Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday May 1, 2025 - Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) TWIN B DELUXE looked like a stickout on paper heading into his last and he delivered on the

racetrack as well, a total blowout winner – he’s definitely facing tougher tonight, but still has a legitimate chance to

repeat. (6) ROCKIN JUKEBOX hasn’t been able to get untracked yet in 2025 but he’s used to facing much tougher

and anything close to his best would be enough to beat these – maybe the tote board will offer some guidance? (2)

OSTRO HANOVER had a weak 2024 campaign then was off to a very slow start here in 2025 as well...but his form

seems to have taken a turn in the right direction out of town lately, and he may be able to at least make his presence

felt in his Yonkers return. (4) BLANK STARE wired easier as the heavy favorite at Chester last week and may be

coming back to The Hilltop with some renewed confidence – willing to include in exotics. (1) BET A BUNDLE’s

overall form is “good”, but he does seem a bit on the cheaper side – maybe a minor award? (7 ) ORLANDO BLUE

A was out of sorts for several starts but his last was more encouraging – the poor draw may leave him waiting for a

better scenario, even if on his game tonight. (5) REAL WILLEY makes his first start in a couple of months and

lands in a fairly solid field – prefer to just watch tonight. (8) MARLBANK ROAD gets a drop, but also gets Post 8 –

will look more appealing next week, when he drops to NW5000

RACE 2 – (6) SOUTHWIND COORS was always a very nice trotter, but he’s really stepped up his game since

joining his current barn at the end of 2024 (he’s also the only to horse to beat ANTOGNONI S in the U.S.) – he gets

the worst of the draw tonight, but that also means he’ll probably be a fair price...we’ll give him the narrow nod. (3)

TIPSY MONI was stuck on the outside last week and raced as well as she could, into the hot 1:53.s mile – now SHE

draws inside her 2 main foes, and that could make her a much bigger threat tonight (4) BENJAMIN HANOVER

carved out a strong clip last week and simply wasn’t as sharp as the top choice (who sat to his back) – he can never

be counted out, and he’s another that could be a better price now...another possibility in this short, but solid

Invitational field. (2) HERODOTUS draws inside the top trio but will need to prove that he can BEAT them –

playable underneath. (5) BLACK MAGIC is a very nice trotter but likely a notch below a couple of the others right

now – the draw definitely won’t help. (1) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS is pretty good right now, but in very tough

RACE 3 – Good race: (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK just got too hot on the lead last week and tired once they turned

for home – he’s always a threat vs. these, and could offer some good value in this wide open affair. (4) MAHONE

SEELSTER threw a dud last week but may have become discouraged on the back side chasing air into the very

sharp 3/4s – many of his more “typical” efforts would make him a player here, and the price should be pretty good.

(7) BARN HALL saw his 3 race winning streak snapped last week but still was a solid 3 rd place finisher – moves to

a new barn now, and will need some trip luck starting from Post 7...but he does have a very real chance here if

things go his way. (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT has been a little in and out from start to start but any of her “best”

efforts would make her a real threat from this spot – she does lose Kakaley (at Plainridge tonight, along with Barlett

and Siegelman), but Herschberger has proven himself quite capable. (2) PAPA DOC was dull 2 back then an ok 3

rd last week, off an easy trip – he’ll need to up his game a bit if he hopes to contend for the top slot. (5) QUIKSILVR

BLUECHIP has some ok form out of town but he’s 0 for 27 locally (last 3 years) and that’s a tough stat to ignore. (3)

R NO MERCY adds Lasix after missing 3 weeks – still unproven against these types. (8) GINGERTREE STAKIAS

lands Post 8 for his Yonkers debut – seems somewhat buried in this spot

RACE 4 – (1) LUCKBEWITHALEX was one of a few horses from the this barn to suddenly wake up recently, and

he WOULD have been a winner last week...had he not run into a rival ALSO experiencing a major wake up call –

definitely the one to beat tonight, but there won’t be any value with that 6/5 ML price. (6) GINGRAS BEACH was

sneaky good in his last pair, and catches an overall blank field tonight – decent value option if you think #1 could be

vulnerable. (5) FIZZING N was a decent 4 th last time and a few his barnmates raced well/very well over the last

week or so – certainly playable for exotics. (8) SAVE ME A DANCE doesn’t feel sharp enough to overcome Post 8

right now but maybe he can do some damage with a little racing luck – has some appeal at that 20-1 ML price. (3)

LEVINE seems to have forgotten how to win, though he does race well enough for pieces fairly often. (4) OZARK

drops to the bottom level and gets his first good draw since the recent claim – may see some improvement tonight.

(2) THEBEAUDENBLUES N won a fall apart race here early in Feb. but has struggled ever since. (7) IDEALSOM

EMAGIC A showed up to beat easier at PcD 3 back, but struggled here in his next and didn’t function last week



RACE 5 – NAADA Spring Fling Series: (2) BIG LIMO ran into a very tough trip in his only local try and actually

raced pretty well just to be 4 th (in a race won by #1) – he’s one of several with a legitimate chance in here, and he

should be a decent price – one to consider. (4) SHOEMAKER HANOVER pulled off a 45-1 upset here 4 back then

almost pulled one off at Monti 2 back (at 35-1) – seems like a good one to include on your tickets! (1) FANATIC

benefited from a perfect trip here on 4/3 and was an easy winner – he certainly has a chance to pick up another win

from tonight’s excellent spot, but note that he’s listed at 6/5 ML, and has just 2 wins from his 37 starts over the last 2

seasons. (5) ALL RISE is 0 for 13 locally in 2024-25 but he’s been part of the equation many times, thanks to his

speed – another worth a look at that 15-1 ML price. (6) MUFASA AS was a close 2 nd for Faraldo at Monti last week,

but that was with a good post, and pocket trip – he’s looking at a tougher trip tonight, and his camera-shy nature here

at Yonkers has been well documented. (3) MUSCLE DAN is another that has often used his speed to be part of the

action but he’s made 2 breaks in his last 3 starts and that’s at least a bit concerning. (8) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE

picked up an overdue victory at Monti last week but that was when he could make the front end – tonight’s draw

figures to really hurt his chances. (7) BIG CHARLIE MORAN is 0 for 25 locally over the last 2 years, and just 1 for

41 over the last 3 – hard to like his chances tonight from Post 7.

RACE 6 – (4) CLEVELAND B MIKI already has 5 wins this year, gets major post relief after being claimed by a

sharp barn, and can race either on or off the pace, as circumstances dictate – good spot to hop on board. (3) BETTO

RBUCKLEUP was trapped a while on the cones last week, seemed to get into some trouble to both his outside and

inside on the final turn (losing lots of momentum) then did have plenty of pace in the lane once he found his gear –

definitely sharp enough to win tonight if the trip goes his way. (1) KARLOO BRADLEY N came up 2 nd best to the

heavily favored winner last week, dropping down to 25s – he’s looking at a very good trip tonight, and looms a very

live player. (2) THRASHER steps up to 25s off the claim and while he can never be counted out, he does seem more

vulnerable at this higher level...even with the inside draw. (6) THEFLYINGROCK dropped to 25s two back and

turned in an excellent rally for 3 rd , then had pace finishing from an impossible spot last week – he figures to be

coming late again, but does draw a tough spot while also losing Zeron and Bartlett. (5) IM A POWERPLAY A took

off the gate last week and that pretty much sealed his fate – definitely leaning towards others tonight, but he does

like to win races and never a bad one to consider at a big price. (8) VIVA LAS VEGAS N is racing well now but

will be coming from way back. (7) COLD CREEK FELIPE seems damned if he leaves, and damned if he doesn’t

RACE 7 – (2) SADDLE UP bumped up from 30s to 40s for his last start, surprisingly took OFF the gate from the

rail but still turned in an excellent try from off the pace, picking up 2 nd behind the runaway (razor sharp) KOPI

LUWAK – drops back down to 30s tonight, and we’ll give him top billing. (1) FLIP MY CHIP rebounded from a

rare disappointing try 2 back to deliver the sharp front end score, bringing his local slate to 25-10-6-0 – clearly

deserves plenty of respect anytime he’s in to go! (5) HAMMERING HANK is still winless on the year but has hit

board in nearly half his starts – never a bad one for the bottom of exotics. (6) OZONE BLUE CHIP returns from a

pretty solid recent stint at Stga. but lands a tough post in a level slightly higher than he’d probably prefer – still has a

decent chance to grab a small piece, though. (3) BURNHAM BOY N has been away for nearly 5 months and the

guess is that he’ll need a start or two before we see his best. (7) BECHERS BROOK A has been grabbing his share

of pieces this year, but seems up against tonight after landing his first bad draw in a while. (8) REIGNING DEO

would be hard to recommend off that last dismal try, especially starting tonight from Post 8. (4) SAULSBROOK HE

RO pounced on pocket trips to win a pair of starts arriving from NJ but after struggling in 40s, he backed up badly

while returning to 30s last week – another that’s on the “watch list” for now

RACE 8 – Tough race: (5) WILLY WALTON went a very encouraging mile 2 back when he showed very good trot

from OFF the pace (not usually his style), then almost held on after cutting the mile last week, worn down late by a

horse that’s won 3 in a row – one of several with a legitimate chance in here. (3) ROGER RABBIT recently came

out of a rough patch with a few good efforts – he has valid excuses in his last pair, moves inside, and can be a player

here if he brings his best. (1) BE DIFFERENT hasn’t clicked since the 4/3 claim but he’s also been facing better –

he drops, draws the pole, and has won more than his share at this level. (2) ARCHERY SEELSTER hasn’t beaten

the 40s yet but he’s been right there several times – gets a good draw, and Zeron has been driving super since

spending more time here at The Hilltop – possibility. (8) P C FREE WHEELING was claimed for this price during

the winter then went on to bang heads a bunch of time in the FM Invitational – she did throw a dud 3 back, was

terrible last week, and now takes a surprising drop back down to 40s – red flags for sure and even if she’s good, it

won’t be easy to overcome Post 8. (4) DO IT AGAIN IT has been enjoying success in PA since arriving from Italy

but this is probably a tougher bunch than he’s been battling – mixed feelings about his chances. (7) HOT FLASH KI

MMY has been racing well since returning from the recent layoff, but she’s up in class and gets a tough draw – we’ll

see if Yannick can find her a trip. (6) HAT TRICK MARLEAU beat easier last week, but has struggled vs. 40s

RACE 9 – (2) IM THE PRINCE picked up back to back wins in March and while he hasn’t gotten his picture in his

last 4 starts, he’s continued to race super, every week, from some impossible spots – he’ll be a fair price here, and

worth using. (5) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY came up 2 nd best in his last pair to a razor sharp LAZ, and his barn is off

to an insane 12-7-3-1 start in 2025 (at Yonkers) – hard to leave him off your tickets. (3) SOUTH POINT has been

super for a LONG period so last week’s miscue came as a complete surprise – could be dangerous if he can just

shrug that off, and return to his previous (stellar) form. (4) MUSIC HALL has a couple of recent wins and raced

well last week for 4 th after an unfortunate trip– very logical for exotics, though not a fan of that 2-1 ML price. (1)

HEAVE AWAY ships down to a strong barn off a win over cheaper in Canada, but he’s missed 24 days after scratch

up North – hard to know how serious he’ll be in his first local try. (6) CAPTAIN T HANOVER has a few good starts

this year but he’s struggled to find last year’s outstanding, consistent form – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help. Both

(7) HARD TO CATCH and (8) TWIGGS PUB have shown that they can do damage in this class, but the outside

draws may hamper both of them this week.