Friday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, July 18, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (5) DIAMANTE TRIO IT hasn’t been nearly as consistent in 2025 as she was last year, but she’s still

been able to win 4 races (so far) and bank $91K – when she’s “good” she’s still a tough mare, and this feels like a

spot where we can look for her to bring her best (6) GOLDEN RAIN S saw her form fall apart after leaving Yonkers

in May but prior to that she won 4 of 5 here at The Hilltop, the lone loss coming to the very talented ANTOGNONI

S – the guess is that she’ll perk up in a hurry back at her favorite track, and that 5-1 ML price does look appealing.

(2) BONTONI DEGATO S was never in play when stuck in 7 th four back but has otherwise held form very nicely in

a recent climb back up the class ladder – the good draw puts him in play for a decent piece tonight. (1) WANIA had

been racing solidly in the Saratoga Open , and was an ok 3 rd at Monti last week – he moves to a new barn now, has

plenty of local experience, and may be able to use the good draw to take home a piece. (4) IM AN ANDOVER has

been a steady performer lately, has always liked Yonkers, and can race on or off the pace – ok to use underneath. (3)

SWISS HOUSE ONFIRE just hasn’t been able to up his game recently, like so many of his other barnmates have –

leaning elsewhere. (7) B NICKING didn’t feel like trotting on 7/4 but qualified back nicely 4 days later – tough spot,

even if he behaves himself. (8) THE PRINCE will look more attractive with a class drop, and better draw

RACE 2 – (3) HUNTING HULA is quickly sharpening since the barn change and just missed to the short-priced

frontrunner last week – should offer some decent value tonight with the likely favorites seeming a bit vulnerable. (1)

BLOOD MOON A was no threat last start but not far off at the end either – she could trip out here, and did win one

level up back in April – possibility. (7) SEASIDE DIVA won 13 of 20 in a $572K season last year but while she’s

had a few big moments in 2025, she’s now just 1 for 14 and thrown her share of clunkers – likely to be overbet, even

from Post 7. (2) VARSITY BLUE CHIP tripped out and won at this level on 5/30, holding form very nicely since

then – that 5/2 ML seems too short, but she does have a solid chance for a good piece if the trip goes her way. (4)

LUCKY ARTIST A was actually VERY sharp 2 back, flying home like the “old days” – she was killed by a poor

flow last week, but could bounce back tonight...and as mentioned many times, her barn has sent out endless winners

at big prices the last few weeks. (5) RESURRECTION DAWN has been racing ok lately, but may struggle to find a

decent trip from this spot. (6) TWIN DELIGHT has to prove that she can be a player with these tougher mares

RACE 3 – (3) STAYINGWITHTHEWIND benefited from easy trips the last 2 weeks but she also LOOKED a lot

sharper in those 2 (easy) victories – seems like she’s finally hitting on all cylinders, and may be able to make it 3 in a

row, even with the slight class bump. (6) PASS AND STOW was stuck taking on Invitational mares in PA the last 2

weeks but returns to a more modest spot back at Yonkers, where she sports an outstanding 12-8-2-0 record – tough

draw and loses Bartlett, but still a legitimate threat. (1) KISS MY CHEEK never got in play last week (Post 6) but

look for a much more involved effort tonight – her best effort gives her a solid chance here. (2) IDEAL COVER was

stuck out into the fastest part of the mile last week and struggled a bit – her prior starts were all solid, however, and

an easier trip puts her in the hunt for a decent piece. (5) UPTOWN HANOVER has good pace finishing last week

but was helped by an easy inside trip – she always takes plenty of $$, but her 1 for 13 record this year suggests there

is better value with others. (4) CHIPANECAS has been away for a month and that seems like a concern

RACE 4 – (2) CHULO doesn’t seem as sharp as he was when he first arrived from Canada this winter but it’s not

like he’s “bad” right now – he was a solid first over 2 nd to last week’s runaway winner (in a hot 1:54.4 mile) and

meets nothing too scary – the good draw may help him get back to the winner’s circle. (3) AIRMANS JACKPOT

has been sharp for some time but did throw a disappointing mile last week, off the claim (facing tougher) – could

easily bounce back with a much better effort vs. this softer (overall) group. (6) BE DIFFERENT was galloping well

before the start last week, did recover before the car pulled away but got away poorly and wasn’t a player – could

rally for a piece here (at a nice price) if he shrugs off last week’s miscue. (1) THE HAZLETON came back sharper

than expected off the freshening and was a winner (off the qualifier) 2 back – he wasn’t as sharp last week, though,

and will need to be better if he hopes to beat these. (7) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS is getting sharper for his current

barn, but faces an uphill battle after drawing poorly once more – still one to consider for exotics. (4) CAPTAIN WA

NIA feels better suited with a bit easier. (5) STREET GOSSIP drops, and may be able to grab some minor spoils

RACE 5 – (7) TALENT TO SPARE A landed on a brutal trip last week but was still trying hard at the wire – if she

can improve at the start and work out a manageable trip, this is a field she can handle. (6) MISS DOTTIE MAE

never was able to get into play last week but she gets Bartlett for tonight, and he usually knows how to push her

buttons – look for a much better effort here. (1) OKINAWA BEACH A is just 1 for 15 this year and her current

efforts don’t look all that appealing – still, this is a spot where she can perk up and do some damage. (5) LINEMUP

KNOCKMBACK has done some good work here in the past, and at higher levels than this – another with a chance

in here IF she brings her best. (3) KAT is just 10-0-0-2 here this year but racing well enough right now to at least

have a chance at a minor share. (4) CATIE FAYE HANOVER is totally camera shy here at Yonkers but she does

ship down off a win at Monti, and is another that can grab a slice, with the right trip. (2) WHASSUP HANOVER

just hasn’t looked sharp for a barn that usually sends out live ones – sticking with others. (8) UNCONTROLLED is

8-0-0-0 at Yonker this year (after going 1 for 13 in 2024) – racing ok in PA, but this spot just seems brutal

RACE 6 – (5) BUDDY EARL was shuffled badly in his local debut but was full of trot finishing (after the fact) - he

picks up a red hot Brennan for tonight, and maybe able to pull off an upset. (4) ARCHERY SEELSTER had Post 8

vs. better in his only recent local try and did finish ok that night – returns in a much easier spot, gets a good draw,

and looms a major threat. (8) NO DRAMA PLEASE draws Post 8 and is 0 for 20 this year BUT he’s sharper than

most of these, and could easily outperform that 20-1 ML price if Marohn is able to find him some racing luck. (3)

HANKINS HANOVER will take plenty of $$ here and is very logical against this bunch...he’s also 6-0-0-0 here at

Yonkers, and just seems to race better at other tracks – could be a bit vulnerable at a short price. (1) MYCROWNM

YKINGDOM has definitely been struggling but he lands the pole in the bottom class and is used to holding his own

vs. WAY better than these – would still need a decent price to try him on top, though, as he just hasn’t been sharp in

some time. (2) R NO MERCY is 0 for 7 at YR but did pick up three 3rds – maybe minor spoils? (7) INTL BLOCKA

DE just never clicked after being claimed by his current connections and draws horribly for tonight – leaning

towards others. (6) FULL RIGHTS threw a few good efforts this year but he’s 15-0-2-0 and hard to back right now

RACE 7 – (1) MARLBANK ROAD benefited from an easy trip when a close 2 nd at 15-1 two back, then offered

some late pace for 4th from an impossible spot last week – logical spot to look for an aggressive try, and may finally

be sharp enough to pull it off. (6) CAVIART SARGENT has a long history of outracing his odds when facing better,

but then disappointing at short prices when in “winning” spots – make sure to get a fair price if using him on top. (3)

C BET HANOVER squandered what seemed like a winning trip last week and had to settle for 2 nd to a horse making

his first start in the U.S. – maybe he can convert with another good trip tonight. (8) FIZZING N went to the top last

week, yielded for a pocket trip but was badly shuffled at 3/4s (then paced well at the end after shaking free) – could

land somewhere on the ticket (at a big price) if he can get away to a similarly fast start. (2) MOVIN ON UP has

offered little lately but finally gets an inside draw – he has license to improve. (4) JD CAMDEN GB has only been

able to take home minor scraps, and will need to improve if he’s hoping to do better tonight. (5) TEXAS HOL DEM

is another that has been picking up small checks, and in need of a better effort to contend for the bigger prizes. (7)

DEALERS TURN loomed boldly last week before hanging badly...suppose that’s why he’s 0 for 13 this year

RACE 8 – (6) DOROTEA TRIO IT is obviously risky right now as she’s made (uncharacteristic) breaks in 2 of her

last 3 starts – she’s also listed at 8-1 ML, and she’ll be very tough in this field if she behaves herself – worth a stab.

(2) FOR A DREAMER was slowed by bad posts in his last pair but moves inside tonight, fits nicely with these and

may be another value horse worth considering. (8) BULLY BOY HILL nearly pulled off a 75-1 shocker 2 back, then

gave it a good try on the lead last week – hard to say if he can find a way into the hunt from out here, but he’ll be a

big price and is obviously sharp right now. (3) WARRIOR ONE pretty much just stole one last week, making the top

and grabbing a slow middle half (with a tough trip rival to his outside), then safely holding them all off in a slow

mile – he feels vulnerable, but has too much back class to ever dismiss too easily. (5) KASHA V can be highly

unpredictable, and never a bad play at a big price. (4) P L OSCAR is listed at 9/5 ML and while his barn may be hot,

HE looked awful in his last pair. (1) CREATIVE VENTURE drops and draws the pole but he’s just 1 for 19 this year

and not sharp right now. (7) MUSICAL RIDE wasn’t sharp in his last pair, and gets a terrible draw for tonight

RACE 9 – (8) WALKIN ON SUNSHINE returns to The Hilltop off a 3rd place finish behind the beastly TWIN B

JOE FRESH and SYLVIA HANOVER in the D Haughton Memorial – she’s overcome these spots here several

times, and can do it again tonight. (7) SILK CLOUD A moves outside but has the speed to get in play – she’s won 2

in a row, and can be back in the hunt tonight. (1) ELEKTRA A would like to be in a little cheaper but an easy trip

from this spot could help her grab a piece. (3) FACTORY GIRL raced better than expected last week, even if helped

by an easy trip – possibility for 3 rd/4 th . (5) LIT DE ROSE probably still isn’t at her “best”, but she was sharp enough

to grab a win and 2 nd in her last pair – could be looking at a tougher trip tonight. (6) LYDEO was up in class and off

a month last week but was still full of pace through the wire – would have been listed higher if not for the draw. (4)

COACHELLABOUND N was one of the barn’s nice priced winners 2 back but reverted to her lesser form last week

– not sure what to expect. (2) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY is usually a bit overmatched vs. these types.