Friday, January 23, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, January 23, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (2) PREMIER VICTOR raced very well here in his first few local starts before moving up a bit too high in class – he returns from Monti in solid form, gets Brennan on board and should be a serious threat in tonight’s opener. (1) PRINCE ARCHIE made an unexpected miscue in NJ last week but is another who was racing well at Monti, and did beat this class here in October – major danger. (3) MAZEPPA N will take plenty of $$ (based on his incredibly successful trainer/driver team) but he’s disappointed WAY more often than he’s delivered, and there just seems to be better value taking a shot against him. (4) INTERNATIONALCRAZE was probably disappointed when the winter break came along as he raced well in both starts to close out the year – could be part of the exotics if that form carries forward to 2026. (5) MEETMEATTHEBAR will probably appreciate the move to NW5000 but she’s been idle since 12/17 and may not be fully cranked for her best effort – check the tote board? (7) PEMBROKE REG AL tailed off at the end of 2025 and gets a tough draw for her seasonal return – definitely leaning elsewhere, for now (6) P C FREE WHEELING really fell apart at the end of last year – waiting for better signs before considering. (8) GLENFIDICH would be a surprise, to say the least.

RACE 2 – (7) DASH N CACHE gets the worst of the draw but also gets a pilot that will surely send her out of there – she can throw some nice efforts when in the mood, and could offer a bit of value in a very soft NW5000 field. (1) UNDETERED wired a cheap field at Chester (at 1/5) to close out 2025 – she’s technically moving up in class, but really doesn’t meet anything all that scary in here…definitely a license to repeat for a barn that sent out a very sharp winner here on Wed. night. (4) YOUNONOTHINJON is another on the cheaper side and hasn’t raced since 12/10 – she does get a big trainer and driver switch, however, so there’s certainly opportunity for improvement. (2) COWGI RL LILLY found some life at Monti recently and may be good enough right now to at least contend for a small piece (3) QUICK MENU was stuck on minor shares for the latter part of 2025…we’ll see if some time off helps at all. (6) THATS A HUGE BEACH hails from a barn that has been sending out lots of live ones to start the new year, but was definitely struggling at the end of ’25. (5) SCHNAPPS fell apart after the 11/25 barn change – wait for better signs

RACE 3 – (3) THE BRODSTER has raced here twice and was able to run and hide from the field both times – he takes on tougher tonight (and off a bad date), but still looms the one to knock off (last year’s leading barn is already off to a 10-5-2-0 start in 2026)! (1) FULL OF MUSCLES stayed active during the winter break, racing twice in NJ (one good effort, one not so good) - he may be able to follow the top choice and last for a good piece here. (6) QUE EN OF ALL comes off yet another excellent season her $164K in earnings bringing her career total to $835K – she’s used to facing (much) tougher than this, but the time off (and bad draw) may result in a conservative try this week – can still show up late for a nice chunk. (2) MUSICAL RIDE has been away since 12/19 but he draws well, and has a chance for a minor share. (4) ONCE IN A LIFETIME never approached his “top form” in 2025 – he’s too classy to ever just dismiss, but we’re still leaning more towards others. (7) FATHER MIKE ended ’25 with a pair of wins over cheaper, but lands in a brutal spot for his return. (5) BIG CHARLIE MORAN seems totally buried in this field!

RACE 4 – Short field but a good race! (3) ELUSIVE A (with some solid Down Under credentials) qualified sharply here on 10/10, then was full of pace finishing in her U.S. debut (after being handled conservatively) – she was scratched sick from her next start, however, and now returns after a couple of useful qualifiers – willing to give her a look if the price is decent. (1) SILK CLOUD A kicked home crisply from well back in her 2nd start off the layoff to close out 2025 – she gets a great post assignment to start off the new year, and should be a big player from start to finish. (4) AARDIE B MIKI N won her first 5 local starts, including the Matchmaker Final – she did tail off just after that, however, and didn’t win again until her Open score here on 10/31 – she returns off a 10 hole score across the river vs. easier, and has to be taken very seriously tonight. (5) ACUSHLA MACHREE N ended her year very strong, and seems poised to be a solid Open mare this year…not sure how tight she’ll be after 5 weeks off, though. (6) MY RED SEA has also been idle since 12/19, and lands all the way outside– guessing she’ll be handled patiently tonight, but could certainly make some noise if ready for action. (2) FRONT PAGE STORY picked her up her 12th win of the year on closing day, but has been off since then – certainly wouldn’t be a shock!

RACE 5 – (5) CRUISE ALERT is used to holding her own with much better than these – her barn is off to a decent start in 2026 (1st or 2nd in 7 of 15 starts, so far) and this is a spot she should be able to handle. (3) FIGHTING EVIL gets a barn change and class relief for her first start of the year – very logical player, but she’s always been camera shy at Yonkers. (4) ONEDERFULBEACH hit board in 21 of 34 starts last year, usually at nice prices – never a bad one to include underneath. (6) ALTA MADEIRA N doesn’t win too often at The Hilltop, but she does fit well with this group and could add some value to the exotics. (1) SHANGRI LA HANOVER has the benefit of a couple of recent NJ starts, draws the pole, and may be able to grab a piece with an easy trip. (7) TALENT TO SPARE A draws poorly after 5 weeks off and the guess is that she may need a start – still worth a peek at the tote board, though. (2) DELITFULCATHERIN N just throws way more lesser tries than better ones these days – leaning elsewhere. (8) IM A BELIEVER can throw a good one at times, but it seems like an unlikely spot to look for one

RACE 6 – (2) BE DIFFERENT was holding his own vs. much better here at the end of 2025 and comes off a strong season overall – his recent NJ starts should have him plenty tight, and a good draw with Gingras stamps him as the one to knock off. (4) BLACK TIE BASH landed on a very nice trip on closing day and went out a winner in 2025 – he steps up a notch but this field is well within his comfort zone…chance for good piece, if ready off the hiatus. (5) WARRAWEE WHISPER didn’t pick up for his current barn as much as was expected, but is still a solid player in a field like this– guessing he’ll be ready off the bad date, with a chance to land somewhere on the ticket (1) CUSTOM FIT (new barn tonight) was just 1 for 29 last year but he ships in off a nice try in NJ, has speed from the rail, and a chance to grab a small piece (3) ICE BREAKERS would be hard to consider on top (1 for 35 at Yonkers last 2 years) but he gets a good draw and may be able to contend for a piece, with an easy trip. (8) ENOLA beat #3 across the river last start but tonight’s draw may make it tough for her to replicate that kind of effort. (6) ERIN has been racing well out of town, but vs. easier – we’ll see if she’s able to have success against these tougher ones, especially after drawing poorly. (7) ENERGYSOURCE was just 1 for 23 here last year after going 1 for 16 the year before – gets a bad draw off a bad date, and we’ll just observe, for now

RACE 7 – (4) AVF CLAIRE missed a year, joined our leading barn upon return and after a couple of tighteners, delivered a winning mile at The Swamp last week – steps up a bit, but may be ready to go on a bit of a roll now. (6) MORE GOODA N won her (NJ) qualifier upon arrival from Australia, finished 2nd in her first start (as the favorite) then charged home to win her next – could be a nice mare, and may be able to do some major damage in her first YR start. (2) TIME TO STRIKE (while a 3YO) was 3rd in a NW15000 race then rallied from well back to be 3rd at this level in her last start of 2025 – her barn is off to a solid start this year, and she may be ready for her first start back as well. (1) SPIRIT OF PEARL A had some mixed efforts here late in 2025 – if she shows up on her best game, she can contend for a piece of this. (7) MARIA ALLEGONDA N has ability for sure, but may not be handy enough to overcome tonight’s terrible draw – insist on a pretty good price if considering her on top. (5) MIKKI SIXX was way overbet on 12/12 and failed to deliver – she returns off a 6 week break and while a couple of her barnmates have showed up sharp, the guess is that she may need a start. (3) IDEAL COVER was just 3 for 43 last year and while others in the barn continued to race through the winter break, she took some time off…prefer to just watch, for now. (8) OVER ICE has been away since 12/12, draws Post 8, and is moving up 2 classes off a loss – sticking with others

RACE 8 – Tough race! (6) KAYS IN CHARGE would appear to be much cheaper (off her Illinois lines) but she lands in a barn that has routinely improved fresh stock by leaps and bounds…maybe she’s next? (4) TOM SWIFTY may be tailing at the moment, but it’s hard to say for sure – anything close to his best effort could give him a decent chance in here. (5) BACKSTREET PLAYER drops a bit but has been away since closing day – IF he’s ready, he can make some noise. (2) GO HAVE FUN had excuses in her last pair to close out ‘25…another possible player if ready off the hiatus. (8) IWONT BACKDOWN AS has the ABILITY to beat these, but he struggled from outside posts in his 2 local tries last year and draws another tonight – hard to endorse as the 5/2 ML favorite! (1) MA ISABELLE was just 2 for 22 last year but capable of grabbing a piece with an easy trip. (7) STREET GOSSIP rarely wins but is used to taking on much tougher – not sure what to make of that last terrible effort in NJ, though. (3) KASHA V’s big efforts have become rarer over the last couple of seasons – even harder to like after missing 5 weeks

RACE 9 – (6) TICK A LOCH A was sent off at 1/5 for her U.S. debut and jogged from Post 9 (for connections that have started to expand their stable) – gets Bartlett for her local debut, and we’re guessing she can handle these too. (2) SHEER ATISTRY returned from some time off on 12/12 and finished alertly from an impossible spot – she has the talent, and may be able to be a player here, despite the time off. (3) SWEET HAYLEY JANE A broke in her U.S. debut at Monti, qualified back nicely (behind #6) then jogged upstate in her last – might be a pretty nice import herself! (4) GLITTERING HOPE has done excellent work since arriving from MN and figures to be charging hard late – use in exotics. (1) AMBUSHED comes off an outstanding 12 win season but is more comfortable with easier – the good draw puts her in play for a piece. (8) PRESSURE COOKER raced well in her 9 local starts last year but may be done in by tonight’s awful draw. (7) BONITAS BEST BET is another with the ability to be a player here, but compromised by a poor post. (5) PETROL QUEEN gets a big barn change but is up in class, off a bad date.