Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (4) BLACK TIE BASH is moving up another class but he’s doing it thanks to a pair of back-to-back first

over scores...he meets nothing too scary in here, and may be able to extend his streak to 3. (5) BEERTHIRTY K has

been somewhat unreliable for a while but he definitely can be a threat against these types on his best effort – may be

a good spot to get aggressive, and that 8-1 ML price does give him appeal. (1) THE PRINCE was doing excellent

work here until he was claimed on 3/13...and he’s struggled ever since – this is definitely a spot where he can come

up with a much better effort...but that 9/5 ML price just seems way too short. (3) BONTONI DEGATO S was racing

off a 4 month layoff last start and lost all chance when shuffled way back – could be tighter tonight, and perhaps

grab a piece with a better trip. (7) BUDDY EARL makes his Yonkers debut and his out of town lines suggest he

could be a decent fit with these – the terrible draw does figure to hurt his chances significantly, though. (2) BARRY

BLACK has missed 3 weeks after a sick scratch– leaning elsewhere. (6) WINDSONG PIONEER does his best when

on/near the lead...and he’ll probably have a tough time trying to get there from this spot. (8) NO DRAMA PLEASE

gets an awful draw, and may be looking forward to some class relief next week.

RACE 2 – (6) FACTORY GIRL appreciated dropping out of the Matchmaker Series, picking up a 3rd on 5/16 – she

dropped again last week and was used very hard before tiring late and settling on 2nd...may be time for her to get

over the hump tonight (3) TRUE BLUE HANOVER also perked up in her last, sitting the pocket to #6 and finishing

right behind her in 3rd – could be a big player again tonight. (2) HANGON COWGIRL moved to our leading barn

for her YR debut last week but came up short, perhaps hurt by the 3 weeks off – eligible to be much sharper tonight,

and possibly a more serious threat. (4) MIGHTHAVTIME N tried to leave from a silly spot last week, was caught

way wide and made a brief miscue before settling in last and trailing throughout – she had been sharp prior to that,

and is eligible to rebound tonight with a more sensible steer. (5) KAIRAKICONFIDNTL N showed better life in her

last pair – in tough here, but maybe a minor share? (8) IM A BELIEVER was empty at big prices for weeks, won at

3/2 two back, then was back to being no factor at a big price in her last – hard to like her chances from out here. (1)

KNOCK TWICE is good right now, but the big class jump is going to hurt. (7) CATIE FAYE HANOVER raced

better than expected last week, but now moves up and lands outside.

RACE 3 – (3) STAYINGWITHTHEWIND is hard to gauge class-wise from her work out of town but she joins a

barn that has been improving horses significantly for a long time, and she did look very strong in her qualifier, under

a pretty snug hold most of the way – willing to give her a try in her Hilltop debut, assuming she’s a decent price. (2)

UPTOWN HANOVER started her season in the Matchmaker, looked good in her first couple of starts but then did

level off – she was a close 3rd off the class drop last week, but never really looked all that “strong” – have to respect

here, but wouldn’t fall in love at too short a price. (4) KISS MY CHEEK has hit board in all 6 tries since joining her

current barn, and that includes 3 wins – if she brings her best effort tonight, she’ll be a very tough player. (1) GOLD

EN QUEST N has been “ok” lately, a candidate to grab another decent piece starting from the pole. (6) CRUISE AL

ERT has definitely been sharpening, but gets a bad draw while moving up in class – maybe she can rally for 3rd/4th?

(5) VIBRANCE looked like she was finally starting to get her season going but she threw a dull one last week after

picking up back-to-back wins over cheaper – not sure what we’ll get from her tonight. (7) TALENT TO SPARE A

took advantage of last week’s aggressive drive to score out of the pocket – not sure she can find a manageable trip

from out here, though. (8) RESURRECTION DAWN lands a brutal spot after a nice bounce-back mile in her last.

RACE 4 – (5) LOVE THIS BAR’s last couple of lines may not look that great, but he finished with good trot, from

tough spots, vs. better than these – may have found a field he can handle here. (8) PAPA DOC was struggling a bit

vs. the 40s, looked a bit better off the drop last week and drops even more tonight – can see him grabbing a good

piece if some trip luck comes his way. (6) PASSIONATE PROMISE was forced to requalify after back to back

miscues – he’s been struggling for sure, but could easily find a better effort tonight with the drop to the bottom level

– wouldn’t accept a short price, though. (7) FULL RIGHTS figures to be a pretty big price tonight but he can get

himself into decent spots with his gate speed, and he may be able to add some value to the exotics tonight. (4) HOO

LIE N HECTOR had a rough 2024 campaign but it’s encouraging to see that he won his last start (off the layoff),

even if vs. easier at Monti – would be more interested in him tonight if he wasn’t installed as the ML favorite! (1) R

NO MERCY raced ok at this level in the past – he seems off his game right now, but the class drop and rail draw

could perk him up a bit. (2) DROP THE MIC is hard to gauge class-wise and made a break in his last local try –

mixed feelings about his chances. (3) CAPRICIOUS ONE is 10-0-0-3 at Yonkers this year.

RACE 5 – (3) MIKI IN LUV had successful 2 and 3 year old campaigns but has been trying to find her groove at 4

– she drops, moves inside, gets a switch to Zeron and may have found a spot where she can deliver a bigger effort.

(1) PRIDEFUL has done good work since the recent barn change but has also been facing easier in PA – still has to

be seen as a legitimate against these, though, especially with the excellent draw. (5) REC TIME seemed to stall out

to the head of the lane last week but found renewed life into the stretch and was able to collar the late-tiring leader –

she steps up a bit, but can threaten here too IF Brennan can find a way to keep her motivated throughout the mile.

(2) BEANTOWN BABE would be a player here on her best effort but has tailed off recently – playable if you think

she could get a wake up call with the class drop. (4) VARSITY BLUE CHIP was pretty dull last week but that was

on an off track, vs. better – eligible for improvement, at a good price. (8) LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK was one of

the only ones in the barn NOT to fire a big one off the 3 week layoff last start – she draws horribly tonight, and she

may have to wait for a better scenario before firing her best shot. (7) LUCKY ARTIST A will eventually turn things

around, but seems too off form to consider right now. (6) TWO PISTOL ANNIE has struggled all year.

RACE 6 – (1) CHIAPANECAS definitely is NOT at her best cutting the mile so a tip of the cap to Scotty Z for

getting her to stay focused to complete the front end score – we’ll stay on her team tonight...and hope that she can

get somebody else to carve it out instead. (2) LYDEO has looked better since the Matchmaker Series ended, and

picked up the front end score last week – would be no surprise if she was able to take another. (6) EASY TO PLEAS

E picked up a pair of wins after the series ended, and was actually pretty good last week (making up a ton of ground

from an impossible spot) – definitely ok to use underneath and maybe even on top, at the right price. (5) DOUGS

BABE A has definitely lost a step or two but she’s still a tough mare, and eligible to rally for a piece, with any trip

luck. (8) LIT DE ROSE probably looked sharper in last week’s victory than in any other start this year – tonight’s

draw may leave her with far too much work to do, however. (4) IDEAL COVER took advantage of a good trip (in a

bit of a crazy race) to rally for 2nd last week (behind #1) – she’s not all that consistent, though, and may have trouble

matching that effort tonight. (7) MISS DOTTIE MAE was overbet last week, and unable to overcome a tough trip –

won’t be any easier from out here. (3) OVER ICE was no threat in her local debut – still needs to prove she belongs.

RACE 7 – (4) OPTRIX is used to facing tougher and was in bad spots in his last couple at Pocono – he should end

up with a much better trip in his Yonkers return, and that could put him over the top tonight. (5) P C FREE WHEELI

NG is a little hard to gauge right now because she’s landed on some awful trips recently – she may be able to head

right to the top tonight...and that would make her a serious threat. (1) KASHA V isn’t always the most consistent

horse but he was an excellent 2nd last week, and a similar effort would put him right in the hunt tonight (6) P CHICO

got sharp for a while earlier in the year – he’s been facing solid stock out of town in his last few, and holding his

own – tough draw for his Hilltop return but he does get Bartlett, and could offer some decent value. (2) CREATIVE

VENTURE has been “ok” lately, picking up 4 straight 3rds – in line for another small slice tonight. (8) MUSICAL

RIDE hails from a hot barn and was a nice 2nd last week – tonight’s draw is a killer, though. (3) LOS BALLYKEEL

AMIGO was well back in his qualifier after 2 months off – pass for now. (7) IHAVEADREAM DE VIE has $0

earned in his last 5 starts and should be allowed to face much easier than these!

RACE 8 – (8) WALKIN ON SUNSHINE got roughed up in the Matchmaker Final and made a tired break in the

lane but she didn’t miss a beat, dropping right back in the box and delivering powerful wins in her last two starts –

won’t be easy to win from out here, but we’ll still give her top billing. (4) CHERYLS SHADOW finished full of

pace for 3rd last week, delivering one of her typically strong weekly efforts – she handles any trip, and continues to

be a solid player even at this top level. (7) SILK CLOUD A endured a brutal trip in the Matchmaker Final but

bounced back last week with a solid, pace-at-both-ends 2nd to the top choice – absolutely deserves a spot in your

exotics at that 10-1 ML price. (2) PASS AND STOW is now 10-8-2-0 here at Yonkers and while unproven at this

Invitational level, everything suggests she’ll be able to start holding her own with these too – the inside assignment

should help her chances. (5) FRONT PAGE STORY may be a notch below a couple of the others but the right trip

puts her right into the hunt for a good piece – possibility. (1) LLOYDS LOVES seems to have slipped a bit since a

new trainer was recently listed – leaning towards others right now. (6) PROMISELAND A has done solid work

since moving to our leading barn but tonight’s tough draw may slow her down a bit. (3) TAKE YOUR PICK has the

typically outstanding lines that most of the performers from this ultra-high % barn usually sport...but she still has to

show she can be as effective at this top level.

RACE 9 – (4) NOTTINGHAM has been solid for a while and handled the recent jump up to facing older foes

seamlessly, finishing 2nd to a razor sharp QUEEN OF ALL 2 back, followed by a 2nd to an equally sharp DIRE

STRAITS in his last – maybe this is a spot for him to get HIS picture taken. (6) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS clicked

immediately upon joining this barn in March and has continued to thrive ever since – his quick gate speed has made

him a contender every week, and tonight should be no exception. (1) IMMIGRANT AM S is still seeking his first

local (and U.S.) victory, and has raced “well” in most of his starts – he may need to find a little more to come out on

top tonight, even with the move inside. (3) ABRUZZO is just 2 for 26 over the past 2 years but he’s been consistent

lately, and deserves a spot in your exotics tonight. (2) STREET GOSSIP delivered a rare victory 2 back but quickly

disappointed in his last – an easy trip from this good post could help him grab a small piece. (7) MYCROWNMYKI

NGDOM hasn’t been on his best game, and the terrible draw may offset the class relief he’s getting tonight – minor

share? (5) VINY DE VIE hasn’t been on his best game lately – would need a pretty big price to consider him right

now. (8) B NICKING seems unlikely to be able to have any say starting from out here, against these.