Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, June 5, 2025 – Race Analysis

If you watched the races on Tuesday night, you may have noticed that the starting car appeared to be releasing

the horses about 3 seconds later than it has been (for a long time) – only 3 horses outside of Post 4 were able to

leave well the entire night, and that’s something to consider in your handicapping (assuming the car continues to

leave at that much later point)

RACE 1 – Short field, but a good race! (2) JUST LIKE MAGIC made only 7 starts last year but he’s been racing

steadily in 2025 and recently climbing back up the class ladder in PA – he lands in our leading barn, will be handled

by our leading driver, and that’s an angle we’ve seen deliver endless times. (6) ROSE RUN XTRA won his only YR

start last year on 12/13 (right after joining this barn) but then went on the shelf for 5 months – his made his first start

back a winning one (at PcD), and has to feared here, despite the bad draw. (3) AIRMANS JACKPOT raced well in

all 3 starts since the claim, can handle any trip, and does deserve a look at what figures to be a good price. (1) HOT

FLASH KIMMY struggled a bit in the FM Open but drops back to the $40K level tonight and she’s had plenty of

success in this class – figures to be right in the mix from start to finish. (5) MAHONE SEELSTER almost always

finishes with good trot – the more they battle up front, the better his chances to make some late noise. (4) WILLY

WALTON debuted for a new barn last week but had the same issues finishing that hurt him in the past

RACE 2 – (5) GAMBLINGTERROR squandered his trip off the class drop 2 back but did race better last week,

using the inside route to rally for 2 nd – he catches a blank field here and should be looking at an aggressive try –

we’ll see if he’s good enough to get it done. (3) ALEX TYE has struggled all year long but his last few at least seem

a little better – a quick start may give him a chance to be a bigger player tonight. (6) MY ULTIMATE STAR A

shipped in off a nice try in NJ and actually raced well here too, overcoming terrible cover to rally for a decent 4

th – would at least give him a look at what figures to be a big price. (7) REIGNING DEO is winless on the year and has

just one 2 nd...that being said he DOES fit ok with these, with the obvious concern being the draw – maybe he can

grab a piece with some trip luck. (4) SMOOTH LOU was no factor at 86-1 in his only local start so while he seems

to be returning from NJ in a bit better form, he’d be hard to endorse tonight at what figures to be a fairly short price.

(1) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N is probably the only horse in the barn that’s been unable to get anything going this year

– still waiting for better signs. (2) JIMMY CONNOR B has 3 starts since returning from the layoff and it would be

hard to like him off any of those...especially last week (at PcD)

RACE 3 – (4) MAX was one of several horses from the barn to return from a 3 week vacation and race even better

last week, a razor sharp front end winner despite moving up in class off losses at Pocono – he may have to do it from

a bit off the pace tonight, but he’s dangerous that way too. (2) BEACON BEACH arrived sharp from Nfd. and BR

and raced well in both local tries, even if tiring a bit at the end last week – moves inside, and could be a big player

here. (1) EPOS OSTERVANG DK always “figures”, always takes $$, but his 3 for 31 local record the last 2 years

suggests he may be better used underneath, rather than on top. (3) HAT TRICK MARLEAU usually needs things to

fall apart to threaten in 40s but an easy trip could see him take home a piece. (5) INTL BLOCKADE outraced his

71-1 odds when he rallied for 3 rd last week, but may have trouble replicating that effort from this spot. (6) BE DIFF

ERENT lit up the tote board at 38-1 four back and was a good 2 nd the next week – he wasn’t able to get in play in his

last pair, however, and may face that same dilemma tonight (with another terrible draw)

RACE 4 – (6) BELLISSIMO FACE S has only 2 real “blips” in her form, an untimely miscue in the Brennan Trot

Final, and then last week’s start in the Chester Open (facing a tough bunch) – she gets the worst of the draw, but can

still come out on top with some trip luck. (4) DIRE STRAITS came back strong from a winter freshening and his

hitting on all cylinders right now – he steps up a notch, but can still be a major threat if as sharp as he was in his last

pair. (3) LUCKY MUM N won a bunch of races (in the lower classes) after arriving in the U.S., then hit a rough

patch for a couple of months – she came back to life with nice efforts in her last 2 starts (in the FM Open), and can

be a player here too, with a similar effort. (1) DIAMANTE TRIO IT was super throughout ‘24 but has been plagued

by inconsistency in ’25– her best effort would make her dangerous here- but will she bring it tonight? (5) AUSTRA

L HANOVER bounced back nicely after a couple of miscues in late April – he didn’t fire his best shot last week,

though, and will need to bring his best to be a serious threat tonight. (2) MA ISABELLE has won 3 of her last 5

starts but still needs to prove she can be a player against these tougher types

RACE 5 – NAADA Spring Fling Series Final: (1) WOODSIDE GENIUS is a solid Monti Open trotter so it was no

surprise to see him race very well in his last pair of amateur starts – the rail draw should really benefit him, and this

feels like a good opportunity for Joe Lee to pick up his first Yonkers victory of the season. (2) BIG LIMO landed on

terrible trips in 2 of his 3 local amateur tries but was a winner in the other – he could have a real say here...at a nice

price. (6) FANATIC has 2 wins this season and both were in amateur races – he was a sharp first over winner in his

last (at Monti), but has missed 3 weeks (sick scratch) and gets a tough draw as well – insist on a good price if using

on top. (3) PSLAMSFORTYSIXFIVE was a blowout winner here on 5/8 then right there 3 rd at Monti last start –

could be a threat tonight if things go his way. (5) VELOCIRAPTOR is another that has seen both of his wins this

year come in amateur races...not impossible, but a few other sharp ones just seem a bit more appealing. (4) RACEA

CE has become pretty inconsistent but even his best effort may leave him looking at only a smaller piece vs. some of

these. (7) LIMERENCE hasn’t won here since 2022 and draws Post 7. (8) SHOEMAKER HANOVER has missed 4

weeks (after being scratched sick and lands Post 8.

RACE 6 – (2) HARPER SEELSTER was a wake up call winner 3 back, was too far back to get involved in her next

but rallied from an impossible spot last week to be 4 th – she lands in an iffy field, moves inside, and may be able to

score a mild upset. (1) IRIS SEELSTER was a close 3 rd last week but was in a spot where she could have won, if

sharper – her overall form IS better the last couple of weeks, and she has to be seen as a viable player with another

rail draw. (8) IRON MISTRESS was sent off favored last week (despite 3 weeks off) and was able to hang on for her

red hot barn – faces a tougher task starting from Post 8 tonight, and also could end up overbet...could be vulnerable.

(5) COALFORDSNSHINE GB was well backed for both starts since returning to YR but weakened with no excuses

on 5/20, then hung in the stretch last week – won’t write her off, but also won’t take a short price on top. (4) DWS

DARLENE hit board in 3 of her last 4 starts including one from Post 7 – has earned a spot underneath in exotics. (7)

GOT BEACH BODY has a nice 2 nd and 3 rd from her last 3 starts but from much better spots – may struggle to get in

play here. (6) WILDCAT ANTONIA was claimed on 5/13 for $25K and the red flags went up when she dropped to

20s for her next start – she broke that night, and we’ll see how she does off the re-claim (her previous owners made

$5K on the exchange, but we’ll see how that plays out long term). (3) PLEASURE SEEKER has struggled all year

RACE 7 – (1) HAPPY CHOPPER had a strong 3YO campaign, winning 6 races and $121k – it took her a couple of

starts to get her 4YO season in gear but she ships in tonight off a pair of Nfd. jogburgers, and if her connections

think this is a good level for her, we’ll assume they’re correct. (4) OVER AND BACK has an outstanding 10-5-1-2

record at Yonkers this year – he goes for his 4 th barn in 4 weeks, and the guess here is that he’ll continue to thrive –

major danger. (2) BARN HALL has been on a tear since arriving on 3/27, currently 7-5-1-1 at Yonkers this year –

he’s another moving to a new barn tonight but he exits three very high % trainers, and lands in a barn that’s just 2 for

39 locally this year – he MAY be a bit vulnerable tonight. (3) CANTSTOP YANKEE ran into a bad stretch recently

– he showed life in his last pair, though still not close to 100%...maybe underneath? (5) MOHATU AS has some ok

tries in this class – maybe 3 rd/4 th with an easy trip? (6) FULL STRENGTH reverted to bad habits last week and now

lands all the way outside – guessing he’ll be handled very conservatively

RACE 8 – (6) ALTA CLASSIC A was re-claimed last week by the barn for whom he won the week before (also off

the claim) – he draws outside a couple of very tough foes, but that 10-1 ML price does look appealing! (2) BURNH

AM BOY N has been mostly “ok” since returning from the layoff so it’s a surprise to see Bartlett hopping off a

couple of other main clients in here to drive this guy (who he hasn’t been driving!) – we’ll usually defer to his

judgment, but that 8/5 ML price makes this guy hard to endorse on top. (4) TWIG was another from the barn that

raced his eyeballs out after 3 weeks off, and he can be forgiven for coming up 2 nd best to the sharp SADDLE UP, in

a hot 1:52.4 mile – the only real question here is WHY did Bartlett choice off him tonight? (3) OSTRO HANOVER

is a bit sharper than he looks on paper – if they mix it up a bit, he may be able to make some late noise, at a nice

price. (1) TO THE HUNT was just even up the cones after finding room from the pocket last week, and just hasn’t

been all that great since recently returning from another layoff – leaning to others. (7) TWIGGS PUB is now 0 for

22 at Yonkers and one of the only horses that our leading trainer can’t get to the winner’s circle – tonight’s draw

surely won’t help. (8) THRASHER is a lazy sort that figures to be coming from too far back to threaten here. (5)

HIGH ON ROCKNROLL has been begging for some class relief for a long time

RACE 9 – (5) PRINTVILLE was sharp in his last pair, picking up a 2 nd and a 3 rd vs. much better than these – he

deserves top billing against this bunch, but note that he’s still winless on the year (and 0 for 10 lifetime at Yonkers)

before falling in love at a pretty short price. (3) DANCE IT OUT has 4 local starts and been 3 rd each time– he should

be able to work out a good trip here, and that would at least put him in the mix for one of the top slots. (6) LEVINE

hasn’t won a race since 2023 and that makes him tough to consider on top – he was actually pretty good last week,

though, and he does have the speed to improve at the start tonight...maybe if the price is big enough? (2) SPORTY

M THREE will surely attract some $$ from this spot but he’s just 1 for 26 locally over the past 2 years and tired out

of the pocket last week – won’t offer much value on top. (8) GREG THE LEG battled hard off an aggressive try last

week but still lost to a horse with a brutal trip – could be looking at a tough night from out here. (1) ARTIST BEST

has always been camera shy and his only win this year (after going 1 for 42 last year) came in an amateur race –

maybe a minor share? (7) CASINO ACTION N’s only “good” recent try was with Holland on board and the pair get

reunited for tonight – an angle for those searching for a longshot. (4) RAYRAY throws an ok try here and there but

just not often enough – barn did have a winner earlier in the week, though.

RACE 10 – (2) TYRA MAKES BANK hung in very gamely for 2 nd last week after getting outbrushed to 3/4s by the

currently very sharp winner – she’s continued to race well despite a bunch of tough trips, and is overdue for some

good luck to come her way. (3) THATS A HUGE BEACH weakened a bit in the pocket (to 3 rd) after a fast start upon

arrival from Maryland, then was able to hang on after cutting the mile last week – she remains a big threat, but may

end up overbet. (4) GINGER TREE LIZ raced well for 2 nd behind #3 last week in one of her better efforts – if she

can bring her best again tonight, she can be a threat (with the right trip). (1) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL has been “ok”

lately – prefer others on top, but she could easily land somewhere on the ticket. (7) DISARONNO HILL was hurt by

a poor drive last week but was still pacing well late – brutal spot tonight, but a good bomb for 3 rd/4 th . (6) DELITFUL

CATHERIN N has won too many races here to ever just dismiss out of hand, but she does seem to be off her best

game right now, and also has to contend with a bad draw. (8) QUICK MENU has overall solid form but she draws

Post 8 after exiting a trio of very sharp barns, and could be looking at a rough journey tonight. (5) PINK RUBY has

been really struggling for some time.