Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (4) MAYBEMABEL has a very nice brush to her but it just isn’t as effective vs. the 50s – drops down to 30s tonight, and that should make her very tough. (2) ULTIMATE SPEED went a BIG mile 3 back when she beat a pretty nice mare (BRI EXPRESS N) but followed that up with weak effort – dropped down to 30s last week and was a much sharper 3rd, and can be a big player tonight too. (5) TH RIZZO was overbet in her last, used hard for the lead and unable to keep it going in the lane – her price will be better tonight, and Marohn has handled her nicely in some recent efforts – belongs in exotics. (1) ONEDEFULBEACH is 0 for 17 at YR this year but did hit board in 9 of those starts - chance she can do that again tonight, starting from the pole. (3) TWN B ECHO was well meant in her last but not up for the aggressive steer– maybe she can rally late for a piece with a more conservative drive. (6) JILLIAN JIGGS made her Yonkers return a winning one last week, but it was on the lead, vs. much easier – not sure she can have that same kind of success in this much tougher spot. (8) VEL IM ALL FIRE has been outracing her odds for sure, but tonight’s bad draw (and driver change) isn’t going to help. (7) KATIES UP “dropped and flopped” last week – now lands outside and will have her trainer at the lines

RACE 2 – (3) COOPERSTOWN BOY was badly bothered off the first turn in his NYSS Final last Saturday (where he was one of the favorites) and it may have hurt his performance – he had been very sharp just prior to that, and his last local try resulted in 1:52.2 victory over the outstanding FRAGMENT…he drops right back in the box and looms the one to beat vs. these. (2) LYONS GUSTAVOFRING was well backed for his local debut (new barn, plus Lasix) and he was able to deliver the goods, despite having to rally from last from the final bend – clearly has the talent, but we’ll see if he can hold his own with #3. (1) SWEET JOEL struggled vs. better out of town the last 3 starts but he’s been a solid Yonkers performer, and looking at a good trip tonight – include underneath. (6) SIGNAL CALLER has ability, but doesn’t always bring it – he rallied very nicely from well back in his last, so we’ll see if he can string together back-to-back good efforts. (4) HE IS STINGIN has been ok when NOT on the lead – chance for minor spoils with an easy trip. (7) ALABAMA LUCKY has gotten onto the ticket at big prices enough times to at least consider for 3rd/4th. (5) SERGEANT WALT was shuffled a bit last week but it may not have mattered – leaning elsewhere. (8) SHAKEITONTHEBEACH draws Post 8 after being no threat in is first local try of the year

RACE 3 – (4) ISCAH HANOVER arrives off a pair of wins in PA and his connections shipped in a winner on Friday night (HERS HUNGRY, also with Lachance driving) – we’ll try him on top. (7) MY PERFECT BLUE has been racing well at Ocean Down, albeit vs. cheaper – he was just acquired by our leading barn, and has to be given plenty of respect here, even from Post 7. (2) WINNINGMACHINE wasn’t as sharp last week (empty after being blindswitched on the final turn) but he was also used hard early, before backing off – either of his previous tries could put him back into the hunt. (6) HALF PAST MIDNIGHT has gone some big efforts in NJ and PA but failed to earn a quarter from 5 local tries– maybe he can race better with his trainer in the bike tonight? (1) PURPLE WAYNE hit board in his last pair at Chester, draws the pole, and it would be no surprise at all to see him hold his own with these modest locals. (3) PERFECT CABERNET loves beating up cheaper at Monti but has yet to impress in his 4 local starts – needs to be better. (5) ZOD just never got going for top shelf connections this year – he recently changed hands, and we’ll see if his new crew does any better. (8) CAPTAIN AMORE N just hasn’t thrived (yet) in the U.S., and is often his own worst enemy – Post 8 isn’t going to help his cause

RACE 4 – (4) OVER ICE took a while to win her first local start but she’s now developed a winning habit, taking her last 2 starts and 3 of her last 5 – she handles any trip, and we’ll stick with the hot hand. (1) AVF CLAIRE was a front end winner 2 back then came up 2nd best to #4 last week – remains a major threat with her 3rd straight rail draw. (2) SPIRIT OF PEARL A moved back up to 50s last week and finished just behind the top pair, despite a tough first over trip – couldn’t blame anybody looking to try her on top tonight, if the price is fair. (3) SURVIVIN FIRE has been a solid player for months, but does feel just a tad below her best the last couple of starts – dangerous if she can bounce back to her “A Game”. (5) DISCOVERINGTHEHUNT was ignored at the windows last week but able to score from the pocket at 10-1 – probably won’t get as good a trip tonight, though. (6) MC ANGEL struggled through 2025 but has rebounded in a big way this year, already with 9 wins and nearly $120K on her card – tough draw off the claim, but still can’t be dismissed too easily. (7) LLOYDS LOVES hasn’t been at her best in some time and now drops in for a tag – leaning elsewhere, after seeing her draw so poorly

RACE 5 – (1) OPTICAL ILLUSION N had plenty of pace finishing from an impossible spot last week, after coming up 2nd best to a fire-breathing SOUTHWIND CELSIUS the week before (and that rival came back to jog again on Monday night) – he only has one win this year, but may be able to double that total tonight. (5) WATTSUP SUNSHI NE A has gone some good miles vs. better this year, and moves tonight to a barn that does incredible work with fresh stock – good value horse to at least consider. (8) PINNY TIGER A had things easy on the front end last week and was able to pick up his first local victory of 2026 (after going 5-4-1-0 here last year, right after arriving in the U.S.) – he’s definitely not close to that top form we saw last year, but he IS on the upswing – chance to do damage tonight even from the 8 hole, up in class. (2) LILLBLISS has improved quite a bit since the recent barn change – another easy trip could see him grabbing another decent chunk. (3) DRACARYS Z was right behind a currently sharp HAZEVILLE 3 back, but that effort has been a bit of an anomaly – needs to find that kind of mile again if he wants to be a player here. (7) BETTING ON CAESAR raced ok in his YR return last week but tonight’s draw does figure to limit his opportunities. (6) THE WICKED ONE probably prefers to be in a bit cheaper, and he’s just 1 for 14 here at The Hilltop. (4) MIDNIGHT THUNDER has a couple of recent NJ wins, but facing much easier – leaning towards others.

RACE 6 – Good race! (1) IKNOWBETTER last win came at the $50K level but he’s razor sharp and does deserve tonight’s move up in class – the rail draw definitely gives him a real chance to come out on top. (3) BOSTON BOU ND is another that has been doing great work for weeks, and usually at a pretty fair odds – definitely appealing with that 6-1 ML price. (4) REGAL IDEA shipped in razor sharp from Ohio and paid an incredible $90 when he won his first local start (from Post 7) – he was claimed that night for $30K and able to come back and beat the 40s the next week, also from the 7 hole – goes for another new barn tonight, moves up TWO classes, but still can’t be ignored in his current raging form! (6) BACKSTREET SHADOW drops in for $60K (instead of $75K) hoping for a better draw, but that just didn’t happen– still a threat to rally for a good piece IF some trip luck comes his way. (5) ROYAL DESIRE has been able to hold his good form even at these higher levels – chance for a small piece, with an easy trip (7) FINVARRA A is a hard hitter and has won 2 of his last 3 starts – he could be looking at a much tougher trip tonight, though, so insist on a good price if he’s your choice. (8) HEMSWORTH N will likely be coming from too far back to do any serious damage as he drops in for a tag tonight (2) ROCK THE BELLES seems a bit overmatched

RACE 7 – (1) GINGER TREE LIZ had been very sharp (before and after the recent claim) but threw an unexpected clunker last week – if she shrugs that effort off and bounces right back she’ll be very tough in here…but hard to take a very short price off that last mile. (2) MILAGRO was an excellent 15-1 upset winner 2 back but then threw a weak try in her last, when bet down to 2-1…she gets a big barn change off the claim, adds Lasix, and is another that becomes very dangerous with a rebound effort. (3) TWO BEAN DREAM conceded from Post 8 last week but was a game winner the start before, and her overall form in this class has been very solid – easy to make a case for her with that 10-1 ML price. (5) TWO PISTOL ANNIE arrives from Nfd. to a barn that does incredible work with fresh stock – she’s raced well here many times in the past, and could do damage in her first local try of 2026. (6) RACIN FOR ROYALTY is solid right now but has always done her best work from inside posts – may be able to rally for a share, if the trip goes her way. (4) DISTANT LOVER has been racing ok – chance for minor spoils. (8) ODDS ON SARA SARA always ships in with good form out of town but here 14-0-0-0 local slate is hard to ignore (or to explain)! (7) SWIFT SARABI would be a surprise, to say the least

RACE 8 – (6) LAMANDIER A has raced well since arriving here this summer, though he’s been stuck in some impossible spots the last few weeks – a few of the main players to his inside come with question marks, and it may be a good time to at least try to race this guy a bit more aggressively, giving him a shot to succeed. (4) AMERICAN FLING has offered little since arriving on the local scene 3 back but he’s also been facing tougher – could be a spot to look for a wake up call. (5) MACS MARVEL would need a hotly contested pace to have a chance to use his late rally tonight but that scenario IS possible – worth at least a look at that 15-1 ML price. (1) ARODA A has been a disappointment at Yonkers since arriving here this winter, currently just 8-1-0-0 $22K – can’t rule out the possibility that he could trip out and win from this spot, but it’s hard to get excited about a wager with that 8/5 ML price. (3) UNMATCHED WISDOM forced his way into a hole in his NYSS race last Saturday, resulting in his disqualification – the 3YO does have speed, but he takes on older foes tonight and is likely to end up overbet. (2) RAGNAR LOTH BROK N gets a much better draw for his 2nd try vs. older horses but still must prove he can go with them. (8) CARA BAO A lands behind the 8 ball…wait for a better spot. (7) EUPHORIA N lands in a brutal spot for his Hilltop return

RACE 9 – (4) IN EXCESS N gave a very sharp HAZEVILLE all he could handle when 2nd two back, then held well for 4th after coming first over to EVEILEYE FLEEGLE last week – he may be headed right to the top here, and that could make him a tough customer. (2) FEARLESS PARTNERS really started to click late in his 3YO season, and knows how to finish his miles – he does take on some tough older foes now, and that 8/5 ML price seems a bit too low. (6) ESCAPE TO AMERICA is “good” now, just not quite as good as he was earlier this summer – it won’t be easy to overcome the bad draw, but a good price makes him worth a look. (5) DELE ROW A couldn’t make it last on the front end last week, and probably would have been smarter to let AMERICAN DEALER N (who won that race from the pocket), cut that mile – he fits with these, and could easily land somewhere on the ticket. (8) THENU CAME ALONG A is a better horse than his 1 for 21 record this year suggests, but tonight’s draw is a killer. (7) THO NG CONTROL has been very steady, but is another that figures to need a better spot to really threaten (3) JOHNNY LINCOLN N has ability for sure but he struggled to get around Yonkers in his 2 efforts here, and that was vs. easier – needs to be smoother. (1) GALANTE A arrives with decent NJ form but is 35-1-0-3 locally since 2024!

RACE 10 – (4) HAMMERING HANK was well backed last week (class drop, post relief) and was an excellent first over 2nd to the frontrunning PINNY TIGER A – drops another notch, and will be hard to beat as the short priced favorite tonight. (3) SOHO SKYFALL A had 8 holes vs. 40s in his only 2 local tries this year so give him a pass for those – returns to a much kinder spot (after a win at Tioga last week), and could grab a nice chunk here too. (6) LIN DY THE BRAVE was an upset winner in NJ in his 2nd start off the layoff last week, and he’s raced well (in limited starts) here in the past – maybe he can add some value to the exotics. (8) COLLECTIVE WORKS A is just 1 for 37 at Yonkers and draws Post 8…but there IS a chance he may be able to rally for a minor share against these. (7) SILK Y CHOICE is at least back to being competitive again – bad draw, but still one of several with a chance at a piece. (2) FIZZING N is one of several arriving for the barn tonight…see how some of the others do, then decide whether it’s worth throwing this guy in underneath. (1) INTIMIDATION draws the pole after several bad draws but it’s hard to say if he’s good enough right now to take advantage. (5) BARBOSSA HANOVER offered little in his only local try – sticking with others.