Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, September 9, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – Interesting opener! (2) HAMMERING HANK has been in no prayer spots for his last 4 starts but he’s more than comfortable but right before that he just missed to WISH YOU WELL, and he won at this level 2 starts before that – big chance for a major wake up call. (1) MUSIC HALL has had a very disappointing 2026 campaign (after winning 16 races last year!) but he recently started to look more like his old self…he’ll have a big say with the rail draw, even taking on this tougher bunch (3) PINNY TIGER A was outstanding for a bunch of starts after arriving in the U.S. but was scratched back on May 16 and hasn’t been the same since returning – still, hard to just dismiss him at this lower level. (4) LOTTO MAX benefited from an easy trip last week but still raced very well with the switch to Stratton – gets the same pilot tonight, and we’ll see if he can race as well. (8) BANDERAS has faced (and beaten) better than these, but hard to say if Buter can work out a manageable trip from out here. (7) MY ULTI MATE BYRON A is looking much better after a pair of class drops and gets another one tonight…but he also draws poorly, and loses Siegelman. (5) OUR SWEET DELIGHT A has been much better since adding Lasix recently but this may be too tough a spot for him. (6) COLLECTIVE WORKS is likely looking at minor spoils, at best

RACE 2 – (2) APEX TRACKER continues to improve every start, and is always powerful at the end of the mile – not a fan of his 3/2 ML price (as there ARE some solid players in here), but he still feels like the one to beat. (1) DIA MOND BAY makes enough miscues to make her feel risky coming over to the half-miler but the ability is definitely there, and she’ll have a big say IF she minds her manners. (3) BE MINE HANOVER is just 1 for 17 this year (out of town) but she always seems to be in the hunt, and doesn’t show a break on the card – no reason she can’t hold her own in her Hilltop debut. (4) SPILL THE TEA kept dropping in for the Optional $12000 tag at Saratoga and was finally plucked last week after taking her 5th win in 6 starts – have to believe she’ll fit right in with these too. (7) CH ASINGSTARDUST AS was a front end winner in her Yonkers debut but couldn’t keep it going on the lead last week – another outside draw isn’t going to help. (6) RICO TUBBS disappointed last time after a pair of solid efforts – he has a shot to outrace his 20-1 ML odds if he can bounce back to one of those better performances. (5) ROYALLY BRED just hasn’t been able to finish most of her miles recently – pass for now

RACE 3 – (2) IN YOUR HEART AS was a little hot/rank in the pocket early on in her Yonkers debut, got caught in a bad shuffle but was still trotting well at the end, after finally shaking free – maybe she can take these wire to wire? (3) MAGIC VOLO has been facing better in many of his out of town starts but his overnight races have seen him do good work – figures to be a good fit with the locals. (1) ZUZU ZOOM has been a very steady performer in this class since arriving on the local scene, hitting board in 6 of 8 tries – good chance to do it again starting from the pole. (6) SELF PORTRAIT wasn’t right in his only local try this year but he’s otherwise put together a solid Excelsior season – he’s a great fit for sure, but may take a conservative approach with the Excelsior Final coming up on 9/19. (5) RO YAL CAPTAIN shows some mixed Canadian form and is hard to gauge – prefer to just observe in his first Yonkers try. (4) AWAIT YOUR FATE just feels better suited with cheaper.

RACE 4 – (2) CENTURY INSPECTOR just got too hot on the lead last week and folded badly – his prior two effort were solid, however, and the question for tonight is whether it’s a red flag that he’s dropping from 30s to 20s, or did something go wrong in that last start…willing to give him a try, if the price is right. (1) MAD RIVER landed on a picture perfect trip last week and was able to deliver a rare 15-1 payoff for our leading barn (picking up his first win of the season) – eligible to repeat for sure from this good spot, but his price will also be coming WAY down! (3) CA PTAIN AWESOME was a sharp winner 2 back but was outkicked to the wire as the favorite last week (behind #1) – more than capable of rebounding with a winning effort tonight. (5) SAND DOLLAR hasn’t been as sharp at Stga. since the recent claim – we’ll see if he can pick up his game with the change in venue. (6) INVICTUS has been no good since the 8/3 claim – watching for better signs. (4) AUSSIE HANOVER is 0 for 46 here in 2025/26

RACE 5 – (5) WARRAWEE EXTREME has done excellent work since joining this high-achieving barn - pretty sure he’ll be going off considerably shorter than that 6-1 ML price, but he’s definitely earned top billing in here. (6) DISMAS has been solid (overall) for a while, even racing well from some tough posts – could have say tonight, at a decent price. (4) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK is hard to get excited about off his current form but he’s won a ton of races here in the past, and always eligible for a wake up call. (1) ITS MAHOMES A has been able to use close up trips to take home small pieces lately…could do the same here too. (3) IM TALKING HUNGRY was recently claimed away from a very sharp barn and has tailed off a bit – still a chance for a piece, though. (7) HURRIKANEK INGJAMES has a couple of “ok” tries in 15s lately, but may have trouble overcoming the terrible draw. (2) SHUFF LE UP HANOVER has no wins and one 2nd from 32 local starts so listing him as the ML favorite is a little tough to explain! (8) AVENGER FORCE is 0 for 29 locally over the last 2 years and draws Post 8

RACE 6 – (4) PYRO comes into this still winless in 2026 but he was starting to show some better efforts before landing in impossible spots in his last few – not a bad week to give him a try (in a very beatable field). (2) NANDO LO N has been mired in a long slump but he’s still a threat to beat these…even if by default! (5) SHAKESPEARE would be hard to like off his current Stga, form but he returns to a familiar barn and a big wake up call is possible. (1) TEXAS HOLDEM is another that’s winless in 2026 but he did find some more encouraging from at PcD the last few starts – maybe he’s ready to step up and be a big player? (6) CAVIART SARGENT rarely wins but he throws his share of big efforts, usually at big prices – ok for longshot fans. (3) SILKY CHOICE was just “ok” in his last couple – needs to be a bit better to have a real chance in here. (7) KOPI LUWAK moves outside after failing from the pole in his last – his overall form has been lacking for a while.

RACE 7 – (3) TALENT TO SPARE A had a trio of sharp tries before getting stuck in the back last week – moves inside and while she’s still looking for her first win of 2026, that 12-1 ML price does make her worth a look tonight. (4) KARPATHIAN QUEEN got really sharp at Monti and brought that fine form back here to Yonkers, giving the winner all she could handle last week before coming up a head shay – dangerous player tonight. (8) BOUT DAMN TIME A appeared to stall out first over last week but kept coming back on determinedly in the lane and reported home a gutsy winner – she’s left from outside spots in the past, but with mixed results…worth using if the price is decent. (5) FORTUNADA has raced well more often than not recently and figures to be a big price here– good bomb for exotics. (1) YS SENSATIONALCITY is listed as the 8/5 ML favorite here but she took 10 weeks off after a pair off poor efforts, and returns with a big drop to 20s…red flags? (2) GABBYS WISH was an “ok” 4th dropping in for $20K last week and draws well tonight – minor spoils? (6) TH SANDRA DEE just hasn’t been finishing her miles well enough since being claimed on 6/23 – leaning elsewhere. (7) CANNERY ROW has lost at least 57 straight here at Yonkers, and draws outside.

RACE 8 – (4) TASTE OF HONEY won’t offer much value here (6/5 ML) but he’s back down at the levels where he does his damage, and that last try at Plainridge suggests he’s ready to beat these again. (8) TWIG returned from a 3 month layoff with a very solid 3rd last week – brutal draw, but he can be a player here if Holland can hustle him away to a good start. (3) POP IT is having a tough season, but still may be able to grab a piece against this very modest crew. (7) HARD TO CATCH has a very poor win % here at Yonkers and obviously the draw isn’t going to help his cause – he may be able to still grab a minor piece, though, in this soft field. (2) DONTTELLMENOW gets post relief but he’s been struggling for a long time. (6) DOWN THE LINE was off a month to his last start (so willing to give him a pass) but he’s struggling through his 3YO season, and hard to endorse right now. (5) BARBOS SA HANOVER beat a soft field at Chester 2 back but still looks like an outsider, even against these. (1) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL takes on boys after struggling here for the last 2 years against the girls.

RACE 9 – (2) MAXIMUS RED A gets his first inside draw since dropping down to 15s and seems sharp enough to capitalize…gets the vote in tonight’s finale. (3) LAST BEACH was hurt by Post 8 last week but won 2 straight just prior to that, and has won 4 of 10 at Yonkers this year – very logical threat! (5) BLACK HAWK JOE A chased ok for 3rd last week in a quick mile – makes his 2nd start off the claim, and could have a bigger say tonight. (7) THAT DOG WILL HUNT was a tough trip 2nd last week and was also 2nd the week before – tonight’s draw may limit his production, however. (6) HANK THE HUNK was used hard chasing a quick clip last time and it left him a little short late – might be able to rally for a piece with some trip luck. (8) ROCKET FREIGHT picks up his wins when things go his way and that was the case last week – don’t think we’ll see that good fortune from this spot, however. (3) CRUNCH HANOVER has offered little in his 3 local tries this year. (1) EMINEM HANOVER has 19 starts here over the last 2 years and just one 3rd.