Thursday, September 10, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, September 10, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (7) TRICKY CAPTAIN N has been doing good work out of town, even if some of the starts have been vs. cheaper – he’s shown the ability to leave the gate, and gets the right pilot to put him in play from Post 7 in his YR debut…very tempting at 20-1 ML! (3) DECISION DAY has been a solid weekly performer for the last few months, and grabs his wins when the trip goes his way – another good value option. (2) SHAKE IT dropped to 15s last week and may have been able to get by (1) SETH HANOVER had he shaken free just a bit sooner – possible here for sure, but likely to be at least somewhat overbet. The latter was sent off at 3/5 last week (despite returning from a 3 ½ month layoff) and was able to hang on, after cutting easy fractions – maybe vulnerable tonight at another very short price. (5) OZONE BLUE CHIP has been a steady player at this level but the wins have been hard to come by – ok to use underneath. (4) ENRIQUE HANOVER shows two very good and two very bad efforts from his last 4 starts – it’s anybody’s guess which version we’ll see tonight! (6) HES SPECIAL throws a good one at times, but he’s also 0 for 27 locally in 2025/26. (8) FERRAGAMO HANOVER is 15-0-0-1 at Yonkers and starts from Post 8

RACE 2 – (5) B NICKING has been racing well for an extended period and used a perfect trip to get back to the winner’s circle last week – no reason he can’t take another from this spot. (1) RADIO LAB rallied late to pull off a nice 13-1 upset 3 back, had trot from an impossible spot in his next then rallied again last week to be 3rd (not far behind B NICKING) – legitimate threat from the pole. (3) BO SILAS is doing good work since moving to his current barn 3 starts back – eligible to grab another small piece tonight. (7) BELLISSIMO FACE S was an easy trip winner 2 back but came up a little short (with no excuses) in the starts just before and after that one – possible for sure, but he’ll need to be sharper to win from out here. (2) SUNDAY SHOES broke on 7/30 when claimed, took a month off and re-qualified but came up empty last week – too soon to write him off, but would need a big price to use on top tonight. (8) SAID N DONE AS has been racing well at Btva. but lands in a brutal spot for his first local try of the year (6) SENSI AMNESIA was re-claimed last week but seems to prefer a bit easier competition (4) TACHYON was able to beat a very soft group last week, but this spot is just much tougher

RACE 3 – (5) PAYBACK MONI went a big trip 2 back in her first start off the layoff but broke before the start last week–gets her owner back in the bike tonight, and will be a handful as long as she avoids any miscues (3) ALWAYS A STORY risked dropping in for a tag last week and picked up a win (as she also avoided being claimed) – she’s gone big miles all year long, and no reason she shouldn’t go another tonight. (1) BAY BREEZE HANOVER may have benefited from last week’s (ok) off the pace try after tiring late in her previous pair – an easy trip could see her grab a decent slice. (4) MA ISABELLE isn’t usually a threat to win in this class but she CAN rally for pieces, with easy trips. (2) NYMERIA just hasn’t gotten back to “top” form this year, though still a solid race mare – she’s listed on the bottom, but could do better than that if an easy enough trip comes her way

RACE 4 – (3) BLOCKCHAIN may have disliked the off going 2 back because he shrugged off that disappointing try with a “more like it” near-miss first over 2nd last week – remains a very dangerous threat! (4) E PASS drew 8 holes in his first 2 tries off the barn change but was a solid rallying 4th after moving inside for his last – he can have a say tonight too. (5) COMMODUS A took advantage of a perfect trip with that win 3 back but then disappointed at short prices in his last pair – still leaning elsewhere, but at least his price will be better now. (7) ONAJETPLANE trotted a very strong final quarter from an impossible spot last week and fits nicely with these – he gets the worst of the draw, but he CAN be a player IF Stratton is willing to leave out and improve at the start. (6) VANDY LANE loves a trip and used a perfect one to pick up the victory last week – have to respect his chances, but he does face the real possibility of a much less friendly journey tonight. (1) LUCKY MUM N had been struggling this year but perked up in that Amateur race 4 back, won her first start of the year in her next, the raced “ok” from tough spots in her last pair – chance for a minor share, even at this high level. (2) BE DIFFERENT picked up his first local win of the season over cheaper 2 back, but now moves up TWO classes off a no-threat 5th last week

RACE 5 – (3) RACIN FOR ROYALTY finished up well from a hopeless spot last week and has been solid overall in recent starts – she’s a MUCH tougher mare when she draws inside, and this is a good week to give her a shot. (1) MI LAGRO was certainly a surprise last week but she went a legitimately impressive effort to score the upset, and she may have a chance to repeat – willing to use, as long as the price is decent. (2) DISTANT LOVER is winless in 11 local starts this year but she’s gone some decent efforts vs. better lately, and the drop in for a tag may give her a chance to be right in the hunt tonight. (4) JILLIAN JIGGS was just 1 for 37 here in 2024/25 but she’s become a different mare out of town this season winning 13 of her 23 starts…not ready to jump on her team tonight, but she’ll surely get a closer look! (8) TWO BEAN DREAM was a dead-game winner last week (2nd time Lasix) but faces a much tougher assignment from Post 8 now…still, that 20-1 ML price does give her some appeal! (5) BARBADOS BABE has been much better since she’s stopped leaving the gate – chance for some minor spoils. (6) BIG CITY DA ISY hasn’t been on her best game for a while – Post 6 won’t help her cause. (7) KISSIN JOE was dismal last week off the qualifier and now lands outside

RACE 6 – (7) JAS BLUESTONE loves to win races, has the speed to overcome the outside draw and deserves top billing against these. (4) JESSES DOLL brought over her good Monti form to Yonkers, turning in back to back strong efforts – moves inside off a good 8 hole try, and can be a part of this too. (3) SMOKIN JET came up a game 2nd best to the heavy favorite last week, after showing trot in traffic the start before – logical one to include in exotics. (1) CLASSICAL JANE’s 2 best local tries came when she had decent posts, and she certainly has one here – another one to use underneath. (8) KAYS IN CHARGE has put together an excellent 2026 campaign but usually does her damage when she lands on a good trip…may have trouble finding one of those tonight. (5) KASHA V will sometimes rally for a minor share – probably the best he can do here too. Both (2) BONTONI DEGATO S and (6) AIRMANS JACKPOT seem to need to be in easier these days to be any kind of threats

RACE 7 – (2) DRIBBLING BI drops back down the level he handled easily (at 3/5!) just 4 starts back – hard to not look his way with that tempting 8-1 ML price! (4) ROYAL COMET has been a steady performer all year in the KYSS – he moves to a new (successful) barn, adds Lasix, picks up Holland for his local debut and is certainly worth considering. (1) KILDARE KING has thrived since joining our leading barn, not surprising since he’s banked over ¾ of a $million in his career – the rail draw should put him right in the thick of this from start to finish. (3) EXQUIS ITE TASTE hasn’t won in a while but she continues to turn in mostly solid efforts – she was right there on the wire last week, and very playable in exotics tonight. (6) WHEELZABLAZIN just missed to a classy, perfect trip winner last week and has been showing up with solid efforts most every week – tough draw, but still a chance to rally for a small share. (5) BJMS LIL MAN has raced well in most of his starts this year but he’s now just 1 for 17 and he moves up tonight off a loss – chance for a piece, but sticking with others for the top slots. (7) FRANK LEAHY was excellent 2 and 3 back but just never fired last time – even if he bounces right back, it’ll be very hard for him to reach from out here. (8) CAMERA MAN is having an excellent 4YO campaign and only listed on the bottom because of the draw – could still find a way to grab a small piece

RACE 8 – (4) THEOBALD took a little too long to find his best stride last week but was trotting ok at the wire – he’s doing much better work these days for his current connections, and lands in what seems like the much easier $40K division…we’ll try him on top. (3) THE BRODSTER looked like a winner at the top of the lane last week but started to fall apart once into the stretch, needing Bartlett just to hold him together (he’s done this before) – the ABILITY is there to beat these, but he’s a little shaky these days, and also loses our leading driver. (8) WILLY WALTON was scratched lame here on 8/13 but his qualifier ( a couple of weeks later) suggests he’s ok – he can throw big miles at times, and may be worth a stab for longshot fands. (2) SIR MAVERICK “speed popped” these from Post 7 four back but struggled in his last 3 starts – not really sure what to expect tonight. (6) HAT TRICK MA RLEAU is now 0 for 26 at Yonkers this year but it really wouldn’t be any great surprise to see him rally for a small piece. (1) WARRAWEE WHISPER has thrown duds in almost all of his recent starts – tough to endorse right now. (7) MON AMOUR missed 3 weeks after a few pretty disappointing miles – waiting for better signs. (5) MARIN CO UNTY seems ambitiously placed at this $40K level

RACE 9 – Good finale: (5) THEFLYINGROCK went a disastrous mile when claimed for $30K on 6/10 – he was freshened up, and delivered an encouraging 3rd in his first start back…maybe he can build off that and come out on top in this well-matched field. (6) MIND HUNTER got brutalized vs. the 40s two back but has otherwise been very sharp at this $30K level – threat tonight, even with the bad draw. (1) YOROKOBI N remains as camera shy as ever but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t race very well most weeks – belongs in your exotics. (2) ZEBS KRAFTY seems to throw either big efforts or total clunkers since arriving here this summer – worth a look if the price is decent. (4) OV ER THE HORIZON was a big question mark stepping up to 30s last week but turned in an excellent effort for 2nd to a razor sharp winner – a similar effort puts him in the hunt for another good chunk tonight. (3) CASINO ACTION N does his best work vs. easier. Both (7) ALIEN POWER and (8) QUOTE ME NOT will be hard pressed to have any real impact starting from out here.