Friday Empire Report
The Empire Report – Friday, September 19, 2025 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (3) BIG CITY DAISY took $$ for her first local try (off the barn change) but was clear too late to be a bigger player – she went to Chester for her next, and was on her way to a blowout victory when she took a bad step in the lane and went offstride…we’re definitely willing to give her a chance at redemption. (4) VARSITY BLUE CH IP was doing excellent work with much better not long ago, but does seem to have tailed off lately – this MAY be a spot where she can get brave again in a hurry, and is worth considering if the price is fair. (6) CRÈME DELIGHT found some better form vs. cheaper at Stga. and did turn in a solid try returning here last week – tough draw, but could add some value to the exotics. (2) KATIES UP has faced better most of the year, but also sports a weak 17-1-1-2 record– this may be a spot where she can be a big player, but she also figures to be overbet. (1) AT THE HOP seems a notch below a few of the main player, but the post relief may allow her to stick close enough for a piece. (7) NITE TIME DEAL seems to have rebounded from a recent rough patch but tonight’s draw figures to leave her waiting for a better spot. (5) THUNDRA rarely wins, and hasn’t even been grabbing pieces lately
RACE 2 – (6) STASH IT AWAY was racing well in Canada, hung in with better at Stga., and really wasn’t bad here last week (in his first local try) – tough spot tonight, but a good price makes him worth a look. (1) KIMBLE A doesn’t win very often, but this is the type of spot where he becomes dangerous – very logical threat, but hard to get excited about a wager with that 9/5 ML price. (4) ALBERGO HANOVER would be hard to like off his out of town form BUT he was just re-acquired by the barn that had success with him years ago, and it would hardly be a shock to see him throw a big one tonight (he was also the horse that was disqualified here several years ago in what many still say was THE worst call ever made)! (2) TRICKY MIKI A will attract plenty of attention in this spot but he’s struggled ever since arriving in the U.S., unable to find the form that saw him earn about $400K Down Under – hard to take a very short price. (3) SPLASH BROTHER has just one win this year but still could grab a decent chunk, thanks to his good gate speed. (4) WE BE JAMMIN feels a bit cheap, and has done little here in previous tries. (7) GAMBLINGTERROR changes trainers, but lands in a terrible spot – good week to observe
RACE 3 – (2) OVER AND BACK ran into a very tough trip (going 1 ¼ miles) last week and had license to flatten a bit at the end – he’s raced well vs. better all year long, figures to still be a decent price here, and is definitely worth using. (5) MY MAN PETER was super in his local debut, after joining our leading barn – he certainly gets a pass for his next (hopelessly parked), and can do some major damage here IF the 3 weeks off don’t hurt him. (7) CAMERA MAN is having a terrific 3YO campaign, not missing a beat after changing barns in August – the ability is there for sure, but he’s also a 3YO taking on solid older foes (from Post 7), and could definitely be vulnerable at that 8/5 ML price! (1) FULL OF MUSCLES has managed just one 2nd from his 5 local tries but he’s usually trotting well late, and may be able to grab a small piece tonight. (3) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM hasn’t been sharp lately, and seems headed for only a minor share. (4) HALFADOZEN is a 3YO filly taking on older males and that’s after finishing well back in her last 2 starts in NJ. (6) ENERGYSOURCE is just 2 for 28 locally, and mostly facing easier
RACE 4 – Short field, but a good race! (3) ODDS ON PLATINUM added Lasix last week, worked out a good trip but just couldn’t get by the hard-hitting AMBUSHED – she’s one of a few in here with a chance to come out on top, with the right trip. (5) LYDEO was able to make the top from Post 8 last week but eventually gave way to heavy pressure from the surprisingly sharp winner – she’s capable of better, and is worth using if the price is decent. (4) MYBITCOIN has been very solid since returning from Canada, fits nicely with these, and can be a serious late threat if they mix it up a bit up front. (2) WORKLIFEBALANCE added Lasix last week and delivered the 1:49.4 victory in the NJ Classic – on the flip side, she’s a 3YO filly facing older mares, and she just hasn’t raced as well here at Yonkers, as she has in NJ! (6) IDEALINFUN is a solid mare that rarely misses a check – she also figures to be coming from last, and that’s going to hurt her chances. (1) TALENT TO SPARE A would prefer to be in easier
RACE 5 – (4) GO HAVE FUN took a couple of starts to find his stride after a recent barn change but won back to back starts in August, then was a solid rallying 4th going 1 ¼ miles last week – he should be a decent price here, and seems worth a shot. (6) MAZEPPA N was our selection last week and seemed hopeless for most of the mile and a quarter (after an early miscue)…but ended up being the ONLY horse with any trot from the head of the lane, and was able to just trot over the field to the wire, into the snail-like :31.2 final quarter – he’s a logical threat to repeat, but also figures to be way overbet after everybody saw that last effort. (2) DJIMON is actually having a good season but for whatever reason, hasn’t been able to function at all here at Yonkers this year (4-0-0-0) – hard to take a short price! (7) STREET GOSSIP is extremely camera shy but he does grab pieces at big prices, and may be worth using on the bottom of exotics, even from out here. (5) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS has felt like he’s off his best game lately, but did turn a gutsy try at the added distance last start– willing to include underneath (3) WHEELZABLAZIN was a sharp winner in NW7500 2 back but was a dullish 4th moving up a class last week, and now bumps up yet one more level. (1) REIGN OF HONOR was a 20-1 upsettter 2 back but just seems a notch below these, in general
RACE 6 – (6) BARN HALL reunites with Brennan, lands in a pretty soft spot and should be able to be aggressive, despite the outside draw – worth a play in a field lacking in sharp horses. (1) WINDSONG PIONEER would be hard to like off his latest lines but he’s a different horse on/near the lead, and throws a few winning efforts every year – a wake up call is possible. (2) BLACK TIE BASH was racing in the Invitational not long ago so it would be hard to not give him at least a look here – he’s also way off form, so it would be hard to use him on top at a short price. (7) WARRAWEE WHISPER has been a disappointment in his 5 starts since arriving at Yonkers but did show a better effort last week – would have liked his chances a lot more with an inside draw, though. (4) P L OSCAR really hasn’t been sharp in a while, and his best recent efforts have come vs. cheaper – hard to endorse with that 5/2 ML price. (3) BE DIFFERENT has done plenty of good work this year but his current form has really dropped off – we’ll see if a move inside helps at all. (8) KASHA V has his moments, but will be hard pressed to reach from out here. (5) SHOW THE WILL hasn’t clicked since changing barns and may just be a little cheaper than these
RACE 7 – (1) MY RED SEA has been facing the top mares in Ohio in many of her recent starts and raced in the Matchmaker Series here last spring – she’s light in the win column in 2025, but may have found a winning spot for her Hilltop return. (7) ELEGANT A’s last local start produced a win at this level as the odds favorite – this may be a more difficult assignment, but that 10-1 ML price certainly makes her worth a look! (3) TONYS MOM has done her best work vs. easier lately but she’s racing well at the moment, has a ton of back class, and may be able to be part of the equation from this spot. (8) PEACE TALKS is just 5 for 44 lifetime but the talented 4YO has banked $553K, thanks to her 24 2nds and 3rds – may have to settle for a smaller share after drawing Post 8, however (returning from KY). (6) KISS MY CHEEK has had a solid season overall, though she does throw her share of duds – she should be feeling pretty good after last week’s win at PcD, but may have trouble working out a trip from this spot (2) IDEAL COVER is a player with these when on her game, but her last few have been discouraging. (4) MISS DOTTI E MAE has missed 3 weeks and lands in a solid field – leaning elsewhere. (5) PUSSYCAT DOLL GB has struggled since forced to take on older rivals.
RACE 8 – Tough race! (3) HUNTING HULA has been good ever since returning from KY this summer and just seems to keep getting sharper every week – she went a big effort to just miss in her last (to #5), and the right trip could put her in position to spring a mild upset here. (4) PASS AND STOW may have regained some confidence with last week’s Pocono victory and it’s hard to ignore her 10 for 17 local record– worth a look if the price is decent. (5) LOUIES GIRL N was sent off at ½ for her U.S. debut, landed on a perfect trip and found room at the cones just in time to edge out #3 for the victory – she may very well make it 2 in a row tonight, but she could be facing a tougher trip, at another very short price. (6) VIBRANCE came up with her best mile in ages with that 30-1 shocker 2 back then proved it wasn’t just a fluke by racing very well again last week – she’ll still be a big price tonight, and may find a way to land somewhere on the ticket. (2) COACHELLABOUND N hasn’t been on her game for much of the year, and endless speed missions (in good fields!) hasn’t helped – she drops, gets a new pilot, and we’ll see if she can make something better happen. (7) AMBUSHED was super in last week’s dead game first over (1:52) score and has 9 wins this year – it’s only because of the draw that she’s listed this far down. (8) EASY TO PLEASE is stuck behind the 8 ball – pass for now
RACE 9 – Totally wide open! (8) ALTUS HANOVER has lines that are highly varied but he does have 6 wins from 19 starts this year, and Dube had a big night on Thursday…late night bomb? (2) WILD BILL KELSO was a talented youngster, but missed his entire 4YO season – he’s recently returned to the races at 5, and last week showed the speed is still there…chance here if he can relax a bit more. (4) NO DRAMA PLEASE has 34 wins and over $600K on his card but is somehow still winless in 2025 – this may prove to be a spot he can handle. (5) SEVENSHADESO FGREY behaved in his last pair and that’s at least a better sign – wouldn’t be shocked if he perked up and beat these. (1) INTERNATIONALCRAZE could benefit from the barn and driver change but he’s missed a month and it’s hard to know how serious he’ll be – check the tote board? (6) HOOLIE N HECTOR started the year off decently but now finds himself in for the optional $12,500 tag – tough draw hurts as well. (3) CROWN MONARCH has just one win this year and it came in a cheap field at Chester – hard to take a short price. (7) FULL RIGHTS lands outside after a dull try following the layoff – he’s also just 16-0-2-0 this year.