Monday Empire Report

RACE 1– (3) HEMSWORTH N couldn’t quite get it done on the lead last week (as the favorite) but he’s often

better from off the pace – he’ll be a better price tonight, may get a trip he prefers, and may be worth sticking with.

(1) FIN VARRA A has enjoyed a strong season, often holding his own at the top levels – he MAY be a tough off his

best game right now, but still has to be considered a major threat from this spot...though he does figure to be

overbet! (2) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK sat pocketed to #3 last week and was able to pull off his 3rd big upset in the

last 3 months – his price will come down a bit tonight, but another two hole trip would give him a chance to repeat.

(7) NONE BETTER A rallied nicely in both starts since returning from a long layoff – the 12YO millionaire seems

ready to win one...but may need to wait for a better spot to do so. (5) TOBINS CHESTER drops a notch but this is

an unusually tough NW15000 field– chance for minor spoils. (6) BOSTON BOUND finished well from a no-chance

spot last week but seems up against from this spot as well. (4) SWEETHOMEALABAMA N is solid right now, but

may need an easier spot. (8) SHERLOCK N will be coming from last again...gets a class drop NEXT week.

RACE 2 – (2) ROCKIN N TALKIN has been stuck in some impossible spots but still raced very well in 3 of his last

4 starts – he finally moves inside, and Kelly has proven that he can more than hold his own here at Yonkers – could

be a big player tonight. (8) SOUTHWIND PETYR was an excellent 2nd off the claim to the always tough SADDLE

UP, overcoming some hard early use – he could end up with a very tough trip tonight, but that 20-1 ML price makes

him worth using. (3) JUST ENUFF STUFF gets a class drop and has been finishing well in most of his starts in 40s

–logical threat, but he’ll be well backed and is definitely a bit camera shy (4) BECHERS BROOK A drops in class,

moves inside, and will surely attract plenty of $$ - he’s a threat for sure, but note that he’s 0 for 15 at Yonkers this

year before accepting too short a price! (6) ALEX TYE has some good recent efforts and may improve off the claim

– we’ll see if Bongiorno is actually driving his new acquisition, as he took himself OFF his other drives tonight. (1)

BURNHAM BOY N wasn’t as sharp last week moving up to 30s off the claim– he’ll be in the mix, but prefer others

on top. (7) BETTORBUCKLEUP was a sharp, well-meant winner over cheaper last week but this is a much tougher

spot. (5) GALANTE A probably needs to in easier right now to be effective.

RACE 3 – (4) SWEET BEACH LIFE is hitting on all cylinders right now and stays in the same class he wired at 3/5

last week – unless somebody finds a really big effort, he’ll be tough to beat! (1) JUMPINGJACKMAC N may have

gotten too hot last week, became hard to control and ended up 23 lengths back at the wire – that being said, Bartlett

picks off COPPERFIELD tonight to drive HIM, and that suggests that he has reason to believe a different kind of

effort is coming – the recent import did win nearly $667K Down Under, and may be bring a big one tonight. (2) MY

ULTIMATEBYRON A got caught behind suddenly stopping cover on the final turn last week and never recovered –

his overall recent form is otherwise excellent, and he figures to have a much bigger say tonight. (6) COPPERFIELD

has won 4 of 5 local starts, with a bad trip 2nd in the other – he steps up a notch, draws poorly, but Bartlett opting off

suggests he may be handled conservatively tonight. (3) LEVINE is probably better right now than any time over the

last 2 years but he’s also moving up 2 classes – minor spoils? (5) WASA HEAT SEEKER N has taken 2 of 3 U.S.

starts but on the lead, vs. softer– much tougher task tonight! (7) WINDSUN RICKY is a nose shy of a three race

winning streak but will be hard pressed to get in play tonight. (8) KINGSVILLE had a solid tightener at Pocono

after nearly 6 weeks off but lands all the way outside, and will look much better with a class drop next week.

RACE 4 – (2) SOHO FIRESTONE A has proven himself at this top level, and might have been able to get up on

time last week had he been able to shake free just a little sooner – maybe this week he can pull off the mild upset. (4)

HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR was a player all through the Borgata Series and has won 4 of 5 Invitationals since then

– the road to the winner’s circle still goes through him, but you can always count on a pretty short price. (1) ST

REET HAWK N has done excellent work since arriving in the U.S., but still has to prove he can win at this top level

– should be able to be right there all the way starting from the pole. (3) DIEGO N flew off the car at 41-1 last week,

worked out a pocket trip and finished just behind the top pair – he can land in the exotics again IF he can work out

another good trip for himself. (6) MULLINAX has been insanely sharp but moves to a new barn tonight, steps up in

class (significantly) and doesn’t even get the benefit of an inside draw – would consider on top only if the price crept

way up. (5) HIMSELF N seems destined for minor spoils from this spot.

RACE 5 – (5) SHAKE IT was struggling in 15s earlier this year, found his form and has held it for a few months,

now a beast at the $40K level – he continues to thrive in every barn, handles any trip, and deserves top billing once

more. (3) TWIG has also been very sharp, and can be forgiven for not getting by the leader in last week’s hot 1:52

mile – moves from one high % to another, and looms the main danger. (4) LYRICAL GENIUS A has just 2 wins this

year but has been 2nd or 3rd 11X – always a good one to use underneath. (1) KIMBLE A never really belonged in 60s

but the 40s may be a bit higher than he’d like as well – the rail draw does give him a chance to grab a piece, though.

(6) PINE BUSH ITALIANO had been a bottom-level afterthought for his entire Yonkers career but is actually racing

very well right now – not a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (2) RENAISSANCE DEO finished way back in his last then was a

sick scratch on 7/14 – figures to be short having missed a month. (7) JETT STAR N draws outside while well off

form. (8) SCRIBBLERS hasn’t been sharp at all, and lands Post 8.

RACE 6 – (4) SIMON SAYS HANOVER was 3 for 3 (all at the top level) to start off 2024 but then went on the

shelf for 15 months, and never could find any form for a new trainer – he returned last week (at PcD) to the barn that

had amazing success with him in the past, and he MAY be ready to come alive tonight – check the tote board! (5) PE

ACE OUT POSSE hasn’t been a big threat lately but he’s been in tough spots, vs. much better – could have a much

bigger say here. (1) ALL ALONE drops, draws the pole, was Bartlett’s choice, and logically the one to beat...he’s

also going to be a very short price, and really hasn’t been all that sharp – vulnerable? (7) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL

IR made his first start for a new barn last week and rallied nicely, appreciating the easy trip – not a bad bomb if you

think things may get testy up front (3) MACH N CHEESE drops from 40s but hasn’t been on his best game– leaning

elsewhere. (8) SPEAKER OF PEACE was killed by horrible draws the last 3 weeks and unfortunately, gets another

tonight. (2) FIZZING N has been ok, but is in tough tonight. (6) ROYAL DESIRE would be a surprise vs. these.

RACE 7 – Wide open! (5) AMERITRIC pounced on a live trip to pick up a win 2 back, and can be forgiven for

getting run down by the sharp tripsitter in his last – one of several with a real chance in here, if things go his way. (4)

TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH rallied well to finish just behind #5 two back, then was used hard chasing a hot pace in

his last (still a close 4th) – another that becomes dangerous with the right trip. (2) ALWAYSCUTTINSCHOOL got a

slow start last week but still was a solid 1st over 2nd – he won the week before, and would be no surprise at all. (1)

WHY TOMORROW RAY always “figures”, is always in the hunt, but has come up light at the end of most of his

recent starts – he’s a legitimate threat for sure, but also sure to be overbet. (8) TO THE HUNT gave it a big try on

the front end last week before coming up a little short to CAMOUFLAGE MONEY – horrible draw with so many

live ones to his inside, but still worth a look at a big price. (3) DRAGON YOU ALONG may be able to rally for a

minor share, with an easy trip. (6) BETTOR MAKE A WISH has been stuck on minor spoils and may struggle for

even that from Post 6. (7) WELL THATS MARKY was never in it last start and now lands Post 7 in a strong field.

RACE 8 – (7) MACS DELIGHT was used hard from Post 8 in his local debut and was still pacing well at the wire,

just a couple of lengths back in 4th – he’s battled some of the best horses in the country this year, and may be able to

overcome Post 7 with a bit of racing luck. (1) AYE AYE CAPTAIN N can be forgiven for weakening a bit last start

after trying to brush by a scary-sharp MULLINAX into a sizzling :26.4 3rd panel– he’s displayed more than enough

ability to beat these, with a kinder trip. (4) AMERICAN DEALER N will attract plenty of $ after so many good tries

in the Invitational- he’s a big threat for sure, but also figures to end up overbet. (5) MANFERNO has been terrific

since joining this barn, and can handle any trip– he’s also facing tougher tonight, so we’ll see if that slows him down

at all. (8) LUCAPELO A has been sharp for some time and his last is better than it looks – brutal spot, though! (3) T

WIN B POWERBALL has been holding form nicely, but may be in a little too steep here. (6) TYPHOON BANNER

N picked up his first win of the year last week but was all out, vs. cheaper – will need to be sharper to beat these. (2)

ESCAPE TO AMERICA moves up TWO classes off a dull 6th – seems unlikely in this field.

RACE 9 – (1) ROCK THE BELLES just missed on the front end 2 back, then weakened to 3rd after cutting the mile

again last week– he may be better with something to aim at, and he could be looking at a pocket trip tonight– chance

for the upset in the finale. (5) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A is a head shy of a 3 race winning streak, looked super last

week and was Bartlett’s choice tonight – the one to beat? (2) VICI was derailed by bad posts in his last pair but

figures to be his usual sharp self with the move back inside – logical threat. (8) RHYDS SUPERFLY GB has the

speed to blast even from out here and has 7 local wins this year (albeit vs. easier competition) – would have listed

him higher had Bartlett opted to drive him this week. (3) PANETTONE HANOVER has struggled getting over the

Hilltop Oval in the past, and last week was more of the same – the ABILITY is there, but he tends to be his own

worst enemy at times. (4) FUNATTHEBEACH N, like barnmate COVERED BRIDGE, just hasn’t been able to

deliver in some time. Both (6) THONG CONTROL and (7) ORLANDO BLUE A seem too far out to be serious

players this week (keep an eye for next time).