Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (1) CECIL HANOVER hasn’t made a lot of starts in his career but he’s won 10 of 34, and banked over

$500K – it took a few tries to find his best effort since returning in 2025 but he jogged at Pocono last start, and was

acquired by his new connections after that mile– he’s absolutely the one to beat tonight, but that 3/5 ML price makes

it hard to really want to bet on him! (4) BULLY BOY HILL was a front end blow out winner 2 back, then stepped

up a notch to score off a perfect trip last week – moves up another peg, and is the most logical one to try is looking

to beat #1. (6) BE DIFFERENT left hard only to make a full retreat last week – he gets a pass for that, and his form

has otherwise been very solid – good bomb to consider for exotics. (3) SISTER MARY MAUDE continue to suffer

from the “four year old blues” after earning almost half a million at 2 and 3 – waiting for better signs before giving

her a bigger look. (7) B NICKING moves up TWO classes and draws poorly...and that figures to really slow him

down tonight. (5) ENERGYSOURCE probably needs to be in cheaper to be any kind of serious player. (8) IM AN

ANDOVER tired badly after a fast start last week and now draws Post 8. (2) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO crushed an

amateur field last week but does seem buried with tonight’s big class hike.

RACE 2 – (1) CHERYLS SHADOW sat last the whole way last week but was still able to charge home for 3rd –

she’s somehow just 2 for 22 this year but she’s raced well in almost every start, usually vs. better than these – will be

tough to beat tonight, as she gets to call the shots. (5) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY is always tough when she lands a

decent trip, and that’s why she comes into tonight with 2 wins and a 2nd from her last 3 starts – she loses her favorite

pilot, but may still be able to grab a good piece for MacDonald. (4) FACTORY GIRL has been sharp for a while, but

did throw a disappointing effort last week – we’ll see if she can bounce right back, or if she may be starting to head

in the wrong direction. (6) UPTOWN HANOVER was sharp when 2nd last week (to #5) and has hit board in 4

straight – she’s also just 1 for 16 here this year, and lands outside. (3) COACHELLABOUND N was overdriven in

her last pair and paid for it each time – maybe an easier trip would help her finish better? (2) RACIN HUNGEY still

feels somewhat overmatched at this level.

RACE 3 – (1) MUSICAL RIDE qualified nicely on 8/8 (after making breaks in 2 straight) then rallied for 3rd after a

conservative try in his next – he drops to the bottom and looms the one top beat from the pole...but probably not one

to fall in love with at a short price (1 for 19 this year). (2) WANIA was no factor here on 8/1 but that was off a sick

scratch – most of his other out of town lines would make him a player against these – consider if the price is fair. (7)

IMPRESSIVE DUDE tired in both amateur starts since joining this barn but did show speed both times – his PA

qualifier sandwiched between those miles was actually pretty good, he gets Brennan tonight, and that 20-1 ML price

does give him some appeal. (3) NO DRAMA PLEASE definitely fits here but he made a rare miscue last week, and

is (surprisingly) 0 for 25 on the year – seems better used underneath, rather than on top. (4) ENERGY KING is just

1 for 25 this year, and has failed to hit the board in his last 7 starts. (6) MUSKINGUM exits amateur races and may

fit ok with these – wish he had a better draw, though. (5) CROWN MONARCH’s out of town lines suggest he may

be a little cheap, even racing at this bottom level.

RACE 4 – (1) OLIVER THE GREAT is hitting on all cylinders right now as he steps up another level seeking his

3rd in a row...just may be sharp enough right now to get it! (7) MY MAN PETER joined our leading barn for his

local debut last week and turned in an outstanding effort from Post 8, finishing 2nd to a very sharp rival after being

used very hard – have to respect his chances, despite another awful draw. (4) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS drops a

notch after rallying crisply for 3rd last week – he can handle any trip, and definitely belongs in your exotics. (3)

STREET GOSSIP has been camera shy the last 2 years bit he’s sharp right now, and is another good candidate for a

piece of the pie. (2) DWS POINT MAN has been holding form nicely as he climbs back up the class ladder – could

easily outperform that 12-1 ML price. (5) TORRONE has a couple of recent wins at this level and came up 2nd best

last week to a powerful winner– he’d be no surprise at all, but his trip tonight is hard to predict (6) FULL OF MUSC

LES has a mixed bag of tries since arriving from Sweden – tonight’s tough draw doesn’t figure to help his chances.

RACE 5 – (1) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS has been terrific ever since joining his current barn several months ago –

it looked recently like he may be tailing off a bit, but that last effort here was definitely solid – moves inside, and

may be ready for an aggressive try. (6) ONCE IN A LIFETIME didn’t earn $700K through his 4YO campaign by

accident, though he’s still seeking his first win of 2025 – he made a break before the start last week, but turned a

BIG recovery to only lose by 4 1⁄2 lengths...he’s going to come up a with a big winning effort once of these weeks –

maybe tonight? (5) BLACK TIE BASH feels well off his game right now but it’s not long ago that he was grabbing

pieces in the Invitational every week – he’ll be a nice price if you think he can find his “A Game” tonight. (4) SHES

A SHOE IN showed plenty of promise at 2 but has been just “ok” in many of her 3YO starts – she takes on older

males tonight, but still seems capable of grabbing a decent piece. (8) IMMIGRANT AM S returns off a couple of

nice NJ tries but he’s winless in 9 local starts and draws Post 8 – would need a pretty big price to consider for the top

slot. (3) CREATIVE VENTURE is just 1 for 23 this with plenty of duds along the way – sticking with others. (2) RE

IGN OF HONOR drops a bit off a disappointing try last week but still may need further class relief before he can be

a real threat. (7) P L OSCAR best recent efforts came vs. much easier – tough draw won’t help his cause.

RACE 6 – (4) LYDEO was a solid 3rd in the Invitational last start, despite being hurt behind a tiring leader – she

faces a bit of an uncertain trip tonight, but seems capable of finding a way to get the job done against these. (6) DOU

GS BABE A behaved at the start last week, made her way to the top and was an easy winner – tonight’s class jump

isn’t nearly as big a concern as the draw...which may slow her down a bit. (3) MYBITCOIN has been finishing with

alert pace in all her recent starts, and that 12-1 ML price makes her an attractive one to consider for exotics. (1) IDE

ALINFUN has been steady lately, draws the pole, and is just a good trip away from a nice piece. (2) RACEY RACH

N appreciated the move inside last week, working out a pocket trip and holding 2nd behind a sharp winner – an easy

trip puts her in play for another piece tonight. (5) YS SENSATIONALCITY had no chance last week after making a

full retreat at the start – may get another tough trip tonight, and that would leave her looking at only some minor

scraps. (7) LUCKY ARTIST A is good right now, but the draw may leave her waiting for a better spot.

RACE 7 – (3) HUNTING HULA has just one win from her 8 local starts this year but she’s finished with strong

pace in most of her starts, and a good price makes her worth a look in this well-matched field. (4) IDEAL COVER

wasn’t as sharp in her last pair but was on a good roll just before that, grabbing nice pieces at big prices – would

give her a look tonight if the price creeps up. (2) EASY TO PLEASE returns at a comfortable level off a pair of

sharp Stga. tries – may be primed for an aggressive try tonight, and that would make her very dangerous. (8) AMBU

SHED benefited from a ground saving trip last week but also had plenty of pace – if you think Holland may take a

shot at leaving tonight (even from out here), she’s worth using on your tickets. (1) VIBRANCE gets a pass for her

last and now moves all the way inside- still prefer others, but could see her taking home a small piece. (7) DANDYS

MERCY shipped in sharp from PA then raced well in both local tries – would have been listed higher up if not for

the terrible draw. (5) TRUE BLUE HANOVER has been solid in several recent starts and bothered a bit to the final

turn last week – in a tough spot, but a good trip could help her land a share. (6) VARSITY BLUE CHIP was on a

good roll recently but does feel like she’s tailed off a bit.

RACE 8 – (4) HUNTRESS was our pick last week (shipping in sharp from PA) and she just missed at 9-1 – her

price will come down a bit off that effort, but she should still be offering some decent value here. (6) SILK CLOUD

A was a very sharp winner 2 back but couldn’t quite make it last in the front end last week – she’s close to going

over $200K for the 2nd straight season, and remains a dangerous weekly threat. (3) STAYINGWITHTHEWIND took

a while to find her form here at Yonkers but she’s been on a good roll, and handled last week’s jump to the top level

nicely (rallying for 4th) – chance for a piece here too. (1) TAKE YOU PICK has missed almost 3 weeks after a 43-1

stunner at PcD– her best local work has come vs. easier, so she’s a bit of a question mark for tonight. (2) PASS AND

STOW has won 10 of her 16 local starts but lately feels like she may need to be in a little easier to threaten for the

top prize. (5) FRONT PAGE STORY easily wired softer in back to back starts but wasn’t as sharp moving up last

week – seems more likely to be battling for a smaller prize here, rather than a bigger one.

RACE 9 – Tough race! (2) WHEELZABLAZIN does like to win races, though he’s 0 for 8 at Yonkers (hitting board

in half of those starts) – he ships in showing fairly solid out of town form, could get a good trip, and several of the

other “main players” have legitimate concerns. (1) VINNY DE VIE is used to facing (much) tougher than these but

he’s having a tough year, still winless through 17 starts – hard to imagine him NOT having a big say from this spot,

but also hard to endorse him at a short price. (3) EPOS OSTERVANG DK always looks good “on paper”, but he’s

just 1 for 19 this year after going 2 for 19 in 2024 – make sure to get a fair price if considering him on top. (5) AIR

MANS JACKPOT would normally feel like a standout in this field but she just LOOKED terrible last week, badly

on a line and very difficult to steer – would be hard to take a short price on her right now. (6) WARRAWEE WHISP

ER qualified nicely for his local debut but hasn’t been able to deliver much in his 3 local tries – too soon to write

him off, but also hard to be confident in his chances right now. (8) BUDDY EARL always finishes alertly but

figures to be coming from last tonight. (7) MON AMOUR had steady late trot off an easy trip last week but figures

to be coming from too far back this week. (4) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE just hasn’t been able to finish well enough

in too many of his races.

RACE 10 – (5) BIG CITY DAISY feels a little cheap (on paper) off her Pocono miles but she qualified nicely for

her new barn last week, and she may be worth a try in her Hilltop debut. (2) BOUT DAMN TIME A wasn’t as

effective on the front end last week but has been doing well from off the pace in several recent starts – she’s a good

fit here, and may have a big say. (7) KATIES UP may try to race aggressively off the class drop but she’s just 1 for

15 this year and has disappointed on many occasions – would need to be a pretty good price to get our attention. (1)

VIOLETS RAINBOW picked up a no threat 2nd last week, thanks to an easy trip – she figures to get overbet tonight,

and there are others that figure to offer better value. (6) IM A BELIEVER has struggled from similar spots in her

last 3 starts but may be able to at last contend for a piece with the class relief. (3) TALENT TO SPARE A

disappointed at 1/5 two back and was no good at all last week – hard to like right now. (4) ONEDERFULBEACH

has been of her game, and even made a break last week (off the claim) – waiting for better signs.