Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 – Tough opener, with a bunch of these all getting class drops: (6) DUVAL STREET faced MUCH better in

his first couple off the layoff and needed the starts – he raced much better on 2/17 (in NW 15000) but got brutally

parked last week dropping to NW10000 – gets some more class relief for tonight, so perhaps he can be a bigger

threat with an easier trip. (1) GENTLE GIANT hasn’t been great lately but he draws the pole for a barn that sent out

some longshot winners last week, and may be able to have a big say tonight. Both (2) KINGSVILLE and (3) WIND

SUN RICKY don’t have the best looking recent lines but both are more than capable down at this level, especially

with their moves inside – either could show up with a much better mile tonight. (8) EUPHORIA N is racing well,

and picked up 2nds in his last pair – gets a terrible draw, but worth at least a look if the price creeps high enough. (5)

YOROKOBI N was a decent 3rd in his first start off the layoff and just missed last week, albeit with a beautiful trip –

if things get hot and heavy up front, he could really benefit. (4) MASONS DELIGHT N has his moments but seems

to do his biggest damage vs. easier fields. (7) BIG DREAM FELLA seems to be back on the upswing, but may have

trouble getting into a striking position from out here.

RACE 2 – (2) TWO FACED was excellent 2 and 3 back but lost all chance last week after an unexpected miscue

before the start – he goes for a new barn tonight, and will have a chance to make amends...one of a few with a real

chance in here. (4) HAMMERING HANK is a proven player at this level, though he is prone to throwing some duds

(see his last start, and 4 back) – IF he brings his best tonight, he’d have a chance to beat these, especially with a kind

trip. (7) BB LUCKY BOY reminded us last week just how good he can be when left alone long enough on the lead

(his blowout was the fastest mile on the card, despite being one of the lower classes that night) – hard to say if he

can repeat, but would certainly consider using him if the price was right. (1) JUSTASEC N has been undeniably

sharp and his barn is very live right now...he’s also missed almost 4 weeks, making it hard to have too much

confidence in his chances tonight. (8) BILL HALEY N was good 3 back, then delivered powerful victories in his

last pair – he could be the sharpest right now, but he’ll also have to deal with both Post 8, and the loss of Bartlett. (3)

ILI KEMEBETTOR A qualified nicely behind the classy TYPHOON BANNER N but he’s missed 3 months, and

it’s hard to know just how tight he’ll be for this. (5) TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK won in this class 2 back bit it was

a much easier field – may find a few of these a little tougher than he’d prefer. (6) JUST ENUFF STUFF raced well

in his last pair, but vs. softer – moves up tonight, and also draws poorly.

RACE 3 – (5) ALL ALONE was in a no prayer spot last week so just give him a pass – his overall prior form has

been very solid, and perhaps he can get the job done tonight dropping in for a tag. (1) PEACE OUT POSSE blew on

by the leader on the final turn last week and just drew off very impressively after that – he’s been solid is all 5 starts

this year, and remains a major threat...even if Bartlett opts to steer #5 tonight. (4) TWIN B DELUXE failed to

threaten from well back last week, but picked up 2 wins and a (close) 2nd from his 4 starts prior to that – deserves

plenty of respect. (2) OPTICAL ILLUSION N feels like he MAY be tailing just a bit, but it’s too soon to write him

off – still willing to include him in exotics. (6) SHAKESPEARE has been stuck settling for smaller pieces lately and

tonight’s draw will make it hard for him to do better than that in here. (3) ROCKMYSTER N drops in for a tag after

struggling a bit in his 4 U.S. starts – he MAY be a good fit here, but would need to be a good price to be worth

considering. (7) I DRAINTHESWAMP A often takes a long time to get rolling...and that’ll hurt from out here.

RACE 4 – (1) SMIFFYS TERROR N may LOOK like he’s had a mixed bag of efforts but he’s actually been very

good in all 5 U.S. starts, with some bad luck/posts hurting his production – he moves all the way inside, figures to be

a fair price, and has a very legitimate chance in here. (4) ROCKIN JUKEBOX benefited from an opportunistic trip

last week but was also very good in his 2nd start of the year – he gets some class relief, and his best effort would

make him a threat. (5) BINGE ON YANKEE is another that is probably sharper than his lines might suggest – some

trip luck could put him right into the mix, at a good price. (6) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A is just a nose shy of a 5

race winning streak and it’s hard to ignore ANY horse that sharp – on the flip side, he’s benefited from a long run of

good draws, and might have some trouble tonight after landing Post 7. (3) VENTURESOME ARDEN N is still a

solid Monday night performer but hasn’t been in “top form” for some time – would need to up his game a bit to get

his picture taken tonight (though not impossible). (2) TASTE OF HONEY can throw a big one at times but others in

here just seem more likely at the moment.

RACE 5 – (4) FULTON was a big earner at 2 and 3 but made just 8 starts in a very disappointing 4YO campaign –

he missed over 6 months before starting back up in NJ recently, and that last effort suggests he may be ready to

deliver a winning effort against these types – we’ll give him the narrow edge. (1) LYRICAL GENIUS A was a solid

winner off the class drop last week, but he’s more than capable at this level too – solid threat after drawing the pole.

(6) FAMILY RECIPE can hold his own with better than these, and the only real knock here is the draw – playable as

long as the price is fair. (2) POP IT came back strong to start off his 4YO campaign, and will benefit from tonight’s

post relief – good one to use in exotics. (5) ROCK THE BELLES landed on a perfect trip last week and was one of

the barn’s back to back longshot winners that night – leaning a bit more towards others in here, but another big piece

is within reach. (3) GINGRAS BEACH is good right now, but definitely facing a bit tougher in here – minor share?

(7) MYULTIMATEBAXTER N didn’t take much $$ and was no threat in his U.S. debut – prefer to just observe, for

now. (8) MYULTIMATE SNOWY A was better in his 2nd local try, but lands in a brutal spot tonight.

RACE 6 – (5) BLAZING HOME N faced much better in his 2 local starts and raced as well as could be expected

from very difficult spots – he returns off an impressive 8 hole victory at Stga. and faces a much more modest crew

this time...may be a good spot for that first local win. (3) ALWAYS A THRILL has looked terrific at PcD after

being scratched sick here at the end of January – moves up a bit, but seems more than sharp enough to still be a

serious player. (1) SHERLOCK N draws yet another rail after coming up 2nd best (as the odds on choice) in his last

2 starts from the pole – still a big threat to land in the exotics. (4) PRICELESS BEACH held on for a wire to wire

win 2 back then knocked off #1 from the pocket last week – the classy 9YO is feeling good right now, and could

easily be a part of this. (7) COVERED BRIDGE is clearly nowhere near his best right now and while he’d bever be

a surprise at this level, you’d still want a pretty good price to try him from out here. (8) HAZEVILLE has some

good recent miles but he draws Post 8 off 3 weeks (while adding Lasix) and seems destined for a conservative trip

tonight. (2) TWIN B RISENSHINE beat cheaper with a dream trip 2 back but does seem to be in a bit too tough

here. (6) MEA CULPA A was all out to somehow salvage 2nd from a pocket trip last week – tough draw could limit

him tonight.

RACE 7 – (6) MOSSDALE BEN N was much sharper in his qualifier than the line might suggest – he won his first

U.S. start easily (despite an early miscue) then was just super in his last, kicking home effortlessly in :27.1 to gobble

up another pretty talented recent import – is he good enough to handle these too...we’ll find out tonight! (1) ULTIM

AROCCA is razor sharp right now, even in he had to settle for 2nd and 3rd in his last pair – he starts from the pole

with Gingras tonight, and an upset is not impossible. (2) BLUE LOU just missed to a streaking HEZA CHARTTOP

PER A two back then made amends with last week’s front end score (over #1, though helped by a very slow opening

half) – remains a viable threat, but won’t have things so easy tonight. (4) DUNKIN was super in his first start of the

year, finishing 2nd despite being parked the mile from Post 8...but that just made last week’s no-excuse, front end

loss all the more disappointing – hard to ignore his chances here, but also hard to back him with confidence after

that last mile. (5) ROCK DIAMONDS N is a hard hitter start after start but he could be looking at an uncertain trip

tonight, making it a little tough to predict his success...always playable in exotics. (7) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL N

can hold his own with any of these but may find himself a little too far back to seriously threaten tonight. (3) LEONI

DAS A is “ok” right now, but several others in here just seem more formidable at the moment. (8) LUCAPELO A

gets his first bad post in a long time and it’s likely to cramp his style considerably.

RACE 8 – (4) VERDUN qualified sharply for his 2025 return, came up a little short in the lane when 2nd best in his

seasonal debut, then kicked home full of pace for 2nd from well back last week, even if helped by saving ground on

the final turn – he was a 10X winner here last year, and feels ready to pick up his first win of 2025 (hopefully will be

handled more aggressively tonight). (5) AMMO has really looked so far in ’25 after changing barns for the new year

– unless he runs into a bad trip, there’s no reason why he can’t be a legitimate threat once again. (3) NANDOLO N

has won 3 of his last 4 starts, finishing a close 2nd in the lone loss – be careful about taking a short price, though, as

he always prone to a tough trip (and he’s facing some tough ones tonight). (6) TYPHOON BANNER N took some

time to really thrive in the U.S. but he got his game going in full gear into his 2024 season, and even went out on the

highest note of all, capturing the MGM Grand Prix Final ($250K) – he’s been on the shelf since then, however, and

may need a start before we see his best. (1) JANELLE GRANNY is unproven against these types but DID charge

home full of pace vs. lesser last week – DUNKIN’s barnmate still needs to prove he can do it vs. these. (2) THE IDE

AL DANCER A has been good ever since joining this barn in Nov., but does seem better suited with cheaper.

RACE 9 – (5) FLIP MY CHIP was brutally parked last and really roughed up 3 back...but other than those 2 miles,

has been 1st or 2nd in almost every start, for months – his price should creep up a bit tonight, and that would make

him worth considering. (1) TWIGGS PUB has been good since the claim, but hurt by some tough trips – seems

sharp enough to be pretty dangerous here IF an easier journey comes his way. (2) LAZ benefited from last week’s

hotly contested pace and was able to charge on by late for the 32-1 upset – he moves inside and his price will come

way down now...but he DOES have a real chance to repeat if able to work out another good trip. (4) CAUGHTINA

LANDSLIDE lacks early speed but does finish very well – his best chance tonight is if a couple of the logical

players end up banging heads early on. (6) JOHN THE BAPTIST weakened a bit after a tough trip last week trying

30s for the first time – he feels like he does fit well enough, but could be compromised by the draw. (3) TAKE A CL

OSER LOOK is racing “ok”, and a possibility for some more minor spoils. (7) CAPTAIN T HANOVER just hasn’t

been as good in 2025 and now has to deal with a bad post – tough spot. (8) J B GRAM has started to go in the wrong

direction – Post 8 isn’t the antidote!

RACE 10 – (3) REAL PEACE has been racing well for a while, both in NJ and here at Yonkers – he dropped down

to 30s last week and might have had a chance at the win had he found room sooner in the lane – we’ll give him the

narrow edge in a competitive finale. (4) PRINCE OF TIDES followed up a pair of close 2nds 3 and 4 back with

wins in his last pair (beat #3 last start)– remains a legitimate threat to extend his streak to 3. (6) IM A POWERPLAY

A rallied for 3rd vs. the 40s last week and now drops down to his preferred $30K level – he loves to win races, CAN

race from off the pace, but still will need to find a way to overcome the outside draw. (2) JUST PLAIN LOCO was

an excellent 2nd here on 1/22, and a “good” 3rd here in his last start – if he can bring his best effort, he’d have a

chance at the mild upset. (1) MAXIMUS RED A qualified nicely at PcD but appeared well short in his seasonal

debut last week – hard to know if that start will have him tight enough to be a more serious player tonight. (7) BETT

ORBUCKLEUP was a good 2nd after double-jumping to 30s two back but lost all chance last week after an early

miscue – faces a tough time tonight (from Post 7), even with a clean effort. (5) BLACK HAWK JOE A seems a bit

overmatched off his Stga. lines. (8) BUCHANNON HANOVER is the outsider...literally and figuratively.