Thursday Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, March 13, 2025 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (2) BE DIFFERENT has been good in all 8 local tries but especially sharp in his last two (a pair of first

over victories) – he faces a couple of other sharp foes here, but does deserve top billing. (4) MAHONE SEELSTER

charged home crisply for an excellent 2 nd two back then was even sharper in last week’s first over score – he would

have been the clear choice if not for #2, but still should be able to give that one a serious tussle. (7) ARCHERY SEE

LSTER hit board in 4 of 5 local starts, was very good last week and his barn has been hot all year...absolutely worth

using in exotics at that 10-1 ML price, even from out here. (1) WARRAWEE XALT came up a little short at the end

after cutting the mile the last 3 weeks – still deserves plenty of respect, and may finish a bit better if allowed to race

from just OFF the pace tonight. (6) INFINITY STONE used a good trip to take home a decent 3 rd last week but the

tough draw tonight may limit him a bit more. (3) DOO WOP KID got fumbly early on last week and was well back

to the quarter after he smoothed out – could be better tonight, but still may be overmatched vs. a few of the top ones.

(5) PERRON was just 1 for 36 last year and may need to be in easier to be a serious player. (8) ROGER RABBIT

won a “fall apart” race 4 back and has been dull ever since – hard to like from Post 8

RACE 2 – (3) SIP OF BOURBON held his own with the tougher 3-5YO 30s in several starts here, and definitely

faced better in his last pair at Pocono – tonight’s drop should suit him well, and give him a chance for his first YR

victory. (6) HARD TO CATCH has been much better since adding Lasix, hitting board in 3 of 4 starts – if he can

land on a decent trip tonight, he can be a serious player. (1) ROSE RUN X CON was 0 for 33 last year but only took

2 starts to find the winner’s circle in 2025 – he’s been killed by outside draws in his last few starts but moves all the

way inside now, and may find a much better effort. (2) SPEED SNIP has been stuck on smaller pieces in all 5 local

tries and likely looking at more of the same tonight. (5) PONDAMERI has been (much) cheaper for most of his

career but recently landed in one of our top barns and may start to improve significantly – would still need a “fair”

price to use him on top, though. (7) ON DAYBOO had a new trainer listed last week but raced pretty much the same

– tough spot to expect more than minor spoils. (4) VICTOR CRUISE hasn’t earned a cent in his 3 starts winning a

total fall apart race on 1/23

RACE 3 – (6) OVER AND BACK has some mixed Ohio form but his “good” efforts would make him a nice fit

here (and he can be expected to improve considerably with the trainer and driver switches for his local debut) – not

an easy spot (and facing a few sharp ones), but this has been a winning angle many times over the past couple of

years! (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT wasn’t at her best in her first few local tries this year but her last 3 have been much

sharper – should be a serious player starting from the pole. (5) BROOKVIEW DARIUS came up 2 nd best to a pair of

very sharp ones 3 and 4 back, won 2 weeks ago then was 2 nd again to another very sharp winner in his last – figures

to have a big say once more. (2) INTL BLOCKADE hasn’t been great lately (and comes off a break) but his small

barn had two winners on Tuesday night, so maybe this guy’s chances should be upgraded a bit? (4) BEERTHIRTY

K feels a bit off his best game right now and catches a few sharp ones tonight – could be looking at a minor share

this week. (3) ICE BREAKERS K gets his best post in a while and that could put him closer to the action – still

prefer others, but he’s not a bad bomb for 3 rd/4 th . (7) HAT TRICK MARLEAU probably needs a much better draw to

be a serious player at this level.

RACE 4 – (4) ALL WRAPPED UP was off a month before his first local start last December but still an excellent

2 nd for his new barn – he followed that up with a pair of 2nds (at Chester) behind the very talented BENJAMIN HA

NOVER before taking a couple of months off – just requalified sharply at PcD, and that 8-1 ML listing makes him

hard to resist, even facing some tough ones tonight. (1) BELLISIMO FACE S came up a little flat last start but the

addition of Lasix tonight may explain that – could easily be back on his better game tonight, and that would make

him a very live player. (2) THE PRINCE is certainly thriving here at Yonkers, now 7-4-2-0 (with a miscue in the

other start) – deserves plenty of respect. (5) MISSISSIPPI STORM is feeling good these days, and will be trotting

strong late – we’ll see if he’s close enough turning for home to have a big say. (3) TEXSONG SOPRANO leveled

off at these higher levels after winning 4 straight vs. easier – needs to find his best game if he hopes to threaten for a

top prize tonight. (6) I GET IT was super in defeat 2 back and a solid 3 rd last week – tonight’s draw may leave him

looking at a pretty tough trip though. (7) LUCKY MUM N has compiled a 12-8-2-1 local slate, but facing MUCH

easier than these – the outside draw will only make the class transition even harder tonight

RACE 5 – Bartlett was listed on FOUR horses in here and elected to hop on board (8) SPEED MAN N, who he

hasn’t driven in some time (and who hasn’t hit board in 5 tries this year) – we’re going to trust his judgment and hop

on board too, especially since this guy WAS a big “go” last week, only to get stuck behind a tiring leader. (3) CAVI

ART SARGENT wasn’t up for last week’s (very) aggressive steer but we’ve seen that from him before – a patient

drive could result in a much better effort tonight. (1) METAL MAN usually “figures” but he’s now 0 for 8 locally

over the past 2 years and running out of excuses – still playable underneath, though. (4) KIMBLE A was no factor at

all in his first start of the year but that was in a fast mile across the river – eligible to be a lot more involved here

with that start under his belt. (7) SAMHARA N couldn’t sustain his very long first over move last week but that

doesn’t mean he can’t rebound tonight, at a price – playable in exotics. (6) AROUND MIDNIGHT turned in a better

effort last week but would have had more appeal tonight with a better draw. (2) HUGH HESTON keeps hinting that

he could be better...but he’s now just 6-0-0-1 locally and running out of excuses. (5) CYRUS N continues to drop,

but without any real signs of improvement.

RACE 6 – (3) OZONE BLUE CHIP hasn’t been “bad”, but he certainly hasn’t been delivering the kind of miles

we’re used to seeing from him – he drops a notch, draws inside, and may have found a field he can handle. (6) SOU

TH POINT has been on an extended form spree, for a variety of barns – he’s stepping up a bit (off the reclaim) and

also draws poorly...but he’s probably sharp enough to still be a major threat. (4) WARRIOR FOR PEACE was an

improved 2 nd off the class drop 2 back (behind a ‘repeater” winner) and toughed out a 2 nd first over last week – a

good trip should put him in the hunt vs. these 25s as well. (8) DANCE ON THE BEACH gave it a go from Post in

his first start off the layoff but came up short and tired after a good start – he could be tighter now, he drops a notch,

and may be worth a look at a big price. (2) CERTIFIABLE was a pretty nice horse – but that was back in 2023, and

he only made ONE start in 2024 before going on the shelf for a YEAR – he returns as a much reduced price, and it’s

anybody’s guess as to what we’ll get from him tonight – maybe the tote board will provide some assistance? (7) VE

NIER HANOVER drops to 25s after tiring vs. the 40s last week – might have given him some more interest if not

for the terrible draw. (1) LYONS PEGASUS lands the pole but just hasn’t been clicking lately. (5) NOWHERE CRE

EK A was well back in both 2025 starts so far (in NJ) – sticking with others.

RACE 7 – (4) CADILLAC BAYAMA really struggled in his first few starts this year – he was a little better when he

finished 2 nd two back, and while still not his best, he did pick up his first victory of the year last week – we’ll see if

he can continue to improve and take another. (7) ROLLING WITH SAM landed on bad trips/posts for what felt like

an eternity but he certainly remembered what to do last week when he finally had things go more to his liking –

tough draw, but he can still be a player IF some racing luck comes his way once more. (3) DON’T JUDGE A BOOK

will be a good price here but he has some decent form in PA, and did pull off an upset here at Yonkers last year –

good one for longshot fans. (1) LOORRIM LAKE A wasn’t bad in either start this year, draws the pole tonight, and

may be ready for an even better effort – very playable in exotics. (2) DEETZY caught a very soft basement field last

start and simply outran ‘em – he’s missed 3 weeks since then, however, and it would be tough to take too short a

price off the bad date. (5) BECHERS BROOK A was a no threat 2 nd to #7 last week, helped by a quick start and

pocket trip – may not get the same kind journey tonight, though. (6) MULLINAX is shipping back in showing some

good form in NJ and PA, but vs. seemingly easier competition – wouldn’t shock, but still leaning more to others. (8)

RAYRAY caught a tightly packed weak bunch last week and was able to roll past them in the lane – tough draw

while up in class tonight, though.

RACE 8 – (6) BENJAMIN HANOVER was off 23 days to his last start but still made his local debut a winning one,

extending his winning streak to 6 with a VERY sharp 1:53.4 score – he draws inside the horse he beat last time (#8),

and we’ll stick with the hot hand. (8) SOUTHWIND COORS (who elevated his game significantly since changing

hands in December) came into his last off a trio of blowout wins and gave the top choice all he could handle before

coming up 2 nd best – maybe he can reverse that decision tonight, but it won’t be easy after getting the worst of the

draw. (4) KEG STAND couldn’t handle the top choice the last 2X they faced each other in Dover, and he comes into

tonight having missed 23 days – he can still be a big part of the action, but it doesn’t seem like HE should be the ML

favorite. (5) STORMONT DIVIDE just went through the motions in his first 2 starts this year but he was hammered

down to 3/5 last week and scored the easy dropdown victory – he may be ready to have a bigger say at this Open

level too. (7) TIPSY MONI has an incredible win record vs. the mares and while she CAN hold her own vs. boys

too, tonight’s draw does figure to put her at a major disadvantage. (1) DONATO PATRIOT K wasn’t involved at all

last week (1 st start of the year) but he could be a bit tighter now, with a chance for some minor spoils from the rail.

(2) VINNY DE VIE gets stuck in the Invitational making his first start since December – at least a win comes off the

bottom of his card after tonight. (2) DIAMANTE TRIO IT is another mare taking on the boys here, and her current

form is spotty, at best

RACE 9 – (4) METAMAN hadn’t shown any kind of early speed until pairing up with Gingras 2 back, going to the

top that night and holding off the tripsitter for the game victory – he left quickly again last week, this time ending up

with a pocket trip and finishing 2 nd to a sharp front-end winner– goes for a new barn tonight (while up a bit in class),

gets Yannick on board again, and we’ll look for another sharp effort. (5) THAT DOG WILL HUNT was claimed in

each of his last 6 starts, compiling a 6-3-2-1 record along the way – he’s a threat in this class any week he’s in the

box! (3) I AINT NO MACK lost by 14 lengths last week but can be forgiven as he caught an insane 1:52.3 mile,

making his first start of the year – his barn has sent out some very live performers (at prices), so don’t dismiss this

guy too quickly. (1) CLEVELAND B MIKI has suddenly become very popular at the claim box, taken in each of his

last 3 starts – he was actually putting in a nice rally from way back when he made that break last week, and it would

be no surprise to see him make his presence felt tonight. (7) CONTACT ZONE always seems to be ignored at the

windows but he’s now hit board in 4 of his last 5 starts – another terrible draw, but still a good value horse for the

bottom of exotics. (8) RICARDOSHILYSHALLY felt like he may be starting to go the wrong way but bounced

back in a big way last week, giving the favorite all he could handle before coming up 2 nd best – would have been

listed higher if not for the unfortunate draw. (2) SECTIONLINE RACER seems buried in this strong field. (6) VAN

DALISM hasn’t been a player in a long time

RACE 10 – (5) JUDDY DOUGLAS A was very good 2 back despite a tough trip then followed that up with another

solid effort last week – he’s never been a prolific local winner but he lands in a suspect group tonight and could be

worth a stab in the finale. (1) MYSWEETBOYMAX was an even 4 th in his first start off the layoff then had pace

finishing from an impossible spot last week – he moves back all the way inside tonight, and may be ready for his

best effort. (4) FIZZING N has probably raced better than his line looks on several occasions recently – Siegelman

took him over the top choice, and he does deserve respect in here. (6) DIAMONDBEACH now has 153 career starts

and he still has several of the same bad quirks that have sometimes plagued him throughout his career – he was

claimed last week and will reside in a new barn for the first time in a long time...it’s anybody’s guess how he’ll

react to that. (2) ALEX TYE is off to a rough start in 2025 but an easy, up close trip may help him grab a small piece

of this. (8) SHADOW CAT just never thrived after joining our leading barn a while back – Post 8 definitely won’t

help his cause. (7) CHANTEE broke his streak of 7 th place finishes when he finished 8 th last week – still not ready to

hop on his team. (3) UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N seems over his breaking issues from earlier this year – but he just

hasn’t gotten sharp enough yet.