Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, September 23, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) SHINE A LIGHT had lost his winning touch recently and just wasn’t even looking all that sporty – but the version that showed up (and won) last week looked super, and tonight’s move up to 20s does seem merited – willing to give him a try even at this higher level, as long as the price is fair. (1) LMC PEANUTS WATCHIN returns from NJ and he enjoyed some success here in the past – draws the pole for what has become a very strong trainer/ driver team, and figures to have a big say. (2) HAPPY HOUR BLUES dropped in for $20K last week, took plenty of $$ and raced super, despite a tough trip – major threat once again. (4) FOXHUNT actually races BETTER when he ends up with trips that would really hurt most other horses – he hasn’t won in a while, though, and is probably better used underneath. (6) CENTURY INSPECTOR tries to wire ‘em off the class drop last week but came up a bit short in the lane – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help his cause, especially with sharp ones all inside. (7) AINT NOSTOPN TIME should appreciate the class drop, but not the draw – wouldn’t be a shock, but still leaning elsewhere. (5) BEL LS DAVID didn’t benefit at all from last week’s class drop – we’ll see if he does any better tonight for his new barn. (8) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER is a beast in 15s…20s, not so much!

RACE 2 – (8) SWEETHOMEALABAMA may just elect to take back to last and wait for a better spot (especially with Stratton opting for #3) but IF Boyd races him aggressively against this shaky group, he’d have a chance to beat them…even from out here – worth a try if the price is right. (4) BONDI SHAKE N is pretty hard to use on top (after going 0 for 32 locally over the last 3 years!) but he often holds his own vs. much better, and he’s listed at 20-1 in this very blank field…not the worst week to give him a look. (3) STAY GROUNDED (Stratton’s choice) has a legitimate chance in this very soft spot but he figures to be heavily backed, and his last 17 Yonkers starts failed to produce a win, or even a 2nd! (1) MANFERNO will surely take plenty of $$ from the pole but he just hasn’t been sharp at all recently – can’t count him out against this bunch, but it would be hard to swallow a very short price. (2) DOWN THE LINE has no “good” recent efforts, but the inside draw at least gives him a chance for a piece. (7) SHAKESPE ARE didn’t lift a hoof in his return from Stga, and draws poorly fort tonight. (6) JMS FINAL TREASURE is 12-0-1-1 this year, and failed to function in a bunch of those starts – suppose he’s playable at a big price, if you think a wake-up call could be coming. (5) MAJORCROWDCONTRL A hasn’t functioned in the U.S. for either barn

RACE 3 – (1) DELIGHTFUL DIVA won’t be offering any value with that 7/5 ML price but she does figure to be controlling the action vs. a very modest bunch, and they’ll have her to catch and beat. (5) SEASIDE JUDY is another fresh acquisition for a trainer that routinely improves fresh stock by many lengths – she’s been having success vs. lesser in Ohio, and likely will be a big player vs. these too, (7) FUNKY BLUE CHIN ships in from PA for a barn that sent over a sharp winner on Friday night – tough draw, but she can still be a legitimate player with these with any half decent trip. (3) SANDO was no good at all in her 2nd local try but she’s capable of much better – could bounce back enough to have a say in here, at a decent price. (8) JUST MY WORLD rallied for 2nds in her last pair, at huge prices…could she rally for another piece tonight? (2) DRAGON CRUISE loomed boldly at the top of the lane last week only to hang badly, into a slow final quarter – will need to be better to contend for a piece here. (4) NOTHING MATTERS was never close in her first start off the layoff after drawing Post 7 – not ready to hop on her team, but will at least look a bit closer with the move inside. (6) RICH EILEEN shows a mixed bag of recent efforts – more likely to give her a try the next time she draws inside.

RACE 4 – Wide open! (4) YOUNONOTHINJON rallied nicely in her last 3 starts to pick up 3rds from difficult spots – she gets a better draw, and may end up with a live trip in a race that could end up pretty hotly contested… good value option! (6) IDEALINFUN has been able to keep winning for multiple barns, and with a variety of trips – she’s taken 4 straight at this $20K level and looms a real threat to increase that number to 5 (despite the tough post). (5) ALWAYS B LAYLA IR couldn’t overcome the tough multi-move 8 hole trip last week but she’s a very good fit with these, and another capable of getting it done with the right journey. (3) FIGHTING EVIL has been notoriously camera shy here at Yonkers but she’s thriving lately in this class, and can be added to the list of very legitimate players in here. (2) DWS DARLENE won off the claim 2 back then raced well from an impossible spot last week – hard to predict her trip for tonight, but any decent one could put her right on the wire. (1) WHOS PERFECT threw a dud last time and just faces too many sharp ones in here to consider for more than a minor share. (7) GROOVE is yet another newcomer for a barn that excels with these...feels like she’s up against it tonight, however. (8) DISARO NNO HILL will be hard pressed to make her presence felt from tonight’s terrible spot

RACE 5 – (2) CHANT changed hands on 7/8 and was a jogburger in this class – he went on to make some decent $$ in NYSS races after that, and now drops back to this much easier spot after a 4th in last week’s Final – the one to beat. (3) MAGIC VOLO was caught in the back in a fast race for his local debut and had no realistic chance – he should be looking at a much better trip tonight, and seems capable of being a player with these. (5) AJAX BLUE CH IP has been inconsistent all year, but throws some good efforts when on his game– his “good” version could contend for a piece of this. (4) IN YOUR HEART AS seems to race better when closer to the lead and that should be an option for Kelly tonight – definitely one to consider for exotics. (7) CANIPILOTALL looked like a winner early in the stretch last week but failed to sustain her bid in the latter stages and ended up a disappointing 3rd in her YR debut – tonight’s draw will make it tough for her to improve on that. (1) CTM hasn’t been better than 3rd in 6 local tries and faces a few decent ones tonight – minor spoils only. (6) VINYL DADDY probably needs a better post (in an easier field) to succeed). (8) GLITTERATI probably has the ability to stay with these but she lands all the way outside for her local debut, and makes breaks on bigger tracks – prefer to just observe, for now.

RACE 6 – (4) MAGGIE QN has struggled with inconsistency since arriving in the U.S. but when she’s on her game, she’s likely the best of these (she returns off a sharp rallying 2nd to OPEN mare RASPALIA N, at Tioga) – wouldn’t bet the rent money on her at a short price, but she does deserve top billing. (2) PAPIS OPINION has been solid for weeks, always offering a solid finish (and hitting board in 5 straight) – no reason she can’t make her presence felt here too. (8) DRUNK DIAL benefited from the self-destructive nature of GOLDEEN N in that narrow victory 2 back, but was a rock solid 2nd best to the talented EXISTENTIAL last week– the draw is an obvious concern, though (3) ONAORCHARDHUNT has sharpened late in the season – a good trip gives her a chance at a decent piece of this. (1) AMERICAN STORY has some good efforts this year and those miles would put her in play here – she does seem off her best game at the moment, however, and feels a bit risky for her local debut. (7) GOLDEEN N has no shortage of ability but she still gets TOO rough, TOO often in her miles – she was able to overcome it facing easier fields, but it’s getting harder to overcome being her own worst enemy! (5) JK SASSY LADY won a fall apart race 2 back but does seem a bit below the main players in here. (6) BIG WEEKEND earned $100K at 2 but is still trying to get her game in order well into her 3YO campaign

RACE 7 – (1) APEX TRACKER got a late start on his 3YO season but he’s quickly developed into a nice trotter, minding his manners every start while compiling a 6-4-2-0 record – he certainly won’t be hurt by Boyd taking over at the lines, and he has a big chance to take another with the rail draw. (6) ROYAL CAPTAIN was hammered at the windows upon arrival from Canada and left no doubt with a 1:55.4 front end blowout – formidable foe! (3) PINE BUSH LANDAU has done solid work all year in PA, but he did make a break in thew pocket in his only local try (a few months back)– assuming he stays trotting tonight, he can take home a decent piece of this. (5) CAPTAIN CODE broke in his first start down from Canada (in PA) but re-qualified then won back to back starts for his new barn, before coming up a little short with a tougher trip last week (in NJ) – seems like a good fit for his local debut, but still leaning a bit more to a couple of others. (2) BOOM CHICA BOOM recently sharpened at Chester, then picked up a 2nd returning to Yonkers – she did tire in her last, though, and we’ll see if she can bounce back with a better one tonight. (7) BE MINE HANOVER went a decent try on the lead before tiring last week, but will likely be coming from way out of it tonight. (8) B EYELASH seems to be back on the upswing (after a recent rough patch), but may need to wait for a better draw. (4) ELEGANT DANCE seems a bit overmatched for her first YR start of 2026

RACE 8 – Tough race: (7) CRYSTAL COAST is 0 for 9 here this year but she’s been 2nd 4X, and has faced some better fields– not an unreasonable one to try in a race that can go many different ways! (4) PERFECT AND SWEET recently moved to a barn that figured to improve her, and that’s exactly what happened after adding Lasix two back (just missed at 4/5, then won at 2/5 – in NJ) – very logical player vs. the locals, but also figures to be very heavily bet! (8) LYONS TRINA is likely as good as any of these, and is listed at 15-1 ML for our leading barn – couldn’t blame anybody looking to take a shot with her. (2) CAVIART MADRID was a winner last week but benefited from a picture perfect trip, in a total “fall apart” race (final quarter in :30.4) – doesn’t mean she CAN’T win here too, but she’s likely to be overbet. (1) MARTINI STAR is eligible to land a decent piece from the pole but her 0 for 19 local record makes her tough to use on top. (5) MONTE AMORE arrives from Canada with less than stellar recent form – inclined to pass, but will at least take a peek at the tote board. (6) WAVE DANCER wired a very soft bunch here on 7/8 but has offered little in her 5 starts since then. (3) IMSODELIGHTFUL was sent off at 85-1 debuting for her new barn last week and raced accordingly – waiting for better signs

RACE 9 – (7) ONE MORE VOLO has been sharp for some time, and especially sharp right now – he has the speed to at least improve position at the start, and he may even offer a fair price with the bad post. (1) I TAKE THE CAKE has taken 4 of her last 6, the two losses coming in an elimination for the \Continental Victory, and a 2nd (at 1/5) to JUST TEASING in the TSS Final – she’ll have a big say from the pole tonight. (8) KING OF THE WIND went over $100K on the year with a close 4th in the NJ Classic last week (2nd start Lasix, after winning his elimination the week before) – more than enough ability to beat these, but also Post 8 moving over to the half! (4) BIZZY BRENDA was a steady 3rd two back then a solid 3rd behind #7 last week – she’s good right now, with a chance to outperform her 20-1 ML odds tonight. (5) JUST TEASING upset #1 at The Meadows 2 back, then wired an easier field here last week – she’s sharp for sure, but may be in a little too tough. (2) MONI MAN has been rallying for minor spoils week after week and may be able to do exactly the same tonight. (3) BERRY GOOD NEWS feels a bit below several of these in her Yonkers debut. (6) WISHUPONASTAR DEO added Lasix three back but has yet to see any real benefit

RACE 10 – (7) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY was much improved 2 back and was actually well meant from Post 8 last week, but lost all chance after leaving hard then retreating to last – not a bad bomb to try in a finale filled with question marks! (3) DANCININTHEFIRE was a bit more promising in his qualifier after a few rough outings – he did beat these not too long ago, and may be ready for a better effort tonight. (4) WALKINSHAW N can be forgiven for coming up 2nd best at 2/5 two back but he raced like a 30-1 shot when sent off 4/5 in his last – he’s been away for 25 days since then, and it’s anybody’s guess as to which version we’ll see off the bad date! (8) CYRUS N is a solid player in this class but just doesn’t WIN often enough to use from out here…unless the price gets pretty juicy. (2) LETSMAKELOTSAMONEY has just one win this year and was no good at all in his last couple – still, not impossible vs. these! (5) FULL SUPPORT is just 3 for 48 over the last 2 years but does grab lots of smaller pieces – ok to include underneath. (6) BETTOR MAKE A WISH was freshened up and just qualified ok for a new barn – hard to ignore his 0 for 22 record this year, though, or his 11-0-0-1 Yonkers slate since 2024. (1) DEEDENUTO A certainly should have been made to re-qualify after cutting the mile and losing by 20 lengths last week but I guess that era doesn’t exist anymore – regardless, he’s been showing speed and stopping badly for months.