Wednesday Empire Report

RACE 1– (1) DISTANT LOVER sports a strong 9-4-0-3 local record and that includes a pair of front end

jogburgers from her last 3 starts – she won’t offer much of a price tonight (from the rail, with Bartlett), but the road

to the winner’s circle does go through her. (3) DWS DARLENE had no chance after getting away 8th last week but

her overall recent form is rock solid...even if she has just one win, compared to SEVEN 2nds – remains an excellent

choice to use underneath. (6) I LOVED HER FIRST shows a bunch of less than stellar looking lines but also shows

a pair of front end blowouts, while heavily backed in each victory – probably not a bad idea to take a peek at the tote

board! (2) HARPER SEELSTER has overall strong form at this level but does throw some clunkers (as we saw last

week)– she could easily bounce right back and be a real player, with an easy trip. (4) FORTUNADA raced very well

off the layoff 2 back but was a very dull 3rd last week – willing to include underneath, but leaning elsewhere for the

top slot. (5) GOT BEACH BODY raced ok here a couple of times and returns from PA in good form – not a bad

bomb for 3rd/4th. (8) JIVE DANCING drops a notch but also lands all the way outside, after a sluggish 4th in her YR

return last week. (7) CELCIUS has been struggling ever since being scratched injured on 5/13.

RACE 2 – (6) SHAKE IT generally goes off at some pretty short prices...but that’s what happens when you’ve been

1st or 2nd in 14 of your last 15 starts! Can’t say he’s a “cinch” tonight, but it would be hard to make a strong case

against him in this field. (5) SIX DEGREES rallied for 2nd at 38-1 last week – his price will come down quite a bit

here, but he may still be able to add some value to the exotics (with a hot Colin Kelly on board). (1) SOUTHWIND

PETYR was an excellent 2nd off the claim 3 back, then followed that up with an easy 8 hole win in his next start – he

couldn’t last on the lead in his last, however, and exits a high % after that start – still very logical for a nice piece,

but he may be somewhat overbet (3) BURNHAM BOY was 99% to get parked if he left the gate last week and

that’s exactly what happened – maybe he can grab a piece tonight with a more sensible trip. (4) BECHERS BROOK

A just hasn’t been sharp, and will need to bring a better effort if he hopes to grab a decent piece. (7) MACH N

CHEESE was a bit better in his last pair, but lands a brutal spot for tonight, (2) BLACK HAWK JOE A has been ok

since the recent claim, but may prefer to be in a bit easier.

RACE 3 – (4) DURANTE HANOVER shipped in with some good PA lines and raced very well in his local debut,

finishing a close 3rd behind a pair of currently sharp rivals – he seems like he should be able to call the shots tonight,

and that could land him in the winner’s circle. (5) JEFFERY J rallied from way back for 2nd from Post 7 in his YR

debut then was a solid 3rd from Post 8 last week – gets a better draw (in a smaller field), and may prove the main

danger. (2) HIPPIE SHAKE moves back inside and that should result in a much more competitive effort – playable

on the bottom of exotics. (1) ROANDOVER was dull in his first 2 local tries but was at least a little it better in his

last – draws the pole, and has a chance for a piece if he continues to go in the right direction. (6) WISH LIST picked

up a couple of 2nds here in June but then threw in a couple of weaker efforts – she raced a bit better last start, but the

draw may slow her down tonight. (3) BAR KEEP DE VIE returns from PA but it’s hard to ignore his 14-0-0-0 local

record this year – maybe 3rd/4th?

RACE 4 – (1) MEETMEATTHEBAR doesn’t ALWAYS bring her best effort but she’s been pretty consistent lately,

gets to call the shots tonight, and looms the one to beat with anything close to her best. (4) KELLYS GREATEST

has been competitive in the majority of her starts this year, can race from on or off the pace, and may be able to add

some value to the ticket with some racing luck. (1) GO HAVE FUN struggled after the barn change for a couple of

starts but she seems to be behaving now, and could stick around for a decent piece if she continues to stay trotting

(5) THE THING IS normally offers a good late rally but he was “meh” 2 back and struggled in a hot mile last week

– we’ll see if the switch to Bartlett helps him find one of his better efforts. (6) EVER CLEVER made a big recovery

after an early miscue in his local debut, really disappointed in his next but then bouncd back with a big try in his last,

chasing a stickout winner (in a fast mile) and holding 2nd – which version tonight? (3) FORTRESS LOUISBURG

was always well back in his YR debut– too soon to write him off, but would like to see a better try before endorsing.

RACE 5 – Tough race! (3) MACHS LEGACY A hasn’t been the greatest Yonkers performer (overall) but her last 2

local starts resulted in a close 3rd behind LUCKY ARTIST A, and a blowout victory the next week – she returns off

some mixed tries out of town, and is worth a look in this wide open field at that 8-1 ML price. (2) RACIN FOR RO

YALTY threw a dud last week but drops right back in the box and any of her more typical tries could make her a big

threat. (4) DEFININGTHE MOMENT has struggled at times getting around Yonkers but she was all business in last

week’s wire to wire score from the pole – legitimate chance to repeat, but that 8/5 ML price is definitely a turnoff.

(1) QUICK MENU will use her speed to work out a decent trip here – couldn’t blame anybody looking to use her on

top tonight. (8) NITE TIME DEAL was 2nd in this class 3 back then an upset winner from Post 7 in her next – drops

back down after a 3rd vs. the 25s, and CAN be a serious player IF Smith gives her a chance to get in play early. (6)

EMDOUBLEAKAY was a promising 2nd in her first local try (new barn) but no threat in her last pair – tough draw

here. (5) ANNELIESE HANOVER disappoints far more often than she delivers. (7) NIKASA N is really struggling.

RACE 6 – (4) PEACE OUT POSSE dropped into a very easy spot last week and crushed the field effortlessly– steps

up a bit tonight but should still be very tough, especially with his main foes drawn outside. (7) TOBINS CHESTER

continues to drop and has beaten better than these not too long ago – tough draw for tonight, however, especially

with #4 landing inside of him – will need Dube to find him a manageable trip if he hopes to have a big say. (8) JETT

STAR N finished with “sneaky good” pace in each of his last 2 starts, gets real class relief BUT also gets stuck all

the way outside – he’ll be a great price if you think Cushing can get him into the hunt, without using him too hard.

(5) THONG CONTROL is another that’s dropping to a level where he can be a big player, but he hasn’t shown to be

all that handy, and may need some trip luck if he hopes to be a serious player. (1) FUNATTHEBEACH N hasn’t

fallen off a cliff nearly as badly as barnmate COVERED BRIDGE, but the $1.4M earner is still way off his better

form – we’ll see if he can find a better effort starting from the pole tonight. (2) DEALERS TURN remains winless in

2025, though he’s raced “well” in most of his starts – ok for a small piece, even moving up a bit. (3) SPORTY M TH

REE used all of his easy trip to finish a distant 2nd behind #4 last start – probably won’t be nearly as fortunate here.

(6) OZONE BLUE CHIP has been really struggling for some time ($0 earned in his last 5 starts).

RACE 7 – Good race: (3) THIRD EDITION was underway very early last week, was stuck making a very long first

over move but still went by the leader to 3/4s, and won very easily (big overlay at 11-1) – he’s raced well almost

every week, handles any trip, and he’s one of several with a legitimate chance here. (1) AFEARSOME HANOVER

changed barns before his last Monti start and was an excellent 3rd – he should fit just fine with the locals, and looms

a solid player in his Hilltop debut. (4) DANCE ON THE BEACH was on the lead in 3 of his last 5 starts and was a

winner each time – if you think he’ll be cutting this mile, he’s certainly worth using. (5) GARDYS LEGACY A was

sent off at 3/5 last week (off his very strong recent form) but lost all chance after a break before the start – he goes

for his 4th barn in the last 4 weeks tonight, and will be a serious threat if he brings his best. (2) GOTHIC ROCK is

usually best when allowed to relax and rally, and Bartlett may be able to get him that trip – worth a look if the price

is decent. (6) CHECKONWILLIAM GB had no chance in his local debut and the jury is still out on him – keep an

eye, for future consideration. (7) CENTURY IGLESIAS has some mixed recent efforts, but hard to like from out

here. (8) SWEET TROY was promising in his first try off the layoff...then quickly started to unravel.

RACE 8 – (7) SPEAKER OF PEACE gets a horrible draw but he should be used to it by now (it’s his 6th straight

awful post!) – he’s actually much sharper than he may look on paper, and could be very dangerous if Brennan can

improve even a little bit at the start! (3) MASONS DELIGHT N had a useful tightener last week and can throw a big

effort from time to time – he could be a threat tonight if he shows up with his best effort. (5) OURMATEMENKO N

is 0 for 7 at Yonkers but raced pretty well in a bunch of those starts – he lands at the bottom level (returning from out

of town), and should be able to have some say here. (4) ROYAL DESIRE recovered very nicely after bobbling off

the 3rd turn last week, and his overall form isn’t bad – playable in exotics. (2) COVERED BRIDGE reached a new

low last week when he folded off an easy pocket trip – somehow he’s listed as the ML favorite and that would make

him pretty hard to even consider on top...but if barnmate (and fellow $1.4M earner) FUNATTHEBEACH N shows

some better life in Race 6, maybe give this classy fella a little more consideration. (1) CASINO ACTION N is 2 for

46 locally over the past 2 years and hard to consider for more than minor spoils. (6) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER

probably needs a lot better draw to be a player these days. (8) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE draws Post 8 after offering

little in his Hilltop debut.

RACE 9 – (2) MORNING HAS BROKEN has started to click at PcD recently and she’ll be very tough here if she

brings that form back with her – on the flip side, note that she’s only 1 for 15 at Yonkers this year, and listed as the

7/5 ML choice! (1) ALWAYS BE CITY pulled way too early 2 back and it hurt her chances – she was a decent 3rd

(at a big price) last week, and could be a player here if she builds off that mile. (6) NUTTINBUTHEBEST drops

back down to 20s and figures to get aggressive tonight – consider if the price is decent. (7) YOU BEDA ROCK was

an excellent 2nd to a stickout winner in her 2nd start off the claim – would have been listed even higher if not for Post

7! (4) SUNBURNT was “sneaky ok” last week – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (3) YUENGLING finishes ok, but needs to get

in play earlier to contend for a bigger piece. Both (5) PINK RUBY and (8) LOOKOVERYOUR would be surprises.