The Empire Report – Friday, February 21, 2025 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (4) FERRETTI has been facing MUCH better overall fields and hardly embarrassing himself – certainly
a spot where Kakaley can get more aggressive, and that stamps him as the one to knock off. (5) AQUARIUS FACE
S was a very easy winner in NW5000 two back and was going to win again last week in NW7500...but was derailed
by a very costly miscue late in the mile...may be able to give the top one a legitimate tussle if he avoids any mishaps
(1) CREATIVE VENTURE benefited when #5 broke last week, and picked up the opportunistic victory – he should
be able to deal with the class jump, and the inside draw puts him in play for a piece of this. (3) B NICKING has lost
a step for sure, but a close up trip could still see him take home a small piece here. (6) ARCHERY SEELSTER won
his local debut, lacked room the next week then took home a 3 rd last week (up in class) – tough draw, and that may
limit him to battling for a minor piece tonight. (8) SEVENSHADESOFGREY hasn’t been on his game lately but his
barn did take home the late double earlier this week, so maybe he can start to improve as well – decent bomb for 3
rd or 4 th . (2) GOLDEN COMPASS won here on 2/7 (off the barn change) but came up terrible last week – he’ll likely
be handled conservatively tonight off that tiring try. (7) HOWLINGATHEMOON DK has shown nothing in his two
U.S. outings so far – waiting for some better signs before considering.
RACE 2 – (1) GOLDEN QUEST N was a very good 3 rd in the Invitational on 1/31 (her first start of the year)
making last week’s no-threat 4 th all the way down at the NW10000 level all the more disappointing – she drops yet
again and is hard to go against...but also hard to get overly-excited about after last week’s effort. (2) VILLAGE JA
DE can be unpredictable from start to start but she gets a good draw (while down a notch in class) and any of her
“better” efforts would make her a legitimate player. (3) JENDEN STRIKE A was predictably parked after leaving
from Post 8 two back but a much better trip last week led to a solid 3 rd place finish – she fits well here, and could
take home a nice chunk. (6) LUCKY ARTIST A was nowhere close in her last 3 starts but perhaps tonight’s drop
will at least perk up the classy 12YO a little bit– willing to include underneath. (5) CRUISE ALERT has been
unable to find her better game in some time – minor share? (7) DISARONNO HILL probably fits ok with these but
may need a much better draw to be a serious contender. (4) HUNTING LINDY benefited from a dream trip in a
weak field last week – wouldn’t be willing to accept a shortish-price against this much better bunch
RACE 3 – (7) SILK CLOUD A had an outstanding 2024 season and her first start of 2025 suggests she may be
ready for a similar one this year – she’s just as deadly from on or off the pace, and we’ll count on Stratton to find her
a manageable journey tonight. (3) CHERYLS SHADOW replicated her strong 2023 season with her numbers last
year, and was probably in career form to close out ’24 – she finished well last week off a conservative steer, and
could be primed for a more aggressive try tonight...legitimate player. (6) LLOYDS LOVES was claimed for $30K
last June and her career just took off after that – she’s become a legitimate Invitational threat, and can do damage on
the lead, or from off the pace – can have a big say here, even with the less than stellar draw. (5) A FEW CHOICE
had a strong 3YO campaign and finished 2 nd in 4 of her 5 Yonkers starts (including a 2 nd in the NYSS Final) – this is
a pretty tough spot for her 4YO debut, however! (2) EASY TO PLEASE has been “good” recently, but maybe not
good enough to threaten here (up in class) unless she gets a bit sharper. (1) FRONT PAGE STORY has done terrific
work overall at YR, but hasn’t proven herself at the Open level just yet. (4) DRAGONS LUCKY LADY won her
seasonal debut but that was 3 weeks ago...and she now has just ONE start over the last 10 weeks!
RACE 4 – (2) TWO PISTOL ANNIE finished okay from an impossible spot 2 back then had “sneaky pace” again
last week – could be worth a stab tonight with the move inside. (8) LYDEO tried to cut the mile last week (off 4
months) and did well to hold 2 nd after being outbrushed by the very sharp winner – legitimate threat, even from Post
8. (5) WAITFOREVER N was a little disappointing last week (after such a good effort the week before) but to be
fair, she did catch a quick mile with the top 2 finishers both riding 4 race winning streaks – worth a look here at the
right price. (1) TALENT TO SPARE A figures to be able to work out a pretty good trip from this spot, and that
makes her a good candidate to include underneath in exotics. (3) RAPTORS WON was no threat in either start this
year – she drops a bit, and we’ll see if that’s enough to help her be a bit more competitive. (4) NITE TIME DEAL
beat much easier 2 back but figures to be looking for minor spoils against these tougher mares. (7) MCMARKLE SP
ARKLE finished well back in both 2025 starts – she’s likely to wake up some time soon, but it would be hard to
guess that tonight’s the night. (6) PRIDEFUL was sent off favored last week (off the barn change) but failed badly
vs. cheaper.
RACE 5 – (7) P L OSCAR was seriously overdriven 2 back then parked the mile last week...but he wasn’t beaten
all that badly in EITHER start, while facing much better – he drops into a much easier spot, gets Bartlett on board,
and may have found a winning scenario. (2) MUFASA AS really appreciated the drop to the basement last week,
improving considerably to come up 2 nd best to a dominant winner – very logical threat tonight. (5) CAPRICIOUS
ONE had a solid try last week, rallying for 3 rd (while just off #2 for 2 nd) – a similar effort puts him in play for
another good piece tonight. (3) BLACK TIE BASH has faced much better in the past, but ended 2024 on the down
side, and it’s hard to gauge too much from that return qualifier – maybe the tote board will offer some clues? (4) PS
ALMSFORTYSIXFIVE was no factor in his seasonal debut but may be tighter with that start under his belt – keep
an eye for any improvement this week. (1) BIG CHARLIE MORAN is just 1 for 36 locally over the past 3 years and
his current form isn’t all that encouraging. (6) ENERGYSOURCE hasn’t been a threat lately and tonight’s draw isn’t
going to help his cause. (8) FULL RIGHTS is struggling and now also has to deal with the 8 hole
RACE 6 – (4) CELIA B MONEY steps up in class seeking three in a row – she hails from a red hot barn, draws
inside a couple of main foes and just may be able to pull it off. (5) MALUKA MISS N used an easy pocket trip to
score in her local debut then was a sharp front end winner last week – like the top choice, she’s also looking to step
up and extend her streak to 3. (6) TRICK OF THE LIGHT is capable of handling better than these on her best effort
but she gets the worst of the draw and has been away for 3 weeks – make sure to get a fair price if she’s your top
choice. (2) VIBRANCE can bang heads with better when sharp, but her overall form had tailed a bit recently – her
last start was encouraging (2 nd behind #5), and we’ll see if she can build off that tonight. (1) MAN DONTFORGET
ME has enjoyed tremendous success here the last few years but she’s been away since October and her 2 qualifiers
look a bit shaky. (3) AWESOME HILL still needs to show that she can be a player with these types
RACE 7 – (1) TUSCAN PRINCE got a little fumbly on the final turn in his first local start but was full of trot once
they turned into the stretch – he followed that up with another pair of sharp efforts, and tonight’s inside draw may
give him the opportunity to pick up his first local win (2) EYE OF A TIGER AS is 2 for 2 since returning to
Yonkers and the mega-classy 11YO needs only a 3 rd tonight to go over the $1M mark in earnings – he moves up a
notch, but still should be a serious contender. (4) MISSISSIPPI STORM was helped by last week’s “fall apart” race
but still raced very well in his first start since late December – he went over the $1M mark last year (and picked up
$52K after that), and should be able to have a big say here. (3) DEADLINE HALL wasn’t bad off the layoff here on
1/30, then picked up a win at Stga. last week – a good trip puts him in play for a piece of this. (5) INFINITY
STONE is capable of some big miles, but it’s usually hard to predict when they’re coming – prefer to stick with the
more reliable players in here. (8) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM picked up a win last week when able to rally by
exhausted leaders in the lane – figures to have a much tougher time reaching tonight, though. (6) HAND DOVER
DAN continues to stay trotting, but seems to need easier to be a bigger threat. (7) RODEO HILL is 0 for 15 at YR,
and most of those starts have come at lower levels
RACE 8 – (7) IDEAL COVER just missed from Post 7 two back then was a very easy wire to wire winner from the
pole last week – she steps up a notch and gets stuck outside, but she just may be sharp enough right now to beat
these too...even though Brennan did opt for #8. (5) HARPER SEELSTER has been racing well since the recent
claim and although she finished 6 th last week, there’s a good chance she could have WON had she not been totally
blocked in the stretch – could be a live player here. (2) MACHS LEGACY A has been camera shy here at Yonkers
but she was very good last week, and could be worth a look at the right price. (8) ULTIMATE SPEED had an
excellent 2024 season and most of her starts would have been good enough to make her a winner against these –
she’s off to a slow start to 2025, however, and that 5/2 ML price (from Post 8) seems pretty low – could be better
value elsewhere. (6) ILLUSION SEELSTER has extremely mixed lines in NJ and ships in off a sick scratch – she
wouldn’t be a shock, but she’d need to be a pretty good price to be worth a play. (4) KAIRAKICONFIDENTL N has
at least been picking up some smaller pieces and has a chance for more of the same tonight. (1) CORSINI A draws
the pole but just seems to prefer to be in a little easier. (3) BADDITUDE is another that seems better suited for
cheaper right now.
RACE 9 – (5) LADYCORONA came up a little flat at the end of her mile last week but may have needed that start
– she drops another notch, and did win 4 of 11 starts here last year – could offer decent value in a race that’s hard to
predict. (6) DELITFULCATHERIN N currently doesn’t resemble the mare we got used to seeing for the last few
years, but she’s another that could wake up with tonight’s drop to the basement – worth a look if not overbet. (2)
JUST ROSAS LUCK wasn’t bad in her Hilltop return last week and may be able to build off that effort – possibility.
(3) MISS DOTTIE MAE gets Bartlett, draws well, and figures to take plenty of $$ - she’s also failed as the favorite
here several times, so don’t fall in love with her at a short price. (1) ROLLIN IN THE SAND raced way better than
expected in her first local try but broke in her next and had Post 8 in her last – ok for longshot fans. (4) FAVORITE
BEACH has been struggling for a long time and hasn’t really hinted that she’s ready to turn things around right now.
(8) SMOOTH DEBATE N made only 8 starts last year and so far hasn’t looked good at all since returning for 2025
RACE 10 – (4) CAL MILES N SHELL steps up a class but he looked impressive enough last week to suggest he
may be able to handle it right now – he’s held his own vs. better in the past. (3) EPOS OSTERVANG DK finished
well 2 back (2 nd start off the layoff) then was handled conservatively last week from a bad post – moves inside, and
it may be time for Bartlett to handle him more aggressively. (1) HANKINS HANOVER came up light at the end of
his last 2 miles but he adds Lasix for tonight and that could make a difference – possibility. (8) STEALING gets
another horrible draw but he’s also getting some class relief – could see him rallying for a piece at a big price. (2)
BRAVE BY DESIGN raced a little better last time and could get a decent trip with the good draw – playable
underneath. (5) TOM SWIFTY did lots of damage on the Ohio Fair circuit last year and did win a race in NJ 2 back
– he also made a break in his only local try, and that has us leaning towards others tonight. (6) LOS BALLYKEELA
MIGO has enjoyed his share of success at Yonkers but his current form is somewhat shaky – prefer to just observe,
for now. (7) THE LAST CHAPTER gets a tough draw, and will look more appealing dropping to NW5000 next
week.