Wednesday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (2) ITALIAN DELIGHT N came up 2nd best in his last pair after winning what felt like a zillion in a row

just prior to that – he catches a blank field tonight and it would be hard to make a strong case against him vs. these -

it would also be hard to bet him at $2.10! (5) JOJOS PLACE got sharper for a few starts but was terrible 2 and 3

back, and “meh” last week – suppose at that 20-1 ML price he wouldn’t be the worst stab, if looking for something

to use against #2. (6) EASTON BEACH wasn’t terrible in his first local start but was dull in his next – drops in for a

tag and may be another worth a look...but note that he’s just 3 for 63 over the last 2 seasons. (8) IM J BEE N won 6

of 14 local starts this year but it’s been a long time since he’s been anywhere near that good – that last qualifier

doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, especially from Post 8. (1) LOU ON THE BEACH has shown little in 3 local

tries but does have the rail – piece? (3) ROSE RUN X CON has managed no wins and just one 2nd from 32 local

starts this year – minor spoils only. (4) BETTORBUCKLEUP has shown nothing in his 3 starts after the long layoff.

(7) PINEBUSHDRAGONLIFE has been losing to cheaper at Monti every week (and 6-0-0-0 here at Yonkers).

RACE 2 – Good race: (4) SAUBLE DELIGHTFUL was sent off at even money 2 back but wasn’t right from the

start, including an early miscue – she did bounce back with a much better effort last week, and she’s shown she can

beat these when on her game – good value horse to consider with “A Nap”...who just recorded his 4,000 career

victory on Monday night! (3) NUTTINBUTHEBEST has 3 recent wins in this class but just wasn’t herself last

week, folding badly from the top of the lane as the odds-on choice – her price goes up tonight for those willing to

forgive that try, and look for a better one. (5) THUNDRA was a winner off the class drop 2 back, but caught too far

back (thanks to a gapper) last week – another good value option. (1) SHEIKH YABOOTY N had really been

struggling since then 10/16 claim but reversed form with a big effort last week – anything similar to that makes her a

big player, once more. (6) SALE EL SOL was a “good” 3rd last week with the class drop, but had an easy trip in a

slow mile – tough draw now, but definitely not impossible. (7) EILEENS WISH likely needs a much better post to

be a player with these. (2) PINE BUSH MAGA is 0 for 37 at YR and has missed a month after a sick scratch.

RACE 3 – (1) PINK RUBY added Lasix 3 back and would have won that night if free sooner up the cones – she did

come out on top in her last pair, and looms the one to beat from the pole tonight...but she does face a few other live

foes. (2) BETTER WATCH IT was underway VERY early last week, battled for almost 5/8ths of a mile and was still

right there at the wire – definitely could threaten here with an easier trip. (4) ITTY BITTY hasn’t been good for

virtually the entire year but suddenly found renewed life in her last pair – playable in exotics in her current form. (5)

FORTUNADA dropped in for a tag 2 back and raced very well for 3rd, despite being bothered early on – she picked

up another 3rd from Post 7 last week, and a good trip could land her a good piece of this. (6) IRIS SEELSTER is

listed at 20-1 ML but she’s been “ok” in her 3 local starts, and adds Lasix tonight – very tough draw, however. (3)

GINGER TREE LIZ was surprisingly sharp 2 back but reverted to her lesser form last week – ok bomb for 3rd/4th.

(8) HARPER SEELSTER was a perfect trip winner last week and has hit board in 7 straight starts – that streak will

be in jeopardy from out here, though! (7) DUCK INTO THE NITE seems unlikely to get into the hunt from this spot.

RACE 4 – Solid field: (3) BETTA WATCH OUT N came up 2nd best on 12/4 making her first start in about 9

months – she built off that with last week’s pocket victory, and we’ll give her the slight edge over a few pretty nice

fillies and mares in here. (1) REIGNING JADE sat quietly in 5th last week (1st start for a new trainer) but was full of

pace finishing, not far off 3rd (or even 2nd) – could be looking at a good trip tonight, with a chance for an even bigger

share. (5) PASTA DELIGHT had 2 wins and narrow loss 2nd to SWEET GAL in this class before taking on tough

older mares in her last pair – drops back down, and does have appeal at that 8-1 ML price. (3) KISS MY CHEEK

just outran ‘em on the front end 2 and 3 back but was no match in the lane for #3 last week – may be a bit vulnerable

here. (2) TWIN B EMPRESS gets major post relief but still may be a bit below several of the main players. (8) KAT

IES UP was a solid 3rd vs. these last week but the move outside may hurt her chances quite a bit tonight.

RACE 5 – (6) TEQUINI HANOVER has been knocking on the door in all of her recent starts, and did lose to a

couple of talented rivals in her last pair – really a spot where she should be able to get over the hump...especially

adding Lasix tonight! (1) BLARNEY CASTLE clearly had some issue in NJ last week but assuming it wasn’t a

major issue, he’s gone plenty of miles that would put him in the hunt here (including a 2nd from the 8 hole in his only

local try). (7) STOCKHOLM HANOVER was offstride before the start last week but did make a decent recovery –

he's better than a bunch of these, and has a chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (5) THE THING IS tends to lag

a long way before rallying – maybe he can pick off a few at the end for a small piece? (4) JEANNIES ACTION

broke in 2 of her last starts and does tend to be inconsistent – her best effort would give her a chance at a minor

share. (3) HL OLMAYA was dull last week but may have disliked the sloppy going – jury still out on her. (2) WIST

ERIA HANOVER feels like she’s starting to regress after hitting board in 4 straight – leaning towards others. (8)

HONOLULU was no threat in her first local try and now gets stuck behind the 8 ball.

RACE 6 – (1) B COOL FOOL certainly brought his “A Game” last week, scoring impressively on the front end

(and holding off a currently sharp GINGER TREE PETE, as the pair beat the others by many) – looms a short price

winner tonight. (5) CAVIART ROCKLAND shipped in sharp from Monti and delivered a big one here too, rallying

all the way from last to 2nd – probably the next logical choice if not a fan of the top choice. (2) LUCIANO N figures

to sit an easy trip (close to the pace) and that could be enough to help him pick up a small piece of this. (6) YOUR

BROTHER has had a decent local season overall (15-3-4-1) and probably deserves a pass for last week (8 hole off 3

weeks) – could add some value to the exotics. (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR just fell apart this fall, struggling badly

at multiple tracks – he may be starting to turn things around a bit, but you’d still want a pretty good price to consider

him for a top slot. (7) DEEDENUTO sat pocketed to winner last week, fell apart but still was able to cling to the

distant show spot – may not be able to be as effective starting from Post 7. (8) HURRIKANE GEORGIE went an

improved mile last week but he’s another that figures to be significantly hurt by the draw. (4) QUATRAIN BLUE

CHIP is 0 for 36 this year...after going 1 for 25 last year!

RACE 7 – (8) LUCKY MUM N is now 5 for 5 in the U.S., though the COMBINED margin of victory in all 5 of

those wins is barely 2 lengths – one argument could be that she’s very vulnerable tonight (facing tougher and

starting from Post 8), but the flip side would be that she just does whatever is needed to get the job done – not really

sure WHICH is right, but willing to try her once more assuming her price finally starts to go up (2) NOTTINGHAM

has ability (3 wins from his last 7 starts) but he’s also made breaks in 2 of his last 3 outings – worth a look IF his

price is juicy enough. (4) IM AN ANDOVER always had ability so it’s no surprise to see how well he’s doing since

the barn change 3 back – remains a very legitimate threat as he returns from PA. (5) CENTRAL PARK made a huge

recovery after miscue 2 back so last week’s blowout came as no surprise at all – faces a better field tonight, but still

could be a dangerous player. (3) CROWN MONARCH came up a no-threat 2nd best behind an impressive winner

last start, hails from top connections and is another that can’t be counted out. (1) ENERGY KING’s overall recent

form is solid but he seems just a bit below some of the others – still, can’t be dismissed with the rail draw. (7) WIN

TOGETHER S is a better horse that his 20-1 ML might suggest but he’s also starting from Post 7 off a sick scratch,

while going from Zeron to Smith. (6) ATTA GIRL DANI is 0 for 13 at Yonkers and was quite dull last week.

RACE 8 – (4) RAISE THE ANTE shipped in sharp from NJ and delivered back to back sharp front end scores – she

remains the one to beat, but she does lose Yannick tonight (so be careful about taking too short a price). (3) LINE

EM UP has done some overall solid work since being claimed a couple of months back, especially when in good

spots – she’s usually a good price, and worth a look if that’s the case tonight. (1) PROVE EM WRONG has

disappointed way more often than she’s delivered this year but she does have a pair of recent wins, moves all the

way inside and gets Bartlett back – could give one of her better showings tonight. (2) ROYALTYS DREAMER

ships in sharp from Fhd. but was likely facing cheaper over there – she MAY be a good fit with the locals too, but

she also may be overbet. (6) DEVILISH DREAMS has become a very consistent player since joining her current

crew but she moves outside and loses Bartlett...and that could make her at least a bit vulnerable this week. (7) UNIT

Y turned in a solid try for 2nd with the drop to 20s last week – she definitely fits, but may need some trip luck to

come her way from out here. (8) BROOKDALE JESSIE wasn’t bad last week but figures to be too far back to

threaten tonight. (5) TUAPEKA JESSIE n has 40 starts this year, with just one win and no seconds.

RACE 9 – (6) KOVU AS seems to have really benefited from the long layoff as he’s come back very sharp,

qualifying nicely in KY then racing well in PA and NJ – his few starts here in the past produced mixed efforts, but

we’ll give him a shot tonight. (5) CHIPPER DALE ran over the top of a rival off turn one last week, broke, but put

in a very big recovery after that – the talent is there, and he should be able to have a big say tonight. (3) CHASING

CRYSTALS was handled conservatively from Post 8 in his local debut but offered good late trot for the show spot –

moves inside, and couldn’t blame anybody looking to try him on top tonight. (1) NAUTILUS B was solid in his

local debut, with good trot at both ends of the mile – add him to the list of potential players. (7) SOUTHWIND BIA

NCA has been doing good work at Dover but MAY be on the cheaper side – the tough draw isn’t going to help her

cause. (4) PREMIER VICTOR couldn’t make his speed hold up in his local debut last week, already tired before the

late miscue – will need to be much sharper to be a serious threat tonight. (8) SEVEN SUMMERS shows some good

efforts up North but lands in a brutal spot for her local debut – good week to just observe. (2) BARN CREDIT

should appreciate the post relief but still seems a bit below several of the others.

RACE 10 – (5) GINGER TREE PETE dropped to 15s two back and suddenly looked like his old self, taking heat

the entire way and still holding off ITALIAN DELIGHT N – he raced super in his next as well, rallying steadily to

be a close 2nd behind a very sharp B COOL FOOL...we’ll go with him on top. (3) RECORD YEAR also appreciated

the class relief in his last, a solid 2nd behind “three-peater” ON THE VIRG– should have a big say here too (4) JUST

A WRANGLER came up weak in his first 2 starts off the claim but won 3 of 4 just prior to that – maybe his barn

can figure out what the issue is and have him ready for a better one tonight? (6) BEN SOLO raced ok from a no

chance spot against much better last week – may be able to have a bigger say against this bunch. (1) THREE

GRAND pulled last week and was quickly going in reverse – he’s really struggling now, but at least draws the pole.

(2) CENTURY IGLESIAS hasn’t been a threat in ages – not sure the inside draw is enough to help him. (8) TREY

ROCKETTE won 3 and 4 back in NJ (vs. cheaper) but was 9th and 10th in his last pair – feels a bit cheap, and gets a

brutal draw. (7) PINE BUSH UP DRAFT is another Monti invader for the barn that just looks overmatched.

RACE 11 – (5) SHADOW IN RED dropped down to 20s last week, worked out a two hole trip and was right there

2nd despite missing 3 weeks – drops right back in the box, and could be tough in the finale. (8) ON THE VIRG

suddenly came to life with a form reversing win on 11/6, then took 2 more after that – he tries to make it 4 in a row

tonight, but he’ll have to do it from Post 8, up in class – not impossible! (1) MIGHTY SANTANA N is just 1 for 30

here this year but does have NINE 2nds – always willing to include him underneath! (4) OSTRO HANOVER has

been finishing ok in his last couple – maybe a small piece? (3) WAR DAN DELIGHT N showed better life 2 and 3

back before a dull one last week – ok bomb for 3rd /4th. (6) GENIUS MAN gets his share of wins every year but

seems a bit risky right now after pulling up on 11/18, then finishing way back in his qualifier. (2) FULL SUPPORT

won 3 races here earlier in the year but hasn’t been any good in a long time. (7) ROCKME ROLLME feels cheap,

and is 4-0-0-0 at Yonkers this year.