Friday Empire Report
The Empire Report – Friday, September 26, 2025 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (1) WILD BILL KELSO got way too hot two back and tired badly but he was far more relaxed last week, and raced well to be 3rd (not far off 2nd) – it was definitely a step in the right direction, and he may be worth a play tonight. (4) HOOLIE N HECTOR dropped in right into the pocket last week and while not a threat to the winner, he did hold off #1 for 2nd – he’s a very logical threat here too, but does figure to end up overbet. (2) INTER NATIONAL CRAZE was a no threat 4th last week but he was off a month and making his first start for a new barn – could be a more serious player the 2nd time around. (7) ALTUS HANOVER never got involved from a no chance spot last week and tonight’s spot really isn’t any better – he does have 12 wins over the last 2 years, and remains a viable stab for longshot fans. (3) BE DIFFERENT would normally look like a stickout down at this bottom level but he’s fallen badly off form, and would be hard to endorse at a short price right now – waiting for better signs. (6) SEVENSHAD ESOFGREY is behaving these days, but just not racing very well – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help his cause. (5) FULL RIGHTS has turned in a pair of weak efforts since returning from a layoff
RACE 2 – (4) CHIAPANECAS was sharp from the end of last year all the way through June, but then started to finally tail off…some major class relief at Chester resulted in her perking up in her last pair, and she’d be pretty hard to go against returning at this low level…but it was also be hard to accept a very short price (which she’ll probably be)! (1) CRÈME DELIGHT has been extremely inconsistent but it’s hard to imagine her not having a say from this spot, with what figures to be a pretty nice trip. (5) KATIES UP never really looked all that “strong” last week but she did keep trying, and ended up a close 3rd (just missing 2nd) – belongs in exotics tonight too. (6) AT THE HOP went a big mile for 2nd last week, edging out #5 for the place spot– may be tougher to replicate that tonight, however, as she moves from the rail to Post 6. (7) THUNDRA finished with belated pace last week but will probably be coming from too far back tonight for more than some minor spoils. (3) LINDYS LOLITA has failed to hit board in 4 local tries and may need to wait for an easier spot before she has a better chance to do so. (2) KNOCK TWICE is 0 for 17 this year, with a lot of those losses coming vs. softer than these.
RACE 3 – (3) WARRAWEE WHISPER qualified very nicely back on 7/25 but then struggled in his first several local tries – he offered much better life 2 back, and was actually pretty good last week too (despite a bad trip) – Stratton should know him better now, and this may be a good spot for a more aggressive try. (6) BLACK TIE BASH was off a bad date to his last but benefited from the class drop and put in a solid effort for 2nd – he was holding his own in the Invitational not long ago, so it would certainly be no surprise to see him win at THIS level! (4) FANATIC returns from Monti and figures to benefit from the driver switch – he fits well with these for sure, but he’s also just 2 for 31 at YR over the past 2 seasons – insist on a decent price if using on top. (1) KASHA V can still throw some nice efforts but they’ve become fewer and farther between over the past couple of seasons – ok to consider for the bottom of exotics. (7) BARN HALL faltered the last 2X he was handled aggressively but he would be hard pressed to sit in the back and win from this spot – definitely leaning towards others. (5) WINDSONG PIONEER escaped a potentially disastrous shuffle last week but really didn’t offer much after that – just not sharp lately. (2) CROWN MONARCH was empty off an easy trip last week, and is just 7-0-1-0 here at Yonkers.
RACE 4 – Tough race, as most of these have poor Yonkers win % this year: (3) IM AN ANDOVER is 0 for 15 at YR in 2025 but he’s raced well (vs. better) any number of times, and did win races here in the past – maybe he can get it done for his owner/trainer/driver. (2) CREATIVE VENTURE drifted badly to the wire in last week’s amateur race and it may have cost him a win – this is the kind of field where he can be dangerous, with a trip. (4) PREMIER VIC TORY is the only horse in here that has TWO local wins this year, but he made breaks in 2 of his last 3 starts – a bit risky right now, but playable if he ends up a decent price. (8) NO DRAMA PLEASE was 0 for 27 this year before last week’s sharp front end score – he moves up a bit and lands outside, but may still be able to grab a piece, with a bit of trip luck. (5) ENERGYSOURCE has just one win this year, and came at the bottom level, in a “fall apart” race – would be hard to take a short price with him on top. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK is just 1 for 18 at YR this year after going 2 for 19 in 2024 – the bad draw won’t make things any easier. (1) BARN CREDIT is 1 for 24 here over the last 3 years and that win came in a soft NW2-4PM race. (7) SHOW THE WILL had no pop when called upon last week and now lands a terrible post – wait for a better spot
RACE 5 – (6) IDEAL COVER is just 2 for 33 on the year but he’s been 2nd and 3rd (vs. MUCH better) 13X – she came up with a big wake up effort for 3rd last week, and seems like a good value play against these. (1) KISS MY CHEEK is having a solid year overall, but has struggled a bit lately up at the higher levels, in some tough spots – she figures to be able to have a BIG say from this easier spot tonight, but she also figures to be a very short price! (2) TRUE BLUE HANOVER is having a tough year, still winless after 18 starts – she does fit well with these, though, and a good trip could land her somewhere in the exotics. (3) MISS DOTTIE MAE was “ok” last week, racing evenly off a bad date – more than capable with these types when on her game, and definitely playable underneath. (4) BIG CITY DAISY came into her last sharp, and was a generous overlay at that 9/2 price – she faces tougher here, but may be sharp enough to at least make her presence felt, with a decent trip. (7) STAY HAPPY has been highly unpredictable, but even one of her better efforts could leave her short starting from out here. (5) IM A BELIE VER was a well backed front end winner in her last but that was vs. much easier, and she’s missed 3 weeks since then. (8) MIKI IN LUV gets stuck behind the 8 ball as she returns from PA – wait for a better scenario
RACE 6 – (5) CHERYLS SHADOW is a bit light in the win column this year but has gone a LOT of big miles vs much better (overall) fields than this one – she came up a little short on the front end in a couple of recent tries, but this feels like a good spot for her to get back to the winner’s circle. (1) PASS AND STOW is an outstanding 10 for 18 here at Yonkers and will likely be the deserving favorite from the pole tonight – on the flip side, she did look a little sore/steppy in her last start, and just may be at least a bit vulnerable right now. (7) MY RED SEA was well backed for her Yonkers return last week (despite 3 weeks off) and delivered a sharp front end victory – much tougher spot tonight, but she can still have a big say if Dube can find her a manageable trip. (3) LUCKY ARTIST A has become pretty inconsistent in her latter years but the 12YO picked up a win and a 2nd in her last 2 tries at this level, and she’ll be a big price tonight – don’t take her too lightly. (2) TONYS MOM was a no threat 4th vs. easier last week and now moves UP a notch – maybe some minor spoils? (4) ONE MORE BET was only 2-1 at Chester last start (in a race win by #1) so that 20-1 ML price definitely seems too high – would consider for 3rd/4th . (6) TALE NT TO SPARE A’s best efforts definitely come vs. easier – sticking with others. (8) RACEY RACH N is having a terrific year but still seems likely to get away 8th tonight – wait for a better spot
RACE 7 – (4) LYDEO was actually very good last week, taking back to 5th (after trying to improve at the start) and then being forced to make a long first over bid – she still was beaten by only a length (3rd), and could come out on top here with an easier trip – would need a better price than her 8/5 ML projects, however, to be worth a play. (3) ID EALINFUN never should have been 31-1 last week and she certainly added some juice to the exotics when she rallied crisply to be a close 2nd – decent chance to be part of the action tonight, as well. (1) COACHELLABOUND N is having a tough year, and a bunch of over-aggressive drives hasn’t helped her cause – she’s a logical threat (again) from this spot, but she’s hard to back at too short a price. (8) AMBUSHED was razor sharp 2 back when she beat ODDS ON PLATINUM (who was an odds-on winner in her next start), and was a LOT sharper last week than her line might suggest – brutal spot, but a big price still makes her worth using on some tickets. (7) VIBRANCE turned in a huge effort in that win 3 back, and her last pair were excellent as well (but from impossible spots) – another bad draw figures to limit her once more, but a big price makes her worth considering for exotics. (5) EASY TO PLEASE didn’t even pretend to be interested from Post 8 last week – she gets a better draw tonight, and at least a chance for some minor spoils. (2) LAURIE LEE returns showing 3 sharp wins out of town but she was no factor for weeks here at much lower levels than this – not really sure what to expect from her tonight. (6) MALUKA MISS N has obviously been sharp for a nice stretch, and is only listed on the bottom because of the draw
RACE 8 – (7) ROCKET DEO is definitely NOT suffering from the “Four Year Old Blues” as she’s won 8 of her 14 starts this year, and is 8-5-1-1 here at Yonkers – she was able to overcome a tough trip last start to deliver as the odds on choice, and remains the one to knock off…despite the draw. (6) AARDIE B MIKI N is no stranger to Yonkers fans, having won her first 5 local starts (including the Grade 1 Matchmaker Final) – she did tail off a bit this summer but has been freshened up, and it would be hard to fault her 2 qualifiers – would be no surprise at all. (2) STAYING WITHTHEWIND has been sharp for weeks, and shown that she can hold her own at this top level – the inside draw gives her a chance to land another decent chunk. (1) ODDS ON PLATINUM is stepping up quite a bit in class but the rail draw may provide her with an easy enough trip to at least take home a minor share. (5) DOUGS BABE A has been in a good way for a while now, following up 3 straight wins with a 3rd and a 2nd in her last pair – she does face a somewhat unpredictable trip, though. (4) FRONT PAGE STORY has been pretty consistent but did come up a bit flat last week, after finding room into the lane – a juicy price would make her worth considering for exotics. (3) ELEKTRA N probably needs to be in a little cheaper to strut her best stuff
RACE 9 – (6) AUSTRAL HANOVER made a break before the start of his last race but that was at a different distance, and with a different driver – gets Kelly back tonight, is used to facing tougher fields, and we’ll give him the nod, despite the draw. (1) FULL OF MUSCLES was handled aggressively last week and seemed to enjoy it, trotting his best local effort by far, and delivering a sharp 1:55.3 victory – a similar effort would make him a big player here, even moving up in class. (2) STREET GOSSIP rarely wins but is a good “follower” , and more than capable of taking home a good piece from this spot. (3) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS seemed to finally be tailing a bit after a long form spree but his last couple were pretty good again– definitely one to include in exotics (4) MUSICAL RIDE has been racing well, and climbing back up the class ladder – prefer others for the top spot, but can see him rallying for a small slice. (8) TORRONE went a nice effort to just miss at PcD last week, racing off a sick scratch – brutal spot, but he’ll be a big price if you think there’s a chance that MacDonald can blast his way into contention from out here. (5) P CHICO had some good efforts here earlier in the year but it’s hard to say (off his current Tioga lines) how well he’ll fit at this level. (7) OVER AND BACK chased #1 for 2nd from the pocket last week but that was starting from Post 7 – faces an uphill battle trying to get in play tonight from out here
RACE 10 – (2) ALBERGO HANOVER returned to the barn where he did some excellent work years ago and MAY have had a chance to win last week if not trapped through the stretch – meets nothing too scary in here, and seems worth sticking with. (5) KIMBLE A edged out the top choice for 2nd last week after a first over try – logical player in here, but faces a more unpredictable trip tonight. (7) VICI draws his SEVENTH straight horrendous post so it’s hard to really say how “good” he is (or isn’t) right now – a wake up call is not out of the question (with a fresh set of hands on board), but he may need to gamble on being more aggressive to have a serious chance at the upset. (1) CA PTAIN BATBOY is just 1 for 21 locally over the past 2 years but he IS a decent fit vs. this bunch (especially from the pole) – would still need a decent price to use him on top, though. (8) GAMBLINGTERROR did finish alertly off the barn change last week but may be content to wait for a better draw after drawing Post 8 tonight. (3) SURFSIDE BEACH lost three times recently as the prohibitive favorite, failing to even hit board in 2 of them – pretty hard to consider at a short price right now! (6) WE BE JAMMIN might be okay in a field like this…but may need a better post in order to be a serious player. (4) KNOCKIN OUT is 0 for 26 at Yonkers over the past 2 years, and 1 for 35 over the last three!