Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, July 31, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (5) HARPER SEELSTER had a recent rough patch but has bounced back in her last pair, finishing 2 nd

each time – she’ll be a big threat tonight if she brings that same kind of effort tonight. (2) EMBOUBLEKAY was a

solid 2nd to a standout winner on 7/4, making her local debut (for a new barn) – wasn’t quite as sharp when 4

th lastweek, but her best effort would make her a legitimate player tonight. (7) DISTANT LOVER is a very solid

performer in this class but will obviously need some racing luck to get it done from out here – a good price makes

her worth considering. (1) NORTHERN HALO was helped by an easy trip last week but definitely raced better

dropping in for the $20K tag – should be able to have a say again tonight starting from the pole. (3) YOU BEDA

ROCK had no chance in her first start off the claim (7 hole) but moves inside tonight and some of her better efforts

could put her into the mix – decent value horse to consider. (6) CELCIUS was empty last week making her first start

after being scratched injured on 5/13 – waiting for better signs before hopping back on her team. (8) SUNBURNT is

“ok” right now, but faces a tall task starting from out here. (4) MC ANGEL is really struggling at the moment

RACE 2 – NAADA Summer Series: (5) ITSONEOFTHOSE was 2 nd in 2 of his last 3 local amateur races, and has

won 6 of 19 local starts overall – he figures to be a fair price, gets a solid pilot, and is one of several that appear to

have a chance tonight. (4) WOODSIDE GENIUS tired cutting the mile here (as the favorite) on 6/5 but may not

have been 100% at that time – he returns from Monti off a solid qualifier and race, and his best effort could make

him a big threat. (3) BACKSTREET PLAYER has overall solid form and was 2 nd with Pennachio (at Goshen) 3

starts back – possibility. (1) MUSKINGUM shows some mixed recent form but he did win here on 5/8, from the rail,

with Sheridan (as the odds on choice) – he’ll be a better price tonight. (2) KILAUEA picked up a 3 rd at PcD 2 back

and seems like a decent fit with these – would consider using underneath. (7) MUSCLE DAN hasn’t raced here in a

while but he’s 12-1-4-5 locally over the past 2 years – good bomb for 3 rd/4 th . (8) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE goes for a

barn that has done well dropping horses into these amateur races but he just hasn’t been sharp lately, and has Post 8

to contend with. (6) DROP THE MIC just seems off form compared to several of the others

RACE 3 – (4) TIPSY MONI made her way to the lead last week and easily picked up her 24 th Yonkers win, from

just 40 local starts (with most of the losses coming when taking on the boys) – she certainly should have been

assigned the outside post but somehow got to draw with two others, and then landed INSIDE both of them – makes

her pretty hard to go past. (6) HOT FLASH KIMMY was an excellent 2 nd to the top choice last week, despite being

killed by some terrible cover – may be the one with the best shot to knock off her tonight, even with the unfortunate

draw. (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT may be able to grab a two hole trip here...and that would give her a chance to

complete the exacta. (5) QUEEN OF ALL made a break at the top of the lane last week before she could rally –

we’ll find out tonight if that was just a blip, or if she may be starting to tail a bit. (2) MA ISABELLE would prefer to

be in a bit easier, but remains a possibility for a small piece, with an easy trip. (3) SISTER MARY MAUDE

continues to be plagued by the “4YO Blues”, after banking nearly $500K at 2 and 3.

RACE 4 – (4) SADDLE UP has won 3 in a row (for 3 different trainers), 10 of 20 this year at YR and 16 for 36 over

the last two seasons – another new barn tonight, but remains the clear-cut horse to knock off. (1) MAXIMUS RED

A has found himself too far back to threaten for the top slot lately but he figures to be a lot closer to the action

tonight – seems the one with the best chance to upset #4. (7) SHADOW CAT stayed right there through sizzling

fractions last week and only lost 2 nd right at the wire – he can be a player here too, but will need a quick start, and

some trip luck. (5) BILL HALEY N hasn’t been on his best game for several starts, and would need a big wake up

call to be able to battle for the top prize. (2) REIGNING DEO is having a tough time this year, currently 17-0-1-4 at

Yonkers – gets a good draw, but has missed almost 3 weeks and seems headed for minor spoils. (6) JIMMY

CONNOR B drops to 30s but the tough draw figures to limit his output for tonight. (3) MY ULTIMATE STAR A is

15-0-0-0 locally this year, and would surely be a surprise tonight

RACE 5 – NAADA Summer Series: (5) PAPA DOC recently turned several sharp amateur efforts at Pocono, all

with Beltrami in the bike – he was actually pretty good here last week (in a much tougher overnight field), and feels

like the one to beat. (7) BIG LIMO also turned in a pair of very nice PcD amateur miles, and he’s won here in the

past – tough draw, but a good price makes him worth considering on top. (2) IMPRESSIVE DUDE has some solid

from up in Ottawa, stays trotting every week and even has some early speed – he moves to one of our top barns for

his local debut, but note that his Canadian trainer has been finishing 1 st or 2 nd with nearly 50% of his starters this

year – we’ll see how this guy stacks up against the locals. (8) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE is a proven player vs. these

types but faces an uphill battle trying to overcome Post 8 – willing to include underneath in exotics, hoping for some

trip luck. (4) STAR HAIRDRESSER had some good starts here last spring but then tailed off considerably – he

recently added hopples, and may be getting back some confidence racing at Monti – small piece? (3) LOS

BALLYKEELAMIGO could have a say here on his best effort but he comes into this after backing through the field

last week, and feels pretty iffy at the moment. (1) BIG CHARLIE MORAN may be able to pick up a small piece if

in the right mood but his 1 for 46 local record makes him hard to consider on top. (6) CALL ME THE FIREMAN

has had some good moments here the past few years but draws poorly and seems off his game right now

RACE 6 – Tough race! (7) RACIN FOR ROYALTY is as good (or better) as anything in here, but faces an uncertain

trip for her new barn - more than willing to give her a shot if anywhere near that 8-1 ML price. (5) QUICK MENU

should be able to use her speed tonight and seems destined for a good trip – she was a winner 2 back, and looms a

legitimate threat tonight. (8) FORTUNADA returned sharp off the 3 months layoff (after being scr. injured in late

April) – she’s more than good enough to win this, but is another that faces obstacles tonight because of the draw. (4)

YUENGLING finished up well in both local starts but was hurt by being sluggish for too long each time – if she can

get motivated a bit earlier on, she can be a big threat tonight. (3) ALWAYS BE CITY was moving way too early last

week (turn two) and really cost her any chance of being a bigger player – she’s done some good work here in the

past, gets Jordan in the bike tonight, and could have a much bigger say this week. (2) WILDCAT ANTONIA is

another that has been hurt every week by taking way too long to find her stride – if she’s close turning for home, an

upset is not impossible. (6) DESIGNS ON YOU was a bit better with the inside draw last week, but will need to

improve a lot more to overcome Post 6 tonight. (1) DEFININGTHE MOMENT draws best (2 nd time off the claim)

but has never looked too fond getting around the Hilltop oval

RACE 7 – (8) MINDTRIP is 2 for 2 since coming to Yonkers, with dead-game first over victories each time – hard

to say if Marohn can work out a manageable trip from out here, but he’s worth using at what figures to be a pretty

good price (for a horse coming off back to back wins). (4) RECORD YEAR hasn’t been at his best in his last couple

but he’s won 15 races over the past 2 years, and catches a pretty modest field for tonight – dangerous if he brings his

best for his new barn. (7) WAR DAN DELIGHT N has been incredibly camera shy the past 2 years but his overall

form has been solid the past few months, he may be able to leave the gate here and he’s not a bad bomb for longshot

fans. (3) FULL SUPPORT got too hot and folded badly in his first start off the layoff but was a good trip 2 nd when

more relaxed last week – would hardly be a surprise. (1) KEYSTONE DASH regressed significantly in his 3 rd start

off the layoff and that was 19 days ago – draws the pole tonight, but would still need a big price to try him on top.

(6) ON THE VIRG used a very easy trip in a very soft field to come out on top last week – much tougher spot now,

but he has been known to string wins together in the past. (2) J B GRAM has just one win and one 2nd from his 24

starts this year – leaning elsewhere. (5) D A WICKED SHINE had no chance in his local debut (8 hole) but still not

ready to hop on his team – prefer to just observe, for now

RACE 8 – (5) ARI FERRARI J is no stranger to Yonkers going 7-4-2-0 here last year, which included a win in the

$250K Miecuna Trot– he’s used to tackling (much) tougher than these, and lands in a nice spot for his first local try

of 2025. (6) SOUTHWIND COORS picked up a win and a 2 nd in his last 2 local starts but wasn’t at his “best” either

time – he took 3 weeks off since then, and that may actually benefit him....drawing outside of #5 isn’t going to help

his cause, however. (4) FERETTI has been excellent since a recent barn change, and probably would have won last

week if not trapped in the stretch – not sure he can beat the top pair, but he should be able to hold his own tonight.

(3) BLACKHAWK ZETTE was a winner in his last pair, but vs. easier – he’ll need to up his game that much more

to have a shot against the top ones in here. (1) AUSTRAL HANOVER has been on a long form spree but vs. easier

– he steps up off last week’s claim, and will need to show that he can contend with these types too. (2) TACHYON

is another that comes off a pair of wins vs. easier, that figures to have a much tougher time at this Invitational level

RACE 9 – Wide open! (5) MUSIC HALL seemed to tail off for a few starts but was much better in his last couple,

after dropping down from 40s – he moves to a barn that has done outstanding work off the claim, he loves to win

races (has 8 victories already this year), and may offer the best price among a few very live players in here. (3) LYO

NS BENJAMIN came into his last showing 4 wins and a 2 nd from his last 5 starts so it’s pretty shocking that he paid

$17 to win that night – he’s bounced around among several top barns and lands in another for tonight...and looms a

very dangerous player. (1) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY had a few rough starts recently then bounced back, picking up

a win and a pair of close 2nds from his last 3 starts – would obviously be no surprise at all. (2) LMC PEANUTS WA

TCHIN landed on a beautiful trip last week and delivered the 10-1 upset in his 4 th local try – a similar trip could put

him right on the wire once again. (4) CHICKEN N DICE had pace in both starts since returning from PA – he’ll be a

big price, and could land a piece of this if things go his way. (6) HARD TO CATCH is in a tough spot (in a tough

field!) but has outraced his odds many times, and never a bad bomb for 3 rd/4 th. (7) ON DAYBOO raced ok trying to

make the jump to 30s last week but tonight’s draw is going to tough for him to overcome

RACE 10 – (4) CANTSTOP YANKEE was claimed 3 back and raced super in his last pair, a sharp winner both

times – he was claimed again from his last and IF he maintains that same form for his new connections, he’s going

to be tough again tonight. (3) BARN HALL was super after arriving here in early spring, winning 5 of his first 8

starts – he really struggled in his last pair (after the most recent claim), but may bounce back for another new crew

tonight – willing to give him a look at the right price. (7) MAX never “looks” pretty, but he’s won 6 of his 8 local

starts this year, with some BIG miles among them – he wasn’t at his best last week, however, and draws outside for

tonight...make sure to get a fair price if using on top. (1) BARRY BLACK is still banging heads at a pretty high

level for a 14YO, and did beat this class 2 back – would consider underneath for sure, and maybe on top, at a big

enough price. (2) PEDAL ON METAL had trot finishing in both local starts and isn’t a bad candidate for the bottom

of tris and supers at that 20-1 ML price. (5) JAS BLUESTONE ships in from PcD in outstanding form, but vs. easier

– hard to say how he’ll stack up against some of these...suppose we’ll find out tonight. (6) KINDA LUCKY LINDY

has some decent efforts out of town but may find these a bit too tough, especially starting from Post 6. (8) ALL STA

R SWAN was a good 3 rd off the layoff on 6/19 but not as sharp in her next, then just folded badly last week – too

soon to just write her off, but also hard to like her chances from Post 8 right now.