Friday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (4) TAKING THE MIKI A was a winner here last August in her only local try but went on the shelf for a

long time after that – she recently returned to the races (in NJ), and seems to have just picked up her game quite a bit

after adding Lasix – Bartlett takes her for a very hot barn, and we’ll give her a try as well. (1) GOLDEN QUEST N

hasn’t been able to find (and hold) her best form so far in 2025 but anything close to one of her better efforts would

put her right into the mix tonight. (5) UTOPIA BLUE CHIP should appreciate the drop after facing the top mares in

Ohio recently, but she also exits a very high % barn – somewhat mixed feelings about her chances here. (2) INTOT

HEMYSTICMOON gets a good draw after a nice speed try last week – an easy trip could help her grab a nice piece.

(7) MIGHTHAVTIME N was a blowout winner over cheaper 2 back and did have pace finishing from an impossible

spot last week – another bad draw may limit her tonight as well, though. (8) DOUGS BABE A has plenty of back

class and was a good 2nd last week – not sure if she’s sharp enough to threaten from out here, though. (3) ATREACH

EROUS A was more functional last week than in her previous pair, but still not ready to hop on her team, even with

the post relief. (6) BETTA WATCH OUT N steps way up in class while also drawing poorly.

RACE 2 – (3) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL doesn’t have the best looking lines right now but she does have legitimate

excuses in a few recent starts– she’ll be a nice price here, and the favorites do appear somewhat vulnerable (1) TWO

PISTOL ANNIE will be heavily backed dropping to the basement and drawing the pole but she hasn’t been any

good all year (5 starts, $700) and may just come up weak against these too – probably not one to bet the rent money

on. (6) MACHS LEGACY has some recent efforts that would make her a viable threat here but she also gets a tough

post, and is 0 for 17 at Yonkers – make sure to get a good price if trying on top. (2) CRUISE ALERT is another that

figures to take plenty of action here, but she’s managed just one 2nd from her 5 starts this year – possible, but won’t

offer much value. (7) COWGIRL LILLY is now 1 for 48 over the last 2 years but at least showed better efforts in her

last pair in PA – ok bomb for underneath. (4) YOU BEDA ROCK gave it a decent try on the front end arriving from

NJ but still feels a little cheap. (5) SMOOTH DEBATE N has done little since returning in 2025.

RACE 3– (3) CHIAPANECAS won 2 of her last 4 starts with narrow losses to her nemesis PEMBROKE SOUTHIE

in the other 2 – she avoids that rival tonight, and draws inside a couple of her main foes...and that could give her the

edge she needs to take this. (6) LYDEO has gotten sharper in each start since returning in 2025 for her new barn, and

will be looking to make it 2 in a row tonight – a very real possibility, even with the outside draw. (5) TALENT TO

SPARE A was a sharp winner over a bit easier 2 back and raced very well again last week, despite being stuck wide

a long way – possible upsetter? (2) ULTIMATE SPEED had been struggling prior to that game 8 hole win 3 back –

but she failed to build off that mile and was no threat again in her last pair – needs to find that better form to be a

player here. (4) MY AUGUST MOON A was racing well in NJ at the end of 2024 but vs. considerably softer– tough

spot to make her 2025 return off those 2 qualifiers. (7) TRUE BLUE HANOVER is a nice mare but gets stuck all

the way outside for her seasonal debut – good week to just observe. (1) KAIRAKICONFIDENTL N was dull

moving up in class last week and now has to move up even higher.

RACE 4 – (2) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM won at this level 3 back, then was stuck with horrible posts in his last

pair (but did race ok, from those impossible spots) – he moves inside, and a couple of the logical players in here may

mix it up a bit – chance to use his late kick tonight for a mild upset. (5) RITSON was struggling for a while but he

perked up to crush a NW5000 field 2 back, then followed that up with a good 2nd to SEVENSHADESOFGREY last

week – could be a big threat here too, even moving up a bit. (3) B NICKING hasn’t WON in a long time, though he

has picked up plenty of pieces – that last 2nd behind classy repeater CHULO was pretty good, and there’s no reason

he can’t have a big say in here too. (6) DWS POINT MAN is still winless on the season, but has been finishing with

trot in all of his recent starts – very playable in exotics. (1) P L OSCAR will surely use his speed to be a big part of

the action but he MAY need to be in a bit easier these days to be most effective – could also be overbet from this

spot. (4) RODEO HILL is now 0 for 18 locally and that includes plenty of losses vs. easier than these. (7) FULL

STRENGTH stayed trotting last week (after a break the week before) but another bad draw may leave him waiting

for a better spot.

RACE 5 – (4) EASY TO PLEASE is off to a rough start in 2025 but she drops, moves inside, and catches a fairly

uninspiring field – we’ll give her the narrow vote, but definitely wouldn’t take a very short price. (2) TRICK OF

THE LIGHT has gone many miles that would make her very tough in here but her last start was terrible, and it’s

hard to know if whatever was bothering her that night has been resolved – could go either way. (1) LADYCORONA

went sour for a while but has been regaining her form recently at the lower levels – could have a say tonight with the

inside draw. (7) VIBRANCE is yet another used to battling better but she’s struggled to get any kind of consistent

form going lately – the post is another obvious knock, but at least she’ll be a good price for anybody willing to give

her a shot. (5) VILLAGE JADE was a winner last week but she had to work hard to beat much easier – wouldn’t be

a shock, but leaning towards others for the top slots. (6) MAN DONTFORGET ME seems to be coming around but

we’ll wait until her owner goes back to a catch driver before considering. (3) TWIN B ALLURE has only earned

one purse check from her last 7 starts.

RACE 6 – (5) UNEVERGONNAGETHIS’ last line doesn’t look like much, but he was actually full of trot coming

through the wire – gets some class relief, should be a fair price, and may be ready to pick up his first win of the year.

(3) TORRONE was a nice 2nd in his first start of the year, got parked in his next (but still only lost by 7 lengths), and

was an ok 3rd behind a pair of nice trotters last week – Holland’s choice of 3 in here, and a very logical threat. (2) WI

NDSONG PIONEER is always dangerous when he can grab the top and he may be able to cut the mile again tonight

– his chances go way up if he’s on the front end. (4) EPOS OSTERVANG DK is feeling good again and he may be

able to land somewhere on the ticket despite moving up a bit (1) SEVENSHADESOFGREY was a confident winner

last start but he moves up TWO classes off that victory, and loses Bartlett – definitely in a much tougher spot. (7)

SEA CAN qualified nicely and definitely loves Yonkers – he’s also been away 2+ months, and gets the worst of the

draw. (6) YO BETH D figures to find herself too far back to seriously threaten.

RACE 7 – (1) LLOYDS LOVES got trapped last week by a very early moving CELIA B MONEY and can be

forgiven for missing the board for the first time this year – she’s raced well in almost all of her 26 local starts, and

we’ll give her a chance to make amends from the pole tonight. (7) SILK CLOUD A didn’t even pretend to be

interested after another bad draw last week but unfortunately, she gets yet another one tonight – here’s hoping that

she can get in play tonight...because that’ll give her a chance to upset these. (4) ELEKTRA A beat easier last week

but did it with authority – has to be respected, even moving up a bit (she’s 10-5-2-2 here at Yonkers). (2) TONYS

MOM went through a very long dry spell but started to come back around at the end of last year, and has climbed

right back up the class ladder – she pretty much just stole that win last week, and it’ll be tougher for her to repeat

that effort tonight. (5) BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE raced very well in her local debut, just missing to #2 (and may have

had a chance to win had she moved a little sooner) – could easily grab a good piece here with the right trip. (3) ALIT

TLESIDEHUSTL N has done good work since arriving from Stga., picking up a 2nd and a 3rd – leaning to others, but

it would hardly be a surprise to see her grab another share. (6) FRONTPAGE STORY probably needs a much better

draw to be a fc actor with these.

RACE 8 – (1) STREET GOSSIP has been somewhat camera shy the past couple of years but he often holds his own

vs. better and this feels like a good spot for him to pick up his first victory of 2025. (6) ABRUZZO remains fairly

unpredictable but any of his “better” efforts would give him a chance here - the switch to Gingras surely won’t hurt.

(3) HAND DOVER DAN hasn’t been doing much lately but he gets his first decent draw in a while and may be able

to have a bigger say tonight. (7) NO TURNING BACK is another in here that can be tough to predict from week to

week – this feels like an impossible spot, but she’s still a decent bomb for longshot fans. (4) P CHICO picked up

small pieces in his last 2 local starts and picks up Bartlett as he returns from NJ – chance for a minor share. (2) NO

DRAMA PLEASE was no good at all 2 back but raced much better in his last – a close up trip could help him grab a

piece. (5) BARRY BLACK beat a weak field in a fall apart race last week but will have a hard time doing nearly as

well in here. (8) CHINESE WHISPER N figures to have a hard time getting in play from all the way out here.

RACE 9 – (5) MILLWOOD BLISS N was 9 for 15 Down Under, and 3rd in a Group 1 race last summer – she paced

home powerfully in her first 2 U.S. starts (for 2nd and 3rd, across the river) and should be a pretty fair price in her

local debut – if she can land on a live trip, maybe she can pull off an upset? (6) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY opened

a BIG lead at The Swamp last week but tired late and finished 3rd (right behind the top choice) – she’s won plenty of

races here at Yonkers, and Bartlett took her tonight over a couple of others – possibility. (4) CHERYLS SHADOW

has been a very steady performer for a long time, draws inside the top pair and would be no surprise at all. (1) TAKE

YOUR PICK makes her local debut after picking up 3 wins and a 2nd from her last 4 out of town starts – she draws

the pole and get Yannick on board, but she’ll also be getting a class test tonight – we’ll have a better picture after

this race. (2) COACHELLABOUND N is too classy to ever just dismiss, but she’s definitely been struggling lately –

still ok to use underneath. (3) A FEW CHOICE WORDS drops another notch but may still not be ready to step up

and be a player. (7) REC TIME figures to get lost in the back with the class jump and terrible draw.

RACE 10 – (4) ONE LAST WISH was a talented youngster that struggled through a tough year as a 4YO – her first

start back at 5 (in Canada) was very promising, and she may be ready to do some damage locally for her new barn –

willing to give her a shot in a beatable field. (1) LNEMUP KNOCKMBACK wasn’t beaten too badly last week in

her return to Yonkers and will surely benefit from tonight’s class drop, and the rail – logical threat. (3) LUCKY ART

IST A was 2nd best 2 back and a close 3rd last week vs. better– she can never be counted out at this level, and belongs

in your exotics. (2) PRIDEFUL looked a little better each week since arriving on the local scene, and did pick up a

win last start, vs. a bit easier – if she continues to improve, she can probably make some noise against these too. (6)

PARISIAN BLUE CHIP was an ok 3rd last week but now steps up a notch and moves from the rail to Post 6 – still,

that 20-1 ML price makes her worth considering, at least for the bottom of exotics. (5) TWIN B SUNKISSED seems

more comfortable vs. a bit easier, but a good trip could help her take home a small share. Both (7) IDEAL COVER

and (8) ALTA MADEIRA N figure to struggle from their outside slots.

RACE 11 – (3) BUCKTOBER broke at the start from Post 7 in his local debut, recovered, and just missed winning

the race (making HUGE improvement in his first start off the big barn change) – clearly the one to knock off tonight,

assuming he minds his manners. (4) R NO MERCY also shipped down from Canada and that qualifier suggests he’ll

be ready for action – can easily outperform that 8-1 ML price. (6) CAPRICIOUS ONE is very iffy off a break and a

sick scratch but he has enough ability to have a say here, if he’s anything close to his best. (1) FASHION CANTAB

has some mixed recent form in NJ but he did win 9X last year, is getting a big driver change, and is listed at 12-1

ML – willing to use in exotics.(5) MUSKINGUM was an ok 5th in last week’s amateur race – he’ll be a big price

here, and did win 8 races in 2024 – ok bomb for exotics. (2) J S HOPSCOTCH is listed at 2-1 ML but he’s been a

non factor for ages and there’s no guarantee that tonight’s drop will perk him up. (7) KASHA V can trot with much

better when sharp, but he just seems well off his game at the moment. (8) TOWN VICTOR will have a tough time

getting in play from out here.