Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, March 31, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (4) MC ANGEL was no good at all for a long time but started to come back around at the end of last year and has remained very sharp since then – she’s been thriving for several different trainers and goes tonight to a barn that has recently come to life in a big way, coinciding with a sudden claiming spree – we’ll give her the nod to make it 2 in a row. (2) STONECOLD GIRL wasn’t at her best last week and saw her 3 race winning streak come to an end – she moves to a very strong barn for tonight, and looms the main danger. (1) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ flashed some life 2 back and improved even more in her last – good one to take a shot with tonight if looking to beat the two favorites. (5) JIVE DANCING A picked up a front end win over a softer group 3 back but failed to build off that in her last pair – draws outside the main players, and seems headed for a smaller share. (3) OBSESSED WITH LOU drops back in for a tag after throwing a major dud last week (where she never looked right, from the start) – feels a but iffy off that mile. (7) HARPER SEELSTER had a couple of better efforts but came up weak in her last, and draws horribly tonight. (6) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL is 1 for her last 48 at Yonkers and gets a bad draw

RACE 2 – (4) KWICK SAND A has 2 wins and 3 seconds from his last 5 starts and raced as well (or better) in the losses as in the victories – he still figures to be a fair price tonight (despite his outstanding current form), and that makes him worth using. (1) CONFEDERATESTAR N was racing well in NZ late in the year before arriving in the U.S., and he’s certainly thriving here as well, shipping in from NJ after last week’s lifetime best 1:50 score – he gets a big switch to Bartlett, draws the pole, and figures to be a very strong player in his Yonkers debut. (2) TITO N CHE DDAR has been a solid weekly player since arriving here in February, though he’s still looking for his first win at this level – he may have to settle for another smaller piece tonight. (5) CAPTAIN FEAR was able to hold off #4 last week in a very gutsy front end performance – he’s one of several horses from the barn doing excellent work right now, and the right trip could easily land him somewhere in the exotics. (6) BOOKEM DANNO felt like he may be starting to tail a bit but then rebounded with a sharp rallying 4th last week – would have given him stronger consideration tonight if not for another terrible draw! (7) BOXER SEELSTER is sharp right now, but likely will be trying to rally from last tonight. (3) BETTOR NOT just feels a notch below several of the others in here

RACE 3 – (1) FORWARD FLASH was way too far back to have any chance on 3/17 but he was well backed for his last and it took a big mile from the winner to hold him off in the lane – we’ll give him the slight edge in what may shape up as a two-horse battle. (2) TELITONTHEMOUNTAIN was helped by a slow final quarter in his local debut (1st start for our leading trainer) but still rallied nicely – he controlled the action on the front end last week and kicked home in :27.4 to give nothing else a chance – clearly the main danger! (3) ALABAMA LUCKY has three 2nds and a 3rd from his first 4 starts this year and seems destined for another smaller piece tonight (4) THE FAMILY MAN hasn’t clicked so far in 2026 (for his new barn) but is capable of much better – he figures to come around sooner or later, but he’d be hard to endorse right now at that 5/2 ML price! (5) CHARLIES WISH finished a little better in his 2nd local try and may be able to rally for a small slice tonight. (6) HILL OF A WISH had a rough 2025 season and isn’t doing any better to start off 2026 – not sure the switch to Kakaley will help his cause enough

RACE 4 – Short field but a good race! (1) BRI EXPRESS N finished alertly from an impossible spot last week, has shown that she can beat these and can be handled much more aggressively tonight – one of a few that COULD take this, depending on trip! (2) YS SENSATIONALCITY was put on the front end last week and proved the easiest of winners – she’s been known to string wins in the past, and has a legitimate chance to repeat. (6) WIN WITH LYNN LY’s last 2 starts in this class produced a win and a 3rd – she’s listed at 20-1 ML but IF she can loop to the lead, here “real” chances of coming out on top are much better than that! (3) PETROL QUEEN has been smooth in recent starts and has won her last pair as a result – she relies on a trip, but has a chance for a “threepeat” if things go her way. (4) ACCESS GRANTED is listed at 5/2 ML but has yet to hit the board in 5 starts this year – she can have a say, but offers no value from a wagering standpoint right now. (5) ONEDERFULBEACH picked up 2nds in her last pair at BIG prices, but will likely be coming from last tonight, and may just have too far to come

RACE 5 – (3) ALL CLASS cut the mile vs. much better the last 3 weeks and can be forgiven for coming up short against those foes – this crew may be more in his (current) wheelhouse and we’ll give him the narrow call…but wouldn’t bet the farm on him at too short a price! (8) LITTLE WILLY has been outstanding since the recent claim – he steps up AND draws Post 8 (usually NOT a winning formula), but he just may be sharp enough to have a chance in here if Kelly can work out a manageable trip. (2) HEZA RISK TAKER A was well backed for his U.S. debut, raced hard then came up 2nd best to SPEAKER OF PEACE – eligible to be sharper the 2nd time around, and may be looking at a pretty good trip here. (4) BONDI LOCKDOWN A has been in good form for some time – an easy trip could see him grab a nice piece of this. (5) SPEAKER OF PEACE was slowed by terrible posts for several weeks but made up for it in his last pair, using very GOOD trips to pick up back to back wins – he can be a player here too, but may end up with a bit more difficult journey tonight. (6) IKNOWBETTER landed on a very nice trip returning from NJ and was a solid 2nd – may be facing a much tougher trip tonight, though. (7) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE can hold his own with even better than these but tonight’s draw may leave him waiting for a better spot to strut his best stuff. (1) COLLECTIVE WORKS A just feels a bit below these, even starting from the pole.

RACE 6 – (3) TAHUYA DEVIL just sat in the back after drawing Post 8 last week but the “good news” is that a win dropped off the bottom of his card, and allowed for tonight’s significant class drop – look for him to take full advantage! (6) MIND HUNTER was a major overlay at 44-1 last week and raced super for 3rd (from the 8 hole), with a chance for better had he been handled more aggressively – maybe Buter can get him in play earlier this week and give him a chance to land another good piece? (5) SPECULATING A took advantage of last week’s class relief and delivered a sharp victory – no reason he can’t grab a nice piece here too, even stepping back up a bit. (2) MYUL TIMATEBAXTER N landed in his kind of spot last week and was a strong front end winner – maybe he picked up enough renewed confidence to have at least a say here too? (8) SHAKESPEARE comes off back to back sharp wins but lands in a MUCH tougher spot tonight – hard to say if he can work out a trip he can handle from out here. (1) TWIG is looking at a good trip from this spot but his current form is a little tough to gauge – chance for a piece if he brings his best. (4) PEACE OUT POSSE’s recent form hasn’t been all that inspiring but he’s eligible to pop a better effort at any time – minor spoils? (7) WINDSUN RICKY draws poorly and has missed a month – prefer others

RACE 7 – (1) MAYBEMABEL may have been overmatched the last 2 weeks or perhaps was just off her game – either way, she drops back down to the level she crushed 3 starts back, and would be very dangerous with anything close to that effort tonight! (7) DWS DARLENE has been on a long form spree, for multiple barns– she gets a tough draw for her newest connections tonight but Bartlett takes her over a few others, and that suggests an aggressive try will be coming – belongs on your tickets. (3) IDEALINFUN had just one start in 6 weeks coming into her last– she drops right back in the box, drops in class, and may have a much bigger say this time (4) YUENGLING is another that’s been sharp for a long time but her best work has come at the $20K level – belongs in exotics, and does have a chance to come out on top, if things go her way (2) BIG CITY DAISY just seemed disinterested for most of the mile last week…before coming to life in the final 1/8th of a mile and charging from 8th to 2nd – not sure what the issue was but the bigger concern is the move up to 25s. (6) TWIN B ECHO was in tough at PcD for her first start of the year and clearly needed that start – she could be tighter and this field is more up her alley…but she may still need another start before we see her best. (5) ILLUSION SEELSTER just hasn’t come close to replicating that huge effort from 2/10 – leaning elsewhere. (8) KISSIN JOE is a steady player at this level but likely coming from too far back here

RACE 8 – (7) THONG CONTROL comes off a trio of sharp efforts, but gets the worst of the draw tonight – if Lachance can just find him even a manageable trip, he can win from out here…worth a play as long as the price is fair. (5) WASA HEAT SEEKER A took off the gate last week and it turned out to be the right move, as he easily swooped by tired leaders at the top of the lane to win going away – he steps up a bit, but another good trip gives him a shot in here too. (4) DONTTELLMEKNOW started to come around a few starts back and was finally rewarded with a victory last week – he’s another that can threaten once more if things go his way. (1) CUT N RUN N was facing better not all that long ago but has fallen off his game – we’ll see if he can grab a share starting from the pole tonight. (2) C BET HANOVER also feels like he’s gone the wrong way, though tonight’s post relief may at least allow him to contend for a share. (6) TEXAS HOLDEM was used very aggressively last week and did well to hold 2nd after #5 blew by him into the stretch – figures to be hurt by tonight’s tougher draw, though. (3) GALANTE A ships in sharp from NJ but hasn’t been able to match that form at YR in some time

RACE 9 – (2) MANFERNO has some ugly looking current DD form but his last local try was a win in NW15000, for the barn he returns to tonight – worth a shot? (1) MUSIC HALL is WAY off his top form but if ever there was a spot for him to perk up, it’s this one – deserves respect, even if by default. (7) HUGH HESTON was better in his 2nd local try – terrible draw, but still a decent chance to grab a piece of this. (4) AUSSIE HANOVER benefited from last week’s “fall apart race” but did race a little better to take home 3rd – maybe some more minor spoils tonight? (3) FIZ ZING N throws more bad ones than good ones, but at least has a chance for a small piece vs. these. (6) LINCOLN LA MOOSE N hasn’t clicked at all since arriving from Down Under– waiting for better signs before considering. (5) GINGRAS BEACH ended 2025 poorly and has shown little since returning. (8) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE was way back in NJ off the layoff and now lands post 8 for his first local try of the year.