Thursday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (4) KILOWATT KID N has been very good since the recent claim, a win on 8/30 followed up by a strong 2nd last week– looms a big threat tonight in an overall soft $15K division. (2) EVER M instantly turned things around upon joining this barn on 7/27, winning three straight before a pair of close 2nds – give him a pass for last week (equipment break), and look for him to be the main danger tonight. (1) THRASHER hasn’t been sharp in some time but still figures to be able to at least have a say starting from the pole against this bunch. (5) NEYREIT hasn’t been doing much in PA but he’s been facing a bit better in most of his recent starts – eligible for a piece. (3) DANCE ON THE BEACH is one of a few horses from this barn that is struggling right now – in need of a wake up call! (7) CENTURY IGLESIAS can occasionally rally for small pieces – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (8) FINAL GAME has some solid out of town vs. a bit easier…but the draw is a bigger concern than the class jump! (6) BAD BOY TOO is just 1 for 20 this year, and 10-0-0-1 here at Yonkers. 

RACE 2 – NAADA Fall Series: (2) VELOCIRAPTOR made an early miscue last week, recovered at the back, then turned in a big effort to be right there 3rd at the wire – he’s won 3X here this year, and seems worth a try tonight. (6) CERTIFY won an amateur race at PcD with Polansky on board, figures to be a fair price and could be a decent value horse to consider. (4) KILAUEA turned in a better effort last week, chasing a hot 3rd panel then still rallying in the stretch for 2nd…a good price makes him worth considering. (3) J S HOPSCOTCH raced ok off an easy trip last week but he’s 0 for 27 this year and listed as the ML favorite – hard to endorse on top! (5) KILIMANJARO N won at Monti 2 back but came up short here in the lane after a pocket trip last week – willing to use underneath. (1) LABY AD BROS S beat a soft field in PA last week for his first win in some time – he’s struggled in all 3 Yonkers starts, however, and that has us leaning elsewhere. (7) RACEACE has his share of local victories but he tired in his last pair of Yonkers amateur races, and also has to contend with Post 7 

RACE 3 – (1) CREDIT CON was off a bad date last week (for his new barn) but still gave MISSISSIPPI STORM all he could handle before weakening late – he’s an Open trotter when “right”, and we’ll see if our leading trainer can get him back to that top form. (5) TACHYON also missed time to his last but kicked home full of trot at the end – he can be somewhat inconsistent, but his best effort can make him a player here. (3) ORDAINED has been using his speed to grab good trips every week and figures to be doing the same tonight – he does need to finish a bit better, however. (4) DIAMANTE TRIO IT has been struck on smaller pieces lately and may be headed for a similar result tonight – we’ll see if Kakaley can get her to up her game a bit. (2) BULLY BOY HILL suddenly got scary sharp here at the end of the summer, but he did struggle at Tioga last week – we’ll see if an easy trip can help be a player at this NW30000 level. (6) DWS POINT MAN has been on a nice roll as he’s been climbing the class ladder the last couple of months – he may just have too far to come tonight, though. (7) BJMS LIL MAN had NYSS success at 2 and 3 but this is just a brutal spot for the sophomore trotter! 

RACE 4 – NAADA Fall Series – short field, but a good race: (2) BACKSTREET PLAYER gets reunited with AA tonight and the pair hooked up for a blowout win at Monti the last time they paired up – déjà vu? (3) CREATIVE VENTURE is having a tough time winning races this year but he’s also used to facing much better – he just missed here with Beltrami 4 starts back, and may be ready to bring another big effort tonight. (5) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE is just 1 for 22 this year but that win came 2 starts back, at Pocono, with Keppler steering him in an amateur race (and the two have paired up for other solid tries, as well) – a quick start would enhance his chances. (1) BIG CHAR LIE MORAN looks tempting off his last pair at Chester…but note that he’s 0 for 31 at Yonkers over the last 2 years, and 1 for 47 over the last three! (6) IMA STANDUP GUY took aim at the top of the lane last week and LOOKED like a winner…but did come up flat at the very end – will need some trip luck to threaten tonight from this tough post. (4) DOO WOP KID was a perfect trip winner here 2 back, but likely looking at a tougher journey tonight 

RACE 5 – (5) CANTSTOP YANKEE made a break in his last and has missed 3 weeks – that being said, if he brings anything close to his best tonight (off the re-claim), he’ll be very tough in here…hard to take too short a price, though! (1) RADIO LAB is another somewhat risky sort, with a mixed bag of efforts – he did upset this class (at 20-1) 3 back, and was a good 2nd (at 29-1, behind #5) back on 7/17 – worth considering at the right price. (2) PEDAL ON METAL didn’t fire his best shot last week but that was preceded by 4 very good efforts – he’ll have a big say here if last week was just a one time blip. (4) BEACON BEACH is normally a solid player in this class but he’s been away since 6/19, and would be hard to endorse on top at that 2-1 ML price. (3) PEMBROKE REGAL was disqualified last week for a pylon violation but actually raced much better than expected – he has a chance for a piece here with a similar effort. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK is just 1 for 21 this year after winning only twice in 2024 – he gets a bad draw, and hard to consider for more than a minor share. (7) BARRY BLACK was able to pick up a 2nd last week thanks to a fast start but seems unlikely to be as fortunate from out here – another likely looking at only minor spoils. (8) INTL BLOCKADE likely needs a much better post, in a much easier class, to be a real threat. 

RACE 6 – Tough race! (7) LMC PEANUTS WATCHN hasn’t been a threat lately but he does own a pretty recent win, drops in class, and faces a very shaky field – not a bad stab at that 12-1 ML price. (1) MY PLAYMATE GB used a perfectly timed brush to score the upset 2 back, but wasn’t able to replicate that effort last week – he’s definitely a good fit with this bunch, with a very realistic chance from the pole. (8) SCRIBBLERS has been off form for a long time and gets the worst of the draw tonight – he also returns to a barn for whom he did good things earlier in the year, so a sudden wake up call is not out of the question. (6) SKYLIGHT has 3 wins this year and they came over the last 4 weeks at Saratoga – clearly something recently clicked to turn his fortunes around, but we’ll have to see how well he fits with these class-wise. (5) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH has more weaker tries than decent ones lately, but he may be able to have a say here if he can find one of his better efforts. (4) BUDDY KNOCKS was a weak 4th in his local debut and while it’s too soon to write him off, he’d also be hard to back as the ML favorite. (2) PINEBUSHDRAGONLIFE returns from Stga, and is 11-0-0-0 here at Yonkers. (3) I B LOVIN, like several of his barnmates, has really fallen apart recently 

RACE 7 – (2) FERRETTI has really elevated his game since the barn change in June – he finished full of trot here 2 back (from an impossible spot), then raced super in last week’s Miecuna Invitational Trot, turning an excellent rally to just miss 3rd in a very good field – he’s ready for an aggressive try. (4) DRIBBLING BI got sharp here around 7/4 and has continued to excel even as he’s climbed his way up to the top level – no reason he can’t be a big player once more. (1) KHAOSAN ROAD was 3 for 5 here last year but has been more of a bridesmaid in 2025, currently at 4-0-3-1 – he’s missed 3 weeks since his last start (a win in PA), but still looms a real threat starting from the pole. (6) MISSISSIPPI STORM is up in class and likely will be coming from last, rather than cutting the mile…he still has a chance to rally for a piece, though. (3) CHULO steps up off 2 nice efforts, but may find this group a little tougher than he’d prefer. (5) DIRE STRAITS broke last week after trying to leave – expecting a conservative try tonight 

RACE 8 – (2) KEG STAND is having one of his typically strong seasons (6 wins and $132K, so far) but for some reason, he’s struggled a bit here at Yonkers (7-0-1-3) – his last was much better, and he may be ready to pick up a victory. (1) HOT FLASH KIMMY felt like she may be starting to tail after a nice form spree but bounced back with a big try in her last – anything close to her best would put her right in the hunt tonight. (5) ETERIA IT had success in Sweden before arriving in the U.S. – here efforts here have been mixed, and she’ll finally make her local debut tonight (after being scratched here on 7/24) – she’s be no surprise, but would need to be a fair price to use on top. (3) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS rarely goes a bad mile and while he’d probably prefer to be in a little cheaper, he can still grab a good piece with a decent trip. (4) THE HAZLETON continues to use his gate speed to land on good trips – needs a bit more on the end, though. (6) OLIVER THE GREAT is in career form and becoming a very nice trotter – tonight’s draw may slow him down just a bit though. (7) NYMERIA needed her first start off the long layoff last week and the guess is that she may need another. (8) AQUARIUS FACE S won her last 3 local starts, but facing quite a bit easier – she returns off a miscue in PA, and will probably be handled conservatively from this spot 

RACE 9 – (1) WOODMERE HARRIET was bet last week like she was going to bring one of her big efforts and that’s exactly what happened – anything close to that mile would make her awfully tough tonight. (7) YOU BEDA ROCK puts her 3 race winning streak on the line and while the draw is going to make things a lot tougher, it’s still far from impossible…especially if #1 doesn’t bring her best. (3) ON THE MONEY GB was no factor in her local return last week but she was claimed by an owner/trainer tandem that has been really clicking lately, and that alone makes her worth at least a look. (2) WHOS PERFECT isn’t at her “best” right now, but she’s still more than good enough to land somewhere in the exotics. (5) LE BEC FIN was a close 3rd in her local debut but was helped greatly by a very easy trip – the jury is still out. (4) TESLA POWER will look to save ground, and hope for some minor spoils. (8) NORTHERN HALO was a front end, blowout winner 2 back but unable to replicate that effort last week, with a tougher trip – faces the same dilemma from Post 8 tonight. (6) IRIS SEELSTER scored the 25-1 upset last week but would have been hard to play at 75-1…we’ll see if she can follow that up with another good mile, or if that last win was just a fluke.