Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (1) BULLY BOY HILL was a solid 2nd behind an easy frontrunning winner in his last local try, and has a

few other good recent Yonkers starts as well – willing to give him a try tonight, especially since the other main

players all have some knocks! (3) STREET GOSSIP doesn’t win as often as he should but he’s used to facing better,

gets a good draw, and figures to be a big part of the action. (4) BRODEUR looks strong on “paper”, but was very

erratic in his only local try (6/26) – maybe he’ll be better behaved this time and beat this bunch, but it would be hard

to take a short price here. (7) IM OUT landed on a perfect trip (vs. cheaper) last week and knew just what to do with

it – he moves up here (while also drawing outside) and that may leave him looking at a smaller slice tonight. (2) AL

TUS HANOVER has won 5 of 16 starts out of town this year but his recent form is mixed, and he ships in off a

Monti miscue – another one that’s possible, but who figures to end up overbet. (5) MUSICAL RIDE can be a player

here on her best effort but she just re-qualified (after consecutive breaks) and figures to be handled conservatively.

(8) VINNY DE VIE seems to have found some better form at lower levels out of town, but tonight’s draw may leave

him waiting for a better spot to strut his best stuff. (6) ENERGYSOURCE raced much better than expected in last

week’s front end score, picking up his first win of 2025 – not ready to hop on his team, though.

RACE 2 – NY Excelsior 3YO Filly Pace: (3) BEANTOWN BABE had a solid 11 race 2YO campaign and picked it

right up at 3, currently 9-3-3-3 for the season – she came up 2nd best to FASHION TERROR at Batavia 2 back, but

actually raced HUGE that day, after an impossible trip...we’ll give her a shot to reverse that decision tonight. (5) FA

SHION TERROR won here last year, and has taken 10 of her 20 career starts – she did beat #3 at Batavia 2 back,

but SHE had the lead and her rival was trapped way back to the final turn...her last at Monti was also disappointing,

and she may be a bit vulnerable tonight. (2) BRONX MIXER was 11-4-2-5 this year before that miscue at Monti last

week – assuming she can just shrug that off, she’ll be waiting in the wings should the top 2 falter. (1) LONELY GH

OST is a notch below the top ones, but eligible to take home a small piece with her inside draw. (4) MS FRANCES

OF ASSISI pulled off an upset over the Saratoga slop but has otherwise been below the main players most of the

year. (6) HINT OF SPRING has missed a month since winning a NW2 race here on 7/19 (disqualified to 2nd that

night) – landing all the way outside makes it that much tougher.

RACE 3 – NY Excelsior 3YO Filly Pace: (5) TIME TO STRIKE has been super since dropping out of NYSS and

into Excelsior competition, winning 2 of her starts while 3rd at Batavia (despite being parked every step, from the 8

hole) – she has some sharp ones to her inside, but still feels sharp enough to pull this off. (4) CHANCEOFLIGHTN

ING started the year with a pair of 4ths in the Weiss Series and has gone 10-5-3-2 since then, even finishing a close

3rd in a NYSS race – she goes from Cory to Jordan tonight, and figures to be a big player once more. (1) MARTINI

STAR has been another solid player all year in this division, but she’s just 1 for 18 lifetime and may end up a bit

overbet vs. some pretty talented rivals. (2) DRESSED TO KILL broke early on at Monti 2 back but has otherwise

enjoyed a strong season – could easily land somewhere on the ticket with a bit of racing luck. (3) FAMILY JEWEL

has been stuck on minor spoils for weeks, and seems headed for more of the same tonight. (6) CERVI was good

early in the year but has tailed off significantly in her last few starts – tough spot to look for a wake up call.

RACE 4 – (6) SILK CLOUD A threw a clunker here on 7/18, had an equipment issue in her next (at PcD) but was

full of pace in the lane in her last PA start, right there 4th on the wire in a tight pack – she can be very dangerous

tonight, if she doesn’t mind racing back in just 4 days! (1) LYDEO had no prayer in her last couple of starts but gets

assigned the rail tonight and that could help her find a very good trip – Kelly won BOTH Opens for the boys on

Monday night...can he take the girls’ version as well? (2) COACHELLABOUND N has had a very inconsistent

season but that’s also true for many of her barnmates – she can still do damage when on her best game, and is worth

a look if the price is right. (4) PASS AND STOW steps up looking for her 3rd straight – it’ll be a lot tougher with

these, but not impossible. (5) LIT DE ROSE just hasn’t been able to get to and HOLD her top form this year – she’s

too talented to ever discount too quickly, but she’s missed 3 weeks and does figure to be coming from the back

tonight. (3) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY steps up after cashing in on a perfect trip vs. easier.

RACE 5 – NYSS 3YO Filly Pace: (7) SHES A STREAKER upset THE LAST MARTINI last start, and also picked

up NYSS wins at Buffalo and Tioga...she’ll need some trip luck to overcome tonight’s draw, but a good price makes

her worth using on top. (3) THE LAST MARTINI sports an outstanding 18-8-6-2, $735K slate, adds Lasix, and

figures to be the heavy favorite tonight – she did just get beaten (at 1/10!) by the top choice, however, and was

life-and-death to win by a nose here on 6/27 (at five cents on the dollar) – maybe she’ll be vulnerable tonight too?

(2) STRUTSVILLE found herself too far back at Monti last start but has otherwise been a solid NYSS performer –

can find a spot somewhere in the exotics. (8) SEND IT DOWN SLIM started the year at 8-2-6-0 but was unable to

get in play from Post 8 last start, and may suffer the same fate tonight. (1) COWGIRL HANOVER was a beast

through much of her 2YO campaign before tailing right at the end – she’s still trying to find her form at 3, however,

and the barnmate to THE LAST MARTINI seems up against it right now. (6) MRS CHEESE was unraced at 2 but

doing some good work this year at 3 – tonight’s draw may slow her down considerably, however. (4) FANSVILLE

seems a notch below the main players, though a good trip may help her grab a minor share. (5) HURRIKANE

MARIGOLD finished up the track in 3 of her last 4 starts – not sure why she doesn’t seek out a softer spot.

RACE 6 – Good race: (1) HUNTING HULA is still looking for her first Yonkers victory this year, since arriving

from KY in June – she’s been full of pace from too far back in her last few, so we’ll see if she’s able to cash in

starting from much closer. (3) DANDYS MERCY had a strong 3YO campaign and is finally starting to find some

more consistent form at 4 – she ships in sharp from PA, and may be a good fit with these. (7) OVER ICE recently

started to sharpen at PcD, much as her barnmates have started to thrive her at Yonkers – she’ll be a big price from

out here, but sometimes it pays off to stick with a hot hand. (2) MALUKA MISS N raced well in both starts since

dropping out of the 50s, and finally gets a better draw – could have a say here. (4) KATIES UP was a winner the last

time she raced in this class with Bartlett, but has struggled in many of her other starts this year – feels like there

could be better value with some others. (6) DONEGAL SPIRIT wired softer in her last pair but takes on tougher

tonight, and from a tough post – leaning elsewhere. (5) PURAMERI finished well after clearing a shuffle last week,

and isn’t a bad bomb for the bottom of tris and supers. (8) IM A BELIEVER figures to struggle to get in play.

RACE 7 – (5) OLIVER THE GREAT almost rallied from last to first here on 8/1 (at 51-1) then followed that up

with a sharp victory at Tioga – he’s really blossoming as a 4YO, figures to be a fair price tonight, and is definitely

one to consider. (1) AARDIEBYTHEHILL N won 10 races and $155K Down Under, and even was entered in a G1

race last November – he’s landed in top hands to begin his U.S. career, qualified nicely, and looms a serious danger

in his stateside debut. (6) SISTER MARY MAUDE banked nearly $500K at 2 and 3 but has struggled so far as a

4YO – she gets significant class relief here, and we’ll see if that helps her produce a better effort. (4) P L OSCAR

had some pretty rough starts recently but came back around in his last couple – he’s on the upswing, but tonight’s

double class bump may slow him down a bit. (3) WARRAWEE WHISPER qualified nicely for top connections,

making his first 2 local starts all the more disappointing – he’ll turn things around eventually...maybe tonight? (7)

BE DIFFERENT has been good most of the year and is certainly solid right now – the move outside may limit his

options for tonight, however. (2) CREATIVE VENTURE is just 1 for 22 this year and his recent form is mixed, at

best – leaning elsewhere. (8) BARN CREDIT is the outsider, both literally and figuratively.

RACE 8 – (1) IDEAL COVER had no room at all last week so just excuse that 7th place finish – she hasn’t won in a

while but she’s been right there, week after week, and always at a good price – maybe she can get over the hump

tonight? (3) ELEKTRA A was an 8 hole winner the last time she was down at this level – she had no chance in her

last pair, but you can count on an aggressive effort for tonight...belongs on your tickets. (4) KISS MY CHEEK

conceded from Post 8 last week but lands in a much more manageable spot for tonight – the barn was on fire Wed.

night, so maybe this mare will bring a big one tonight too? (2) MYBITCOIN shipped down sharp from Canada and

has looked good in all 3 starts (at 3 different tracks!) since returning – she steps up quite a bit here, but can still be in

the hunt, helped by the inside draw. (5) PEMBROKE SOUTHIE was sharp for a long time earlier this year, hit a bit

of a rough patch but recently came back to life at PcD, taking a new 1:49.2 mark in her last start – she returns to YR

off a sick scratch, however, and Bartlett does opt for #3. (6) MISS DOTTIE MAE is racing well again, but gets a

tough draw in a good field – minor spoils? (7) LUCKY ARTIST A can still throw some big miles at age 12, but this

doesn’t feel like a spot where we’ll see one (8) TWIN DELIGHT could use some class relief and a much better draw.

RACE 9 – (2) FRONT PAGE STORY was an easy front end winner last week and while she’s technically moving

up in class, this is still a field (of mostly $50K claimers) well within her comfort zone – we’ll stay on board. (3)

UPTOWN HANOVER chased the top choice around the track last week and came up 2nd best - she may be able to

complete the exacta once again. (1) YS SENSATIONALCITY is off a bad date, but that holds true for a bunch of

these - she’s been sharp, draws the pole, and should be able to be part of the equation from start to finish. (4) IDEA

LINFUN charged home at 36-1 last week to be right there on the wire in 3rd – if she can bring that same kind of

effort tonight, she can grab another good piece. (5) AMBUSHED has been super all year and could benefit from that

last “maintenance qualifier” – if she can find a decent trip, she can grab a decent piece. (7) VARSITY BLUE CHIP

wasn’t far back at the end last week (despite Post 8) but faces another tall task trying to get in play here from Post 7

– she’s in great form, but may have to wait for a kinder spot. (6) CHIAPANECAS was sharp for a LONG time but

does feel like she’s fallen off her game – she moves to a new trainer for tonight, and we’ll see if that has any effect.

(8) RACEY RACH N has clearly been on her best game lately, but lands Post 8 after missing 3 weeks.

RACE 10 – Tough race: (3) B NICKING hasn’t done much winning the last couple of years but THIS is the kind of

spot where he can usually do some damage – maybe he can call the shots and take these wire to wire? (5) THE PRI

NCE never worked out after being claimed a few months back but at least he’s “competitive “ these days – he drops

to the bottom, and it may be a spot for him to perk up. (4) KASHA V is one of the more unpredictable trotters that

regularly competes here – he raced pretty well for Warren last week, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be as good tonight –

or maybe he’ll be better? (1) BUDDY EARL was too sluggish in his two local tries in July – he seems capable of

better, and could be worth a look (at least for exotics) if his price is generous. (6) NOTTINGHAM would be tough

in her on his best game, but he just hasn’t been hitting on all cylinders for a while (and even made a break last week)

– definitely iffy these days. (2) R NO MERCY doesn’t feel like a threat for the top spot but he’s done okay just

towing along for minor pieces. (7) ENERGY KING is just 1 for 24 this year, and hard to consider from out here. (8)

SWAN SO FINE lands all the way outside after failing to threaten in either of his local starts.

RACE 11 – (5) ATREACHEROUS A was a no threat 5th last week but didn’t seem all that serious in her first start

off the layoff – she catches a pretty soft crew tonight (off the class drop) and the guess is that she’ll be much tighter

– hard to get excited about a wager at that 6/5 ML price, though. (8) TWIN B SUNKISSED was well backed last

week but she’s always been prone to major clunkers and that was definitely one of them – if she’s a big enough price

tonight, she could be worth a stab for longshot fans. (2) VIOLETS RAINBOW drops back to the basement and

moves inside – she’s a “logical” player, but she’ll also be a fairly short price, and is just 9-0-0-1 locally over the past

2 seasons. (1) CATIE FAYE HANOVER never wins but this is definitely the type of spot where she can grab a small

piece. (4) THUNDRA gets post relief and could turn in a more competitive effort from this spot – willing to use

underneath at that 15-1 ML price. (3) HURRIKANE LADY LOU has her moments (see 2 back at PcD, even if vs.

cheaper) but she’s missed 25 days after a sick scratch, and it’s hard to know what to expect from her. (7) RESURRE

CTION DAWN can definitely grab pieces vs. these types from the inside, but may have a hard time reaching from

all the way out here. (6) LAURIE LEE just hasn’t been able to find a sharp effort here in some time.