Saturday, August 1, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (5) BOUT DAMN TIME A is always a threat at this $20K level and she’s definitely on top of her game right now – she’s a little light in the win column this year, but still deserves top billing tonight. (1) RACIN FOR RO YALTY hit board from tough spots in her last pair and is always particularly dangerous when she draws inside– look for her to be a big player this afternoon. (2) FORTUNADA has been plagued by inconsistency all year but she comes into this off a pair of solid rallies, and has been steady overall for the past month and a half – use in exotics. (6) TH SANDRA DEE has disappointed since the recent claim and gets a tough draw for tonight – needs to find her better game if she hopes to have any real say. (7) EVENINSTARZRAPSODY seems to have leveled off a bit after doing some good work upon arrival here in June – Post 7 isn’t going to help her cause. (3) TRICKY WICKY was a winner across the river last week but her 9-0-0-0 local slate is hard to ignore. (8) JIVE DANCING A has been well off form and now lands behind the 8 ball – sticking with others. (4) PULL ME THROUGH seems overmatched

RACE 2 – (6) GOLDEEN N broke in her first U.S. qualifier but responded with plenty of pace in her 2nd attempt, rolling by the others effortlessly – she was understandably handled cautiously last week, but hit the wire full of pace – she’ll be very hard to deny tonight if she avoids any mishaps, even with the bad draw. (5) SENSATIONAL TELL has been doing very good work vs. modest stock at Stga., but other than the top choice, meets a very soft bunch today – figures to be next in line in her local debut. (2) RICH EILEEN is on the cheaper side but she’s racing well right now, draws inside again (after just missing last week), and is a prime candidate to land somewhere on the ticket (3) ODDS ON COMMANDEER was just “ok” last week but more importantly, at least she functioned better – chance for another piece if she continues to improve. (4) SILENCE IS GOLDEN did pick up 2nd here 3 back when she sat an easy trip…suppose she can grab a piece tonight too, if things go her way again. (8) DORAL DELIGHT was a 22-1 upset winner last time but the move to Post 8 figures to curb her chances significantly for today (1) JUST MY WORLD has no wins and just one 2nd from 21 career starts – hard to endorse, even from the pole. (7) TINAS WISH did well at the PA Fairs at 2 and 3 but her 4YO campaign has been a bust so far.

RACE 3 – (1) INTIMIDATION has been facing some tougher stock recently but it’s not long ago that he beat THIS class, and then one higher (the next week) – returns to a good spot off a nice effort at Tioga and certainly has a shot here for a mild upset. (4) CAPTAIN FEAR dropped in at this level on 5/22 and demolished the field by 10 lengths but it was a soft bunch and HE was much sharper then – he’s struggled on the whole since then, and may be at least a bit vulnerable today at what figures to be a very short price. (6) GINGRAS BEACH gets a tough draw and loses his usual pilots but he drops to a much easier spot, is listed at 15-1 ML, and worth at least a look. (2) WINDSUN RI CKY just hasn’t had one of his wake up calls in ages – guessing he won’t get one here either, but a quick check of the tote board couldn’t hurt. (5) SIX DEGREES just hasn’t come to life even with the recent plunge to this bottom level – maybe he can rally for a small piece? (3) HURRIKANE EXPRESS sometimes paces ok at the end but he’s now 9-0-0-0 here at Yonkers and hard to recommend. (7) COVERED BRIDGE has at least found that he can be competitive at lower levels out of town – guessing tonight’s assignment will be too tough to overcome.

RACE 4 – (1) YOULLFINDOUT was stuck trying a very long first over move into the fastest part of the mile last week and still was able to stay on gamely in the lane for 4th – she’s looking at a much easier trip here, and that could give her the edge she needs to beat this well matched group. (3) TALL DARK TEQUILA has been ultra consistent all year long (just as she was as a 2YO )– she remains a very live player, but also figures to be overbet. (2) FEAR DANIE was well backed (off the layoff) for her local debut but she tired and drifted in the lane after a first over bid (vs. some tough older mares) – seems like a good sign that she drops right back in the box, and she could easily make her presence felt in a big way tonight. (5) THREECURTAINCALLS has the ability to be right there with these on her best effort but she does draw outside a few very live rivals – certainly worth a look if the price creeps up. (4) BETTORS TICKET rallied nicely in her last pair at Tioga and seems a viable candidate for 3rd/4th today (but still leaning a bit more to a few others). (7) JORDANNA HANOVER seems to get overbet almost every week despite being 0 for 9 here this year (and 1 for 16 overall)– hard to see her overcoming the terrible draw (6) BRONX MIXER has been off her best game lately, and tonight’s draw won’t help her cause.

RACE 5 – (6) CALL ME ANGELITA dropped in class 2 back, added Lasix, and jogged at 3/5 – was stuck with Post 8 last week, but still was able to deliver as the 6/5 favorite – stays in the same class seeking her 3rd in a row, and has a solid chance to pull it off. (2) CRYSTAL COAST came up 2nd best to the top choice in her last pair, and now has 5 seconds from her 7 starts this year…may very well end up completing the same exacta yet again! (3) PAPIS OPINI ON has been a little hot in both starts since returning from a long layoff – if Smith can get her to relax a bit more tonight, she may be able to grab a good piece, at a juicy price. (5) GABBYS WISH was no factor in her last but was doing some good work just prior to that – she can be right in the mix for a nice chunk if she can bring one of her better efforts. (7) HEARTOFTHESUNRISE easily wired a soft bunch 2 back then was a no threat 3rd behind #6 and #2 last week – not sure if she’ll be able to overcome tonight’s draw, though. (4) WAVE DANCER jogged in a very easy spot 2 back but wasn’t up for last week’s much tougher trip (in this better field) – leaning towards others. (1) SWIFT SARABI was well back at 64-1 in her only local try. (8) SEND IT DOWN SLIM is having a rough 4YO season and sometimes seems like she doesn’t even want to be out there – waiting for some better signs!

RACE 6 – (6) HIGHLANDSTARBURST has won 2 of her last 4, finishing 2nd to very sharp winners in the other pair – the one to knock off tonight, even with the bad draw. (5) MATTHEWS shipped in sharp from Pocono and finished 2nd to the top choice in his first local try – he was a sharp winner in his last, and we’ll see if he can turn the tables on #6 tonight. (7) TAIPAN AS was sent off at 1/5 for his local debut (off some excellent Ohio form) and did not disappoint – he MAY be as good as the top pair, but it still won’t be easy to overcome Post 7. (1) CREDIT TO FRANK tends to be steppy at times even when sharp, and broke before the start last week – he can be a little tricky to drive, and may give his new pilot a bit of a hard time. (3) MONI MAN always grabs his small pieces, but never seems to really threaten the top ones…looking at more of the same tonight. (2) HALFADOZEN is capable of better, but just hasn’t been sharp lately – in need of a wake up call! (4) WISH LIST has been able to pick up pieces when close up to the action, but probably not going to get that kind of trip here. (8) LIONHEART HANOVER failed to beat a horse last week, and is looking at a similar scenario for tonight.

RACE 7 – (8) SERENITY AS charged home full of trot from way back in her first local try, turned in an excellent 8 hole try in her next (blasting to the top before ending up 3rd behind CHAPTER GEO J (who blew out a NYSS field with a 1:54 mile last week), then won her last at Pocono – absolutely worth a play today, even from out here. (4) AJ AX BLUE CHIP has ability for sure, but throws in some off weeks along with some miscues – make sure to get a fair price if using on top. (2) DRAMBUIE HANOVER arrives with solid PA form for one of the top trotting barns around – hard to leave him out of the exotics! (6) ZUZU ZOOM waited too long to get around a gapper last week and was stuck too far back to do any real damage – the right trip could help her land somewhere on the ticket, at a decent price. (5) RAUCOUS is a bit below the main players but capable of grabbing a minor share with an easy trip. (7) LONG HILL seemed well meant in both local tries but broke once, and got parked in the other – re-qualified and adds Lasix for this, but hard to get excited about his chances from out here. (1) B TOTALLY NUDE failed to hit board in 6 KY starts…we’ll see how he does locally, debuting for a new barn. (3) CORE VALUES struggled in a pair of local starts

RACE 8 – (2) CURLY JAMES A went south for a long stretch but recently came back to life, and comes into this off a trio of front end blowouts – good chance he can extend that streak to 4, likely at a miniscule price. (7) MOVIN ON UP drops back down to his preferred $20K level, and isn’t afraid to leave the gate – maybe he can add some value to the exotics? (1) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES steps back up to 20s off the claim but should be looking at an easy, up close trip and could easily land somewhere on the ticket. (3) KARLOO BRADLEY N wasn’t sharp at all last week but he drops to 20s, draws well, and might be able to perk back up for a piece. (8) FOXHUNT fits very nicely but doesn’t really have the speed to “blast” from Post 8 – still worth including underneath if the price is juicy. (5) ALL ALONE just hasn’t been sharp at all lately – watching for better signs as he drops in for $20K this afternoon. (4) AV ENGER FORCE finished way back in 3 of his last 4 starts and is 0 for 24 on the year. (6) ACAPULCO SUNSHINE backed through the field off the claim, and then was scratched sick from her next – watch mode only for now

RACE 9 – (1) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER just went through the motions when entered for $25K last week but drops back down to 15s tonight, and he wired this class (as the odds-on choice) two back – he’ll be looking to do the same thing here. (8) ALADDIN came up 2nd best to the tripsitter when trying for his 3rd straight last week – was claimed that night by a hot barn, and he can be a big threat here as long as Lachance drives aggressively. (2) MR PR OFETA finished ok after a terrible trip last week, and was ok the start before as well – wouldn’t be a real shock. (3) DANCININTHEFIRE would be dangerous on anything close to his best in here but his most current lines makes it very hard to know what to expect today! (6) IM SOME GRADUATE is listed at 20-1 ML but does have a chance for at least a small piece. (4) WALKINSHAW N bottomed badly in his first start off a layoff – he continues to drop, and that could be a red flag. (5) SMOOTH LOU disappointed for another new barn last week – struggles continue. (7) FRANCO NANDOR N seems unlikely to be any kind of threat from out here.