Saturday, August 8, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Saturday, August 8, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) ALL MY LOVIN dropped in for a tag last week, was very well meant and somehow only lost by about 3 lengths despite getting parked every step – this week HE has the rail, and he was a winner the last 2X he cut the mile…could happen here too. (4) OVER THE HORIZON was the one who parked out #1 last week, survived that extended battle then somehow outmuscled a much better trip rival for the top slot in a very gutsy performance – he loves to win races, and he has a very real chance to take another. (5) HANK THE HUNK is solid at this level with a trip and worth including underneath with that 20-1 ML price. (7) SHAKE IT beat the 25s when he was claimed last start, and now DROPS to 20s for his new connections – it would be hard to hop on his team today with the red flags flying pretty prominently. (2) KARLOO BRADLEY N picked up a 3rd last week but it would be a stretch to say that he was “good” – leaning to others for the bigger prizes. (8) DISMAS is very good right now but he loses Marohn, steps up in class and moves all the way outside – a lot to overcome. (3) CAPTAIN JENNA broke in his first YR try – prefer to just watch tonight. (6) FERRAGAMO HANOVER is 11-0-0-0 here at The Hilltop

RACE 2 – (4) IDEALINFUN won back to back starts in June but was then scr. injured on 6/25 – qualified back nicely a month later, then raced well for 2nd last week behind a mare that’s won 3 straight- could pay quick dividends here off the claim. (1) FORTUNADA has added some consistency to her game recently, bringing solid efforts most every start – solid chance to land somewhere on the ticket once more. (3) DOCS LOVE flashed ability at times when “right”, but really fell apart to start off 2026 (even as she kept dropping down in claiming price) – she makes her first start since February here, and it’s anybody’s guess as to what we’ll get from her. (5) EVENINSTARZRAPS ODY’s last line may not look like anything special but she was actually pretty decent, from a terrible spot – good bomb to include in exotics. (2) TALENT TO SPARE A sat in the back in her first start after a month off but she’s capable of better – chance to improve enough for a small piece. Both (6) RACIN FOR ROYALTY and (7) KISSIN JOE figure to be coming from too far back to have much say today (unless the race just falls apart)

RACE 3 – (6) KILL THE NOISE AS was racing well in PA before arriving here then turned in a very solid effort to be 2nd best in his Hilltop debut – the one to beat here, even with the poor post. (5) LONG HILL was well meant in his first 2 local tries but broke leaving the first time, then got parked in his next re-qualified at Monti, then finished up okay here last week, after racing very conservatively (while adding Lasix) – may prove the biggest threat! (4) FO REIGN EXCHANGE feels like he’s improving, and his last start really wasn’t bad (finished ok from well back) – may be able to have a bigger say today, contending for a decent piece. (7) RAUCOUS has been stuck settling for minor shares since arriving and today’s draw will probably leave him in the same boat. (1) BERNISE MO HANOV ER has no wins and just one 2nd from 19 career starts – not sure the rail is going to help him enough to have a real say. (3) BEGGARS BANQUET was sent off at huge odds in his only local try and made a break – sticking with others. (2) B TOTALLY NUDE got rough after pulling first over in his YR debut and was quickly offstride – waiting for better signs before considering

RACE 4 – (3) CURLY JAMES A has delivered 4 straight blowout victories and while he’ll be jumping from 20s to 30s tonight (off another claim), he’s shown that he can beat even better than these, when sharp – wouldn’t bet the rent money on him at a very short price, but he does have a very good chance to notch another victory. (6) YOROK OBI N has landed on unlucky trips in his last couple, and may be sharper than he appears at first glance – not a good spot tonight, but a live trip could make him a player…at a nice price. (5) C BET HANOVER has been on a long form spree, and has handled the recent move up to 30s very well…another that could do some real damage here with the right trip. (4) HEAVEN ON HIGH N was hounded all the way last start and gets a pass for tiring – prior to that he finished 2nd in 6 of 7 starts, and a good price makes him worth including in exotics. (1) ROLLING WITH SAM threw a weak effort last week, but he’ll usually rebound pretty quickly – he is extremely camera shy, however, so consider for a smaller piece only. (2) MIND HUNTER loses Zeron and Kelly, and faces an uncertain trip – leaning elsewhere. (7) PEACE OUT POSSE landed on a perfect trip last week and picked up his 5th win of the season – hard to see him finding the same racing luck tonight, however.

RACE 5 – (1) MATTHEWS shipped in very sharp from PA and has held that form here at Yonkers, grabbing a win 2 back sandwiched a pair of 2nds to sharp rivals – the road to the winner’s circle goes through him. (4) DWOOD is always trotting strong at the end and that’ll probably be the case today as well…not sure he’ll be able to get to the top one, however, with that one likely getting to control the tempo. (1) ONEMORE VOLO appreciated getting away from the tough KYSS races and was doing mostly good recent work in PA – he should fit nicely with these, though the top pair just have more appeal right now. (3) SPANISH ROOM may be able sit a little closer to the action this week, possibly helping him to grab some small scraps. (5) MARIN COUNTY feels like he might be tailing a bit – keep an eye today for any hints as to which direction he may be headed. (6) WISH LIST has grabbed some decent pieces lately but gets a tough draw and that figures to slow her down a bit. (7) MONI MAN adds hopples after an early miscue last week – guessing he’ll be handled pretty conservatively tonight. (8) BIZZY BRENDA lands yet another awful post, and will probably have to wait for better luck next time!

RACE 6 – (1) DAISY DIANA N shows 9 wins and $57K Down Under so it’s hard to say how she fits the conditions here…but assuming she does, she’s going to be pretty tough to handle in her U.S. debut! (4) PRECIOUS GEMMA was forced into the pocket in her local debut then really didn’t have any room in the lane (hard to say what she had in the tank) – guessing she’ll be a legitimate player in here. (8) GOLDEEN N was especially green/erratic last week but still effortlessly passed the entire field in the lane – there’s no shortage of ability here, but she remains a work in progress! (3) DORAL DELIGHT was an upset winner two back then finished well (after the fact) last week – probably can beat a bunch of these too. (6) GABBY SEELSTER debuted in PA for a top “turnaround barn” last week but took no $$ and was no factor– not a bad bomb to include underneath this afternoon (2) MIDNIGHT LACE is 0 for 23 out of town but did hit board 11X – we’ll see if she can use the good draw to at least hold her own with the locals. (5) SENSATIONAL TELL left bit got VERY rough in the first turn last week, managed to find her way into 3rd then inherited the pocket to turn three, popped out on the back side but still struggled into the 1:00.3 final half – prefer to see a better effort before considering. (7) JUST MY WORD would be a surprise, to say the least

RACE 7 – (4) LOCHINVAR MATILDA picked up a trio of 2nds vs. these types here in May – she returns off a couple of Monti blowouts, and may be ready to get over the hump. (2) PAPIS OPINION was hurt in her first 2 starts back off the layoff by getting too hot but she was able to relax last week, and rallied very nicely for 2nd behind a standout winner – can be a big player here too. (5) GABBYS WISH picked up 3rds in 3 of her last 4 starts and is a good fit with these – use in exotics. (3) MAGGIE Q N was doing good work then just stopped badly here in 5/30 – she was scratched sick from her next, then failed to get back to that better form in a pair of starts – we’ll see if a return to Yonkers can perk her back up a bit. (7) MARTINI STAR finally picked up her first win of the year last week, crushing a soft bunch at Tioga – this assignment will be much tougher. (6) SEND IT DOWN SLIM has struggled all year, and seems to be getting worse, rather than better, (1) SWIFT SARABI draws the pole, but that didn’t help her last week!

RACE 8 – (5) SAMHARA N has been facing much tougher in all his starts and lands in a field he really should be able to handle – he’s also very camera shy, listed at even-money ML, and probably not one you’d want to bet the ranch on! (4) DONTTELLMENOW has some pretty ugly looking recent lines but he did finish 2nd in this class 5 starts back, and is actually a legitimate player vs. this crew. (3) INTIMIDATION could be tough if on his best effort but he weakened off an easy pocket trip last week, and that wasn’t the most encouraging sign, (7) MARLBANK RO AD does fit well enough with these but faces a seemingly tough task starting from Post 7 – if you think Marohn can get him into the race, the price will surely be juicy. (2) SPY CRAFT has been away 3 weeks since finishing well back in his last try at Tioga – he was no factor in his only local try this year. (1) HURRICANE EXPRESS gets a new trainer listed for this week but his 10-0-0-0 local slate is hard to ignore. (6) COVERED BRIDGE was non competitive from a similar spot last week.

RACE 9 – (3) WELL THATS MARKY had a major form reversal with Holland hopping on board last week and gets a much better draw for this afternoon – can be very dangerous here if he can bring a similar effort. (6) LETSMAKE LOTSAMONEY is a pretty solid 15 and can be a serious player here, even with the less than stellar draw. (5) MINO TAUR took $$ dropping down to 15s last week but made an equipment break – could be part of the equation if Lachance can work out a decent trip. (4 ) THEMASKEDCRUSADR N is still winless in 2026 but still could rally for a share if things go to his liking. (7) SARANAC BLUE CHIP was at least competitive last start after a trip of poor efforts – would have given him more consideration for today had he not drawn so poorly. (1) AINT NOSTOPN TIME had some success here a couple of years ago but his current NJ form makes him a little hard to consider right now. (2) DIAMONDBEACH put together a nice long form spree last year but just fell apart completely once things turned sour – makes his first start back since May, and we’ll just observe, for now. (8) SHORE NOT BEACH draws Post 8 and hasn’t beaten a single horse in his last 3 starts.