Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – Very tough opener! (1) TH RIZZO was hurt by weak cover last start, forced wide on the final bend but still kept coming hard to the wire – she was used to hard early the week before that, and was an excellent 2nd in the start prior – more than sharp enough to take this IF the right trip comes her way. (2) VEL IM ALL FIRE had Post 8 with Vallee last time but moves inside tonight and gets Bartlett on board – she hit board at big prices the prior 2 weeks and while her odds will surely come down tonight, she does have a real chance to be a big part of this. (4) MAYBEMABEL just seems to prefer using her big brush (rather than cutting the mile), and probably should be forgiven for tiring a bit in her last– her price will surely be much better here, and that makes her worth a serious look (3) SURVIVIN FIRE has been a bit off her best game the last few starts but tonight’s drop to 30s could remedy that situation – another with a legitimate chance tonight. (6) ULTIMATE SPEED was in a perfect spot last week and that led to her 2nd victory in the last 4 starts – tonight’s draw may slow her down a bit, however. (5) TWIN B ECHO was well meant 2 back but just never got in gear – she was much better last week, but her difficulties on the turns is still an issue– small piece? (7) JILLIAN JIGGS beat the 20s in her YR return and wasn’t bad last week in 30s, though hurt by a bad draw…and she gets another tonight. (8) GOT SEXY SCARS would be the only real surprise in here

RACE 2 – (2) TWIN B FRESH BET just missed to a form-reversing, well meant winner 2 back, then somehow was right there 3rd last week despite never seeing the pylons the entire mile…the one to beat tonight with any reasonable trip. (4) JERICHO JOHNNY has been settling for smaller pieces vs. better ones lately, including a 2nd place finish in last week’s $100,000 Excelsior Final (behind the very talented ARIES BLUE CHIP) – should be a very good fit with these, and looms a very live player. (3) LOTTO MAX has some mixed recent local efforts vs. older rivals, and the addition of Lasix tonight may explain some of that inconsistency – worth a look with that 15-1 ML price. (1) LOUM ELLO BALL was dull in his last but did rally for 3rd in his prior pair – ok to include underneath. (5) HES A FEIN FELLOW was sneaky good 2 back then launched a big rally from 6th on the final turn last week only to be outkicked from behind by the winner – another that’s very usable underneath. (8) THE RASCAL N throws some good ones at times but even his best effort may not be enough starting from out here. (7) ISCAH HANOVER just held on in a much easier field last week, but will be hard pressed to replicate that mile tonight. (6) ALABAMA LUCKY just doesn’t seem to be on his game right now, and another bad draw isn’t going to help

RACE 3 – (1) ULTIMAROCA is having a rough year with just one win and $14K on his card – he DOES have an excellent local history, however, and he’ll be joining our leading barn for his Hilltop return (and a possible new lease on life) – guessing he’ll be pretty good….but also wildly overbet! (2) ALIEN POWER was “sneaky ok” from impossible spots vs. better in his last pair – looking at a great trip tonight, and may be ready to pounce should #1 fail to bring a top effort. (6) FEELIN WESTERN has been a non-factor for weeks but tonight’s class drop could help him find a wake-up call...take note if the $$ shows up on the tote board. (5) COLLECTIVE WORKS is a tough one to use on top (just 2 for 49 last 2 years) but he’s racing well enough to at least battle for a piece of this. (7) EVER M raced much better last week, but also benefited from an easy trip (from the rail) – not sure he’s ready to do that kind of damage from out here. (4) ROCKIN JUKEBOX was an even 4th in his first start off the claim but regressed in a big way in his last pair – not sure he’ll be able to take advantage of tonight’s class drop. (8) TASTE OF HONEY moves up and draws Post 8 after disappointing at 1/5 last week – may need to wait for a better draw to be a serious player. (3) MIDNIGHT THUNDER was one of a few from the barn that really struggled last week

RACE 4 – (1) SPIRIT OF PEARL A has handled the move up to 50s nicely, picking up a pair of first over 2nds – she draws well inside of her main rivals tonight, and that may help her to come out on top. (6) AVF CLAIRE has taken 2 of her last 3 starts, with a 2nd (to the very sharp OVER ICE) in the other – she moves outside after 3 straight rails, but still could be very dangerous! (8) OVER ICE beat AVF CLAIRE out of the pocket 2 back but came up 2nd best last week after cutting the mile herself – she’s been very sharp for a long time, but now faces the possibility of a brutal trip from Post 8…would still consider her on top IF the price is good enough. (5) MC ANGEL was no factor off the claim last week but she’s bounced back for “dull” tries many times in the past – definitely has appeal at 20-1 ML. (7) STAYINWITHTHEWIND was going big efforts in the Invitational earlier this summer but started to tail off considerably – she’s perked back up vs. easier at Pocono in her last few starts, but it’s hard to say if she’s ready to beat the 50s (from out here) in her Yonkers return. (3) DISCOVERINGTHEHUNT has a couple of recent wins (and a near miss) but remains a bit of a question mark in this $50K claimer – leaning elsewhere, but she wouldn’t be a shock. (4) FEAR DANIE’s local tries have been mixed, and she can be her own worst enemy at times – prefer to stick with some of her more reliable rivals in here. (2) LLOYDS LOVES has fallen off form – watching for better signs before considering on top.

RACE 5 – (2) SPECULATING A has been pretty consistent lately, often vs. better than these – meets a modest NW15000 field here, is listed at 5-1 ML and seems worth a good look. (3) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A had gone a few pretty good efforts recently so it was no surprise to see him come out on top last week, after moving to a trainer that usually does super with fresh stock – steps up a bit, but remains a threat to take another. (6) GANNONS VELO UCITY has several good starts here earlier this year in the solid NW5-7PM class – he’s been finding his form again at Pocono (after dropping down to some lower classes), and seems capable of making some noise here too. (8) ROC KNROLL RUNA A has lost several miles on his fastball but the 9YO can still be competitive in a field like this – he’ll need plenty of trip luck from out here, but still a decent longshot option to consider. (1) NANDOLO N’s lone recent win came in a soft NW5000 field, and now he moves up 2 classes off a “meh” 4th in NW7500 – hard to justify that short 3-1 ML price. (4) LEVINE drops a peg bit would probably still prefer to be in cheaper – minor spoils only. (5) WINDSUN RICKY drops a 2nd off the bottom of his card after tonight, and a win after his next start – look for him to come back to life once he starts dropping down to easier classes. (7) GALANTE A gets Bartlett tonight but still feels like a big stretch from out here

RACE 6 – (5) LYONS FRANKY J is a different horse when Bartlett drives but he still needs a decent post to make something happen – no prayer to get in play from the 7 hole last week but tonight’s better spot should allow Bartlett (who knows how to press his buttons) to give him a chance to succeed. (6) EVILEYE FLEEGLE is technically moving up off last week’s 1/5 victory but this isn’t really a “strong” NW20000 field – chance to repeat if Buter can find him a manageable trip. (4) ROYAL DESIRE has been holding his own every week even at higher levels than he’s used to - enough good recent tries to at least give him some consideration at what figures to be a pretty good price. (3) IMA PERFECT CHOICE is having a tough time getting back to his top form AND staying there – he cashed in on a very nice trip 2 back and has a chance to come out on top tonight if things go his way again. (1) RAG NAR LOTHBROK N was a no threat 2nd (to #8) last week – prefer others on top, but the rail draw does put him in the hunt for a decent piece. (7) HP MOMENTUM is legitimately sharp right now but hard to say if he’ll be able to get into the mix from all the way out here. (8) ARODA N has struggled at Yonkers since arriving from Down Under last winter but he certainly appreciated the loose lead in a soft field last start – looking at a much more difficult trip tonight, however. (2) AMERICAN FLING was a no factor 4th last week, and still trying to find some better form

RACE 7 – (5) HE IS STINGIN really disappointed on the lead on 8/25 (as the favorite) but he raced well in all 3 tries since then, including a pocket victory the following week – anything close to his best would probably beat these, but be careful about taking too short a price. (3) CAPTAIN AMORE N has struggled in the U.S. since arriving this summer but he did qualify much better at Monti on 9/15 and his effort last week was much more encouraging – possible upsetter? (2) WINNINGMACHINE has a pair of solid 2nd since arriving 4 starts back and should be able to be part of the action tonight – possibility. (7) SWEET JOEL is 10-2-5-2 here at Yonkers and has left from outside posts before– still prefer others on top, but he would be hard to leave out of the exotics (4) OZZIES CRAZY TRAIN has a couple of ok local efforts but has struggled here overall – minor spoils? (1) EDGAR HANOVER is just 1 for 29 but the rail draw could at least give him a chance to battle for a small slice. (6) HALF PAST MIDNIGHT has thrown some solid tries out of town but continues to struggle in all of his Yonkers starts. (8) STAR X was a winner in PA last time but just seems cheaper than these (and lands all the way outside for his YR debut)

RACE 8 – Interesting race as the horses that went off the clear favorites and finished 1-2 last week, draw Posts 7 and 8 tonight! (1) HEMSWORTH N was way back in the Aria then toured the oval from Post 8 last week…but that didn’t stop Stratton from taking him tonight (over #3) as this guy is notorious for coming up big from the spots that he likes…this may be one of them. (5) REGAL IDEA has been super since arriving here 3 starts back, and easily made the jump from 40s to 60s last week for his new connections (sharp 3rd behind #7 and #8) – the right trip here would make him very dangerous! (4) CURLY JAMES A certainly wasn’t “bad” last week, even if 2nd best as the (overbet) 1/10 favorite – he’ll have every chance to make amends tonight, and the price will surely be much better. (6) BACKSTREET SHADOW has a few recent efforts that are a bit sharper than they may look on paper – the classy 11YO isn’t a bad one for longshot fans in here. (7) IKNOWBETTER was hammered down to 1/5 last week and was a very sharp winner from the pole – his chances to repeat can’t be dismissed, but it’ll be much harder for him to get it done from out here. (3) KEAYANG TACO A was a good 3rd off a tough trip last time, but Stratton still opts for #1. (2) KEAYANG KAMIKAZE A steps up to 60s after failing to beat the 50s the last 3 starts. (8) BOSTON BOUND has been on a nice form spree, was 2nd to #7 last week, but tonight’s draw does figure to slow him down

RACE 9 – (4) UDDERLY SWEET A has been facing much better lately, and usually from impossible spots – gets some major class relief here, draws inside his main foes, and should be a very dangerous player. (6) HARDT OF A KING was a very good performer at the Michigan Fairs at 2 and 3 – he got a late start to his 4YO campaign but suddenly started to really click a few starts back, and arrives on the local scene sporting some pretty impressive recent efforts in Ohio and PA…maybe he’s up to taking these on too? (5) FRANCO TYSON A gets some class relief upon arrival and has shown that he’s very capable with these types – gets a good draw with Brennan at the lines, and should be able to make his presence felt. (3) LILLBLISS has definitely improved since joining our leading barn but still may be a notch below a couple of the main players in here. (1) EUPHORIA A would probably like to be in a bit cheaper, but he can at least use his speed from the pole to contend for a small slice. (2) OUR SWEET DELIGHT A has been much better since adding Lasix – chance for minor spoils with an easy trip. (7) MACS MARVEL will be pacing well at the end, but probably from too far back. (8) FORCE FULL A won his U.S. debut but has mostly struggled ever since – will wait for a much better spot before considering again (he does fit cheaper)

RACE 10 – (1) KARPATHIAN QUEEN returned sharp from Monti and just missed to TWO BEAN DREAM, got parked in her next then was 2nd best to a scary-sharp BOUT DAMN TIME A in her last – they’ll have her to catch and beat tonight. (4) POINT BREEZE is just 1 for 15 this year and arrives with some hard to decipher Pocono form –history does tell us that anytime this trainer and driver pair up, the horse should be taken very seriously (2) SWEET SANDY took a month off and re-qualified (solidly) after getting parked here on 8/22 – she has some strong local efforts, and could be part of the equation tonight. (6) FOX VALLEY JASMINE clearly has ability but she was scratched sick after qualifying way back on 2/17 and didn’t show back up until qualifying here in 9/18 – she did look solid in that prep (for her new barn), and a quick glance at the tote board may answer some questions about tonight. (7) TALENT TO SPARE A had to re-qualify after getting brutally parked here on 9/9 – likely to be handled conservatively after drawing so poorly. (5) PINE BUSH MAGA is still winless in 2026 but does race well enough for small pieces at times. (3) KENTUCKY MOONSHINE feels a bit overmatched arriving from PA/NJ. (8) KISSIN JOE has been struggling for some time…and now lands behind the 8 ball

RACE 11 – (2) GINGRAS BEACH hasn’t done much of anything lately but he drops, draws inside, and faces a completely blank bunch…the kind of spot where Bartlett usually can find a way to win. (1) ACAPULCO SUNBUR N had a trainer and driver change last week and responded with a much better effort for 2nd – no reason he can’t grab a big piece here too. (8) KOPI LUWAK has been well off form for some time and draws Post 8 tonight - he does get a fresh set of hands (Boyd), so maybe worth a stab if looking to try against the favorites. (3) HEAVEN ON HIGH N did little with the drop to the basement last week but maybe he can at least have a bigger say tonight in this pretty soft spot. (5) AUSSIE HANOVER has been averse to winning for a long time but did look a little better in his last couple, and may be a good bomb for the bottom of exotics tonight. (6) RAYRAY still hasn’t been 1st or 2nd this year but does have 9 thirds from his 23 starts – minor spoils? (4) HAGGARD and (7) MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING both have some ok recent form in NJ (and PA), but have been facing even softer than these…leaning elsewhere.