Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, May 8, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NAADA Spring Fling Series: (1) MUSKINGUM should be feeling pretty good about herself shipping

back to Yonkers off an easy win at Chester – she draws inside with one of the top amateur reinsmen, and that stamps

her as the one to beat...but hard to get too excited about a wager with that 8/5 ML price. (3) MUFASA AS is used to

facing better than these in most of his regular overnight races and a very logical threat...on the flip side, he’s just 1

for 38 at Yonkers over the last 2 years, and 3 for 74 over the last 3 seasons...hard to take him on top at a relatively

short price. (4) CALL ME THEFIREMAN struggled in his 2 local tries this year but they were also his first 2 starts

of 2025 – he won 6 races here the prior two seasons, and deserves at least a look at that 20-1 ML price. (2) BIG CH

ARLIE MORAN is another that “fits” well enough but he’s 0 for 26 locally over the past 2 years, and just 1 for 42

over a 3 year period – ok for underneath. (5) HOBBS usually needs to be closer to the action to grab a good piece –

still ok for a minor share tonight. (7) CAMPBELLINI ships in sharp from NJ but gets a brutal post and his pilot

doesn’t drive all that often – asking a lot to threaten from all the way out here. (6) LIL DAY DRINKIN has missed 3

weeks and most recent form is less than stellar. (8) AWOL HANOVER has struggled from INSIDE posts lately

RACE 2 – (6) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY was a sharp 2 nd in back-to-back starts to the streaking LAZ, then put in

another huge try last week when 2 nd best to the better-trip MUSIC HALL – tough draw (and a new trainer), but we’ll

still give him the slight edge. (2) HARD TO CATCH had valid excuses in his last pair and was right there for 4

straight starts just prior to that– moves inside, and could deliver the upset if the trip goes his way. (7) MUSIC HALL

has won 2 of his last 3, 3 of his last 5, and owns 6 wins overall this year – if Bongiorno can find him as good a trip

this week as he did in his last, he’ll be a threat to get his picture taken yet again. (4) TWIGGS PUB has raced well a

bunch of times since being claimed by our top barn but still hasn’t found the winner’s circle – playable here, but

only if the price is fair. (5) AMERITRIC had his fate sealed last week when unable to drop into the pocket to the

quarter – he was a winner here 3 starts back, drops in for a tag tonight, and shouldn’t be dismissed too quickly. (3)

CAPTAIN T HANOVER was outstanding in 2024, but far more unreliable in ’25 – needs to bring his best effort if

he hopes to contend for one of the top slots. (1) WARRIOR FOR TRUTH is winless in 12 starts here this year, and

just 1 for 23 lifetime (at YR) – chance for a piece, but leaning much more towards others

RACE 3 - NAADA Spring Fling Series: (1) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE lacked the necessary pop in the lane to be a

bigger threat last week but he also used some energy early on getting a spot from Post 8 – he moves all the way

inside now, and he did wire a field at Monti two back. (5) FANATIC was way overbet last week and never had a

chance (after an early miscue) - he’s proven that he can beat these, and worth using tonight IF the price drifts up to a

more reasonable level. (3) BEERTHIRTY K is the “best” horse in here (ability-wise) but he’s listed at 8/5 ML and

he made breaks the last 2X he raced in amateur events – feels a little risky for that kind of price. (7) BIG LIMO

raced much better here on 4/3 than his line might look so it was no surprise to see him charge home to victory off the

pocket trip last week – willing to use him again (even from out here), as long as the price is decent. (4) SHOEMAK

ER HANOVER’s last 5 starts have produced a win at 40-1, a nose loss at 35-1, and a close 3 rd (last week) at 22-1 –

never a bad one to include at a big price! (2) ALL RISE gets a good draw, has speed, but just seems to have tailed

off a bit from his earlier season form. (6) STEEL ships in for a new barn off a win last week at Harrington – would

have liked him a lot more if not for the bad draw

RACE 4 – Short field, but good race: (6) HERODOTUS was used a bit early last week, ended up first over and still

right there 3 rd behind a couple of pretty classy rivals – gets the worst of the draw tonight, but could deliver an upset

if some trip luck comes his way. (4) BUSY MAKING MONI doesn’t always look that “pretty” but he stays trotting,

and has been on an extended form spree – he adds Lasix tonight (after a 2 nd in his last to the ultra-impressive ANTO

GNONI S in the Brennan Trotting Final) and deserves plenty of respect here. (3) BELLISSIMO FACE S upped his

already good game after adding Lasix 5 starts back but made an unfortunate miscue last week – he can be right in

the mix if he can bounce right back. (2) BLACK MAGIC has been a little inconsistent but any of his better efforts

would make him a legitimate player from this spot. (1) DIAMANTE TRIO IT has gotten back to her consistent

ways but MAY prefer to be in just a little easier. (5) MISSISSIPPI STORM was handled very aggressively last week

and came up with the sharp victory – this is a much tougher spot, though

RACE 5 – (2) ORLANDO BLUE A recently struggled through a rough patch but he was visibly better 2 back, then

ok from an impossible spot last week – he picked up 4 wins earlier in the year (vs. better than these), and may have

landed in a winning spot tonight. (3) MARLBANK ROAD was a victim of his own success, stuck racing way up in

class after a nice little form spree a couple of months ago – he’s dropped all the way back down now, moves inside,

and may bring a much bigger effort tonight. (6) SAVE ME A DANCE is listed at 20-1 ML but his last effort was his

best mile in a while – worth a look tonight, at least for exotics. (1) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N struggled mightily here

to start off the year but has found some better form recently at Plainridge (vs. cheaper) – may be good enough right

now to at least contend for a piece. (4) OUTLAW MAN N often “figures” but is winless on the year and has burned

some $$ along the way – still willing to include him underneath, though. (5) GINGRAS BEACH was dull last week

after a couple of “sneaky ok” tries– chance to be in the mix IF he can find his best effort tonight (7) REAL WILLEY

got bothered on the 3 rd turn last week, ruining his first start back since February – tonight’s tough draw figures to

keep fairly quiet once more. (8) FIZZING N lands Post 8 after squandering a two hole trip in his last – no spot

RACE 6 – (4) SADDLE UP is incredibly sharp right now, and comes into tonight with 4 wins and 3 seconds from

his last 7 starts – he deserves top billing, for sure, but he IS going for a new barn tonight, so there’s a larger element

of risk involved...maybe not one to bet the rent money on this week. (2) BURNHAM BOY N caught a hot mile last

week (won by #4) but dug in to hold 3 rd in his first start since December – he’s eligible to be tighter now, and will be

looking to capitalize if the top choice doesn’t bring his best. (5) OSTRO HANOVER is listed at 20-1 ML but his

overall recent form is solid, and raced well for 3rd last week returning from Pocono – worth at least a look. (3) HAM

MERING HANK is winless after 13 starts this year but he’s raced well in the majority of them – wouldn’t be a

shock, if things broke his way. (1) OZONE BLUE CHIP draws the pole with Yannick but his best work these days

does seem to come with a bit easier – maybe use underneath? (6) REIGNING DEO could use a better draw in an

easier field – tough spot tonight. (7) JUST PLAIN LOCO may start to improve off last week’s claim, but may need

to land in a better spot before we see that

RACE 7 – (4) HOT FLASH KIMMY has been doing good work since returning this spring, and that includes a 3 rd

last week (in this class) from well back – she catches some iffy rivals in here and Gingras can probably handle her

aggressively tonight – may be a spot for her to pick up her first victory of the season. (5) BE DIFFERENT finally

dropped back down to his preferred 40s last week and launched a strong wide move on the final turn to rally for 4 th

from well back– a live trip gives him a chance to make some noise here. (2) PASSIONATE PROMISE has struggled

this year but did look a little better finishing last week – he’s more than capable against these types if anywhere

close to his best. (7) CANTSTOP YANKEE is the “x factor” tonight – he drops in for a tag after a few disappointing

tries and he may perk up and crush these... OR he may just struggle with these too – tough call! (1) FOR A

DREAM ER was away for 5 months but didn’t miss a beat, a solid winner right off the bench (vs. easier) – he took a

tough loss in his last, doing all the heavy lifting just to get run down late by the tripsitter, and he draws the pole

tonight – would be no surprise at all. (3) PAPA DOC hasn’t been “bad”, but he does look like he may need to be in a

little easier right now. (8) MAHONE SEELSTER is a rock solid player in this class but he’s likely going to be

rallying from way back, and that probably means he’s looking at only minor spoils tonight. (6) HAT TRICK

MARLEAU probably needs an inside draw to contend for a piece at this level

RACE 8 – (1) CLEVELAND B MIKI wasn’t able to rally by #3 and #8 in the lane last week but both of those were

very fresh after a very slow opening half – Brennan can be more aggressive from this spot, and this horse already

has 5 wins this year – solid player. (3) THRASHER pretty much was able to just steal a win last week after being

handed a free pass to the lead then crawling the half in :58.4 – he figures to have a much tougher time tonight, but

he’s also won 5 of his last 7 starts, the two losses coming when he was parked the mile, and when he was trapped on

the cones in the back – too sharp to leave out off the re-claim. (7) SOUTH POINT has a 13-7-4-1 slate this year, the

only blemish coming when he made an uncharacteristic miscue 2 back – this is certainly a tough spot, but a big price

makes him worth a look (if you think Stratton will at least try to get him in play). (2) SAN DOMINO A was overbet

at 3/5 two back and got beat with no excuses – he went off the same price last week and while he was able to

prevail, a lot went his way to make that happen...definitely feels vulnerable here. (4) KARLOO BRADLEY N is a

solid weekly player but seems more likely to be battling for a smaller prize, than a larger one. (5) VIVA LAS VEGA

S N picked up a rare win 3 back but his more typical effort has him saving ground, and rallying for a small piece, at

a good price. (6) THELFYINGROCK is sharper right now than he may look on paper but he figures to be coming

from too far back to be a real threat. (8) BETTORBUCKLEUP is VERY good right now, but faces a daunting task

trying to work out a manageable trip from out here

RACE 9 – (6) BRAVO ANGEL S is 4 for 4 since joining our leading barn and shows no signs of letting up – she

safely handled UNEVERGONNAGETHIS when they lined up two starts back, and we’ll give her the edge to do it

again tonight. (1) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS came up 2 nd best to the top choice on 4/11 (sitting to her back) then

rallied very nicely for 3 rd behind her the next week – he’ll get his chance for revenge tonight, if the top one doesn’t

bring her best. (3) TORRONE hit board in 3 of his last 4 starts, while stuck with Post 8 in the other – doesn’t seem

as sharp as the top two right now, but does seem next in line. (5) RITSON has held form nicely in his recent climb

up the class ladder, and is eligible to rally for a piece of this with any half-decent trip. (7) INFINITY STONE found

one of his “run and hide” miles to win off the claim 2 back, then did a nice job holding 2 nd behind the top choice last

week – tonight’s draw may cause him some trouble, though. (2) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM had a good recent

stretch but was disappointing 2 back then struggled last week – could grab a small piece if he can rebound tonight.

(4) LAVA FIELD went on the shelf for 3 months after a miscue in Feb. and his qualifier suggests he’ll need a start.

RACE 10 – (1) BULLY BOY HILL was very good from impossible spots 2 and 3 back so it was no surprise to see

him win off the pocket trip last week – license to repeat, with the post edge over his main foes. (8) BARN HALL

has won 4 of 5 since returning to Yonkers, finishing full of trot in the lone loss – he moves from 2 previous sharp

barns to another for tonight, and looms a legitimate threat even from out here. (3) OVER AND BACK took a while

to find his best form after arriving on the local scene but comes into this having won 3 straight, and clearly deserves

plenty of respect for our leading trainer/driver duo. (7) P C FREE WHEELING had a great run after being claimed

this winter for $40K but she does seem to have leveled off considerably, and even a return to 40s last week saw her

tire badly (after a tough trip) – would need a pretty big price to use her on top right now. (2) ROGER RABBIT

definitely benefited from his trip last week but the 19-1 payoff was still a nice overlay – prefer others, but he

wouldn’t come as a complete shock. (5) WILLY WALTON raced well off the pace for 3 rd three back and almost

lasted on the lead in his last pair– another that wouldn’t be a shocker, though still leaning to others. (6) MOHATU

AS hasn’t embarrassed himself at this level but he does face a tough task starting from Post 6 in this tough field. (4)

P L OSCAR has missed a month after a sick scratch – prefer to just observe for tonight

RACE 11 – (2) WALKINSHAW N doesn’t have the most encouraging recent form but it’s usually never too long

before he bounces back with a good effort – he returns from Plainridge at a very manageable level, and he’ll be a

dangerous late player if reasonably close when they turn for home. (4) BLANK STARE was already in the midst of

a tough trip last week when he got bothered badly on the first turn – give him a pass for that and look for a big effort

tonight – though he’s likely to be overbet. (1) CASINO ACTION N got a nice wake up call last week, even if

benefitting from a very easy trip – he’s looking at another nice trip for tonight, and could have another say in the

outcome. (7) CAVIART SARGENT throws more than his share of good efforts at big prices, and he’s never a bad

bomb for longshot fans. (6) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER was a solid front end winner last start but that was vs.

easier, and he comes into tonight off being scratched injured on 4/24 – has us leaning elsewhere. (5) SPORTY M

THREE drops again but he’s yet to earn a paycheck since recently changing hands – needs to be better. (8) MIDNIG

HT THUNDER is probably too far out to consider but his barn HAS popped some live ones lately, and it’s also a

rare chance to get Gingras at a big price. (3) JK MIKI MANTLE makes his local debut off a bad date and just seems

a little sluggish for our tastes.