Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, January 28, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (4) KAT dropped to 20s to start off 2026 (after holding her own in 25s and 30s) and was able to take home a hard fought victory – stays at the same level, and has a legitimate chance to repeat. (1) DISARONNO HILL carved out the mile last week but came up short at the end (first start since 12/16)– she’s not always the most reliable performer, but she’d be very dangerous from a spot like this if anywhere close to her best. (2) I LOVED HER FIRST worked out a very nice trip last week and finished right behind the top pair (3rd) – another good trip could put her right in the mix once more. (7) YOU BEDA ROCK jogged in back to back starts recently but was killed by Post 8 in her last pair…tonight’s draw isn’t much better, but she still could be worth a look if the price creeps up. (3) SP DAN CINWITHSTARZ gets major post relief and could be ready for a more serious effort – definitely could add some value to the exotics. (6) SHAKE ME LOOSE was a decent 4th last week and could be tighter tonight – the bad draw could leave her waiting for a better spot, though. (5) DEAR ABBEY came up terrible off the winter break – waiting for a better effort before considering again. (8) IRIS SEELSTER figures to be coming from too far back to threaten

RACE 2 – (3) TRUMP THE WARRIOR upped his game significantly after moving to our leading trainer 4 starts back and his PA/NJ efforts would seem to be much better than any of the others in here are capable of – looking at a very short price in his local debut. (6) MARIN COUNTY drew Post 8 off six weeks for his last start but he also added Lasix, and trotted a very solid final 3/8ths – could be a good value horse if not a fan of the favorite. (4) ENTE RTAIN ME trotted ok last week after losing all chance with an early miscue – chance to land somewhere in the exotics with a clean mile. (5) IDITOROD struggled in his 4 local starts but he has some good efforts out of town, hails from a top barn, and is eligible to turn in a better performance tonight. (8) VANGUARD is just 3 for 60 overall (9-0-0-1 at Yonkers) but he can leave the gate, stays trotting, and his small barn sent out a couple of decent ones last week – good bomb to throw in underneath. (1) MELISSA P was empty in her local debut but perhaps the move to the pole can at least help her contend for a piece. (2) IMPRESSIVE LANDING tired badly qualifying for a new barn – prefer others right now. (7) MASSETO draws poorly after a dull try in his Yonkers debut

RACE 3 – (6) KEWPIE DOLL broke here on 11/12 (arriving from KY) but then won 2 in a row, followed by a nose loss – she stayed fit with a pair of PA starts during the winter break (a win and a 2nd), and the short field should help her chances tonight – give her the narrow edge. (2) FIRST CLASS RULE made breaks in his first 2 local tries but followed that up with a win and a 2nd to close out 2025 – could have a big say here if ready to roll off the hiatus. (5) BOURBANISTA S was a no-threat (but decent) 3rd behind a couple of nice ones in her local debut – chance to build off that, and be an even bigger player tonight. (4) SUNBURNT SILVERADO was no factor in his local debut but did have trot finishing – another capable of showing even more tonight. (3) SENSEI AMERICA has a solid 9-1-4-2 Yonkers slate but broke in his only start during the winter break (in NJ) – leaning more towards others tonight. (1) BARBELLA dominated the Maine Sire Stakes at 3, but her qualifier and start (for a new barn, at 4) leave much to be desired – we’ll just observe as she makes her Hilltop debut.

RACE 4 – (2) AMERITRIC went a sharp mile (off the layoff) for his new barn to close out 2025, then returned just as sharp last week, picking up a victory in his first start of 2026…legitimate chance to take another. (1) ALTA CLAS SIC A beat the 25s in his last start of the season then raced very well vs. the 30s to start off 2026, making the top from Post 8 then holding gamely for 3rd – should be a big player from start to finish tonight. (6) HAMMERING HANK has been on a long form spree, and was an excellent 2nd (for a new barn) after the winter break – the only knock here is the draw, but it does put him at a disadvantage. (4) THEMASKEDCRUSADR N was a sharp 2nd off the layoff, despite a less than perfect trip – he was claimed away from our leading trainer that night, and moves up a bit in class tonight…we’ll see how he responds. (5) LYRICAL GENIUS is just 3 for 58 locally over the last 2 years but he picks up more than his fair share of smaller pieces – maybe 3rd/4th? (3) DIAMONDBEACH has been very good for a long time, but vs. considerably easier – definitely a question mark vs. these.

RACE 5 – (4) NEYREIT is extremely tough here in 15s, especially when on the lead (although he showed last week that he can get it done from off the pace, if necessary) – the one to knock off as he looks to make it 2 in a row. (6) SHAKE IT was on a long, terrific roll last year until going on the shelf after a break (then scratch) in August – he returned at a reduced level in December and picked up a win, 2nd, and 3rd, but did look a little rusty when 4th (off the winter break) last week – drops to 15s, and should be able to have a real say here…assuming he didn’t blow a tire. (2) HARD WORKIN MAN ships in off a near miss at Monti, and had a couple of good efforts here last year – could add some value to the exotics. (5) ROCKET FREIGHT likes to sit back and rally – he’s missed nearly six weeks, and it’s hard to say just how tight he’ll be for this. (1) CONTACT ZONE won just ONE of 38 starts last year but did hit board in a lot of his losses – another that is hard to gauge for tonight, thanks to missed time. (3) GARDYS LEGA CY A’s comeback wasn’t going well to close out 2025…we’ll see if some time off helps. (7) SMOOTH LOU was struggling to end the year, and a drop to 20s didn’t help last week – he tries 15s now, but it still may not be the answer. (8) GINGER TREE PETE seems damned if he leaves, and damned if he doesn’t

RACE 6 – Tough race: (4) WESTERN ERA was no factor in his seasonal return but he’s capable of better, and drops a bit – one of many with a chance in what shapes up as a wide open affair. (5) ROCK THE BELLES was handled conservatively off the winter break but used an inside trip to be close at the wire – may be ready for a much more aggressive try tonight. (2) INTIMIDATION was scratched lame here on 11/24 (for a new barn) but re-qualified at Monti a month later then put in sharp efforts in a pair of Open starts – he may be sharp enough right now to threaten in his Yonkers return. (1) ROLLING WITH SAM ended the year sharp, then was a close 3rd in his 2026 return, despite moving up two classes – draws the pole, and could be right in the hunt once more. (3) CHURCHVIE WFRANKL IR sat last off the layoff and did finish with interest – chance in here if things get testy enough up front. (6) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A is more than capable at this level but another bad draw may leave him with a tough trip. (7) KOPI LUWAK wasn’t close in either N start after returning from some time off, and tonight’s draw figures to hurt his chances to improve much

RACE 7 – (2) EXQUISITE TASTE had a short, but strong 3YO campaign in Canada, finishing 3rd in the OnSS Final and banking $108K from her 13 starts – she was freshened up and sent down in December to her current trainer, and shown the ability to finish well in her PA and NJ starts – seems worth a shot in her local debut. (1) MESSENGER HANOVER was sent off favored for his local debut (off solid form out of town) but just came up empty after popping out of the two hole to 3/4s – it’s way too soon to write him off…but also hard to back him with confidence after that disappointing try. (7) BEERNSUNSHINE DEO picked up a pair of 2nds at the end of 2025 and returned with a solid try for 3rd – could be a player here, at a pretty decent price. (3) TEQUILA TALKING AS seemed to fall apart at the end of the year but has come back better, after the month off – consider for exotics. (8) BO SILAS is now 0 for 23 at Yonkers but raced well in a bunch of his losses – if you think Siegelman may take a shot at leaving from out here, he could be a great bomb for the bottom of the ticket. (5) MANFORCE has been an underachiever, now 0 for 8 here at Yonkers – minor share only. (4) BELMONDO finished with trot in his local debut but so did most of the others (as the race fell apart) – we’ll see if he can build off that effort. (6) CHASING CRYST ALS is 0 for 16 here at The Hilltop and will likely be coming from too far back to threaten.

RACE 8 – Tough race! (3) THE BIZZNESS N won twice at this level from his last 4 starts, but finished up the track in the other two – if you think the “good” version will show up tonight, he’ll probably be a fair price! (2) HURRIKA NEKINGJAMES took a little too long to get rolling when 4th off the winter break last week – he drops, gets a good draw, and could have a big say. (8) TWO FACED raced big in a LOT of his 22 starts last year but still ended the year winless – he looked like he might get off to a good start in 2026 but he was unable to get by a sharp winner after sitting the two hole last week – he has a chance in here (even from Post 8), but hard to get excited about a wager with that 5/2 ML price! (5) STATESIDELCKDOWN GB perked up in NJ adding Lasix 2 back, but disappointed returning to Yonkers last week – he goes for a new barn tonight, and he did win 2 of 3 here last year…possibility. (4) EVER M was trapped with no real chance to pace last week – not a bad one for longshot fans to consider. (1) FA MILY RECIPE continues to pick up a check every week, but the classy 9YO really hasn’t been “sharp” in some time…leaning towards other on top. (6) UP THE CREEK makes his first start of 2026 after going 8-0-0-1 here last year – leaning elsewhere. (7) HIGH ON ROCKNROLL somehow picked up a distant 2nd last week but seems unlikely to replicate that effort from out here. .

RACE 9 – (1) LYONS BENJAMIN turned in a 10 win/$116K season in 2025 then took a tough beat nose loss when 2nd in his 2026 return – the one to beat as he draws the pole for his new barn. (2) REIGNING DEO was in a no chance spot for his seasonal return but drops in class, moves inside, and figures to have a much bigger say tonight – make sure to get a good price if using on top, though, as he’s notoriously camera shy! (4) KARLOO BRADLEY N was a little short when 3rd off the winter break last week but he’s a consistent player vs. these types, and will be part of the equation once more. (5) CHICKEN N DICE ran into a tough trip last week and raced better than his line might suggest – his barn has sent out a few live ones, and he could add some value to the exotics. (3) SCRIBBLERS drops a notch, and may be able to rally late for some minor spoils. (6) CELLMATE had a great run at the end of 2025 but that was vs. easier – he was no factor at all last week, so we’ll see if he can turn in a better effort dropping down to 25s tonight. (8) HEAVE AWAY had a good 2025 season but seems too far out to be a serious player tonight. (7) BETTORBUCKLEUP has missed 6 weeks and lands outside

RACE 10 – (3) PINK FLOYD HANOVER took “sneaky money” last week, was hustled right to the top and never looked back from there, a very sharp winner – solid chance to make it 2 in a row (especially with Kakaely staying on board), though his price will come way down tonight. (5) LOUS BEACH was in a hopeless spot for his 2026 return but he comes off an excellent run at the end of ’25, and may be poised to do some damage from this better spot – worth a look. (1) STARE ME DOWN was no factor at all in his first start of the new year but he drops in class, lands the pole, and has gone efforts that could put him right in the hunt here. (6) SETH HANOVER has been racing well at Monti, but gets a tough draw with a new trainer listed – would still consider for exotics, assuming his price is good enough. (4) IM THE PRINCE can throw a good mile here and there, but his duds far outweigh his sharp efforts – sticking with others. (2) HES SPECIAL made only 13 starts last year and didn’t have a lot of success here at Yonkers – minor spoils? (7) DEETZY was no good at all in the latter part of 2025 and gets an awful draw to start of 2026. (8) AUSSIE HANOVER has really been struggling…Post 8 isn’t going to help him right the ship!