Thursday, August 13, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, August 13, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NY Excelsior 3YO C&G Pace: (4) ARIES BLUE CHIP moved to a new barn for his 3YO season, started it off with a very good 3rd here on 6/23 then took his next 4 starts, all in dominant fashion – hard to look past him, even though he’ll likely pay $2.10! (3) MAGIC JOURNEY did well in the Excelsior races at the end of his 2YO season and that form carried over into this year, where he’s been 1st or 2nd in 5 of his 6 starts – looks next best. (6) HUNTHEHUNTR DE VIE put in a nice move at Monti last week before understandably flattening a bit, and retains the services of Mr. Holland for tonight – maybe he can add some value to the exotics? (1) ROUGH DEAL was an ok 4th for his new barn 2 back but had some issue upstate in his last – drops right back in the box, and could easily rebound and grab a piece of this. (2) RIVER RANCH DAWSON has made some miscues, and seems a bit riskier than the others – could grab a share if he has no mishaps. (5) JERICHO JOHNNY seemed sharper earlier in the season – leaning towards others right now

RACE 2 - NYSS 3YO C&G Pace: (4) KNOXVILLE has been solid all season, hitting board in his first 8 starts (4 wins) before a tough trip 4th at Monti last week – catches a very modest 5 horse field, and looms the one to beat. (3) HUNT OFF THE PRESS ended his strong 2YO campaign (8-4-3-0) with a rallying 2nd in the NYSS Final (behind FRAGMENT) – he hasn’t enjoyed that same success at 3, however, and will need to be (much) better tonight if he hopes to give #4 a tussle (note that Doug McNair is in town to drive a few for the barn). (2) HUNTING GLORY weakened after chasing FRAGMENT last start but still held 3rd – chance for a small piece here too. (5) FEARLESS PARTNERS was sharper earlier in the season, and will need to get back to that better form to have a say here. (1) HARD TO FORGET hasn’t been able to beat Excelsior horses this year…but at least his connections will be taking home a check tonight!

RACE 3 - NYSS 3YO C&G Pace: (1) FRAGMENT was an outstanding 2YO and the only blemish on his record so far at 3 was when he was 2nd to KNOXVILLE at Buffalo, in a race where he bled – if they don’t take out place wagering, there may be a bridgejumper in THAT pool tonight. (3) COOPERSTOWN BOY raced well enough in his Excelsior starts to merit a try in the NYSS last week, and rewarded his connections with a 2nd (no threat) to FRAGMENT – may be able to do the same tonight. (4) TWIN B MANHUNT debuts tonight for a barn that can improve one in a hurry – maybe HE can complete the exacta? (2) UNMATCHED WISDOM has done some good work this year but did tire pretty badly in his last 2 NYSS attempts

RACE 4 - NY Excelsior 3YO C&G Pace – feels more competitive than the first 3 races: (1) KILLING JOKE did some good work at 2, including a 3rd here in a NYSS race (to start off his career) – he’s continued to race well at 3, and the rail draw may give him the edge to come out on top. (2) CASPER THE GHOST has made a few miscues, but is a very solid Excelsior player when he avoids any trouble – major threat with a clean mile. (5) JOHNNY WIGGLES was horrible in his only local try but just wasn’t right that night – any of his typical efforts would put him right in the thick of this. (3) LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS has grabbed some Excelsior pieces but does feel a notch below the top trio. (4) RANGER WALKER has managed just one 3rd from 9 career starts.

RACE 5 – NAADA Summer Series: (7) BIG LIMO was caught way back last week and did super just to rally for 4th (DH) – he’s gone some big miles here, including a win with his owner/driver last year – he’ll have to overcome another awful draw, but a good price makes him worth using. (1) P C FREE WHEELING was right there 3rd last week after a good tri at Monti the week before – very logical threat starting from the pole. (2) MUSCLE DAN is winless locally over the last 2 years but he’s hit board a bunch of times in these races – definitely ok for exotics. (6) BABY TAO was used hard early last week but squandered his good trip, tiring from 3/4s – he’s capable of better, can race well from off the pace, and has an opportunity to outrace his odds tonight. (4) BACARDI can be pretty unpredictable from start to start – one of his better efforts could see him land somewhere on the ticket. (8) WINDS ONG PIONEER’s best success this year has come in amateur races but he gets assigned Post 8 tonight and that does figure to curb his chances significantly. (5) IMA STANDUP GUY has made breaks in 3 straight starts, and would be hard to back with any confidence right now (though the ability IS there, if he’s able to stay trotting tonight). (3) SHO EMAKER HANOVER hasn’t been able to get anything going since returning from a long layoff.

RACE 6 – (8) B NICKING has been very sharp for some time and probably would have won for fun last week (at 1/5) had he not made that very costly miscue to the final bend (possibly running over the top of the horse in front of him) – hard to NOT give him a try tonight with that 15-1 ML price, re-joining the barn he just raced terrific for. (1) CREDIT CON recently moved back to a barn he did great work for at one time, and was certainly well meant from Post 7 last week (just used a bit too hard to stay alive in the stretch) – could be a big threat with the move to the rail. (3) KAYS IN CHARGE just didn’t fire her best shot last week but was 1st or 2nd in 5 straight just prior to that, and has to be accorded plenty of respect from this spot. (7) SIR MAVERICK made a nice recovery after an early break here on 7/10, then was a steady 3rd the next week – he returns off 2 sharp tries at TgD, and is worth using in exotics, even with the bad draw. (4) MON AMOUR felt like he was off his best game heading into last week, and threw a major dud that night – needs to turn things around to be a threat here. (5) HAT TRICK MARLEAU usually isn’t a threat to win, but always eligible to grab a piece with an easy trip. (6) KASHA V rallied for 2nd in a fall-apart race last week but seems unlikely to be as opportunistic tonight. (2) AIRMANS JACKPOT is moving way up in class, and the inside draw may not be enough to make her a contender.

RACE 7 – (1) TORRONE was used very hard in the opening quarter last week before yielding and that may have contributed to his disappointing effort – he can be a dangerous horse when left alone on the lead, and this is a potent trainer/driver tandem…we’ll give him the narrow vote. (3) BLACK VELVET AS banked nearly $200K last year but was off to a mixed start in 2026 – she seems to be finding her best stride again, and ships in off a pair of Pocono victories – very dangerous in her local debut. (4) HAND DOVER DAN picked up his first local victory in a long time two back, and gets a pass for last week’s no-prayer trip – playable underneath with that 20-1 ML price. (6) THE BRODSTER dropped to 40s last week and won from Post 8 like a 1/10 shot, in a mile that was pretty hard to see coming – hard to predict what we’ll get from him tonight as he moves back up in class, and loses the services of Mr. Bartlett. (5) RITSON does his best work vs. a bit easier but may still be able to land a share in this spot with an easy trip. (7) CAMERA MAN may be pushing his limits at this level and another bad draw doesn’t help – still not a bad one to consider for the bottom of tris and supers. (2) SEVEN LAYER just threw a dud 2 back followed by a miscue in his last – waiting for better signs before hopping back on his team. (8) HONOLULU HANOVER lands Post 8 up in class, and a win drops off the bottom of his card after tonight – wait for an easier spot to consider

RACE 8 – (4) MASSIVE DESIRE made breaks in a couple of his 8 starts since arriving but raced super in the other 6 – remains very dangerous here too, as long as he minds his manners! (5) KILDARE KING is 2 for 2 since joining our leading barn and comes into this riding a 3 race winning streak – he’s stepping up in class, but the $750K on his card suggests that he could be okay with that…logical threat. (3) WHEELZABLAZIN took a bad step to 3/4s 3 back and lost all chance but rebounded with solid tries in his last pair, and any of his better efforts would put him in a play for a decent piece of this. (1) FRANK LEAHY hasn’t had a ton of success in his 5 local tries but still feels like a decent fit with these, especially with the rail draw – would need a good price to use him on top, though. (2) ONAJE TPLANE has been a solid local performer, though his last was just a bit disappointing – chance to land in the exotics if he can bounce right back. (6) TAIPAN AS is the “x factor” in here – he won both local starts easily, but vs. much softer – hard to say if the class jump (and bad draw) will slow him down a bit. (8) EXQUISITE TASTE is already at $124K this year but gets her first bad post in ages, and that could really hurt her chances. (7) P L OSCAR won a “fall apart” race vs. easier last time – seems unlikely that he can come close to that success against these

RACE 9 – (1) JAS BLUESTONE was sent off at nearly 8-1 last week but once he hit the top so quickly from Post 8, his “real odds” were more like 6/5 – he jogged that night, and looms a big threat to repeat with the move all the way inside (but at a MUCH shorter price)! (5) STACKING GREEN has been on a very good roll but ended up with no chance last week when sitting 7th to a :58.2 half in the FM Invitational – look for her to be a MUCH bigger player tonight. (2) WHISKEY PEDDLER has shown some ability in his 4 local starts, even though plagued some terrible posts– the move inside should help him be a live player from start to finish (4) WILLY WALTON was a BIG overlay when he won at 25-1 two back but then just threw a dud last week – if he can shrug that off and bounce back to his better form, he can be right back in the mix. (6) SMOKING JET was a surprise leaver at 53-1 last week, ended up with a two hole trip and hung on for 2nd (behind #5) – probably won’t land on nearly as good a trip tonight, though. (7) UNCLE RAT is putting together a good year upstate (9 wins) but will likely be facing much tougher tonight, and from a bad post, off a bad date – moves to a top barn, but still would rather just observe tonight. (3) MAZEPPA A has been behaving himself, but struggling vs. much easier than these. (8) BIG CHARLIE MORAN broke his multi-year, 63 race Yonkers losing streak last week…but lands in a brutal spot tonight!

RACE 10 – (4) HILLEXOTIC has $1.6M on his card and the 9YO is still a legitimate FFAller, a solid 4th in the Cashman last week (in his first stakes try of the season) – not sure how he ends up with Post 4 in this strangely handicapped race, but that might give him the edge to win his first local try since 2024. (1) SOUTHWIND COORS has been going off short prices in our Invitationals for 2 years (with tons of success) so it’s pretty inconceivable how he was somehow assigned an inside post – he’ll surely be looking to take advantage! (5) ASTEROID is another that should have been assigned an outside post, but instead escapes with Post 5 – he’s rock solid week after week, and will likely be right there on the wire once more. (2) MA ISABELLE is a bit below the top ones, but can sometimes just tow along and finish up well enough for a piece– could happen here too. (3) ALWAYS A STORY has been super all year long, and is rugged enough to hold her own vs. males…not sure she can beat these, but she can surely grab a piece. (6) OLIVER THE GREAT finally won his first race of the season 2 back (in his 18th start), and used a very easy trip to win again last week (vs. much easier) – should have surely been assigned the inside, but instead ends up with Post 6 against several Open performers – will hope to rally for minor spoils. (7) MISSISSIPPI STORM should have been assigned the rail, but instead ends up with Post 7...I’m sure his connections aren’t too thrilled!

RACE 11 – Tough finale! (2) WARRAWEE WHISPER is a streaky horse that has recently fallen way off his game – he did finish with some better life at the end last week, so maybe it’s a sign that he’s ready to turn things around – worth at least a look in a field with some potentially vulnerable favorites. (1) AQUARIUS FACE S was surprisingly dropped in for the $40K tag and came up 2nd best as the prohibitive favorite – he made an uncharacteristic miscue for his new connections last week and while he’d be very tough from this spot on his best effort, he’s definitely at least a bit iffy right now. (6) BELLISSIMO FACE S recently returned from a long layoff but he picked up a 2nd and a 3rd in his 2 starts back – he’s a logical player even with the bad draw, but note that the barn is just 1 for 31 in their NY and NJ starts over the last few racing cards. (3) RADIO LAB took advantage of a good trip last week to rally for 2nd behind the runaway winner – chance for a piece here too, if the trip comes up as kind. (5) CLASSICAL JANE was right there in her first local try but failed to get involved at all last week – another that’s hard to gauge in here. (8) SENSI AMNESIA was claimed by a barn that generally improves fresh stock dramatically but he draws Post 8 while well up in class, and is 0 for 13 at Yonkers this year (after going just 1 for 9 in 2025) – would need a pretty good price to try him on top. (4) SUNBURNT SILVERADO has been racing out of town recently but was just 1 for 11 here earlier in the year, while facing cheaper. (7) FOR A DREAMER would be a surprise, to say the least.