Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (1) KISS MY CHEEK had already shown ability before recently changing barns, then looked super in

her first 2 starts for her new connections – she wasn’t traveling as well in her last, but still showed her class by

digging in late to hold 2nd...seems like a good sign that she drops right back in the box and is clearly the one to

knock off tonight...but probably wouldn’t bet the rent money at a very short price. (2) LUCKY ARTIST A landed in

a soft field 2 back and easily showed her class by crushing ‘em – drew Post 8 up in class last week and did a very

nice job holding 3rd after looking tired on the final bend – moves inside, and should have a say in the outcome once

more. (4) REC TIME is an “in-and-outer” – if she’s in the right mood, she’ll use her good rally to have a late say

here...but she does tend to be somewhat unreliable! (8) GOLDEN QUEST N is off to a rough start in 2025, but still

shows signs of her back class at times– not sure she’s up for an aggressive 8 hole try right now, though (3) BETTA

WATCH OUT N was an all out, no threat 2nd vs. cheaper last week and remains winless in 2025 – she does draw

well enough for a chance at a small piece, though. (5) KATIES UP has yet to fire in 2025 (4 starts) and while a wake

up call is possible, that 3-1 ML price just seems too low. (7) TRICK OF THE LIGHT had an ok try vs. cheaper 2

back but probably needs a better draw to be any kind of real threat right now. (6) KAT seems to be regressing since

recently exiting the top barn in the nation.

RACE 2 – (4) PASS AND STOW saw her 7 race winning streak come to an end last week, but raced as well (or

even better?) in her hard charging 2nd place finish (from Post 8, behind a classy mare with a much easier trip!) – she

faces another excellent mare tonight, but we’ll still give her the edge to come out on top...though that incredibly

short ML price is a real turn off! (1) LLOYDS LOVES landed on a few impossible trips in the Matchmaker Series

but had no trouble taking advantage of the class relief last week, hitting the top and dominating her rivals – she has a

new trainer listed for tonight and it’s hard to say how, if it at all, that may affect her performance. (2) CHIAPANEC

AS is now 14-4-5-3 here at Yonkers but she has seemed to level off just a bit at this higher level – the good draw

should help her grab a good piece. (3) IDEAL COVER got too hot and gave way 2 back but rebounded with a BIG

effort last week, scoring the dead game victory at a generous 11-1 price – she moves up considerably here, but an

easy trip could help her grab a small slice. (6) MISS DOTTIE MAE turned in an almost unfathomable mile 2 back,

jogging from Post 8 at nearly 40-1, but looking like a 3/5 shot...she came back to earth a bit with a solid 3rd in her

last, and now steps up once more and lands outside. (5) ELEKTRA A is off 3 weeks after a disappointing try –

prefer others tonight.

RACE 3 – (2) GALANTE A will probably be overbet here (because of that “fast time” in NJ last week) but more

importantly, he was a solid 2nd behind JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE....who beat a NW20000 field here not too long

ago – several barnmates have gone big miles here recently...maybe he’s next? (3) DEALERS TURN has struggled

to get untracked in 2025 but some tough trips haven’t helped – he’s more than capable of being a threat here if he

can land an easier journey. (5) DANCE IT OUT used a good start to pick up a 3rd last week in his local debut –

another good getaway could put him in the hunt tonight, as well. (6) C BET HANOVER doesn’t exactly jump off

the page here but it’s an opportunity to get a nice price on Gingras in a race with some (possibly) vulnerable main

players – good one for longshot fans. (8) CYRUS N hasn’t been better than 3rd in his 9 starts this year and figures to

be coming from way back tonight – maybe he can rally for a minor share? (1) SHOCK TROOPER draws the pole

but has shown little in 3 tries since arriving from PA. (7) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A acts like he doesn’t even want to

be out there these days – Cory hops on board, perhaps hoping to motivate him a bit more? (4) BAD BOY TOO took

a month off after some rough outings and that return qualifier doesn’t seem all that promising.

RACE 4 – (7) QUEEN OF ALL was slow to get rolling this year but she turned in a trio of solid rallying efforts (at

the beginning of April) then built off that with sharp front end scores in her last pair – she steps up and draws poorly

tonight, but just seems sharp enough to still find a way to beat these too. (1) TEXSONG SOPRANO was forced to

relax a long way last week and it did help him produce a very solid finish (for 2nd) – he’s a very logical threat from

the pole tonight, but he does figure to be overbet (and hasn’t won in a while). (4) OPTRIX drops out of the Brennan

Trotting Series and fits well with these – a live trip gives him a chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (3) WARR

AWEE YANG did excellent work in last year’s Brennan Series but then seemed to fall apart for a while – he’s done

some good work out of town but for some reason, just hasn’t had much success here at Yonkers since last Spring

(and has burned a lot of $$ along the way) – he’ll surely get back on track here one of these days, but right now

remains risky, especially at short prices. (2) BARRY BLACK gets post relief, and that gives him at least a chance to

contend for a small piece. (6) NO DRAMA PLEASE was 2nd to #7 last time but that was with a pocket trip, starting

from the pole – he’s looking at a much tougher trip tonight. (5) ABRUZZO is hanging in there at these higher levels

but could use some class relief – minor spoils? (8) KASHA V was no threat adding Lasix last week and now lands

Post 8 – keep an eye for next week, when he should be looking at a class drop (and hopefully better draw).

RACE 5 – Blue Chip Matchmaker Consolation: (3) TARAPASTA was caught well back in her first 2 legs and had

no chance, but used an aggressive try in Leg 3 and was able to pick up a win vs. a modest field – she gave it a good

try on the front end when 3rd in her next, but was caught sitting 7th last week and had no chance again – she gets post

relief here, and may be able to get it done with the right trip. (2) HIGH FLYIN FILLY picked up a pocket win in Leg

2, disappointed in her next but raced pretty well in her last pair, despite tough first over trips – license to pull off the

upset here with an easier journey. (1) CHERYLS SHADOW was able to pick up a trio of 2nd place finishes from her

5 legs, helped greatly by easy trips each time – she SHOULD end up with another nice trip tonight and looms a very

real threat...but won’t offer much value after being listed at even money on the ML! (4) COACHELLABOUND N

felt like she was finally starting to find her best recently but then regressed again in her last pair – if she can find her

best effort tonight, she can have a real say. (8) LIT DE ROSE (last year’s Champ) was able to pick up a win in Leg 2

(off a perfect trip) but the mega-classy 10YO just wasn’t her usual sharp self for the rest of the series – she’s a

sentimental favorite but really faces a tall task starting from Post 8. (7) UPTOWN HANOVER made her 2025 return

in the series and was surprisingly sharp right off the bat – her last start was a little disappointing, though, and

drawing Post 7 won’t help her chances tonight. (6) LYDEO seemed overmatched at this level and tonight’s draw will

be tough to overcome. (5) INTOTHEMYSTICMOON is another that struggled throughout the series.

RACE 6 – MGM Borgata Pace Consolation: (2) MIKI SHAN N looked super heading into the series but hit a speed

bump when scratched sick from the first leg – he returned the next week and absolutely charged home for 2nd, but

could only manage an even 5th in a hot 1:50.4 mile the following week – he was a solid 4th (behind good ones) in his

next, and right there 3rd last week behind two more razor sharp foes...he lands inside in a much more modest field

tonight, and this may be a good opportunity to get back to the winner’s circle. (4) CHARLIE MAY was no worse

than 4th in any of his 5 legs but was also unable to win any of them – any decent trip should make the classy 7YO a

serious player tonight. (1) SHERLOCK N was a notch below the top ones all series long but still raced well every

time – he’s always finishing strong, and a solid candidate to land somewhere in the exotics tonight. (5) HEMSWOR

TH N was his usual in-and-out self in his 4 series legs, but did deliver a nice win at Chester last week, skipping Leg

5 – he retains Dunn (who won with him in PA) and can never be counted out...but he also figures to be somewhat

overbet. (3) WHY NOT NOW made a lot of $$ as a youngster but struggled at 4, and his efforts so far as a 5YO

have been mixed – suppose he can grab a piece with an easy trip. (7) AARDIES FLASH N pulled off the upset in

Leg 1 but was never able to replicate that form thereafter – hard to like his chances starting from Post 7 tonight. (6)

CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR had some crisp finishes in a few of the legs but failed to get close last week, and will

be coming from well back tonight. (8) HIMSELF N is good right now, but it’s hard to see a way where he can reach

from all the way out here.

RACE 7 – Blue Chip Matchmaker Final: (1) AARDIE B MIKI N arrived in this country in time for this series and

won all 4 legs that she raced in, showing incredible versatility and quickness along the way – the draw gives Bartlett

the option of driving her any way he wants to, and she’s clearly the one to knock off. (4) SILK CLOUD A has been

a model of consistency, hitting board in all 5 legs (winning 2 of them) – she can use her gate speed to grab good trips

for herself, but is equally potent from off the pace, if necessary – look for her to have a big say here. (6) ROCKET

DEO got beat as the heavy favorite in each of the first 2 legs but turned things around with wins in her last 3 starts –

she hails from a barn that knows how to win big races, but tonight’s draw wasn’t kind to her...would want a good

price to use her on top (2) WALKIN ON SUNSHINE was 4 for 4 at Yonkers coming into the series but after

winning her first leg, she got beat at 5 cents on the dollar in Leg 2 – she picked up another win in Leg 4, and that

victory is sandwiched between 2nd place finishes to #1 – we’ll see if she can find a bit more tonight, and turn the

tables on the favorite. (5) TURN THE PAGE failed to win any legs but she turned in several very gritty efforts while

hitting board all 5 weeks – good one for exotics. (7) BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE will be a big price tonight but she

pulled off upsets from off the pace in the first two legs, and isn’t a bad one for longshot fans. (3) TALK CURDY TO

ME was a game first over winner last week to qualify for this Final, but she’s probably a bit below several of the

main players – minor spoils? (8) SEASIDE DIVA got sharper late in the series but tonight’s draw figures to really

hurt her chances.

RACE 8 – MGM Borgata Pace Final – should be a great race! (1) VERDUN should be coming into this Final in

relatively “fresh” shape, as he really was never raced all that hard in his 5 legs (picking up 2 wins, 2 seconds and a

3rd) – Lachance can look over and see what the others are doing as he plots out his early strategy, and we know he

LOVES to pass horses, and win races – he’ll likely be offering pretty good value in a race with several very sharp

contestants! (7) DESPERATE MAN was beastly throughout last year’s series but ended up parked every step in the

Final (by his main rival that night) and still somehow finished 3rd – he got off to a slower start this year (a 2nd and

two 3rds) but we saw the “real” version in his win 2 back, and he followed that up with another beastly performance

last week...major threat, even with the horrible draw. (5) MOSSDALE BEN N was conjuring up visions of BIT OF

LEGEND N after winning his first 6 U.S. starts but he did come up 2nd best in Leg 3, and then again in Leg 5 (after

winning his 4th leg) – he’s the one that stands to benefit most from a hotly contested pace, and he’ll be a handful late

if that happens...his price will finally creep up a bit too. (8) COACHES CORNER won 3 of his 5 legs, coming up

2nd best to FOR ONCE INMY LIFE in the other two – his current Yonkers record now stands at an incredible

29-15-12-0 and he was 2nd in last year’s Final...that being said, Bartlett will need to create some serious magic

tonight to find him a “manageable” trip from Post 8! (3) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE is a tough call – he shipped in

razor sharp from out of town and picked up wins in the first 2 legs – he skipped Leg 3 then won Leg 4 (defeating #8

for the 2nd time) but something went horribly wrong the next week, as he was galloping well before the start and had

to be pulled up – he re-qualified a few days later at Pocono, but has to be seen as somewhat of a question mark

heading into tonight. (4) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR has been a nice horse all his life and since he raced well here

in the past, it was no surprise to see him thrive throughout the series – he still seems a hair below a couple of the

“top” players, but it would hardly be a shock to see Gingras pull off an upset in the Final. (6) CHASE H HANOVER

came into the series as a bit of a question mark over the half (by his driver’s own admission) but he seemed to dispel

any concerns with big time wins in his last pair – it’s only because he draws so poorly (in this outstanding field) that

he’s listed this far down. (2) BINGE ON YANKEE is listed here on the bottom but certainly not because he hasn’t

raced super throughout the series – if he lands on an easy enough trip, he can still have some say here.

RACE 9 – (2) CREATE MYSTIQUE went an excellent mile in her first local try (for a new barn) but then struggled

for a few starts – she bounced back with an excellent 3rd two back, then was very sharp again last week – meets

nothing too scary in here, and may be in a spot where she can pick up her first win of the season. (1) BLACK TIE

BACH was “sneaky ok” 2 back then finished with good trot last week – he gets major post relief, and is another

“value horse” to consider. (4) CREATIVE VENTURE was very good in early Feb., picking up a win and a 2

nd – he tailed off for a while, but looked much better rallying for 3rd in his last – another logical threat in here. (6) CAL MIL

ES N SHELL hasn’t clicked yet since changing barns but he drops to the bottom level here, and is more than capable

of doing damage at this level– if he’s warmer on the tote board tonight, he could be worth a longer look. (5)

HALOA makes her local debut for our leading barn but it would seem that she’d need to improve a bit to threaten

for one of the top spots. (3) LABYAD BROS S ships in showing weak form out of town, and had no luck here in 2

tries earlier this year. (7) FULL RIGHTS and (8) ENERGY KING are both winless on the year and draw the two

outside slots – sticking with others tonight.

RACE 10 – (7) BIG BETTOR HANOVER was moving past the stands from way back last week, gained cover then

had to swing wide on the final turn, kept coming strong in the lane for 4th, and wasn’t far off 2nd and 3rd at the wire –

it was definitely a very encouraging local debut, and the guess is that Stratton will be more aggressive at the start

tonight – willing to hop on board and give her a try. (1) COWGIRL LILLY was an afterthought for many months but

she finally hinted at some life 2 back, and held up well (for 3rd) after Holland gave her a very aggressive steer last

week – feels like she may be getting closer to a win. (5) CRUISE ALERT has struggled much of the year but fits

well enough with these for at least a chance at rallying late for a small piece. (3) KAIRAKICONFIDNTL N has

been struggling for a long time – she dropped in for a tag last week, put herself in a needless suicide mission and

cost herself any chance (while ruining a couple of others too) – she figures to be overbet here, but maybe she can

turn things around with an easier trip? (2) ANNELIESE HANOVER broke briefly before the start last week ,was

away ok in 6th but had no offer off a ground saving trip – she’s capable of better, and is playable for 3rd/4th. (8) MAC

HS LEGACY A is winless in her 19 starts here over the last 2 years, draws Post 8 for her local return, and seems

destined to contend for just minor spoils. (4) UNCONTROLLED has 6 starts here this year and managed only a

couple of 5th place checks – needs to be better. (6) LOOKOVERYOUR has 5 starts this year and hasn’t earned a

dime yet – waiting for some better signs.