Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (2) MADRID A didn’t have the greatest 2024 season but she does have plenty of back class and ships

back in from NJ off a very game front end score last start – she’s missed 3 weeks but she does figure to be the best

price of the 3 main contenders in here, will probably land on a good trip, and that makes her a decent value option.

(1) CHIAPANECAS has done nothing but excellent work here at Yonkers (10-4-4-1) so it was pretty surprising to

see her pay 12-1 last week, even from Post 8 – she moves all the way inside tonight and while her price will come

way down, she’s obviously still a huge threat! (5) ZUMA BEACH had no trouble transitioning from NW2-4PM to

NW10000 last week, thrashing her older rivals the same way she crushed her younger foes – would be no surprise if

she was able to handle these even better ones too. (3) VILLAGE JADE generally does her winning vs. easier but she

may be able to just tow along from this spot to take home some minor spoils. (4) TWIN B SUNKISSED is another

that’s more comfortable when in a bit cheaper, but capable of a small slice with an easy trip. (6) REC TIME scored

off the layoff here on 3/7, one of several big-priced winners the barn sent out around that time – she was unable to

get in play in her next, though, and may find herself too far back to threaten tonight. (8) TALENT TO SPARE A is

actually pretty good right now, but faces an uphill battle trying to get in play from out here. (7) ULTIMATE SPEED

needs a much better post (in an easier field) to be a player right now.

RACE 2 – (3) ATREACHEROUS A went through a rough patch in February but has definitely been trending back

in the right direction in her last couple – she reunites with Bartlett, lands in a softer spot, and looms a major threat

here. (5) VIBRANCE hasn’t been on her best game in some time but she did finish with interest from an impossible

spot last week, and may be in a field where Yannick can look to be more aggressive – may prove the main danger.

(4) PRIDEFUL struggled in her first couple of local starts but raced better in her last few – not sure she can beat the

top pair, but she can certainly grab a good piece. (1) BETTA WATCH OUT N had no luck in her first 2 tries out of

the NW2-4PM class but this should be a much better spot for her – better chance to take home a piece tonight. (2)

LADYCORONA has been inching back up the class ladder without the benefit of any recent wins – she’s been stuck

on smaller pieces, and seems destined for more of the same tonight. (6) KAIRAKICONFIDENTL N is struggling –

tonight’s draw is definitely not going to help.

RACE 3 – (1) LINEMUP KNOCKMBACK popped out of the two hole and paced right by LUCKY ARTIST A to

3/4s, and can certainly be forgiven for getting run down by the talented ONE LAST WISH in the lane – drops

another peg, draws the pole with Bartlett for a hot barn, and is clearly the one to knock off tonight. (3) OKINAWA

BEACH A has been a little tough to gauge lately but she’s used to facing better, and anything close to her best effort

would make her a legitimate player tonight. (8) LUCKY ARTIST A lands in a terrible spot but IF Siegelman is

willing to take a shot at blasting with her, she COULD add some value to the exotics...if some trip luck comes her

way. (5) MORNING HAS BROKEN was disappointing at some short prices early in the year but does seem a bit

better lately – a live trip could help her rally for a piece. (4) HURRIKANE LADY LOU (no Lasix tonight) makes

her first start since December and while she does fit with these, that 3-1 ML price does seem pretty low – better

value with others. (6) MISS CHANTILLY N has been racing ok in NJ but vs easier – tough draw for her Hilltop

return. (2) CRUISE ALERT just hasn’t been able to get going at all in 2025 – leaning elsewhere, despite the good

draw. (7) ALTA MADEIRA A actually has some decent tries vs. better but she lands in a brutal spot, and is already

pretty camera shy here at Yonkers.

RACE 4 – Blue Chip Matchmaker, Leg 1: (6) AARDIE B MIKI N comes off a terrific season Down Under, going

18-9-5-1, $146K with a Group 1 victory last summer – she joins our leading barn, qualified super, and lands in a

very soft division for her U.S. debut – gets top billing, even with the outside draw. (1) TALK CURDY TO ME has

shown that she can hold her own with the Invitational types, had a useful qualifier, hails from a very high % barn

and lands the pole in an overall soft division – should be able to grab a big piece of this. (5) COACHELLABOUND

N is too classy and accomplished to ever just dismiss, but her form has been lacking for some time, and it’s hard to

just expect her to up her game just because the series is starting – we’ll see if she can turn things around over the

next few weeks. (4) EASY TO PLEASE seems somewhat overmatched for this series, but may still be able to rally

for a small piece tonight. (3) FACTORY GIRL has some ok tries at Dover recently, but will need to be a lot better to

compete with the mares in this series. (2) MAGICAL MAYA A managed just a trio of 3rds from her 5 local starts

last year...and those races were at levels much lower than this.

RACE 5 – Good race! (3) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM usually picks up his wins vs. a bit easier but he’s off to a

good start in 2025, and his last “brush and crush” victory was particularly impressive – maybe if they mix things up

a bit in front of him, he can rally by at a nice price? (2) SEVENSHADESOFGREY is another feelin’ good these

days, and can be forgiven for getting nailed by the talented SEA CAN last week – gets another good draw, and is

sharp enough to threaten, with a good trip. (7) TEXSONG SOPRANO drops a bit while in good form, and does have

the speed to get himself in play even from out here – worth considering as long as the price is fair. (4) DIAMANTE

TRIO IT is one of several in this normally very high % barn that just hasn’t been as reliable (so far) this year – she’s

in a spot where Brennan figures to get aggressive, and a good trip may help her find a better effort tonight. (5) P CHI

CO is definitely in top form right now, easily wiring softer 2 back then finishing with good trot from an impossible

spot last week – he steps up another class level, but also gets Dave Miller to drive (who won with him recently in

NJ)– definitely chance for a piece, with the right trip. (8) TORRONE fits for sure, but probably faces limited options

from out here (especially with #7 likely leaving right to his inside). (1) CAL MILES N SHELL is a nice trotter but

does seem at least a bit overmatched here, even from the pole. (6) DONATO PATRIOT K is still trying to find his

game in 2025 – tonight’s draw won’t help (though he does drop another peg).

RACE 6 - Blue Chip Matchmaker, Leg 1: (5) WALKIN ON SUNSHINE won all 3 of her local starts this winter (at

odds-on prices) and has had this series in mind all along – her qualifier last week suggests that she’s definitely ready

to get rolling right off the bat and she absolutely deserves top billing tonight, even with some quality foes to her

inside. (2) CHERYLS SHADOW is probably a notch below the top mares in this series but she’s a solid weekly

player, and may be able to grab herself a nice trip from this spot– perhaps she can add some value to the exotics? (1)

MILLWOOD BLISS N is winless in her 3 U.S. starts (vs. a bit easier) but it’s likely that she has more to offer – it

seems like a good sign that Miller comes over to drive her tonight, and we’ll see if she can be a legitimate player as

the series rolls on. (4) TURN THE PAGE N is a talented mare and finished with pace (from an impossible spot) in

her only local try this year – it feels like she can hold her own with these, and the only real knock here is the short

5/2 ML price. (6) INTOTHEMYSTICMOON has been racing ok, but does seem a bit overmatched at the moment.

(7) TARAPASTA lands in a terrible spot for her local/series debut – prefer to just watch, for now.

RACE 7 - Blue Chip Matchmaker, Leg 1: (1) LLOYDS LOVES used to beat up on claimers and then started to

really blossom, winning just as regularly vs. TOP mares (11 for 21 here last year) – she’s been sharp to start off 2025

as well, and seems to be peaking heading into this series – the draw gives Holland plenty of options, and we’ll go

with her on top. (4) ROCKET DEO had a terrific year at 3, winning 10 of 17 starts and banking $472K – she looked

sharper in that 2nd qualifier, and may be ready to make some real noise in this series...but that 3/2 ML price does

seem a bit short, as she lands in a pretty tough spot to make her 4YO debut! (5) SILK CLOUD A is more than

capable of throwing miles that could make her a player in this series (on OR off the pace), but it’s hard to say if she’s

100% right now – would need a pretty decent price to try her on top tonight. (2) HIGH FLYIN FILLY has some

mixed Ohio form as she makes her local debut in the Matchmaker – gets a good draw for top connections, and we

should find out quickly how well she fits here. (6) ONE LAST WISH was a talented youngster that just had an

awful year at 4 – she seems to be coming around for her new barn, and MAY be able to hold her own with these

tougher mares too – tough draw for tonight, however. (3) DOUGS BABE A has had some good moments in this

series in the past, but doesn’t seem to be in peak form right now – sticking with others, for now. (7) ARIZONA feels

a bit overmatched with these, and the draw only makes things worse.

RACE 8- Blue Chip Matchmaker, Leg 1: (5) GRACE HILL was 3 for 3 here last year before landing on an

atrocious trip in her last start of 2024 – she was freshened up, and the winner of over $1.9M should be plenty ready

after a trio of qualifiers across the river – we’ll look for her to get her season started on the right foot. (1) SEASIDE

DIVA was highly successful at 2 and 3, winning 17 of 32 starts and banking over $800K – her qualifier and start at

Hoosier should have ready for action, she gets around the half, and we’ll see if the 4 year old is up to taking on

tough older mares in the series. (2) LYDEO has been climbing back up the class ladder since returning to Yonkers

(for a new barn) – she’ll get a major test tonight, but did win a series leg a couple of years ago – the good draw

should put her in play for a piece. (4) BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE just missed in her local debut but was unable to have

any impact last week – she feels like she may be a notch below these, but we’ll see how she fares tonight before

drawing any conclusions. (3) UPTOWN HANOVER is a solid mare but probably prefers to be in a bit cheaper – she

also hasn’t raced since December, so perhaps this is a good night to just observe. (7) MY RED SEA gave it a good

try in her Yonkers return last week, but will really need some things to go her way after moving way up in class, and

drawing so poorly. (6) TRUE BLUE HANOVER is a nice mare, but may be ambitiously placed in this series.

RACE 9 – (5) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS felt like he was in a winning spot 2 back, got hammered at the windows

but made an uncharacteristic miscue as he dropped in 3rd – had no prayer in his last, but drops into a soft spot (for

him) tonight and will get a chance to make amends. (2) DWS POINT MAN threw a dud 2 back but has otherwise

raced ok for most of the year – feels like a spot where he can make some noise, at a decent price. (3) WARRAWEE

YANG is the “x factor” – he breezed through last year’s John Brennan Trotting Series but then just fell apart after

winning the final – he still throws a good one now and then (see last week’s victory at The Swamp) but he’s just

been way too unreliable (especially here at Yonkers) to back at a short price. (1) HAT TRICK MARLEAU is off to a

slow start this year, but he’s also been facing tougher – could make some more noise from this spot. (8) DOROTEA

TRIP IT caught a sizzling mile in her U.S. debut and was never in play at all – inclined to believe she’ll be handled

conservatively once more (after drawing Post 8) but IF the tote board suggests she may be a “go” here, you may

want to give her some more consideration. (4) CROWN MONARCH has mixed results from his 3 starts here last

year and that last Pocono line isn’t all that encouraging – leaning elsewhere. (6) DULY RESOLVED hails from a

very high % barn but just hasn’t clicked in his 3 local tries, and is also off 3 weeks. (7) FULL STRENGTH seems

likely to remain in the back most of the way, with his trainer taking the lines tonight.

RACE 10 – (3) ABRUZZO hasn’t always been known for his consistency but he comes into tonight having hit

board in 3 of his last 4 starts (broken equipment from Post 8 in the other), and may be able to work out a good trip

here – decent value horse to consider on top. (1) JULA MUSCLE PACK got a big drop to the bottom class last week

and knew just what to do with it – he bumps up a notch tonight but this level is well within his comfort zone as well

– remains the one to knock off, but he’ll likely be a very short price. (5) ICE BREAKERS K was wildly overbet off

the class drop last week but couldn’t make it hold up on the front end – his price will be much better here, and he

may prefer to race from a bit off the pace – possibility. (4) RODEO HILL has picked up his share of decent pieces

here at Yonkers but he’s also 0 for 20 – tough to use on top, but certainly usable underneath. (8) NO DRAMA PLEA

SE gambled on leaving from Post 8 last week, ended up with a 3 hole trip and a 3rd place finish – may have more

leavers to his inside now, but still a viable candidate for 3rd/4th at that 20-1 ML price. (2) R NO MERCY picked up a

pair of 3rds in his 2 local tries and draws well again for tonight – he is facing better, though, so we’ll see if he can

still contend with these. (6) BARRY BLACK’s lone win this year was from the pocket, in a bottom class “fall apart”

race – leaning elsewhere. (7) INTL BLOCKADE lands outside after a weak effort last start.

RACE 11 – (5) KASHA V feels like he’s been sharpening and was actually very good last week when a rallying 2nd

behind the front-running favorite – the barn had a winner on Wed. night, and maybe can pick up another to close out

the week. (2) ENERGY KING has been struggling but vs. better – gets a good draw for a barn that’s finally starting

to warm up, and may be able to have a bigger say tonight. (7) STREET GOSSIP lands at the bottom level after

holding his own in NW20000 not long ago – seems pretty logical here (even from Post 7), but he’s just way too

camera shy to use on top at a short price. (1) J S HOPSCOTCH will surely have a say in the outcome starting from

the pole with Bartlett, but he’s been struggling for a long time, and hard to get excited about at that 9/5 ML price –

better value elsewhere. (6) CREATE MYSTIQUE has struggled in Ohio the past 2 years but does move to new

connections now – maybe give a look if she starts to attract some tote action tonight? (8) FULL RIGHTS had some

life 3 back but showed little before that mile or since...and now draws Post 8. (4) MIGHTY DEO qualified ok for a

new barn but was really struggling at Stga. for one of their top conditioners – prefer to just observe. (3) KINNDER

DANGERZONE showed little in his local debut – waiting for better signs.