Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (2) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM really had a big wake up call last week, carving out hot fractions before

missing to the tripsitter in a sharp 1:55.4 mile...if he brings that same kind of effort tonight, he may be able to pick

up his victory in a while. (1) INTL BLOCKADE drew poorly in his last 3 local tries but moves all the way inside

now – look for a much better effort from him, with a chance for a nice piece. (4) NO DRAMA PLEASE raced well

in many of his states this year so it’s a surprise to see that he’s still seeking his first victory of 2025 – remains a solid

threat to land in the exotics. (3) KASHA V is highly unpredictable, but his best effort would put him in the hunt for

a nice chunk from this spot. (5) NOTTINGHAM had been struggling a bit in his recent local tries and now returns

from PA after a pair of “meh” 4ths – needs to find his better game to be a bigger player. (6) R NO MERCY fits ok

with these, but may be limited by the draw. (7) P L OSCAR has been well off form, and now draws horribly.

RACE 2 – (6) CAVIART SARGENT doesn’t win nearly as often as he should, despite racing well in a good portion

of his starts– he’ll probably be a “fair” price here (due to the presence of #5), and we’re willing to try him on top this

week. (5) COVERED BRIDGE has fallen on some rough times and it’s hard to see the mega-classy 9YO racing this

way– it would be tough to endorse him on top as the likely short-priced favorite, but it would also be hard to dismiss

the chances that THIS is a field he can beat right now. (4) KINGSTON PANIC did race well here last year and lands

in our leading barn for his 2025 Yonkers return– he’s missed time and sports less than stellar current form, but he

has some appeal at that 15-1 ML price. (2) DEALERS TURN is 0 for 14 this year but could easily land somewhere

in the exotics with what figures to be a decent trip. (1) RUSTY BEACH is 1 for 58 over the past 2 years (mostly out

of town), and seems unlikely to be a serious player, even from the pole. (7) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER got towed

along for a distant 3rd last week but tonight’s draw figures to really compromise his chances. (3) MOVIN ON UP is

really struggling these days – waiting for some better signs.

RACE 3 – (6) PASS AND STOW conceded at the start last week, and did well just to pick up a 4th place check – she

reunites with Bartlett tonight, and the pair have enjoyed tremendous success together...look for a much more serious

effort. (1) LUCKY ARTIST A is feeling pretty good these days, and looking at a good trip from this spot – solid

chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (4) EASY TO PLEASE easily wired a softer field 2 back, then finished

with pace off a conservative try last week – a live trip could help her take home a decent piece. (7) ELEGANT A

can win at higher levels than this but tonight’s draw does figure to cramp her style a bit – would still include her in

exotics, as her price should be decent. (3) VARSITY BLUE CHIP kept digging last week and was able to collar SEA

SIDE DIVA when that one finally tired in the latter stages – she’s been good for some time, gets along great with

Kelly, and is another with a chance for a nice slice if things go her way. (5) KATIES UP has been unreliable all year,

and comes into this off a dismal try – prefer others. (2) IM A BELIEVER is moving way up in class.

RACE 4 – (5) DONEGAL SPIRIT earned $121K at 3 but has struggled to get her season in gear as a 4YO – she’s

currently just 7-1-0-2 on the year, but she does have a win and a 3rd from her 2 Yonkers starts – she catches a very

soft field, gets Bartlett back on board, and has to get top billing...even if by default! (2) UNCONTROLLLED is an

ugly 9-0-0-0 locally this year but her CURRENT overall form really isn’t that bad – this could be a spot where she

can finally hit the board. (1) CATIE FAYE HANOVER is camera shy overall, and especially so here at YR...that

being said, this is definitely a spot where she can land a decent piece, with an easy trip. (7) TWO PISTOL ANNIE

had a strong 2024 season but this year has been a disaster so far – she’s hinted at coming around recently, and she’d

be okay to include underneath IF the price is worthwhile. (3) KAT is 11-0-0-2 at Yonkers this year and disappoints

much more often than she delivers. (4) LINDYS LOLITA recently returned (out of town) after 5+ months off and is

still trying to find her game.

RACE 5 – Tough race: (1) THE PRINCE has never really thrived since claimed by his current connections a few

months back but at least he’s racing “ok” lately – he drops, draws the pole, and MAY be ready to handle a more

aggressive try now...worth a look if the price is decent. (3) AQUARIUS FACE S is hard to gauge (form-wise) right

now based on his recent PA tries – his BEST effort would give him a good chance to beat these, and he’s one to

consider...IF he’s not overbet. (2) HANKINS HANOVER has ability, but always seemed to race better AWAY from

Yonkers – he finally got over the hump with a nice pocket victory last week, so we’ll see if he can build off that and

be a player here too. (5) ANDOVER CONTESSA was handled very conservatively upon arrival from Tioga and

finished up with good trot – chance to have a bigger say tonight if put in play earlier. (4) DWS POINT MAN was

driven aggressively last week but tired badly after being rebuffed by the frontrunner – he’s capable of better, but

does seem a bit off his game right now. (6) FULL OF MUSCLES has raced well vs. a bit easier out of town since

returning from Sweden – tough draw tonight, though, and it’s hard to say how he stacks up vs. these class-wise.

Both (7) FOR A DREAMER and (8) SEVENSHADESOFGREY will likely find themselves too far back to threaten

here.

RACE 6 – Interesting race, with most of these dropping out of the Invitational: (3) FACTORY GIRL raced better

than expected when a close 3rd two back then just missed 2nd last week when driven very aggressively – Brennan

sticks with her, she draws inside a few main rivals and we’ll give her a narrow nod. (4) CHERYLS SHADOW has

held form beautifully all year, can handle any trip that comes her way and may have been the top choice had she not

been away for three weeks. (6) LIT DE ROSE isn’t at her absolute best right now, but she’s certainly sharp enough

that she could come out on top here should the right trip come her way. (8) ELEKTRA A elected to get away slowly

from the pole last week (6th) but did finish nicely for 4th after shaking free in the lane – she HAS blasted from out

here in the past, and will be offering a big price if you think she may take a shot at leaving tonight. (5) DRAGONS

LUCKY LADY gets Bartlett to stay on board (over a couple of others) but really is most dangerous vs. a bit easier.

(7) DOUGS BABE A is actually very good right now, but is racing off a bad date and starting from Post 7...and that

has us leaning more towards others. (1) KISS MY CHEEK looked good when 2nd best last week and is having a very

good year, overall – she may find this level a bit tougher than she’d like, however. (2) IDEAL COVER has been

very steady lately but is another that may find the competition a little too steep tonight.

RACE 7 – (6) PAPA DOC has been (mostly) behaving himself at Pocono, and racing well in amateur events – he’s

had success here in the past when sharp, and he may be worth a look tonight at what figures to be a pretty nice price.

(4) CHIPPER DALE was sent off favored vs. better last start but was off to a slowish start and never really able rally

enough in a quick mile – he’s very logical in here, but he’s been away for 3 weeks and does figure to be overbet. (7)

BULLY BOY HILL almost pulled off a 75-1 stunner 3 back, gave it a good speed try when 3rd in his next, then

trotted home steadily last week from an impossible spot – he’s another bomb with a chance in here, if he can find a

decent trip. (5) CREDIT CON is the “x factor” in here – he’s a legitimate Open trotter when “right”, but he’s

struggled to get going in his (4) starts this year, and comes into tonight having missed a month, after a sick scratch –

perhaps the tote board will offer some guidance? (2) STREET GOSSIP can often hold his own vs. better than these,

but he remains exceptionally camera shy– usually a better one to use underneath, rather than on top. (3) B NICKING

seemed to be in a good way recently but just refused to trot on 7/4, then was empty last week after re-qualifying –

tough call! (1) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO isn’t bad right now, but the double class jump may slow him down here.

(8) CREATIVE VENTURE lands behind the 8 ball while up in class – not usually a winning formula.

RACE 8 – (4) RACIN HUNGRY rattled off 4 in a row not too long ago, culminating with a win at The Meadows in

the FM Open – she hit a rough patch after that but seems to have just found her form again, and returns off a win at

Chester – Bartlett takes her in here (over 2 of his best clients), and he usually guesses correctly. (1) VIBRANCE

perked up with a nice try 2 back then hung in well for 3rd last week after initially struggling first over to 3/4s – she

should be right in the hunt tonight if anywhere close to her best. (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE didn’t have great form

coming into her last but she was nevertheless sent off at 2/5, and won like it was a “good” price – steps up a bit here,

and Bartlett does opt for #4. (7) TALENT TO SPARE A left well and earned the two hole trip to #5 last week but

was no threat in the lane, and even lost 2nd – still not a bad bomb for the bottom of exotics. (3) LAURIE LEE drops

some more but just hasn’t looked all that sharp lately – needs a wake up call. (6) VIOLETS RAINBOW isn’t the

mare she was in years past, and we already saw the dropoff in 2024 – she returns to YR in decent form at Stga. and

reunites with a familiar trainer – still leaning elsewhere, but will keep an eye on her. (8) FADE OUT won 10 of her

31 starts here in 2023-24 but she’s struggling in 2025, and lands all the way outside – prefer to wait for a better

scenario. (2) PIRATE BOOTY moves inside but just feels like she needs to be in easier to succeed.

RACE 9 – (2) GOLDEN RAIN S is now 5 for 6 at The Hilltop and her last win was flat-out super – hard to go past

in the finale. (5) BE DIFFERENT is very solid right now, and could add some value to the exotics if he can find a

decent trip. (6) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS never goes a bad one, can race on or off the pace and the barn sent out a

nice priced winner on Thurs. night – another possibility to use underneath. (4) DIAMANTE TRIO IT held on for 2nd

last week after getting blown away in the lane by the top choice – she may be able to complete the exacta again, but

it won’t be paying very much (and she can be inconsistent, at times). (8) DRIBBLING BI is very sharp right now

but may have a tough time getting in play from out here. (7) BONTONI DEGATO S is racing well, but figures to

struggle with the move outside. (1) CAPTAIN WANIA draws the pole but lacks the speed to really benefit – could

use some class relief. (3) BROOKVIEW DARIUS has missed 3 weeks after being scratched sick from his last.