Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (3) SAMHARA N hasn’t been “great”, but he’s definitely been “ok” from tough spots, vs. better than

these – he’s just 1 for 17 this year, but we’ll still give him top billing against a very shaky bunch. (5) CAVIART SA

RGENT is another that’s very logical against this softer bunch, but he has a history of racing well against (much)

better, but then faltering (at short prices) when in “winning spots” – deserves respect for sure, but also not one to bet

the ranch on at a short price! (1) ALADDIN would normally be tough in a spot like this but his current form is

lacking, and last week’s effort was very disappointing – he’d hardly be a shock, but he’s another that would be hard

to endorse at low odds. (4) FIZZING N returns off a pair of solid tries in PA, but his current LOCAL record for ’25

stands at 16-0-0-3...willing to use underneath. (2) RAYRAY picked up an amateur win at Tioga last week but he’s

just 3 for 67 here at Yonkers – small piece? (7) MARLBANK ROAD finally turned in a better one last time but was

helped by an easy trip in a “fall apart” race – faces a tough assignment trying to replicate that effort from Post 7. (6)

ARMYCAPTIN HANOVER struggled in both local tries, so far.

RACE 2 – (2) DOROTEA TRIO IT made an uncharacteristic miscue 2 back but rebounded with an excellent 3rd last

week – she drops down to the level she crushed on 4/18 (at 1/5), and looms the one to knock off tonight. (1) DRIBB

LING BI moved inside last week and gave the front end winner all he could handle before coming up just a little

short at the wire – look for another big try tonight. (5) CHULO would be very tough here on his best effort but he

made a break 2 back (as the 1/5 choice!), then was never close in PA last week – even if he bounces back with one

of his better efforts, he’ll still be at a tactical disadvantage from this spot. (3) CREATIVE VENTURE is just 1 for 18

this year and has ben stuck on minor pieces for some time – probably looking at a similar outcome tonight. (4) P L

OSCAR hails from a barn that has been sending out plenty of longshot winners the past 3 weeks, but this guy has

been well off his game, and has missed 3 weeks after a poor try in his last – at least he’ll be a big price tonight. (6)

IM AN ANDOVER is racing well, but is looking at a difficult journey after drawing outside.

RACE 3 – Good race! (2) DWS POINT MAN was just “ok” last week, but he was racing off a bad date – he gets

right back in the box, should end up with a good trip from this spot, and is one of several with a legitimate chance in

here. (1) BULLY BOY HILL has done some damage here in the past when sharp, and last week was a major wake

up call– could be ready to win one, but does figure to be at least a bit overbet tonight (6) SEVENSHADESOFGREY

was content to sit back all the way last week, then finished up full of trot to be right there on the wire– he’d missed a

month prior to that start, and is eligible to be much tighter tonight...worth a good look at that 8-1 ML price. (3) VIN

NY DE VIE hadn’t been on his best game recently so it was no surprise to see him falter after an over-aggressive

drive in his last – he’ll come around eventually...maybe even tonight? (4) P C FREE WHEELING was super after

being claimed a few months back but has really leveled off lately – she remains dangerous against these types, but

that 2-1 ML price does make her lose appeal (from a wagering standpoint). (7) FOR A DREAMER does fit well

with these, but another awful draw does figure to compromise his chances significantly. (5) WILLY WALTON just

hasn’t clicked at all since the 5/15 claim – always eligible for a wake-up call, though.

RACE 4 – (1) STAYINGWITTHEWIND was in a spot where she could be more aggressive last week and certainly

responded, taking a 1:51.4 mark with her “pocket rocket” victory – she’s technically moving up in class, but she’s

more than comfortable at this level...solid chance to repeat after drawing the pole again. (4) KATIES UP lacked

room in the lane last week but it’s hard to say how “loaded” she may have been – she figures to leave here and end

up with a good trip...putting her in play for a nice chunk. (3) IDEAL COVER is listed at 10-1 ML but she’s been

right there in her last 3 starts and absolutely deserves consideration if anything close to that price. (6) KISS MY

CHEEK was an ok 4th vs. better last week, after hurting her chances by gapping a bit on the final turn – she faces a

difficult journey from Post 6, but has been too solid all year to take lightly. (5) UPTOWN HANOVER has been

frustratingly inconsistent this year, and her lone local victory came with a pocket trip, vs. easier – possible for sure,

but also could be somewhat vulnerable at a short price. (2) VARSITY BLUE CHIP has been racing well, but vs. a

bit easier (here, and in PA) – a close up trip may help her take home a small share.

RACE 5 – (5) SEASIDE DIVA quickly went the wrong way after her opportunistic 2nd in the Matchmaker Final but

delivered a much sharper mile last week, carving out hot fractions before weakening a bit to 2nd in a hot 1:51/4 mile

– if she shows as sharp tonight, she’ll be very tough to reel in...she’ll also be a very short price! (2) RESURRECTI

ON DAWN wasn’t too far off the top choice last week and just missed grabbing a win 4 back – logical threat to land

somewhere on the ticket. (1) MYBITCOIN returned from Canada and was a solid 3rd at Chester last week – the good

draw puts her in a play for a piece in her Hilltop returns (she raced well here last year, though in the “NWPM”

classes). (6) TALENT TO SPARE A has some mixed efforts recently – she tired in her last, but might appreciate an

off-the-pace trip tonight...maybe she can rally for a piece? (7) MISS DOTTIE MAE gets a pass for her last (in NJ),

racing off a month and sitting 9th – she fits with these for sure, but may take a conservative approach after drawing

so poorly. (3) COWGIRL LILLY is racing well again, but may find a few of these a bit tougher than she’d prefer. (4)

WHASSUP HANOVER has been dull with lesser. (8) PIRATE BOOTY was able to get it done upon arrival last

week (with the big barn and driver change) but seems unlikely to replicate that from THIS much tougher spot.

RACE 6 – Wide open race: (6) BACKSTREET PLAYER raced well in both starts since joining this very high %

barn, figures to be a fair price and is one of several that could come out on top, depending on how the race plays out.

(3) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM has been pretty quiet lately but gets a class drop and post relief, and that may result

in a much more competitive try. (1) BUDDY EARL has been away for 3 weeks after a tiring Tioga try but his prior

form was solid, and he could be looking at a good trip here – wouldn’t be any great surprise. (4) WARRIOR ONE

has a ton of back class and a terrific local history – that being said, he’s become more prone to miscues and clunkers

this year, and feels a bit risky for the price he figures to go off. (2) NO DRAMA PLEASE is used to facing better

recently but he’s 0 for 19 this year and figures to be well backed – could be better value elsewhere. (7) RADIO LAB

took some $$ upon arrival from Canada but was offstride before the start for his new connections – he qualified back

nicely in PA a few days later, and could be worth a stab tonight IF the price is decent. (5) LOS BALLYKEELA

MIGO turned in a much better effort in an amateur race 2 back then was actually pretty good in his last as well,

considering he was way off the car at the start (after making a break after they turned to the gate) – not a bad one if

looking for a big bomb. (8) INTL BLOCKADE probably needs a better draw to be any kind of serious player.

RACE 7 – (6) ANDOVER CONTESSA has been doing solid work out of town, gets a big driver upgrade to

Stratton, and figures to be a pretty fair price – could be worth a stab tonight, despite the tough draw. (1) FULL

SCALE was handled conservatively last week (after a miscue the start before) and did appear to have trot behind the

top ones – could be a threat tonight with a better trip. (2) BONTONI DEGATO S had a couple of solid recent tries

here so it was no surprise to see him race well at PcD in his last pair – no reason he can’t be a player returning to

YR. (4) MEETMEATTHEBAR needed that start 2 back (after missing 3 weeks) then was a very good 2nd best after a

first over try last week – she fits here too, and could easily land somewhere in the exotics. (3) SWISS HOUSE

ONFIRE often “figures” but just hasn’t been finishing well enough in any of his recent tries– leaning towards others.

(5) MUSICAL RIDE seems better suited vs. a bit cheaper but could still grab a piece with an easy trip. (7) KASHA

V is very tough to predict from start to start, but tonight’s draw figures to limit him, regardless.

RACE 8 – (3) TAKE YOUR PICK beat better than these on 3/14 but did find things a little too tough in her 2 starts

at the Invitational level – she returns sharp (after 3 starts out of town), and lands at a level where she should be the

one to knock off. (1) VIBRANCE raced better than expected last week and has definitely been a streaky sort – if she

can find another good effort this week, she can land somewhere on the ticket. (2) HUNTING HULA wasn’t “great”

last week but she was definitely better than the week before (off the barn change) – if she continues to improve, she

can have a bigger say tonight. (7) LUCKY ARTIST A was flying late (unexpectedly!) last week, in the type of effort

we really haven’t seen from here in some time – she gets another terrible draw, however, and that may really hurt her

chances...even if she comes up just as sharp tonight. (6) EASY TO PLEASE took advantage of a soft spot last week

and was able to steal one on the front end – much tougher scenario tonight, but may still be able to rally for a small

piece. (4) LAURIE LEE has only been able to pick up minor shares in her recent local tries and seems destined for a

similar result tonight. (5) TWIN DELIGHT dominated cheaper last week but has much to prove against these types.

RACE 9 – (5) SILK CLOUD A appreciated the rare change of scenery last week and exited Pocono with a victory,

and a new 1:49.1 lifetime mark – she’ll throw a lesser effort every now and then, but the overwhelming majority of

her local starts are rock solid, and we’ll give her the narrow vote to make it 2 in a row tonight. (6) AARDIE B MIKI

N won all 5 local starts after arriving from Down Under, and that included 4 Matchmaker Legs along with the Final

– she’s 0 for 3 (out of town) since then, and it’s hard to say if she’s tailed off a bit OR if was just a case of tougher

trips, vs. tougher competition – she may just perk right up returning to the Hilltop tonight and get back to her

winning ways...but you won’t get much of a price to find out. (3) LIT DE ROSE has everything go her way last

week and was able to take advantage, picking up her 3rd win of the season – leaning more to the top two, but she’d

never be a surprise. (1) ELEGANT A probably needs to be in a bit easier to threaten for the top prize but the rail

assignment at least gives her a realistic chance for a nice chunk. (4) LYDEO dig in gamely to prevail over a bit

easier last time but she’s been away for a month, and could be a bit short as she moves back up. (2) FACTORY

GIRL struggled throughout the Matchmaker, was able to grab a couple of wins after a few class drops but she’ll still

need to prove that she’s ready to hang with these tougher mares.

RACE 10 – Tough race: (1) C BET HANOVER was handled aggressively at Pocono last week (and was well bet)

but weakened a bit to the wire – he did pick up a nice local win on 5/9 when helped by a live trip, and perhaps he

can grab another tonight with another good journey. (5) DEALERS TURN is still winless on the year but he does fit

with this group and picked up a pair of 2nds here in May – possibility with the right trip. (2) THEMASKEDCRUSA

DR N is a total guessing game – he took NO $$ in his 4 Canadian starts and could only manage one 5th place finish –

he shipped down to our leading trainer, and did qualify MUCH better than he was racing...maybe they found the

key and he’ll be able to jog in his first local try...but he does figure to be way overbet with the barn change! (6) MO

VIN ON UP is hard to gauge right now as he continues to draw poorly every week – not a bad one for longshot fans.

(4) REAL WILLEY showed much better life 3 back but hasn’t really been able to build on it – wouldn’t be a shock,

but would need a good price to try him on top. (3) TEXAS HOLDEM fits ok with these, but has been ordinary in

most of his recent starts – needs to be sharper for a chance at the top slot. (7) JD CAMDEN GB hasn’t had any real

pop in his last 3 starts, though he hasn’t been “terrible” – hard to like his chances from out here.

RACE 11 – (1) BE DIFFERENT has found his better form again, and comes into tonight off a blowout win (vs. cheaper)

2 back, and very solid 3rd last week – he’s looking at a good trip from this spot, and may be able to pull off

a mild upset in the finale. (3) THE HAZLETON just wasn’t sharp for several starts this spring – he took some time

off, re-qualified, and was dead-game in last week’s front end score – he steps up a bit, but is still more than capable

against these if he brings that “good” version again. (7) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS was no factor in his first 2 starts

off the barn change but he took all the $$ at Chester last week, fought hard and was able to deliver the victory – he

has a long (strong) history with Stratton, and is worth considering, even from out here. (4) CRAZYLAND fought

hard in his last to hold off BLACKHAWK ZETTE, who came back to win the next week – he’s now won 3 in a row,

and has to be taken seriously in his current form. (5) TACHYON just ran and hid from his rivals three back, scoring

at 9-1 as one of the barn’s MANY recent longshot winners – he broke in his next (then weakened a bit last week),

but still can’t be taken lightly ... .at least for a piece. (8) BROOKVIEW DARIUS isn’t bad right now, but may need

to wait for a better spot before strutting his best stuff again. (2) WINDSONG PIONEER lost his first 16 starts this

year but has now taken 2 straight – he does figure to struggle a bit taking on these tougher ones tonight. (6) HOOLIE

N HECTOR put together a few sharp efforts before throwing a major dud last week – draws poorly tonight, and

we’ll wait to see a better effort before hopping back on his team.