Monday, October 12, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Monday, October 12, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (5) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER had won 4 straight starts at this $15K level before finishing a close 3rd last week – he was claimed by a barn that wins at a very high % off the claim, and means this guy deserves top billing. (7) SMOOCH IN THE DARK shipped in sharp last week and raced super from Post 7, making up a ton of ground late from way back – another terrible post, but still worth a look at a good price. (1) WALKINSHAW N landed in a can’t miss spot last week and easily converted – draws the pole once more and has to be respected, but he’s not as reliable at age 14 and does figure to end up overbet. (4) SOLESSO MATUCA A was a solid 3rd in his local debut, gets another good draw and is eligible to land somewhere in the exotics once more. (6) CHESTER MAN moves to a barn that does super with these cheaper horses and this one has better lines than many of the others that have been acquired – definitely some appeal with that 20-1 ML price. (2) DANCININTHEFIRE hasn’t been on his best game…watching for some better signs. (8) MAXIMUS RED A is back in his preferred class but lands all the way outside – much trip luck will be needed. (3) FASTING has been away for 3+ months and struggled in most of his local starts prior to that.

RACE 2 – (4) MISSED THE TRUTH A has hit board in 7 straight and won 3 of his last 4 – he thrives in every barn, handles a variety of trips, and remains the one to knock off. (3) BOILING OAR is sharp right now, though victories continue to remain elusive – should be able to have a big say once more. (1) COALFORD HITMAN GB raced well in this class the 2X he drew inside and lands the pole for tonight – use underneath. (7) ZEBS KRAFTY is back on his better game but gets a brutal draw for tonight…not sure Stratton can find him a manageable trip from this spot, but he can grab a piece, if he does. (8) SUMOMENTSOMWHERE has looked much better in his last pair but is another that figures to be adversely affected by the draw. (2) ALTA CLASSIC A would normally get a good look in a spot like this but he’s missed a month since being claimed and that’s a serious concern. (5) TYPHOON BANNER N returned at a reduced $40K level off the layoff and just gave way on the final turn – drops some more, and just feels a bit risky right now. (6) PEACE OUT POSSE just hasn’t been sharp in most of his recent starts

RACE 3 – (5) COALFORD TOPGUY GB was a winner off the claim last week, another in a long list of recent additions to the barn to excel immediately – he’s in a well-matched field tonight but his versatility could give him the edge he needs to take another. (1) ODDS ON CAPITALISM had an opportunity to cut the mile last week, elected to just give the lead to MUSIC HALL without a fight and it may have cost him the victory – sharp enough to win here if things go his way. (4) STELLAR YANKEE was used hard early last week, gave way to the top choice to the final bend and tired after that– chance to be a much bigger threat tonight with the better draw. (3) MUSIC HALL was Bartlett’s choice over several last week (off the claim), benefited from a free pass to the lead past the quarter and was able to hold on for the win – in a tougher spot here, Barlett opts off, and he’ll probably need to be even sharper if he hopes to repeat. (2) LYRICAL GENIUS A took too long to kick in last week and settled for 4th – prefer others on top, but very eligible to grab a good piece. (7) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH had trouble getting in play from a similar spot last time and may face that same dilemma tonight. (8) ORLANDO BLUE A does fit, but faces few good options from out here. (6) JUST ENUFF STUFF seems to need easier to be a serious player these days

RACE 4 – (5) CAPTAIN MOORE A saw his 3 race winning streak snapped when stuck on a long first over try vs. the amazing SWEET BEACH LIFE but he still raced super to be 2nd best – deserves the narrow edge tonight, in his current raging form. (4) CHASE H HANOVER was edged for 2nd by #5 last week and just missed to him 3 starts back as well – sharp enough to reverse those decisions if things go his way here (and the may)! (1) KWICK SAND A hasn’t embarrassed himself at this top level and may end up a bit closer to the pace tonight – could add a little value to the exotics. (6) HOWLENTHEHILLS has been a consistent player all year long but he’s just 1 for 20 and should have been assigned a post INSIDE the top pair – likely looking at another smaller piece tonight. (2) SOHO FI RESTONE A has been on his game pretty much the entire year but he’s returning from 2 months off and may come up a little light tonight. (3) AMERICAN DEALER N is good right now, but this is a serious jump up in class – really should have been assigned the rail, but it may not make a difference

RACE 5 – (1) INVISIBLE N wasn’t all that serious last week (8 hole, off a month, after a sick scratch) but still finished up alertly for 4th – he’s spent most of his recent time facing much tougher (from bad spots), and this feels like the right week to hop on his team. (2) AMERITRIC comes out of the same race as #1 and HE rallied from the back for 3rd, from a hopeless spot – he’s a very logical threat in here, but also figures to end up way overbet with the move inside, and switch to Bartlett. (3) CAPTAIN FEAR has been in some impossible spots vs. much better in his last few, and really didn’t embarrass himself – this is a much better scenario, and he may be able to have a much bigger say this week. (4) C BET HANOVER fits nicely here but draws outside 3 main rivals, and that may leave him forced to settle for a smaller share. (6) BETTOR NOT was used harder than he would have liked in a hot opening panel last week, was back out into the fast 3/4s and can be forgiven for getting tired in the lane – chance for minor spoils if he can sit back and rally late. (7) MANFERNO hasn’t been able to beat much easier lately – now 8 hole. (8) GINGRAS BEACH was better in his last pair, but seems unlikely to be able to get in play after drawing Post 8. (5) PINE BUSH ITALIANO is 1 for 39 at YR over the last 3 years and would be a major surprise tonight

RACE 6 – (3) VANDERBILT N had to go very wide around an early breaker last week and was used very hard just get to the lead…making his dead-game victory all the more impressive – he faces tougher here for sure, but he figures to be a good price and may be able to pull off the upset. (1) POP IT took 22 starts to win his first start this year (against a very weak field) but that didn’t stop the public from sending him off at 1/5 the next start off the major barn change…and this guy was able to deliver the goods, despite being away for 4 weeks – obvious chance to make it 3 straight, but another very short price looms! (5) CENTURY HEINEKEN returned to Yonkers last week off a confidence building win at Tioga and raced super for 2nd, rallying stoutly to finish just behind #1 – would be no surprise at all. (2) WINDSUN RICKY looked a bit better last time – may be ready to improve even more, but he drops a win off the bottom of his card after tonight and may already be looking forward to some class drops. (7) SUN OF A SHOW was aggressive in his local debut (despite moving up in class) and was able to deliver the 17-1 upset from Post 7 – he may be aggressive here too, but this is a tougher spot. (4) IN EXCESS N has been racing well vs. better but he’s missed a month after a sick scratch, and Bartlett opts off. (8) LILLBLISS has markedly improved since moving to our leading barn but his lone WIN came vs. much easier, and he draws all the way outside tonight. (6) THE MIKI TAKER A grabs his pieces, but his 0 for 42 record in 2025/26 is hard to ignore

RACE 7 – (1) BANDERAS is a less-than-stellar 8-1-0-0 at Yonkers this year but to be fair, he’s been in some awful spots – he had pace finishing from the 8 hole last week, moves all the way inside tonight, and may be able to cash in on a better trip tonight. (3) ODDS ON NO LIMIT flew home with way more pace than expected 2 back and can be forgiven for flattening a bit in his last in what turned into a very tough (long wide) trip– upset possibility. (6) PINNY TIGER A can be excused for getting run down by a talented tripsitter last week but it was at least a bit disappointing after his blowout win the start before– remains a dangerous threat, but may be overbet. (5) THENU CAME ALONG A landed in a good spot last week and was able to secure an overdue victory – this is a much tougher field and while he remains a legitimate player, that 2-1 ML price is a turnoff. (2) ESCAPE TO AMERICA loves to sit and rally – if things get a little too hot and heavy here, he may be able to make some late noise…at a nice price. (7) WHICHWAY TOTHEBEACH missed an opportunity to be the lone outside leaver last week and never was a player after that – hard to see him being aggressive from this spot. (8) JOEMIKIYOURSFINE has done good work at PcD with a recent climb back up the class ladder – brutal spot for his Hilltop return, however. (4) MACS MARVEL doesn’t feel sharp enough to threaten these types right now

RACE 8 – (1) MACS DELIGHT hasn’t been quite as sharp as when he first changed hands this summer but he’s still finishing right behind the top horses most every week – he figures to be very tough with the class drop, rail, and Bartlett, but wouldn’t say that he’s a “cinch” in here. (2) CAVIART LOTUS has held form remarkably well in his recent ascent up the class ladder, though he hasn’t WON in a while – a close up trip gives him at least a chance for the upset. (3) HIMSELF N has actually held form (surprisingly) well since the recent claim and class hike – another with at least a chance for an upset. (4) IKNOWBETTER had been razor sharp before running into a no-prayer trip last week – a better journey would put him right back in the hunt tonight. (5) SPEAKER OF PEACE wired ‘em off the class drop last week (as expected) but will be back off the pace tonight, and likely looking at only minor spoils. (6) BETTOR BY SEASIDE was racing in 20s not all that long ago but has continued to thrive even vs. these tougher ones – limited options from Post 6 tonight, however. (8) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A is 2 for 2 since the barn change but now has Post 8 well up in class. (7) MARLBANK ROAD would be a stunner, to say the least!

RACE 9 – (4) GO GO GRASSHOPPER was right on the wire in ARIA with BEST CHIP and COACHES CORNER, was 2nd best to CHASE H HANOVER in his next then 2nd best to a razor sharp WORLD OF WISHES in his last - he avoids all three of those former barnmates tonight, and looms the one to beat in this much softer (overall) spot. (3) JUMPINGJACKMAC N’s last win came vs. a bit easier but he’s been finishing crisply week after week for some time – could be next in line if the top choice fails to deliver. (7) YOUNG BLUEY AN was off a month to his last but still kicked home full of pace – hard to say if he can find a manageable trip from out here, though. (2) AYE AYE CA PTAIN landed on a trip he likes last week and almost pulled off the upset – can rally for a piece if things go his way again. (8) CATALPA RESCUE A has been super lately but draws Post 8 after missing 3 weeks, and may need to wait for a better scenario. (1) HAZEVILLE should find himself closer to the action tonight but still may be in a little too steep to really capitalize. (5) NEVERSTOPDREAMIN N has been racing “ok” but is now 0 for 5 at YR and 0 for 7 overall in 2026 – needs to be better to contend for one of the top slots. (6) DELE ROW A’s best work comes vs. much easier than these – would be a surprise

RACE 10 – (1) CYRUS N is a very solid performer at this level when he lands in the right spot and he’s surely looking at another good trip tonight – he was a winner last week, and has a solid chance to pick up another “W” tonight. (2) BLACK EDITION N sat right behind #1 last week and also kicked home crisply when free into the stretch – has to be considered a legitimate threat from this spot. (8) LETSMAKELOTSAMONEY put it all together for the easy win 2 back, then raced super from an impossible spot last week – might have been the top choice had he drawn inside, but it’s hard to say if Buter will even try to create a live journey for him from out here. (6 FULL SUP PORT is as camera shy as they come but he was very good 2 back and raced well again last week – ok for longshot fans. (7) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE probably went his sharpest mile of the year last week, a gutsy first over winner over the heavily favored frontrunner – hard to say if he can replicate that effort from out here, though. (5) DELIGHT FUL TERROR hasn’t been at his best lately, but can always be a late threat if things get too testy up front. (4) THEM ASKEDCRUSADR N remains winless on the year, but has some good weeks where he grabs pieces – maybe tonight? (3) MASTER MIKI has been racing ok with lesser out of town but sports a 13-0-0-2 local slate.