Wednesday Empire Report

RACE 1 – (5) BATH BOMB showed big ability right off that bat, and actually won her career debut right here at

Yonkers last year, demolishing the field – she earned $109K for the season, but did have her share of disappointment

(made breaks in the $300K OhSS Final AND the $400K KySS Final) – she just qualified for her 4YO campaign

right behind a trio of top Matchmaker mares, and will be tough to knock off here...assuming she paces cleanly. (8)

PEACE TALKS was sent off at 1/2 for her seasonal debut last weeks but she’s always been prone to clunkers, and

certainly threw one that night – her price will be much higher tonight, and she MAY bounce back with one of her

better efforts. (6) IM A BELIEVER hasn’t WON here at Yonkers (so far) but she’s hit board in 9 of her 12 starts

(and all 3 this year) – always willing to use underneath. (4) MISS PERIGNON N was no factor in her first U.S. start,

a no threat 5th– if she attracts some more tote action this week, she may be worth including in exotics. (3) MS

FRANCES ASSISI has a win and a 2nd from her 3 career starts (across the river)– hard to really say how she’ll fit

with the locals but we’ll get a clearer picture after tonight. (1) MAIDSWEET IR was ignored at the windows and no

factor in her first U.S. start – she’s missed a month since then, and feels pretty risky. (7) SHES EPIC has speed, but

has gotten too hot on a couple of occasions and tired – tough draw for tonight, and she’s also missed 3 weeks. (2)

BULLVILLEVALENTINA was ok in a couple of her 2YO starts – prefer to just observe in her 3YO return.

RACE 2 – (2) EL PARRANDERO Q has been solid out of town vs. comparable to these, draws well with Gingras

on board, and the homebred could have a tactical edge over his main rivals – worth a try in his Yonkers debut. (5) IT

ALIAN DELIGHT N raced “ok” off the claim last week despite a less than stellar trip – may be handled more

aggressively tonight, and that would make him a very live player. (7) DELIGHTFUL TERROR struggled to grab the

bit last week but continued to try hard and eventually was able to rally by tired rivals in a slow mile – he’s been in

the hunt every start for a long time, but he MAY get a little lost from out here- at a fairly short price. (1) HELSINKI

has struggled since the recent claim but the move all the way inside could help him find a better effort – playable in

exotics. (8) QUICK SNAP fits with these for sure, but he’s another that will need plenty of luck to come his way

starting from the far outside. (4) ROSE RUN X CON was “meh” 2 back and weak in his last – needs to find one of

his better efforts if he hopes to contend for a piece. (3) LUCIANO N has managed just one 3rd from his 10 starts this

year – leaning elsewhere. (6) SWEET TROY has 4 starts under his belt in 2025 and hasn’t been close yet.

RACE 3 - John Brennan Trotting Series Leg #1: (5) THE PRINCE exits the leading barn in the nation but lands in a

barn that has exhibited the ability to take horses from anybody, and still excel – he broke before the start on 2/6 but

otherwise has 4 wins and 3 seconds from his 7 other local starts, all vs. strong company – the one to beat tonight. (2)

SAPPHIRERAINSTAR was hurt by terrible posts in her first 2 local tries but picked up a 2nd behind TIPSY MONI

(from the pocket) after drawing better for her last– could be a solid player in here too. (6) GREEN PASTURES best

effort would put him right in the picture here but he’s made breaks in 3 of his last 5 starts and draws poorly tonight –

iffy, for sure. (1) NYMERIA has done well at Yonkers (4-3-0-1) but facing easier than these – she qualified back

nicely for her top connections, so we’ll see if she’s ready to contend right off the bench (4) CRAZY BROTHER JIM

beat easier here 2 back but was a dullish 4th last week – will need to up his game to be a serious player tonight. (3)

MEETMEATTHEBAR seems a bit overmatched in this field.

RACE 4 – John Brennan Trotting Series Leg #1: (2) BUSY MAKING MONI has won 3 of 4 local starts and raced

big in the lone loss (sat 8th but less than 2 lengths back at the wire) – hard to imagine a better looking qualifier than

the one he shows for tonight, and he draws well inside his main rival...deserves the edge. (6) GOLDEN RAIN S

actually won the only Yonkers race that #2 lost (with a much better trip), then showed her class by easily winning

her first attempt in the FM Invitational – the main danger, for sure. (5) COUNTRY MAMMA was a sharp winner in

her local debut (for a new barn) but couldn’t handle last week’s big step up – she seems a bit overmatched by the top

pair, but still may be able to handle the others. (3) CHEF ROCCO had no luck in 2 recent starts here but is capable

of better – chance for a piece. (1) MOSQUITO showed plenty of a ability at 2 but missed his entire 3YO season –

has just returned at 4 (for a new barn) and while he did show both speed and guts in winning off the long layoff, he

also looked about an inch from making a break early on, and all through the lane – feels risky, especially way up in

class tonight. (4) LOUS GAMBLER shows plenty of good Ohio lines but we’ll see how he fares against some of

these tougher ones (for his new barn).

RACE 5 – (8) FAST APPROACH has hit board in 7 straight but he has only one win, and did disappoint a bit in a

few of those 2nds and 3rds = he has enough speed to at least improve significantly at the start, and this really is a

field he SHOULD handle...but don’t take too short a price! (3) KELLYS GREATEST has been a steady player in

this class and a logical contender for a good piece tonight (with any decent trip). (2) WAVERLY HANOVER will

attract attention with Bartlett driving tonight and she should be able to be part of the equation – note that she’s just 1

for 16 locally before considering on top, at a shortish price. (5) OLIVER THE GREAT seems like a possibility for

3rd/4th if the trip goes his way – will need to be a bit better to contend for a bigger piece, however. (4) CHASING CR

YSTALS tends to trot “evenly” and seems destined for minor spoils here. (1) NAUTILUS B has been somewhat

unpredictable from week to week – if she can bring one of her better efforts, she’d have a chance for a small slice.

(7) MA ISABELLE took some $$ for her local debut but broke on turn two after getting away 3rd – draws poorly

tonight, and there’s a good chance she’ll be handled conservatively. (6) SHIV has struggled in her recent local tries.

RACE 6 - John Brennan Trotting Series Leg #1: (1) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM has a couple of recent powerful

victories that would make him a big threat here (if he can replicate them) – he faces a field filled with question

marks, and could have a big chance tonight. (2) CANTSTOP YANKEE was off a bad date last week, saw Bartlett

choice off, and folded badly after cutting the mile – it seems like a good sign that he drops right back in the box, and

IF he brings anything close to his best tonight he’ll become a very dangerous player. (5) FOUR SIXES had a nice

3YO season but was stuck facing our Invitational field in his 4YO return – he shrugged off a trouncing that night to

come back with a trio of sharp Saratoga efforts, and he could have a say here...if not affected by racing on 2 days’

rest! (4) BLOCKCHAIN is 3 for 3 since the recent barn change but he was all out to hang on last week, and will be

facing tougher tonight – hard to say how he’ll handle tonight’s class test. (3) LUCKY MUM N was a winning

machine in the NWPM classes but has found life much tougher at these higher levels – we’ll see if tonight’s better

post can help her chances at all. (6) DEADLINE HALL ships in sharp from Stga. but lands outside, and has only

managed 4 thirds from his 8 local starts.

RACE 7 – (4) TWIN B SPEED DIAL returned sharp in 2025, winning his first start off a 4 month layoff – tired a

bit in his next (when handled very aggressively) but returned last week after a month off, and was a winner once

more – has earned top billing. (1) MIKEY CAMDEN has some mixed recent form but he just missed in this class a

couple of times, and is listed at 20-1 from the pole – has to be worth a look. (6) SMOKIN BY N hasn’t been “bad”,

but he also hasn’t been “great” – he does love to win races, and would be worth a look if the price ends up decent

(may not happen, as he’s listed at 2-1 on the ML). (8) HELLO GORGEOUS got a big barn and driver change last

week, took a lot of $$ and proved an easy winner (at PcD) for his new connections (2nd time Lasix) – brutal spot for

his YR debut, but does have appeal at that 20-1 ML price. (2) MASTER MIKI has solid overall recent form

(including a win in PA last week), but hasn’t been better than 3rd in 10 local starts – willing to include underneath.

(5) SNOUZE U LOUZE took no real $$ last week and turned in a dull try – inclined to stick with others tonight, but

will at least glance at the tote board first. (3) NOWHERE CREEK A continues to drop, hoping to find a spot where

he can get back on track – not ready to hop on his team at this point. (7) ON THE VIRG has been a beast at this

level so it was a bad sign when he was sent off at 44-1 last week – he was no factor at all, and lands in a similarly

poor spot tonight.

RACE 8 – John Brennan Trotting Series Leg #1: (5) ANTOGNONI S is 4 for 5 since arriving in the U.S., the lone

loss being a 2nd to SOUTHWIND COORS (last week’s Invitational winner) – his local debut was sensational and

though he does land in with a couple of pretty nice horses tonight, we’ll stay on his team. (6) SCOTTISH was a

proven high-class player before arriving here last week but he couldn’t have looked any better for his new barn,

hitting the top and demolishing the field with an eye-catching 1:54.2 mile – would obviously be no surprise if he

was able to take another. (4) BELLISSIMO FACE S was terrific here in 2024, winning 6 of 10 starts – started off

’25 with another victory, was a bit disappointing in his next but added Lasix after that start, and rebounded with

another very game win last week – he’ll be ready and waiting should the top two falter here. (2) OPTRIX went some

good efforts here last year and ships in sharp from PA – it’s just unfortunate for him that he lands in such a stacked

division! (3) FULL SCALE has been very solid all year, hitting boar in 7 of his 8 starts – this field is MUCH tougher

than he’s used to, however, and that will likely have him looking at only minor spoils for tonight. (1) JAKEY

JUMPUP is majorly overmatched in here.

RACE 9 – (7) WALKWHILEYOURTALKN showed some promise at 2, but only raced 4X at 3 – he’s back now at

4, qualified ok and finished alertly (in NJ) in his 2025 return – tough draw for his Yonkers debut but he catches a

soft bunch, and may be able to mow ‘em down late. (2) BO SILAS was handled indifferently when 3rd last week –

he’s been a steady weekly player, and could be very dangerous tonight with Bartlett taking over the lines...he also

figures to be overbet. (1) HIPPIE SHAKE has been a weekly player in this class, even picking up a couple of wins –

should be able to be a threat from start to finish from this spot. (3) HL OLMAYA has picked up a few pieces and the

good draw should put her in the hunt for another tonight. (4) STOCKHOLM HANOVER felt like he was starting to

sharpen a few starts back but he leveled off and is stuck on minor pieces...and may remain in that boat tonight. (8)

IHAVEADREAM DE VIE hit board in her last pair but that was with much better draws – not sure she can be as

successful from out here. (5) PAPA JOE LOZITO turned in an improved effort 3 back but tired in his next and broke

in his last – little risky right now. (6) YOUMEANDWHISKEY gets a barn change and Gingras but his Stga. lines

would make him hard to endorse here – suppose he’s ok for longshot fans, shopping for an angle.

RACE 10 – (3) HECANDANCENCRUISE has been facing 10s across the river but he’s very sharp, and the move

to 15s here really shouldn’t bother him– he’ll also have Bartlett in the bike tonight, and the pair teamed up for

victories the last 2X they were together. (1) ROCK THIS WAY was able to get away pretty well from the rail last

week so hopefully he can do the same tonight – logical player for exotics. (2) SQUADRON SEELSTER was a

decent 4th in his local debut despite a first over trip – no reason he can’t grab a good piece tonight. (6) GINGER

TREE PETE has become pretty unpredictable from week to week – even if on his game tonight, he’ll need a lot to

go his way starting from Post 6. (5) VELOCITY KOMODO doesn’t seem like a serious threat for one of the top

slots but an easy trip could see him rally for some minor spoils. (8) SHAKE IT shows a big rally for 2

nd last week but he was one of the only ones with fresh legs in a race that fell apart completely –

not sure he’ll be as fortunate tonight. (7) THREE GR AND could probably be ok in this class from an inside draw,

but hard to see him finding a way into the race from out here. (4) PINE BUSH UP DRAFT seems a bit

overmatched, even at this bottom claiming level.

RACE 11 – (2) TIN ROOF RAIDER A is a classy veteran that just perked up at Pocono, and could be sharp enough

to handle tonight’s class jump – Herschberger gives him a vote of confidence (taking him over #3) and maybe he can

pull off an upset in tonight’s finale. (7) RECORD YEAR gets no luck with the draw but returns to the barn for

whom he just won 3 in a row, and has to be considered a major threat, even from out here (1) DONTTELLMENOW

picked up 3rds in his last pair, draws the pole and seems like a logical player for another piece tonight. (3) ARTIST

BEST wasn’t terrible from an impossible spot last week, moves inside a bit and is listed at 20-1 ML – not a bad

bomb for underneath. (6) PRETTY HANDSOME is sharp right now, coming up a close 2nd in his last pair – he’d

surely be no shock here, but the draw does figure to hurt his chances, and he’ll probably still end up overbet, even

with that 8-1 ML listing. (4) MOONLIGHT SHADOW gets a switch to Bartlett but that hardly seems to justify him

being the ML favorite, in his current struggling form. (5) MEMPHISTENNESSEE N just can’t seem to get his act

together these days – waiting for better signs, (8) SAILBOAT HANOVER seems unlikely to sweep the field from

last – just hasn’t been sharp lately.