Wednesday Empire Report

RACE 1 – MAXIMUS RED A recently returned to a barn where he had plenty of success in the past – he rallied

steadily for 5th on 4/1 then returned from a sick scratch of 4/16 to carve out hot fractions vs. better, weakening to 3rd

but in a 1:53.4 mile...a similar effort would make him very tough against these. (1) VELOCITY KOMODO could

only manage a 5th when too far back on 4/9 but that mile is sandwiched between a win and a 2nd– solid threat starting

from the pole tonight. (4) ONE OF THE GUYS debuted here on 4/3 (for a new barn) off a win at Rosecroft, and

finished with good pace for 4th – he struggled in his next but that was vs. better than these, and he likely bled that

night (as he returns here on Lasix) – good value horse to consider. (3) SMOKIN BY N hasn’t been on his best game

in a while but he’s won way too many races here to ever dismiss too quickly – willing to use underneath. (2) SIP OF

BOURBON has some decent local tries, though winless in 13 starts – losing Kakaley won’t help his cause. (5) KER

FORD ROAD A was dull qualifying on 4/11 (when he could have dropped in to race) and hasn’t started for 19 days

since then – lots of question marks. (8) SHADOW IN RED was scratched lame on 5/12 and struggled ever since –

waiting for better signs. (7) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER seems very overmatched.

RACE 2 – (3) PRINCE OF TIDES seemed a bit iffy after that rough outing at Pocono 3 back but bounced back with

a sharp win here on 4/9, followed by last week’s total blowout – if that same version shows up tonight, he’s going to

be tough to upend. (2) REAL PEACE has been well backed and right in the hunt for weeks vs. better, though unable

to pick up a win – he gets the class drop he’s been looking for, but still may have trouble knocking off #3 if that one

continues to bring his “A Game”. (7) RECORD YEAR rebounded from a miscue on 4/9 with a nice rallying 2nd

behind #3 last week – gets no luck with tonight’s draw, but may try to leave hard and create a trip for himself – he

does like to win races, and should be a fair price. (8) HELLO GORGEOUS gets stuck with another 8 hole but he’s

definitely sharp and a good bomb for exotics...maybe even on top? (6) PRETTY HANDSOME is a solid player in

this class but he gets a tough draw in a solid field and that may leave him looking at minor spoils this week. (4) UN

DRTHSOUTHRNSUN N is often his own worst enemy, and really doesn’t win that often even when things go his

way. (5) DIAMONDBEACH turned in a blowout qualifier at Monti but we’ll wait to see him function in a race

before hopping back on his team. (1) LYONS PEGASUS draws the pole, but with little else going for him right now.

RACE 3 – (3) PROMISING MOMENT did some consistent work as a 2YO, going 11-3-3-2 – she qualified back

twice in PA, and really wasn’t bad here in her first start back at 3, pacing evenly despite racing with a broken head

pole – should be tight enough for a more serious try now, and that could make her a big player here. (4) MISS PERI

GNON N was conservative in her first U.S. start then a solid 2nd behind the talented BATH BOMB the next week –

she did get a little tired chasing the sharp leader in her last, but still looks like a major threat against this bunch. (1)

TH CHA CHA CHA was ready to roll early in her 2YO season, and was an aggressive 2nd in her first career start (in

Canada) – she ended up only making 3 starts for the year, though, and is hard to gauge off her return qualifier (slow

mile in a 2 horse field) – perhaps the tote board will offer some clues? (2) MAIDSWEET IR wasn’t quite right in her

first 2 U.S. starts but did race much better at Pocono last week – we’ll see if she’s ready to step up a bit more and be

a serious player now. (7) HUNTINGFORREASURE showed potential at 2, winning a pair of Excelsior A starts– she

shows a couple of useful Florida preps, but she may be handled pretty conservatively tonight, especially with the

bad draw. (6) AMERICAN STARLIGHT has some solid looking Canadian lines...but she’s also 0 for 41 lifetime –

minor spoils only. (5) AMERICANBEACHDREAM makes her first start back at 3 – prefer to just observe tonight.

RACE 4 – Good race: (4) MORNING HAS BROKEN has been a major player every start lately, even if she’s a

little light in the win column – she’s definitely versatile, and that may come in handy tonight in a race that could go

a few different ways. (7) WOODMERE HARRIET was a poorly kept secret 2 back when she went off at 8/5 from

Post 7 (after being 30-1 and 37-1 the prior 2 starts), and was able to win despite being parked every step of the way

– she was in a much tougher spot in her last, but still finished full of pace – she draws outside for the EIGHTH

straight week tonight, but is sharp enough to still consider at a price (even if Bartlett opts for #5). (1) WILDCAT

ANTONIA hasn’t won since moving up to 25s recently but she’s raced well a few times – may be able to get it done

from this spot, if the trip works out. (5) ONEDERFULBEACH struggled to finish her races (at the $20K level) start

after starts, always settling for smaller pieces – she finally broke through to win her last, and was immediately

claimed by our leading trainer...clearly one to fear, but also hard to endorse on top as the ML favorite, moving up to

take on the tougher 25s tonight. (2) STORMY SERENA was an ok 4th in her local debut last week, but benefited

from an inside trip – jury still out on her. (3) HARPER SEELSTER wouldn’t shock, but she’s just 9-0-1-1 here this

year and may prefer to be in a bit easier. (6) AT THE HOP was good last week, but looking at a much tougher trip

tonight.

RACE 5 – (3) MEETMEATTHEBAR really upped her game in the recent John Brennan Trotting Series, picking up

pieces vs. light years better than these – feels like a good spot for Dube to finally pick up his first Yonkers victory of

the season. (5) STAR HAIRDRESSER hit board in 3 of 4 starts since arriving on the local scene, making a break in

the other (just missed at 90-1 two back!) – his price will come way down tonight, and he does have a good chance to

land somewhere on the ticket. (4) JAKEY JUMPUP was definitely well meant last week, getting parked trying for

the top from Post 7, then getting knocked offstride on the final bend– he’s struggled so far in 2025, but may be ready

to turn the corner and start being a bigger contender. (8) HE HUNTS didn’t show much as a 2YO but at least he

gained some experience – he returned a winner at 3 (scoring the victory at Chester last week), but lands a brutal spot

for his Hilltop debut– the barn IS going well these days, and Karna is driving with more confidence...maybe a small

piece? (7) MARIN COUNTY seems to be getting better each time since returning at 3, but he draws poorly and gets

away slowly – may just have too far to come. (6) NAUTILUS B is 2 for 34 but she stays trotting and that helps her

grab her share of smaller pieces. (1) JEANNIES ACTION will attract some $$ from the pole with Bartlett but her

13-0-1-0 local slate makes it hard to justify. (2) BAR KEEP DE VIE is now 10-0-0-0 this year after missing all of

2024 – still waiting for some better efforts.

RACE 6 – (2) CHIPPER DALE returns to Yonkers off back to back victories across the river – he already has 3

local wins this year and is clearly the one to knock off...but be careful about taking TOO short a price as he did also

get beat to some lesser rivals here in a couple of earlier starts. (5) NOTTINGHAM made an “old school” sweep

from the back of the back of the pack last week and LOOKED like an easy winner...only to start hanging really

badly in the final 75 yards, torturing those who thought they had a 34-1 winner – he’s probably the main danger, but

his price will obviously be much lower tonight. (3) BRONZER was blindswitched by #5 last week, trotting solidly

in the lane once free and clear – he’s been a steady player since arriving recently on the local scene, and should be in

line for another nice chunk tonight. (8) FULL SCALE will surely appreciate dropping out of the Brennan Trotting

Series but probably won’t be a big fan of Post 8 – still, chance for a piece with some trip luck. (6) CACTUSTOTHE

CLOUDS really picked up his game after joining his current barn in NJ recently – he was an ok 4th in his first local

try, and came out on top last after looking like he was going to be fighting for SECOND behind #5 – tonight’s post

can be troublesome, though. (7) DRAW THE LINE was hurt by a tiring leader last week but really not loaded after

shaking free – she’s shown flashes this year, but has also been inconsistent...tonight’s draw isn’t going to help. (4)

FAST APPROACH finally found a winning spot last week, though he barely survived by a hair over a 90-1 shot –

faces much tougher now. (1) IHAVEADREAM DE VIE seems somewhat overmatched, even with the rail draw.

RACE 7 – (5) KISS MY CHEEK changed barns 2 back and just demolished a field in this class – she stepped up to

face tough older mares last week, and raced super to be a close 3rd from a very difficult spot – drops back down to

this NW2-4PM class and while this is probably a tougher field that she beat the last time, she still gets the nod. (3)

PARKAVENUELISA qualified sharply for her 4YO campaign and raced well for 2nd in her first start (behind a very

sharp Saratoga invader) – look for another strong effort tonight. (2) DONEGAL SPIRIT showed some potential at 2

and had a solid year at 3, winning 4 races and $121K – she hasn’t hit her best form at 4 (so far), but she still has to

be included in exotics. (1) LADY BLUE JAY was caught in the back last week and made a bobble to the final turn

before she could even think of rallying– she’s capable of better, and not a bad one for 3rd/4th (7) TWIN B EMPRESS

really tailed at the end of the year so the recent time off could benefit her – tough draw for her first start back,

however. (6) FLOWER SHOPS was empty in her first start of the year then made a break in her next – still a work

in progress right now. (4) SPACE CADEBT was ok in Canada last year but off to a 14-0-0-3 start in 2025 – prefer to

just observe in her local debut. (8) IM A BELIEVER is stuck with Post 8 off a sick scratch.

RACE 8 – (6) SOAR HIGHER banked nearly $175K at 2 but had a disappointing $37K year as a 3YO – he moved

to new connections for his 4YO campaign but his 3 NJ efforts have been mixed – he meets a fairly soft bunch for his

local debut and we’ll give him top billing...but wouldn’t fall in love at too short a price. (5) GILLYS DE VIE was

helped by some early action upon arrival from Pocono and knew how to take full advantage, trotting a strong final

3/8ths to win going away – legitimate chance to repeat. (1) YOUMEANDWHISKEY turned in decent speed tries

the last 2 weeks, holding on for a 2nd and a 3rd – always a chance she could steal it, with Bartlett. (4) KELLYS GRE

ATEST is just 1 for 13 this year but usually part of the equation – never a bad one to slot underneath in exotics. (3)

STOCKHOLM HANOVER came up terrible last week but he does throw better ones, at times – maybe 3rd/4th? (8)

HABANERO RULES wasn’t bad at 2, going 5-2-0-2 racing in the Excelsior A divisions – guessing he’ll be handled

conservatively from Post 8 in his first start back at 3. (2) ALEXANDER has speed and stays trotting – but is now 0

for 20 at Yonkers for a reason. (7) HIPPIE SHAKE probably needs an inside draw to be any kind of threat.

RACE 9 – (2) QUICK MENU just missed in her first 2 local tries but weakened in her last pair, after chasing some

hotter fractions than she’s likely to see tonight – she may end up tripping out, and offering a fair price in what looks

like a pretty competitive finale. (3) REAL LADY SADIE weakened after cutting the mile last week (off the claim)

but that was in 25s – she drops back down to 20s, and she’s won an awful lot of races at this level. (8) RACIN FOR

ROYALTY threw some big efforts among her 7 local tries, though consistency was lacking – she was claimed from

her last by a barn that can often improve one in a hurry, and gets a pilot who won’t be afraid to leave hard from Post

8 – belongs on your tickets. (5) RAISE THE ANTE is far too consistent to leave off your tickets (13-3-5-2 here over

the last 2 years) – she’s also winless in 13 starts this year, so it’s also hard to “love” her chances of coming out on

top! (7) GOT BEACH BODY was a winner at Chester last week but will face much tougher tonight, while unlikely

to get nearly as good a trip – ok for longshot fans. (1) SUNBURNT picked up a no-threat 2nd 7 starts back but has

done little since. (4) UNCONTROLLED beat a much softer PcD field 3 back but has struggled with these types. (6)

BOUT DAMN TIME A is in a bad rut – waiting for some better signs before considering.