Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (2) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK has been much better lately, even if he did take a brutal beat last week to a winner parked every step of the way – he’s always been a streaky sort, and we’ll look for another good effort from him tonight. (4) BROTHER DICK was well backed for his local debut (vs. #2), ended up with a pretty good trip (after getting outleft early) but just didn’t fire enough – too soon to write him off, but would want a better price to try him on top again. (3) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES was very aggressive last start and only weakened late – he’s much better at this $15K level, and has a solid chance to outperform his 12-1 ML odds. (1) IM TALKING HUNGRY rallied late for 2nd in a “fall apart” race last week and tonight’s inside draw gives him a chance to take home a piece here too. (7) SETH HANOVER barely squeezed out a win 4 back in his first start off a long layoff but has regressed since then – hard to ever just dismiss his powerful connections, but he really shouldn’t be the ML favorite in here. (8) ARTIST BEST can be a player vs. these types but probably not from out here. (5) DIAMONDB EACH is still struggling – waiting for better signs. (6) EMINEM HANOVER is 22-0-0-2 locally over the past 2 yrs.

RACE 2 – (8) BOUT DAMN TIME A is finishing 2026 strong, with wins in 3 of her last 4 starts (and 4 of her last 7) – she gets the worst of the draw for another new barn but will likely be able to leave hard and at least improve her position significantly at the start…we’ll give her the narrow edge. (2) RACIN FOR ROYALTY is always tough when she draws inside, and even more so if the pace is contested in front of her – may end up in a good spot with a chance at the mild upset. (6) JILLIAN JIGGS drops back down to 20s (after a couple of ok tries in 30s) and she wired this class 3 back – not impossible! (7) POINT BREEZE was heavily backed upon arrival last week but lost any real chance after an early miscue – she did turn in a very nice recovery, but note that Bartlett opts for #8 tonight. (3) TRICKY WICKY was 11-0-0-0 at YR before last week’s solid 3rd…suppose she merits a little more attention after that. (5) EVELYNA ITIS has been ok in her last few but may struggle a bit moving back to this tougher $20K field. (1) DISTANT LOVER has some mixed recent form – another good draw, and a small piece is possible. (4) SH EISHUNGRY has been facing much easier out of town – has to prove she can be a player with these tougher ones

RACE 3 – (5) DAVID SEAMAN S has been sharp in most of his starts in NJ and PA this year, stays trotting, and gets our leading driver for his Yonkers debut – there are other live players in here, but he still merits top billing. (2) BIZZY BRENDA has been good in general lately but was really sharp in her last, staying close all the way despite landing in what turned out to be a track-record-equaling mile – chance for another good chunk here in her current form. (1) FLEX UP lands in a new barn after missing three weeks following a disappointing try in the Excelsior Final at Tioga – his overall season has been very good, however, including a 4-2-1-0 record here at Yonkers – could be a live player for his new crew. (6) BERRY GOOD NEWS has enjoyed a solid 3YO campaign and finished with good trot last week in her first local try– tough spot tonight, however, especially for a 3YO filly. (3) HALFADOZEN has been inconsistent all year long – her best effort could put her in the hunt tonight, but hard to predict we’ll see that from her. (4) MONI MAN has been stuck on minor pieces even when on his game

RACE 4 – (4) FEELIN WESTERN has been no factor at all lately but he drops to a level where he can do some damage, and lands in a completely blank field…maybe this is a spot for a wake up call? (6) KOPI LUWAK had been well off his game for some time before turning in a big 8 hole try last week (almost giving the barn their 3rd 8 hole winner in 2 nights!) – logical player off that effort. (3) SILKY CHOICE seemed like he may finally be starting to find some form (after a disastrous 2026 campaign) but he came up empty last week and remains a major question mark for tonight. (2) POINTS NORTH makes his local debut and he’s definitely been struggling with some bad spots out of town recently – he should be a decent fit here…even if by default. (5) DREAMBOAT HANOVER has some more competitive tries recently and may be able to at least contend for a piece. (1) RAYRAY moves all the way inside but has been dismal lately – not sure the rail will be enough to make him a contender. (7) GOLD GLOVE HANOVER races ok out of town sometimes but his 9-0-1-0 local slate is hard to ignore…Post 7 surely won’t help. (8) FIZZING N is the outsider, both literally and figuratively

RACE 5 – Wide open: (4) GLITTERATI sat in the back with no prayer in her local debut but did flash some life coming through the wire (after the fact) – Stratton knows her better now, and may be willing to take an aggressive approach from this much better spot. (6) NIGHTCAP MEARAS S (2nd time hopples last time) was “sneaky good” at the wire, even if not a player – she fits perfectly with this bunch, and could offer some decent value. (5) RAUCOUS added Lasix last time but was unable to have a say in what proved to be a sizzling mile for this class – might be a good time for more of that speed we saw 2 back. (8) SHADY MAPLE CADDY is the “x factor” in here – had some modest success at the Illinois Fairs then was an ok 3rd at Chester, debuting for our leading barn – Bartlett takes the assignment for her local debut, but also lands Post 8…intriguing at 20-1 ML. (2) ACOUSTIC BLUE CHIP does have speed but is often his own worst enemy (breaks, tires, etc.) – possible for sure but he’s just 1 for 16 and risky at a short price. (1) BERNISE MO HANOVER wasn’t up for the fast final quarter last week but did hang on to be a distant 3rd…small piece here too? (3) PINE BUSH MIRACLE has tailed off recently – watching for better signs. (7) CTM figures to be hard pressed to get into play from out here.

RACE 6 – (3) LEXINGTON QUEEN A makes her U.S. debut after a solid Pocono qualifier, finishing with plenty of pace, one her own, against some good horses– lands in a very soft spot and is hard to go past (4) MIDNIGHT LACE immediately found speed adding Bartlett last week, securing a good trip from Post 8 then sticking around for 4th – retains our leading driver here, moves inside, and may be able to last for a bigger share. (8) FUNKY BILLIE CHIN raced well in both local starts and can leave well enough to still grab a manageable trip from out here – playable underneath. (2) DORAL DELIGHT is usually a good price and does finish ok at times – ok bomb for the bottom of exotics. (6) JUST MY WORLD has been outracing her odds the last few starts, even from bad spots – another bomb with a chance for a share. (1) SEASIDE JUDY wasn’t as bad in her 2nd local starts as in her first, but it would still be hard to make a good case for her tonight at a short price. (5) RICH EILEEN has grabbed a few pieces but is listed at 3-1 ML and was scratched sick from her last…better value with others. (7) TRUE NORTH wasn’t up for last week’s aggressive try from the pole and now gets stuck outside – leaning elsewhere.

RACE 7 – (6) EVANGELISTA FACE S must have impressed in Sweden for her high profile connections to have purchased, and brought her over to the U.S. – the conditions for the race were altered for her to fit this class and while this is a much tougher than usual NW2 Trot, she still has to get top billing off that powerful, under wraps qualifier. (5) SV MR T did plenty of damage on the Iowa Fair Circuit then showed quickly that he’s the “real deal”, jogging from Post 8 in his Northeast debut (with a seemingly effortless :28.1 final quarter) – he won’t go down here without a serious fight! (3) AJAX BLUE CHIP broke in his first try adding Lasix but behaved in his next, and rallied nicely for 2nd behind stickout CHANT – chance for a good piece here too. (4) CHE BELLA is just 1 for 22 lifetime but has also faced tougher (in KY) for most of those starts – her only recent NW2 try resulted in a close 3rd, and maybe she can have a say in her local debut. (7) B TOTALLY NUDE stayed with #5 a long way last time before coming up short into that :28.1 kicker – tonight’s draw does figure to hurt her chances, however. (1) CANIPILOTA LL has been ok since arriving from the Midwest fairs but catches a strong bunch for this class and may need to wait for an easier spot. (2) IN YOUR HEART AS is another that fits this class “normally”, but may struggle in tonight’s much tougher division. (8) MAGIC VOLO lands Post 8 after a dull try in last – pass for now

RACE 8 – (5) NAPALM was underdriven in both local NW2 starts and never had a prayer (but then won her next 3 overnights in PA) – worth a look tonight, assuming the price is fair. (8) EXISTENTIAL is a talented mare but just 3 for 28 lifetime, as she can often be her own worst enemy – she’s “good” enough to win from out here but since she is prone to ending up with tough trips, make sure to get a decent price if using on top. (3) ONAORCHARDHUNT finished well here in an Excelsior division on 8/6, then finished well last week to be a close 2nd in tonight’s class – legitimate player, especially after drawing inside a couple of main foes. (6) GRAND YANKEE is 1 for 20 this year (racing in PA) but moves to a barn having a very strong season, and also adds Lasix – not sure she can step up enough to beat these, but she certainly has a chance to outperform her 20-1 ML odds. (2) CAVIART MADRID used all of a perfect trip to win at a short price 2 back but has disappointed (overall) lately – she goes for a new barn tonight, and we’ll see if that helps her up her game a bit. (1) JK SASSY LADY beat a very soft group 3 back but her other efforts probably would still leave her well short against the top ones in here. (7) PA PERFECT ships in off some improving KY form but the guess is that she’s on the cheaper side, and tonight’s draw isn’t going to help. (4) CHICANERY has missed a month since her last start in Canada – prefer to just observe, for now.

RACE 9 – (5) DUBLIN HANOVER won the PaSS Final at 2, earning $216K for his freshman campaign – he missed most of his 3YO season, however, only getting underway in August – his last couple of starts suggest he’s starting to find his best game, and that would make him a tough player tonight…especially with Dube hopping on board. (1) ROYAL CAPTAIN was hammered down to 4/5 upon arrival from Canada and delivered the sharp front end score – he came up 2nd best last week (to the talented APEX TRACKER), and looms the main danger to #5 in here (and gets Bartlett to take over for Dube). (2) BEERNSUNSHINE DEO is somehow 0 for 23 on the year despite racing well far more often than not – in line for another good piece with the inside draw. (4) DIAMOND BAY did seem curiously placed for that $40K tag, racing pretty well the first try but making a break last week – in line for a good chunk here IF she stays trotting. (3) BITOFTHEBUBBLY was well backed for his local debut and allowed Lachance to pop the cork on his birthday last week – in tougher here, and will need to be better for a chance at one of the top slots. (7) FEEL GOOD VOLO has done some good work this year, at multiple tracks, while bouncing around between different barns – would have liked his chances a lot more (in his local debut) if not for the 3 weeks off and Post 7. (8) AVIATRIX BLUE CHIP’s efforts this year have been all over the map – hard to get excited about his chances tonight after drawing Post 8, following a disappointing PcD try. (6) YOU AND ME AS has ability but can be a little tough to drive – this feels like a very tough spot for her.

RACE 10 – (1) SHINE A LIGHT won a zillion in a row earlier in the year, wasn’t looking too sporty for a while but was fantastic in that victory on 9/16, looking as good as ever – he earned the bump up to 20s last week, but wasn’t quite able to overcome a tougher first over trip…chance to make amends tonight. (2) CENTURY INSPECTOR worked out the two hole trip last time and was a huge overlay winner (at 28-1) – chance to repeat, but the price will obviously come WAY down now. (7) MIND HUNTER has been racing well (in general) so tonight’s drop BELOW the level of the fairly recent $30K claim feels like a red flag – maybe he beats these anyway, but you’d want a decent price to use on top tonight. (6) ALABAMAJAMMA used a perfectly timed move to light up the tote board last week (40-1) – seems unlikely to be as opportunistic tonight, but he still may be able to grab a small piece. (5) FOXHUNT can be inconsistent and also has a knack for racing better, the tougher his trip is…certainly worth at least a look with that 12-1 ML listing. (3) CASINO ACTION N drops a bit, gets Bartlett on board, but is just a bit too camera shy to use on top, especially if he ends up overbet. (4) AUSSIE HANOVER is 0 for 59 at Yonkers in 2025-26 – hard to endorse. (8) HEAVEN ON HIGH N is 2 for 33 locally the past 2 years and draws Post 8

RACE 11 – (8) BLACK HAWK JOE A was parked every step last week and somehow still finished 3rd, even after looking all done at 3/4s – he’s definitely good right now, and his new barn has had some uncanny success from 8 holes recently…maybe this guy can pull it off from out here? (1) OZONE BLUE CHIP doesn’t win very often the past 2 seasons but this is the kind of spot where he has to be considered dangerous…he’s also very likely to end up overbet! (3) DISMAS threw a total clunker last time but drops right back in the box and that might be a good sign – chance to make some noise if he can shrug off that last performance. (5) THAT DOG WILL HUNT is usually IN the hunt…but has come up disappointing at crunch time too often to accept a short price on top (2) ROCKET FREIGHT didn’t fire at all from a great spot last week and his overall form is lacking – he does throw a few good ones every year, though, and does figure to be a pretty big price…good for longshot fans. (6) GREAT SOMEWHERE was handled aggressively the last 2 weeks but disappointed both times – leaning elsewhere. (4) AVENGER FORCE is probably a bit better than his lines look right now but still a tough one to endorse (0 for 32 locally the last 2 years). (7) FRANCO NANDOR N has picked up some small pieces here and there but this is a tough spot to overcome.