Monday Empire Report

Welcome back for our 2024 racing season, with 240 cards scheduled for the upcoming year –

as is often the case after the winter break, most/many of the horses will be racing off a layoff

and their form can be tricky to predict – follow the early trends to pick up on which barns

seems most “ready” right off the bat (and look for a quick start from LAST year’s leading

trainer as his barn turned in an outstanding night in NJ on Saturday, going an incredible

8-5-1-2, including a massive form-reversing win for first time acquisition LIKE

CLOCKWORK, crushing at 3/5 despite going off at a zillion to one in his last few starts for his

previous barn)!

RACE 1- (4) RJS SPORTS IMAGE ended the 2023 season with 3 wins and a 2nd from his last 4 starts – he elected

to enjoy his vacation and hasn’t started since 12/18...but as noted above, his barn certainly had everything ready for

action this past weekend...we'll give him top billing, but don’t jump at a very short price tonight. (2) UP THE CRE

EK also ended his year strong, finishing 1st or 2 nd in 5 of his last 7 starts – he’s been idle for 5 weeks, and his barn

has only raced a few at Fhd. (and in Ohio) the past few weeks...can be right in it, IF ready. (1) STRIKING IMPACT

comes off a solid 2023 season, banking $114K in his 31 local starts – the rail draw helps for sure, but he’s been away

since 12/18. (3) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK hit board in 3 straight to close out the year and can grab a piece here

too, if ready. (5) POUND FOR POUND raced very well here vs. cheaper to close out 2023, and has remained fit

with 3 starts in the Fhd. Open since then – we’ll see if that conditioning edge comes into play as he takes on better

tonight. (8) SHAKESPEARE finished the year winning 6 of his last 7 starts but must overcome 5 weeks off AND

Post 8 tonight! (7) KOOTENAY SANTANNA draws poorly after ending 2023 in weakish form. (6) ALWAYS

ROCKIN seems badly overmatched, despite a win last start vs. much softer at Fhd.

RACE 2 – (2) JUST ENUFF STUFF has raced very well since joining the Dynamic Duo, and has traded victories

with his main rival in here in the past – both have been away since 12/18, but we’ll give this guy the edge just on the

better draw. (6) BIG DREAM FELLA is 4-2-1-0 locally and has traded decisions with the top choice – could easily

prove best, despite drawing outside. (1) FINALLY FRIDAY was lazy a long way in his local debut before hitting the

wire more alertly, after the fact – might be the one with the best shot to upset the top pair. (3) SHUFFLE UP HANO

VER won for his current connections on 11/13 (after exiting our leading barn) but started to deteriorate soon after

that – we’ll see if a few weeks off has helped him get back on track. (4) BOOM TOWN BOY has struggled more

often than not against these in the past. (5) VANDALISM raced poorly in all 3 local attempts – he improved out of

town in his last pair, but that was vs. considerably easier.

RACE 3 – (4) OSTRO HANOVER wasn’t all that sharp to close out 2023 but he he’s the only one in here to have

raced during the hiatus, and it was a solid try across the river – may have the edge tonight over a questionable bunch

(5) ALOTBETTOR N definitely prefers racing in 30s but the classy 13YO may actually benefit from the time off,

and he does like to win races – possibility. (2) SAILBOAT HANOVER was a winner off the claim 3 back but unable

to replicate that form in his next couple – hard to know how sharp he’ll be off the bad date. (1) HEART OF DIXIE

had a mixed bag of starts to close out the year, and has been away since 12/18 – another guessing game. (3) PEDRO

HANOVER has just one start in 9 weeks, and may get overbet with Gingras on board. (6) PINEBUSH LIFESAVER

went from never winning here at Yonkers to picking up 6 wins last season...but he did end the year on a long losing

streak, and draws poorly to start off 2024.

RACE 4 – (1) LOUS BEACH hasn’t raced in a month but he’s used to facing tougher, and figures to be cutting this

mile (or at worst, racing from the pocket) – gets the narrow edge tonight. (4) BENHOPE RULZ N made no moves

from Post 10 in his last NJ start but we won’t hold that against him – starts off the 2024 season at a much lower level

than he’s used too, and looms the main danger. (3) THRASHER hasn’t raced since 12/11 after being scratched here

on 12/18 (due to a post race positive test) – he ended the year in solid form, and could be the main threat should the

top pair fail to deliver. (6) STELLAR YANKEE is a good fit at this level but draws poorly after missing time – he’s

also not the handiest horse in the world. (8) SKYWAY VICTOR should be a good fit with the locals and picks up

Bartlett upon arrival from Btva.– would give him at least a look if the price is juicy enough. (5) BLACK EDITION

N was very well backed off the class drop at Monti last week and swept the field from 7th – we’ll see how that mile

translates against this tougher field. (2) FOREVER FAV has been away since 12/21 and actually fits cheaper – prefer

others. (7) ALEX TYE lands in a brutal spot for his first start of the year.

RACE 5 – (2) CAVIART SARGENT often outraces his odds vs. better but also tends to disappoint at shorter prices

when he does get in cheaper – we’ll give him the narrow call in a tough race, but not one to take at too short a price

(especially off the bad date). (1) MY ULTIMATE STAR A landed on an easy trip in a soft field and went out a

winner in 2023 – have to respect his chances tonight, even up a bit in class. (6) MAJOR SHOW was just 1 for 13

here last year (and just 3 for 40 overall) but he returns sharp from Monti, gets Yannick back and may be able to

threaten with the right trip. (4) GENIUS MAN is as unpredictable as they come from start to start but he does have

11 local wins over the past 2 years and his barn did finish up hot in ’23 – not impossible. (3) TYGA HANOVER has

some back class but was winless here in 8 starts last year, and struggled overall as well – at least worth a look at that

20-1 ML price, though. (5) GOOD INVESTMENT was winless in 6 local starts but did race well here in a few of

them – another worth a look IF the price is good enough. (7) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A is usually good for a late

rally but he was 0 for 10 here last year and draws poorly off the hiatus. (8) KING JAMES EXPRESS was pretty

unreliable to close out 2023 and lands in the worst spot to start off the new season.

RACE 6 – (7) ADAM CROCKER A finished strong (at Fhd.) in his first start off the barn change two back then

was a 1/5 winner in his last (crushing much easier) – he’ll face tougher tonight (from a bad post), but still may be

sharp enough to pull it off. (1) GINGRAS BEACH is another extremely inconsistent player from this barn but he

jogged in a similar spot here on 12/14 and has to be considered a serious threat to come out on top again. (2) TIN

ROOF RAIDER A was “ok” in his last couple of PA starts after recently moving to a barn that can pick one up in a

hurry – could be next in line should the top two falter. (8) IMSTAYNALIVE was a solid 2nd in his first try off the

barn change but then came up no good in his last pair – tough to love his chances from Post 8 tonight, but he’s worth

at least considering at that 20-1 ML price (for the leading barn in the nation). (3) ROSE RUN WOODROW is likely

on the cheaper side but he draws well enough to at least consider for a small piece. (6) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N

fits well at this level but lands a tough post off the layoff. (4) AIR GUITAR has just one career local win and that

was for another barn – minor share only. (5) HYPNOTICDREAM was 0 for 16 here last year – dull qua. off the

layoff.

RACE 7 – (3) SEMI TOUGH would have already been a handful at this level (with the good draw) but the fact that

he’s been racing (in fine form!) at The Meadows just makes him stick out even more – tough to go past tonight, even

vs. a couple of legitimate foes. (5) CRANBOURNE N can more than hold his own at higher levels than this one, but

he’s been away for 5 weeks and lands outside the sharp, classy top choice – may have to settle for a small share in

his first start of the new year. (2) BUNRHAM BOY N has done good work since moving to his current connections

this Fall – he drops to a winning level, but is another facing a tough task after being away during the winter break.

(1) SHADOW CAT has been sharpening vs. softer at Fhd. and may be able to use his conditioning edge to take

advantage of the pole, and bring home a nice chunk of this. (7) TWIN B HEART THROB has a new listed trainer

but that doesn’t cause the concern that the poor draw off three weeks does – may be looking at only a smaller slice

for tonight. (6) OZONE BLUE CHIP wasn’t nearly as good in ’23 as he was in ‘22, but still earned six figures – he’s

been away since 12/14, and the tough draw isn’t going to help his chances. (4) HES ELECTRIC picked up a win at

Fhd. last week but that also lands him in a much tougher spot than he’s used to – prefer others. (8) WINDSUN RIC

KY has been idle since 12/6 after being scratched here on 12/18 – good week to just observe.

RACE 8 – (8) COVERED BRIDGE ended 2023 with an amazing 39-18-3-9 $528K slate – he decided NOT to rest

on his laurels, and went up to Canada and put in 3 sharp miles – gets the worst draw for his YR return but he’s used

to facing much tougher, and looms a very solid threat even from out here. (1) JAHAN HANOVER last win came vs.

much easier but he finished the year strong despite settling for several 2nds and 3rds – drawing the pole for the most

dangerous trainer/driver team around may help him grab a nice piece of this. (5) WHATS STANLEY GOT A went a

bunch of strong tries at the Open level – started to tail a bit, but seemed to bounce back at the end of the year after

adding Lasix – that NJ prep should have him ready for action tonight. (2) BILLY CLYDE returns from a pretty solid

stay in Indiana and qualified behind #5 last week – may be ready to contend for a piece tonight. (7) SONNY WEAV

ER A loves Yonkers, winning 12 of 30 starts here over the past 2 years – the new listed trainer isn’t really a concern,

but the terrible draw is! (4) LOUS SWEETREVENGE had an in and out 2023 season – his barn raced a few in NJ

over the break, but this guy took the time off – question mark for tonight. (3) FAMILY RECIPE also took some

vacation time and may not be ready to show his very best tonight. (6) CARABAO A took no $$ for his U.S. debut

and was no factor – returns on Lasix after 5 weeks off, and we’ll just observe, for now.

RACE 9 – Tough race: (3) POINTOMYGRANSON had a very strong year, and ended it in fine form (just missing

by a nose on 12/4, then going out a winner on 12/14 – if he’s ready for action tonight he can be a tough...but that’s a

big “if”! (4) MICKY GEE N had only one win here in 2023 until doubling that total with an easy victory in his last

start of the year – one of several with a chance in this wide open affair. (5) SETH HANOVER struggled to win races

last year, getting his picture taken on 3X (while 2nd or 3rd in 14 other starts) – chance here if he brings his best. (2)

SAN DOMINO A just didn’t seem to like racing here last year, going just 9-0-1-1 – he’s hard to endorse as the 5/2

ML choice, but his connections can never be dismissed too quickly! (1) PURPLE POET managed just 1 win and 1

second from 23 local starts last year...he’s been racing, however, and we’ll see if he can take advantage of that

recent activity to catch these off guard. (6) BALLERAT BOOMERANG draws poorly off the layoff but he’s a hard

hitter and worth at least a look at a big enough price. (7) HEART ON MY SLEEVE upset this class 2 back but it was

a bit of a fall apart race – faces a tall order tonight (time off and 7 hole).

RACE 10 – (6) THE REGULATOR has been away since 12/14 but judging by the barn’s incredible showing at The

Swamp this weekend, we’re going to guess that this guy will be ready to roll – one of several with a chance in here,

but worth a play if the price is right. (5) SPEED MAN N jogged vs. a bit easier in his last but it’s his ONLY start in

the last 9 weeks – he’s got a ton of back class, but eligible to be a little short tonight. (4) BUDDY HILL drops to a

winning level and draws inside the top pair – hard to know how tightly he’ll be wound, however. (3) ALLUNEEDIS

FAITH N missed some time (scr. lame) but raced well in a couple of starts to end the year – could have a say here if

he's 100% off the layoff. (7) HEAVEN ON HIGH N got brutalized at 1/5 on 12/13 but was able to make amends (at

that same shirt price) with an easy trip jogburger the following week – both the draw and the time off are concerns,

however. (2) ROLLING WITH SAM found some form at Monti the past 2 starts but did struggle here in many of his

2023 starts – leaning more towards others. (1) SAMHARA N was just 2 for 24 here last year but one of those wins

did come at 40-1 – maybe a small piece? (8) SPORTY M THREE hails from top shelf connections but was really

struggling at the end of 2023 – pretty tough spot to look for that big wake up call.

RACE 11 – (1) GOTHIC ROCK’s last 2 lines show a sick scratch and a non-effort in NJ...still, he was Brennan’s

choice, and he’s done some very good work here in spots like this in the past – willing to give him a look if the price

is fair. (2) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was on a multi-month form spree to close out 2023 – if he returns anywhere

near as good, he’ll be a handful in the finale. (3) ROCK THIS WAY has been away since 12/9 but he debuts tonight

for the leading barn in the nation and would be no surprise at all. (5) THINKBIG DREAMBIG made a break on

12/11 but that line in sandwiched between a win and a close 2nd – can be a legitimate threat if ready off the hiatus.

(4) LUCIANO N picked up a rare win in his last local try of the year – prefer others, but would still consider using

him underneath. (8) ARTIST BEST can be a big threat with these when in the right mood but Brennan opts for #1,

and this guy may struggle to reach from out here. (6) STATEMENT MADE A had a good year overall, but saw his

form tail off dramatically in the last few months. (7) BLUEBIRD RECON draws poorly off the hiatus after a trip of 7th

place finishes to close out 2023.