Thursday, July 2, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, July 2, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NAADA Summer Series: (5) BIG LIMO never saw the cones from Post 8 last week, was trapped in a bad blindswitch but still was trotting well at the wire – he gets a much better draw tonight and reunites with Verruso, for whom he just won 3 starts back – could offer some value in tonight’s opener. (1) CAL MILES N SHELL looked like he was going to jog last week but he may have been hurt by an over-confident stretch drive, and was still a nose shy on the wire – remains the one to knock off from this spot. (3) BACARDI never got in play last week but moves inside and gets Yogi back in the bike (for whom he won, 2 starts back) – could be a live player tonight. (2) THE LA ST CHAPTER has missed 3 weeks but figures to be sitting close to the action, with a chance for some minor spoils. (7) COMMUNION MONEY shows a win, 2nd and 3rd from his last 4 starts with Scott Bako on board – not sure she’ll be able to overcome tonight’s poor draw, however. (4) JESSES DOLL saved ground for a small piece last week and may be able to do the same tonight. (8) RADIO LAB faced better than these in a bunch of starts this year but lands behind the 8 ball after a miscue in his last. (6) SEVEN LICK PRISE is hard to gauge off his out of town lines but the poor draw does figure to compromise his chances regardless

RACE 2 – (2) HEZA RISK TAKER A is still seeking his first local victory (0 for 12) but he’s gone several big efforts vs. better, and may have found a winning spot – seems like a good sign that Bartlett takes him over a couple of others! (5) SIX DEGREES feels like he could be the main danger and HE is 0 for 20 this year – like the top choice, he’s held his own vs. much better than these. (1) CASINO ACTION N has some “sneaky ok” starts from bad spots recently – the move inside could help him land somewhere on the ticket. (6) ORLANDO BLUE A just hasn’t been the same since the original claim on 5/11 – we’ll see if tonight’s drop to the bottom level can help his cause. (3) MAD RIVER lost interest in the back last week but a rebound to one of his previous efforts puts him in play for a small piece. (4) MAJORCROWDCONTRL A is winless in the U.S. and rare “bust” for this barn– leaning elsewhere (7) TEXAS HOLDEM and (8) FEELIN WESTERN would both be major surprises…especially from these posts!

RACE 3 – (4) LAST BEACH won a couple of these in March but then missed time after a sick scratch – went back to “The Aces” and was given a couple of tighteners, and now returns at a winning level with Bartlett on board – guessing he’ll be ready for action. (3) ROSE RUN ASTRO returned to his old barn last week and rallied from the clouds to almost get there (albeit in a fall apart race) – better draw tonight, and can be a player once more. (5) DECI SION DAY delivered nice rallies to be 2nd to SHINE A LIGHT in his last pair and that’s almost like “winning” – a live trip could make him a dangerous late threat (1) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE dropped down to 15s and turned in a better effort for 3rd – very playable underneath. (2) FULL SUPPORT was the winner in last week’s “fall apart” race, picking up his first victory of 2026 – have a feeling he’ll be looking at a smaller piece tonight, though. (7) ALADDI N finally picked up a long overdue victory last week, helped by a driver change and pocket trip – looking at a much tougher journey tonight, though. (6) MACH N CHEESE was scr. sick when in for $25K last start and now enters for $15K – feels like red flags are waving. (8) SOUTH POINT draws Post 8 after being on the shelf since last Nov.

RACE 4 – (2) MAYBEMABEL just wasn’t right on 5/26 (off the claim) but was freshened up, and looked like her “good” self, winning her last start with ease – she’s very dangerous at this level whenever she’s anything close to 100%. (4) EVENINSTARZRAPSODY broke in her local debut but scored easily in her next as a massive 35-1 overlay – raced very well for 2nd in a hot mile last week, and can have another big say tonight. (3) KISSIN JOE has been camera shy the last couple of years but is usually good for a late rally, and usually a good one to include in exotics. (1) BADDITUDE was 13-0-1-1 here last year but arrived sharp from OD for her first local start of the year, joined one of our leading barns and was able to deliver the aggressive victory – this is a tougher spot, but she’ll surely make her presence felt from the pole. (6) SP DANCNWITHSTARZ was 0 for 18 coming into her last and not in the greatest recent form…but that didn’t stop her from delivering a blowout win, while taking a new lifetime mark – just a fluke, or can she bring that kind of effort tonight? (7) RACIN FOR ROYALTY is usually a different horse when she draws INSIDE – inclined to pass, but we’ll see if Bartlett has any better luck with her (for a new barn). (8) SHEIKH YABOOTY N really wasn’t bad in her last couple but tonight’s draw may leave her waiting for a better spot. (5) FORTUNADA has a couple of “ok” recent tries but on the whole, her efforts have been lacking

RACE 5 – (1) B NICKING was WAY wide into the first turn last week but still somehow looped some sharp leavers to make his way to the top – give him a pass for eventually tiring, and look at all the sharp tries he’d been throwing just prior to that – could be a winning spot for his new barn. (6) MON AMOUR also had a brutal trip in the same race a #1 and still managed to finish 3rd – he’s a rock solid player in this class (on or off the pace) and looms a dangerous threat. (2) HAT TRICK MARLEAU may have built some confidence after shipping over to PcD and beating the 20s – he should get an easy trip here, and that could lead to a small piece. (3) WHISKEY PEDDLER is a bit of a question mark class-wise but he seems more than capable of grabbing a share with a decent trip. (4) SEVEN S HADESOFGREY would be tough to endorse on top (1 for 33 locally over the last 2 years) but a few of his (mixed) recent efforts would at least give him a chance to contend for a piece. (5) SONGS IN THE WIND feels like he needs some class relief to be effective. (7) BULLY BOY HILL just gave way badly from the pocket with no visible excuses last week– need to see a better effort before considering. (8) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS has been “ok”, but tonight’s draw will likely curtail his chances

RACE 6 – (6) JAS BLUESTONE was forced to race from the back after drawing Post 8 last week and that’s just not his thing – not a great draw tonight either, but at least he can try to leave the gate for his new connections – lots of appeal with that 8-1 ML price. (2) WARRAWEE WHISPER can trot some big miles when things go to his liking but he’s also prone to some duds at times– drawing inside with Bartlett will really help his chances, but he’s also assured of being way overbet! (7) WILLY WALTON wasn’t bad two back and he overcame a very tough trip last week to be 2nd to the perfect trip winner (#8) – definitely worth considering for a piece with that 20-1 ML price. (8) KAYS IN CHARGE took off the gate for the first time in weeks last start and it ended up providing her with a “can’t miss” trip (as the action up front was sizzling) – definitely vulnerable from Post 8 tonight. (4) NOVEL is a little hard to gauge off just one local try – leaning elsewhere, but could see him racing well in here. (1) FOR A DREAMER has missed time after a sick scratch – prefer to just watch tonight. (3) E PASS missed 3 weeks after a dull try in last and drops in for a tag tonight – watch mode only. (5) HOOLIE N HECTOR really seems to need an easier spot these days

RACE 7 – (1) MAHONE SEELSTER was off his game for a few starts but his last was more like it – might be able to grab a win tonight with some of the main rivals drawn outside. (2) BJMS LIL MAN definitely fits and can definitely be a big threat tonight – don’t really like that he’s moving up in class and still listed as the ML favorite, however. (3) THE BRODSTER is usually well backed and usually right in the hunt…so when he was sent off at 74-1 (from Post 7) last week, it was a pretty good hint that he may not be able to get in play – tonight’s better draw should allow him to battle for a good chunk. (6) STREET GOSSIP had no prayer after drawing Post 8 last time – tonight’s draw isn’t much better, but it may at least allow him to contend for a minor piece. (8) SUNDAY SHOES had plenty of trot finishing from well back last week but may find himself in a similarly tough situation tonight – he’s more than sharp enough to be a player, otherwise. (7) VANDY LANE had been racing very well before coming up a little flat last time – tonight’s draw won’t help his cause. (5) P L OSCAR has grabbed his share of good pieces at good prices but he drifted and tired for no apparent reason last week, and that makes him a bit suspect for tonight. (4) RITSON has been trying to work his way back up the ladder but has missed 3 weeks and lands in a tough field

RACE 8 – (2) MASSIVE DESIRE was another excellent trotting find for Gingras and Co. and quickly rebounded from a miscue 2 back to be a sharp 2nd behind a razor sharp ALWAYS A STORY last week – we’ll give him the narrow edge tonight., even though he’ll be debuting for a new barn. (1) FULL OF MUSCLES caught a bit of a shuffle last week but did a great job re-rallying for 3rd after shaking free- his overall form has been very good for some time, and looms a big player here too. (3) MY MAN PETER continues to climb the class ladder, using a pocket trip last week to collar the favored frontrunner – an easy trip could help him contend for a piece even vs. this better field. (6) WHEELZABLAZIN has a big rush when on his game, and he certainly looked good off the claim last week – on the flip side, he’s up in class tonight and draws poorly – maybe if the price is good enough. (8) LAFE RRARIDMANCHE S returns off a couple of Pocono blowouts and the class was re-written to fit her in…but after drawing Post 8, she may still need to wait for a better spot to strut her best stuff. (7) EXQUISITE TASTE can generally hold her own at this level…but maybe not from out here. (4) TORRONE hit the top and never looked back at a big price last week – he won’t catch THIS bunch by surprise, though. (5) THEOBALD steps up off the claim and will need to prove himself at this level



RACE 9 – (1) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES gave it a big 8 hole try dropping to 15s last week, losing only to the sharp winner – the one to beat tonight. (3) TWO FACED does feel ready to get his picture taken…but since that hasn’t happened since 2024, we’ll list him underneath! (5) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY drops a bit, gets a decent draw and should be able to make his presence felt. (6) IM SOME GRADUATE’s efforts since the claim have been mixed – bad draw, but may still rally for a share. (7) THE WILL TO PLAY feels a bit cheap but he’ll be a big price arriving for a sharp barn – ok for longshot fans. (4) SOCIAL THEORIES was 0 for 30 the last 2 years before last week’s NJ win – not a likely repeater!. (2) DEEDENUTO A may be able to tow along for minor spoils. (8) MR PROFETA lands all the way outside after re-qualifying – pass for now.