Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (1) CENTURY ENDEAVOR threw a rare disappointing effort 2 back but bounced back immediately,

converting last week’s pocket trip into a season’s best 1:52.1 blowout – he’ll be a very short price here, but he’ll also

be hard to knock off if anywhere near as good as last week. (3) ALTA CLASSIC A has really upped his game since

being claimed on 5/15, turning in 3 sharp efforts for 3 different trainers – he moves up a notch off the re-claim, but

may be worth a look if the price is good enough. (4) SADDLE UP has won 13 of his 32 local starts over the last 2

years, and showed he can win at this $40K level last week – has definitely earned plenty of respect! (6) LYRICAL

GENIUS A races well virtually every week, but he may be coming from too far back tonight to be a serious threat –

still a chance for a small piece, though. (2) AROUND MIDNIGHT hasn’t been able to replicate his effort in that

51-1 upset 4 back, but he can still tow along for a minor share from this spot. (7) MUSIC HALL is 8 for 17 this year

and a good 2nd to #1 last week moving to this $40K level – he MAY be looking at a tougher trip tonight, though,

with the terrible draw (for another new barn). (8) FREQUENT IMAGE does his damage on/near the lead but Post 8

AND a class jump may really cramp his style tonight. (5) ROCKIN N TALKIN feels overmatched right now.

RACE 2 – (6) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR was the easiest of winners in his last 2 Invitationals, and has now sports

an outstanding 13-8-1-2 local record (last 3 years) – Bartlett sticks with him over #3 and we’ll give him the narrow

edge as well. (3) ALWAYS A THRILL has 6 wins and a close 2nd from his last 7 Yonkers starts and it’s anybody’s

guess as to why he was allowed to draw for posts 2-5 (though not quite as shocking as SILK CLOUD A ($4.40)

ending up with the rail, on Fri. night) – the main danger, and obviously would be no surprise. (2) AMERICAN DEA

LER N is on his game right now, even if using easy trips every week – possibility for another decent slice. (1) HIMS

ELF N charged home from a tough spot to beat easier last week, but he’s held his own with the top ones as well – an

easy trip would help his chances for a nice share. (5) HEMSWORTH N finished full of pace from a tough spot last

week, but faces another tough trip tonight. (4) FINVARRA A threw a rare dud last week – we’ll see if he rebounds.

RACE 3 – (1) RENAISSANCE DEO is winless in 10 Yonkers starts this year but he hit board in 6 of them, usually

in tougher fields – he’s looking at a good trip here, and is one of several with a chance to take this. (4) ROCKMYST

ER N’s lone win this year came vs. easier, but he does seem capable of winning at THIS level too, with some trip

luck – a good price makes him worth a look. (2) SHAZAM BLUE CHIP is 0 for 16 this year, but did hit board in

more than half of those losses– willing to consider him vs. this field, but only if the price is fair. (5) HELLABALOU

sports a 7-1-0-0 local record this year and that victory came on the lead, in a soft field – he’s way too classy to ever

just dismiss out of hand, but he also feels worth taking a shot against, at a shortish price (3) PRINTVILLE is another

in this field that has been camera shy this year, and even lost his last (at 2/5) to LEVINE, who hadn’t won here since

2023 – probably better used underneath, than on top. (7) HUNGRY ANGEL BOY was hammered down to 3/5 last

week and was overtaken by the stubborn winner at the end – won’t get any easier tonight from Post 7. (6) SIX DEG

REES has upped his game since the recent barn change but was facing softer out of town – may struggle a bit vs.

these tougher ones. (8) OUTLAW MAN N will likely need a better draw, in an easier field, to be a real threat.

RACE 4 – (1) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY threw an absolute dud last week (his 5th barn in 5 weeks) but his efforts

prior to that were outstanding, and he was re-claimed by a barn for whom he jogged on 5/22 – guessing he’ll bounce

right back from that clunker (as he did after a similar dud on 4/8), but wouldn’t bet the rent money tonight at a very

short price. (4) SHAKE IT has been on an absolute tear, winning 3 of his last 5 with narrow losses (from way back)

in the other 2 – remains extremely dangerous! (2) LAZ was forced to pull way earlier than he would have preferred

last week and was done in by the trip – a better journey puts him back in play for a good piece. (5) MANFERNO has

been sharp out of town, but his “class” is a question mark – willing to consider, if the price is right. (7) AMERITRIC

just missed to a sharp one last week after excellent efforts in his 2 starts prior to that – if not for the terrible draw, he

would have been listed higher, for sure. (8) IM THE PRINCE had tailed off but last week’s perfect trip saw him find

that better form, and deliver a 22-1 upset – brutal spit tonight, though. (3) BIG DREAM FELLA will hope to save

ground for minor spoils. (6) THAT DOG WILL HUNT draws poorly again – waiting for a better spot to consider.

RACE 5– (1) SWEET BEACH LIFE had a strong $371K year at 3 that included a win right here in the Messenger –

he’s still looking for his first win as a 4YO, but he was banging heads with tough ones out of town, and did pick up a

pair of 2nds to DIEGO N here a few starts back – we’ll give him top billing, but wouldn’t take too short a price. (5)

CHIMICHURRI N flashed some major ability at times in his 12 local starts, then went on the shelf after a sick

scratch on 10/7 – he has a pair of tighteners since recently returning, and may be ready to strut his best stuff tonight.

(6) MULLINAX disappointed in his first try off the claim but rebounded to win his next, and was an excellent 2nd

last week – tough spot, but still a possibility for exotics. (2) ROCKIN JUKEBOX can throw some big ones at times

but just doesn’t seem at his very best right now – leaning to a couple of others on top. (3) SPEAKER OF PEACE

has been a steady player since that miscue 4 back, and is another solid candidate to land somewhere on the ticket. (4)

ORLANDO BLUE A has been taking home minor spoils – more tonight? (7) EUPHORIA N seems too far out to

have any real say here. (8) OURMATEMENKO N has been “ok” in his 5 U.S. starts but gets his first bad draw now.

RACE 6 – (1) DIEGO N was no factor in a trio of Invitational starts but it’s not like he embarrassed himself – he’s

in a much more suitable spot now, can pick his trip, and looms the one to knock off. (4) CARABAO A didn’t fire his

best shot last week but that was at the top level, and he wasn’t all that far off a board spot – he’s generally very solid

vs. these types, and should be tonight, as well. (6) HEZ ALLTHE RAGE N hit the top vs. a bit easier last week and

was able to dig in and hang on for the win– he faces tougher now (from a bad post), but he’s outraced his odds in the

past – not a bad bomb to try to get into the exotics. (7) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A is racing very well right now,

but is another that’s moving up in class, with a bad draw...would still consider using underneath, at a big price. (5)

RACING RAMPAGE was able to pick up his first local win of the season 2 back but couldn’t sustain his first over

bid well enough when up in class last week – moves up another peg, and will need to be sharper for a chance at a

good piece. (3) STELLAR YANKEE’s fine form spree was interrupted last week by a break before the start – he has

to move up another level tonight, but the right trip may help him grab a share. (2) FUNATTHEBEACH N is up 2

classes, off 4 weeks and with a new trainer listed – sticking with others tonight. (8) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK

almost upset at 36-1 last start after winning twice at 20-1 recently – brutal spot here, though!

RACE 7 – (6) DUNKIN took some time to find his form this year but he came to life on 5/5 to crush a “Borgata

Eligibles” field, won his next 2 here as well, then raced super the last 2 starts in stake races out of town – gets the

worst of the draw tonight, but that will also help his price...willing to stay on his team. (1) HOWLENTHEHILLS

won 13 of 17 as a 3YO ($550K) and is doing excellent work so far as a 4YO, including a win in this class on 4/14 –

returns from some sharp miles out of town, draws the pole, and should be a big player from start to finish. (3) VERD

UN was very patient from 5th last week, suddenly became a big player on the final turn but just couldn’t find enough

in the lane, finishing a close 3rd – he’s hit board in 13 of 14 this year, handles any trip, and is hard to ever leave off

your tickets. (4) SOHO FIRESTONE A disappointed as the favorite 2 back but the talented import rebounded last

week, battling between horses through the lane before just missing to COACHES CORNER – would be no surprise

at all. (2) AARDIES FLASH N isn’t as consistent as the top 3 but has his moments when the trip goes his way –

small piece? (5) SOUTHWIND CELCIUS finished ok from the back last week but could use some class relief.

RACE 8 – (6) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A is often hurt by his lack of “handiness” but he does move in a LITTLE

bit tonight, and perhaps he can improve enough at the start to create a manageable trip for himself – should offer a

good price, but will need some trip luck to get it done. (3) YOROKOBI N is 0 for 15 this year, but did hit board 9X,

mostly vs. better – one of a few “o-fers” tonight with a real chance to get in the win column. (1) TWIN B POWERB

ALL was deceptively sharp coming into his last start and was able to score a determined first over victory (for his

red hot barn) – steps up, but can probably threaten these too, with the right trip. (2) ROLLING WITH SAM often

races well but has struggled to WIN races here the past few years – might consider on top IF the price was right. (4)

GINGRAS BEACH drops and moves inside, but may not be at his best right now – small piece? (7) SPORTY M TH

REE moves up and draws poorly after being unable to beat cheaper – minor spoils? (5) ROYAL DESIRE has missed

time off a sick scratch after a weak try. (8) DANCE IT OUT needs a better post, in an easier field, to be a player.

RACE 9 – (5) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A is the ONLY horse to have beaten ALWAYS A THRILL since February

(at least heading into tonight) – he was shuffled out of it 2 back, and did have pace finishing from an impossible spot

last week – drops, moves inside, gets Bartlett, and figures to be a serious threat tonight. (1) VICI races well week

after week, draws the pole, and should be right there to cash in should the top one falter. (4) SMIFFYS TERROR N

was a little dull last week but generally throws a solid effort most every start – can grab a good piece with anything

close to his best effort. (2) ALL CLASS was flat at the end last week but was also racing off a layoff – drops right

back in the box, moves inside, and may bring a sharper effort. (7) HUNTINGFORCHROME earned $422K at 2 and

3 but has just 2 starts at 4, and hasn’t found his stride yet – maybe check the tote board for some hints about tonight?

(6) VENTURESOME ARDERN N was scratched sick from his last after backing through the field the week before

– leaning elsewhere. (3) ROCK THE BELLES climbed the classes after a trainer change this year but threw a dud

on 5/5 and is still trying to rebound. (8) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL N drops $6K off his card after tonight and may

already be looking forward to a class drop (and better draw!) next week.