Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (1) COPPERFIELD finished with good pace 2 back (after navigating some traffic issues in the stretch) then rallied crisply for 2nd last week behind a razor sharp HIMSELF N – he gets to call the shots tonight, and that stamps him as the one to knock off. (5) CARABAO A was a solid 2nd behind the very well meant ADMIRAL HILL 2 back, then an excellent 2nd behind the highly regarded CATALPA RESCUE A in his last – sharp enough to win if the trip goes his way. (2) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A figures every week, races well almost every start but his 1 for 21 record this year makes him tough to take on top…unless the price gets juicy enough. (4) PEACE OUT POSSE steps up yet again, now seeking his 5th straight victory – would hardly be a shock, but he’ll need to really bring his best to beat this tougher crew. (3) ESCAPE TO AMERICA was just “ok” last week but usually finishes strong, and always a good one for the bottom of exotics. (8) JUMPINGJACKMAC N had a rough start to his U.S. career but the classy import has been improving each week– faces a daunting task tonight, however (6) KINGSVILLE has been good for weeks, but gets a bad draw with several good ones to his inside. (7) SIX DEGREES seems overmatched.

RACE 2 – (2) ROCKIN JUKEBOX has been doing some good work at PcD lately, including a pair of sub 1:50 wins – he struggled in his last 2 local starts but was in impossible spots, vs. much better…his barn is coming off a VERY strong week, including a 3 bagger on Tues. night – gets the call, even if Bartlett (surprisingly) opts for #6. (3) LAYT ON HANOVER has raced well many times here this year, but is still just 1 for 14 (and 1 for 22 overall) – make sure to get a good price if trying him on top. (1) MELANION N paced evenly vs. better last week, arriving from upstate – he drops, draws the pole, and did win here last year…possibility. (4) LYRICAL GENIUS hit board in 16 of his starts this year but only 2 of them were wins – seems better used underneath, rather than on top. (5) WIND SUN RIC KY was sharp in his last pair, and is actually dropping a class – wouldn’t be a surprise, but he does face an uncertain trip. (6) FOUR BY FOUR was Bartlett’s choice but he’s moving way up in class after beating much easier in PA (after the barn change)– just feels like a tough spot. (7) WALKINSHAW N figures to be coming from last– bad spot, even if he’s pretty good right now.

RACE 3 – (3) MUSIC HALL wasn’t bad at all 2 back considering he had Post 8, off a month – he built off that mile in his last, coming up a nose shy after a very aggressive try vs. the sharp winner…he was reclaimed that night, has 8 wins this year, and should be a major threat tonight. (2) ALL ALONE has thrived since dropping to this class, and goes to yet another new barn for tonight – he may be able to grab a good trip here, and that would make him a very dangerous player. (4) CHICKEN N DICE never got involved last week but had 2 wins and a close 2nd from his prior 3 starts – seems next in line should the top pair falter. (5) LMC PEANUTS WATCHIN has some good local tries but he was no factor in his last pair, and draws outside 3 tough foes tonight – small piece. (1) DRAGON YOU ALONG has mostly struggled since arriving at Yonkers – his chances for a small piece would go up if not overdriven early. (7) TWIGGS PUB fits well, but will need some major racing luck to overcome tonight’s terrible draw (off the claim) (6) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY struggled for a new barn last week, racing off a bad date.

RACE 4 – (7) DIEGO N may look over and see a clear a path to the top, even from out here – he’s somehow listed at 20-1 ML and if he’s anything even close to that price, he’s surely worth a stab. (1) MULLINAX had been in career form for a while before leveling off a bit 2 and 3 starts back (in the Invitational) – he was scratched sick from his next, but wasn’t bad at all when 4th in last week’s sizzling mile…could be ready to deliver a big effort from this spot. (3) HEMSWORTH N can be frustratingly unpredictable but he CAN rally to beat these IF he shows up in the right mood – worth a look at the right price. (2) ROCKNROLL RUNA A is having a disappointing 8YO campaign, highlighted by his 8-0-0-0 local slate – wouldn’t say he’s impossible in here, but you’d need a pretty good price to try him on top. (4) WHATS STANLEY GOT A is very good right now, but he’s also moving up in class – willing to include underneath. (6) MACS DELIGHT has held his own with some very nice horses but he’s been away for a month after a disappointing front end try and we’ll just observe, for now. (5) SOHO DOW JONES A can throw some big miles, but they’re generally on the lead, vs. softer.

RACE 5 – (3) REIGNING DEO was just 1 for 21 coming into his last start but he was able to double that win total with a very impressive “brush and crush” victory, while taking tons of tote action– if he can replicate that effort here, he may be able to make it 2 in a row. (1) SADDLE UP has won 5 of his last 6 starts, 12 of 23 on the year, and gets to call the shots for another new barn – remains the one to beat. (6) I DRAINTHESWAMP A rallied well for 4th from a tough spot last week, and has been a very solid player at this level – he was re-claimed by the barn he won for 3 back, and could be a player tonight IF some racing luck comes his way. (7) SOUTHWIND PETYR had plenty of pace for 2nd last week, but not until #3 was long gone – he’s hit board in 5 straight, CAN leave, and could bring some value to the exotics. (4) GDS THUNDER GB finished ok from an impossible spot last week, and moves inside tonight – not impossible, but leaning more to others for the top slots. (2) ALEX TYE failed to up his game in the 2 starts off the claim, and now returns after a month away…prefer to observe, for now. (5) BETTORBUCKLEUP probably needs a softer spot for a chance to win at this level. (8) ROCKIN N TALKIN finished right behind #1 last week but that was with a pocket trip, from the rail – much different scenario tonight.

RACE 6 – Good race: (4) SMOOTH LOU improved significantly in his first start off the claim (two back), used hard from the start, and only coming up a nose shy at the wire – he moved up to 40s off that mile and went another big effort, forced to angle free in the lane (after the leader tired) then coming up a nose shy for the 2nd straight week – decent value play. (3) MIND HUNTER was “sneaky ok” from impossible spots in his last pair after finishing 2nd to runaway SLING SHOCK the start before that – he’ll be a good price, and definitely worth a look. (2) DONTLIKEIT LEAVE drops down after struggling a bit vs. better – he’s a very logical threat (and Bartlett’s choice) but his normally high % barn is just 1 for 33 over the past month- maybe he’s a little vulnerable here? (1) SHAKESPEARE really upped his game after changing barns in late May, but moves to a new barn tonight and has missed 3 weeks since the claim – have to respect his chances, but another that could be a little iffy at a short price. (5) SPEAKER OF PEACE has been very consistent in his last few but he takes on a tougher bunch tonight, and isn’t all that handy – he’ll need some trip luck to be a serious late threat. (6) PYRO has a win and a 2nd in his 2 starts from the rail (after a long layoff) but was no threat from a pair of outside posts – may suffer that same fate tonight. (8) TWIG has enjoyed an excellent season, but may be off his best right now. (7) ROCKMYSTER N would be a surprise from out here.

RACE 7 – (4) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK was stuck inside with no chance for better 2 back, then trapped behind a quitter last week – he drops down to the level he beat twice recently, and has shown that he can win at nice prices – worth considering in this wide open affair. (1) ROCK THE BELLES was derailed by a pair of 8 holes 2 and 3 back (vs. better) but left the gate from Post 6 last week and was a busy 4th – his barn has really come to life, and he looms a real threat from the pole. (2) LUCAPELO A found his best stride too late last week and had to settle for 4th, though right on the wire with 3 others – he’ll have a chance here if the trip goes his way. (8) LAMBORGHINI LOU seems unlikely from out here off his 2 local tries but he does add Lasix tonight, and Brennan does take him (over #6) – live bomb? (5) BENHOPE RULZ N has been maintaining solid form at levels that have slowed him down a bit in the past – he loses Brennan to #8, but does get Bartlett…the 5/2 ML price is a turn off, however. (3) THIS IS THE PLAN hasn’t been the same horse that banked over $3M in a long time, but some of his recent PcD efforts show that the 10YO can still be a solid racehorse – leaning to others, but he’d hardly be a shock. (7) HAZEVILLE was sent off at 15-1 from Post 8 last week but once he was able to find an easy spot in 3rd, his “real odds” were much lower – he’s very good right now, but this is a brutal spot. (6) SLIP THE HUNDY N seems buried for his local try of 2025.

RACE 8 – (6) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A has won 2 of his last 3 starts, is 11 for 22 at Yonkers this year, doesn’t need the lead to win, and it wouldn’t be a Monday night without seeing this powerful owner/trainer tandem in the winner’s circle – we’ll give him the nod. (5) BLAZING HOME N was given a pretty unfair post assignment last week but still rallied nicely for 4th – better spot tonight, and may be able to make some bigger noise. (2) ALWAYS A THRILL suddenly blossomed into a beast this year, and has won 9 of his 14 starts (including multiple Open wins here at Yonkers) – he’s been away since 7/7, however, and Bartlett does opt off to drive #7 – feels a bit vulnerable. (4) HP MOMENTUM used a perfectly timed mega-blitz to shock at 35-1 two back, but never got in play the last 2 weeks - these may just be too tough for him, but a big price makes him worth a look. (3) ADMIRAL HILL has a pair of solid wins vs. cheaper, but still has to prove that he can beat these better ones – ok for exotics. (7) ENDOFST ORY can throw some big miles but this doesn’t feel like a good spot to see one of them – not a fan with that 7/2 ML price. (8) AYE AYE CAPTAIN N has enjoyed an excellent season and is sharper now than at any time all year – he’ll also likely be coming from last tonight, and that’s going to be tough to overcome. (1) SHERLOCK N was ok last week, even with Post 8 off a bad date – he may get a bit lost vs. these, however.

RACE 9 – (4) DANCIN SANCHO made his local debut for a new barn last week – he was way back off turn three (in last), made up good ground just to be closer to 3/4s, rallied wide into the final turn then sustained that move beautifully through the lane to take home 4th – gets a much better draw for tonight, is listed at 8-1 ML and worth a try in the finale. (1) CRUSH KILL DESTROY is likely going to be handled very aggressively in this spot, after failing to threaten in 3 local tries vs. better – he’s also likely to be way overbet, and may be worth taking a shot against. (5) STASH IT AWAY was racing well up in Canada but a little tough to gauge in his starts since shipping down (faced solid stock at Stga. and raced ok, then was in a tough spot at Pocono last week) – he’s eligible to be a live player (at a good price) in his local debut. (7) ROYAL DESIRE has been much more consistent in 2025 and was definitely an overlay when he won at 6-1 last week – tough task stepping up and drawing outside, though. (2) JETT STAR N was a very game first over winner last week, but that was in a much easier spot – maybe a small slice tonight? (8) MYSWEETBOYMAX moved to a hot barn last week, landed in a soft spot returning from PA and was able to win easily on the front end – another that’s facing a much tougher assignment tonight, though. (3) SPORTY M THREE gapped badly (in front of #4) last week and lost all chance – now 0 for 17 here this year. (6) FUNATTHE BEACH N probably needs a much better draw to be competitive these days.