Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, July 24, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NYSS, 2YO Colt Trot: (1) AI has yet to taste defeat, winning his qualifier easily then coming out on top

at Stga., Monti, and Buffalo (where he established a new track record) – he faces a couple of legitimate rivals here,

but still has to get top billing. (4) TITANS MISCHIEF was a winner at Monti and came up second best to AI in his 2

other NYSS starts – it really wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he was able to turn the tables on his nemesis tonight.

(2) SPENCER HANOVER was a steady 4 th in his Stga. debut and finished just behind AI last week, helped by an

easy trip– he’s improving each week, and will be waiting in the wings should the top pair falter (5) TWIN B SEVEN

SINS also seems to be improving, but may not be quite ready to tackle the top ones yet. (3) SEVEN GRAND makes

his career debut tonight for top shelf connections – we’ll just observe, for now.

RACE 2 – (3) GARDYS LEGACY A has been razor sharp, winning 3 of his last 4 (with and excellent 2

nd in the ther start) – moves from one hot barn to another, and the guess is that his form will hold up just fine...the one to

beat. (1) THIRD EDITION bobbled off the first turn last and elected to grab up and retreat to last, rather than just

drop back into 4 th...he flew home in the lane to just miss 3 rd , and his overall form is rock solid as well – legitimate

threat. (4) MINDTRIP was terrific in his local debut, scoring a dead game victory despite a very long first over bid

(for a small, yet very sharp barn) – could be a big threat here with a similarly sharp effort. (2) WAR DAN DELIGHT

N is just 1 for 23 this year but has been racing well for several months – always a good one to include underneath.

(5) J B GRAM wasn’t up for last week’s aggressive front end try – chance for minor spoils with a more patient steer.

(8) METAMAN won 3 straight in May but hasn’t come close to that form in weeks – Post 8 isn’t going to help! (6)

SWEET TROY quickly regressed after a solid try off the layoff - leaning elsewhere. (7) MY PLAYMATE GB ships

in from KY showing less than stellar form – pass for now

RACE 3- NYSS, 2YO Colt Trot: (2) SECURED benefited from breakers in that “easy” victory at Stga. but was still

sharp in taking his career debut – he was too overanxious at Monti (popped out of the pocket vs. AI) but was still

right there at the wire...gets the slight edge for tonight. (4) WHOS EYES BLUES may have the most “ability” in the

field but he lost action before breaking at Stga., then was handled very carefully to the wire in last week’s win in NJ

– he’ll be very tough if he can remain smooth throughout the mile tonight. (1) MUIR WOODS has stayed trotting

since recently adding hopples, and could grab a nice piece if that trend continues. (5) ANGRY PETE has been

handled aggressively every start and that could go either way tonight, starting from the outside – could use some

early racing luck! (3) CHAPTER GEO makes his half mile track debut after being handled cautiously in NJ

RACE 4 – (3) CANTSTOP YANKEE certainly thrived off the claim last week, used early on but still full of trot late

to win easily – chance to make it 2 in a row if just as sharp tonight. (1) WILLY WALTON had been struggling since

being claimed on 5/15 but finally put it all together last week, charging hard in the lane to blow past the leaders – if

he can build off that mile, he can be a big player again tonight. (6) RADIO LAB went a huge mile 2 back, even if vs.

cheaper (moving from 7 th on turn two, never flushing cover and still a player right to the latter stages)– he took a big

jump up to 40s last week but was undeterred, an excellent 2 nd best to #3...good value horse to consider, even from

out here. (2) PEDAL ON METAL finished well in both local starts this year, draws inside with Kakaley and can

grab a nice chunk (with some trip luck). (5) HAT TRICK MARLEAU has solid overall form but may find this spot

to be a little tough – minor spoils? (4) JUST LIKE MAGIC has been just “ok” since arriving here in early June

RACE 5 – NY Excelsior, 2YO C&G Trot (1) DWS CHA CHING was offstride before the start at Monti but made

up a ton of ground to be fairly close at the end – he followed that up by demolishing a field at Buffalo last week, and

looms the one to knock off tonight. (1A) GOOG EYES finished well back of his entrymate last start but was used

very hard early on – he’s been 2 nd in all 3 starts, and is a useful “insurance policy” to have. (4) DRESS SHOES won

as the favorite at Stga. (career debut), broke a Monti, and was a tough trip 3 rd at BR last week – logical player. (5)

FLEX UP broke in his first 2 qualifiers but stayed trotting and looked very good at PcD last week – hails from a

dangerous barn. And worth a look, at the right price. (8) JNE FROM DANOON is ok when he behaves – he starts

from Post 9, and it’ll be Kakaley’s job to put him behind somebody (in the front row) that will get away to a decent

start. (2) NEGOTIANT hails from a top barn and behaved nicely in his 2 nd prep – he starts from the pole, and could

be part of this IF he trots. (3) MOVING DAY drops out of the NYSS but probably never belonged there in the first

place – leaning elsewhere. (6) SECRET TRADER broke last week, and gets a terrible draw for tonight – tough spot.

(7) SIR DEVIOUS KNIGHT seems unlikely to get involved starting from Post 8.

RACE 6 – (1) AT THE HOP started to perk up 3 starts back and has looked a bit sharper each week – she just

missed in her last, and may be ready to get over the hump – one of several with a chance in this competitive affair.

(4) ONE DERFULBEACH was caught first over in a hot mile (vs. 30s) last week and can be forgiven for weakening

– drops down to 20s for tonight, and she was a winner of 3 straight at this level back in may – should be very

dangerous here (3) YUENGLING was a bit dull throughout last week but hung around for 4 th (for a new barn,

making only her 2 nd start in 45 days) – eligible to be sharper tonight, and will definitely be a decent price. (6) DWS

DARLENE has been knocking on the door, to say the least (been 2 nd SEVEN times in her last 9 starts!) – she just

missed in her last, and would be no surprise at all. (5) WILDCAT ANTONIA continues to hurt her chances by

lagging for too long, but then finishing up decently – minor share? (2) NORTHERN HALO hasn’t had much luck

since arriving from Canada and drops in for a tag off a bad date, and tiring try in PA – leaning towards others. Both

(7) QUICK MENU and (8) SAU BLE DELIGHTFUL have some good recent tries, but will be hard pressed to get in

play from terrible posts

RACE 7 – (1) FLIP MY CHIP is due for some better racing luck as he just got brutalized in his last pair (but still

raced super) – he was reclaimed by a barn for whom his last 2 starts produced a blowout win and a nose loss to the

oft-winning SADDLE UP, and he’ll be the one to catch and beat tonight. (7) MUSIC HALL turned in a better effort

dropping to 30s last week and now returns to his favorite barn for tonight– look for a big effort, despite the bad draw

(2) LMC PEANUTS WATCHIN picked up 2 nds in his first 2 local tries and finished well from an impossible spot

last week – he’s looking at a good trip tonight, and could definitely outperform that 12-1 ML price. (4) CAMOUFL

AGE MONEY rebounded 2 back after a few poor efforts and was a winner last week, though a little hard to steer at

times – his best makes him very dangerous here, but he also figures to be overbet. (3) THUNDER HUNTER JOE

just hasn’t clicked in his 3 starts since the recent claim – needs to be better to contend for a good piece of this. (5)

ON DAYBOO has been doing excellent work vs. the 20s, but will be facing considerably tougher tonight as he steps

up off last week’s claim – his 3 race winning streak would seem to be in jeopardy. (8) CHICKEN N DICE rallied for 3

rd from well back last week but that was a “fall apart” race – would need a lot more to go his way to be able to

reach from out here. (6) BALLARD EINSTEIN struggled in his 2 starts here earlier this year.

RACE 8 – (5) TIPSY MONI faced the boys the last 2 starts and landed on impossible trips as well – her win %

when facing the girls is astronomical, and her price may even creep up a bit tonight – we’ll often try to beat her, but

we’ll jump on her team for tonight, especially after winning the 5-8 draw. (6) HOT FLASH KIMMY collared #5 on

6/12, crushed a bit easier field 2 back and was a solid 3 rd (vs. males) in last week’s Invitational – tough draw, but too

sharp to ignore. (8) QUEEN OF ALL faces an uphill battle trying to find a trip from out here but she’s been very

sharp for a long time, and not a bad stab at what figures to be a very juicy price. (7) ETERIA IT had success in

Europe but is a little hard to gauge off her 3 U.S. starts – not exactly a great spot to be making her local debut, but

it’s also not often you’ll see a horse from this barn listed at 20-1 ML! (3) LUCKY MUM N looked off her game the

last 2 weeks but is always eligible to bounce back with a better one, especially with the good draw and Bartlett. (4)

SISTER MARY MAUDE made nearly $500K at 2 and 3 but has suffered with the “four year old blues” so far –

she’s too talented NOT to come around eventually, but hard to hop on her team right now. (1) P L NOTSONICE

found some better form recently vs. easier in PA– not sure she’s ready to jump back up to the FM Invitational,

though. (2) DRAW THE LINE may need to be in a little easier to strut her best stuff

RACE 9– (5) AUSTRAL HANOVER has 4 wins since 5/15 and they were all mega-blowouts (including last

week’s 7 length, 1:54.3 victory) – he doesn’t need the lead to succeed, and we’ll give him the edge over a couple of

other solid performers. (2) OVER AND BACK sat last all the way to the stretch last week then charged on by all

except #5 to finish 2 nd – he’s been terrific all year, will be closer to the action tonight, and could prove the main

danger. (4) TACHYON still tends to be inconsistent but he has 2 solid wins from his last 4 starts and is eligible to be

a player any week that he brings his best. (1) CRAZYLAND saw his 3 race winning streak ended last start when he

came up 2 nd best to #4 – leaning to others for the top spot here, but he could easily land somewhere in the exotics.

(7) DIRE STRAITS is another that tends to be inconsistent but he’s gone more than his share of big miles this year,

including a win 2 back at Pocono in their “winners over” trot – brutal draw, but wouldn’t dismiss his chances too

quickly, at least for a piece. (6) BLACK TIE BASH will appreciate the class relief, but not the draw – may need to

wait for a better spot to deliver his best effort. (3) BRONZER was a form-reversing dominant winner 2 back, then

followed that up with another victory in his last – faces much tougher tonight, however.

RACE 10 – Tough finale! (2) ALTA CLASSIC A hasn’t been “great” bit he picked up decent 3rds in his last pair,

could land on a good trip from this spot and figures to be a pretty decent price – one of several possibilities in this

hard-to-predict affair. (7) GDS THUNDER GB has been sharpening at Monti and makes his first local try of the

year, after producing a strong 19-4-3-4 local record in 2024 – he’s listed at 20-1 ML, and he’s not a bad bomb for

anybody looking for a late night longshot. (3) SHADOW CAT definitely fits with these, gets a better draw and is a

very logical player...he also figures to be somewhat overbet after being installed as the 9/5 ML choice. (5) I DRAIN

THESWAMP A has been stuck on smaller pieces for weeks but was heavily backed for his last, shot right to the top

and never looked back – have to respect his chances to repeat, though he’s unlikely to enjoy such an easy trip this

time. (1) BIG DREAM FELLA was used harder than usual last week and paid for it late – a more conservative trip

tonight could help him take home a small slice. (4) BILL HALEY N got very good for a few starts but then just

reverted to his money-burning, inconsistent form – hard to get excited about his chances right now, especially

coming off a sick scratch. (8) MAXIMUS RED A is good right now, but it’s hard to see him finding a manageable

trip from all the way out here. (6) HAMMERING HANK lacked the needed pop when sent wide last week and

could only take home a 4 th place check – he draws poorly now, and is just 1 for 22 on the year (and 0 for 17 here at

Yonkers).