LYONS BENJAMIN was 3/5 last week but forced to drop behind 14-1 (4) THE BIZZNESS N, and was never able to go by in what turned into a 2-horse stretch battle – HE draws inside tonight, figures to be the one cutting the mile and we’ll give him a chance to make amends for that last defeat. (4) THE BIZZNESS N was 4-0-0-0 at Yonkers coming into his last, was sent off at 14-1 but responded to an aggressive drive and was able to hold off #3, after forcing that one behind him early on – this could shape up as a 2-horse affair once more, and we’ll see if he can come out on top again. (1) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL gets his first good draw in a while and that could help him take home a small piece tonight. (5) DEETZY was doing great work at age 13 earlier in the year, but started to decline as the season went on – he was scratched sick from 25s on 11/13 and is entered for $20K tonight, 4 weeks later – feels a bit suspicious. (8) SAWYERS DESIRE should appreciate the drop to 20s, but not the draw – likely to need a better spot to have a real say. (6) NEYREIT is great at outrunning the 15s but the move up to 20s last week didn’t go as well – tough spot again. (7) DELIGHTFUL TERROR is better lately, but figures to be hurt badly by Post 7. (2) GALANTE A has been really struggling for some time

RACE 9 – (4) TOP GUN HANOVER was no good at all in his first 2 tries off the barn change but our leading trainer finally got a much better effort out of him last week, scoring easily out of the pocket – he’ll be tough again tonight with anything close to that effort, but if he was WAY overbet in his last, his price tonight really figures to be tiny! (6) BO SILAS is winless at Yonkers this year but he’s been racing well for some time, has speed, stays trotting, and may be able to complete the exacta this time. (5) BIZZY BRENDA wasn’t at her best last week but was able to keep coming at the end, and beat out #6 for 2nd– should be able to make her presence felt late once more (1) MARIN COUNTY has just one and one 2nd from his 18 local starts but he’s also finished 3rd 8X – definitely a chance to land somewhere on the ticket from the rail. (2) TEQUILA TALKING AS did pick up a win at PcD two back but her last 3 local tries have been discouraging – leaning more towards others. (3) LEXUS LEGACY makes his local debut for top shelf connections but would be hard to endorse in here off a bunch of recent disappointing tries in PA. (8) BEER NSUNSHINE DEO can throw a food one at times but seems unlikely to do so from all the way out here. (7) MAGIC MELVIN draws Post 7 after making breaks in his last 3 Yonkers starts

RACE 10 – (6) DOCS LOVE has legitimate ability and she drops back down to this NW2-4PM class after beating OLDER mares in her last start (while pretty well backed) – if she gets away to a clean, decent start, she can be very dangerous. (8) TH RIZZO must have had some issue when she just stopped here on 11/19 (debuting for our leading trainer) but she was MUCH better in her last, finishing full of pace after being handled very conservatively – would be willing to give her a look IF the price is fair. (7) CRYSTAL COAST is finishing her miles better and she’s shown that she CAN leave from bad spots – good value horse to consider for exotics. (4) TH SANDRA DEE is a steady player in this class and can make some late noise, if the trip works out, (2) NOT THAT HILLARY did have some success at the PA Fairs but more importantly, debuts tonight for a barn that has been doing good work here in 2025 – not a bad one to consider if in need of a late night bomb. (3) PAPIS OPINION has a couple of ok local tries, and a chance for some minor spoils…if the trip goes her way. (5) BETTORS TICKET has 4 wins here this year but has been struggling lately – watching for better signs. (1) DREAM SHOT has missed 3 weeks and just hasn’t been showing enough lately.