Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, May 22, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) LAZ saw his 3 race winning streak ended last week but still raced well from a tough spot, in a very

fast mile – he drops back down to 30s (even though he beat the 40s two back), and anything close to his best will

make him very tough against these. (2) TO THE HUNT caught a hot 1:52.2 mile last week (after missing 2 months)

and really wasn’t bad – he’s enjoyed some success here in the past, and could have a bigger say tonight with that

useful tightener under his belt. (1) LYONS BENJAMIN used his speed the last 3 weeks to pick up a trio of

3 rd place finishes – he may be able to stick around for another decent piece tonight. (5) TWIGGS PUB is now 0 for 20 at

Yonkers, and one of the very few horses from our leading barn that has been unable to find the winner’s circle – he’s

raced well any number of times in all those losses and may be able to grab a chunk tonight...but won’t offer much

value with that 5/2 ML price listed. (6) FINAL CHEESERECIPE has plenty of big efforts here over the past 2 years

but is struggling right now – leaning towards others. (4) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL is hoping for some minor spoils

RACE 2 – (6) TIPSY MONI took on the boys the last 4 starts and walked away with a win, and a pair of 2nds

(behind the talented SOUTHWIND COORS) – she’s always EXTREMELY tough beat when facing the ladies, and

that figures to be the case tonight, even with the outside post assignment. (4) DIAMANTE TRIO IT has struggled

with her consistency this year but her last effort should help her confidence a bit, after stopping badly trying to cut

the mile the week before – chance to complete the exacta, with one of her better efforts. (5) QUEEN OF ALL took a

while to find her form this year but she’s clicking right now, stepping up in class seeking her 4 th in a row – more than

sharp enough to grab a big piece here too, with any decent trip. (2) P L NOTSONICE had a terrific 2024 campaign

and is currently trying to get into a good groove in ’25 (she’s only made 4 stats so far, and beaten lesser in 2 of them)

– it certainly won’t hurt getting Zeron on board as she returns to Yonkers. (3) ENOLA recently changed barns and

ships back into town off a pair of 2nds at Tioga – may be a notch below a couple of these, however. (1) LUCKY

MUM N has missed a month after struggling in the Brennan Trotting Series – pass for now

RACE 3 – (2) AIRMANS JACKPOT raced very well off the claim last week, rallying very nicely for 2 nd behind the

dominant, runaway winner (while easily besting the others) – she should be fair price in a short field, and that would

make her worth using. (1) HOT FLASH KIMMY couldn’t quite finish the job as the favorite 2 back (finished 2

nd) but did get it done last week...remains a very big threat starting from the pole tonight. (5) MAHONE SEELSTER

finished full of pace (at big prices) from the back of the pack the last 2 weeks, and is almost always trotting strong at

the end of his miles – a live trip makes him a real threat to pull off the upset, starting from a little closer tonight. (3)

BULLY BOY HILL was pretty sharp for a few weeks, a little short 2 back, then struggled at the back last week (off

the claim) before going offstride – too soon to write him off, but leaning more towards others right now. (6) CANTS

TOP YANKEE continues to get bet every week but has clearly fallen well off his best form – a wake up call is

possible, but hard to accept a short price right now. (4) FOR A DREAMER returned sharp off the layoff but may

need to be in a bit easier to strut his best stuff

RACE 4 – (4) HERODOTUS gave it a big try in the Invitational 2 back, just missing to SOUTHWIND COORS and

TIPSY MONI despite a first over trip – he landed on a horrible trip last week (ended up 2 nd by a neck), but he almost

certainly would have won that night with any “decent” journey – he lands in a manageable spot and significantly,

Bartlett opts off #1 to drive him – gets top billing. (1) CHULO won 3 straight here recently (after arriving from

Canada and landing in our leading barn) then was a tough trip 3 rd behind runaway LEXUS KODY in his next – he

didn’t race again until 5 weeks later in NJ (after being scratched sick on 4/10), and was simply buried in that spot –

look for a solid try tonight, even losing Bartlett (he gets Gingras). (6) ONCE IN A LIFETIME banked $249K last

year and has earned $704K lifetime...he has two nice PA efforts since returning from a 6 month layoff, but his local

form hasn’t been great, just 5-0-0-3 – could be a bit vulnerable in his Yonkers seasonal debut. (2) MISSISSIPPI STO

RM was caught trying to keep up to the winner’s wicked fractions last week but did hold nicely for 2 nd – he’s having

a good year, and can rally for a piece tonight. (3) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS has been very consistent lately, but

does prefer facing a bit easier – minor share. (5) FERRETTI has been racing well but has missed nearly 3 weeks and

lands in a tricky spot – leaning towards others tonight

RACE 5 – (3) QUALITY BUD must have been feeling good when Gingras sent him wide to 3/4s to join the leaders

last week but he could never clear them, eventually tiring in the lane – deserves another chance in this much easier

spot. (2) GAMBLINGTERROR was dull off the drop last week but may have already had tonight’s drop to NW5000

on his mind – logical spot to look for a wake up call. (1) SPORTY M THREE was able to hold 2 nd last week after

getting blown away by the winner at 3/4s, but that was largely because most of the others were no good at all – he’ll

be part of the equation starting from the pole tonight, but he also figures to be overbet (5) CASINO ACTION N used

a beautiful two hole trip to pick up a 2 nd 3 back but quickly regressed to his lesser form in his next 2 starts – Bartlett

might help, but it also means that he’ll be overbet. (6) JK MIKI MANTLE was a decent 3 rd in his YR debut 2 back

but never really fired last week – chance for a piece if the “good” version shows up. (7) RAYRAY has some decent

weeks but he’ll likely be too far back tonight to have much say. (8) MIDNIGHT NATION was sent off favored 2

back off a long layoff but was a dull 4 th – he was empty in his nest, and now lands Post 8 – hard to back right now

RACE 6 – (2) OVER AND BACK came up a little short last week and ended up a close 3 rd , his 4 race winning

streak coming to an end – he was claimed away that night from Yonkers’ leading trainer, but lands in the top barn in

the nation...deserves top billing with the post edge he enjoys over his main rivals. (6) EPOS OSTERVANG DK has

been in the hunt week after week but hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle for a while – he’s missed 3 weeks,

but still has to be seen as a legitimate threat here. (7) BE DIFFERENT delivered the 38-1 upset 2 back then proved it

was no fluke when he was a hard charging 2 nd in his last (at 11-1) – he’ll need some trip luck to overcome tonight’s

draw, but he’s shown that he certainly fits well enough for at least a chance at another upset. (5) BEACON BEACH

returned very sharp after a 3 month layoff, winning the Northfield Open in his first star back (on 3/23) – he’s

continued to race well since then, but returns to Yonkers in a new barn, and having missed a month – hard to say if

he’ll be tight enough to be a threat. (3) HAT TRICK MARLEAU is a borderline player at this level – maybe some

minor spoils? (4) BROOKVIEW DARIUS started to tail off 3 starts back and hard to endorse at the moment

RACE 7 – (1) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY has turned in several big efforts lately, not the least of which was last

week’s effortless 1:52.2 blowout – he’s been in 3 top barns and will race for yet another tonight...and looms a very

short priced favorite. (4) AMERITRIC was stuck making a VERY long first over bid against the top choice, paced a

huge 3 rd panel and did great just to hold on to 3 rd – maybe a decent value play if looking for an upsetter. (5) HAMM

ERING HANK sat pocketed to #1 last week and was able to hold 2 nd, and was 2 nd to another sharp winner the week

before – another one to consider if looking to take a shot against the favorite (2) CAPTAIN T HANOVER just

hasn’t been able to find his groove this year – the good draw may at least help him take home a small piece. (3)

MOSES gets a big barn change upon arrival from Delaware, gets Gingras on board but just seems a bit on the

cheaper side – suppose we’ll get a better idea after tonight. (6) FLAG PARTY arrives off a pair of Saratoga victories

but is another that will get class-tested in a hurry (from a bad post). (7) SPINDOCTOR HANOVER needs an easier

spot

RACE 8 – (1) INFINITY STONE can throw some big time miles when on the lead (and in the right mood) and last

week was one of those (just as he did 4 starts back, right off the claim) – he’s not reliable enough to ever “love” at a

short price, but he is going to be tough if he brings the same version we saw in his last. (2) AUSTRAL HANOVER

had to re-qualify after back-to-back breaks but he was all business last week, leaving cleanly to the top and crushing

the 40s, just a tick off his lifetime best – could end up with a beautiful trip here, and a chance to win even moving up

a bit. (6) WARRAWEE YANG was super throughout last year’s Brennan Trotting Series but then was just unable to

race well here at Yonkers for an extended period – he made a BIG recovery after a miscue 2 back, then looked very

good in last week’s wire to wire score – feels like he may finally be back on track here at The Hilltop. (3) MYCRO

WNMYKINGDOM had a good stretch this spring but feels like he’s been off his best lately – needs a wake up call.

(5) SOUTHWIND ARTURO had been doing good work for a while but was empty from the back last week – he’s in

a tough spot tonight, even if he bounces right back with one of his better efforts. (4) TEXSONG SOPRANO hit

board in his last 3 starts but just doesn’t feel all that ‘sharp” – he also hasn’t won since 1/31

RACE 9 – (4) FREQUENT IMAGE couldn’t quite loop to the lead last week from Post 7, had to grab hard and back

off into 4 th then was an even 4 th after that – his overall recent form is very good, and he should be able to get away to

a fast start tonight – gets the narrow call. (2) BURNHAM BOY N looked sharper in his 3 rd start off the layoff, 

overcoming a very tough trip to still be 2 nd to the runaway winner – he may be ready for a winning effort, with an

easier trip. (1) ALTA CLASSIC A made an unexpected break before the start last week and lost all chance – he was

claimed from that race, draws the pole again (this time with Gingras), and may be a live player tonight. (6) THRAS

HER is having an excellent year, and that’s why he’s been claimed 6X from his last 7 starts – he has to deal with

both a class hike and bad post tonight, so insist on a good price if considering him on top. (5) WHY TOMORROW

RAY will attract attention dropping down to 30s, but feels off his game – could end up being overbet tonight. (8) OS

TRO HANOVER is pretty good right now, but will need to pass ‘em all. (3) ALEX TYE was a better 3 rd last week,

but still struggling overall. (7) ALWAYS ROCKIN drops, but still seems unlikely to reach from out here.