Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Empire Report

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

RACE 1 - (3) MAYBEMABEL just wasn’t right on 5/26 (off the claim) but was freshened up, and looked like her “good” self, winning her last start with ease – she’s very dangerous at this level whenever she’s anything close to 100%. (6) EVENINSTARZRAPSODY broke in her local debut but scored easily in her next as a massive 35-1 overlay – raced very well for 2nd in a hot mile last week, and can have another big say tonight…even with the bad draw. (8) KISSIN JOE has been camera shy the last couple of years but is usually good for a late rally, and usually a good one to include in exotics – won’t be easy to reach from out here, but at least the price will be right! (2) VEL IM ALL FIRE is hard to gauge class-wise from her out of town lines but she does have 6 wins this year, including one at Tioga last week – wouldn’t be surprised if she was a good fit here, but that 2-1 ML price makes it likely that she’ll end up overbet. (4) TARGARYEN EMPRESS had no luck here in limited 2024-25 starts but she has some good recent out of town efforts, and has a chance to outperform her 20-1 ML odds. (1) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL throws way more duds than good ones at Yonkers, but an easy trip from this spot would at least give her a chance at a piece. (7) RACIN FOR ROYALTY would be a factor here on any of her better efforts but she seems to only thrive when she draws inside – would consider underneath only if the price is juicy. (5) FORTUNADA is a tough one to predict from week to week – at least her 20-1 ML odds could help her bring some value to the exotics.

RACE 2 – (1) PETEZA shipped in with impressive Ohio lines and jogged as the favorite in his Yonkers debut – couldn’t quite finish the job last week, but the winner was also dropping out of NYSS competition – deserves a chance to make amends, but has to be seen as at least a bit vulnerable now. (3) CHANT was beyond disappointing here on 6/17 (as the favorite) but gets a barn change that has produced some major improvement in the past, and perhaps this filly will follow suit. (2) ZUZU ZOOM came up 2nd best to #1 last start after beating softer the week before – the 3YO seems to be on the upswing, and could easily land in the exotics once more. (5) GOYA has a win, 2nd and 3rd from her 3 local tries and there’s no reason she can’t be right in the hunt once more, from either on or off the pace. (4) LONG HILL was offstride before the start in his local debut but drops right back in the box and did take some $$ last week – could add some value to the ticket, IF he behaves. (8) AJAX BLUE CHIP stayed flat after leaving from Post 8 last week but ended up a no threat 3rd – ok bomb for the bottom of exotics. (6) RAUCOUS was a little better in his 2nd local try but others in here just have more appeal. (7) SHADY MAPLE BECKY was no factor at all in either local try

RACE 3 - (3) ROSE RUN ASTRO returned to his old barn last week and rallied from the clouds to almost get there (albeit in a fall apart race) – better draw tonight, and looms a big threat! (1) ALADDIN got a driver change and perfect trip last start, helping him to get over the hump and finally get his picture taken – he gets a much better draw than he had when the card was canceled last week (7 hole), and has a legitimate chance to repeat from this spot. (3) FULL SUPPORT also picked up his first victory of the year last week, helped tremendously by a “fall apart” race – can’t rule out his chances tonight, but leaning more to the top pair. (7) IM SOME GRADUATE seems to be coming back around after struggling in his first couple of starts off the claim – would need a pretty good price to try him on top from out here, but a smaller piece is not out of the question. (5) MR PROFETA's lone victory here over the last 2 years came from the rail, in a weak field – chance for a small slice, with an easy trip. (4) DEEDENUTO A hasn’t been better that 3rd in his 19 starts this year, and it seems unlikely that’ll change tonight. (6) BROWER may have been too hard to hold last start, resulting in that disastrous effort – re-qualified better (on Lasix), but it would still be hard to make a case for him here. (8) SOCIAL THEORIES was a NJ winner last week, after going 0 for 30 over the last 2 years – draws Post 8 for his local debut, and would be a surprise, to say the least

RACE 4 – (6) NAPALM has been battling MUCH better than these on a weekly basis, and was just 2nd in a division of the Park MGM Filly Pace (here at Yonkers) – no excuses vs. these, even from Post 6. (5) WAVE DANCER seems a bit below the top choice, but seemingly better than the locals – solid chance to complete the exacta in her YR debut. (1) ODDS ON COMMANDEER had a couple of mice tries in PA to start off her 3YO campaign, took a couple of months off then just re-qualified decently – could easily land a share tonight. (3) RICH EILEEN was a no threat 4th in her only local try but returns off a pair of 2nds at Chester – an easy trip could help her land a share. (4) DORAL DELIGHT lagged for way too long last week before finishing “ok” for 5th – chance for a minor piece, with a more involved effort. (8) SILENCE IS GOLDEN towed along for 2nd last week but that was from Post 2 – not sure she can have that success from out here. (2) BROOKLYN BOMBSHELL never got anything going for the leading barn in the nation – not sure the change of scenery is going to help much. (7) SHADOW DELIGHT was a dull 4th in her only local try and now gets a bad draw

RACE 5 – (2) CURLY JAMES A took a double drop to 15s last week, shot right to the top and never looked back, demolishing his rivals with ease – he earned the step up to 20s tonight, and the guess is that he built back enough confidence to beat these too. (6) ITALIAN LAD N was huge in defeat last week, parked to a hot half but still able to work his way up into the pocket on the back side, staying on all the way to the wire for 2nd (dropping to 20s) – stays in the same class, and looms a real threat, even with the bad draw. (1) MAXIMUS RED A hasn’t been overly sharp lately, stuck on smaller pieces even with good trips– could be looking at more of the same tonight (5) PINK FLOYD HANOVER also has been a bit of his best recently, but still capable of grabbing a share with a live trip. (8) ARTIST BEST had been “sneaky good” in a couple of recent starts so last week’s victory was hardly a surprise – tougher spot tonight, however, as he moves up in class, lands outside and loses Zeron. (3) MACH N CHEESE was entered for $15K when the card was canceled, and that was after a rallying 2nd in 25s – it felt like a major red flag then, and still feels that way. (4) GREAT SOMEWHERE is stuck on minor spoils lately and will be hard pressed to do better than that tonight. (7) AUSSIE HANOVER draws poorly again, and is currently 22-0-1-2 on the year

RACE 6 – (2) LAURENS CHAPTER is off to an excellent start as a 3YO, getting sharper every start – that last win (NYSS at Buffalo) was just effortless, as she swooped from last to first before drawing off on her own – the one to beat. (3) BERRY GOOD NEWS raced 13X as a 2YO with good success, and has been doing some fine work in PA to start off her 3YO campaign – should have a big say in her Hilltop debut. (4) DWOOD finished with good trot in both local tries and may be able to do the same tonight – included underneath. (1) OVERALLS still isn’t finishing quite well enough but she’s definitely doing better - chance to last for a piece of this. (7) AVIATRIX BLUE CHIP hit board in her first 6 starts this year before a 4th at Buffalo last week (NYSS) – she fits nicely, but may be post compromised. (5) BEERNSUNSHINE DEO tends to be somewhat in and out but an easy ground saving trip could see her rally for a small piece. (6) JE SUIS CASH S has speed/ability but has been plagued by miscues and has just 15 career starts into his 5YO campaign – definitely feels risky. (8) BOOM CHICA BOOM probably needs a much better draw to even contend for a piece with these.

RACE 7 – (1) OVER THE HORIZON is a winning machine in 15s but finally steps up to 20s this week – this is not the toughest field for this class, and he may be able to have his way with these too. (5) ALABAMAJAMMA also steps up to 20s after a tough loss in 15s last week – he seems capable of being a big threat here too. (4) LOVERS TR OUBLE’s out of town lines have been mixed, but any of his better efforts would make him a real threat in his first local try of 2026. (2) CAPTAIN JENNA is hard to gauge class-wise off his Ohio lines but he lands in a solid barn, draws inside, and may be able to be part of the equation. (3) SHOW RESPECT added Lasix for his last start at PRc but landed on a tough trip – another newcomer that’s a total question mark for tonight. (6) COALFORDONEOFUS GB shows a pair of nice Monti starts after arriving from KY but like a few of the others, it’s a tough call as to whether this $20K level is right for him. (7) WELL THATS MARKY throws his share of good efforts but usually not from spots like this. (8) ONYX BOVINO gets his first bad draw after failing to deliver from several inside slots

RACE 8 – (5) TALL DARK TEQUILA couldn’t quite hold 2nd off the pocket trip last week but that was in a pretty quick stakes race – might be more at home with these, but wouldn’t take too short a price in this well matched field. (1) BRONX MIXER picked up a win and a 2nd the last 2X she sat a two hole trip– she might get that trip tonight. (3) ANNA LOVES BANANAS was no factor in her 2 local tries but did race better at Chester last week when handled more aggressively – maybe she’s ready for a better local effort too? (7) YOULLFINDOUT drops back down to a “NW PM” class and that could help – very tough draw, though. (4) JORDANNA HANOVER failed to deliver as the favorite in her last 2 local tries – she’s 0 for 7 here this year (and 1 for 14 overall), but still not a bad one to use on the bottom of exotics. (2) STEPABOVETHEREST is another that may appreciate the move to this class and did win here on 5/1 – wouldn’t be a shock. (6) SAMMY JO HANOVER beat cheaper as the favorite last start but it wasn’t “pretty” – not ready to try her against these. (8) THREECURTAINCALLS draws worst for her YR debut and while she may fit nicely with these, she may need for a better spot to strut her best stuff

RACE 9 – (5) TAIPAN AS has been doing terrific work in Ohio, facing solid older trotters – can race on or off the pace, and looks like a major threat to take his local debut. (2) HALFADOZEN turned in a big rally from way back to just miss on 6/17 (even if the race fell apart), and then was excellent again in last week’s 2nd place finish to the oft winning SEVEN LAYER – legitimate threat. (3) CREDIT TO FRANK just never got going at all in his last but did rally nicely in a few other recent starts – a return to that form could help land him a good piece here. (1) STARFISH has been camera shy during her career but 2 for her last 2 at Stga., after a big barn change – faces tougher in her YR debut, but may be good enough right now to still have a say. (4) WISH LIST kept trying hard to hold on to 3rd last week and another easy trip could see her take home some minor spoils. (6) MARIN COUNTY probably needs a better draw to be a more serious player at this level. (7) BIZZY BRENDA will be trotting well late, but likely from too far out of it. (8) HL OLMAYA wasn’t terrible in either start off the layoff but tonight’s draw will really limit her chances.

RACE 10 – (5) CALL ME ANGELITA was a solid 2YO, going 8-3-2-1 ($45K) – she’s been just “ok” so far at 3, but stay pretty close to the others in her Park MGM Fill Pace division last week, and now adds Lasix while facing much softer – may have found a winning spot. (6) IMAGINE HEAVEN won 3 of 11 as a 2YO, and been ok so far at 3 – logical player in her Yonkers debut. (1) CRYSTAL COAST has been consistent here at Yonkers, sporting a 12-1-3-5 local slate – more than capable of landing on the ticket from this spot. (2) SEND IT DOWN SLIM has had a very disappointing year so far (as a 4YO), and will offer no value as the 2-1 ML favorite – she’s still seeking her first win of the season, and may be in that same boat after tonight. (7) GABBYS WISH gets a terrible draw but did give the favorite a big scare last week before weakening a bit, and may be able to outperform her 20-1 ML price. (8) LADY OAKLEY ships in off a Tioga victory and probably fits fine with these too (she had a horrible trip in her only local try) - the draw is the obvious obstacle. (3) SWIFT SAFARI struggled in her last 2 starts (at PcD) and ships in off a sick scratch – prefer others. (4) PAPIS OPINION is in watch mode tonight, making her first start since January.