The Empire Report – Thursday, March 6, 2025 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – NAADA-Eligible Trot: (2) VELOCIRAPTOR won an amateur race here on 1/23 and he also was a
winner with tonight’s pilot on 12/29, at Chester – he should end up with a good trip, and could offer some value in
tonight’s opener. (6) MUFASA AS hit board in his last 3, gets a solid pilot and looms a very dangerous threat – he
also figures to be a short price, and is just 3 for 71 at Yonkers over the past 3 seasons...don’t fall in love at very low
odds. (8) IMA STANDUP GUY continues to go big miles week after week, despite an endless run of terrible posts –
he gets another tonight, but a big price does make him worth considering. (1) NEVER MIND N left last week but
broke on the first turn after getting in tight between horses – a clean journey from the pole should put him right in
the thick of this. (5) MUSKINGUM seems back on track after a couple of recent miscues – he fits okay with these,
and is eligible to take home a small piece. (3) DROP THE MIC lit up the tote board at 43-1 last week, but not
without the help of multiple breakers, and a disqualification – will need to be sharper for a chance to repeat. (4) PET
ERS ROYALTY throws a decent one from time to time, but he’s just 2 for 41 over the past 2 years – leaning towards
others. (7) SHOEMAKER HANOVER draws Post 7 after missing a month – will just observe, for now
RACE 2– (1) CAVIART SARGENT isn’t always the most reliable horse on the planet but he’s dropping two
classes, was Nap’s choice, and could end up with a very nice trip here – willing to give him a try, as long as he’s not
overbet. (5) TWIN B POWERBALL is another who has been facing better – he was “sneaky ok” last week, figures
to be a decent price, and may be worth a look. (2) SHAZAM BLUE CHIP will attract plenty of attention with the
class drop and move inside (and 6/5 ML price!) but he’s been well off his best game lately, and there’s no guarantee
he’ll find it tonight – could be a bit vulnerable. (3) MACS MARVEL is moving up to face much better tonight but
that blowout win last week may have boosted his confidence a bit – ok underneath. (7) BUGABOO LOU is another
coming off a confidence building win over easier, but tonight’s draw does figure to be a roadblock. (4) GAMBLING
TERROR has his moments, but usually vs. a bit easier. (6) REIGNING DEO hasn’t been able to handle softer lately
RACE 3 – (1) WILLY WALTON can rattle off some big miles on the front end and that’s certainly where he’ll be
tonight – he’s likely to be overbet, but they’ll definitely have him to catch and beat. (2) MAHONE SEELSTER
kicked home full of trot for 2 nd last week in a sharp performance – he’s struggled to WIN races the last 2 years, but if
he can sit close and be clear turning for home, maybe he can pull off a mild upset? (6) WARRAWEE XALT came up
a little short on the front end last week and he’s now lost 3 straight as the odds-on favorite – on the flip side, his
price does figure to go up considerably now, and it may not be a bad week to jump on his team. (5) ARCHERY SEE
LSTER drops in for a tag after racing well in his 4 local tries – he seems like he should fit well, and is playable on
the bottom of exotics. (4) HAT TRICK MARLEAU is a notch below the main players but he gets a fresh set of
hands tonight and could land a piece, with a good trip. (3) DOO WOP KID has shipped in and won with this driver
switch before, but doesn’t seem up to battling the 40s right now. (7) WARRIOR ONE has rebounded from clunkers
many times before, but tonight’s draw does figure to make things tough on him. (8) CARRERA HANOVER lands
in a hot barn for his Hilltop return, adds Lasix, but also draws Post 8 off a bad date – inclined to pass, for now
RACE 4 – (4) ROLLING WITH SAM hasn’t done a lot of winning the past couple of seasons, but he’s raced well
from terrible spots (against much better) on MANY occasions – may have finally found an opportunity for a victory.
(1) ALWAYS ROCKIN was sneaky ok last week, and just missed (one level up) 4 starts back – he’s a logical threat
from this spot, but he has a less than stellar Yonkers resume...don’t accept too short a price. (5) FIZZING N is used
to facing better, and dis beat a NW7500 field in his last start of 2024 – very legitimate chance to outperform the 20-1
ML price. (6) BECHERS BROOK A used a good trip to grab a 3 rd last week and will need some more trip luck for a
piece tonight, after yet another terrible draw. (2) MAMBA hasn’t been in top form in a long time, and will need to
be better for a chance to contend for a top prize tonight. (3) SAILBOAT HANOVER had a promising start off the
layoff 3 back but quickly regressed in his last pair.
RACE 5 – NAADA Winter Fun Series Final: (1) MUSCLE DAN got very hot early on last week and finally was
able to seat IMA STANDUP GUY (after a hot quarter), kept on rolling and just missed at the wire – maybe he can
get the job done tonight if not used quite as hard. (6) ALL RISE has been racing well every week, yet seems to get
no respect on the ML – could easily outperform that 12-1 ML price...and maybe even come out on top. (2) LOVE
THIS BAR gets major post relief and did win one of these 3 back – if he’s close turning for home, he’ll have a
chance tonight. (4) ITSONEOFTHOSE improved considerably with Adamczyk driving the last 3 weeks but he also
got disqualified from a pair of wins – Schwartz hops back on tonight, and it’s hard to say if he’ll be as sharp. (5) LIO
NHEAD continues to be stuck grabbing smaller pieces, and will need to be sharper if he hopes for a bigger chunk
tonight. (8) HOBBS has proven that he can trot with these but generally needs a much better draw to be a serious
threat. (3) FASHION FOREVER gets a nice post but just hasn’t been sharp lately – maybe minor spoils. (7) AWOL
HANOVER hasn’t been on his game, and gets his first poor post in a long time
RACE 6 – (6) HUGH HESTON finished well from tough spots in his last pair and while he gets another bad draw
for tonight, Bartlett may try to get him into the hunt a little sooner this week – he’s sharp enough to win, but that 9/5
ML price may take away any chance of getting much value. (3) WARRIOR FOR TRUTH was handled aggressively
with the class drop last week and he turned in a solid try for 2 nd – no reason he can’t be a big player here too. (1) BE
T ON MAC hasn’t hit board in 5 local tries but he wasn’t terrible last week and should be able to at least make his
presence felt tonight starting from the pole. (4) RAYRAY finished decently from an impossible spot last week, gets a
much better draw and retains Gingras – chance for a piece. (2) WOLFTRAX was racing well when he first arrived
back from KY but does feel like he’s tailed a bit in his last couple – needs to be sharper. (5) UNDRSOUTHRNSUN
N made breaks in his first 2 starts this year – he’s stayed pacing in his last couple, but still hasn’t been any kind of
threat. (7) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N has 4 starts since returning from the long layoff and has yet to earn a check
RACE 7 – (6) SOUTH POINT has 5 wins and 4 seconds from his last 9 starts, thrives in every barn and can race
from on OR off the pace – he may not win tonight, but he surely deserves top billing! (1) HELSINKI shipped in
sharp from NJ and just missed in his local debut (with the winner coming back to race well again on Wednesday
night) – draws the pole with Bartlett for a new barn, and should be able to be a big player here too. (8) LUKE MCG
OOK gets the worst draw for his local debut but he’s shown aggressive starts from bad posts in NJ, so maybe he’ll at
least try to go forward at the start tonight – good bomb to try to get onto the ticket. (5) ON DAYBOO wouldn’t
normally get a mention in here BUT his barn has sent out a trio of BIG PRICE winners over the last few cards,
including an eye popping performance from CENTURY ENDEAVOR on Wed. night – one of our leading trainers
over the past few years has recently started moving some of her stock over to this barn...seems like a pretty good
move so far! (3) SHAKE IT appeared to be tailing but did find a better effort last week – we’ll see if he can continue
heading in the right direction (playable underneath). (2) RICARDOSHILYSHALLY is a big question mark – he
missed time to his last start at Pocono, finished way back, and now drops in price...could go either way tonight. (4)
SPEED SNIP has been stuck on minor pieces since arriving and seems destined for more of the same tonight. (7)
ROSE RUN X CON started the year off strong but does feel like he’s tailing now – another bad draw doesn’t help
RACE 8 – (6) TIPSY MONI won 15 of her 24 Yonkers starts over the previous 2 years and is already 3 for 3 in
2025 –she gets a big break by drawing inside of the razor sharp (7) P C FREE WHEELING, and she remains the one
to knock off. The latter has proven to be an outstanding claim for $40K, winning 2 of her 3 starts and finishing 2
nd to the top choice in the other – she’s the one with the best chance to knock off #6 right now, even with the unfortunate
draw. (3) DIAMANTE TRIO IT was no match for #7 last week but she did rebound nicely for 2 nd , after a weak start
the week before – the inside draw at least gives her some hope of pulling off an upset. (2) YO BETH D has been
hard to gauge from start to start – if the “good” version shows up tonight, she may be able to rally for a piece. (5)
QUEEN OF ALL hasn’t found her form this year and will need to be a lot better to contend for more than a minor
piece. (4) SWANS EYE is capable of big efforts at times, but may be a little short as she makes her first start of ’25.
(1) SAPPHIRERAINSTAR gets major post relief but is moving WAY up in class.
RACE 9 – Tough race: (1) STORMONT DIVIDE was no factor in either of his 2025 starts (so far), but he should be
much closer to the action tonight, and the class was opened up to fit him – maybe tonight he’ll finally strut his best
stuff? (6) DONATO PATRIOT K seems to have appreciated the time off as that Pocono qualifier looks terrific –
worth a look at a big price? (8) CANTSTOP YANKEE may have trouble getting in play from out here but he has the
right pilot to at least give him a shot – he has more than enough ability to be a threat IF he can find a decent trip. (4)
I GET IT went his best mile in a while last week, even if he took a very tough beat at the wire– a similar effort could
make him a threat once more. (2) THE PRINCE benefited from a good trip last week and was able to edge out #4,
extending his winning streak to 3 – another good trip makes him a serious player in here too. (3) EYE OF A TIGER
AS (who became a millionaire last week) and (5) MISSISSIPPI STORM (who went over the $1M mark last year)
finished 1-2 last week...but that was vs. easier, and they may have a little tougher time in this stronger field. (7) UNE
VERGONNAGETTHIS doesn’t seem sharp enough to really threaten from out here
RACE 10 – (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT disappointed in her first 2 starts back here at Yonkers, raced much better on
2/20 then put it all together with last week’s solid pocket victory – the rail draw stamps her as the one to knock off in
the finale. (5) BE DIFFERENT found his best game last week, delivering a sharp first over score as he picked up his
3 rd win from 7 local tries – he’ll be a serious threat if he shows up as sharp this week. (3) INFINITY STONE has a
history of just popping off big miles when you least expect them – if you’re looking for a nice-priced horse with a
chance, he might be worth a stab. (8) AUSTRAL HANOVER wasn’t on his best game last week, only able to finish 4
th after a live trip following #5 – he’s capable of better, but tonight’s draw may limit his opportunities. (2) INTL BL
OCKADE hasn’t been better than 3 rd in his 5 local tries and he’ll need to be sharper if he hopes to improve on that
tonight. (7) ICE BREAKERS K came to life on 2/6 when 2 nd at 81-1 – he’s had nothing but bad posts since then and
unfortunately, he gets another one tonight. (6) ROGER RABBIT won a “fall apart” race 3 back, then didn’t fire at all
the last 2 starts – hard to like his chances from Post 6 tonight. (4) SWEET SOUL DAVID gets post relief but may
not be sharp enough right now to take advantage.