Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, April 10, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) AUSTRAL HANOVER had a brief blip in his solid form spree 2 and 3 back but was his usual

reliable self last week (close 2 nd to repeater BARN HALL) and he should be looking at a pretty nice trip for tonight –

one of several with a legitimate chance in here. (4) AIRMANS JACKPOT has been rock solid for weeks, but really

brought her best in last week’s blowout victory – very dangerous if she brings that same kind of effort tonight. (3)

ROGER RABBIT hinted 2 back that he may be ready to start turning things around and certainly brought a big one

last week, used hard every step before coming up 2 nd best to a perfect trip winner– could be a threat here too. (7)

WARRAWEE XALT made a break 2 back but appreciated being taken off the gate last week, rallying nicely for 3 rd

after a very conservative steer – another tough draw, but worth using in exotics, at a good price. (2) ARCHERY

SEELSTER hasn’t been quite strong enough at the end of his last couple of miles – needs to find his better game if

he hopes to contend for a big piece tonight. (5) INFINITY STONE can never be counted out completely as he

throws his share of big efforts – this does feel like a tough spot, though. (6) EMBRACE THE FUTURE still needs to

prove that she can hold her own at this level.

RACE 2 – (5) DIAMANTE TRIO IT was off to a slowish start this year but she looked like her old (good) self in

last week’s sharp victory – she’s been known to string big efforts when sharp, and we’re willing to stay on her team

for tonight. (1) ENOLA wasn’t at her best last week but it’s not like she was “bad”– her overall form has been strong

all year, her barn is going well, and she’s looking at a good trip here...could have a big say. (3) SEVENSHADESOF

GREY was 2 nd to the top choice last week and just missed to a very sharp SEA CAN the week before – definitely

tempting at that 8-1 ML price. (2) SWANS EYE had a couple of useful “back of the pack” miles after a disastrous

trip in her first start off the layoff – she’s going to pop off a big mile one of these nights...the price will be right if

you think it could be tonight. (6) SISTER MARY MAUDE made nearly half a million dollars at 2 and 3 and is very

familiar with the Hilltop oval– it also can be tough (even for top ones) to make that transition to their 4YO campaign

and while she MAY be able to handle these tonight, she’s hard to endorse as the ML favorite...especially with the

bad draw. (4) YO BETH D is listed at the bottom but an easy trip could see her pick up a small piece

RACE 3 – (5) BROOKVIEW DARIUS tried to take on tougher off the claim last week and can be forgiven for

having to settle for a 5 th place check – he drops back down to the class where he just finished 1 st or 2

nd in 6 straight starts, and looms the one to knock off tonight. (4) PASSIONATE PROMISE shipped back in sharp from PA and was

a close 2nd on 3/27 – give him a pass for his last (parked the mile) and look for him to be a big player again tonight.

(6) MAHONE SEELSTER made a rare miscue last week but has otherwise been a rock solid player at this $40K

level – he’ll be coming from the back (most likely), but can still threaten for a big chunk of this. (1) OVER AND

BACK just hasn’t elevated his game the way most others do upon joining our leading barn – too soon to write him

off, but also hard to recommend on top at that 9/5 ML price. (2) MOHATU AS would probably like to be in a little

easier but he’s shown that he can take home small pieces at this level with easy enough trips. (3) R NO MERCY

feels a bit ambitiously placed in this class – leaning towards others

RACE 4 – (2) BLACKHAWK ZETTE put together an outstanding 3YO campaign, going 17-10-5-2 and earning

$264K – solid looking qualifier for his 4YO return, and now on Lasix (added in his final start of 2024) – willing to

try him against his elders tonight, as long as the price is fair. (5) ON HIGHER GROUND made only 12 starts, his

abbreviated campaign coming to a close with a sick scratch in early August – he has a pair of qualifiers and a useful

tightener under his belt, and may be ready for a contending effort now. (1) P CHICO really started to sharpen in NJ

this winter and has held that from since returning to YR, even as he’s climbed the class ladder – moves up another

notch tonight, but seems sharp enough to still have a say. (4) RITSON is another that’s been holding form during a

recent ascent up the class ladder – prefer others on top, but could see him landing somewhere in the exotics. (3) WH

EELZABLAZIN finished 2 nd in 3 of his 4 local tries this year, albeit vs. easier – he returns from sharp efforts in PA,

and we’ll see how he handles what figures to be a bit of a class jump. (6) BE DIFFERENT has been terrific in 40s

but he was just claimed away from our leading barn, draws poorly, and we’ll see how he does for his new crew

RACE 5 – (2) PRICELESS BEACH disappointed last week but it was with a tough trip, facing the 40s – he drops

back down to the level he beat 2 back, and also has a post advantage over his main rival – we’ll give him top billing.

(8) SADDLE UP was a winner 3 and 4 back then came up 2 nd best in his last pair – he has the speed to blast from

Post 8, and looms the main danger, despite the draw. (1) BECHERS BROOK A hit board in his last pair and while

those efforts were certainly ok, he still hasn’t found his “best” form so far in 2025 – he’s looking at a good trip here

and certainly belongs in exotics...but he’ll need to be a little better for a chance at the top slot. (3) BIG DREAM

FELLA hasn’t been a serious threat in his 4 starts here this year but he should be a little closer to the pace tonight,

and that may help him take home a piece. (5) HURRIKANE CHEYENNE ships down from Canada sporting solid

form but is a little hard to gauge class-wise – the other horse she shipped down recently (BRONZER) won his first

local start...maybe this guy can be a player too? (6) FULSOME has had some success here in the past but he ships

in from NJ off a sick scratch, and also draws poorly – leaning more towards others. (4) VIVA LAS VEGAS N rarely

wins and prefers to race with cheaper – that being said, he’s the type that CAN pick up minor spoils when he sits an

easy trip. (7) JACKS LEGEND N outraced his 31-1 odds when a close 3rd last week but he really benefited from a

very easy trip – seems unlikely to be as fortunate from out here.

RACE 6 – (5) P L OSCAR was too aggressive last week (off a sick scratch) and it probably cost him a better finish

– his barn feels like it may be starting to pick up a bit, and this may be a field that he can beat...at a decent price. (2)

BARN HALL landed on a perfect trip last week and it helped him to make it two in a row since arriving from PA –

have to respect his chances of taking another. (4) EPOS OSTERVANG DK dropped in for a tag last week and while

his line certainly doesn’t look bad, he did hang a bit at the end – he may be at least a bit vulnerable at a short price.

(7) BULLY BOY HILL raced very well for 2 nd last week in his Yonkers return, even if no threat to the runaway

winner – good bomb for the bottom of exotics. (1) ICE BREAKERS K is solid right now, but may prefer to be in a

bit easier – has to be considered for exotics with the rail and Gingras. (6) I GET IT was scratched sick on 3/27 then

finished way back in his next start – he takes a drop down to 40s, and that could be a major red flag. (3) KOVU AS

may be a little bit cheaper but his overall form is solid, and may be able to grab some minor spoils

RACE 7 – (1) LEXUS KODY always had an abundance of ability but has remained prone to miscues even 70 starts

into his career – he really looked super last week (after a nice freshening) and we’ll look for him to take another...

assuming he continues to behave. (6) BENJAMIN HANOVER raced from well off the pace in his last pair but

finished with good trot each time – he may be forced to come from the back once more, but he can still make his

presence felt. (5) KEG STAND gets a little class relief but still lands in with strong foes – he loses Bartlett but does

get Zeron at the lines – a good trip puts him right in the mix. (3) CHULO landed on a tough trip last week and saw

his 3 race winning streak ended – he still raced well for 3 rd , and there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to race well in

here too. (4) FERRETTI was able to hold 2 nd behind #1 last week and has maintained his form very nicely as he

moved back up the class ladder – may find himself in a tougher spot tonight, though. (2) BLACK MAGIC beat

lesser in back to back starts but just didn’t look nearly as sharp last week – prefer others tonight

RACE 8 – (3) SAMHARA N gave it a big speed try 2 back, only to get nipped right on the wire – he came first over

in his last, and can be forgiven for being unable to get to the classy SPEED MAN N, into the teeth of a :27.3 kicker

– just feels like the sharpest of these right now. (4) BRAKE AHEAD is on the upswing, finishing alertly 2 back then

picking up a 3 rd behind a pair of classy veterans last week – drops a peg, and looms a very logical player. (1) FREQ

UENT IMAGE showed some life 2 back then scored at a juicy 13-1 price last week (helped by an easy trip) – he

should be looking at another good journey tonight, and that could put him in the hunt, even with the class jump. (6)

ON ACCIDENT was hurt by dull cover last week but found late life and wasn’t far off 2 nd – tough draw, but a good

value horse for the bottom of exotics. (5) IDEALSOMEMAGIC A had an outstanding 2023 season but struggled to

match that form in an abbreviated 2024 campaign – he ships back after beating a much softer Pocono field last

week, and we’ll see if he can build off that effort, or if he just needs to be in that easy to be effective these days. (7)

CHANTEE struggled to gain on the rim to 3/4s last week but eventually passed a tired tripsitter to moved into 2 nd,

then held off #6 for the place spot – may struggle to get in play tonight, though. (2) C BET HANOVER gets a good

draw, but may need an easier spot to be a player. (8) OZARK was a head scratching claim for $25K last week as he

could have been taken for $20k either of the prior 2 weeks – seems buried here, regardless

RACE 9 – (3) TWIG had no chance in either of his last 2 starts so it’s a bit of a surprise to see him drop below the

level of the recent claim – on the flip side, Bartlett hops off #5 to drive this guy, and that definitely is an attention

grabber – one of a few with a chance in here. (1) BETTORBUCKLEUP appreciated the class drop and easy trip

when he picked up a 3rd last week– he’s looking at another good trip tonight, and could be a big player (2)

WICHITA LINEMAN has been stuck on smaller pieces all year and it was also the case last week, debuting for a

new barn – hard to “love” his chances here, but also hard to not consider him if the price is fair. (4) IM A

POWERPLAY A was 3 rd in 40s 4 back and 2nd in for $30K on 3/24...making tonight’s drop to 25s a bit concerning –

another that could go either way tonight. (5) THEFLYINGROCK feels like he may be a bit off his game and the

class drop makes sense – Bartlett opting off his main account IS a concern, however. (6) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN

N has struggled in the majority of his starts this year, and was particularly weak in his last – tonight’s tough draw

isn’t going to help. (8) BUCHANNON HANOVER is 0 for 18 here over the past 2 years and 1 for 43 over the last 3

seasons – sticking with others. (7) LYONS PEGASUS would be a stunner, to say the least

RACE 10 – (3) IM THE PRINCE saw his 2 race winning streak snapped last week but he raced as well (if not

better) with his 2nd place finish – he lands in a field of very sharp rivals...but he may just prove sharpest of all. (2)

FLIP MY CHIP beat the top choice last week after stealing a soft opening half and scooting off to 3/4s – he’s

compiled an impressive 22-9-5-0 record since arriving on the local scene, and is a big threat pretty much any time

he’s in to go. (1) RICARDOSHILYSHALLY has been good for several starts and finally was able to pick up his first

win of the season last week (off the claim) – he does step up to face tougher now, but still deserves plenty of respect

in his current form. (7) LUKE MCGOOK shows NJ lines that suggest he’s a very good fit with these BUT he was

unable to get in play in his only other local start (from Post 8), and draws horribly for his return tonight – the price

will be juicy for anybody looking to give him a shot (6) GRITTY has been racing himself back into shape in Canada

after missing a year – hard to know how well he fits here, but the barn is 2 for 2 now with BRONZER, who they

also shipped in recently. (8) LYONS BENJAMIN finished well from an impossible spot last week but may be

looking at a similar scenario for tonight. (5) J B GRAM finally showed some life 2 back but then disappointed last

week – too many other sharp ones in here to consider. (4) ALWAYSCUTTINSCHOOL has a few recent wins at

Dover but the guess is that he may be on the cheaper side

RACE 11 – Very tough finale! (5) SHOCK TROOPER is a little tough to gauge class-wise but he ships in off a

couple of wins at The Meadows (vs. easier), was Yannick’s choice, and seems like a decent value play in this wide

open affair. (4) DONTTELLMENOW drops in to face age-restricted 20s after some solid tries vs. the “open” 20s –

logical player. (1) METAMAN got very sharp for a few starts but feels like he may be tailing – good spot to at least

look for a wake up call. (6) METAL MAN is the type that usually “figures”, then races well enough (in defeat) to

make you try him again the next week – he’s now 0 for 10 here over the last 2 years, gets a tough draw after missing

3 weeks, so make sure to demand a fair price if giving him another chance. (7) JOHN THE BAPTIST has been

helping his chances with quick starts but it’s the weaker finishes that have been hurting him – a big price makes him

worth a look. (2) ON DAYBOO has been ok lately, and very playable in exotics – leaning to others for the top prize,

however. (8) CONTACT ZONE will sometimes offer a good late rally when he just relaxes a long way near the back

– good bomb for 3rd/4th . (3) SECTIONLINE RACER is the only one in here that would be a real shock