Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (5) TOBINS CHESTER was a winning machine in The Maritimes but has shown that he can race well

on the bigger stage, as well – he makes his local debut at a level he should be comfortable with, and may be worth a

look upon arrival. (3) SPEAKER OF PEACE was well meant last week (dropping to this level) but lost all chance

when he blew up on the 3rd turn – can be a legitimate threat here with a clean effort. (1) OURMATEMENKO N was

very well backed for his U.S. debut and seemed to be making a strong move...until losing all momentum when he

hit the final turn – he may have had some equipment adjustments last week (hard to know) but he did look smoother

while handled conservatively...would be no surprise to see him bring a good one here. (6) WELL THAT MARKY

just moved to a barn that has really been picking up fresh stock lately and delivered a close 2nd, 1:49.2 mile across

the river – he’s tempting here, but he does get a poor draw and is just 1 for 24 over the last 2 years. (4) ROYAL DES

IRE is finally delivering on that potential he’s shown in the past, a winner in his last pair – he steps up considerably

now, and we’ll see if he can continue to produce more of those sharp efforts. (7) BLANK STARE has 2 wins from

his last 3 starts but they were on the lead, vs. cheaper – tougher assignment tonight. (2) TEXAS HOLDEM could

use some class relief...and he’ll likely be getting some after tonight. (8) TWIN B RISENSHINE’s overall recent

form is solid, but he draws Post 8 while moving up in class tonight.

RACE 2 – (2) TWIN B DELUXE came into his last razor sharp, and the way he powered over that field from

last-to-first suggests that he’s worth sticking with, even up in class, as he looks to stretch his winning streak to 4

tonight. (4) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A is one of a few from this barn that really elevated his game lately – he did the

heavy lifting last week and while he did wear down the 1/10 shot that was cutting the mile, he can be forgiven for

having no answers in the lane for the very sharp 2nd over winner – remains a very real threat. (3) ITALIAN LAD N

may be winless on the season but he’s raced well at the $40K level in most of his starts, and is definitely on his game

right now – belongs in exotics. (1) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK was up in class (off a bad date!) last week but was

still able to pull it off on the front end – he’ll be harder pressed to pull that off against these, but he could still take

home a pretty nice piece. (5) TAIPO N has ability but looked clearly short last week (off the sick scratch) – maybe

he can rally for a minor shar tonight? (7) WINDSUN RICKY never got close from a similar spot last week and may

face the same fate tonight. (6) ALADDIN steps up (from a bad post) after squandering a trip vs. softer last week.

RACE 3 – Good race! (5) CENTURY ENDEAVOR was hurt 2 back when the horse who pocketed him tired to the

top of the lane, then he was stuck too far back to have any chance last week – he lands in a much better spot now,

and he’s done terrific work (overall) at this level – he was Bartlett’s choice, and we’ll give him the narrow edge as

well. (1) AROUND MIDNIGHT was tabbed here as a “live longshot” last week and was able to light up the tote

board at 51-1 – his price will surely come down quite a bit tonight, but he’s still a very viable possibility, starting

from the pole once more. (4) I DRAINTHESWAMP A hasn’t won lately but he hit board in his last 3 starts and is

one of several in here that COULD come out on top, with the right trip. (6) MUSIC HALL is incredibly sharp right

now, but he’ll be moving up in class, off a claim, while starting from a tough post – playable IF he’s a good enough

price. (7) SADDLE UP is another in raging form that will also have to deal with a bad draw, up in class, for a new

barn – another worth a look IF the price is right. (2) MULLINAX has his moments but still seems more likely to be

looking at a smaller piece, rather than a big one. (3) SHADOW CAT has some nice recent efforts but still may be a

bit of a reach at this $40K level. (8) LYRICAL GENIUS is listed here on the bottom, but strictly because of the draw

– his form for most of this year is hard to fault!

RACE 4 – (2) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH raced well in all 3 local tries, culminating with last week’s well-backed,

sharp front end score – he’s hardly a “cinch” here, but remains the one to knock off. (4) BULLVILLE FRANK made

an early miscue 2 back but that race is surrounded by a nose loss 2nd to #6 on 4/26, and last week’s 2nd place finish to

#2 – he’s just the right trip away from finding the winner’s circle himself. (6) THAT DOG WILL HUNT proved he

can win at this level with dead game score 3 back, followed that up with another win in his next then came up just a

little short in his last, when 3rd behind the top 2 choices – he’d be no surprise at all, even with the bad draw. (3) C

BET HANOVER was helped by a great trip last week and was able to deliver the 10-1 upset – leaning to others in

here, but could see him landing somewhere in the exotics, with the right trip. (7) IM THE PRINCE was very good

for several starts, got used too hard early 2 back then was in an impossible spot last week – this spot may be too hard

to overcome as well, but he’s not a bad stab for longshot fans. (8) FLIP MY CHIP drops back down to his preferred

$30K level but the draw figures to really hurt his chances for tonight. (5) BIG DREAM FELLA will likely look to

save ground, and hope to rally for a small share. (1) BUGABOO LOU has struggled in most of his recent starts.

RACE 5 – (2) FINVARRA A’s only 3 starts since Dec. 2nd NOT at the Invitational/Borgata level have produced 3

wins, the last 2 both jogburgers – he surely deserves top billing here, but he also may end up way overbet against a

couple of pretty solid rivals. (1) CARABAO A came to life with that victory 4 back, raced super for 3rd in his next

when caught wide a very long way than picked up 3rd in his last pair chasing BIG front end efforts from DUNKIN –

we’ll be waiting in the wings should the top choice falter. (3) BONDI LOCKDOWN A is probably as sharp now as

at any time since he arrived in the U.S. – he has plenty of pace finishing from an impossible spot last week, and just

may be good enough right now to have a real say here (4) SMIFFYS TERROR N wasn’t going to threaten DUNKIN

last week into that sizzling :27 kicker but he held his ground nicely for 2nd – he never goes a bad one, and could

easily grab a decent share tonight. (6) ULTIMAROCA took back to last on 5/6 and was no factor after that – moves

up in class here, and starts from another bad post. (5) WHAT STANLEY GOT A has a couple of recent wins vs.

cheaper, but will need to show that he’s ready to battle these types again before getting an endorsement. (7) FEARF

UL INTENT has 10 wins from 30 local starts (last 3 years) but he’s in very tough here, and starting from Post 7.

RACE 6 – (1) VERDUN didn’t miss a beat between his (outstanding) 2024 campaign and 2025, already hitting

board in all 11 starts this year, facing the likes MOSSDALE BEN N, DESPERATE MAN, etc. week after week – he

catches an overall easier group tonight (after his 3rd place finish in the Borgata Final last start) and unless he just has

a letdown after all those sharp miles, he’s going to be tough to overhaul tonight (5) BINGE ON YANKEE has shown

that he can be a strong player whenever on/near the lead and it seems like Zeron should be able to send him out of

there and find a trip he likes...that would give him a good chance to land on the ticket somewhere. (6) SOHO FIRE

STONE A may look like he raced “bad” last week (at first glance), but note that he paced his back half in :53.2 (but

from an impossible spot) – he has more than enough ability to make his presence felt here...but will he be able to

find a manageable trip starting from Post 6? (4) HUMBLE A served notice in last week’s 1 1⁄4 mile affair that he’s

back on his game, pacing his FOURTH quarter in under 27 seconds as he unleashed a mega-blitz to the lead – this is

a much tougher spot, so we’ll see if he’s ready to do some damage with these as well (3) VENTURESOME ARDEN

N was hurt badly by terrible cover last week – could find a way to grab a piece with a better trip. (2) BLUE LOU

may need some class relief before we see his best again.

RACE 7 – (1) CHASE H HANOVER had been razor sharp for a long time in NJ and PA but was a bit of a question

mark over the half miler coming into the Borgata Series – he proved just as effective over the smaller oval, picking

up 2 wins and a close 2nd and 3rd from his 4 legs, then going a big mile to be 2nd best in the Final – benefits from the

open draw tonight and looms the one to beat after landing the pole. (5) DUNKIN had been struggling this year but

showed a better effort on 4/26 then followed that up with back to back dominant front end scores in his last 2 starts –

could be the main danger tonight, even from this tougher spot. (3) HEMSWORTH N landed on a beautiful trip last

week and won the Borgata Consolation for the 2nd time (he was also a winner in 2023) – he’s never been the most

consistent performer on the planet, but he can make some noise here if he can remain in his current sharp form. (4)

DIEGO N was handled conservatively in his U.S. debut but finished full of pace from the back – he was more

aggressive when he wired the field in his next start (as the odds-on choice), and he’s taken 2 more since then, also on

the front end – he moves well up in class tonight, but he was a big earner Down Under....we’ll learn a bit more

about him here. (2) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A has an outstanding 11-8-1-0 local slate but he comes into tonight

having missed 3 weeks after a couple of lesser efforts – leaning elsewhere. (6) SOHO DOW JONES A gets the

worst of the draw, stuck racing from Post 6 against a pretty accomplished field!

RACE 8 – (4) STREET HAWK N probably wasn’t all that cranked up for his first U.S. start (a conservative, easy

trip 3rd) but he was all business from Post 8 last week, working out a live 2nd over trip then blowing by in the lane for

a very easy victory – feels like he can handle tonight’s step up pretty smoothly. (3) HEZ ALLTHE RAGE N may be

handled aggressively here but he’s proven to be effective from off the pace as well – he’s usually a good price, and

never a bad one to consider using. (1) LUCAPELO A is just 1 for 13 locally this year but has raced well in most of

those starts – he’s looking at a good trip from this spot, with a decent chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (2)

THE IDEAL DANCER A has a couple of wins at this level this year, was right there last week and draws well for

tonight – another that should have a solid chance to be right in the mix. (5) OPTICAL ILLUSION N was up in class

off a bad date last week but still finished with good pace – chance to outrace that 20-1 ML price and grab a piece of

this. (7) NANDOLO N was in a no prayer spot last week and gets a full pass for being unable to rally – Bartlett does

choice off tonight, however, and he usually guesses right with this guy. (6) SANTANA HANOVER gets a poor draw

while moving up another class off a pair of losses – tough spot. (8) COVERED BRIDGE could use a class drop, and

it looks like he’ll be getting one next week.

RACE 9 – (1) CURBSIDE PICKUP changed hands last week and made his first start for new connections a

winning one, sharply wiring the 40s – he steps up to 50s tonight, but we’ll still give him the narrow edge in this very

competitive affair. (7) TWO FACED raced his eyeballs out last week only to come up a head shy to the 51-1 winner

(and leaving him still winless on the year) – he was claimed by an owner that seems to win races in bunches

whenever he starts taking fresh horses, so perhaps that will help this guy with the luck he needs to finally get over

the hump. (3) VICI took a while to win his first race this year but he’s continued to race well in this class since then,

though hurt by some tough trips – possible upsetter if things go his way. (4) PEACE OUT POSSE was sharp before

the claim on 3/10 and has continued to do good work since then – another that becomes a serious threat with the

right journey. (2) SCRIBBLERS blew by a tiring leader at 3/4s last week but then failed to sustain his move into the

stretch, tiring to 4th – he’s capable of better, and will need to bring one of those better efforts to come out on top

tonight. (5) ROCKMYSTER N got shuffled last week but actually appreciated the easy trip, rallying well late after

shaking free – he wouldn’t be a shock here, though we are leaning towards more reliable players tonight. (8) MIND

HUNTER can throw a big one at any time, though this really doesn’t feel like a spot to look for one of those top

efforts. (6) GENTLE GIANT gets a tough draw in a solid field, and just hasn’t been all that sharp lately.