Monday, May 25, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Monday, May 25, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) THEFLYINGROCK made an ambitious jump from 25s to 50s after his blowout win on 5/7 but was able to handle the triple jump, despite a first over trip – he has that same look now as when he was incredibly sharp at the beginning of the year, and has a very real chance to pick up his 3rd straight win. (3) ODDS ON CAPITALISM just missed to #1 last week (after cutting the mile) and has 2 wins and 2 close 2nds from his last 5 starts – probably still the main danger. (2) THE IDEAL DANCER A has done a nice job holding form on his recent climb back up the class ladder, and should be able to grab another good chunk tonight. (4) BET ON BIG JOE finished well 2 back (off the claim) but disappointed from the pocket last week – he’s still winless on the year, and will need to be better if he hopes that to change tonight. (8) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A was a close 2nd two back when first over in his 2nd start off the layoff– he got pressured every step of the way last week but never gave in, and was a very determined winner –he’s more than sharp enough to be a threat once more, but may have trouble overcoming the draw. (5) BRUTALLY HANDSOME A hit board in 7 of his last 9 starts, and got away 7th in the other two– he’s also a bit of a “sluggo”, and will need a hot pace to be able to have a late say. (6) STELLAR YANKEE drops, but would still like to be in a bit easier. (7) KOPI LUWAK tailed off in his last pair after a nice from spree – Post 7 won’t help

RACE 2 – (4) ORLANDO BLUE A was sent off as the odds-on choice last week (off the claim) but was out of it after an early miscue – he has several sharp recent tries (including 2 wins), and will be a much better price tonight (after another claim) – upset possibility. (2) LYRICAL GENIUS A was very sharp in last week’s victory, but also benefited greatly when the 1/10 favorite failed to retake command from him – he’s the one to knock off, but he’ll likely be way overbet tonight, and prepare for the possibility that Bartlett MAY not be able to drive him (he’s listed at Vernon this afternoon, through Race 9). (1) OURMATEMENKO N weakened chasing some hot fractions last start but had several sharp tries just prior to that – has at least a chance to rebound from this spot. (5) OVERTHINKING’s best work has come one level down, but he does have some good starts in 40s, as well – ok for exotics. (7) HAMME RING HANK is sharp right now but has struggled from spots like this in the past – at least he’ll be a good price if you think Holland can get him in play. (3) SAMHARA N has come up flat in his last couple, and may need an easier spot. (6) KIMBLE A failed to rally into a slow final quarter last week after sitting off the hot action – his overall form is solid, but he may be a little cheaper. (8) ALL ALONE draws Post 8 after missing 3 weeks (sick scratch)

RACE 3 – (4) PEACE OUT POSSE may be sharper than he looks on paper, his recent efforts hampered by tough spots in much better fields– he lands in a more reasonable spot tonight, and may be able to handle this beatable bunch. (5) EVER HOPING A has struggled to win races at Yonkers the past 2 years but he returns sharp from PA, and this is a fairly modest field – possibility. (3) HEAVEN ON HIGH N chased the odds-on winner all the way last week and never gave up, a game 2nd best – he gave Bartlett his 12,000 win the week before, and might be sharp enough to threaten here too. (1) RYDINGTOTHEWIRE had no prayer in his last 2 starts but this is a MUCH kinder spot – logical threat, but not a fan of that 2-1 ML price. (6) ACAPULCO SUNBURN upped his game in NJ the last 2 starts after changing hands – he faces tougher in his YR debut, and draws poorly as well. (2) BOILING OAR will attract attention dropping back down to 30s but he’s been tailing off again, and could be overbet. (7) AVENGER FO RCE has some ok recent effort, but hard to see him reaching from out here.

RACE 4 – (5) YOROKOBI N is too camera-shy to ever back with too much confidence but he’s raced well in many of his starts this year and was a very solid 4th last week, despite catching a quick mile, off a sick scratch – worth a try if the price is fair (3) SKYLOU N was regarded highly enough to be entered in the Borgata Series but the import just hasn’t found his best game in the U.S. so far – this may be a spot where he can deliver a much better effort, but he’s hard to endorse on top with that 7/5 ML price. (6) AMERITRIC has been plagued by awful posts in many recent starts vs. some tough $40K fields – another awful draw tonight, but it could be an easier (overall) spot, and that 15-1 ML price makes him tempting. (8) CARABAO A was only about 3 lengths back at PcD last week, catching a 1:49.3 mile in his first start in 6 months– couldn’t blame anybody willing to give him a try at a big price tonight (2) POP IT hung in well despite a long 3 wide move last week, gets a nice switch to Holland, and may be able to land a piece of this. (4) COLLECTIVE WORKS A doesn’t win very often but he throws enough solid miles to consider underneath in exotics. (1) MAXIMUS RED A scored off the drop with a pocket win last week, but may have trouble replicating that vs. these tougher ones. (7) JAHAN HANOVER drops, but still may need an easier spot to show his best stuff

RACE 5 – (1) CAPTAIN MOORE A found himself in some tough spots (vs. very good horses!) throughout the Borgata Series but still managed to pick up a close 2nd and 3rd, despite first over trips – he gets massive class relief here, draws the pole, and has a tactical edge over the other Borgata performer – the one to beat, at a very short price. (4) IMA PERFECT CHOICE didn’t embarrass himself in that same series, then had no chance from Post 8 last week – the main danger for sure, but will need to bring a big effort to knock off the top one. (2) BONDI LOCKDOWN A doesn’t win too often but he’s a solid player week after week, and may just tow along here for the show spot. (3) BE ST CHIP was a non-factor for weeks at big prices in NJ…but like so many before him, he improved 2-3 seconds upon joining his current barn, and quickly established a new 1:49.1 mark – we’ll see how he handles the class hike. (5) ESCAPE TO AMERICA has been finishing very nicely every week to rally for pieces at the end – could do the same tonight. (8) HEZA RISK TAKER A wasn’t up for last week’s aggressive try from the pole and now moves all the way outside – look for a very conservative steer. (6) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK makes his first start since Nov. – keep an eye for future consideration. (7) GINGRAS BEACH would be a major surprise from out here

RACE 6 – (1) ROCKIN JUKEBOX returned to Yonkers in late April in very sharp form but was then derailed for a few weeks by a series of bad spots, in very tough fields – he lands in an (overall) easier field, draws the pole, and can pick out any trip he wants- major threat! (2) SPEAKER OF PEACE was used VERY hard from Post 8 last week and went a big effort before coming up 2nd best to the sharp MUSIC HALL– the move up to NW10000 won’t bother him, but the move inside will surely help him…dangerous foe. (4) HEMSWORTH N is too unreliable to ever back with confidence, but he also remains a threat at this level whenever he’s in the right mood– would need a “fair” price to consider him on top. (3) QUOTE ME NOT N has been rallying solidly for weeks, and a spot in the exotics is well within reach (but prefer others on top). (5) AMERICAN DEALER has gone some good efforts since changing hands in March but he’s missed 3 weeks (sick scr.) and that has us leaning elsewhere tonight. (7) SIX DEGREES has raced well in most of his 15 starts this year but he remains winless and has to contend with a rare bad draw. (8) MUSIC HALL had been “sneakily improving” recently so it was no surprise to see him pick up the win off the class drop last week – brutal spot tonight, however. (6) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR will look better in NW7500 next week

RACE 7 – (1) CAPTAINHAMMERHEAD A is the latest import for connections that have enjoyed huge success with these the last couple of years– he has a strong Down Under resume (15 wins, $226K), and his qualifiers suggest he’ll be ready to roll – attractive with that 8-1 ML price. (3) MATAI PHIL N was stuck behind a sharp foe that somehow got over 3/4s in a yesteryear 1:27 last week and can be forgiven for not being able to go by – he’s enjoyed an excellent season so far, and the right trip makes him dangerous tonight. (2) STERLING CHOICE was headed to a very easy victory here on 4/21 when he made a costly brief break nearing the wire, resulting in a DQ – he probably wasn’t all that serious at PcD last week (off 25 days), but would be dangerous here if ready to bring his best. (4) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE doesn’t win here too often but he was pacing well late into a very fast final quarter last week, and may have a chance to make some late noise, with the right trip. (5) THE GREEK FREAK feels off his best game right now but he’s won 7 of 17 Yonkers starts, and would become dangerous if he can find a top effort. (6) ITS A ME MARIO has been racing himself back into shape after a long layoff – not sure he’s quite there yet. (8) IK NOWBETTER has been excellent lately, and did a nice job controlling the action in last week’s short field – looking at a much tougher trip here, however. (7) DELE ROW A raced better than expected in a few Borgata legs but lands in a brutal spot off the drop, and may already be looking forward to next week’s class drop

RACE 8 – (7) CATALPA RESCUE A saw his Borgata aspirations sidetracked when he was scratched sick from the 2nd leg, then drew Post 7 in Leg 3 – he quickly perked up as soon as the series was over, handily defeating the classy VERDUN (who jogged the next week), and then wiring another field last week – Bartlett takes him over 2 other major inside contenders, and we’ll trust his judgement! (1) COPPERFIELD can be a little in and out but does throw some big efforts when on his best game – he’s looking at a very good trip tonight, and looms a major threat…even if Bartlett opts to drive the top choice. (3) BOSTON BOUND has been on extended form spree, and was just a solid 2nd best to #7– he was quickly re-claimed from his last, and should be able to have a big say once more (he’s another that Bartlett opted-off this week). (6) AYE AYE CAPTAIN N seemed to bottom out sitting too close to last week’s hot pace -he may be able to sit back and rally late for a share. (5) BLUE LOU has been accumulating 2nd and 3rds lately and will have a tough time doing any better in this tough spot. (4) ENDOFSTORY has missed a month after a sick scratch – we’ll keep him in “watch mode” tonight. (2) ROCKET CITY A tends to be sluggish much of the way even chasing slower fractions than he’s going to see tonight. (8) WHATS STANLEY GOT A gets stuck behind the 8 ball, and will likely need to wait for a better draw next week.

RACE 9 – (3) DELIGHTFUL TERROR won 14 of 49 starts here in 2024-25 and feels like he’s getting closer to his first win of 2026 – he finished crisply for 2nd two back, then was actually right behind NANDOLO N in NW5000 last week – drops back in for the $15K tag, and seems worth a try in this evenly matched field. (5) WHY TOMORR OW RAY was no factor dropping to this bottom level last week but wasn’t terrible either – could have a bigger say with a more aggressive drive tonight. (2) ALADDIN took too long to find his best stride last week but did rally late to be a close 2nd to the front end winner – remains a very viable contender. (6) GOTHIC ROCK was an ok 3rd last week, rallying solidly in the lane – he’s another that could see his chances improve with a quick start, and good trip. (1) SQUADRON SEELSTER feels like he’s on the cheaper side but he did win a race here in ‘25, and his barn does send out it’s fair share of live longshots – not impossible. (4) MANALOU wasn’t terrible in his 2nd start off the long layoff – good one for those needing a “getout bomb” in the last race. (7) DEEDENUTOA wasn’t bad last week but the move outside figures to really hurt his chances. (8) ITS MAHOMES A fell apart badly after a brief brush in his Hilltop return – now Post 8.