Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, September 8, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) ROUGH DEAL’s last line doesn’t look bad on paper, but he never looked “strong” and was lucky just to hang on for 2nd, as the prohibitive 1/5 choice – he’s still the one to beat, but not one to bet the rent money on at another very short price. (3) HURRIKANE LILLOUIE was struggling coming into his last but delivered a from-reversing 20-1 upset…he should still be a pretty fair price tonight if you think he can bring another strong effort. (4) ENTER SANDMAN has 6 career starts – any of the 3 at Chester would make him a real threat here, but his local tries have been poor…Lachance does drop him right back in at The Hilltop, so maybe we’ll finally see a better local effort? (2) CALVIN HANOVER has more weaker efforts than good ones, but he’d have a chance at a piece if in a good mood tonight. (7) WINNINGMACHINE was right there with the top ones in his local debut and hails from a barn that has popped more than their share of longshot winners – worth a stab? (8) AMERICAN ROAD TRIP often hits board but is 1 for 20 lifetime and starting from Post 8. (5) OZZIES CRAZY TRAIN has struggled in most of his local starts – his last was a bit better, but not ready to hop on his team. (6) CAPTAIN AMORE N just hasn’t clicked in the U.S., and just had to re-qualify off a pair of miscues

RACE 2 – Good race! (6) GINGER TREE LIZ was really starting to sharpen when claimed 2 back, then quickly delivered an excellent victory for her new connections last week – gets a tough draw in a sharp field, but should still offer some good value! (5) SPIRIT OF PEARL A was in a terrible spot last week but still did well just to finish 4th (vs. better) – she has 3 recent wins, and has a license to upset here at a nice price. (1) TH RIZZO won her first 2 starts off the claim (in 20s), then raced very well in a trio of starts at the $50K level – drops, and is a very logical threat…but also figures to end up way overbet with Bartlett and the rail. (3) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT has taken 5 of her last 6 starts, the lone loss coming to #5 – she’s facing a much tougher bunch than she’s used to, but she’s still too sharp to ever just ignore. (4) ULTIMATE SPEED was a scary-good winner 2 back, outbattling the tough BRI EXPR ESS N for the victory – she failed to fire at all in her last, however, and would need to be a pretty good price to use on top tonight. (2) YUENGLING loves to win races but she does seem more comfortable facing cheaper than these. (7) PETROL QUEEN drops from 50s, but that could be offset by the terrible draw

RACE 3 – (1) ORLANDO BLUE A beat a bit easier 3 and 4 back, was putting in a serious final turn challenge when he made a costly miscue on 8/18 then an excellent first over 2nd to the well rated CURLY JAMES A last week – chance for a minor upset with a bit of racing luck. (4) CURLY JAMES A went from being a big player at this level all the way down to be a struggling $15K claimer…but eventually turned things around and is as good (or better) now as he was earlier in the year – he just stole one last week, but was still razor sharp – have to respect his chances of taking another. (3) BOSTON BOUND N put in a big one when he just missed to a pair of nice rivals 2 back, then finished just behind the top 2 choices last week – good chance to be right in the hunt again. (6) BACKSTREET SH ADOW finished well 3 back, wired easier in his next then finished up well again in his last, from an impossible spot – not sure he’ll be able to overcome tonight’s draw, especially with several sharp ones to his inside. (2) ALWAYS B ELITE N raced well in both starts since returning from a long layoff – he’s sharp enough to win a race…bit not sure if he can do it vs. these. (5) KEAYANG TACO A just seems to race better when on/near the lead.

RACE 4 – (4) SURVIVN FIRE has been racing well for some time and particularly sharp right now – if she’s close turning for home, she’ll be a handful coming to the wire. (5) OVER ICE finally picked up a long overdue Yonkers win 3 back, then raced well in the 2 starts after that – good spot to leave hard and work out what may turn into a winning trip. (3) MC ANGEL is having a good year, is very versatile, and usually a pretty good price - never mind having her on a few tickets. (1) MAYBEMABEL rebounded from a disastrous outing on 8/11 with a sharp qualifier and solid effort – she hasn’t proven that she can beat the 50s, but it’s conceivable that she can…with the right trip. (6) KATIES UP beat this class last week but also benefited from a very good trip – would hardly be a shock tonight, but it’s a tougher spot for sure, and she’ll probably still end up overbet. (7) FEAR DANIE has ability but is often her own worst enemy, and there’s not much margin for error from out here! (2) SPLASH OF PINK will benefit from the post relief, but still feels a notch below some of the main players

RACE 5 – (2) LYONS FRANKY J was stuck in a no-chance spot last week but had a lot more in the tank than he was able to show – he’s just a different horse when Bartlett drives, and he’ll surely be aggressive with the move inside. (8) EVILEYE FLEEGLE is the “best” horse in here and drops another notch after just missing last week (last quarter in :27 seconds) – he also faces an uncertain trip (at best) from out here, so make sure to get a fair price if using him on top. (3) SPECULATING A is solid right now, gets another good draw, and could easily land somewhere on the ticket with any \half-decent trip. (4) SMOOTH DREAM really should have been able to win 3 back, tired in his next but did turn in a good one last week – ok underneath. (7) EFFINGHAM was the top choice here when scratched on 8/24 but that was a much easier field, and he’s now missed 24 days – leaning elsewhere this time. (6) MACS MARVEL is pretty good right now but also looking at coming from well back vs. some solid foes. (5) ODDS ON NO LIMIT has been “ok” with easier – in tough tonight. (1) FEELIN WESTERN draws the pole but that still may not be enough to make him a real player with these

RACE 6 – (3) TWIN B FRESH BET turned in a sharp back-to-back victories in early June then pulled up with some issue in his next – re-qualified, raced well in a pair of starts after that, then just elected to re-qualify (sharply) at PcD – when he’s on his best game, he’s good enough to beat these. (1) DARKNSTORMY DEO had a disappointing try 3 back but has otherwise raced well/very well in his 4 other local tries – very dangerous player! (4) LOUMELLO BALL finished well for 3rd in his local debut then was solid again last week, and can be forgiven for not outkicking JOHNNY LINCOLN N for 2nd – should be in the hunt for another good piece tonight. (2) GEORGES WISH is winless in 6 local starts but usually in play for a piece – made a nice recovery after breaking before the start last week, and belongs in your exotics tonight. (8) ALABAMA LUCKY turned in a good one last week but it might be hard to repeat that effort from out here – not a bad bomb for 3rd/4th. (6) FLYING MAJOR ART has used his speed to take home pieces in a few local tries and has a chance to do the same tonight – another possibility for 3rd/4th. (5) JUSTINIAN gets Bartlett but has shown little in his local tries. (7) HES A FEIN FOLLOW lands outside after being scratched sick from his local debut – he may also be a bit on the cheaper side.

RACE 7 – (4) OPTICAL ILLUSION N was hurt by a poor driving decision 2 back then finished with good pace from an impossible spot last week – he’s sharper than he looks, meets no killers in here and should offer some good value, despite his poor win % this year. (5) INVISIBLE N was surprisingly aggressive last week and though he did get worn down into the lane, the effort could have him on toes for tonight, with an easier trip – possibility. (6) THE GREEK FREAK wasn’t thrilled with last week’s tougher trip (in a quick mile) but still held well for 3rd – he’s not “great” right now, but he’s certainly not “bad”…a fast start would really boost his chances. (1) NO TRESSPASSING took a little too long to find his best gear last week but was definitely gaining quickly at the end – could end up with a very live trip tonight. (3) SOUTHWIND CELSIUS got very good for a few starts recently then just fell apart badly – not sure the driver change to Bartlett can justify him being listed as the 2-1 ML favorite. (2) JUST ENUFF STUFF hasn’t been close to his best game in some time – drops and moves inside, and we’ll see if that’s enough to help him grab a share. Both (7) CASINO ACTION N and (8) BOOKEM DANNO would like better posts, in easier fields

RACE 8 – (2) HAZEVILLE steps up to NW15000 off a game win one level down but this is a pretty soft bunch for this class – he’s a streaky sort, and it’s possible that he can take another. (1) IN EXCESS N had no prayer in his last couple but really wasn’t bad – chance to do much more damage with what figures to be a much better trip. (3) BON DI LOCKDOWN A wasn’t at his best in his last couple but he’s held his own with better plenty of times – has a chance if he can find his best effort. (4) TWIN B POWERBALL has been racing himself back into shape after recently returning from a long layoff – he just missed 2 back, had no prayer last week, but can be in the hunt tonight. (6) EVERLAST STING DEO has some solid PA form in NWPM classes but in his only local try he ran in badly after trying to leave, and made a break – Kakaley probably has that in the back of his mind. (7) DRACARYS Z was right there 2nd behind #2 last week but sat pocketed from the pole – facing a much tough journey tonight. (6) PRINT VILLE has faced cheaper most of the year and is just 1 for 25. (8) WINDSUN RICKY would surely be a surprise

RACE 9 – (5) JOLIMONT N banked over $175K Down Under and was racing in stakes events prior to shipping to the U.S. – he took a couple of starts to get rolling but found his best in his last at PcD, and we’ll look for him to build off that win here at Yonkers. (4) JUSTCALLMEBUCK wasn’t as sharp last week as in his first 3 local tries but still stayed on for 4th – too soon to write him off, and worth a look tonight IF the price is decent. (6) THE MIKI TAK ER A has some pretty solid effort recently and it’s hard to believe he’s winless in 2025-26 – bad draw, but still a chance to grab a share. (7) CHECKNOUTHETALNT A arrives off a pair of Stga. wins vs. cheaper and may have been more appealing with a better draw – if you think Stratton may handle him aggressively, you’ll certainly be in for a good price. (3) LILLBLISS really improved off the barn change 2 back and was pacing well after the fact last week – maybe a small slice? (1) LEVINE raced well for 2nd at PcD 2 back and built off that with a (rare) YR win last week – ok piece with the rail draw. (2) REINCARNATED will be helped by the post relief but is still a ? class- wise vs. these. (8) THE IDEAL DANCER A isn’t on his best game and draws Post 8 – likely drops next week!