Friday, July 31, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, July 31, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (6) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS was well backed off the class drop last week, worked to make the lead then was outbrushed by the sharp winner to 3/4s – his price may drift up a bit here, and he could be worth sticking with taking on some camera-shy rivals. (1) SENSI AMNESIA has been doing solid work the past few starts at Tioga and has generally raced well locally over the past couple of years – very logical player from this spot, but note that she’s just 1 for 21 at Yonkers before accepting too short a price on top. SONGS IN THE WIND took off a bit after a dull try here on 6/19 and bounced back with a pair of good looking Pocono tries – his best effort would make him dangerous here, but he’s just 2 for 32 overall over the last 2 seasons. (3) SUNDAYS BRUNCH has never clicked for her current barn and is 0 for 17 here at Yonker – still, ok for a piece from this spot. (5) MYCROWNMYKINGDOM makes his first local try of 2026 and has raced well here in the past – he’s missed 3 months, though, and hard to say how serious he’ll be for tonight. (4) COMMUNION MONEY has been competing a lot in amateur races lately and hard to really gauge against these – maybe minor spoils? (7) MEETMEATTHEBAR could be a threat here on her “normal” effort but she’s been away since February and draws Post 7…and that has us leaning elsewhere tonight. (8) MAZEPPA has been behaving lately, but doesn’t seem sharp enough to threaten from Post 8

RACE 2 – (2) DISCOVERINGTHEHUNT faced males 3 back and was 2nd to SOUTHWIND CELSIUS (who would be 1/10 in here) – gets a pass for her next (blown away by COACHELLABOUND N to 3/4s and just folded) but her last was definitely better than it may look (had pace in traffic vs. better) – feels like she’s found a winning spot. (3) HURRIKANE MARIGOLD raced ok in her local debut, finishing 3rd behind a pair that would both be major threats in here – solid chance for another good piece. (5) ONEDERFULBEACH has a good overall Yonkers history but has been racing over her head for much of the year and that has led to an 0 for 20 start – she IS a good fit with these, though, and should be able to make more noise tonight. (7) CATNAP drops down to a level that suits her, but may be limited by the awful draw. (1) STAY HAPPY has been struggling for a long time – not sure how much the rail will help her cause. (4) QUICK MENU’s good efforts have been few and far between – leaning elsewhere. (6) HAR PER SEELSTER draws poorly after being away since April – prefer to observe this week.

RACE 3 – (1) BECKONING YANKEE was certainly well meant for her local debut last week but went offstride as she was looping to the lead from the 8 hole – hard to know if that was just a blip to be dismissed but IF she avoids any mishaps tonight, she could be very dangerous from the pole. (4) ISLAND BOUHINIA A was charted with broken equipment last week but she had the same difficult time when she popped out of the pocket 3/4s as she did under similar circumstances on 7/10 – she definitely has the ability to beat these IF she can put together a “cleaner” effort. (2) SHEZ THE REASON A drops to a level more in her comfort zone and is listed at 20-1 ML…not a bad one to consider with the top pair both coming with some concerns! (5) MACARENA WINK was no factor in her last pair at Plainridge but several of her pretty recent Stga. tries could make her a player with this bunch. (3) RACY ROXY A was no threat arriving from out of town last week but should be closer to the action tonight, and that may help her at least grab a share. (6) FIGHTING EVIL is 0 for 20 on the year and has always struggled locally – the bad draw certainly won’t help. (7) LAURIE LEE is a bit of a puzzle, often racing well out of town but struggling here at The Hilltop (1 for 27 over the last 2 years) – hard to like her chances from out here

RACE 4 – (1) COASTAL BABE N was blocked while loaded with pace 3 back so it was no surprise to see her win her next start, followed by last week’s excellent 2nd – she’s hitting on all cylinders again, and gets top billing (thanks to the draw) over a few other very sharp mares. (2) SILK CLOUD A was super when 2nd best to the top choice 2 back then charged home full of pace last week after being trapped in the back – another that’s back to top form right now. (4) SWEETNIKKILOU A had issues in a pair of local starts early in her U.S. career but got her act together in PA and made a big impression in her local return last week, swooping to the lead on the final turn then holding off #1 – would be no surprise to see her repeat. (7) FRANCENT N shows a very impressive NZ resume and her two local qualifiers would seem to confirm the serious ability she has…on the flip side, she gets the worst of the draw for her U.S. debut, and Lachance may take a conservative approach under the circumstances. (3) BATH BOMB came up just a little light returning from KY but she’s gone big miles here in the past, and certainly can’t be dismissed too easily. (5) JENSVILLE A is a talented performer for sure, but the Invitational field she beat last start is not nearly as tough as this one. Excellent field!

RACE 5 – (6) COACHELLABOUND N draws a tough post (while up another level) but the classy import has taken 3 straight and should be feeling pretty good about herself right now…catches a modest field, and may be able to stretch her streak to 4. (2) HUNTING HULA does her best when she lands on an easy trip and she may end up with a pretty nice journey from this spot …but would still need to be a decent price to be worth using on top. (3) SHESG OTTHEJACK arrives showing some mixed form out of town and is a bit of a question class-wise – she also lands in a barn that usually does super with fresh stock, so we could hardly blame anybody looking to give her a shot in her local debut (clearly the homebred’s connections are big-time AC/DC fans)! (1) LYDEO will attract plenty of $$ from the pole and will get to pick her trip – she’s also 0 for 16 this year, so be careful about taking a short price with her. (4) ULTIMATE SPEED has been holding her own in her last few vs. these tougher ones and has a chance for a piece of this…but may need some class relief in order to get back to the winner’s circle, (5) CRUISE ALERT has been back on the upswing, but faces tougher tonight and loses the rail – may be looking at a more modest share. (8) CERISE RAINBOW A was seriously overbet last week, racing off a month (sick scratch) – she figures to be tighter here, but also figures to have a tough time overcoming the draw. (7) TWIN B ECHO is at her best from a good post, vs. softer competition.

RACE 6 – (3) KILDARE KING has earned nearly $750K in his career so it was no surprise to see him jog at Chester making his first start for our leading trainer – faces a bit tougher tonight, but more than capable of handling the assignment. (2) BJMS LIL MAN was a little disappointing when he couldn’t rally more in the lane last week but he’s a very good fit with this bunch, and should be able to make his presence felt. (8) HAND DOVER DAN was off a bad date to his last and hadn’t won here since 2024, but that didn’t stop him from trotting on by the heavy favorite coming to the wire – he may just take off the car tonight (after drawing Post 8, up in class) but Dube MAY see an opportunity to at least improve position despite the obstacles – good bomb to consider for exotics. (1) K J TITLE set a track record at Monti 2 back but trailed all the way after drawing Post 8 trying her luck at Yonkers – she moves all the way inside tonight, and we should get a clearer picture as to whether she fits with these. (4) STORMONT DIVID E landed on a very hard trip at Tioga last start bit has otherwise been on the upswing – could rebound with a contending effort tonight. (5) E PASS picked up pieces from well back in his last pair and may be able to do the same tonight. (6) HONOLULU HANOVER rallied from 6th to 3rd in a promising local debut but was unable to match that effort in his last pair – tonight’s draw won’t help. (7) DULY RESOLVED probably fits okay with these but the draw figures to be tough to overcome

RACE 7 – Tough race! (6) STREET GOSSIP used a sustained bid to pick up a strong 3rd last week – he races well in a lot of his starts, but tends to be camera shy…willing to give him a try at what figures to be a pretty good price (in a wide open race). (2) DIPLOMACY made a couple of breaks here earlier this year but has been trotting clean miles for the last 2 months at Pocono – he returns at a level that should be right in his wheelhouse, and he looms a dangerous player for sure. (8) JAS BLUESTONE was forced to take back and race from well off the pace last week, but still finished with good interest – he may suffer that same fate tonight but IF Kelly can leave hard enough to put him in play, he’d have at least a chance to pull off an upset. (3) IM OUT delivered back to back blowouts (vs. cheaper) not too long ago, but hasn’t come close to replicating those efforts in his last 4 starts – this might be a spot where Stratton can at least be more aggressive, and that would give him a chance to at least contend for a decent piece. (1) MUSICAL RIDE gets full post relief tonight and while he’s definitely camera shy, a decent chunk is a real possibility. (4) THE HAZLETON could be a big threat here on his best effort but he’s disappointed far more often than he’s delivered lately – the 3-1 ML price is a turn off, for sure. (7) BULLY BOY HILL figures to be coming from too far back to make much of a dent this week. (5) ST MIKES KERRYBLUES feels like he’s started to head in the wrong direction.

RACE 8 – (2) RASPALIA N was in an impossible spot at Pocono last week after landing on an impossible trip here at Yonkers – she’s established herself as a legitimate Invitational mare and unless (4) MILLWOOD BLISS N brings one of her top efforts tonight, she’s going to be hard to knock off. The latter is an Invitational mare herself, but hasn’t been on top of her game lately – even a so-so effort would still be enough for a good piece against these, though. (7) POST PAINTER N was handled conservatively in her U.S. debut and did finish with good pace – guessing that she’ll be handled conservatively once more after drawing Post 7. (3) TIME TO STRIKE wasn’t up for cutting the mile in a solid field last week but may be able to rally for a small piece here with a more patient approach. (1) MISS DOTTIE MAE struggled vs. cheaper in her 6 starts here this year but some recent NJ success sees her return at a much higher level – may be good enough right now to at least contend for a piece from the pole. (6) DANDYS MERCY disappointed as the favorite last week after cutting the mile – tough draw tonight, and may have trouble getting in the mix. (8) CHANCEOFLIGHTNING draws horrible (again) and drops a 2nd off the bottom of her card after tonight – keep an eye for next time. (5) IDEAL COVER struggled in her last pair

RACE 9 – (5) ELEKTRA N put in an excellent bid last week and can be excused for getting beat by COASTAL BABE N, and SILK CLOUD A – she draws outside a couple of other sharp mares, but we’ll still give her the nod. (1) WAITFOREVER N has been holding form very nicely for a while, and is looking at another good trip with the rail draw – figures to be right there from start to finish. (3) SHEER ARTISTRY N is yet another doing very good work right now, and is looking to make it 2 in a row…absolutely possible. (7) LOOKSLIKEDIAMONDS A toughed out a win at 3/5 two back but was probably much sharper when flying home for 2nd last week – won’t be easy to overcome the draw with 3 good mares all drawn well inside of her, however. (2) ANNA LOVES BANANAS steps up sharp, and an easy trip could help her rally for a small slice. (4) EARTH ANGEL chased well for 3/4s in her local debut but then came to a halt – too soon to write her off, but also hard to like her chance tonight! (6) CHERYLS SH ADOW took a month off and just re-qualified – prefer to just watch, for now. (8) GLITTERING HOPE lands behind the 8 ball once more, and drops a win off her card after this race

RACE 10 – (8) WARRAWEE YANG was sent off at $2.10 at the Meadows last week (going from Brad Burke to Ronnie Wrenn) and jogged – he lands Post 8 for his first local try of the year but this a field that he may still be able to handle. (2) FASHION FOREVER has a few recent NJ tries that would give him a chance against these and is listed at 20-1 ML…not a bad last race bomb to consider. (3) SPANISH ROOM drew Post 8 in his local debut and now moves inside – as good an angle as any in a soft bunch. (4) BIG CHARLIE MORAN raced very well for Kelly last week and might have been listed higher if not for being 0 for Ever here at Yonkers! (6) WARRIOR ONE is way off his game and while a wake up call is always possible, he’d be hard to take at a short price right now…even vs these. (1) MELISSA P was 3rd by default 2 back but broke last week – prefer others. (5) SIX AND STONES has just fallen way too far off form to consider right now. (7) BAR KEEP DE VIE lands Post 7 and has a 22-0-1-0 local record.