Friday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, May 23, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (6) FACTORY GIRL was overmatched in the Matchmaker Series but a much more competitive 3

rd off the class drop last week – she drops a bit more, and it may be a spot for Brennan to get more aggressive with her–

worth a shot if the price is fair. (3) HANGON COWGIRL is just 1 for 17 out of town this year but she’s earned

$47K – she joins our leading barn, picks up our leading driver, and figures to be a good fit with these locals – logical

threat. (2) REC TIME moves inside after showing “sneaky pace” finishing from an impossible spot last week– she’s

somewhat unreliable, but can be a player here if she brings one of her better efforts (4) TRUE BLUE HANOVER

has struggled to get going this year but looked a little better last week – maybe she’s ready to have a bigger say? (8)

MIGHTHAVTIME N may have gotten a bit braver after beating cheaper at PcD 3 back as she wasn’t bad here on

5/6, and right there 3 rd last week – brutal draw, but an ok bomb for a small piece. (5) IM A BELIEVER came into

her last with poor form, an 0 for 17 Yonkers record, and had been going off big prices every week – but she took all

the $$ (3/2), blasted down the road, and won like a 1/10 shot – truly no clue what to expect from her now. (1) KAIR

AKICONFIDNTL N used an easy trip to pick up a well beaten 2 nd last week, but her overall form has been lacking –

not ready to jump back on her team just yet. (7) CRUISE ALERT picked up her first win of 2025 last week but she’s

facing much tougher here, and starts from a terrible spot.

RACE 2 – (4) CAL MILES N SHELL perked up 2 back when he almost upset at 20-1 – he followed that up with an

excellent amateur try at Monti, and he seems more than sharp enough to be a handful here. (2) BLACK TIE BASH

has been sharp and edged out the top choice in his last – he should be looking at a good trip here, and looms a threat

to repeat. (5) CREATE MYSTIQUE got caught in a bad shuffle last week, and may have been content to just finish

the mile trotting after losing any chance – she has some solid efforts lately, and isn’t a bad stab for longshot fans. (3)

CREATIVE VENTURE was way overbet (3/5) the last 2 weeks and unable to deliver – not a huge fan right now, but

the price will certainly be much better for those that want to give him another shot. (1) SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE cut

the mile the last 2 weeks and tired to 4 th both times – will need to be a lot sharper if hoping to be a bigger threat

tonight. (7) PAPA DOC drops out of 40s but just hasn’t been sharp – suppose he could have a chance here if things

just fall apart up front. (6) THE LAST CHAPTER picked up a 2 nd last week but never looked “sharp”, not even

retaking the lead from a 30-1 shot – steps up, draws poorly, and that has us leaning elsewhere. (8) LOVE THIS BAR

wasn’t bad last week but faces an uphill battle trying to get in play from out here

RACE 3 – (3) LLOYDS LOVES had some pretty bad luck throughout the Matchmaker Series but was right back on

her game with the class drop on 5/2, dominating her rivals on the front end – she had a new trainer listed for her last

start, and did weaken a bit after cutting the mile...we’ll give her a chance for redemption, but feeling a little less

confident after last week’s try. (4) CHIAPANECAS had a couple of so-so tries after a LONG form spree, but

bounced right back with very sharp efforts in her last pair – she did beat #3 last week, and deserves plenty of respect

tonight (with Zeron filling in for Gingras). (5) MISS DOTTIE MAE was an fire-breathing, eye-popping winner from

Post 8 four back and has held her form pretty well since then...playable underneath in exotics. (7) EASY TO PLEA

SE wasn’t bad in her Matchmaker starts, even if a bit overmatched – she picked up a pair of wins after the series, but

will have a tougher time making it 3 in a row after drawing out here. (1) IDEAL COVER can be tough to gauge

from start to start – chance for a piece if she shows up in the right mood. (6) BLOOD MOON A probably needs a

better draw in an easier field to be a more serious threat. (2) OVER ICE arrives from the West Coast and the guess is

that she’s probably overmatched in this spot

RACE 4 – (1) ABRUZZO got caught in a bad shuffle last week and lost any chance – he would probably appreciate

some class relief but with tonight’s rail draw (against this field), he may still be sharp enough to get the job done. (7)

RITSON was no factor off the class drop last week but also had Petter Engblom on board – Zeron is back tonight,

and that 12-1 ML price definitely makes this one worth a look. (6) IMMIGRANT AM S feels like he may be on the

upswing, finishing with crisper trot in his last pair – as long as the price is fair, he’s worth considering. (5) LOUS

GAMBLER beat the 40s four back and has been “ok” since then – should fit well in this field, and a live trip puts

him in the hunt. (4) WINDSONG PIONEER did squander his two hole trip last week but he always has a chance to

throw a good one when on/near the lead – would need a good price, though. (2) NO DRAMA PLEASE tired after a

first over bid last week and now moves up in class – may need to be in a little easier to be a threat for the top prize.

(3) ROGER RABBIT would be a threat on his best but he’s been well off his game recently. (8) BEERTHIRTY K

was a sharp amateur race winner in his last, but lands Post 8 (well up in class) returning from Pocono.

RACE 5 – (2) TACHYON has been landing on some really tough trips lately but still holding his form – he moves

inside, catches a very beatable field, and deserves top billing tonight. (4) STREET GOSSIP turned in a sharp try at

Plainridge (off a bad date) then built off that with last week’s first over victory – he steps up a bit, but should still be

comfortable in this field – chance to be a player here too. (3) DRAW THE LINE added Lasix last week but still got a

little tired late in the mile and weakened to 3 rd – maybe she’ll be better here racing from a bit off the pace? (1) TOR

RONE hadn’t been on his best game lately but it still would have been hard to predict last week’s total clunker – it

seems a good sign that he drops right back in the box, but it’s also hard to back him with too much confidence right

now. (8) THE PRINCE just fell apart after being claimed on 3/13 – he took a month off, and his last effort (off that

bad date) was more encouraging – tonight’s draw may really slow him down, though. (6) KASHA V has been pretty

unpredictable for much of the past 2 years – he’d have a chance to rally for a piece here IF he shows up in one of his

better moods. (5) CAPTAIN WANIA has ability but he took NO $$ upon arrival from Canada and finished way back

– Stratton opting off tonight also seems like a bad sign. (7) IHAVEADREAM DE VIE just seems totally buried

RACE 6 – (4) LAURIE LEE gets important class relief, along with a chance to be handled more aggressively – she

figures to be a decent price, and definitely one to consider. (2) VIBRANCE went through a long dry spell but turned

in a sharp mile in that win 2 back, then followed that up with another victory last week – she steps up another level,

but she was battling better than these when sharp in the past – possibility. (6) KATIES UP turned in a very sharp try

2 back (big wake up call) then was an even 3 rd last week (with Petter Engblom in the bike) – back to Bartlett now,

but will need at least a bit of trip luck starting from Post 6. (5) TALENT TO SPARE A was too far back to have any

chance last time but may be able to work out a reasonable trip tonight – minor share? (7) BETTA WATCH OUT N

was better last week, but helped tremendously by an easy pocket trip – looking at a much tougher journey tonight.

(1) RESURRECTION DAWN has been tailing for a few starts, culminating with that disastrous mile on 5/2 – she

did look better re-qualifying, and we’ll see if she can turn in a more competitive try from the pole. (8) TRICK OF

THE LIGHT gets another horrible draw – wait for a better spot. (3) TWO PISTOL ANNIE has been having a tough

year, and backed up badly here on 4/11 with a new trainer listed – just qualified at Monti for another new barn, and

would be hard to endorse right now

RACE 7 – Good race: (3) SEVENSHADESOFGREY recently went through a tough stretch with a couple of

miscues but definitely looked finishing last week, full of trot at the wire – he could end up with a decent trip here,

and he’ll probably be the best price of the main players...good value play. (2) DIRE STRAITS took a while to find

his best gear last week but mowed ‘em down easily in the lane once he did (after arriving sharp from NJ)– he’s sharp

enough to handle the class rise, and the only real knock is that 3/2 ML price. (1) NOTTINGHAM has been sharp for

a while, can handle a variety of trips, and is another that could be very dangerous tonight if the trip breaks his way.

(7) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS has been a very nice success story since joining his current barn in March – he’s

shown the quick speed to make trips for himself, but also shown he can race from behind, if necessary – worth using

in exotics, even from out here. (4) DWS POINT MAN threw a major dud on 4/25 then caught a 1:54.3 mile in his

last after missing 3 weeks – on his best, he can contend for a piece of this. (6) VINNY DE VIE hasn’t been “bad” in

2025 but he’s still winless on the year, and probably hasn’t quite found his best form – tonight’s draw isn’t going to

help. (5) B NICKING’s 2 wins this year have come on the lead, in softer spots – leaning elsewhere. (8) JIMBARAN

ZON S could only take home smaller pieces in his 3 NJ starts (after arriving from Sweden) – lands in a brutal spot

making his Hilltop debut

RACE 8 – (4) SILK CLOUD A had high hopes heading into the Matchmaker Final but she landed on a very tough

trip and was all done once they turned for home – it’s good to see her right back in the box after that rough outing,

and we’ll give her the narrow edge tonight, mostly because of her good draw, and versatile racing style. (7) WALKI

N ON SUNSHINE also experienced disappointment in that Series Final, used very hard herself and going offstride

in the lane (after starting to tire) – she bounced right back with a sharp win in last week’s Invitational and may be

able to take another...even with the outside post assignment. (3) CHERYLS SHADOW isn’t flashy but she shows

up almost every week, and usually gives a good account of herself – very playable in exotics with the inside draw.

(5) FRONT PAGE STORY has won 10 of her 22 Yonker starts, and was 2 nd to #7 last week – she’s another versatile

mare that could do damage with any decent trip. (6) PASS AND STOW was no match late for a resurgent LIT DE

ROSE last week, and her local slate now stands at 10-8-2-0 – this is her first try at the Invitational level, and she

wasn’t given any help with an inside draw...could be a tough spot for her. (2) PROMISELAND A seems to finally

be finding her best U.S. form, not coincidentally since moving to our leading trainer 3 back – could see her rallying

for a share if things go her way. (1) COACHELLABOUND N is always capable of a big mile, and only listed on the

bottom because of last week’s sick scratch

RACE 9 – (4) UPTOWN HANOVER made her 2025 return in the Matchmaker and was racing very well for her

first few starts – seemed to tail a bit in her last pair but gets plenty of class relief here, and we’ll look for her perk up

with a big one...even if Bartlett sticks with #1. (1) LYDEO was in a bit too tough in the Series but was a decent 4 th

off the class drop last week (from a tough spot), and thrived at these levels prior to the Matchmaker – looms a big

threat tonight, though likely to be way overbet. (7) KISS MY CHEEK has either been “good” or “VERY good’ in all

5 starts since changing barns in April – she looked especially sharp/smooth in her last (crushing an easier field), and

we’ll see if she’s good enough to overcome both the bad draw, and tonight’s tougher competition. (3) GOLDEN QU

EST N hasn’t found her top form so far in 2025, but she still picks up pieces regularly at this level – prefer others on

top, but the right trip could land her somewhere in the exotics. (2) LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK picked up a 3 rd in

this class in her last start, but that was 3 weeks ago – wouldn’t be shocked to see her take home a piece, but a couple

of others do look a bit more appealing tonight. (8) MIKI IN LUV made decent $$ at 2 and 3 and recently returned

for her 4YO campaign – her efforts out of town suggest she may be in a bit too tough for her local debut, especially

from out here. (6) VARSITY BLUE CHIP has been racing well at PcD vs. older mares, but not as tough as these –

she still has much to prove against these types. (5) LUCKY ARTIST A struggled in her last pair and now has to

move UP in class off those efforts

RACE 10 – Tough finale! (7) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL doesn’t have the greatest win profile here at Yonkers but

she did win easily in this class on 3/21, and she did hit board 2 and 3 back – Holland is never afraid to give one a

chance, so maybe she can pull off the upset here. (5) COWGIRL LILLY had a trio of good starts before failing to get

into the action last week – she’s listed at 15-1 ML, and she MAY be able to threaten if she can bounce right back to

her better form. (1) KAT picked up a 3 rd here on 4/11 after being acquired from the nation’s leading barn...but it’s

been all downhill in the 5 starts since then – she drops to the bottom level and draws the rail, but that 3/2 ML price

makes it very tempting to take a shot against her, looking for better value. (8) KNOCK TWICE had some success

here last year in the lower NWPM classes – she recently started her 4YO campaign and the last pair at Chester do

look promising – would be willing to take a shot with her, at the right price. (6) PARISIAN BLUE CHIP just looked

disinterested for much of the way last week, finding some life well after the fact – she’s another that COULD be a

player if in the right mood. (2) ANNELIESE HANOVER has been in and out and entirely unpredictable for her

entire career – IF she brings one of her better efforts, this is the type of field where she would have a chance. (3) JIL

LIAN JIGGS never really thrived after the 3/25 claim and it would appear that Mr. and Mrs. Bongiorno have moved

her to another barn, hoping that perks her up...prefer to just observe, for now. (4) CATIE FAYE HANOVER is

camera shy in general, and particularly so here at Yonkers – suppose she has a chance for some minor spoils getting

Zeron tonight.