Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (1) STELLAR YANKEE didn’t have a stellar season here in 2024 (1 for 11) but he also was stuck in

some bad spots – he’s thrived here in the past, has been reasonably sharp across the river and the rail draw definitely

gives him the edge – won’t be any value with that 1-1 ML price, though! (6) MYULTIMATEBAXTER N’s barn has

suddenly come to life, and that’s probably why he was sent off at 1/2 when he wired the field on Tuesday night – he

gets to stay in the same class (eligible at time of entry) and looms the main danger, even with the move outside. (7)

DEALERS TURN is off to a slow start in 2025, but does have some excuses – tonight’s spot is terrible, but maybe

he can add some value to the exotics with some trip luck? (5) DANCE IT OUT was racing much better (in NJ)

earlier in the year, but perhaps he can perk up a bit with the locals, especially if Zeron can hustle him away to a good

start. (2) BONDI SHAKE N has shown little in his 2 starts this year, and his local record over the past couple of

seasons hasn’t exactly been stellar (13-0-0-3) – needs to be better. (3) SMOOTH LOU did win in Canada 2 back but

just looks to be on the cheaper side...and has been away for 3 weeks. (4) ALEX TYE has managed only one 3rd

from his 11 starts this year...but still may be able to beat a few of these.

RACE 2 – (5) LLOYDS LOVES just had no luck in the Matchmaker Series, hampered by bad posts and no-chance

spots – she gets major class relief tonight, loves to win races, and we’ll jump on her team. (3) MISS DOTTIE MAE

went one of the most eye-popping miles of the meet last week, CRUSHING her rivals from Post 8 in a very quick

1:53 mile...while sent off at nearly 40-1 – it was easily the most impressive of her 91 career starts but it’s very hard

to say if she’s capable of repeating that kind of effort tonight – she’ll make a lot of noise if she does! (1) DRAGONS

LUCKY LADY has come up 2nd best in her last 3 starts, unable to stay with #3 into the stretch last week – it would

be hard to leave her out of the exotics from this spot. (4) BLOOD MOON A has strong overall form for a barn that’s

been winning at nearly a 30% clip here – she did beat #1 in her last start, but does seem destined for a smaller slice

tonight. (6) SS SUPERSTAR shipped in off 5 straight Saratoga victories and extended that streak to 6 with ease –

she’s moving WAY up in class tonight, however, and also gets stuck all the way outside – that’s a lot to overcome.

(2) TWIN B SUNKISSED is technically dropping in class, but this is a pretty strong field – leaning to others.

RACE 3 – (3) FOR A DREAMER was away for 5 months but he was full of trot all the way in his first start back,

and just charged on by in the lane to score the 22-1 upset – he’s moving up a bit, but he loves to win races (when

sharp) and could be even better in his 2nd start back – we’ll hop on his team. (1) WARRAWEE XALT blasted easily

to the top from Post 8 last week only to run in on the first turn and go offstride – he’s risky, for sure, but he’s also

more than capable of beating these if he minds his manners. (2) INTL BLOCKADE hasn’t worked out all that well

since being claimed this winter but he’s also faced tougher in most of his starts – could be a threat here with an easy

trip. (6) CREATIVE VENTURE has been struggling but he’ll turn things around eventually – if you think things

could get a little testy up front, he’s not a bad bomb to at least consider. (4) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE is listed at 8/5

ML but his current form doesn’t really justify that price – not impossible, but there should be better value elsewhere.

(5) FULL RIGHTS actually fits NW5000 – we’ll wait until he’s in the proper class to consider.

RACE 4 – Short field, but a tough race! (5) IDEAL COVER may be worth a look tonight – she hit board in 4

straight coming into last week but definitely had her feelings hurt after rattling off hot fractions only to have MISS

DOTTIE MAE blow by her at 3/4s – she drops right back in the box, will be one of the longest shots in the race but

several of her recent efforts COULD beat these. (2) RACY ROXY A has had some good efforts when shipping

down from Stga. in the past – she may end up with a very good trip tonight, and that would give her a shot at the top

slot. (1) LAURIE LEE hung in ok for 4th vs. better last week, even if helped by an easy trip – she’s already won

several races out of town this year, and her barn has done ok locally from limited starts – maybe she can take these

wire to wire? (3) RESURRECTION DAWN got stuck in the back in her last 2 starts and was no factor at all – she’ll

be much closer to the action tonight, and was ok in her first 2 starts here with similar trips – possibility. (4)

LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK seemed to just lose interest at the back in last week’s quick mile – the class drop will

help, and she could land a good trip here – the only real knock is the 3/2 ML price! (6) TWIST LITTLE GIRL N was 2

nd last week and does fit with these...but will have to overcome the outside post.

RACE 5 – (2) TALENT TO SPARE A has been hurt in many of her recent starts by bad posts against much better –

she got some major class relief last time but was forced to race from well out of it from Post 7, kicking home full of

pace for the show spot – she figures to be the 2nd choice tonight, and that could make her a decent value play. (6) BE

TTA WATCH OUT has also been overmatched lately, but is a perfect fit with these – she’s clearly the main danger,

but the guess is that she’ll probably end up the favorite. (1) COWGIRL LILLY has been an afterthought for a long

time but did offer a better effort last week – she draws the pole, and is actually playable in exotics tonight. (5) ANN

ELIESE HANOVER has some ok recent tries out of town, even if vs. cheaper – maybe some minor spoils in her

Hilltop return? (4) FREESTARFLIGHT is having a rough year and certainly wasn’t going to appreciate getting used

hard early last week – maybe she can rally for a small slice tonight with an easier trip? (3) CAPTAINS STAR had

missed a year before that start last week and using so hard early on probably wasn’t a great idea – she’s eligible to be

tighter tonight, and we’ll see if she can have a bigger impact. (8) EXOTIC DRAGON probably needs a much better

post in an easier field to be a serious player. (7) CRUISE ALERT has struggled all year – Post 7 isn’t the solution!

RACE 6 – (4) EASY TO PLEASE was clearly a bit out of her league in those Matchmaker legs but she was never

beaten too badly, and usually finished with pace – she won’t offer any value tonight, but she really should be able to

deliver the goods as she plummets in class. (1) GOLDEN QUEST N hasn’t been able to get on a good roll yet this

year, and her form has been somewhat mixed – still, hard to imagine her not having a big say from the pole, against

this bunch. (7) FADE OUT is listed at 20-1 ML despite shipping in off a pair of 2nds, for a 27% barn, and after

picking up 10 wins here over the previous 2 years – definitely one to include in your exotics. (5) REC TIME can be

somewhat quirky, and doesn’t always get motivated – she’s definitely in cheap enough where she can make some

pretty good late noise IF Zeron can get her rolling. (2) KATIES UP failed to hit the board in her first 3 starts of 2025

and she’s unproven vs. these older mares – it would hardly be a shock to see her find a better effort tonight, but hard

to say why she’s listed at 3-1 ML. (3) TRICK OF THE LIGHT appreciated the drop to the bottom level last week

and turned in an improved effort for 2nd – moves up 2 classes tonight, though. (8) LUCKY ARTIST A landed in a

very soft field last week, got Bartlett at the lines and was able to just outrun that crew – she’s another that has to deal

with moving up multiple classes tonight (besides Post 8). (6) KAT gets a tough draw and feels like she may be

starting to decline, after recently exiting the nation’s to barn.

RACE 7 – (3) QUEEN OF ALL raced well from tough spots in a trio of starts heading into last week, so it was no

surprise to see Zeron handle her aggressively, and pick up the victory – she can handle these too. (5) TACHYON

was used hard the last couple of weeks and can be forgiven for getting a little tired at the end – any half decent trip

makes him a legitimate player here. (2) KASHA V looked like he was starting to really sharpen recently but then

came up dull in his last pair – he adds Lasix tonight, so perhaps the issue has been solved...could add some value to

the exotics. (1) NO DRAMA PLEASE is looking at a pretty good trip from this spot, and that could help him land

somewhere on the ticket. (4) MUSICAL RIDE picked up a pair of 4ths taking on older horses in his last pair, and

has a chance for some minor spoils tonight as well – leaning a bit more towards others, though. (6) IMMIGRANT

AM S got lost in the back in his local debut – was a much bigger player last week, but still was unable to beat a

horse that hadn’t raced in 5 months– will need to improve to be a major threat tonight. (7) PASSIONATE PROMISE

is well off his best game, and gets stuck outside once more.

RACE 8 – (3) CHAKE has a pair of PA tighteners under her belt, facing “Winners Over” fields in her first 2 starts

of 2025 – she comes off a strong 2024 campaign, and raced well here at Yonkers vs. better than these – feels like a

spot she’s ready to handle. (1) TORRONE is winless so far in 9 starts this year, but finished 2nd in 4 of them – he just

may complete the exacta once more. (4) TEXSONG SOPRANO has bounced back from a couple of recent clunkers,

though he was really just “ok” in his last pair (even though 2nd and 3rd) – legitimate chance to be part of the equation

tonight, but likely to be overbet starting out with that 9/5 ML price. (7) P L NOTSONICE had an outstanding 2024

season, overall and particularly here at Yonkers – she recently won her first start back in ’25 over at Pocono, but

landed on a bad trip back here last week – she definitely could outperform that 15-1 ML price, but will still need a

good helping of trip luck to overcome the terrible draw. (2) ABRUZZO has been behaving himself and holding form

nicely, but he’s definitely more comfortable in with a bit easier – minor spoils? (5) B NICKING raced aggressively

last week, had a few things go his way and was able to score the victory over softer – seems unlikely to be as

fortunate tonight, though. (6) BARRY BLACK could use a much better post, in an easier field.

RACE 9 – (3) FULL STRENGTH only seems to stay good for a few races at a time but he seems to be returning to

Yonkers in good form – he can beat these when “right”, and he may be worth a look here if the price is decent. (2)

WINDSONG PIONEER should be able to use his speed again and he’s always dangerous when on/near the lead –

logical threat tonight, but tough to get too excited about at that 8/5 ML price. (1) ENERGY KING wasn’t up for

cutting the mile last time but could be a bigger threat tonight sitting patiently just off the pace – as noted, his barn

has really started to come to life recently. (5) CREATE MYSTIQUE felt like he may have started to head in the

wrong direction...but then rebounded with an excellent 3rd last week – a similar effort puts him in the mix for a

piece of this. (6) BLACK TIE BASH was well back last week but finished up with more life than he had been

showing – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (7) KINDA LUCKY LINDY left last week but found himself hopelessly parked

when unable to make the top, and unable to find a seat – his prospects for a good trip aren’t much better tonight. (8)

THE LAST CHAPTER was fortunate enough to drop into 4th last week and that helped him take home a small check

– may not be as lucky tonight, starting from another bad post. (4) LADY JETER continues to struggle – still waiting

to see any kind of better signs from her.