Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (6) KINGSVILLE paced a very fast 3rd quarter just to get closer to contention last week, was hurt by

excess cover but still kept coming hard in the lane to just miss – Brennan gives him a vote of confidence by taking

him over #3 (despite the bad draw), and we’ll take a shot that he can find him a winning trip. (3) COMBUSTION

has been coming up a little light at the end in his last few at Pocono, but in quick miles, vs. better – definitely a

major threat to take these a long way in his Hilltop return. (1) VENTURESOME ARDEN N was off a qualifier last

week but really should have come up sharper off a perfect trip – remains a threat on his best effort, but we’re still

leaning a bit more to the top two. (4) SPECULATING A qualified nicely but just toured the oval from Post 8 in his

U.S. debut – hard to gauge much off that mile, so perhaps the tote board will offer some better clues. (5) LEVINE

finished 7th last week but wasn’t far off the winner at the wire – he drops another notch, and could add some value to

the exotics with some trip luck. (8) NONE BETTOR A looked like a winner on the final turn last week but allowed

the frontrunner to battle back to beat him in the lane – draws Post 8 tonight, and may be looking at a much smaller

share. (2) CRUSH KILL DESTROY showed little in his local debut – waiting for better signs. (7) EUPHORIA N

wired much easier last week, and will be hard pressed to be part of the action tonight.

RACE 2 – Tough race! (1) TWIGGS PUB finally broke his long Yonkers losing streak by winning in his 29th local

start on 7/19 – he didn’t win in his last pair, but did look sharp both times, including last week’s very sharp 3rd (up in

class, for a new barn) – maybe he can get it done tonight with the right trip. (8) MUSIC HALL hasn’t won in a while

but his form is solid again, and he does own 8 victories this year – he has a pilot that won’t be afraid to give him a

shot (even from out here), and should be offering a pretty good price for his new barn. (4) TO THE HUNT got used

too hard early on last week and can be forgiven for tiring badly at the end – his speed always makes him a threat,

and he figures to be a pretty good price for an extremely capable team. (6) HEAVE AWAY moved up to 20s off the

claim and won both starts before being claimed again last week – tries 30s now, but way too sharp to ignore, even

with the bad draw. (7) AMERITRIC was used hard much of the mile last week and only got beat by the perfect trip

winner – he’s as good/better as anything in here right now, but also faces an uncertain trip from Post 7 – playable if

the price is fair. (3) ALWAYSCUTTINSCHOOL avoided any of the early action last week, worked out a perfect 2nd

over trip and rallied late to collar #7 for the win– if he can land on an equally golden trip tonight, he’ll have a chance

to be a big threat once more. (5) SCRIBBLERS drops below the level of the claim but is struggling way too much to

endorse right now. (2) DRAGON YOU ALONG has a chance for minor spoils with an easy journey.

RACE 3 – (4) I DRAINTHESWAMP A had been just “meh” for a bunch of starts but started to pick up his game on

7/8 and has remained very sharp since then – goes for a new barn tonight, but will be very tough if he stays just as

sharp for his new crew. (6) SAILBOAT HANOVER started the year 10-0-0-0 but is 11-6-3-1 since then (including

last week’s borderline DQ from 3rd) – reunites with Brennan, but will have to work out a manageable trip to win

from out here. (1) ALEX TYTE was hammered down to favoritism off the claim last week but wasn’t up for the

aggressive try and gave way to 3/4s– he’s capable of better, and will need to be for any chance at the top slot tonight.

(3) DONTTELLMENOW has been excellent in 20s but wasn’t able to sustain his wide move in 30s last week (off

the claim) – we’ll see if he can have a bigger say with an easier journey. (2) CYRUS N was racing well at Monti but

he's 11-0-0-3 at YR this year – small piece only. (5) SON OF A TIGER started his 2025 campaign in June and is

winless in 7 starts out of town (though racing well most starts) – leaning elsewhere. (7) FLIP MY CHIP has been

having a terrific season but hasn’t looked as sharp in his last pair – may be tailing, and tonight’s draw isn’t the

antidote. (8) KARLOO BRADLEY N has been super vs. 20s and 25s, but lands Post 8 in 30s off the claim.

RACE 4– (5) MANFERNO was used cutting a fast half last week, got outblitzed to 3/4s but never quit, a close 4th at

the end – he’s been rock solid here ever since joining this barn, and can handle different kinds of trips – worth using.

(1) ENDOFSTORY did some excellent work at 3, and looked like he’d be an Open pacer at 4– his efforts so far have

been a little mixed, but he’ll be very dangerous from this spot if he brings his best. (2) HIMSELF N is down at a

level where he can be very dangerous with a live trip – should offer some decent value, and worth considering. (3)

MY ULTIMATE BYRON A squandered a good trip last week when he could only manage a 4th – he’s just 1 for 18

this year, and may be better used underneath, rather than on top. (6) ROCKIN JUKEBOX has been hitting on all

cylinders at PcD but tonight’s draw may compromise his chances in his YR return. (4) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK

picked up his 4th win in the last 3 months last week but faces tougher here, and may be looking at a small share. (7)

HUNTINGFORCHROME has a trio of 3rds from his last 4 starts but is still seeking his first win of ’15 – new barn,

and a tough draw. (8) YOROKOBI N was a game winner last week but lands Post 8, while moving up 2 classes.

RACE 5 – (6) SHERLOCK N found himself in a soft spot last week, was handled aggressively and it was all over

once he hit the top early on – he faces a bit tougher tonight and gets a bad draw, but Marohn may have confidence in

him after last week’s powerful victory – chance to repeat if he can find a manageable trip. (3) PANETTONE HANO

VER was very good 2 back when he rallied for a close 3rd, then finished with good energy last week after losing any

chance with a poor start – he remains his own worst enemy at times (especially here at YR), but can be dangerous

here with a clean trip. (4) TWIN B POWERBALL finished with good pace from a tough spot after getting some

class relief last week – he drops a bit more, and can have a say in the outcome. (7) BONDI LOCKDOWN A has

held his excellent form most of the year, and finished 2nd to #6 last week (though not a threat) – another tough draw

will probably leave him looking at only a small piece tonight. (2) MYULTIMATEBAXTER A continues to race

well, and climbs the class ladder despite no recent wins– could trip out here, and playable underneath. (8) NIGHT

HAWK used a class drop and perfect trip to pick up his 2nd win of the season last week – steps up tonight, lands

outside, and may have trouble working out a manageable trip. (1) GREG THE LEG likely needs to be in easier to be

a serious threat. (5) CAVIART SARGENT moves up 2 classes off a dull try...but is never a bad bomb for 3rd/4th.

RACE 6 – (1) SHAKESPEARE charged home to just miss from an impossible spot 2 back and may have been a

winner last week had he found room in the lane – he’s upped his game significantly since joining this barn in May,

and should be a major threat from the pole tonight (4) SLING SHOCK was a very sharp winner off the claim 2 back,

then gave it a big try vs. the 60s last week – drops back down to 40s, and looms the major danger. (2) MIND HUNT

ER gapped cover on the final turn last week, then took too long to find his stride into the lane – chance for a piece

here with an easy trip, making his 2nd start off the claim. (6) TWIG has 3 wins and 2 seconds from his last 5 starts,

all at this level – he gets a tough draw tonight, however, and goes for his 4th barn in 4 weeks – may have trouble with

sharp ones to his inside. (7) PYRO was making his first start since November last week, was used every step of the

way and still able to prevail – hats off to his connections for having him SO ready, but he faces a tough task tonight

as he moves up in class, and lands Post 7! (5) KIMBLE A usually needs easier to be a player but he’s been holding

his own vs. the 40s, and has a chance for some minor spoils tonight. (8) LYRICAL GENIUS A has found a way to

hit board almost every week but may have trouble finding a way into the hunt tonight – just a brutal spot! (3) PINE

BUSH ITALIANO could probably use some class relief.

RACE 7 – (5) HOWLENTHEHILLS had been knocking on the door for weeks before finally getting his picture

taken last start – he may not be able to just control the action tonight, but he’s been proven effective with pretty

much any trip...license to repeat. (3) VERDUN has just one win since April 14th but rarely throws a bad one, and is

generally a threat any time he’s in to go. (4) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A was ignored in the wagering last week but

used an inside trip to kick home in a sharp :26.4 for the place spot – he has 9 wins this year, and deserves respect in

here...even though his price will come down considerably. (1) ESCAPE TO AMERICA is moving way up in class

but he could sit an easy trip and his barn has really come to life over the past week or so...ok bomb for a small slice.

(2) SANTANA HANOVER returns from Pocono off a career best 1:49.4 victory but he’ll be facing much tougher

than he’s used to, and figures to be looking at minor spoils. (6) TIP TOP CAT is winless in 11 local starts and draws

poorly – could use a (much) easier spot! (7) ALL CLASS should have been eligible for an inside draw – figures to

have a tough time trying to get in play from out here.

RACE 8 – Good race! (7) MULLINAX started to sharpen soon after being claimed for $40K by our leading trainer,

and was quickly in career form – was claimed 2 back for $75K, moved up to the Invitational, and paced his final

half in :54.1 to rally for 3rd from an impossible spot – he’s sharp enough for a chance to upset these IF some racing

luck comes his way. (6) SOHO FIRESTONE A was well backed and aggressively driven last week, and can be

forgiven for being no match for the oft-winning HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR – he’s proven himself at this level

week after week, and figures to be a solid threat with any half-decent trip (5) CHASE H HANOVER did outstanding

work throughout the Borgata Series, but started to unravel right after that – he just qualified back after a pair of

miscues, but then missed 19 days...may be ready for a winning effort, but it’s just hard to really know what to

expect. (4) DIEGO N broke early on after leaving 2 back but otherwise has a pair of wins and a 3rd from his last 4

starts – seems like a good sign that he drops OUT of claimers and back into the Invitational, but he may be looking

at a much tougher trip tonight. (2) HP MOMENTUM got VERY sharp in a hurry recently, and was claimed from his

last for $60K – this is a big step up, and his owner is surely hoping he has anything close to the success with this

guy, that he got after claiming VERDUN last year! (1) ADMIRAL HILL struggled in the Borgata Series but has

recently been on the upswing, and may have built some confidence after last week’s victory over cheaper – maybe a

small piece? (3) TYPHOON BANNER N was heavily backed and able to pounce on a pocket trip to beat cheaper

last week – his best effort would make him dangerous here...but is he ready to bring it at THIS level?

RACE 9 – (1) MACS DELIGHT raced very well for 4th in his local debut despite a tough trip from Post 8 – he

didn’t draw much better for his last, but was able to overcome Post 7 and deliver the victory at a generous 5-1 price

–he gets to stay in the same class, moves all the way inside, and we’ll give him the narrow nod. (7) SWEET BEACH

LIFE is hitting on all cylinders right now, winning 3 straight in very easy fashion – he moves up a bit and lands Post

7, but still has to be considered a serious threat! (2) AMERICAN DEALER N gets significant post relief, is looking

at a close up trip, and figures to be part of the equation – he just hasn’t been able to WIN often enough this year (2

wins, and 6 seconds). (5) AYE AYE CAPTAIN brushed to the lead 2 back then just missed to #1 at the wire – last

week he was trapped in the pocket through the stretch, and may have been a winner had he been able to shake free –

couldn’t blame anybody looking to use him, at a good price. (3) CADILLAC BAYAMA is probably up a bit higher

than he’d like, but can still grab a small piece with an easy trip. (4) WASA HEAT SEEKER N’s 2 U.S. wins came on

the lead, vs. easier – he drops a win off his card after tonight, and may be worth a look next week, with some class

relief. (6) CARABAO A will be pacing well late, but may be too far back to do any real damage. (8) ROCK THE

BELLES has been solid for weeks, his barn is hot, but the class jump and Post 8 do figure to slow him down tonight.