Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, January 27, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) UNCONTROLLED had a chance to win her first start of 2026 but came up a little short in the lane – she drops down to 20s tonight, draws the pole, and perhaps that will be enough to get her over the hump. (3) STONE COLD GIRL was a bit overbet last week but landed on a perfect trip and was able to reward her backers – more than capable of repeating, but likely to be overbet once more (8) DWS DARLENE closed out 2025 in fine form and came back just as sharp in ’26, just missing to #3 last week – it won’t be easy to overcome tonight’s tough draw, but at least she’ll be a pretty decent price. (2) NITE TIME DEAL turned in a sharp one in NJ last start but her local form has always been somewhat inconsistent – worth a look if the price is juicy enough. (4) MIKI THE CLOWN has been racing well at Monti and gets a big driver change returning to YR – may be a little on the cheaper side, but still not impossible. (7) MC ANGEL was sinless in 2025 until taking her final start of the season, then came back with a decent try to start off 2026 – tonight’s draw does figure to limit her, however. (5) BLUEBIRD CRUSH was an “ok” 5th last week but will need to be better to have any real say tonight. (6) SHESINQREDIBLE DEO draws poorly after struggling badly last week

RACE 2 – (4) MACHS LEGACY A was well backed and well meant for her 2026 return but just couldn’t hold off ATREACHEROUS A after cutting the mile – could be a little tighter now, with a chance to make amends. (5) MISS PERIGNON N was sluggish much of the way for her seasonal return but was full of pace coming through the wire – she’s enjoyed plenty of success in this class, and is absolutely worth considering tonight. (6) ATREACHEROUS A beat these last week, seamlessly making the jump from 30s to 50s to start off the new year– she figures to be coming from further back tonight, though, and that could definitely hurt her chances of repeating. (1) IDEALINFUN is another that lagged a long way before rallying last week, and now lands the pole for her 2nd start of the year – use in your exotics. (3) YS SENSATIONALCITY comes off a terrific 2025 season and raced well in her ’26 return as well, coming up 2nd best to a sharp front end favorite – she moves up in class off the claim tonight, and that has us leaning more towards others. (2) CYCLONE SISTER was solid in her local debut but is another trying to make the leap up to 50s. (7) LAURIE LEE continues to race much better out of town than here at Yonkers…and the draw won’t help her cause. (8) TWIST LITTLE GIRL lands outside after tiring from the two hole last week

RACE 3 – (5) BRI EXPRESS was trapped with pace in her first 2 local tries…she was put on the front end on 12/19 and delivered a solid score, then made her 2026 return a winning one as well, wiring this class as the odds on choice – remains the one to knock off. (4) IDEAL SKIES may prefer to be in a bit cheaper, but still feels like a good fit with this compact group of 30s – a good trip gives her a solid chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (1) DOCS LOVE has legitimate ability and this $30K class seems like a good spot for her to make her 2026 return – she has only one start in 9 weeks, though, and has to be seen as a question mark for tonight. (3) CRÈME DELIGHT steps up to 30s after being stuck on smaller pieces in 25s – maybe 3rd/4th? (2) VIBRANCE tired badly last week with no visible excuses – maybe she can rebound with a better effort tonight, but she would be hard to endorse right now, (6) MAL UKA MISS N was a no-threat 4th in her ’26 return and tonight’s draw figures to hurt her chances to improve.

RACE 4 – (2) ODDS ON NO LIMIT only made 9 starts at 3 but he was sharp in most of them, including a win (here at Yonkers) in his Messenger elimination – he was driven aggressively off the layoff last week (seating the odds-on favorite behind him), then sprinted home in a crisp :27.2 to seal the deal – we were on board last week, and will stay on his team tonight. (3) LOCHLAN HANOVER raced well here when still a barnmate to #2, and has continued to thrive in his 5 starts since changing hands – the main danger? (1) DREAM BIRD was a close up 4th vs. older last week, and gets a great draw for tonight– could be next in line should the top pair falter. (4) DREAMBOAT HANOV ER appears to have some ability, but was no factor in either local try – will need to improve to be any threat to the top ones. (5) BOXER SEELSTER used a perfect trip to make his 4th local try a winning one right before the winter break – he’s been idle since then, and faces tougher for his 2026 return. (6) JABBAR has been away for a month and lands outside – tough assignment

RACE 5 – (3) RACIN FOR ROYALTY was one of many from the barn to turn in a sharp effort returning from the winter break, a close up 3rd after a first over trip – she’s one of a few with a legitimate chance in here, and should offer some decent value. (2) NUTTINBUTHEBEST turned in a determined try in her first start of 2026, just missing out to an even more determined rival – license to make amends tonight after drawing inside her main foes. (8) YUE NGLING ended the year with a pair of front end scores then was a wire to wire winner in her seasonal return – it won’t be easy to make it FOUR in a row after drawing Post 8, but she’s too sharp to ignore if her price creeps up. (5) BOUT DAMN TIME A “figured” in a lot of her starts last year but ended up the season at just 2 for 31 – seems like a better one to use underneath, rather than on top. (4) LADYCORONA was no factor in her first start of the year but at least she functioned (after a brutal end to her 2025 season) – she drops to 20s tonight, and really wouldn’t be a real shock. (1) BEANTOWN BABE is capable at this level, but she’s been away for 6 weeks and may need a start. (6) COALFORDSNSHINE GB was empty dropping to 20s to start off the new year – waiting for better signs. (7) HOLI STARZZZ A hasn’t been sharp out of town – prefer to just observe, for now

RACE 6 – (2) DISTANT LOVER went an insane mile off the winter break, parked with cover from Post 8, swinging wide on the back side as her cover tired, rallying up to take on the winner to the final turn (and almost going by), battling right to the wire before coming up a neck shy – was claimed from that start (by a barn that won with her in the past), and she deserves the edge off that he effort. (3) STORMY SERENA was the one who beat #2 last week, fighting her off through the lane to register her 3rd straight victory – she also goes for a new barn tonight, and would be hard to leave off your tickets. (7) MIGHTHAVTIME N missed 7 weeks to her last start, sat last but still charged home full of pace for her new barn – she steps up to 25s and lands all the way outside again, but still could be a great bomb for exotics. (4) KISSIN JOE usually rallies well off a trip – she makes her first start since 12/19, but still may be able to land somewhere on the bottom of the ticket. (1) TOBAGO TIME struggled in a bunch of starts at the end of 2025 and clearly wasn’t up for the aggressive try in her ’26 return – could be a bigger player tonight with an easier trip from the pole. (5) ILLUSION SEELSTER is just 10-0-0-1 at Yonkers and one of the only horses in the barn NOT to thrive locally – sticking with others. (6) EBONY LADY was parked last week (in front of #2) before tiring badly – figures to be handled conservatively after drawing poorly here (2nd start for a new barn)

RACE 7 – (2) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE was ultra-conservative in most of his starts before the winter break (while remaining sharp) but was handled much more aggressively in his first start of 2026 and delivered the front end score – he steps up a bit, but this field is well within his comfort zone as well – chance to take another. (3) BET ON BIG JOE won 3 of 4 starts here this winter, a close 3rd in the lone loss – that last effort in NJ should have him plenty tight for tonight, and he looms the main danger. (4) DELE ROW A hit board in his first 3 U.S. starts (in NJ) then was able to get his picture taken here at Yonkers, helped by the switch to Bartlett – he was definitely all out that night (and running out to the wire), and may be a bit vulnerable here as the 9/5 ML favorite. (5) THE IDEAL DANC ER A was surprisingly aggressive off the winter hiatus and should benefit from that (solid) start – good bomb to use underneath. (1) STAY GROUNDED has struggled locally the past 2 seasons (15-0-0-3), and also seems to prefer being in a bit easier. (6) BARS AND NOTES drops a bit from his first local try but this class may be a little tough for him as well, especially after drawing Post 6.

RACE 8 – (6) BETTOR NOT won a ton of races at the PA fairs and has been doing very good work for his current barn, both in NJ and PA – Bartlett takes him over #2, and we’ll look for a big effort in his Hilltop debut. (5) THE WI CKED ONE was a solid 3rd in his first start of 2026, behind a pair of good ones (and into a fast final quarter) – his overall local slate is solid, and he could have a big say tonight. (1) CURRYS FLURRY is just 3 for 35 lifetime but usually turns in a decent effort – ok for the bottom of exotics. (7) SIMPLY FAST was no factor in his local debut (for a new trainer) but definitely finished up with some pace – could see him rallying for a share at a nice price. (2) THIS JK ROCKS ran and hid from a field 3 starts back but most of his other efforts have been lacking – Bartlett opts off, and that’s good enough for us. (4) TIP OF TIME is just 3 for 37 lifetime – minor spoils only. (3) NO TRES SPASSING tailed considerably at the end of the year and has been idle since 12/9 – prefer to just observe, for now. (8) ALRITEALRITEALRITE draws Post 8 for his first start in 7 weeks and while he’s gone a few decent tries here, the guess is that he’ll be handled very conservatively tonight

RACE 9 – (1) THENU CAME ALONG A trailed all the way from Post 8 last week but he moves all the way inside tonight, drops a notch and most importantly, was Bartlett’s choice over a couple of other contenders – guessing we’ll see a different version this week. (3) TEN TO THE DOZEN A came up terrible last week but is capable of much better – a rebound mile is possible, and his best effort could make him a threat. (2) WAVEMAKER was still last when they turned for home last week but was full of pace coming through the wire – he’s a bit of an enigma, but does have some ability when in the right mood. (7) BONDI LOCKDOWN A draws horrible and was just 2 for 21 here last year BUT he’s been racing pretty well across the river, and not a bad bomb to at least consider. (8) T H TYSON has raced well here in the past and returns from NJ off a pair of wins over lesser – demand a good price if trying him on top from Post 8, though. (6) OPTICAL ILLUSION N makes his first start of the year at the level he beat on 12/1…but the guess is that he won’t be fully cranked for tonight (but take a peek at the tote board). (4) THE BIGBOSS A was a winner over lesser last week and pretty much stole that race – much tougher assignment here. (5) GENTLE GIANT has been away since 12/15 – prefer to just observe tonight

RACE 10 – (8) BOOKEM DANNO was 0 for 10 here last year but did hit board 7X – he did blast to the top from Post 8 (with Siegelman) back on 10/14, and may be able to work out a manageable trip tonight, in this beatable field. (1) PRINTVILLE landed on an easy trip last week and rallied for 2nd behind a sharp 8 hole winner – logical threat after landing another inside draw. (7) SHAKESPEARE was a decent 2nd in his first start of the year – not an ideal draw, but still worthy of respect against this modest bunch. (4) MOVIN ON UP wasn’t bad when 3rd in his first start of 2026 – worth considering, at least for exotics. (6) MAJORCROWDCONTRL A added Lasix for his seasonal return but turned in a disappointing try – the import still hasn’t found his best yet for a barn that usually excels with these types. (3) POP IT ran and hid from a soft bunch to close out 2025 but disappointed in his seasonal return – leaning more towards others. (5) SEW MUCH SWAG recently changed hands…just feels a little too cheap for these. (2) ROCKMYSTER N has only beaten one horse in his last 5 starts – hard to endorse right now.

RACE 11 – (1) THONG CONTROL has stayed fit racing out of town during the winter break, is used to facing better than these and may have landed in a winning spot for his first local start of the year, (7) PEACE OUT POSSE would be very dangerous in this field (even from Post 7) if anywhere near his best, and that last NJ effort seems like a good sign – wouldn’t hesitate to consider him with that juicy 15-1 ML price. (5) CAVIART SARGENT is a logical threat in this spot but he’s usually better at rallying at big prices vs. better, than he is at WINNING is seemingly “easier” spots – be careful about taking too short a price. (3) SAMHARA N wasn’t sharp to close out 2025 but maybe the short break will help his cause – minor share? (8) ITZA DANGERZONE A is 7-0-0-3 here at Yonkers and moves from the rail to Post 8 – still may be able to beat a few of the lesser ones, though. (2) ALWAYS ROCKIN gets a good draw but was just 2 for 33 locally over the last 2 seasons – sticking with others. (6) COLLECTIVE WORKS A draws poorly for his first start since 12/15 – prefer to just observe for now. (4) LONG SHOT BUCKETS finished ok in his local debut but still seems a little cheaper than these.