Thursday, January 29, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, January 29, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NAADA Winter Series: (1) VALI HANOVER landed on a horrible trip (from a terrible post) after missing 9 months and can certainly be forgiven for flattening into the stretch – he should really benefit from that mile and he now lands all the way inside in a very modest field – could be the one to beat, but that 7/5 ML price makes it hard to get too excited about a wager! (4) MR CONTESTANT was able to improve up into 3rd from Post 7 last week then hung in ok for 4th – that start was off a qualifier, and he’s another that should be tighter tonight – logical player. (7) PSALMSFORTYSIXFIVE continues his unbelievable run of horrible Yonkers post positions – if Keppler can be a little aggressive and find him a manageable trip, he’d at least have a chance at pulling off an upset. (6) HUNTERS GAL has been offering some late trot in many of her recent (out of town) tries – she goes for a new barn tonight, and her pilot won a NAADA race here last week – possibility? (5) BAR KEEP DE VIE has some ok recent tries out of town but his 15-0-0-0 local record last year is hard to ignore. (8) IMA STANDUP GUY has more than enough ability to threaten here but faces an uphill battle after drawing Post 8 for his first start in 2 months. (3) MUSKINGUM was pretty good not long ago but seems to have gone in the wrong direction in his last few – waiting for better signs. (2) DROP THE MIC draws well but has struggled in most of his local starts the past couple of years

RACE 2 – (1) MAHONE SEELSTER couldn’t have won any easier last week and draws the pole tonight– he’s going to be a very short price…and very tough to overhaul. (7) CANTSTOP YANKEE came up a little short at the end after finding a good early spot last week – he’s capable of better, and could easily outperform that 15-1 ML price (2) SHAKE N BAKE has been racing well at Monti since the recent claim – he’s looking at a good trip from this spot, and may be able to land somewhere in the exotics. (3) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS was caught moving into the quickest part of the race last week and was left short in the homestretch – he’s capable of better, and is another that is very playable underneath. (4) WHEELZABLAZIN had an easy trip last week and really should have been able to get 2nd – needs to be sharper if he hopes to be a bigger player tonight. (6) EYES OF JUSTICE was unable to get in play last week and draws Post 6 once again – may have to wait for a kinder spot. (8) WILLY WALTON was forced to retreat to last from Post 8 last week and may be looking at a similar fate tonight, with #7 likely leaving hard right to his inside (5) INTL BLOCKADE was 24 lengths back in his first start off the layoff– sticking with others

RACE 3 – (2) GREAT SOMEWHERE recently returned after missing nearly a year – he took no $$ in any of his first 3 starts out of town but was hammered down to favoritism returning to Yonkers last week, and delivered a sharp front end score – he has a ton of back class, and may be ready to start doing more damage. (5) CHEVRON ART N got away to a good start from Post 8 in his YR debut and made his 3rd U.S. start a winning one – possible repeater, even moving up a bit. (1) COALFORD TOPGUY GB has been sharp overall in Canada but has likely been facing easier – he lands in our leading barn, gets our leading driver, and it would surely be no surprise to see him come out on top in his local debut. (6) MR PROFETA has improved since a recent barn change and wasn’t bad at all last week (from a tough spot, off a bad date) – no reason he can’t rally for a piece here, if the trip goes his way. (3) SIP OF BO URBON gets a better draw (and Gingras) for his 2nd start of the year but will need to be a lot better to be a serious player here. (4) STORMY WOODS A was no factor at all in his only local try – pass tonight after missing a month

RACE 4 – Tough race: (2) HURRIKANE CHEYENNE has been racing well upstate after recently returning from a layoff – he won 2 of 10 starts here last year, lands in a field full of question marks, and may be able to come out on top (3) ROSE RUN ASTRO finished 2nd in PA to close out 2025 then picked up a 3rd here last week, in his ’26 return – his barn has been live so far, and that makes him worth a look. (1) UWAITILLGOFIRST arrives from Canada and hasn’t raced since 12/15 – he debuts for a new trainer, and many of his barnmates came out ready for action off the winter break…would at least consider if the price is good enough. (4) ON DAYBOO got hot as the field jammed up past the quarter last week, was forced to pull very early and that compromised his chances for better – he hasn’t won in a long time, but this is the type of field where he can’t be counted out. (7) ENFORCER had some pace way after the fact last week and gets a pretty significant driver change for tonight – that being said, he’s been beyond camera shy, just 1 for 43 over the past 2 years. (5) PIRATES CODE won here off the barn change on 11/19 and has been struggling ever since, including a poor effort (off the winter break) last week

RACE 5 – (5) ENERGY KING only managed two wins in 2025 but he was racing well at the end of the year and carried that good form into 2026, and easy “pocket rocket” winner to start off the new year – legitimate chance to repeat if he can work out another kind journey. (3) B NICKING carved out the fractions last week before coming up 2nd best to the top choice – maybe he can be part of the exotics again tonight? (4) BUSY MAKING MONI has plenty of ability but clearly ha some significant issues as well – the drop to 40s last week did seem suspicious, and he did make a break before the start – can’t rule out his chances of him just shrugging that off and beating these tonight…but you can’t count on that either. (2) PEDAL ON METAL had a less than stellar trip last week but still raced well to be 3rd – chance for another good piece tonight, as well. (6) FOR A DREAMER chased home a standout winner last week but was helped by a pocket trip from the pole – he’s looking at a much tougher journey starting from Post 6 now. (1) WANIA probably needs to be in easier to be a serious threat…maybe the rail can help him take home some minor spoils. (7) BLUEBIRD BISHOP can be a very good horse when on his game but he ended 2025 with a miscue then retreated his ’26 return – pretty iffy right now. (8) ANDOVER CONTESSA lands all the way outside after coming up empty last week – pass for now

RACE 6 – (2) DANCE ON THE BEACH had a few good starts towards the end of 2025 and his first start back was excellent, rallying nicely for 2nd behind ROCKINBILLYSDREAM – maybe he can turn the tables on that rival here? (5) ROCKINBILLYSDREAM came up 2nd best to close out last year then returned sharp last week, delivering the well-backed front end score – would be no surprise to see him take another. (4) J B GRAM had just one win and one 2nd from his 26 local starts last year but he raced well for 2nd to a stickout winner last week, and a similar effort could put him in the hunt here too. (3) REAL WILLEY was 0 for 15 last year and while he doesn’t look too good “on paper” right now, he has been making some moves in his races – moves inside tonight, and isn’t a bad value horse to consider. (1) I B LOVIN raced ok at Monti 2 back but came up weak in his first local try of the year – his best effort would make him a player here, but hard to say if we’ll see that from him. (6) OSTRO HANOVER really struggled here over the last 2 years but is one of several from this barn that has been racing pretty well recently at Monti – we’ll see if he can bring some of that better form with him down the Thruway. (7) SHINE A LIGHT was an “ok” 3rd last week but figures to be compromised with tonight’s poor draw. (8) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER figures to be coming from too far back to have any impact

RACE 7 – (5) BENJAMIN HANOVER was razor sharp earlier last year, then rattled off 5 straight to close out 2025 – no idea what the issue was in that last start in Ohio but he’s right back in the box, lands in a very soft Invitational field and we’ll look for him to shrug it off and bounce right back. (7) CECIL HANOVER has done excellent work since joining his current barn in late summer, and he certainly gets a pass for that brutal trip in the MGM Grand Prix Final – the big question is just how tight he’ll be after six weeks off, and how aggressively he’ll be handled after being assigned the extreme outside post! (2) BRONZER would surely like to be in a little easier but he’s been in good form for some time, draws inside, and should be able to grab himself a piece. (6) BESTFRIEND VOLO is starting to find some better form but that last win was helped by a very easy lead, and some very easy fractions – mixed feelings about how he’ll do tonight if forced to race a lot harder. (4) HOT FLASH KIMMY comes off an excellent year but she’s missed 6 weeks and drops a win off the bottom of her card after tonight – guessing she’ll be handled pretty conservatively. (1) MON AMOUR was no factor in his 2026 return and may already be looking forward to a class drop last week – the rail assignment may at least put him in play for a piece, though. (3) THE HA ZLETON continues to look all done on the final turn, only to battle back in the lane – he loses Gingras to #7 but picks up Bartlett, and we’ll see if a quick start can help him last for a piece in this tougher field

RACE 8 – (3) HAND DOVER DAN was starting to rally into the lane last week when he made that miscue – he had been behaving nicely for some time so perhaps it was just a blip…may be worth a look (at a nice price) in a race that can go many different ways. (4) DIPLOMACY has been a different horse since moving to our leading barn, and adding trotting hopples – he won his last 3 local starts, and could extend that streak to 4 tonight. (1) DWS POINT MAN ended the year with a win on closing day, then was a solid rallying 4th in his 2026 return – draws the pole, and could be part of the equation. (2) VLAHOS got parked upon arrival from Dover but wired the field as the favorite in his next start – he returned off the winter break to score on the front end once more (up at this level), and has to be respected as he seeks his 3rd straight. (6) CHIPPER DALE was on a major roll (vs. 40s) to close out 2025 – he took on the 60s to start off the new year and was just a little short at the end, finishing a very close 3rd…would have liked his chances a bit more had he drawn further inside (8) AUSTRAL HANOVER comes off an excellent 11 win season but trailed all the way from Post 7 last start, and may have to wait another week after drawing so poorly once again (check the tote board?). (5) SEVEN REPS exploded from the pocket to win easily 3 back but most of his other efforts would leave him short against this field. (7) DOROTEA TRIO IT was a dull 5th (placed 4th) in his seasonal return and tonight’s draw will make it tough for him to improve much off that effort.

RACE 9 – (2) THEFLYINGROCK was incredibly sharp to close out 2025 yet he came back even sharper to start off the new year, effortlessly blowing out his rivals by 10 lengths – he steps up from 20s to 25s here, but he’ll still be very tough to knock off with a similar effort. (1) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N certainly brought his “A Game” last week, a very determined two-move, first over winner – good chance he’ll land on the ticket again tonight, after drawing the pole. (4) C BET HANOVER was used hard last week and can be forgiven for weakening a bit in his first start off the winter break – eligible to be sharper tonight, and could add some value to the exotics. (3) EVER HOPING A appreciated the easy trip last week and was an ok 3rd – he’ll need to be a bit sharper to contend for a bigger share tonight, though. (5) BETTOR BY SEASIDE was handled aggressively last week but not up for the assignment – an easier trip could help, but he may also prefer to race at the $20K level. (7) RACING RIPPER gets Bartlett for his local debut but he feels like he could be on the cheaper side, and the draw isn’t going to help. (6) ALADDIN seemed like a pretty questionable claim for $25K on 12/10 and after 3 starts, the questions still remain. (8) MY ULTIMATE STAR A draws Post 8 and was an incredible 21-0-0-0 at Yonkers last year



RACE 10 – (3) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT rarely throws a bad one, and that’s how she banked $116K last year racing in $20K claimers…she just missed to a perfect trip winner in her ‘26 return, and she’s the one to knock off in tonight’s finale (racing for a new barn). (2) TRICKY WICKY was no factor at all in her local debut but that was from Post 7, vs. 25s – eligible to turn in a much bigger effort tonight after getting both post and class relief. (1) ANNELIESE HANOVER tends to be very inconsistent but she does throw some nice efforts, and generally from a spot like this – look for improvement with the move inside. (5) HUNTS FLOWER has a couple of ok tries since arriving here in late November – she could be tighter after that start last week, and better draw could help as well. (7) BIG CITY DAISY probably wasn’t as sharp as her lines look to close out 2025, so it was no big surprise to see her struggle a bit in her 2026 return (even if hurt by a bad trip) – she’s listed at 5/2 ML, and may struggle again, (8) PINK RUBY turned things around completely after moving to this barn in November – she just missed last week, but may have trouble finding a way into the race from all the way out here. (4) HARPER SEELSTER was no factor at all in her first start of the year and is inconsistent even at her “best” – leaning elsewhere. (6) SEA STORM is racing ok out of town and gets Gingras on board tonight – she does look a bit cheaper, though, and will have to prove that she can hang with these.