Friday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, September 5, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) DELAYED HANOVER is used to facing (and beating) better than these – he recently qualified twice

after taking 2+ months off (after a sick scratch at Stga.), and we’ll gamble that he’ll be ready to deliver a winning

mile in his first local start of the year. (4) AUSTRAL HANOVER finished with good trot vs. better in his last pair,

and should find this field more to his liking– should be able to have a big say here, but that 9/5 ML price is a turn off

(3) TORRONE is right at home at this level, and figures to be aggressively handled – should be right there all the

way, with a solid chance to land in the exotics. (2) DWS POINT MAN has hit board in 4 straight – an easy trip could

see him rallying late for another nice chunk tonight. (6) BRONZER drops, but lands outside and drops another win

off his card after tonight – maybe next time? (5) CAL MILES N SHELL may struggle a bit with this bunch

RACE 2 – (4) FULL OF MUSCLES was handled conservatively last week (off a sick scratch) but did finish up well

– his local efforts have been mixed, but a live trip could help him spring a mild upset tonight. (3) SISTER MARY

MAUDE is still winless at 4 after banking nearly half a million at 2 and 3 – she’ll probably be able to have a big say

from this spot, but be careful about accepting a short price on top. (8) EXCALIBUR BI shipped in sharp on 8/1 and

delivered at 4/5 over a currently very sharp BULLY BOY HILL – he weakened a bit after some hard use in his next

but raced well to be 2 nd in PA last week – brutal draw for his YR return, but he does have the speed to overcome it –

ok to use if the price is fair. (1) MEETMEATTHEBAR is in tougher after failing on the lead in her last pair but she

MAY race better with an easier trip – ok to include underneath. (2) CRAZYLAND was on an extended form spree

recently but seems to have tailed off considerably in his last few – leaning elsewhere right now. (5) MYCROWNMY

KINGDOM drops, but may still prefer easier...and a win drops off the bottom of his card after tonight. (6) REIGN

OF HONOR used a pocket trip to pull off a 20-1 upset last week, but now moves up in class and draws poorly

RACE 3 – (8) LYDEO has been more than holding her own vs. better and would have been the easy choice here

with any decent draw – she can probably still find a way to overcome Post 8 and get the job done, but don’t take too

short a price! (4) YS SENSATIONALCITY was stuck racing from the back in hopeless spots the last 2 weeks – she

can have a much bigger say tonight from this better spot. (1) DELTA THREE N has been undeniably sharp upstate

and will surely use her speed from the pole tonight...the question is how well she fits class-wise with these, and

we’ll get that answer tonight. (5) MALUKA MISS N steps up a notch after last week’s nice front end score – she’s

been sharp for a while, and can make some noise with these tougher ones too. (2) BLOOD MOON A found some

better form in her last few vs. lesser in PA - she steps back up now, and is also racing off a sick scratch...some

concerns, for sure. (3) TRUE BLUE HANOVER raced well for a few starts but she MAY be tailing again – maybe 3

rd/4 th? (6) VIBRANCE may need a better post to be effective at this level. (7) PEMBROKE SOUTHIE was empty

off the sick scratch last week and now draws Post 7 (the barn did win 3 races the other night, though)

RACE 4 – (3) STREET GOSSIP was trapped into the stretch last week and probably had more trot than he was able

to show – his overall recent form is very solid and we’re willing to try him on top in this field...recognizing that he’s

a bit camera shy! (5) IM OUT landed on a perfect trip and was able to beat lesser here on 8/8 – he had no chance in

his next, then trotted evenly in a couple of quick miles in PA...could be a player here if the trip goes his way. (6) BR

ODEUR was no good at all in his first 2 local tries but looked (and RACED) much better in last week’s perfect trip

victory – he steps up and draws poorly, but has more than enough talent to threaten here IF he can build off that last

effort. (4) IMMIGRANT AM S trotted steadily for 4 th from a tough spot last week and does seem to be on the

upswing right now – he’s also 0 for 10 here at Yonkers, so demand a good price if using on top. (7) WINDSONG PI

ONEER is probably too far out tonight (and does fit NW5000) but he pops off a few upsets every year, and isn’t a

bad one for longshot fans. (2) THE THING IS hasn’t won in some time, and take on older rivals tonight – minor

share? (8) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS was super for months but felt like he was starting to tail recently, highlighted

by last week’s no excuse loss – won’t get any easier tonight from Post 8! (1) ENERGYSOURCE draws the pole but

he’s just 1 for 20 this year, and 2 for 27 overall at Yonkers

RACE 5 – (3) ONEDERFULBEACH had been having a very solid year before starting to unravel for several starts

– she did suddenly perk up last week, though, charging home in the lane after sitting 6 th the entire way – she’d have

a chance to beat these with a similar mile tonight. (1) FADE OUT has a strong local history and will be the

deserving favorite from the pole as she arrives from PA...she’s also still looking for her first win of 2025, and

figures to be a very short price! (5) IM A BELIEVER has been no better than 6 th in her last 4 starts but has been

sitting 7 th each time, vs. much better – legitimate spot to look for a wake up call. (4) CRÈME DELIGHT changed

barns and found some success after heading up to face cheaper at Stga. – she definitely has some back class, but

hard to really gauge where she’s at right now. (8) DAY TO PARTY shows some lines upstate that suggest she would

fit here...but she also draws Post 8, and that could leave her waiting for a better scenario. (7) THUNDRA is

extremely camera shy at YR, draws poorly, but still may be able to bat out a few for some minor spoils. (2) VIRTU

AL KISS arrives from TgD and just feels a bit cheap. (6) COWGIRL LILLY is a streaky mare that has gone in the

wrong direction.

RACE 6 – (1) VINNY DE VIE shockingly took 18 starts to pick up his first win of the year but he did look good

doing it – he steps up a bit, but this is a pretty soft NW10000 field and he should get to control the action once more

– license to repeat. (3) IM AN ANDOVER finished well back last week but really wasn’t bad (he was WAY back on

the 3 rd turn) – he’s been a steady performer all year, and has a decent chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (2)

MUSICAL RIDE dropped and drew the rail last week and was able to prevail...but really had to work for it – it

wouldn’t be a shock to see him repeat, but you’d want a “fair” price to try him on top in this tougher spot. (5) CREA

TIVE VENTURE has been plagued by inconsistency this year, and is just 1 for 24 – still willing to include on the

bottom of exotics. (4) P L OSCAR has done his better work vs. easier recently, but is another that can land a share if

things go his way. (8) SHOW ME had been struggling (at short prices) vs. cheaper for a few starts – he was a solid 2

nd last week off the barn change, and adds hopples tonight...but he also draws Post 8, moving up considerably in

class. (7) BE DIFFERENT just didn’t function last week and should have been asked to qualify – hard to consider

off that mile. (6) BARN CREDIT is 1 for 23 at Yonkers and that win came in a fall apart race, vs. cheaper

RACE 7 – (1) FRONT PAGE STORY is having a strong Yonkers season (21-8-3-2) and proven that she can hold

her own against the top mares, especially when she can grab an easy trip – could come out on top tonight, if things

go her way. (4) SILK CLOUD A always has to be viewed as the one to beat when she gets a (rare) inside draw, in a

“non stakes” field – hard to leave her off your tickets tonight, though she may end up way overbet. (2) DOUGS BA

BE A is feeling pretty good these days, showing early speed we’re not used to seeing from here, and currently riding

a 3 race winning streak – would be no surprise at all! (3) ELEKTRA A takes another step up after winning her 2 nd in

a row last week – leaning more to the top three, but she’s hardly out of the question. (5) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY

usually does her best vs. a bit easier but she’s on her game right now, and a live trip could see her land somewhere

on the ticket. (7) CHERYLS SHADOW had things all her own way in a soft spot last week so it was surely a

surprise to see her beaten (as the 1/5 favorite) – guessing she’ll just sit back and rally late tonight. (6) COACHELLA

BOUND N already felt kind of iffy these days even before being scratched sick last week

RACE 8 – (4) SOUTHWIND ARTURO has been racing decently vs. better at PcD, catches a soft spot for his YR

return and we’ll go with him on top tonight. (1) GREEN PASTURES went on the shelf after the John Brennan

Trotting Final and hasn’t been able to find his form since returning – he’s another that’s been facing much better, so

we’ll see if the drop (and rail) help him find a better effort. (3) WILD BILL KELSO earned $250K at 2 and 3, didn’t

race at 4 and has struggled to get going since returning at 5 – he just qualified twice for a new barn, and we’ll see if

he can elevate his game. (2) ROGER RABBIT has fallen we;; off his best form, but may be able to stick around for

a piece with the good draw. (6) HOOLIE N HECTOR had a rough 2024 campaign, started off 2025 much better but

did level off recently – he was just freshened up, and it’s hard to read much into his (broken equipment) qualifier. (8)

WARRAWEE WHISPER qualified nicely off the barn change...then failed to match that effort in any of his 4 starts

– obviously tonight’s draw isn’t going to help. (7) ENERGY KING is just 1 for 26 this year and starts from Post 7 –

sticking with others. (5) FULL RIGHTS would be hard to recommend off that tiring qualifier

RACE 9 – (3) WHEELZABLAZIN was a solid 2 nd to the sharp front end winner in his YR return – he lands in a

suspect field tonight, and gets the nod in the finale. (7) AIRMANS JACKPOT isn’t on her best game right now (and

draws poorly), but she’s still good enough to have a chance in here – worth a look if the price is fair. (1) KASHA

V’s big efforts have dwindled each year, but he’s still capable from a spot like this, when in the right mood. (4)

EPOS OSTERVANG DK hasn’t done much winning here the past 2 years, picking up mostly smaller pieces– seems

headed for more of the same tonight. (5) BUDDY EARL finishes well, but tends to lag for too long in his miles –

can be a bigger player if Stratton can get him motivated a bit earlier. (6) NO DRAMA PLEASE is still looking for

his first win of 2025 – moving up in class (and drawing Post 6) won’t help his cause. (2) FULL STRENGTH throws

a few big efforts every year but disappoints in the majority of his starts – doesn’t feel like he’s in a good groove right

now. (8) MON AMOUR fits ok, but faces a daunting task starting from out here (and drops next week).