Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, June 23, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (2) MAYBEMABEL wasn’t traveling well at all here on 5/26 so it’s good to see that she took a couple of weeks off then qualified very nicely at Monti (behind SILK CLOUD A) – when “right”, she has a terrific brush and should be very dangerous tonight back in for $20K. (7) TH SANDRA DEE has taken 3 straight at this level and has to be seen as the main danger, even from Post 7 – would be no surprise at all! (4) JIVE DANCING A is off her best game right now but she’s looking at a better trip tonight and that should put her in play for a good piece of this. (1) SPIRIT OF PEARL A drops to 20s and draws the pole BUT she was also pretty weak in her last start (vs. 25s) – we’ll see if this easier spot helps her turn in a better effort. (5) CHARMING VIXEN has been “ok” vs. cheaper out of town but returns to a tough spot – maybe minor spoils? (3) SWEET SANDY “stole” a win in her local debut but regressed in her next pair – needs to bring a better effort for any chance at a decent piece tonight. (6) TWO BEAN DREAM used an easy trip to outmuscle a very soft bunch last start – may not have the same success in this tougher spot. (8) TRICKY WICKY would certainly be a surprise from out here

RACE 2 – (1) PANETTONE HANOVER finished with plenty of pace from a hopeless spot 3 back, charged home late to nail HEZA CHARTTOPPER A in his next then just had no prayer in his last – moves all the way inside, and that should make him very dangerous tonight. (2) KWICK SAND A was crying out for room all through the stretch last week and knew what to do once he found it – he’s thrived all year at Yonkers, and tonight’s class jump shouldn’t bother him at all – chance to take another. (3) GORGEOUS BIG GUY had no chance in his local debut (sitting 7th in a 1:51 mile in the 3-5YO Open), but his miscue on the final turn is a bit concerning – he could be a very good fit with these, but would still need to be a decent price to consider using on top. (4) ZEBS KRAFTY has gotten better every start since joining his current, quickly going from low-level “NW PM” classes to just missing in 40s last week – we’ll see if he can improve even more, and hold his own in this tough spot. (6) THENU CAME ALONG elected to ply his trade out of town after taking 3 months off – he seems to be really sharpening, but also lands in very tough for his YR return. (5) NONE BETTOR A is still a hard hitter at age 13 but may prefer to be in a little easier.

RACE 3 – (2) JOHNNY WIGGLES moved to a barn known for instant improvement and quickly turned in a solid 2nd at VD in a sharp 1:51.3 mile – he meets and evenly matched bunch of locals tonight, and draws inside of his main rivals…worth a look. (4) ADAM CHEESEHEAD is 5-2-2-1 since arriving at Yonkers, handling any trip that comes his way – no reason he shouldn’t be part of the equation once more. (6) BETTORS DESIRE is deceptively sharp, but his form somewhat obscured by tough spots – no luck with the draw once more, but still could have a say at a nice price. (7) ALL MY LOVIN was hammered down to 6/5 for his local debut but caught a quick mile and never got in play – terrible spot once more, but a much better price if looking to stay on board. (5) ALABAMA LUC KY is light in the win column but a weekly player in this class – absolutely worth including underneath. (1) JOEL AND THE JETS has ability, but clearly working through some issues right now – he changes barns, and we’ll see if he can start heading in a better direction. (3) QUICKAWAY wasn’t bothered badly at Buffalo and was already struggling at that point – he was scratched sick from his last, and feels a little iffy at the moment. (8) HURRICANE EXPRESS tends to get away poorly…starting from Post 8 certainly won’t help in that department!

RACE 4 – (3) MADDIES DELITE is 3 for 5 here at Yonkers but last week’s 3rd place finish was probably her sharpest of all – she moves to a barn that excels off the claim, draws inside, and looms a very dangerous player! (6) WAITFOREVER N was hopelessly blocked 3 back, was sharp winning her nest then a solid 2nd last week – gets a tough draw off the claim, but still looms a real threat for her new connections. (7) WIN WITH LYNNLY’s efforts have been all over the place but she CAN be a threat on her best, especially if Kakaley can improve position at the start. (1) PETROL QUEEN was a consistent player for weeks before throwing a dud last week – she’s right back in the box, and we’ll see if she can rebound quickly. (2) ALWAYSBPUFFING IR has found things a bit tougher since exiting the “NW PM” ranks – needs to up her game a bit to be a bigger player at this level. (5) LAURIE LEE comes into this off a pair of no threat 4ths and is another that will need to be better if she hopes for a bigger piece. (8) OVER ICE is sharper than she looks but draws post 8 and is 0 for 23 here at Yonkers. (4) SPLASH OF PINK has some nice recent efforts out of town, but vs. easier – she’ll have to prove she can compete with these.

RACE 5 – (5) MOONSHINER N won 5 of 16 starts Down Under before arriving in the U.S., lands in a top shelf barn and that last PcD qualifier suggests that he’s ready to roll – we’ll go with him on top for his YR debut. (7) FLYI NG MAJOR ART N won his only start in Australia and has certainly thrived out of town since arriving in the U.S., picking up 3 straight victories after a 2nd place finish – hard to know how he’ll fit with these, but guessing he’ll do just fine. (4) ART IN HEAVEN finished well from an impossible spot 2 back the held ok in his last after trying to rally into a hot mile – should be able to have a decent day with this crew. (8) HALF PAST MIDNIGHT has more good tries than bad in NJ but the homebred gets the worst of the draw for his first local start of the year and that may limit him somewhat. (6) FARKLE broke 2 back then was dull in his last, but has shown more ability in the past – not a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (2) WHISKEY VENOM was sluggish in both local starts but did keep trying all the way – another with a chance for a small slice. (3) ALL INITOWINIT finished 3rd last week but a dozen lengths behind the top two finishers – needs to be better. (1) ARIES BLUE CHIP starts his 3YO campaign for a new barn after showing little in a pair of 2YO starts – check the tote board?

RACE 6 – (1) T H TYSON can be forgiven for coming up 2nd best to razor sharp (repeat) winner ESCAPE TO AME RICA 2 back, then kicked home full of pace from an impossible spot in his last – he moves all the way inside, and should be very tough tonight with what figures to be a very good trip. (6) THE GREEK FREAK still isn’t at his best right now, but could have pulled out a victory last week had he not left the winner just enough room to collar him at the end – he’ll likely be blasting again tonight, and it would surely be no surprise to see him come out on top. (4) MOMENT IS HERE fits very nicely with these but he came up 2nd best at 4/5 in his only local try this year, and was 0 for 9 at Yonkers in 2025 (with 4 seconds) – may be better used underneath? (5) SWEETHOMEALABAMA N just didn’t fire at all last week and may be off his game at the moment – he’d be a threat here on his best effort, but not sure we’ll see that from him right now. (2) LEVINE doesn’t feel like a threat to win but a close up trip could help him take home a piece of this. (8) HICKFROMFRENCHLICK built off a much improved effort 2 back to win his last, but it’ll be hard to replicate that from this much tougher spot! (7) GINGRAS BEACH has been holding form nicely, but lands in a brutal spot here. (3) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A may need easier to strut his best stuff

RACE 7 – (2) HEMSWORTH N has been very consistent, holding his solid form for the last couple of months – he’s been charging home full of pace most every week, and could be dangerous tonight if close turning for home. (3) COPPERFIELD took off the gate last week but that wasn't a huge surprise (after Bartlett opted to drive another horse) – he DID finish with alert pace, however, and could be a much bigger threat tonight with a more aggressive steer. (5) EVILEYE FLEEGLE was acquired from a low-profile trainer/driver at Hoosier and quickly delivered for the nation’s leading barn – he’s probably facing a lot tougher for his local debut, but if his connections feel he fits, he probably does. (4) FORWARD FLASH has compiled an outstanding 14-5-6-2 local slate (last 2 years) and while he’s facing his toughest test yet tonight, it would be no surprise to see him hold his own with these too. (1) CHURC HVIEWFRANKL IR is feeling good these days, even getting off to a good start from the pole last week – ok to use underneath. (6) BLUE LOU hasn’t won in a while, and tonight’s draw won’t help…still could grab a slice, though. (7) MYSWEETBOYMAX is racing well right now, but is looking at a tough trip tonight

RACE 8 – (1) LASER SPEED was Holland’s choice (over 2 of his main clients) so that should bode well for his chances – he can throw big miles when on his best game, and we’ll look for him to do just that tonight. (2) TH COL BY was a little disappointing his first local try of the year (even though he just missed) but he was full of pace finishing last week, and could be very dangerous here if the trip goes his way – not a fan of the 8/5 ML price, though (6) IMA PERFECT CHOICE found his best in time to charge by the others in the lane last week, after coming up a little short the week before – he would never be a surprise at this level, but a tough trip COULD leave him a little short at the end, once more. (7) SPEAKER OF PEACE almost never goes a bad one, but he faces an uphill battle trying to find a manageable trip from out here – he’s also looking at a class drop NEXT week. (3) BETTOR NOT has been picking up pieces for weeks but hasn’t won in some time, and may need to be in easier for a chance to get back to the winner’s circle. (5) JETT STAR N seemed to be coming back around but failed to threaten moving back up to this level last week – leaning elsewhere. (4) WINDSUN RICKY feels like he’s sharpening, but in tough here.

RACE 9 – (1) TWIN B ECHO has 2 wins and 2 seconds from her last 5 tries at this level, draws the pole, and that stamps her as the one to knock off. (3) BIG CITY DAISY steps up to 25s off the re-claim and while she’s much better in 20s, she could still be dangerous here with the right trip. (2) SURVIVIN FIRE was no factor in her YR debut but did hit the wire with good energy – not a bad value horse, if spreading a bit. (6) ULTIMATE SPEED hit board in 6 straight at this level but was unable to get her picture taken in any of them – new barn tonight, and may be looking at a small slice once more. (8) MS FRANCES ASSISI raced very well for her new barn last week but it’s hard to imagine her finding a decent trip from another terrible spot. (7) WHOS PERFECT steps up and draws poorly off the claim – leaning elsewhere. (5) DISTANT LOVER is still trying to get back on her game after returning from a layoff recently. (4) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT has been struggling in 20s, and drops in for $25K tonight – prefer others