Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, May 26, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (2) RACIN FOR ROYALTY was an excellent first over winner 2 back, then came up 2nd best in her last to the oft-winning MAYBEMABEL (after another first over trip)– remains very dangerous with another inside draw. (1) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ never got in play last week but raced well for a whole bunch of starts just prior to that – she’ll be much closer to the action tonight, with a solid chance for a good piece. (3) SUNBURNT probably isn’t a big threat to WIN here, but the good draw definitely gives her a chance to land somewhere in the exotics, at a juicy price. (7) DISARONNO HILL feels off her game lately but that doesn’t mean she can’t rebound tonight – the price will be right if you think Bongiorno may try to blast her off the car. (4) SPIRIT OF PEARL A came up terrible off the claim last week, and it’s hard to just attribute it to racing in 25s– she’s back in for 20s tonight, and we’ll see if she can bounce back. (6) IDEALINFUN was 3rd dropping to 2os last week but wasn’t particularly “sharp” – won’t get any easier with tonight’s tough draw. (5) FORTUNADA got good for a few starts but seems to have started going in the wrong direction. (8) STONECOLD GIRL doesn’t seem sharp enough right now to overcome the draw

RACE 2 – Short field, but a good race! (1) YS SENSATIONALCITY has delivered more lesser efforts than better ones lately but she did turn in a big one two back, and anything close to that would give her a solid chance from this spot – needs to bring her best. (3) WIN WITH LYNNLY tired last week after giving way to the sharp winner, but she’s proven that she can beat these when on her game – she drops right back in the box, and may rebound quickly for her sharp connections. (2) PETROL QUEEN probably wasn’t at her best last week but was still able to rally for 2nd behind the dominant winner – she’s been solid for some time, and remains dangerous if the trip goes her way. (6) OVER ICE is winless in her career at Yonkers and just 2 for 45 overall for the past 2 years – that being said, she raced well in her last pair, and shouldn’t be counted out too quickly tonight. (5) MADDIES DELITE pretty much stole on in her local debut 2 back, but wasn’t nearly as sharp in her last – could be vulnerable as the 2-1 ML choice. (4) SWEET ODDS has looked overmatched at this level, so far

RACE 3 – (5) JIVE DANCING A got razor sharp for a few starts, threw a dud 2 back but took a step back in the right direction last week (when 2nd to the odds-on favorite) – if she brings her best she’ll be very tough here…but be careful about accepting too short a price. (2) MIGHTHAVTIME N was outleft last week and broke early on – she’s been “all or nothing” all season, and CAN beat these if she shows up in the right mood tonight…but another that may end up overbet. (1) YUENGLING used a dream trip to pick up that win 2 back but has otherwise been off her best for some time – still, she could be looking at a very good trip here, and that would make her dangerous. (6) WH OS PERFECT was a little better when 3rd two back then built off that with a “pocket rocket” victory last week – the bad draw may compromise her chances tonight, however. (4) SHEIKH YABOOTY N won early in the year but hasn’t been able to get back to the winner’s circle in some time – her last couple did seem a bit better, and she’s not the worst longshot you could take a stab with. (3) LONELY GHOST has struggled in many of her starts this year but does come up with a big effort from time to time – the price will be right if you think she can find one tonight. (7) CANNERY ROW figures to have a tough time getting close to the action from out here

RACE 4 – ALL 7 mares come into this in excellent form! (1) TWIN B ECHO charged home for the upset win 2 back then was full of pace from an impossible spot last week – she moves inside, and has a chance for another upset IF the trip ends up going her way. (3) TH SANDRA DEE shipped in sharp from out of town and easily wired the 20s last week – she steps up and faces a very sharp bunch, but has a chance to repeat if the trip works out. (2) MAYBEM ABEL is usually either “good” or “very good” in all of her starts – she has a big brush, and will be a handful IF the trips falls her way. (4) DWS DARLENE has been 1st or 2nd in 11 of her 14 starts this year, providing sharp efforts for any barn she lands in – would be hard to leave her off your tickets! (5) IDEAL SKIES has beaten the 20s three straight starts and will now attempt to take on the 25s off the reclaim – sharp enough to beat these too…under the right circumstances. (6) ULTIMATE SPEED was a close 2nd then a close 3rd after dropping from 50s to 25s – clearly she likes this level, but the draw could be a roadblock tonight. (7) BIG CITY DAISY is listed on the bottom but that doesn’t mean that she can’t make plenty of noise here IF things get hotly contested up front

RACE 5 – (3) INTIMIDATION shows lines not long ago that show him hitting board behind the likes of MANFER NO, COALFORD TOPGUY GB, IKNOWBETTER, etc. – this is definitely a field he’s capable of handling, and it’ll fall on Siegelman to give him the opportunity to do so. (6) TASTE OF HONEY missed over a year but showed very encouraging life in just his 2nd start off that long layoff – tough draw, but still merits a look off last week’s effort. (8) ROYAL DESIRE has been racing himself back into shape after recently returning from 4 months off – he finished well last week from a tough spot and seems ready to do some damage…but tonight’s class drop may be offset by the horrible draw. (1) VEGAS STRIP N moved to a new barn last week after failing to thrive in the U.S. (so far) – no factor that night (off a bad date), but eligible to turn in a better one tonight. (2) MAD DRIVER’s best work in NJ came vs. cheaper and he struggled in 3 starts here last fall – that 5/2 ML price seems low, even for top connections. (7) FENDI HANOVER seems to have rebounded from some recent breaking issues but draws poorly returning to YR and is 5-0-0-0 locally. (5) STONEBRIDGE WIZARD (no Lasix tonight) hasn’t looked good so far since coming back from the long layoff. (4) GREG THE LEG has struggled in all 9 of his starts this year

RACE 6 – (1) ADAM CHEESEHEAD held nicely for 2nd after getting outbrushed by the promising FEARLESS PA RTNERS two back, then kicked home in :27.4 last week to score easily after taking over the lead on turn two – still the one to beat after drawing the pole. (4) SPECTACULAR LEO arrived off a pair of impressive Monti victories but was caught too far back to have any impact – a better trip could make him a bigger player tonight. (6) ALABAMA LUCKY broke on the lead on the 2nd turn two back and lost all chance by the time he recovered – he lost action in the SAME spot last week, but this time was able to land and drop in 3rd, chasing evenly the rest of the way – he can pick up a piece here, barring another mishap! (7) DRAMAS A has been “ok” in his 3 U.S. starts but will need to up his game a bit in order to threaten for the top prize (he was no match for #1 in his last). (8) GLOWING LOU has a pair of nice NJ efforts since the recent barn change but faces a daunting task in his return to YR (where he’s 0 for 11) (3) TWIN B FRESH BET is just 2 for 32 lifetime but does his board reasonably often – ok to use underneath. (2) HURRIKANE EXPRESS was empty in his local debut but it’s too soon to write him off, especially with a good trip possible here. (5) KILLER BEE DEO has done good Monti work, but will have to prove he can go with these too

RACE 7 – (1) GANNONS VELOUCITY raced “ok” in his first 3 local tries but the 4th start was his best, kicking home full of pace for 2nd to the sharp front end winner – maybe he can work out a winning trip starting from the pole (6) THIRSTY THURSDAY tailed off at the end of his (otherwise successful) 3YO season and has come back sharp at 4, winning his first 2 starts (from well back at PcD, then on the front end here at YR) – he’ll need some trip luck starting from Post 6, but he’ll also be a better price. (5) TITO N CHEDDAR used an aggressive try to pick up his first win at this level 2 back, then finished well when 4th last week– remains a real threat, if the trip goes his way. (2) BETTOR NOT hay yet to win in this class, but he’s right in the hunt every week lately – belongs in your exotics. (4) LASER SPEED can throw some big efforts, but he’s not as consistent as some of the others – leaning bit more to a few others, at least on top. (3) KEVIN KLINE N hasn’t threatened yet in the U.S. but had some sneaky late pace last week – ok for longshot fans. (7) THE FAMILY MAN broke last week and now lands all the way outside

RACE 8 – (5) VERDUN was plenty sharp when 2nd best to fellow Borgata dropdown CATALPA RESCUE A two back, and even sharper in his front end victory last week – this is a bit tougher assignment, but the classy 6YO seems capable of taking another. (3) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A also benefited from escaping Borgata competition, turning in a very sharp 7 hole victory last week – that was vs. easier, but it doesn’t mean that he can’t handle this tougher bunch too. (4) RAILROAD STATION was very successful at 2 and 3 and he’s had no trouble transitioning to his 4YO campaign, a sharp winner here 2 back before coming up 2nd best to the top choice in his last – he’ll need to find a bit more to beat these tonight, but it’s not impossible. (2) LITTLE WILLY needed some encouragement leaving last week then ran out badly in the lane but still was able to finish 2nd – he’s been on a nice roll lately, but will need to be even sharper for a chance to knock off the top pair (1) JABBAR has blossomed very nicely through his 5YO campaign, and the move to the pole certainly won’t hurt – chance to land in the exotics. (6) SOHO DOW JONES A draws outside several strong rivals and that may limit him to minor spoils for tonight. (8) PANETTONE HANOVER is yet another that has really sharpened for a barn experiencing a recent resurgence – brutal spot tonight, though. (7) JETT STAR N has leveled off and draws Post 7 in a very tough field – prefer others

RACE 9 – Wide open: (3) WAVEMAKER’s recent lines don’t look all that great but he was racing from well back, vs. some solid rivals – if things get testy up front, he may be able to use his late kick. (5) WINDSUN RICKY is a streaky horse and his last effort hinted that he may be ready to turn things around – he’s no stranger to the Yonkers winner’s circle. (6) ROCK THE BELLES didn’t even pretend to be interested from Post 8 for his new barn last week but he MAY look to be more aggressive tonight – possibility. (7) MYSWEETBOYMAX was a winner last week but that was on the lead, from the rail, vs. much easier – feels vulnerable, and is listed as the ML favorite. (2) CAPTAIN BATBOY is yet another to turn around in a big way right after joining this barn – would still need a good price to try him on top, though. (1) PLEASELETMEKNOW has $944K on his card but he had $930K coming into last year – still trying to regain any semblance of his old (top) form. (4) TEXAS HOLDEM went a huge mile when parked every step last week, but is just too camera shy to consider on top. (8) LEVINE needs a better draw!