Thursday, April 30, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, April 30, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) ANDRA DAY hasn’t been behind the starting gate since 2023 but she just resurfaced for a new barn, and qualified right behind YOUNG BLUEY A…who just won his U.S. debut in an eye popping 1:51.1, pacing his final half in :54 seconds to beat a pair of very nice horses…we’ll give her a shot! (2) IDEAL SKIES was well meant last week but used a little too hard and had license to tire – she’s a solid it with these types when on her game. (1) QUICK MENU seems to have leveled off after a series of solid starts but she lands the pole and may be able to grab a share with an easy trip. (6) STONECOLD GIRL has 5 wins this year and recently won 3 straight – she also seems off her best game right now, and may land on a tough trip from this spot. (7) RACIN FOR ROYALTY generally does her best work from better posts but she has enough ability to grab a share with a good trip, and may be worth using underneath at a big price. (5) FORTUNADA struggled in 5 of her first 6 starts this year but brought a different version last week and was a pocket rocket upsetter – hard to know which version we’ll see tonight. (4) TALENT TO SPARE A disappoints far more often than she delivers. (8) BEANTOWN generally struggles from these spots.

RACE 2 – NAADA Spring Series Leg 7: (1) BIG CHARLIE MORAN is a TOUGH horse to use on top (he’s 1 for 58 at Yonkers over the last 4 years!) but he’s actually very good right now, and that includes a solid 3rd two back vs. the $40K claimers – he hasn’t won here since 2023, but he may finally break that schneid tonight. (2) BRAVE BY DESIGN is on the upswing for the barn he joined 4 starts back, gets a good draw and a strong amateur pilot – logical threat, but that 9/5 ML price is a turn off! (4) KILIMANJARO NL has been extremely camera shy the past couple of years but he stays trotting and takes home his share of pieces – ok underneath. (7) WINDSONG PIONEER is having a tough year but his only 2 good recent efforts did come for Beltrami in amateur races – ok bomb for the bottom of exotics. (5) OURMOMENTNTIME is prone to miscues and tends to gap badly – she does rally well enough for pieces, sometimes (when she behaves). (3) IMA STANDUP GUY tripped out to pick up an upset win 3 back and did have 5 victories here in 2025 – ok for longshot fans. (6) THE LAST CHAPTER gave Rey Franco his first driving victory back in February but the pair haven’t had much success since then. (8) CERTIFY actually won 2 of 3 amateur starts here this year but the draw does figure to really hurt his chances tonight

RACE 3 – Tough race! (3) THONG CONTROL had been racing well for some time before landing in a tough spot in a quick $40K mile last week – the drop to 25s may be a red flag but IF a wheel hasn’t fallen off, he should be able to have a big say here. (6) THE WICKED ONE is listed at 12-1 ML but he’s had some decent recent efforts vs. better, and may be a good fit with these – it’s not often you can get a juicy price with this top barn. (8) THEFLYING ROCK may not be as insanely sharp right now as he was in late 2025/early 2026, but he’s still doing very good work and did win his last start for this barn at an amazing 5 cents on the dollar– Bartlett will surely give him every chance to succeed from out here, and he’ll be a big player if the trip turns out manageable. (4) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N can be a bit inconsistent but he does throw winning efforts at this level, and may have taken his last if free earlier– worth a look. (5) BONNIPRINCLOUIS N had no chance off the claim last week (8 hole) but look for a much bigger effort with tonight’s better draw – he’s shown that he can win at this level. (2) FOXHUNT is prone to bad trips and prefers racing in 20s – still not impossible, with the right journey. (1) C BET HANOVER doesn’t win as often as he should but always possible for a piece. (7) MAXIMUS RED A failed to threaten from 3 straight 7 holes before tonight!

RACE 4 - NAADA Spring Series Leg 7…and another tough race: (7) PAPA JOE LOZITO isn’t the greatest finisher but he gets away to quick starts and generally stays trotting…maybe he can steal one at a big price? (4) NICCOLO was no factor in a pair of recent amateur events but he did wire a soft group at Chester last week and may have built some confidence…wouldn’t be a huge shock in this totally wide open affair. . (3) MUSCLE SPASM was a nice 2nd in a Monti amateur race last week, retains Sheridan, and is certainly a logical threat with the inside draw. (8) YUCA TAN PARTY MAN would need an awful lot to go his way from out here but he did win one of these back in Feb., and was 2nd at Monti 2 back – another bomb possibility? (2) ROGER RABBIT has a lot of local experience and gets a good draw in a very shaky field– he’s also listed at 9/5 ML and his Yonkers win % is less than stellar – possible, but figures to be overbet (5) ALL TOO WELL has offered little in 3 starts since returning from the layoff – hard to get excited about his chances with his low 5/2 ML odds. (1) NASA has failed to hit board in 8 starts this year – the rail draw may not be enough to help him. (6) FASHION FOREVER figures to be too far back to make any noise

RACE 5 – (5) WHEELZABLAZIN has taken 4 of his last 6 starts and one of the losses was a 2nd to FULL OF MUS CLES, who almost took last week’s Invitational – deserves top billing. (3) JAS BLUESTONE made a break on the lead into the stretch last week (after winning the week before) and was quickly reclaimed by his long-time trainer – look for a strong effort tonight. (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT’s last 4 starts show a pair of tries in the FM Invitational along with a pair of 8 holes – moves back to 40s with the rail, and that scenario produced a victory on 3/26 – should be a bigger player tonight. (2) QUALITY KID landed on an easy trip last week and produced her best result since arriving here in late March – chance for a piece with another easy trip. (6) WARRAWEE WHISPER picked up the win when #3 broke in the lane last week but may have been a winner regardless (one of THREE big-priced 8 hole winners that night) – tough spot tonight, even if just as sharp. (8) BUSY MAKING MONI can throw big efforts when on his game but he draws Post 8 after making breaks in 2 of his last 3 starts, and does seem iffy right now. (4) FOR A DREAMER is always capable of a small piece when things go his way. (7) BONTONI DEGATO S could use a much better post in a much easier field

RACE 6 – It feels like yesterday that (3) MISSISSIPPI STORM went over the $1M mark in earnings and now the youthful 11YO is sitting at $1,271,308 – he gets some major class relief tonight, and we’ll look for him to cash in. (4) P L OSCAR weakened from the pocket last week but did hold for 2nd (at big prices) in back to back starts just prior to that – may be able to rebound and land somewhere on the ticket once more. (5) GREEN PASTURES feels like he’s been getting his act back together in NJ recently but while he does return off back to back wins, he’s also made breaks in 2 of his last 5 starts – he’s a player here on his “best” game, but he’s also hard to endorse at a short price. (1) KASHA V already has 3 wins this year and that was his Yonkers total for ALL of 2024/25 (in 49 starts!) – he’s probably pushing his limits up at this level, but the rail draw could at least put him in play for a piece. (2) MON AMOUR looked 3rd best on paper last week so the 50-1 win price was just a huge overlay…steps up, but the good draw could help him take home a minor share. (7) CHAPHEART has been kicking in a little too late recently and now starts from Post 7 – may face the same issue tonight. (8) PEDAL ON METAL is good right now, but will have to pass 7 others to win from out here! (6) SOUTHWIND ARTURO was dull returning from PA last week

RACE 7 – (3) CHULO just missed in this class last week and picked up a pair of wins in March – he goes back to Bartlett tonight, and we’ll give him the narrow call. (3) SKY BOX picked up his first win two back (since the 2/19 claim) then almost made it two in a row last week (after cutting the mile) – finished just behind #3 last week, and could be his main rival tonight. (5) BO SILAS hasn’t embarrassed himself at all since bumping up to this $40K level recently and was actually full of trot at the wire last week – good bomb to include in exotics. (2) HAT TRICK MAR LEAU hasn’t done a lot of winning the last couple of years but grabs plenty of good pieces, and raced well for 2nd in his last (with good trot at both ends of the mile) – can hang with these too if the trip comes up easy. (8) EYES OF JUSTICE outraced his odds 2 and 3 back when he hit board at big prices – wasn’t able to replicate that form from Post 7 last week, but maybe he can do some damage tonight if Bongiorno can hustle him away to a quick start. (1) CAL MILES N SHELL picked up a win and a 2nd at BIG prices not long ago but seems to have fallen off that form recently – we’ll see if the rail perks him up. (7) WILLY WALTON wasn’t bad off a first over try last week but that was from an inside slot. (6) BLACK TIE BASH draws poorly for the 5th straight week – leaning elsewhere

RACE 8 - (5) BRAVO ANGEL S has been super ever since joining our leading barn last year and has won 4 of her 5 local starts, including a win over the boys in her last Invitational – gets to take on the girls this week, and we’ll give her top billing over a very sharp (6) GLUTES HANOVER. The latter has really developed beautifully as a 4YO and has won 3 of her 5 local starts, the losses coming to the very talented PAYBACK MONI – the main danger! (2) HOT FLASH KIMMY has a post edge over the top pair but still seems a tad below them right now – next in line should either of them falter. (1) LAFERRARIDMANCHE S still hasn’t won at this level, but has picked up several nice pieces – the sick scratch (and bad date) are a concern, however. (3) SAPPHIRERAINSTAR was an ok 4th last week – chance for minor spoils once more. (4) MA ISABELLE pulled off 2 recent upsets but remains the outsider in here



RACE 9 – Tough finale! (5) SECURITY PROTECTED wasn’t at his best cutting the mile 2 back but charged home in the lane to win last week’s Invitational, and gets a class drop for tonight – may benefit from a contested pace. (1) KARINCHAK will be stepping up to face a much tougher field than he’s used to but he’s very sharp, has speed from the pole and may just be up for it. (2) TORRONE was off a bad date last week and may have been a little short – could be sharper tonight, and add some value to the exotics. (3) DRIBBLING BI looked like his good self beating easier on 4/3 but he was scratched sick after that and been away ever since – definitely risky. (6) MAHONE SEELS TER is in a tough spot but he already has 6 wins this year and should never be taken lightly. (8) CHEERS HANOVE R was good at 2 and even better at 3…he lands in a brutal spot for his 4YO return, however, and this may be a good week to just observe. (4) CANTSTOP YANKEE was one of THREE big-price 8 hole winners that night – better draw in the same class, but still leaning to others. (7) DIPLOMACY will look better with class relief next week