Monday Empire Report

RACE 1 - (4) STANFORD COURT went a HUGE effort when 3rd in his local debut - was definitely a bit

disappointing when 2nd best the next week but he showed up back on his best in last, scoring the victory

over a rival that came back to beat a NW20000 field from Post 8 - we'll stick with him again tonight. (2)

DANCIN DRAGON weakened a bit from the pocket 2 back, but held gamely to the wire from a similar

spot last week - should be looking at another good trip tonight, and is a good candidate to land somewhere

on the ticket. (5) GINGRAS BEACH was a very good 3rd (off a bad date) 3 back, had no chance from Post

8 in his next but delivered the sharp front end score last week - chance to be a threat again tonight despite

moving back up in class. (6) HERRICKROOSEVELT N really upped his game with that sharp first over

score 2 back, then was very solid again last week, finishing right behind a pair of sharp foes - can grab a

piece here IF he lands on a manageable trip. (3) GLACIS doesn't win here very often but he's sharp right

now, and there's a chance he could rally late for a small share. (1) CAN B PERFECT gets major post relief

tonight, and that may be enough to help him grab a small piece. (7) ROCKIN M has been racing well vs.

lesser, but faces a tough task up in class from Post 7. (8) KEYSTONE NOLAN will likely be handled very

conservatively from this spot, after breaking on the lead last week.

RACE 2 - (1) FEELIN WESTERN was a solid 4th in his first start off the claim - added Lasix last week

and was terrific in victory, charging home through the lane despite being hurt by poor cover - chance to

take another in this well matched field. (4) DINA BOLT N was "sneaky ok" off the claim 2 back then very

good last week, showing good speed at the start then rallying solidly at the end - should offer some pretty

good value tonight (2) IM SOME GRADUATE had been "good" since the 2/14 claim but was VERY sharp

in his last, delivering an impressive first over score - more than capable of taking another if he shows up as

sharp tonight. (3) HEISMAN PLAYER stepped up to this level last week (off a pair of victories) but just

didn't fire in the lane - can't write him off in this class just yet, but make sure to get a decent price if using

him on top tonight. (5) GLENGARRY KNIGHT N gets a pass for his effort 2 back (7 hole) but he did

squander a pocket trip last week - may rebound here, but it hurts that he starts outside 4 solid contenders.

(7) AIR FORCE HANOVER can be a player in this class on his best efforts, but he draws all the way

outside and does seem a bit off his game right now. (6) PASS A GRILLEBEACH outran a couple of

cheaper fields, but does seem a bit overmatched right now against these.

RACE 3 - (1) MR DS ROCK had a very solid tightener off the layoff on 4/4 then charged home to win the

Open in his next start - sharp again in the Winners Over at PcD last week, and now gets to DROP (while

drawing the pole) in his return to YR - clearly the former $20K claimer is the one to knock off tonight! (4)

GENIUS MAN wasn't bad at all three back (off a bad date) then delivered powerful front end demolitions

in his last pair - moves up a bit, but looks sharp enough to still be a serious threat. (8) ON THE CARDS N

may just be too far out to have any real say tonight but IF Brennan can somehow improve position early on,

he may be able to land somewhere on this ticket - good longshot to consider. (5) ESCAPETOTHEBEACH

was a front end winner vs. easier last week, and seems to get along very nicely with Dunn - chance to grab

a decent piece even moving up in class. (2) CAPTAIN FANCY may have just struggled with the off going

so we'll just ignore his last - he's still somewhat unproven at this level, however, and may be looking at only

a smaller share . (7) PRETTY HANDSOME wired cheaper 3 and 4 back but had to settle for smaller pieces

the last 2 weeks after moving up to this level - Post 7 isn't going to help his chances. (6) ROCKAPE LO

was an even 5th in his first try off the barn change, then no factor last week - drops tonight, but still may

have a hard time overcoming the outside draw. (3) SARANAC BLUE CHIP was caught behind a quitter

last week but it may not have mattered - has to prove he can contend at this higher level.

RACE 4 - MGM Borgata Pace Eligibles: (4) DIAMONDBEACH raced solidly throughout the series,

although a notch below the top players - fits very well with these, hails from a hot barn, and gets Brennan

to stay on board - we'll give him the narrow nod in a well matched field. (2) OSTRO HANOVER had a

mixed bag of efforts in the series, highlighted by his 21-1 upset over THIS IS THE PLAN (on a night when

that rival just wasn't at his best) - more than capable of winning from this spot...but also figures to be

overbet. (1) SPLASH BROTHER had no chance in the first leg from Post 8 - raced well for 2nd the next

week but was scratched sick from his next, and then a little short from the pocket when he came back 2

weeks later - looked much better finishing solidly for 4th in his last, and should be a major player from the

pole tonight - that 9/5 ML price is a bit of turn off, however. (6) AMERICAN DEALER N produced one

win during the series when he hit the lead in a soft division and grabbed a slow half - disappointed in his

other starts but does add Lasix for tonight, and we may see some quick improvement. (8) BELMONT MAJ

OR N was locked on a line badly 2 back, but did finish with some good late life in last - will be very tough

to get involved from out here, but not a bad (big!) bomb should the race fall apart. (3) CAPTAIN BARBOS

SA hasn't had the greatest luck here at Yonkers (7-1-0-1), and may need to be in a little easier to be a more

serious threat - good draw does help, however. (5) GROOVY JOE picked up a couple of smaller pieces in

the series, then was 2nd last vs. cheaper at Chester - he's another that may need some class relief before we

see his best. (7) ELVER HANOVER had some bad trips/luck in the series and never got untracked (then

was bothered in the slop at PcD last week) - not sure he can find away into the hunt from out here.

RACE 5 - Blue Chip Matchmaker Consolation $75,000: (8) DRAGON ROLL finished 8th in Leg #3

(possibly bothered?) then missed the next leg...and that kept her from making the Final - came back with a

BIG effort last week, though, and she's talented enough for a chance to win from out here IF a bit of trip

luck comes her way - worth using at what figures to be a pretty square price. (5) MAN DONTFORGET

ME was good all through the series but a few bad spots cost her a shot to make the Final - hard to predict

her trip from this spot but IF it's a good one, she'll have a realistic chance to be right there at the end. (6)

GIAS SURREAL was slated to start her 2022 season in the first leg but was scratched that night, missing

the following week as well - has been excellent since finally making it back (3rd, 2nd, and 1st last week),

and looms a very dangerous threat tonight...but also could end up overbet. (2) BOLT OF BEAUTY hit

board in the first 3 series legs, missed Week #4 then was caught in a no-chance spot for her last - draws

inside for tonight, and could easily land somewhere on the ticket with a good trip. (7) LIT DE ROSE threw

a rare weak effort 3 back then missed the next leg - returned for Leg #4 on Lasix and charged home for the

victory, but came up a little light in the stretch last week and lost out on 2nd (finished 3rd) - clearly a solid

player against these, but the outside draw could leave her with a pretty tough journey. (4) BLUE IVY

picked up 2nds in Legs 2 and 3 but failed to earn a check in her other 3 series starts - a little too unreliable

to back with confidence right now. (1) COMMANDER CATHY N hasn't embarrassed herself against these

but she's now 0 for 13 in the U.S, and we'll wait until she's in a bit cheaper before hopping back on board.

(3) THE BETHINATOR is a nice mare, but she's been a notch below these throughout the series.

RACE 6 - Borgata Pace Consolation, $100,000: (1) IM SIR BLAKE A raced well every start of the series,

always sent off at a good price despite kicking home full of pace each week - he'll probably be overlooked

in the wagering once more, and that makes him worth using in this pretty competitive event. (5) CHASE H

HANOVER got lost in the back in Leg #2 but otherwise performed very well throughout the series - the

4YO has in no way been intimidated by his elders, and can be a major threat here with any half-decent trip.

(3) POSEIDON SEELSTER ended up tied for 8th in the point standings and lost the draw for the last spot

in the Final - he was at his best when charging home to win 3 starts back, but came up a little short at the

end of 3 other legs...very dangerous player here, but also could be a bit vulnerable at a fairly short price. (2)

DEAN B HANOVER made a bold back side move last week but was hurt badly when the winner slipped

out before 3/4s, keeping him wide and possibly costing him the victory - the 4YO has overachieved all

through the series, and could be right there tonight...with the right trip. (7) BEE TWO BEE failed to win

any legs but he raced well each week, never finishing worse than 4th - it's the poor draw that may

compromise his chances tonight. (4) COVERED BRIDGE raced in 4 of the legs, never finishing worse than

4th - he's one of several with a legitimate chance in here but he'll probably be a short price, and he's 0 for 7

here at Yonkers...may be some better value (on top) with a few of the others. (6) WHICHWAYTOTH

EBEACH was able to win in Leg #2 when a lot went his way, but was otherwise a bit below these most

weeks- tough spot tonight. (8) WESTERN JOE is a classy veteran but will likely be coming from to far

back to seriously threaten.

RACE 7 - Blue Chip Matchmaker Final, $381,000: (2) RACINE BELL had an improbable streak where

she finished 2nd here 8 straight times...but that was broken with her blowout win in Leg #2, followed by a

two more blowouts to head into tonight's Final - if she shows up as sharp as she was in those last three

wins, somebody will need to come up with a huge effort to knock her off. (3) EASY TO PLEASE may

have a shot to pull off an upset - the 4YO has been outstanding since joining this barn during her 3YO

campaign, and has established herself as a legitimate Open performer since returning at 4 - just ignore her

last (buried with pace at the back with no chance) and look for a big effort from her tonight. (1) DRAMA

ACT made her local debut in the first leg of the series and has been an outstanding performer all the way

through, grabbing 3 wins along with a close 2nd and 3rd - barring any terrible trip (seems unlikely), she

should be right there from start to finish. (7) KARMA SEELSTER comes into this in top form, with a pair

of wins (and a sharp 3rd) from her last 3 starts - had no luck with the draw, however, and will need a lot to

go her way with 3 very sharp foes all drawn inside (she also loses her regular pilot (Stratton) to #3). (4)

BEST HEAD WEST has been a model of consistency for a long time, and is always pacing hard at the end

- she has a bad habit of struggling from past 5/8ths to the top of the lane, though, and that could really hurt

her chances for a bigger piece tonight. (5) MISS YOU N seems destined to be racing from off the pace

tonight, but the classy 8YO doesn't really mind that - if she ends up with a live trip, she can make some late

noise...but it's hard to say just how her journey will play out tonight. (8) KEEP ROCKING A badly needed

a win 2 back to keep her hopes alive to make the Final and she got it (incredibly, Tetrick's only Yonkers win

from 41 starts this year!) - unfortunately, she's going to need all kinds of luck to make her presence felt

from Post 7. (6) MYSTICAL CARRIE did pick up a couple of series wins but those were from inside posts

- hasn't really shown that she can do that kind of damage from out here.

RACE 8 - Borgata Pacing Series Final, $549,000 - should be an outstanding race!: (6) LEONIDAS A

returned sharp for his 7YO campaign and carried that fine form into this series...where he won all 4 legs

that he raced in - he had high hopes coming into last year's Final as well, but a horrible trip sealed his fate -

his trip is a bit tricky to predict for tonight as well, but he's incredibly versatile and will have a solid chance

as long as he can find a reasonably clean journey - he's earned top billing. (3) JACKS LEGEND N is

another versatile type and like LEONIDAS A, he loves to win races - may end up with a good trip from

Post 3, and he's a legitimate contender for the top prize. (5) THIS IS THE PLAN delivered a memorable

victory in last year's Final, somehow looping to the lead from Post 8 and just rolling all the way once he hit

the top - his form has been up and down throughout THIS year's series, and it's almost impossible to know

which version we'll get tonight - make sure to get a fair price if looking for him to repeat last year's victory.

(1) TATTOO ARTIST should have plenty of confidence coming into tonight, scoring victories in his last

pair (including last week's front end jogburger) - legitimate chance to come out on top here, but he's come

up short at the end of his miles enough times to be wary of backing him at a pretty short price tonight - may

be some better value with others. (7) NANDOLO N has 2 wins and 2 narrow misses from his 4 series tries,

and is only listed at 15-1 ML because of the terrible post - will need plenty of racing luck to win from this

spot, but he's still worth considering at what figures to be a pretty nice price. (4) FUNATTHEBEACH N

scored the 29-1 upset in Leg #3 then proved it was no fluke with another win in Leg #4 - he still has to be

considered somewhat of an outsider against some of these monsters, but he's also shown that with the right

trip, he can be a dangerous late player. (2) SEMI TOUGH ended up needing to win a tiebreaker to make it

to tonight's Final (he was tied for 8th in points) and ironically, he's being driven tonight by the man who

put him in the position of NEEDING that tiebreaker (Bongiorno parked him mercilessly last week with

DRAGON SAID (:25.4!), but picks up the drive tonight) - if TATTOO ARTIST just blasts down the road

and parks any leavers, it's at least possible that this guy could be in position to do some damage late. (8)

PAT STANLEY N has been a big (pleasant) surprise throughout the series, but will be coming from dead

last, and will need all kinds of luck to be in position at the top of the lane.

RACE 9 - (7) PRICELESS BEACH flew home to win his local debut from a spot that very few horses can

win from here at Yonkers - took a while to find his stride on last week's sloppy track but once he did, he

effortlessly collared the leader and drew clear to the blowout victory - faces much tougher now from a

difficult post, but we'll stay on his team for another week. (6) JOESSTAR OF MIAA came into his last off

2 recent Open wins, yet his regular driver bailed to drive another horse, and this guy took no $$ at all - it

was hardly a surprise to see him never get involved from the back, but that doesn't mean he won't bounce

right back tonight to his better form - very dangerous if that happens. (5) TOWN GOSSIP will take plenty

of tote action with the drop out of the Borgata Series, and rightfully so - has to be considered a very live

threat here, but he may also be overbet (1) WALKINSHAW IN had been plagued by bad posts in his recent

YR starts but moves all the way inside for tonight - good one to include underneath in exotics. (4) LOUS

SWEETREVENGE failed to threaten in his last couple, but there's always a chance we'll see his good late

rally if things get testy up front - another one to consider including underneath. (8) PYRO rebounded from

the miscue on 4/11 with a decent 4th in his last - may have trouble getting into contention tonight, however.

(3) ST LADS BEAT IT went a couple of big miles to beat lesser in his last 2 local tries, but wasn't as sharp

in his last 3 across the river - these may be a little too tough for him. (2) CONBOYVILLE seems to have

gone the wrong way after a long series of sharp efforts.

RACE 10 - (3) BELTANE A is worth a look in here - he beat this class off the claim back on 3/18,

sweeping the field from last with an eye-opening stretch rush (with Gingras, on board) - broke on the lead

in his next, but was a close 2nd (for a new barn) the week after that - was no factor in the Open last week

(off the re-claim), but may perk right back up in with the 75s tonight. (2) VELOCITY KOMODO was too

far back to get involved last week but things should be different tonight with the move inside - he's been a

rock solid player in this class for some time. (5) ELWELL has been on a seemingly endless form spree, but

he has shown just a bit of possible wear and tear in his last couple - still a very legitimate threat, but be

careful about falling in love at a short price right now. (7) ROLLING WITH SAM was an afterthought for

weeks before absolutely jogging in his last couple....coinciding with a move to a barn that has been

improving horses dramatically (usually instantly) for the past year - this SEEMS like a pretty tough

spot...but we've learned to never count out ANYTHING this barn drops in the box! (4) THE WILD CARD

is hard to take on top right now (he's 0 for 11 on the year) but he looked good finishing last week, and is

certainly playable underneath. (1) ITSMYCHECK GB pounced on a perfect trip to rally by lesser last week

but may have a much tougher time against these...even from the pole. (6) ROCKATHON pulled up in his

last start and had to re-qualify - has been away for 5 weeks, and we'll stick with others, for now.

RACE 11 - (7) HIGHLANDBEACHSBEST showed a lot of potential at 2, but struggled through a

shortened 11 race 3YO campaign - returned in a new barn at 4, took all kinds of $$ for his 2nd start of the

year and sizzled through a 1:50.1 front end score - takes a big step up (while also drawing outside) but

Stratton shows him a big vote of confidence by taking him over #5...if the price is decent, he's worth a shot.

(3) SAVE ME A DANCE didn't "crush" off the big class drop last week, but he did pace home in :27.4 to

prevail safely - can never be ignored at this level, even if not quite on his top game right now. (5) LYONS

KING has been racing well for a top shelf outfit so it's at least somewhat surprising to see his owners move

him to a new barn - would be no surprise at all. (1) ALTA BLUES A is the "x factor" tonight - the recent

import is clearly of some quality (7 wins and $73K Down Under last year), and his connections have

excelled with these in the past - the concern is that he made breaks in his first 2 U.S. qualifiers before

getting it right, and it's anybody's guess what to expect from him tonight! (4) MICKY GEE N is also a bit

of a mystery for tonight - was finally starting to click before getting derailed by broken equipment on 4/5,

then was scratched on 4/18 - just not sure how sharp he'll be. (2) KILOWATT KID N has been much

sharper in his last pair, but facing lesser - not sure he can hang with the top ones in here. (8) CYCLONE

BANNER N actually beat this class from Post 8 on 2/28, but this is a MUCH tougher assignment - maybe

if the price is really long? (6) MY CARBON COPY N has done well vs. lesser since recently arriving in the

U.S. - will have to prove himself against these, however.

RACE 12 - (2) KINNDER JACKSON rattled off 4 in a row but came up terrible last week after leaving a

pair of very high % barns - perhaps returning to his old farm this week will help him get right back to that

winning form? (1) JESSE DUKE N hasn't really been "good" or "bad" lately (he's been "ok") - takes a class

drop tonight while also landing the pole, and that figures to make him a lot bigger contender. (4) OUR CO

RELLI N can be a little in and out, but he does have a recent win and a 2nd in this class - remains a threat.

(8) WATERWAY has been in good form for a while, but faces a tough task from all the way out here -

maybe he can rally for 3rd/4th? (3) BALLERAT BOOMERANG would look a lot more appealing in a bit

cheaper - maybe he can pick up a minor share with an easy trip? (6) ROCKIN JUKEBOX just missed at

27-1 last time, but that was vs. 40s - tall order stepping up a notch while also landing Post 6. (5) BARON

MICHAEL has some good efforts vs. lesser, but hasn't shown that he can battle the 50s. (7) LIFEONTHEB

EACH has been hampered by poor posts in his last 4 starts...and lands another one tonight.