Friday, August 7, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, August 7, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NY Excelsior 2YO Filly Trot: (2 PP1) SEVEN THIRDS dropped down from NYSS, got a big switch to Kakaley and won her Excelsior division at Tioga – remains the one to beat tonight. (6 PP5) DREAM VENERE raced well in a few starts at The Meadows then rallied for 3rd at Tioga last week, finishing behind the top choice – the one with the best chance to knock her off tonight. (3 PP2) WICKED WINK was 2nd in an Excelsior division at Buffalo then 4th behind the top pair at Tioga – may end up just behind them once more. (1 PP6) BLEECHER CREA TURE prepped nicely at Stga. then won her first career start at Buffalo – she failed to threaten the top ones at Tioga last start, and gets a tough draw for tonight – could be looking at a small share. (4 PP3) EL PANDORA feels like a work in progress, but at least put in a bid at Buffalo (before tiring) – best of the others? (5 PP4) K J WOW just seems a bit behind a few of the main players right now. (1 PP7) RED NECK ANGEL has been struggling a bit to start off her career, and will have to contend with Post 7 tonight

RACE 2 - NY Excelsior 2YO Filly Trot: (6) LITTLE BY LITTLE was well backed making her career debut in a NYSS race at Buffalo but came up a little short after cutting the mile– elected to drop down to Excelsior competition for her next start at Tioga, was used very hard to make the lead but still was a dead game 2nd best – we’ll give her the slight edge tonight. (1) NATIVE PRIDE really turned things around quickly after adding hopples to qualify on 7/3, winning her career debut at Buffalo before coming up 2nd best at Tioga (to FRENCH PASTRY, who will be back in NYSS competition tonight) – the main danger. (4) SOLAR QUEEN started off her career with a 2nd and a 3rd, and clearly is a very good fit with these – may be a notch below the top two, however. (3) COUNT THE TEARS was favored at Buffalo in her career debut but finished just behind #1 and #4, as she did again at Tioga – can grab a bigger piece if she can pick up her game just a little bit. (7) BANG THE DRUM definitely appears to have some ability but she ended up with a brutal trip last week, and faces a similarly tough road after drawing Post 7. Both (2) M T POCKETS and (5) VARI BLACK have some work to do to catch up to the others.

RACE 3 – NYSS 2YO Filly Trot: (1) FRENCH PASTRY just missed winning a NYSS division at Buffalo to start off her career – she opted to race in an Excelsior division at Tioga (which she won), and now lands in a 4 horse NYSS field vs. 3 others who have yet to really shine – clearly the one to beat. (2) TURN THE CHAPTER was an even 4th at Buffalo but broke at Tioga – adds hopples tonight, and we’ll see if that keeps her behaving. (3) ANABEL LA hit the wire decently for 4th at Tioga, and did win a baby race in NJ – she’s had slow start, but the short field certainly will help…possible upsetter? (4) CHAPIZZY broke in her career debut and flattened after a brief move at Tioga – needs to be better

RACE 4 - NYSS 2YO Filly Trot: (2) JULA FLORENCE won her qualifier, was a very good 2nd in a Chester 2YO race to start her career, won a NYSS division at Buffalo then was very sharp winning at Tioga, turning back SEVE ALLISTO a couple of times before scoring easily – remains the one to beat. (1) SEVEALLISTO turned things around as soon as hopples were added, and the ability is there for sure – was seriously overdriven when 3rd at Tioga last time (to #2), but a better trip may help her reverse that decision. (3) SECRET LOVER was sent off as the heavy favorite vs, the top pair last week but could only manage a no threat 2nd – will need to be a bit better to come out on top tonight. (4) WAXY VAXIE finished right behind #2 in her career debut at Buffalo then picked up a 3rd at Tioga – license to score a mild upset should things get a little testy in front of her. (5) KOUNTRY IRENE hails from top connections, but draws outside after an early miscue in her last.

RACE 5 – Good race: (3) PIERRE IN PARIS made an uncharacteristic miscue at Pocono last week but his overall form has otherwise been very solid – he reunites with Buter tonight, and the last 2X they paired up it resulted in victory…3 for 3? (5) BJMS LIL MAN broke last week trying to get around the rail horse at the start then turned in a big recovery after landing – he may benefit from a contested pace tonight, and a good price makes him worth a look. (2) MAHONE SEELSTER was surprisingly coming to the wire last week, especially surprising since he was down in class and lost to a very camera-shy rival…still, his best effort would give him a chance to make amends here, even moving up a bit. (7) VANDY LANE gets a horrible draw returning from PA but he went several sharp tries here recently, and that 20-1 ML price makes him at least a bit tempting. (1) E PASS is winless in 7 local tries (including a few vs. cheaper) but he’s become a steady weekly performer, and has a chance for a minor share from this spot. (4) SEA CAN rallied crisply from way back in his first start off the claim last week – still prefer others a bit more, but could see him making at least some noise here. (6) MUSICAL RIDE rarely wins but can grab a piece at a price when things go his way. (8) COMMODUS A is looking at a conservative try after last week’s miscue from the pole

RACE 6 – (3) SILK CLOUD A had turned in 4 straight excellent efforts vs. much better, and drops down to a much softer spot tonight – hard to go past her, even at a very short price. (6) MILLWOOD BLISS N is still well off her best game but classy enough to still be a player at this level – she was able to hold on for a no-threat 2nd to stickout RASPALIA N last week, and may be able to do the same against tonight heavy choice. (1) ANNA LOVES BANAN AS has been holding her form very nicely on her current ascent up the class ladder and tonight’s draw should put her in play for another nice piece. (8) ELUSIVE A is pretty inconsistent but she’s not afraid to leave from bad posts and a quick start could help her land somewhere in the exotics…at a big price. (2) ILLUSION SEELSTER used to throw a big mile here and there but vs. the lowest level claimers – she’s found some major consistency out of town, however, and can’t just be automatically dismissed at this higher level in her current form! (5) FASHION TERROR has also seen her game really improve (vs. easier) out of town, but just has too many disappointing local tries to recommend here/ (4) CHERYLS SHADOW was somehow on the lead at 60-1 last week (when Holland shockingly failed to retake with WAITFOREVER N) and could only watch the field go by her one by one from 3/4s – just hard to back right now! (7) CRUISE ALERT is good right now, but may need to wait for a better draw to be a threat

RACE 7 – (3) LUCKY ARTIST A can be hit-or-miss these days but the ageless import still throws enough big efforts to be worth a try against these, assuming the price is fair (as it usually is) – Siegelman generally knows how to push her buttons. (7) TRUE BLUE HANOVER brought an (unexpected) big 8 hole try for 3rd two back then followed that up with a victory in her last – she draws poorly (up in class), but may be sharp enough for a chance to beat these too. (4) BECKONING YANKEE was well meant from Post 8 in her Hilltop debut but broke looping to the lead – she came up a little short off a beautiful pocket trip last week but to be fair, the winner was simply scary – possibility. (2) HUNTING HULA worked out a beautiful trip last week and made the least of it, continuing to be frustratingly inconsistent – she has a chance here, but no value with that 2-1 ML price. (1) DISCOVERINGTHEHU NT moves up 2 classes off a 2nd place finish but she still fits well enough with these to contend for a piece. (5) RAC Y ROXY A put herself in a position to win last week but just wasn’t able to sustain her move well enough in the crucial stages – definitely ok for exotics. (8) DWS DARLENE could really use a drop back to 20-25s…and a much better post! (6) DISTANT LOVER has struggled here all year – would be a surprise

RACE 8 – (4) BRI EXPRESS N was in a hopeless spot last week and raced accordingly – she had been doing excellent work just prior to that, however, and tonight combination of post AND class relief should help her find one of her top efforts – solid threat. (6) GLITTERING HOPE is listed at 20-1 ML but she’s beaten better than these in the past, and simply had no prayer whatsoever in her last 2 starts – she can handle any trip, and has a real chance to outperform her price tonight. (8) ELEKTRA A surprisingly took off the gate last week, ended up working out a very nice cover trip but just didn’t fire nearly enough in the lane – terrible draw for tonight but she does have the ability to still be a player, if she can find her best effort. (5) SHESGOTTHEJACK benefited from the hot action up front last week and was able to deliver the victory in her first local try (for her new connections) – chance to repeat, but figures to be overbet and may not get that same great journey. (3) DANDYS MERCY disappointed when 3rd as the favorite 2 back but raced ok for 3rd LAST week, at a big price – legitimate player, but no value with that 2-1 ML price. (1) MISS DOTTIE MAE came up dull after an easy 3 hole trip last week and will need to be sharper tonight if she hopes to take home a decent piece. (7) TWIN B ECHO benefited from the pace set up last week but probably won’t be as fortunate here. (2) IDEAL COVER is well off her game, but has been known to reverse form at times

RACE 9 – (2) RASPALIA N dropped down to a very easy spot last week and reported home the easiest of winners – faces a much better field tonight, but she’s a proven Invitational player…may be able to take another. (8) FRANCE NT N arrived in the U.S. with an impressive Down Under resume, looked super in both qualifiers and was pacing out of her skin at the wire in a conservative U.S. debut – she looks like the “real deal”, and can be a serious threat tonight IF Lachance is willing to be at last a bit more aggressive. (5) STAYINGWITHTHEWIND’s attempt to leave last week just didn’t work out but she has several very good off the pace tries (in the Invitational) – good one to consider with that 20-1 ML price. (1) SHEER ARTISTRY N has found consistency the past couple of months, even if vs. a little bit easier – definitely could contend for a good piece with the rail draw. (3) WAITFOREVER N shockingly elected NOT to retake from a struggling 60-1 shot last week, didn’t pop out of the pocket off turn three then predictably got shuffled badly on the final turn, only to weave her way free and fly home to be a close 2nd – faces better now, but sharp enough for a chance for a minor share. (4) NILA MAREE N has really leveled off, and likely needs to be in easier for a chance at the top prize. (7) WORKLIFEBALANCE has been excellent all year long and is only listed this far down because of the draw – the right scenario could see her finish much closer! (6) RECKLESS ABANDON is really thriving for her current barn and has shown plenty of talent – she’s only listed this far down because she’s taking very tough older mares, from a bad post!

RACE 10 – (1) SWEETNIKKILOU A got razor sharp in PA and brought that form back here to Yonkers, racing super in her last pair (a win and a 2nd) – the rail in tonight’s open draw stamps her as the one to knock off. (2) JENN SVILLE A beat this class 2 back and also on 5/29 – may be the one with the best shot to beat #1 after drawing right next to her (4) FRONT PAGE STORY can do damage at this top level when the trip goes her way and she’s certainly racing well at the moment – chance for a good piece. (5) LOOKLIKEDIAMONDS A has been a solid performer since arriving in the U.S. this April but may be more comfortable vs. just a little cheaper – a live trip could help her rally for a slice. (6) BATH BOMB isn’t “bad” right now, but her last 2 starts weren’t her best efforts – tonight’s draw won’t make things any easier. (3) ROSE makes her local debut and will have to prove that she can hang with these

RACE 11 – (6) CATNAP gave it a shot last week off the class drop but got parked leaving and had no chance after finally being given a place to drop in – she’s as good as any of these, and maybe worth a stab in the finale with her 20-1 ML price. (5) BARBADOS BABE quit badly the 2X Stratton tried to cut the mile with her at Yonkers but she seems better off a helmet – might have a shot here if the trip works out. (4) MORE GOUDA N was facing light years better early in the year but hasn’t been able to find any form even as she’s dropped down through the classes – maybe this is a wake up spot for her? (1) STAY HAPPY has been struggling for a long time – gave it a shot on the front end last week, but still gave way and tired…she’s no better or worse than any of the others in here, but hard to endorse with that 2-1 ML price. (3) PARTY CRUISER is listed at 5/2 ML but there is little about her recent out of town form to get excited about – better value with others. (2) CANNERY ROW sometimes races well enough for a piece but she’s 0 for 62 here since 2023! (8) SUNBURNT just hasn’t worked out since the surprising claim back on 6/11 – might have been worth a look with a (much) better draw. (7) BEHEST made only 3 starts in 2025 and only 3 starts so far in 2026 – new barn as she arrives from Ohio, but would be pretty hard to recommend!