Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, August 14, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (8) LYONS BENJAMIN is in the midst of an excellent season, already 17-7-1-5 at Yonkers this year – he

was reclaimed that has won twice with him recently, and has the speed to overcome the draw – willing to use him on

top, as long as the price is fair. (4) ALL ALONE will attract plenty of $$ dropping down to 30s but there are some

red flags here (why the drop, why wasn’t Bartlett listed, and he was scratched lame back on April 7) – maybe he’ll

just jog from this spot, but he just feels at least a bit iffy. (5) CHICKEN N DICE has been very solid since joining

this barn on 6/15 (no surprise there!), and has been very good in his local tries, including last week’s victory – would

be no surprise at all. (7) JUST ENUFF STUFF was ignored at the windows last week (7 hole, new trainer) but he

rallied stoutly from last to end up 2 nd – hard to know if he’ll be able to replicate that effort tonight, especially from

another bad post. (1) LMC PEANUTS WATCHN had been doing good work here but just wasn’t quite right last

week, having to drop in 4 th on the first turn (after looking steppy) and then no factor after that – needs to get back to

his “A Game” to threaten tonight. (6) ON DAYBOO was a good trip 3 rd last week and his overall form his strong –

may be hurt by his worst draw in a while, though (3) BETTOR MAKE A WISH is just 10-0-0-1 here at YR– leaning

elsewhere. (2) ONYX BOVINO was empty last week even before the miscue

RACE 2 – NAADA Summer Series – good race! (5) PEMBROKE REGAL has mostly solid form at PcD, was 2 nd

with Beltrami two back and seems versatile enough to handle different trips...we’ll give him a narrow edge in a

difficult race. (6) DOO WOP KID will misbehave at times but he made his last local try a winning one (on 6/18,

with Schwartz on board) and he’ll definitely be a juicy price tonight. (1) REIGN OF HONOR turned in 3 very sharp

efforts out of town in May but was ultimately disqualified from all of them (medication violations) – he missed a

little time but has been pretty good recently, and draws the pole with the speed to take advantage – could be a real

player. (2) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE gave it a go in this amateur series last week and missed by a nose, despite

racing off a bad date – has to be respected, but may end up overbet. (3) MUSCLE DAN is always a good price

despite hitting board in 6 of 7 local tries this year – couldn’t blame anybody looking to give him a try. (8) STAR HA

IRDRESSER has been better since adding hoppled recently, and that includes last week’s victory – won’t be easy to

repeat from Post 8, though. (7) VELOCIRAPTOR figures to be coming from too far back tonight but note that he’s

won 3 of 8 local starts this year before dismissing too quickly. (4) EDDIE L may be overmatched in his local debut

RACE 3 – (1) BLUEBIRD RECON certainly returned ready (after almost 6 months off), going right down the road

and leaving nothing else a chance (and giving Dennis Laterza his 1,500 th training victory!) – we’ll stay on board and

look for him to repeat. (2) PEDAL ON METAL got away in the pocket to #1 last week but made an unexpected

miscue– deserves another chance to be part of the exotics. (5) MAX has gone some HUGE miles this year but hasn’t

looked close to his best in his last pair – way too soon to write him off, but also hard to take a short price right now.

(3) FULL STRENGTH is a streaky sort that can trot a good mile when on his game– he was starting to come around

in PA recently, but that last miscue is a cause for concern. (7) BARRY BLACK usually needs a better spot to be a

threat at this level but he still may be able to grab a minor share, even from out here. (4) IMA STANDUP GUY has

been behaving nicely in his recent PA starts but did struggle here at this level in the past – willing to include for a

small piece, at a big price. (8) KINDA LUCKY LINDY was well meant last week (despite a bad date) but just not

sharp – now Post 8. (6) ALL STAR SWAN has really been struggling – waiting for some better signs

RACE 4 – (5) QUEEN OF ALL has beaten TIPSY MONI in the past, and may have done it again last week if free

sooner – we’ll try her on top, looking for a mild upset. (4) HOT FLASH KIMMY is very sharp right now, but seems

content to race from behind with one late move – if the trip works out, she’s definitely sharp enough for a mild upset

of her own. (6) TIPSY MONI is almost always the “one to beat” in the FM Invitational but she wasn’t particularly

sharp in last week’s victory, and could be at least a bit vulnerable tonight. (1) MA ISABELLE wasn’t bad last week,

but still seems a notch below the “big three” right now. (2) LUCKY MUM N hasn’t been on her game lately – needs

to be better. (3) DIAMANTE TRIO IT remains unpredictable from start to start – sticking with others tonight

RACE 5 - NAADA Summer Series: (2) ITSONEOFTHOSE was trapped in the back much of the way last week but

still was able to kick home strong to grab 3 rd – he hasn’t been worse than 4 th in his last 6 tries, owns 6 wins from 20

Yonkers starts, and has a more than qualified pilot...solid chance from this spot. (3) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO

looped to the lead from Post 8 last week, survived a battle to the half, was still in charge into the lane and only tired

late (almost 3 rd) – it’s possible he could wire these from this better spot. (1) RACEACE is no stranger to the Yonkers

winner’s circle, is looking at a good trip, and capable of pulling off a mild upset. (6) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE is

usually a player in these races but just wasn’t at his best last week – could bounce back, but the draw is a tough one.

(4) KILAUEA actually left well last week but then just came to a crawl off turn one and never had a prayer after that

– jury still out on this one. (5) DROP THE MIC just hasn’t been sharp in some time – minor spoils? (7) CAMPBEL

LINI and (8) BACKSTREET PLAYER both figure to have a very tough time getting close from out here

RACE 6 – (3) MISSISSIPPI STORM is still tough as nails when in the right spot, and last week was a perfect

example – he steps up a bit, but this is a pretty modest NW20000 field and there’s no reason he can’t take another.

(2) CREDIT CON is a legitimate Open trotter when on his game, but he has just 7 starts this year and still trying to

find his way back to that top form – he’s won 2 of his last 3 (vs. easier), and we’ll see if he’s ready to elevate his

game a bit more (real threat if he does). (4) BRONZER used a ground saving trip to take home 3 rd last week and can

grab another decent share tonight if he can find another easy trip. (5) FULL OF MUSCLES raced super when 2 nd in

his local debut, sustaining his rally all the way despite being wide from before 3/4s – he failed to build off that effort

in his last, however, so we’ll see which version shows up tonight. (1) WINDSONG PIONEER would prefer to be in

easier, but may stay close enough to take home a piece. (6) CHULO was very good when he first arrived from

Canada earlier this year but then leveled off considerably – he used a very easy trip to beat cheaper 2 back, but will

need to be sharper to overcome Post 6 tonight. (8) OVER AND BACK is having an outstanding year (16-6-4-3 here

at Yonkers) but he’s missed 3 weeks and draws Post 8 – leaning elsewhere for tonight. (7) DJIMON won 4 of 7 local

starts last year but has 2 breaks and a clunker in his 3 Yonkers 2025 starts – terrible draw doesn’t help!

RACE 7 – Interesting race, as none of the “big three” in here have been at their best lately! (4) ARI FERRARI J

backed off into the first turn last week (as others left) but went offstride and was out of it – he was terrific here last

year, gets reunited with Bartlett, and we’ll see if he can behave tonight, and get the job done. (6) SOUTHWIND CO

ORS looks terrific on paper but probably isn’t quite as sharp as the lines look (he was all out to win 3 back (at 1/5)

into a :30 final quarter, got beaten by a mare in his next, and all out again to beat easier last week, into a :31.1 final

quarter)– very dangerous if he brings his best, especially since this isn’t the toughest Open at the moment. (6) TAKE

ALL COMERS can be VERY good when on his best game, as he was to close out 2024 (won his last 2 MGM Grand

Prix legs, then took the $250K Final) – he’s still trying to find that best form in ’25, though, and hard to know when

that week will come! (3) DRIBBLING BI is stepping well up in class but is in career form at the moment – might be

worth a look (at a big price) with the 3 favorites all showing some vulnerability right now. (1) TACHYON had tried

to step up to the Open and take ‘em wire to wire last week but weakened in the stretch – probably needs to be in a

bit easier. (2) AUSTRAL HANOVER is having a strong campaign, but is another that may need some class relief

RACE 8 – (7) BARN HALL debuted for a new barn last week and raced super, grabbing 2 nd to the runaway winner

despite a very tough trip – he was terrific here earlier in the year, and can find a way to win tonight, even from out

here. (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT has been good for some time but lost all chance last week when she blew up before

the start – chance for a big piece of this if that last miscue was just a blip. (8) CANTSTOP YANKEE disappointed

last week but he also had a tough trip, up in class – drops back down, and has the speed to find a way into the race –

worth a look if the price is decent. (4) JAS BLUESTONE was very sharp in PA vs. a bit easier, but raced ok vs. the

40s last week (when rallying late for 3 rd) – would consider for the bottom of exotics. (2) FOR A DREAMER has

been just “ok”, but a close up trip could help him land a small share. (3) JUST LIKE MAGIC gets a good draw with

Gingras, but his overall form has been lacking – leaning towards others. (6) PAPA DOC is pretty good right now, but

may need a better post (in an easier field) to be a bigger threat. (5) WILLY WALTON has far more lesser efforts than

good ones since being claimed on 5/15.

RACE 9 – (1) RECORD YEAR wasn’t the most impressive winner last week but he was off nearly 3 weeks and still

got the job done (for the 7 th time this year) – he remains the one to beat, but not one to bet the mortgage money on at

a very short price! (6) D A WICKED SHINE raced very well for 2 nd last week, making #1 work for the victory –

he’ll be a good price if you think he can find a little more, and get the decision this time. (5) SINGFORYOURSUP

PER has a couple of ok local tries despite drawing no better than Post 7 in all 4 local starts – much better draw for

tonight, and that 10-1 ML price does give him some appeal. (2) EVER M feels like the zillionth horse to go from

“formless” to “instant winner” upon joining this miracle-working barn – his 2 victories were in PA amateur races,

however, and it’s very hard to predict how he’ll stack up with the locals. (3) METAMAN has been struggling for

some time, but may be able to grab some minor spoils tonight. (7) WAR DAN DELIGHT N gets a bad draw but has

a chance for a small slice if he can get away to a quick start. (4) ON THE VIRG found a very spot in that victory 2

back but has otherwise struggled most weeks. (8) DIAMONDBEACH lands all the way outside and gets a new pilot

– not a winning formula for him.