Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (7) DISARONNO HILL draws yet another awful post but has a much better chance to shoot to the top this time…and her chances of winning go way up if that happens – worth a play as long as the price is fair. (5) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ had some sneaky life 2 and 3 back and the public took notice, sending her off at 8/5 last week (as opposed to her usual 30-1 odds) – she chased a razor sharp front end winner to be 2nd best, and looms a legitimate player tonight, as long as she lands on another manageable trip. (2) UNDETERRED was a very good 2nd last time but she’s been inconsistent at best – chance to be in the hunt again, but only if she brings that same kind of effort. (6) QUICK MENU wasn’t up for last week’s first over trip but her overall form has been pretty good – good bomb for the bottom of exotics. (1) EBONY LADY is hard to endorse off her most of her recent lines but she does have the speed to at least have a say in the outcome. (3) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL wasn’t bad last week, gets a good draw, and is another bomb with a chance to add some value to the exotics. (8) SHANGRI LA HANOVER ended up with an easy trip last week and used it to finish 3rd – hard to see her being as fortunate from out here. (4) HARPER SEELSTER has way more lesser tries than good ones lately

RACE 2 – (4) ALWAYS B LAYLA IR was a solid 2nd best to a talented PLEASE BE YOU in her local debut then raced as well as could be expected in her next, racing from 5th into :27.2 final quarter – she has a post edge on a couple of main rivals, figures to be a fair price, and that makes her worth considering. (5) ALWAYSBEPUFFING IR actually raced against the top choice in the UK, and is doing similarly well here in the states – she came up 2nd best to the currently undefeated-in-the-U.S. RASPALIA N last time, and looms a major threat tonight! (6) SEND IT DO WN SLIM was a big earner at 2 and 3 but has been “meh” so far at 4 – she gets the worst of the draw, and could be vulnerable once more. (1) HOBBY GONE CRAZY had a lot of success at the Iowa Fairs and had a couple of ok tries after leaving there this Fall – she was a close 3rd in NJ in her first start of 2026 last week, and figures to make her presence felt tonight from the pole– she also figures to be somewhat overbet. (3) LONELY GHOST is one of the only ones in her barn NOT clicking at the moment. (2) MILAGRO is struggling to get her 4YO campaign underway

RACE 3 – (2) KARINCHAK (a big earner at 2 and 3) was a little disappointing in his first start of 2026 but he added Lasix for his next, and delivered a sharp wire to wire score from Post 7– he followed that up with an excellent first over 2nd last week, and we’ll give him the edge tonight over a few legitimate foes. (3) SEVEN LAYER jogged effortlessly off the class drop last week but has proven that he can be a player in this class too – look for him to be part of the equation. (4) FARAH TRIO IT added hopples in December and has won 9 of 11 starts since then– she did make breaks in the two losses, and one of them was right here at Yonkers…clearly a major threat, but also likely to be overbet. (5) PORTOBAROSSO AS NL qualified ok (in NJ) on 3/25 and makes his first start tonight in 4 months – tough assignment, especially drawing outside 3 sharp rivals! (6) HALFADOZEN was a form-reversing winner in a fall-apart race 2 back, then in over his head in the John Brennan Series last week – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help (1) STOVID gets assigned the rail but that may not help enough against these much better rivals

RACE 4 – John Brennan Trotting Series, Leg 2: (6) ALWAYS A STORY lands outside but still should be able to improve position at the start, at worst – she’s hitting on all cylinders right now, and may even offer a decent price (thanks to the draw). (5) COMMODUS A was having success Down Under but didn’t fire right off the bat here in the U.S.– he added Lasix for his last NJ start and turned in a better effort – may be worth a look in his local debut (scratched last week due to a conflict of interest for the connections). (2) GREEN MEL looked like a winner last week but had to settle for 2nd after TOP GUN HANOVER smoothed out into the lane and trotted away from him – if he brings his best tonight, he’ll be a dangerous player. (1) PIERRE IN PARIS sat the pocket from a similar spot last week and picked up a 3rd – chance for a similar piece tonight. (3) MA ISABELLE rarely wins, but often can grab a share rallying off easy trips. (4) ALIMONY MIKE is another that will sit back, and try to finish well for a slice.

RACE 5 – (1) THEFLYINGROCK would have been seen as a “cinch” from this spot not long ago but while he’s still racing “well”, he hasn’t been throwing those insanely huge miles in his last few starts – he gets a change of scenery and new pilot tonight and we’ll give him top billing…but without as much confidence right now. (5) ROSE RUN ASTRO was super in back to back wins here 3 and 4 starts back, was 2nd at PcD the next week then in a tough spot for his last – has to be worth a look at that 12-1 ML price. (2) WELL THATS MARKY goes back on Lasix so perhaps that’s why he struggled so badly in his last pair – there’s also the possibility that he’s just struggling off the barn change…suppose we’ll find out tonight! (3) GOLIATH HANOVER ended his 2025 season on a weak note – he was freshened up, but it’s hard to gauge his current form off his two Pocono efforts – mixed feelings. (7) ITALIAN LAD N has been well off his best form recently – tonight’s draw isn’t the cure. (8) PINK FLOYD HANOVER has 3 wins and 3 seconds from his 9 starts this year but is moving up in class and draws Post 8 – another that’s hard to gauge for tonight. (6) BONNIPRINCLOUIS N beat the bottom class 3 back off the barn change then was a perfect trip 2nd in his next – no factor last week, however, and may be in a little tough tonight, as well. (5) THEMASKEDC RUSADR N hasn’t been a serious threat in any of his recent starts – needs to be better.

RACE 6 - John Brennan Trotting Series, Leg 2: (2) KAZIO DK flew to the top in his local debut and actually looked pretty strong on the final bend when he made that very costly miscue – willing to give him a chance to make amends tonight, assuming his price is decent. (4) EXQUISITE TASTE didn’t fire her best shot last week but she’s won 5 of 9 local starts, can race on or off the pace and definitely could rebound with a bigger effort tonight (7) DIPLOMACY gets the worst of the draw but will surely be looking to race aggressively after being scratched from the first leg (the barn had another horse in that division) – he’s won his last 4 YR starts and has to be feared…even from out here (5) VELOCIRAPTOR was no threat last week but he also wasn’t a bad 4th – chance for another small piece, with another easy trip. (3) BELMONDO added Lasix last week (after likely bleeding at Pocono the start before) but wasn’t able to have any impact – not ready to write her off, but also not ready to just hop back on her team. (1) CRAZY BROTHER JIM finished distanced in his first start with a new trainer listed – we’ll wait for a better effort before considering. (6) SUNDAY BRUNCH looked well short last week in her first start since 12/17

RACE 7 – (3) WHAT A BUCKEYE didn’t win a lot of races at 2 and 3 but he did earn about $150K racing in Ohio – he’s still winless at 4 but his lines suggest he’d still be a very good fit here, especially moving to a barn that can improve horses considerably…worth a try in his Hilltop debut. (7) BEERNSUNSHINE DEO had excuses 2 and 3 back then rebounded with a nice first over 2nd to total standout SEVEN LAYER last week – major threat tonight, even from out here. (8) SEISMIC STEP sat the pocket last week and was outkicked by #7 for 2nd with no excuse whatsoever – on the flip side, he races well in most of his local starts, and just missed from Post 8 the week before – a nice price makes him worth considering, at least for exotics. (2) WISH LIST was in a tough spot last week after a pretty solid try the week before – moves inside, and may be able to add some value to the exotics. (5) MARIN COU NTY was a bit sharper earlier in the year but still capable of grabbing a piece if the trip goes his way. (4) BROMAX went his best local effort with that first over win 2 back but that mile is sandwiched between a pair of miscues– feels a little too risky right now. (1) HIPPIE SHAKE had been “ok” for a few starts but threw a did last week – he could rebound, but others just have more appeal right now. (6) SISTER LO has struggled in her local appearances

RACE 8 – Tough race! (5) FOXHUNT went a HUGE mile off the claim last week, never seeing the pylons and STILL fighting right to the wire, somehow finishing 3rd – this race could see the up front action that could make him a winner. (1) SARANAC BLUE CHIP got a big wake up call in his 2nd start off the claim and upset at 9-1 – he was hurt when caught behind a tiring leader in his last, but could easily come out on top here if things go more his way. (4) DANCE ON THE BEACH faltered moving up to 20s last week but he was mercilessly hounded (by #5) and was racing for a new barn – was quickly reclaimed, and could have a big say here. (7) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was “sneaky good” from an impossible spot 2 back, then lost all chance for a top prize last week when he gambled on sitting in – goes for new connections and draws terribly…but he WILL be a big price! (2) TONTO RETURNS dropped in for a tag and won last week, but benefitted from a dream trip – he’s almost certain to get overbet here, and may not have the same success without a golden journey. (3) JO PAS WARRIOR drops below the level of the claim after just one start and that surely feels like a red flag! (8) BLACK HAWK JOE A probably hasn’t been as “good” as some of his lines look, and tonight’s class drop could be offset by Post 8 – leaning towards others. (6) BLOCKBUSTER TRADE finished well back in both 2026 starts – pass for now

RACE 9 – (3) ADVANCE MAN was ok in his first local try and even better in his next – he catches a blank field tonight, and the favorites look risky…worth a shot? (6) MAJOR POCKET A should have been able to hang on last week but the winner did come up big, and was pretty good in 2025 – better price if you stay on board. (5) MINOTA UR returns off a blowout Monti victory and would be more enticing had not had a history of racing much better out of town, than here at Yonkers – he’s listed at 8/5 ML but is just 14-0-0-3 at The Hilltop. (8) HUGH HESTON was ok 2 back but in a no chance spot last week – he’s probably a good fit here, but may need a better draw to show his best (1) GOTHIC ROCK has the rail with Bartlett in a weak field BUT he’s listed at 5/2 ML after finishing no better than 4th all year, and usually at big prices – tough to take a short price now! (4) ROCK THIS WAY had a few nice efforts before duds in his last pair – he CAN win this if he reverts to his better form. (2) DEEDENUTO A feels like he’s gone the wrong way again. (7) UWAITILLGOFIRST functioned better last week – not ready to hop on his team, but at least ready to start paying him some attention.