Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, July 3, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NAADA Summer Series: (6) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE has been on a good roll for some time, and

almost won last week’s Monti Open with Mr. Keppler on board – his last 2 local amateur tries resulted in a win and

nose-loss 2 nd , and he looms a big threat tonight, despite the bad draw. (7) LOS BALLYKEELAMIGO showed big

speed before tiring 2 back then rattled off 3/4s in 1:27 last week, losing only to the very well meant tripsitter – his

barn has been on fire the last few weeks, and he’s another with a chance to overcome the draw and take this. (1) CA

MPBELLINI is listed at 20-1 ML but he just missed here 4 back in an amateur race – has to be worth at least a look.

(3) STAR HAIRDRESSER has fallen off form lately but he adds hopples here and tonight’s driver (his trainer)

certainly knows him well – eligible to perk up a bit. (8) MUSKINGUM won an amateur event here on 5/8, and won

his last start in NJ– faces an uphill task starting from Post 8, however. (2) ITSONEOFTHOSE has some good efforts

but was pretty dull last week, and will need to be sharper to threaten for a good piece tonight. (4) LOVE THIS BAR

has done some damage in these races when things go his way but he was parked weakly in his last, and it’s hard to

explain that 2-1 ML listing – definitely better value with others. (5) DRACO S goes his share of decent miles but his

4 for 60 local slate (last 3 years) makes him tough to consider on top!

RACE 2 – (3) AUSTRAL HANOVER has a pair of blowout wins and an excellent hard charging 3

rd from his last 3 starts - he can handle any trip, and deserves top billing in his current raging form. (2) BELLISSIMO FACE S was

off 3 weeks to his last start but still raced super, rallying crisply in the lane to just miss to a horse currently riding a 4

race winning streak – dangerous rival. (1) DIAMANTE TRIO IT has struggled with inconsistency this year but has

still been able to pick up 4 wins and $85K through half of 2025– her barn has been noticeably sharper the past

couple of weeks, and she could be dangerous if left alone on the front end. (4) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS has been

a great find for his connections but does seem to be leveling off at these higher levels – small piece? (5) ABRUZZO

held form nicely for a couple of months but does seem to be tailing a bit – drawing outside some sharp foes won’t

help hos chances tonight. (6) INFINITY STONE shows a new trainer listed for tonight but the bigger concern is the

bad draw, off the sick scratch – leaning elsewhere

RACE 3 – (5) MAX is incredibly sharp right now, winning 4 of his last 5 starts (and even overcoming an early

miscue in one of those victories) – it’s hard to ever label him a “cinch” (because he does make breaks at the start,

from time to time), but he’ll be very tough to knock off with a clean effort. (1) ALL STAR SWAN missed almost 4

months to her last start but still turned in a BIG effort, only weakening late despite being very hard used for the top –

the main danger. (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU used a perfect trip to pull off the upset 2 back, then did a nice job

holding the show spot last week after getting blown away by #5 at 3/4s– playable underneath. (2) WILLY WALTON

just hasn’t clicked since being claimed on 5/15 – maybe he can follow along up close and stick around for a small

share? (3) PASSIONATE PROMISE has needed to be in much easier to deliver his best efforts recently – will need

to be sharper if he hopes for any kind of good piece tonight. (6) HOOLIE N HECTOR had a rough 2024 season but

has been doing some good work lately, after taking 3 months off – tonight’s class jump and bad draw do figure to

slow him down, though. (7) FOR A DREAMER lands all the way outside after making a break last week.

RACE 4 – (6) AIRMANS JACKPOT hasn’t won in a while but she’s been hitting board almost every week, racing

well start after start – she was just re-claimed for a barn she raced very well for, and may be able to deliver a mild

upset, even with the bad draw. (2) CANTSTOP YANKEE hasn’t been on his “best” form in a while, but he’s shown

much better signs in a few recent starts – definitely a spot where he can do some real damage. (3) BROOKVIEW

DARIUS was terrific earlier in the year, hit a rough patch but has been doing better work in his last few starts –

could easily land somewhere on the ticket. (4) BARN HALL is a bit of a question mark – he was outstanding for

weeks after arriving back at Yonkers in late March, but wasn’t as sharp (off the claim) 2 back and also not as good

last week (off another claim) – yet another new trainer will send him postward tonight, and it’s hard to know which

version we’ll see! (1) BARRY BLACK is one of many from this barn that saw their form really pick up recently, but

he still may find THIS field just a bit tougher than he’d prefer...even from the pole. (5) PEDAL ON METAL has

some nice recent efforts out of town but vs. cheaper – he’s also missed 3 weeks. (7) BEACON BEACH had a few

good starts after arriving on 5/22 but does feel like he may have recently gone in the wrong direction

RACE 5 – (5) SOUTHWIND COORS has really thrived since joining the nation’s leading barn and has certainly

done all good work in his Yonkers starts (7-4-2-0) – he did get beat at Pocono as the 1/10 choice last week but to be

fair, the winner that night has been super since a recent barn change – we’ll give him the edge in his Hilltop return.

(3) KHAOSAN ROAD had been away more than 5 months when he just missed here on 5/15 – he was a little bit

disappointing when a close 2 nd in his next but raced super in defeat last week, battling the very tough ANTOGNONI

S very hard all the way – look for a big mile tonight. (7) TAKE ALL COMERS has an outstanding Yonkers resume,

and that includes last year’s 12-4-5-2 $300K local slate – obviously has more than enough ability to beat these, but

he also gets stuck all the way outside in just his 2 nd start of the year, and may be more focused on bigger prizes down

the road. (4) TIPSY MONI takes on the boys tonight but she’s shown that she can hold her own in the past – leaning

to a couple of others, but she’d hardly be a surprise. (1) QUEEN OF ALL is another talented lady that will take on

the gentlemen tonight – may be able to take home a piece thanks to the rail draw. (6) TORRONE brings a 4 race

winning streak into this but really should have been assigned an inside draw (with the BIG class jump) – sticking

with others. (2) BLACK TIE BASH does get properly assigned inside, but still seems overmatched

RACE 6 – Tough race! (5) KARLOO BRADLEY N really picked up his game with the drop to 20s, racing well for

several starts, and for 4 different trainers – he goes for yet another new barn tonight and while he finally moves back

up to 25s, many of these are question marks at this level – we’ll give him the narrow edge. (4) TECHTOPIA HANO

VER ships in off a pair of wins over cheaper at Ocean Downs, lands in a barn that often steps up fresh stock quickly,

and his young pilot steered home 5 winners over the past 2 Saturday cards...willing to consider, if the price is fair.

(8) OZONE BLUE CHIP dropped to 25s last week but came up short after trying to cut the mile from Post 7 – he

exits a very sharp barn, but also lands with a trainer that has sent out several big priced winners the past 2-3 weeks –

don’t dismiss too quickly. (6) SAILBOAT HANOVER struggled in his first 10 starts this year but is 7-4-2-1 since

then – he can probably handle the jump from 20s to 25s (off the re-claim), but his trip may be less than stellar. (3)

BETTER MEMORIES banked over $1M in his career but hasn’t been THAT kind of horse in some time – he does

land in a barn capable of improving horses by multiple seconds, so perhaps check the tote board? (1) DELIGHTFUL

DUDE N is 0 for 14 here this year after going 1 for 13 last year – still, he MAY be able to tow along for a small slice

from the pole. (2) MUSCLE BART A has gotten over his breaking issues but still may need to be in a little easier to

be a threat for the top slot. (7) SAULSBROOK HERO won a couple of races here earlier this year but lands a brutal

spot returning from NJ

RACE 7 – Another tough race: (6) RACIN FOR ROYALTY has been doing work since the 5/13 claim, hitting

board in 5 straight (including one win) – hard to predict her trip from this spot, but she’s sharp enough to win, if it’s

a good one. (2) PARADISE ROCK L was hammered down to 3/5 off the claim last week, was on the lead (coming

out of the fog) to the half but made an unexpected miscue – her price will be better tonight, if you want to give her a

shot at redemption. (5) THATS A HUGE BEACH has a win and two 3rds from her 5 local starts this year – she

doesn’t always finish that strong, but she actually hit the wire a bit better last week (from off the pace) – not opposed

to giving her a look tonight, at that 10-1 ML price. (7) EBONY LADY gave it a good first over try last week, right

there on the wire from 3 rd – she gets a new barn and driver for tonight, but will need to find a way to overcome Post

7. (4) ODDS ON SARA SARA was 7-0-0-0 here this year before suddenly finding better form in NJ the last few

starts – will she bring one of those better miles across the river? (3) IRON MISTRESS was a game winner 4 back

then no factor at all in her last 3 starts – dangerous barn, but 2-1 ML? (1) ANNELIESE HANOVER delivered back

to back 14-1 upsets at the end of May but then struggled in her last 3 starts– in need of a big wake up call. (8) TYRA

MAKES BANK is good right now, but faces an uphill battle trying to get in play from out here

RACE 8 – (5) SADDLE UP won 6 of 16 local starts LAST year, and has already taken 7 of 17 in 2025 – he comes

off a no-prayer trip vs. the 40s in his last start but drops back down to face an iffy field of 30s, and deserves the nod.

(1) BILL HALEY N has been unreliable for a long time so it was no real shock to see him get beat at 3/5 last week,

after looking SO good in his blowout win the start before – he remains a legitimate threat, but also figures to be

overbet once more. (4) ALTA CLASSIC A did super right off the bat after being claimed on 5/15 but his last couple

of starts make him a question mark for tonight – he does return to a barn for whom he raced super on two occasions,

and he could be dangerous here if he can bounce back to one of his better efforts. (2) ALEX TYE struggled for a

long time but he was a winner 3 back then just missed last week – a good trip from this spot could put him into the

mix. (7) MAXIMUS RED A lost any real chance when he took off the gate last week but did pace a strong final

3/8ths – another bad draw may hurt his chances for tonight, though. (6) SMOOTH LOU couldn’t last on the lead 3

back, was a sharp winner in his next then turned in another good effort last week – tonight’s class jump and poor

draw may be too much to overcome. (8) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY went a series of excellent efforts before

throwing major duds in his last pair – hard to make a good case for a turnaround tonight after drawing Post 8. (3)

CASINO ACTION N goes 2 nd time Lasix for a hot barn but would still be a surprise here

RACE 9 – (6) LYONS BENJAMIN has taken 4 in a row, for three different barns, with a variety of trips – gets a

tough draw for tonight, but sometimes you just stick with the hot hand! (3) CONTACT ZONE makes the jump from

20s to 30s tonight (off the claim) but seems sharp enough to handle – he’s really upped his game the past few starts,

and seems ready to contend with these too. (5) BULLVILLE FRANK had 5 seconds from his first 8 local starts this

year before getting over the hump with a pocket win last week – any decent trip should put him right back into the

mix tonight. (4) BUCHANNON HANOVER is off a sick scratch and has a terrible local record the past 2 years –

that being said, he’s actually been racing well lately, and isn’t a bad bomb to consider for the bottom of exotics. (1)

SIP OF BOURBON looks great “on paper” but he put in a very “strange” effort when 3 rd two back (he looked ready

to be pulled up at the half!), then was all out to just surge late to win last week, after seemingly hanging badly into

the stretch – steps up off the claim, and may end up overbet tonight. (2) BETTOR MAKE A WISH picked up minor

spoils in his last pair, and will need to be sharper if hoping for a bigger prize tonight. (7) WELL THATS MARKY

was much sharper in his last pair (win and very close 2 nd) but tonight’s draw may leave him looking at a much

smaller share. (8) ALWAYSCUTTINSCHOOL raced well in several local starts but he’s now 0 for 10 at Yonkers

and starts all the way outside tonight

RACE 10 – (6) PINE BUSH MAGA beat the 20s on May 6 th then was 2 nd at this level last week, behind the blowout

winner – she hails from a hot barn, catches a soft field, and gets the edge in the finale. (8) MC ANGEL is the “x

factor” – she was freshened up and qualified nicely on 6/6, went an encouraging mile for 3 rd (vs. much better) in her

first start back, but got caught up in a suicide battle last week and folded badly – she drops in for $20K off that mile

and it’s anybody’s guess if she’ll shake that mile off and throw a big one tonight, or if she was cooked last week and

not ready to be a player right now. (5) WILDCAT ANTONIA really fell apart for a few starts recently – she

LOOKED a lot better in her last pair (even if no threat), and isn’t a bad one for longshot fans to try. (3) NIKASA N

hasn’t been all that “sharp” lately, but at least she’s been competitive – she’d be no great surprise in this spot. (1)

YOU BEDA ROCK is just 10-0-1-0 here at Yonkers but she ships back off an easy NJ victory, and has enough speed

to grab a good trip...not impossible. (4) DELITFULCATHERIN N has a ton of back class but just hasn’t been sharp

at all, and generally gets way overbet. (2) BROOKDALE JESSIE has been struggling, and is as camera shy as they

come even when racing “well”. (7) LOOKOVERYOUR made no impact from a similar spot last week