Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (4) LOUS WORLD makes his first local appearance since racing decently in last year’s Messenger

elimination and Final – he lures Bartlett off a couple of his main accounts, and that could bode well for his chances

tonight – certainly worth a good look at that 8-1 ML price. (1) HEZ ALLTHE RAGE N won at this level 2 back, to

go along with a pair of recent 2nds in this class – he’ll surely be using his speed from the pole, and looms a major

threat from start to finish. (3) ROCK THE BELLES looked like he may be crashing after a long form spree but he

bounced back with a MUCH better effort last week, pacing right to the wire into the teeth of a :27.1 final quarter –

good value option with that 12-1 ML listing. (2) KINGSVILLE has climbed back up the ladder with a trio of 2nds

along with a win – he was no factor last start, but moves inside and could grab a piece with the right trip. (5) SOUT

HWIND CELSIUS may have been the top choice off the class drop but Bartlett opting off one of his favorite barns

is a concern – mixed feelings about his chances tonight. (7) CHIMICHURRI N was a well backed winner last week,

though helped by an easy lead in a lesser field – steps up a bit, lands outside, and Bartlett opts off. (6) CARABAO A

certainly fits nicely here but he comes off a major clunker last week, and feels iffy for tonight. (8) HUNTINGFORC

HROME lands all the way outside while still trying to find his 4YO form.

RACE 2 – (4) DUNKIN was hurt when VERDUN left last week, and had to retreat after being unable to loop to the

lead – he still finished well for 4th (after losing any realistic chance), and he’s been on an excellent form spree since

early May – willing to stay on his team. (3) ALWAYS A THRILL ended up with a tougher trip last week and had to

settle for 3rd, taking home a rare 2025 loss – gets Bartlett back tonight, and looms his usual dangerous self. (6) VER

DUN will likely be forced to rally from last tonight, but we’ve seen his late explosion work in the past – wouldn’t

count him out too quickly, despite the possibility of a tough trip. (5) ENDOFSTORY is blossoming into an excellent

4YO with a big future ahead of him– not sure he’ll be able to find the trip to make him a big threat tonight, however.

(1) RACING RAMPAGE has found some better form with lesser, but would still be a surprise vs. the top ones in

here. (2) ALL CLASS hung in ok for 2nd to a very sharp winner last week but finds himself in tough tonight.

RACE 3 – Tough race: (5) OURMATEMENKO N hasn’t found the winner’s circle yet in 6 U.S. starts but he's raced

well in most of them, hitting board 4X – this race may come down to trip, and he’s capable of coming out on top

with a good one. (1) EUPHORIA N was invisible from the back last week but may have already been looking

forward to tonight’s class drop – he’s more than capable of wiring these if he shows up on his best effort tonight. (7)

SHADOW CAT had been very sharp but his form has been clouded a bit by a series of terrible draws – he gets yet

another tonight, but does have a shot to beat these IF Bartlett can manufacture some trip luck from out here. (3) GIN

GRAS BEACH would be hard to endorse off his recent lines but his barn has sent out several form-reversing over

the past week, and there’s always a chance that he could be next. (2) SPORTY M THREE is winless here in 2025

and jus 1 for 28 over the past 2 years – chance for a small piece, thanks to the inside draw. (6) ROLLING WITH

SAM used an easy trip to take home 3rd last week but tonight’s draw figures to leave him looking at minor spoils. (4)

LEVINE picked up his first win since 2023 last start...seems an unlikely repeater.

RACE 4 – (1) MULLINAX disappointed in his first start off the claim, but has been very sharp ever since (his last

was better than it may look) – he should end up with the two hole trip here (or possibly cut it?), and looms a very

dangerous player. (4) SWEET BEACH LIFE hasn’t been “bad” at 4 (after banking $371K at 3) but he does remain

winless after 8 starts – he’s the one to knock off here, but the top choice figures to give him a serious tussle. (2) OPT

ICAL ILLUSION N feels like he MAY have tailed off just a bit, but an easy trip from this spot does give him a shot

at a decent piece of this. (3) BRUTALLY HANDSOME A bumps up a notch off a solid 2nd last week, but can hang

with these too...with an easy enough trip – playable underneath. (7) CADILLAC BAYAMA is very sharp for a hot

barn but the terrible draw (up in class) may limit his production tonight. (5) SIX DEGREES was a decent 4th upon

arrival from Monti but the leaders did all tire that race – probably looking at minor spoils from this spot. (6) RENAI

SSANCE DEO lacked the pop when sent wide last week and could only manage 3rd – tough draw tonight.

RACE 5 – Very tough race! (2) KOPI LUWAK is hard to gauge since the claim because he’s had valid excuses in

his last 3 starts – he definitely fits with these on his best effort, but it’s hard to know if we’ll get that from him

tonight – one of many with a chance to take the opening leg of tonight’s $75K GUARANTEED Pick 5 pool! (7)

NANDOLO N showed up sharp in NJ and was able to swoop by the field and win going away – he’s more than

capable of beating these too but as always, is in danger of a tough trip, from a bad spot – he’s the “best” horse, but

can he reach? (6) SOHO DOW JONES A was very promising in his early U.S. starts but struggled once up at the top

levels, and it’s hard to say how far off form he’s fallen – another big question mark for tonight. (5) SANTANA

HANOVER was a solid front end winner as the favorite last week, one level down – he fits here too, and is just a

good trip away from being a big player. (1) SHAZAM BLUE CHIP had an outstanding 2024 campaign but he’s still

winless after 17 starts in ’25 – he’s usually right in the thick of things (even up one level), but it’s hard to have

confidence in him coming out on top right now. (4) SURFSIDE BEACH has been inconsistent lately, but he’d

hardly be a shock in here (as he did win in a NW20000 field 4 back). (3) TWIN B POWERBALL has won 2 straight

for a very hot barn but steps up in class and may find these a little too tough. (8) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR can

bang heads with better when sharp, but he hasn’t looked in his last couple, and will coming from last tonight.

RACE 6 – (2) FLIP MY CHIP changed tactics and raced from off the pace 2 back, turning in a BIG effort for 2nd –

he was claimed that night, reverted to his usual front end style in his next and was a blowout winner, despite being

pressed to eye-popping fractions by a rival that refused to take a seat – steps up for another new barn tonight, but

may be sharp enough to pull off a mild upset. (4) CENTURY ENDEAVOR tired on the lead 3 back but that mile is

sandwiched between a pair of wins on either side – he goes for new connections tonight, was Holland’s choice (over

#2) and remains as dangerous as ever. (1) SHAKE IT has been on an extended form spree, that started when he was

at the $15K level – he came up 2nd best in his 2 starts after moving up to 30s, but was very sharp each time – he tries

40s this week (for another new barn), but can’t be taken lightly in his current (raging) form. (3) MUSIC HALL was

used VERY hard last week and it’s to his credit that he was able to last for 4th – he’s another that’s been sharp for

weeks, and more than capable here with the right trip. (6) LYRICAL GENIUS A never goes a bad one but he’ll be

coming from well back, and may just have too many sharp ones to pass. (8) ROCKIN N TALKIN was no factor at

all from Post 8 two back but he used a super-slick drive (and sharp effort) to give #4 a late tussle last week – faces a

lot of obstacles from Post 8 tonight, however. (5) TWIG has been on a very nice roll, but he was scratched sick off

the claim, and looks to move up in class after leaving a very high % barn. (7) BONDI SHAKE A is 13-0-0-3 locally

over the past 3 years, facing much easier than these.

RACE 7 – (7) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A was visually impressive last week, sprinting home effortlessly in :27.1 to

dominate his rivals in a hot 1:51.2 mile – he’s moving up a peg, but he’s won at the Invitational level this year –

remains the one the beat, even with the bad draw. (1) FINVARRA A is always very tough when he drops out of the

Invitational, and even holds his own at THAT level, when sharp – will be waiting in the wings should the top one

not be as sharp tonight. (5) SIMON SAYS HANOVER hasn’t come close to top form since returning recently from a

long layoff – he’ll perk up eventually and while there’s no real signs that it’ll be tonight, you’ll get a big price if you

think it MAY happen. (8) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A was sharp BEFORE the others in his barn recently followed

suit – hard to see a way into the race for him tonight, but he’ll be a big price for a red-hot barn...good one for

longshot fans. (6) STELLAR YANKEE has held form even as he’s risen from NW5000 to this high level – the draw

does figure to really hurt his chances tonight, though. (3) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK gets a pass for his last

(shuffled badly, losing all chance) but he does own a pair of recent longshot wins, and ALMOST scored at 36-1 two

back – still leaning towards others, though. (2) BLUE LOU hasn’t picked up his game since adding Lasix, and needs

to start finishing better if he hopes to win at this level. (4) FUNATTHEBEACH N gets a pass for his last (trapped

inside) but still would be a surprise against this bunch.

RACE 8 – (2) DESPERATE MAN was starting to look like his best-self heading into the Borgata Final but a bad

draw (and miscue) sealed his fate – he bounced right back to pick up a new lifetime mark in a Pocono overnight

(1:48.2), won an Open at Chester then went a BIG effort in the Battle of Lake Erie, getting down to 3/4s in an eye

popping 1:21 before coming up 2nd best to the sharp tripsitter, in a sizzling 1:48.3 mile – have to give him the edge

tonight, though he has a very good one to his inside! (1) CHASE H HANOVER was peaking heading into the

Borgata Final and gave it a big front end try for $516K, coming up 2nd best to MOSSDALE BEN N – things didn’t

go his way in his next pair out of town but he draws the pole returning to Yonkers, gets A Nap back in the bike and

will surely be a handful tonight. (3) SOHO FIRESTONE A looked like “Open material” from his first U.S. starts

and he certainly proved that he IS, in recent weeks – he does have a pair of beasts to his inside, and we’ll see if he

can give them a tussle with the right trip. (5) STREET HAWK N has done little wrong since arriving from Down

Under and was actually sent off at 3/5 vs. HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR in his first try at the top level – he raced very

well to be 2nd (1st over), but is another than may be at a disadvantage here with the top two drawing inside (4) HIMS

ELF N sat the pocket and was a rock solid 2nd last week, and has gone his share of strong efforts against the top

horses – still feels like he’ll have to settle for a smaller piece tonight, though. (6) HEMSWORTH N had pace

finishing the last 2 weeks and isn't a bad bomb to use for 3rd/4th. (7) AARDIES FLASH N probably needs a much

better post to be a serious threat against these types. (8) DIEGO N gets a brutal draw – pass for now, and wait for

next week’s drop.

RACE 9 – (3) WHATS STANLEY GOT A hasn’t gotten back to top form in 2025 but he’s still more than capable at

this level, and has definitely added more consistency to his game...we’ll give him the edge tonight. (4) THE BIGBO

SS A came up a little light in his U.S. debut, had Post 8 the next start but brought a solid mile last week, a game 1st

over 2nd to a sharp front end winner – logical threat tonight. (1) ALL ALONE finished well back in his first tries off

the layoff, and it’s hard to back him with any confidence tonight, especially at that 9/5 ML price – still, he CAN beat

these if he happens to perk up and bring his “A game”. (6) WASA HEAT SEEKER N won his U.S. qualifier but the

fresh import is hard to evaluate – perhaps the tote board will offer some better clues? (7) SEMI TOUGH has seen his

game pick up a bit in PA recently but he struggled in all 3 local tries this year, and is stuck with a terrible draw

tonight – not a bad one if you’re spreading this race in Pick 5s, as he is listed at 20-1 ML. (2) JETT STAR N lost to a

much softer bunch here 2 starts back, though he does have 3 local wins this year – still leaning to others, though. (5)

MYULTIMATEBAXTER N found some form at lower levels but quickly tailed vs. much better – drops, but still not

ready to hop back on his team.

RACE 10 – (1) MANFERNO shipped in sharp and immediately proved he belonged with the locals, delivering a

very sharp first over score last week – draws the pole tonight, and that stamps him as the one to knock off. (7) FREQ

UENT IMAGE stepped up to 40s off the claim, got roughed up hard getting the top from Post 8 and called it a night

on the back side – drops back down to 30s (where he’s done excellent work), and may just shrug that last mile off

and deliver a big effort. (2) AMERITRIC tried to leave hard last week but was forced to grab up and retreat, pretty

much sealing his fate – moves back inside, and could easily outperform that 12-1 ML price. (4) HARD TO CATCH

usually doesn’t take a lot of $$ here but he’s raced well in many of his starts for these connections, and never a bad

one for the bottom of exotics. (3) BIG DREAM FELLA finished ok for 3rd off an easy trip last week – he’s generally

stuck grabbing minor pieces, and will likely find himself back in that boat tonight. (6) IM THE PRICE had tailed off

but landed on a dream trip 2 back and used it to deliver the 22-1 upset – he was in a no-chance spot last week, and

may have trouble getting into the hunt again tonight. (8) LAZ won 8X last year and already owns 6 victories in 2025

– he does land in a brutal spot (for another new barn) tonight, and may have to wait for a better draw before he can

strut his best stuff. (5) THAT DOG WILL HUNT feels like he may be starting to tail a bit after the recent claim.