Saturday, May 30, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Saturday, May 30, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) KISSIN JOE made the most of a tough spot dropping down to 20s last week, rallying from 4th from well back – gets a much kinder draw here, and definitely worth a look. (1) BECA MITCHELL seems to “figure” every week but is now just 5-0-0-3 locally and has burned some $$ along the way – another logical spot, but make sure to get a fair price if using on top. (2) BOUT DAMN TIME A seems to be a big player almost every week but has just one win, compared to her SIX 2nds this year – another that you’d want a decent price with to use for the top slot. (5) SWEET SANDY had some sharp recent NJ tries so last week’s 10-1 price was definitely an overlay, even if she had to hold off the entire field in the lane (with a :30.4 final quarter!) to get the victory – definitely earned some respect with that win, and could easily land in the exotics here too. (4) IRIS SEELSTER is 0 for 16 on the year but races well in many of her starts, and always a decent one to include underneath. (7) PINE BUSH MAGA hit board in 3 of her last 4 and has the speed to get herself into the hunt – losing Siegelman is going to hurt, however. (8) FIG HT NOT FLIGHT is tough when on her best but she threw a major dud last week and now lands out here. (6) CHIL LIN BYTHE POOL moves outside after squandering a perfect trip from the rail last week

RACE 2 – (1) SHAKE IT was a sharp winner 2 back then raced very well last week, finishing crisply for 2nd despite an unlucky trip – we’ll give him the narrow edge from the pole. (5) DISMAS has 3 wins from his last 8 starts including last week’s sharp first over score – he exits our leading barn, but still has to be seen as the main danger. (3) MINOTAUR raced ok from a tough spot last week but was a winner the week before, and moves back inside today – could have a big say if the trip comes up decent. (6) DANCININTHEFIRE was a little bit short last week but his overall form has been very solid – tough spot, but certainly worth using in exotics at a nice price. (7) BLOCKBUST ER TRADE had been steadily improving for a few weeks and finally was able to pick up his first win of the season last start– he steps up, lands outside, and may be looking at a smaller slice today. (2) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY has had some good moments here in the past but hasn’t been able to get anything going so far in 2026 – watching for some better signs. (4) JO PAS WARRIOR may do better here with the inside draw but still seems below too many others at the moment. (8) KARLOO BRADLEY N has fallen off form, loses Holland and lands behind the 8 ball

RACE 3 – (2) MAGGIE Q N is now riding a 3 race winning streak with victories at 3 different tracks (including last week’s here at Yonkers) – we’ll stick with the hot hand! (3) YOULLFINDOUT was on a nice roll of her own before running into a tough 10 hole trip in NJ last week – should fit nicely with the locals, and be a player in her Hilltop debut. (4) LOCHINVAR MATILDA dug in late to hold 2nd behind the top choice in her last, after finishing 2nd in her YR debut the week before – remains a solid threat to land somewhere on the ticket. (1) BYTHELITEOFTHEMOON was a little dull 2 back when 3rd two back (off 3 weeks) but did finish nicely up the cones to grab 2nd last week – an easy trip could land her another good chunk. (5) BETTORS TICKET returns off some ok tries vs. older mares at Plainridge but she draws poorly, and was struggling in this class not long ago – leaning elsewhere, (6) HEARTOFT HESUNRISE has a couple of ok tries out of town after returning as a 3YO – tough spot for her local debut

RACE 4 – (2) AUGUSTUS BLUE CHIP was helped when the heavy favorite broke before the start last week but that doesn’t take away from his own very sharp victory – his barn has been on fire, and we’ll look for him to take another. (6) GAMELA HANOVER started her career with a pair of Pocono wins and a 2nd before settling for smaller pieces in minor stakes the last 2 weeks – she should fit perfectly here, and looms the main danger. (3) CHATTY MA TTIE picked up 3rds in both local tries, gets a good draw and should be able to take home another nice piece here. (5) AJAX BLUE CHIP has displayed legitimate ability when he stays trotting…but his career has been plagued by miscues in its early stages – very risky, but playable if the price is good enough. (8) ICONIC BEAUTY (first time Lasix) won a race at 2 and started off her 3YO campaign with a victory at Chester (in a slow mile) – it’s been 3 weeks since her qualifier, however, and Post 8 won’t make things any easier. (4) BRANDERS picked up small checks in both local starts and figures to be competing for something similar today. (1) NINA BLAZING looked well short in her ’26 returns last week – still in watch mode. (7) DONT MIKE was very hard to steer in his local debut and finished well back – waiting for a better effort before considering

RACE 5 – (3) CAPTAIN DEE TEE was uninvolved and trapped in the back most of the way in his local debut but was certainly full of pace at the end after shaking free late in the lane – attractive at that 12-1 ML price, with a more aggressive drive a possibility. (6) IM SOME GRADUATE had to back off at the start last week then ended up with a less than stellar trip – he’s gone too many big efforts this year to NOT deserve a chance to rebound. (1) ARTIST BE ST made a big mistake popping out of the two hole last week and we’ll forgive him for tiring late – he was sharp just prior to that, and is another that could easily bounce back here. (8) BLACK HAWK JOE A was hurt by a tiring leader last week in an unlucky trip – will need a LOT to go his way to have a chance from out here, but he has a shot to be a player at a big price if that happens. (7) OVER THE HORIZON comes into this off back to back wins and his last was really outstanding – on the flip side, he goes for a new barn, from a terrible post, while losing Holland – would need a nice price to consider on top. (4) FRANCO NANDOR N was a wake up call 2nd last week (to #7), but still not ready to hop back on his team. (2) ROCKET FREIGHT, along with several of his barnmates, has come back to earth lately after doing better work earlier in the season. (5) MAJOR POCKET A is in need of a wake up call!

RACE 6 – (1) HALFADOZEN was stuck in the back on the off going last week and never got close – his previous effort was a dead-game front end score, however, and anything close to that mile would make him very dangerous today. (3) SEVEN LAYER came into his last off 2 scratches, a break and a qualifier but he certainly showed up ready, 2nd best to a classy winner…very logical threat here but he does lose Holland, and that 7/5 ML price will hurt any value he might have offered. (6) MARIN COUNTY was making a nice move last week when others pulled in front of him on the back side, costing him some momentum (and perhaps a closer finish) – he’s putting together a solid year, and could bring some value to the exotics. (7) PORTOBAROSSO AS NL draws Post 7, off 3 weeks, after a major clunker in his last – on the flip side, he has a few local starts that would make him a player with these, and he’s listed at 20-1 ML…definitely ok form longshot fans. (5) SIX AND STONES was empty in his local debut but a well-baked, 1:564 winner in his next – raced “ok” last week, and the jury is still out on what he’s capable of. (8) BIZ ZY BRENDA always showed ability and has done good work since recently returning for her 4YO campaign – not sure how much damage she can do from THIS spot, however. (4) WISH LIST turned out to be the only one with a pulse in the lane last week, winning from the back as the longest shot in the field (helped by a :31 final quarter) – not counting on a repeat performance today. (2) MONI MAN struggled in his 3 local tries earlier this year

RACE 7 – (1) MR PROFETA had no prayer from terrible posts in his last 2 starts but was a winner from the pole the start before that – déjà vu? (6) J B GRAM has a new lease on life these days, turning in several strong recent efforts for his current connections – gets a tough draw, but still looms a legitimate threat vs. this bunch. (4) BETTOR BUCKLEUP was a big upset winner in a “fall apart” race 5 starts back but has also picked up a couple of decent pieces since then – ok for exotics. (2) HE SPECIAL wasn’t bad from an impossible spot 2 back but pretty “meh” despite an easy trip last week – his record here the last 2 years has been lacking, but he still has a chance for a piece in this very soft spot. (3) DANCE ON THE BEACH has gone 5 straight starts without picking up a check and his barn (which was off to its best start in 50 years) seems to have gone cold too – sticking with others. (7) OZONE BLUE CHIP has been stuck on smaller pieces at best lately and now has to contend with Post 7 – minor spoils? (5) BROWER can only benefit from the barn change but he just may be too cheap for these. (8) CHECKONWILL AM GB has gone the wrong way again, and now lands all the way outside

RACE 8 – (2) MOVIN ON UP was used VERY hard for the lead last week, cut a quick clip (for that day) and still held very nicely for 2nd after being collared by the sharp, easier-trip winner – we’ll give him top billing today.. (1) TONTO RETURNS does his best racing with an “easy” trip – if Marohn doesn’t race him too aggressively here, he can be a serious threat. (3) FOXHUNT probably isn’t on his absolute best game right now but he gets another good draw, and that puts him in the hunt for another good piece. (4) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES picked up a win 5 starts back but hasn’t been as sharp since then – still a threat for a good piece vs. these with any decent journey. (5) SAILB OAT HANOVER won here on 5/4 off a long layoff but failed to match that effort in his next pair – maybe a minor share? (8) WELL THATS MARKY does his best racing on/near the lead and that trip seems very unlikely here. Both (6) THEMASKEDCRUSADR N & (7) HANK THE HUNK figure to be coming from too far back to threaten

RACE 9 – (4) HURRIKANE CHEYENNE was stuck racing first over (off a sick scratch) in his YR return and still held nicely for 4th – he’s won here in the past, and may be able to pull off a mild upset in the finale. (5) CAPTAIN FEAR landed in a VERY easy spot last week, and the result was a 10 length win and $2.14 payoff – real chance he can handle these too, but he’ll have to work harder to do so! (2) BONDI SHAKE N is camera shy here (and everywhere) but races well more often than not, and comes off a crisp finishing 3rd last week – good one for exotics and maybe even on top…if the price is good enough. (6) MACS MARVEL is well off his best game right now but still a threat to show up late for some minor spoils. (3) MAXIMUS RED A beat cheaper 2 back and would have probably been 2nd last week with a more patient drive – maybe he can save ground for a small slice? (7) NANDOLO N won his last, but it wasn’t pretty – he’ll need to be a LOT better to threaten from out here! (1) GOLD GLOVE HANOVER disappointed off an easy trip in last – drop and rail, but still prefer others. (8) DONTTELMENOW fits the bottom class – we’ll give him a look when he drops down next week.