Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (5) KINGSVILLE went a big effort to just miss 2 back then was excellent again last week, coming up 2nd

best to a sharp COMBUSTION (who got the jump on him to 3/4s) – he drops another notch, and is probably in a

spot where he can be handled more aggressively. (7) TRICKY MIKI A was a big earner Down Under, banking over

$400K (with 14 wins) – he really wasn’t bad in his stateside debut (finished with good pace in a good field, and

really wasn’t far off 2nd at the wire) and if he has any gate speed, Bartlett will find it – could be a serious player in

his YR debut. (1) ORLANDO BLUE A shows some excellent Tioga form but was stuck with Posts 7 and 8 in his

last 2 local tries – lands the pole for tonight, and that should help him be a bigger player. (2) BRUTALLY HANDSO

ME isn’t the handiest horse, but the good draw should keep him close enough to the action for a chance at a good

piece. (6) KIMBLE A has held his good form vs. some tough 40s, and would have looked a lot more imposing here

with a better draw– still may be sharp enough to grab a decent piece. (4) WALKINSHAW N is a good fit at this level

but he catches a tough field, and he really should have been able to win last week – minor share? (3) LOUS BEACH

will look better with a class drop last week. (8) TWIN B RISENSHINE perked up last week, but this spot is brutal.

RACE 2 – (1) SHAKESPEARE caused a long equipment delay last week, went right to the gate after coming back

onto the track, definitely got too hot, and tired after giving way at 3/4s – he probably deserves a chance to redeem

himself, and may do better with a pocket trip tonight. (5) TWIG had a tough trip for a new barn last week but did

well just to stick around for 4th – he returns to the barn for whom he was a sharp winner 3 back, and looms a very

real threat to wire these tonight. (3) ALTA CLASSIC A has really sharpened in his last few starts, and handled the

ump to 40s last week beautifully (just missed to SHAKE IT) – could be next in line should the top pair falter. (6) LY

RICAL GENIUS A doesn’t win very often, but he as ton of 2nds and 3rds– never a bad one for the bottom of exotics

(8) MIND HUNTER used an easy trip to take home 2nd behind the blowout winner last week – he HAS left from out

here in the past, but that doesn’t seem like an option tonight...include him underneath if you think Marohn can get

him in play. (7) I DRAINTHESWAMP A was quickly reclaimed last week and has been hitting on all cylinders

lately – he’s also stuck outside while moving up to 40s, and that may slow him down considerably. (2) TWIGGS

PUB is super right now, but tonight’s class jump feels too ambitious. (4) AMERITRIC is another that’s been racing

well, but may have trouble replicating that form at tonight’s higher level.

RACE 3 – (4) LUCAPELO A won 3 straight not too long ago – it felt like he might be tailing off a bit, but he

responded to some class relief at Pocono last week with a career best 1:49.1 victory – he lands in a well-matched

field here, and should offer some decent value. (1) COMBUSTION used a well-timed brush to pick up his first local

victory last week – he steps up a notch tonight, but he’s been sharp for a while and may be able to beat these too. (2)

MY ULTIMATE BYRON A finds himself in the mix almost every week, but his last victory came (vs. cheaper) on

5/20, and that’s his only victory of the year – playable, but only if the price is fair. (5) HIMSELF N is used to facing

better, but he’s reliant on trip even at these lower levels – if things get testy up front, he can be very dangerous late.

(7) NONE BETTOR A has been racing “well” since recently returning from a long layoff but he gets another bad

draw, and there are several live players that drew inside – may have to settle for a smaller piece here. (6) BONDI LO

CKDOWN A has held form nicely for a long time but is another that figures to be hurt by another tough post. (8)

MYULTIMATEBAXTER N has been holding form very nicely in recent starts and would have been listed higher if

not for Post 8! (3) CAVIART SARGENT would be a surprise against these, even with the good draw.

RACE 4 – Short field, but a good race! (4) CHASE H HANOVER was terrific earlier this year, including an

excellent run through the Borgata Series – things then turned sour for a while, but last week’s front end try was a big

step back in the right direction – maybe he can build off that and find his way back to the winner’s circle. (2) SOHO

FIRESTONE A has been a big player virtually every start, and moves inside after charging home to victory from

Post 6 last week – hard to leave him off your tickets! (3) JAMAICAN ROCK A won his last 2 starts in Australia

before arriving in the U.S., won his qualifier, the won twice at Pocono, and then last week in NJ – it’s impossible to

fault any of his work, but he’s also moving all the way up to the Invitational while being listed as the 2-1 ML choice

– he deserves plenty of respect, but still hard to take a short price tonight. (5) DIEGO N gave it a game try first over

last week, just missing to #2 and #4 – not a great spot, but not impossible. (6) MULLINAX actually followed the

winner last week so it was disappointing that he couldn’t offer more in the lane– too soon to write him off (he’s been

super for weeks), but he’d need to be a pretty big price to be worth a play from out here. (1) TIP TOP CAT draws

the pole, but is winless in 12 Yonkers starts.

RACE 5 – (3) CATALPA RESCUE A is another fresh import for a barn that has enjoyed incredible success with

these over the past couple of years – he won his qualifier under his own power, and paced by a pretty nice mare in

that prep – willing to take a shot that he’ll be ready for his first U.S. start. (2) TWIN B POWERBALL landed

himself in some tough spots (after a nice form spree in June/early July) but is now getting some needed class drops –

he perked up a bit last week, and could be a solid player in here too. (5) PANETTONE HANOVER was well backed

and well meant last week but couldn’t quite overcome a tough trip against the classy, favored frontrunner – he’s been

smoother lately and remains a solid threat- but may need some trip luck to come out on top. (1) SPECULATING A

toured the oval from Post 8 in his U.S. debut then cooked his own chances when parked :26.1 for the lead last week

– the jury is still out on him, and he may be a real player tonight with a kinder journey! (4) FIZZING N has been

picking up some smaller pieces at big prices lately – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (7) ROLLING WITH SAM was a winner 2

back then killed by terrible cover last week – tonight’s class jump and poor post will be tough to overcome, though.

(6) ROCKMYSTER N was exiting a top barn before his last, drew poorly and was losing Bartlett...but he came up

better than expected, and gave Ginsburg his first winner of the year...this spot is MUCH tougher, however! (8) BLA

NK STARE draws Post 8 off a bad date, and was no factor from a similar spot in his last.

RACE 6 – (5) SADDLE UP is an outstanding 21-10-5-0 at Yonkers this year and has won 16 of his 37 local starts

over the last 2 years – he goes back to a barn that he won for 3 starts back and while not a “cinch” in here, he’s

surely the one to knock off. (3) ROCKIN N TALKIN has been very solid lately, and comes into this off a win last

week – remains a legitimate threat, with some racing luck. (1) WHY TOMORROW RAY was able to steal one on

the lead 2 back, then almost won again last week with a well timed brush to the final turn – possible for sure, but

tends to get overbet for a horse that has been somewhat camera shy this year. (2) BETTORBUCKLEUP easily

disposed of the 25s last week but he was sharp enough to suggest that he would have at least a chance against these,

if the trip goes his way. (4) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was 2nd best to a streaking SAILBOAT HANOVER upon

returning to YR two back, then had no chance last week (off the claim) – he has an excellent local history, and not a

bad value horse to at least consider. (8) GALANTE A returns off a 3rd last week in NJ and finished with good pace

in his last 2 local starts – he’ll have to pass ‘em all to win from out here, though! (7) REIGNING DEO is 0 for 18 at

YR this year, and draws outside– prefer others. (6) JIMMY CONNOR B was invisible in his last pair – pass for now.

RACE 7 – (2) SWEET BEACH LIFE saw his 3 race winning streak snapped last week but it was more because of

the way his trip played out, rather than not being sharp enough – we’ll give him a chance to get back to the winner’s

circle tonight. (3) ENDOFSTORY brought his “A Game” last week and was a powerful 1:51.4 front end winner – he

steps up a bit, but this field is still within his comfort zone– would be no surprise at all. (1) ESCAPE TO AMERICA

has held his form remarkably well, even at these higher levels – assuming he gets a sensible steer tonight, he can sit

pretty close and take home another decent piece. (5) TYPHOON BANNER N’s two wins this year have come vs.

easier, and he just hasn’t been able to get back to his top form yet – he wouldn’t be any real shock in here, but the

top pair just seem sharper right now. (4) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A recently won 3 straight, then was an “even” 4th

moving up in class last week – he’s forced to move up even more tonight, and is probably looking at only a minor

share. (6) HP MOMENTUM looked a bit overmatched in last week’s Invitational (off the claim), but tonight’s draw

may hurt his chances significantly, even with some class relief. (8) CARABAO A will be coming from last and

drops a win off his card after tonight – keep an eye for next time. (7) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK has enjoyed a

very good year so far, but seems up against tonight with the class hike AND terrible draw.

RACE 8 – (5) DUNKIN added Lasix last week for his stakes try at Northfield and went a BIG mile, used into the

:26.3 opener (before having to back off into 3rd), moving from turn two and then caught out chasing uncovered into

the sizzling :26.3 third panel – he still was trying hard for 3rd at the wire, and he’s obviously no stranger to the

Yonkers winner’s circle – we’ll try him on top tonight. (4) AYE AYE CAPTAIN N may have won 2 back if he had

room in the stretch and was flat-out huge taking his last, despite a very tough trip – while his barn has been

struggling lately, this guy is in peak form...and may have a chance at his first Invitational victory. (2) ALL CLASS

was in a seemingly impossible spot last week (Post 7), but finished with plenty of pace to be pretty close at the end –

he moves inside, and could be worth a look, at the right price. (6) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A was one of Kelly’s

TWO “Open” winners last Monday night, and that was after rallying hard for 2nd (at 50-1!) the week before – the

main knock here is the draw, and may slow him down tonight. (3) VERDUN can never be counted out, but he’s

typically very well backed, and just hasn’t had many WINS lately. (7) HOWLENTHEHILLS has been very good for

some time but wasn’t able to overcome a very tough trip last week, and now has to contend with Post 7 – leaning

more towards others. (1) NO CONTROL seems a bit overmatched, even with the rail assignment.

RACE 9 – (3) STREET HAWK N got some class relief last week and can be forgiven for coming up a little light

behind DIEGO N and AYE AYE CAPTAIN N, after a tough first over trip – Bartlett opts to drive ADMIRAL HILL

tonight, but Kelly is more than capable of getting this guy home in front. (6) ADMIRAL HILL picked up his first

victory of the season 2 back but found things a little tough in last week’s Invitational (while also facing some stretch

traffic) – Bartlett does take him over #3, but we’re still giving the edge to his rival. (4) MANFERNO has been super

since joining his current barn, handles any trip, and should be able to be part of the equation once more (gets

Holland tonight, as Buter stays loyal to #7). (2) JUMPINGJACKMAC N is gradually finding his better form, and his

(always hot) barn sent out some fire breathing winners last Monday night – leaning to a couple of others in here, but

he really wouldn’t be any huge surprise. (1) DONTLIKEITLEAVE probably needs to be in a little easier to be a

threat for the top slot, but he can take home a piece IF not overdriven. (5) HUNTINGFORCHROME is still looking

for his first victory of the year, and he may need to land in an easier spot before he gets it. Both (7) NIGHT HAWK

and (8) YOROKOBI N prefer to be in easier, and will also have to contend with the two worst posts – tough task!