Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Empire Report
The Empire Report – Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – Race Analysis
RACE 1 – (2) MC ANGEL has been on a long form spree and finally attracted a claim last week – she lands in a barn having an even better meet than usual, and currently winning at 44% off the claim – she was Bartlett’s choice, and ours as well. (1) UNCONTROLLED races well week after week, despite her share of tough trips – she draws the pole tonight, and may prove the biggest (late) danger. (4) YUENGLING has been popular at the claim box and seems to race well wherever she lands – she already has 4 wins this year, and figures to make her presence felt once again. (3) HARPER SEELSTER turned in a much improved effort last week, benefiting from an easy pocket trip to finish 2nd – probably looking at a smaller share tonight, however. (6) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL is as camera shy at YR as they come, but does grab some smaller pieces with the right rip – maybe 3rd/4th? (7) FORTUNADA went an encouraging mile 2 back only to regress last week – tough draw tonight. (8) SUNBURNT only won once here last year but it was at a BIG price – seems unlikely to threaten from out here, though, returning from NJ. (5) SP DANCI NWITHSTARZ feels like she’s fallen off form, and was scratched sick 2 of her last starts
RACE 2 – (2) KWICK SAND A suddenly turned things around with a blowout win in NJ on 1/10 and has continued to race super ever since – it took a razor sharp horse to edge him out last week (after a win the week before), and we’ll give him the nod tonight over this pretty solid field. (3) TITO N CHEDDAR absolutely thrashed cheaper 3 back but has held form at this level too, picking up 2nds in his last two starts – remains a major player. (1) COLLEC TIVE WORKS A has been very consistent lately, even if facing mostly a bit easier – the good draw puts him in play for a good piece tonight. (4) BOXER SEELSTER has always been good for late pace (for pieces) but landed on a perfect trip last week and was able to rally by for the top prize – he has a license to repeat, but his price will come way down (14-1 last time!) and his trip may not be as good. (7) CAPTAIN FEAR was hammered at the windows last week and he delivered an eye-opening 1:52.3 blowout, the most recent horse from the barn to seemingly sprout wings in recent weeks – he moves up, lands outside, and may struggle just a bit tonight. (5) BETTOR NOT wasn’t as effective when he tried this level 3 back – leaning elsewhere. (6) NO TRESSPASSING has been better in his last couple in PA, but vs. easier
RACE 3 – (1) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT has 4 wins and 3 seconds from her last 7 starts, just missing in the start before that – she thrives in all of our top barns, and lands in another for tonight…remains the one to knock off. (2) ILLUSI ON SEELSTER elected to try her luck in the 50s after that mega-blowout on 2/10 but didn’t have the same results at that level – drops back down, and would become very dangerous IF she can replicate that huge effort. (4) DELITFU LCATHERIN N has brought some consistency back to her game, finishing 2nd in 3 straight starts – chance for another good piece tonight. (3) MACHS LEGACY A drops to 25s off a dull try vs. the 50s last week (after being scr. sick the week before) – would be dangerous on her best effort, but there are definitely some red flags. (5) KISSI N JOE was a perfect pocket winner 2 back but that was vs. the 20s – probably looking at a small share vs. these. (6) MALUKA MISS N won at this level 4 back but has struggled since – wouldn’t shock, but still leaning elsewhere
RACE 4 – Tough race: (3) DELE ROW A was racing well until his last 3 starts and he has legitimate excuses for those starts (2 horrible draws vs. tougher, then parked the mile last week) – drops a peg, and may be able to find a winning trip tonight. (1) LEVINE chased a strong winner from the pocket last week and paced solidly to the wire for 2nd – he’s too camera shy to ever “love”, but this may be a spot where he can pick up a victory. (4) BE DAZZLED LOU A is 2 for 2 since the claim for a barn that is starting to make a lot more noise lately – steps up a bit, but may still have a chance at the “threepeat”. (6) SKYLOU N was well backed for his U.S. debut, made the top and really had no excuse to not hold off #4 – too soon to write him off, but you’ll want a better price to try him again tonight. (5) SEASIDEESCAPE just returned from a couple of months off and beat easier in his NJ return – have to respect his chances here too, but that 9/5 ML price just seems too low! (2) PEACE OUT POSSE seems to do his best work with easier these days. (7) BOOKEM DANNO gets a terrible draw and likely to race very conservatively here
RACE 5 – (3) MUSIC HALL won an incredible 16 races last year but has gotten off to a slow start in 2026, likely due to taking on much tougher than he’s used to – he certainly hasn’t embarrassed himself, and may have found a spot tonight much more to his liking. (6) THONG CONTROL was really slowed by a trio of 8 holes but was a very good first over 3rd last week when finally drawing inside – gets another poor post tonight, but can still be a threat IF Lachance can manufacture a live trip. (1) MYULTIMATEBAXTER N just toured the oval from Post 8 last week but he moves all the way inside, gets Bartlett, and could be much more competitive. (2) JAHAN HANOVER landed in a very soft spot last week and was able to capitalize with a front end score – this field is better, but he’s still good enough to have a real say. (7) OURMATEMENKO N wasn’t terrible last week and does drop a bit – the draw does figure to limit his opportunities, however. (5) TWIG came to life with a sharp front end score 2 back, then was in a no-chance spot last week – small piece? (8) SPIRIT OF STLOUIS N was a Down Under millionaire but hasn’t been able to live up to his press clippings here in the U.S. – recently changed barns, adds Lasix tonight, but we’re still leaning elsewhere (scr. sick last, 8 hole tonight). (4) ALWAYS ROCKIN does his best work with easier
RACE 6 – (2) STAY FOCUSED was a winner at PcD on 2/16 debuting for his new trainer, defeating CAPTAIN FEAR (a blowout winner here last week) – he was dropping easily into the pocket here on 3/3 but made a costly miscue, then finished up well last week after a conservative trip – may be ready for a more aggressive steer now. (6) BIG EGO raced well here for a couple of starts early in his career (for a different barn), and now returns from NJ showing some excellent recent efforts – absolutely worth a look at that 10-1 ML price. (1) ALABAMA LUCKY is just 1 for 35 lifetime and winless here at Yonkers – he does fit with these, though, and comes off a 2nd place finish from a similar spot last week – ok to include underneath. (8) FORWARD FLASH has hit board in 12 of 15 career starts, and all 4 local tries – he fits for sure, but gets the worst of the draw for his 2nd start of 2026. (7) CHARLIES WISH is listed at 20-1 ML but returns from PA off a trio of solid efforts – worth including for 3rd/4th. (3) GAITWAY PATRIOT makes his local debut with out of town lines that suggest he could be a decent fit – small slice? (4) WAR NO MORE had some life finishing last week, and is another to consider for a minor share. (4) TELITONTHEMOU NTAIN joins our leading barn for his YR debut but will have to prove that he fits with this well matched crew.
RACE 7 – Tough race: (1) MR PROFETA earned himself a two hole trip last week and was a close 2nd all the way behind the heavily favored winner – he’s looking at another good journey tonight, and may be able to cash in this time. (4) CUT N RUN N was holding his own with much better not long ago – he hasn’t clicked since the recent barn change, but tonight could be a spot for a (winning?) wake up call. (5) TONTO RETURNS finished ok in a couple of recent starts after ground saving trips – maybe Bartlett will at least try to get a bit more aggressive here? (3) ITZA DANGERZONE A hasn’t come close to winning in a long time, but his current efforts HAVE been pretty solid – definitely ok for a piece…and maybe even on top? (2) TEXAS HOLDEM was able to slip into 3rd off turn one last week but couldn’t find a 2nd move – ok for a small share. (6) AVENGER FORCE rallied in his last pair to be 2nd and 3rd – bad draw tonight, but still a chance he could rally for another slice. (7) FIZZING N raced surprisingly well here on 2/11 but that was from the pole – would be surprised if he could get involved from out here
RACE 8 – (2) MAYBEMABEL was super for her new barn in her local debut 3 back, crushing a lesser bunch – she wasn’t AS sharp when 2nd best in her next but was quickly back on top her game last week, an impressive blowout winner over the 25s – her connections give her a confident bump up to 50s and she may be able to handle it, with a few main foes drawn outside. (7) BRI EXPRESS N was ok 2 back when handled conservatively off the barn change but simply exploded in the lane last week, rallying by a few of these to win going away at the end – would use her again, as long as the price is right. (4) YS SENSATIONALCITY jogged 2 back, then found her best stride too late last week – gets a better draw, and does like to win races. (5) MISS PERIGNON N was 3rd last week though clearly not at her best – she’s had too much success at this level to NOT consider a chance to make amends. (6) ATREACH EROUS A had that one dud on 1/27 but has otherwise been rock solid for months – the issue tonight is the draw, and it MAY limit her just a bit. (3) ACCESS GRANTED just hasn’t found her best stride yet as she makes her 5th start in 2026 – would need a pretty good price to consider on top. (1) ONEDERFULBEACH is a tough mare, but does her best work with easier. (8) WAITFOREVER N has been sharp at Stga. but draws horribly returning to the Hilltop
RACE 9 – (6) SHAKESPEARE had his chances destroyed by a horrible trip last week but was “sneaky ok” at the end – he lands in an absolutely blank field, and this feels like a prime spot for a big wake up call. (2) COWBOY CA RGO would be hard to consider off his horrible recent lines but we’ve seen his new trainer perform miracles with horses like this in the past – wouldn’t eliminate him too quickly! (3) RAYRAY is just 2 for 67 at Yonkers but this is definitely the type of field where he can at least make some noise. (8) THE MIKI TAKER A is winless in 9 local starts and hasn’t won a race anywhere since 2024 – he DOES fit ok in THIS field, however, but that 3-1 ML price from Post 8 is definitely a turnoff! (4) AUSSIE HANOVER is 0 for 30 here over the last 2 years and would surely be a surprise. (1) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING is still showing up for work every week at age 14 but may be better suited for the amateur events these days. (7) ALADDIN has offered little since joining his current barn late last year – Post 7 isn’t going to help. (5) GINGRAS BEACH wasn’t functioning too well at the end of 2025…and he’s off to a similar start (at least so far) in 2026.