Monday, September 14, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Monday, September 14, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) ALTA CLASSIC A can bring some big miles at times and last week was certainly one of them – the rail draw allows him to call the shots once more, and that gives him a solid chance to beat out (3) MISSED THE TR UTH this week too. The latter got shut out of the pocket twice heading to the quarter last week and ended up parked out by the top choice, never gave up (despite never seeing the pylons) and somehow still lasted for 3rd – new barn tonight, with every chance to reverse last week’s decision (with an easier trip)! (4) THONG CONTROL is regularly re-claimed and that happened again last week – he’s good at picking up pieces, and may be able to do that tonight too. (2) PEACE OUT POSSE hasn’t been on his best game in some time but he’s in a good spot tonight to just tow along and land somewhere on the bottom of exotics (6) KOMODO BEACH was able to keep MISSED THE TRUT H out of the pocket last week and that allowed HIM to take home the place spot (moving up 2 classes to 30s)– much more difficult task from this spot, but he may still be able to rally for a slice. (5) MUFFERAW JOE will attract some $$ dropping to 30s but he faces an uncertain trip…and that has us looking elsewhere. (8) BOILING OAR has some good recent efforts but tonight’s draw is brutal. (7) EVER M feels like he’s tailing after a long form spree

RACE 2 – (3) IKNOWBETTER added Lasix 2 back and finished full of pace from an impossible spot – he sat the pocket last week, and kicked home strong to almost get to the razor sharp (2) EVER HOPING A – the inside three in here are very well matched, but this guy may be the best price of the trio. (2) EVER HOPING A has taken 4 of his last 6 starts and raced well despite tough/brutal trips in the other two – could easily get his picture taken once more. (1) KEAYANK KAMIKAZE A won his first try in this class 3 back, was a close 2nd in a 1:51.4 mile the next week then just had no prayer from Post 7 in his last – becomes a big threat tonight with the move all the way inside. (4) BETTOR BY SEASIDE beat #1 two back and has been very solid since moving up to 50s – drawing outside 3 razor sharp rivals could make things tough tonight, however. (5) SUNSHINE BOY drops in for a tag but will need to be better to be a serious player. (7) DIAMOND RYDER was solid double jumping up to 50s last week but Post 7 does figure to slow him down considerably tonight. (6) KIMBLE A will have a hard time getting in play once more

RACE 3 – Short, but well-matched field: (6) CAPTAIN MOORE A gets the worst of the draw but comes into this off a pair of absolutely bruising first over victories, and just may be sharp enough to take another, with a bit of trip luck. (3) STERLING CHOICE loses Bartlett tonight but Kelly picked up a win and a close 2nd with him recently – he rarely goes a bad one, and figures to bring another sharp try tonight. (5) MACS DELIGHT wasn’t a factor in his last pair after rattling off huge efforts for 2 months after changing hands – gets reunited with his Gingras tonight, and we’ll see if he can make some more late noise (with a better trip). (4) CHASE H HANOVER weakened in the lane last week after a long string of sharp tries (after joining his current barn) – could easily rebound, but it may come down to how hard a few leave to his inside. (1) VERDUN had his class on display last week, looking vulnerable at the top of the lane but refusing to give into the wire – can never count him from a spot like this, even moving back up. (2) JUMPINGJACKMAC N disappointed last time…we’ll see if he can bounce back tonight

RACE 4 – (1) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH recently won 5 of 6 vs. the 30s but quickly showed that he can battle the 40s as well, 2nd best behind razor sharp winners in his last pair…tonight he’s the one to knock off. (7) REGAL IDEA was sent off at 46-1 for his local debut (despite excellent form in Ohio) and went a HUGE mile, looking more like a 4/5 shot with his big victory – steps up and draws poorly for a new barn, but still deserves respect off that last effort! (4) SIMPLY FAST threw a dud when stuck first over last week but his overall recent form has been very solid, and he may bounce back with a good effort tonight…at a nice price. (2) SHIPMASTER used all of a beautiful trip to come out on top last week – faces tougher now, but may end up with another sweet trip – and that could make him a player. (3) AMERITRIC can be a bit inconsistent but he’s been 1st or 2nd 10X this year, and worth using in exotics. (5) LYRICAL GENIUS A hasn’t won too often recently but he’s usually right in the mix – may not land as good a trip tonight, though. (8) ODDS ON CAPITALISM has turned things back around but the class jump and 8 hole will be hard to overcome. (6) SUMOMENTSOMEWHERE A “dropped and flopped” last week – leaning elsewhere

RACE 5 – (2) ONYX BOVINO wasn’t embarrassing himself in the 20s and even picked up a win on 7/27 (driven by Buter, who’s back on board tonight) – he finished with plenty of pace to be right there from an impossible spot dropping to 15s last week, and is a logical threat for tonight. (8) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY went his best effort in a while last start, and gets Gingras at the lines tonight – he also lands behind the 8 ball, but may still be worth a look with that 20-1 ML price. (3) CYRUS N has 2 wins and a 2nd from his last 4 starts and is the “logical” choice – he’s also listed at 3/2 ML off a sick scratch, so there may be better value with a few others (4) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE is pretty reliable in this class and hard to leave out of your exotics – he also got beat with no excuses in his last pair, making him harder to use on top. (6) BLACK EDITION N had some close recent tries in 15s and was able to use a good trip to pick up the win last week – will be tough to repeat with the bad draw, however. (7) KARLOO BRADLE Y N was a game winner in this class 2 back but that was from a pocket, in a different barn – leaning to others here. (1) SARANAC BLUE CHIP really should be on the qualifying list after that last disastrous effort – in need of a full form reversal. (5) DEEDNUTO A continues to race aggressively…but with disappointing weekly results

RACE 6 – (5) RIO ships in off a pair of easy PcD wins (vs. cheaper) and moves from one sharp barn to another – he did beat theses types at Pocono on 7/11 (in 1:49.3) so it seems that he should be able to handle the class jump in his current form – not sure he’s going to be 6-1, though! (4) WHATS STANLEY GOT A is a bit of an enigma, capable of beating better than these when in the right mood, but also capable of losing to cheaper when he’s not – hard to dismiss his chances here, but also hard to “love” him, even with the class drop. (1) CHECKNOUTHETALNT A finished ok from a no-chance spot in his local debut – he moves all the way inside and it should be noted that he won the last 4X he was able to cut the mile – wouldn’t overlook his chances tonight. (2) IMTHEBLACKFLASH N often hold his own vs. better but he’s also winless in 7 local tries this year and just 2 for 26 overall – would need a “fair” price to use him on top. (7) JUSTCALLMEBUCK rallied nicely in his first 3 local tries but was a bit dull in his last couple – tonight’s draw isn’t going to make things any easier. (3) BOOKEM DANNO does his best work vs. a bit easier – minor spoils? (8) HP MOMENTUM hit the top in a soft field last week and never looked back – hard to see him replicating that mile from THIS spot, however. (6) BETTING ON CAESAR raced ok for a few starts after returning from a layoff recently (out of town) but does seem to have leveled off a bit

RACE 7 – (4) AMERICAN DEALER N has raced well in almost all of his recent starts (despite some terrible spots) but just hasn’t been able to win in a while – he’s a tough horse to back as the favorite, but he’s still a very logical threat in here. (5) ESCAPE TO AMERICA raced well for much of the summer here, even vs. better – returns from PcD and reunites with Kelly, and the pair will be dangerous in the lane if close turning for home. (6) VENGEANCE BLUECHIP wasn’t bad at all from an impossible spot last week and did win at this level on 7/20 – picks up Gingras tonight, and certainly worth a look with that 12-1 ML price. (1) DELE ROW A was no factor last week when he had Post 7, off a sick scratch – drops right back in the box, draws the pole, and may make his presence felt tonight. (2) ARODA N arrived with high hopes in this country early in the year but just hasn’t been able to really thrive, just 7-1-0-0 here at Yonkers – prefer others. (3) CARABAO A was a “meh” winner 2 back then an ok 4th last week – will need to be better to be a serious player tonight (well up in class). (7) UDDERLY SWEET A hasn’t been a player the last 3 weeks and tonight’s draw may contribute to a similar result. (8) THENU CAME ALONG A has been a better horse than his 1 for 13 local record this year might suggest, but he’ll likely need a better spot to threaten again

RACE 8 – Good race: (6) CATALPA RESCUE A may not be quite as sharp as barnmate CAPTAIN MOORE A but he’s awfully good himself – he was an excellent 8 hole winner 2 back, and can be forgiven for coming up a nose shy to the frontrunning VERDUN last week…gets a bad draw, but that also means he’ll be a good price. (4) KWICK SA ND A has been super all year, currently on the board in 23 of 29 starts and nearly $150K on his card – if there’s a knock, it’s that he hasn’t WON in a while. (5) FEDERER recently added Lasix and he continues to race well ever since (as he continues to climb the class ladder) – more than sharp enough to threaten here if a trip comes his way. (2) ENDOFSTORY raced evenly while no threat vs, better in his last couple, but he’s capable of big miles when in the right mood – would need a decent price to consider on top, though. (1) PLAY ACTION PASS struggled vs. better in his last pair but drops, draws the pole, and is eligible to have a much bigger say tonight. (3) HEZA RISK TAKER A is a complete enigma, capable of big efforts but just 2 for 20 on the year – he did just miss at 44-1 two back! (7) WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH draws his third straight 7 hole and was unable to overcome those spots in his last pair. (8) SPEAKER OF PEACE is a hard hitter, but would be a major surprise from out here

RACE 9 – (3) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER struggled in 20s but he drops to 15s where he won his last 3 starts – deserves top billing in this very soft bunch. (1) GOTHIC ROCK will be right there from start to finish from the pole but his 3 for 43 local slate over the last 2 years makes him tough to use on top. (6) LETSMAKELOTSAMONEY is often in the hunt but just 1 for 26 this year– maybe if the price is good enough. (5) WHITE LOTUS has the “ability” to beat these but he fails to show up in too many of his starts. (2) THEMASKEDCRUSADR N was a weak 4th last time and 0 for 26 on the year – one of his better efforts could land him a piece, though. (4) FULL SUPPORT is 1 for 25 and that win was in a “fall apart” race – minor spoils only. (7) GREAT SOMEWHERE is 1 for 24 this year and draws Post 7. (8) SHORE NOT BEACH finished way back the 3X he drew this poorly.