Wednesday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (1) DELIGHTFUL TERROR has been turning in solid efforts every start for weeks – he caught quick

miles in his last couple and could only manage 3rds, but perhaps this is a spot where he can get back to the winner’s

circle. (4) FOREVER FAV was invisible for a very long time but perked up 4 back to just miss at 51-1 and has hit

board in every start since then – worth considering here if the price is right. (5) ITALIAN DELIGHT N may not be

the absolute “winning machine” he was right now, but he’s still a weekly player in this class – always a chance if

things go his way. (3) SMOKIN BY N won 10 races last year but was still plagued by inconsistency at times – he’s

VERY tough to gauge right now as he does show a nice win at Stga. 2 back, but struggled prior to that and then

again last week – would need a good price to try him on top in his Hilltop return. (2) ROCKINBILLYSDREAM

debuts locally for a new barn and his upstate lines suggest he can be a good fit – certainly playable in exotics from

this spot. (6) IM J BEE N can throw a good one when in the mood but he’s erratic at best, and tonight’s draw won’t

help his cause. (7) SWEET TROY hasn’t looked ready since returning from the layoff (8) HURRIKANE GEORGIE

would be a surprise, to say the least.

RACE 2 – (3) BLOCKCHAIN hit board in 13 of 16 starts at 3, holding his own against some solid stakes company

– he raced ok from tough spots (at The Meadows) in his 2 starts back at 4, and he exits a 3% barn to join the leading

barn in the nation tonight (while getting Yannick in the bike) – pretty hard to go against, even at a very short price!

(4) HILLOOKIN was unraced at 2 and while he only made 4 starts at 4, he certainly showed that he does have some

ability – hails from top connections, and should be ready for a decent effort, even off the long layoff. (8) WAVERLY

HANOVER gets the worst of the draw but still has a good chance to leave quickly enough to get himself a decent

spot – playable underneath. (5) CHASING CRYSTALS gets some post relief and Zeron is a little more familiar with

him now – maybe a small piece? (6) MEETMEATTHEBAR picked up an opportunistic win 3 back but hasn’t

managed to be better than 5th in her other 3 starts this year – minor spoils? (2) BARN CREDIT was just 1 for 24 last

year, and 0 for 10 here at Yonkers – prefer to just observe in his first 2025 start. (4) VANGUARD is 0 for 20 over

the last 2 years and having trouble finishing his miles right now. (7) DEVILLE HILL made 6 starts at 2, was unraced

at 3, and so far slow to come around at 4 (in NJ) – brutal spot for his local debut.

RACE 3 – Short field, but interesting race! (5) SHES EPIC was forced to take back at the start last week and never

got close after that – the week before, however, she rattled off a strong clip and was able to hold 2nd to the talented

ZUMA BEACH – maybe she hit the top and make these come and catch her. (1) PLEASE BE YOU qualified nicely

twice in NJ and raced well in her career debut here last week, finishing a solid 3rd behind a pair of solid rivals – may

be up for a bigger effort in her 2nd start, and would be no surprise at all. (3) PUSSYCAT DOLL GB was sent off as

the odds on choice for her U.S. debut but weakened a bit at the end – not overly concerned about the 3 weeks off,

and she’s another that could be primed for a bigger effort the second time around. (6) VARSITY BLUE CHIP won 4

of 7 starts here last year and just qualified back nicely after being on the shelf since June – hails from a very live

barn, and a good price makes her worth a look. (4) IM A BELIEVER is just 3 for 41 lifetime and has been away for

over 4 months – she’s also banked $159K along the way, and could at least be considered for a small piece. (2) FOR

EVER A FLIRT seems a notch below the others right now, but still wouldn’t be a shock.

RACE 4 – Another tough race: (4) SADDLE UP looked like he may be headed in the wrong direction but he had

good life finishing 2 back, then followed that up with last week’s heavily backed victory – maybe he can take

another? (1) WICHITA LINEMAN has been just “ok” in his 4 starts this year, but he drops in for a tag, draws the

pole, and his best effort would make him a serious threat from this spot. (6) FINAL CHEESERECIPE has been

going some big miles this year, last week’s miscue notwithstanding – tough spot, but he’ll offer some good value if

things go his way. (2) SAN DOMINO A used a perfect trip to upset this class 3 back, and did finish with pace last

week – not impossible. (5) KARLOO BRADLEY A is a major question mark – he drops down to 30s after having to

be pulled up in his last but he did qualify back nicely at PcD last week, and it’s anybody’s guess what we’ll get from

him tonight. (7) THEFLYINGROCK is sharp for sure, but will have his work cut out for him trying to pass ‘em all

from out here. (3) IM THE PRINCE was a little better last week – keep an eye for any further improvement tonight.

RACE 5 – (1) MIKI THE CLOWN was bet like she was going to be VERY good on 2/26 and that’s exactly what

happened (2 move jogburger winner) – she was scratched sick from her last so it’s hard to have complete faith that

she’ll be 100% for tonight...but she still deserves top billing. (3) EBONY LADY won 2 of her last 3 starts with no

chance in the other (8 hole) – Marohn should have confidence in her, and drive accordingly...very logical threat. (5)

IRON MISTRESS was done in by the draw last time but has otherwise been excellent – live player, for sure. (2) BR

OOKDALE JESSIE has an anemic local win % but she does grab pieces and is good right now – ok to include

underneath. (4) TYRA MAKES BANK hit board in 3 of her last 4 starts but just doesn’t feel like she’s on her best

game right now – another one usable in exotics. (7) SUNBURNT used an easy trip to grab a 2nd last week but is

unlikely to get anywhere near as good a journey from Post 7 tonight. (6) EVAS SPORTS CZECH is struggling now.

RACE 6 – (3) COUNTRY MAMA makes her seasonal (and Yonkers) debut for a new barn, and has a nice resume

(8 wins, and $171K in the bank) – that Pocono qualifier looks strong, and she may be worth a shot right out of the

box. (6) NOTTINGHAM ended up getting roughed up a bit last week, leaving him vulnerable to the oft-winning

LUCKY MUM N’s late rally – he’s rock solid right now, and remains a serious threat. (5) FULL SCALE showed up

sharp in 2025, hitting board in 5 of his first 6 starts (4th in the other, from Post 7) – the right trip puts him right there

on the wire. (8) KOVU AS gets the worst of the draw but he does have the speed to at least find a decent trip, and

may be able to sneak into the exotics at a big price. (4) TEQUINI HANOVER hasn’t been on her best game but a

wake up call would at least give her a shot at a piece. (7) MUSICAL RISE still needs to prove himself at this level,

and may need a better draw before he can do so. (1) KELLYS GREATEST looked good in last week’s well-earned

victory but that was vs. MUCH cheaper – may struggle a bit tonight. (2) JAKEY JUMPUP seems buried for his

2025 return.

RACE 7 – (2) ITALIAN LAD N races well almost any time he gets a decent trip and he should end up with one

tonight – he’s usually a good price, and that makes him worth a look in a race with no standouts. (3) SCRIBBLERS

won in this class 5 starts back and has a few good efforts since – another that could come out on top (at a good price)

if things go his way. (4) KOPI LUWAK is a bit of a question mark – he dropped in for a tag and used a perfectly

timed brush to win on 2/26 but then threw a complete dud in his last, perhaps hinting at why he was put in for the

$40K tag – we’ll see how he does for his new barn tonight. (6) MIND HUNTER isn’t on his “best” game right now,

but he’s sharp enough to be a weekly player – would consider IF the price is decent. (7) MADELINES BLK JACK

crushed the 25s at PcD after moving to our leading barn – he dropped in for $40K here in his next, went a sharp mile

but came up 2nd best to the 30-1 winner who raced like a 2/5 shot – he seems to fit very well at this level, but the

tough draw may hurt his chances a bit. (8) MUSIC HALL had won 3 in a row but he drew Post 8 last week (up in

class) and that ended his streak – he’s stuck in a similarly bad spot tonight. (5) DELESTON may need a class drop to

contend for the top slot. (1) MOVIN ON UP draws the pole but seems ambitiously placed for $40K.

RACE 8 – (2) FAST APPROACH got used a bit harder last week than he might have liked and can be forgiven fir

getting a little tired late– good chance he can make amends tonight (1) BO SILAS has been sharper lately, is looking

at a good trip and may prove the main danger. (5) THE THING IS landed on a picture-perfect trip last week and was

able to use his late kick for the victory – not sure the trip will be as kind tonight, but he can still rally late for a piece.

(3) ALEXANDER is 0 for 11 locally but does have five 3rds – chance for another. (4) PAPA JOE LOZITO was way

back in 2 local starts this year but showed some improvement in PA last week and may be able to hold on for a small

slice tonight. (8) BAR KEEP DE VIE was trapped too long for a chance for better last week – he may be on the

upswing, but tonight’s draw is a killer. Both (6) IHAVEDREAM DE VIE and (7) HONOLULU would be surprises.

RACE 9 – (6) RECORD YEAR likes to win races and he comes into this off victories in his last 2 starts – no rail

tonight, but he may still be able to extend his streak to 3 despite the bad draw. (4) SHADOW IN RED never got in

play last week but he’s usually a very reliable player in this class – possibility. (1) PRETTY HANDSOME hasn’t

been on his best game lately but this is a logical place to look for a wake up call – willing to consider IF the price is

fair. (3) VESPA N is unreliable at best but a couple of his recent efforts would at least give him a chance in here –

not a bad one for longshot fans looking for a last race “get out”. (5) MIGHTY SANTANA N just toured the oval

from Post 8 last week after a sick scratch the week before – he could definitely play a bigger role tonight, and may

add some value to the exotics. (7) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N just seems stuck on smaller pieces right now, and may

need a better draw just grab even that. (2) WAR DAN DELIGHT N just doesn’t show up often enough to merit an

endorsement – needs to up his game. (8) MOONLIGHT SHADOW feels like he’s gone the wrong way.