Friday, February 20, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, February 20, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) GO HAVE FUN was solid dropping back to this level last week and now starts from the rail instead of the 8 hole – her barn is going very well right now, and we’ll give her the edge in tonight’s opener. (3) MUSICAL RI DE seems to have recovered from a couple of recent miscues, and finished full of trot last week – lands in a much better spot, and could be a legitimate threat. (6) TACHYON was terrific in 2024 but wasn’t nearly as reliable in 2025 (though still capable of big efforts) – his qualifier suggests that a recent freshening did him some good, and he’s not a bad stab for longshot fans. (2) EMPIRE BUILDER recently changed hands and wasn’t a bad 4th in his local debut – playable in exotics. (5) VINNY DE VIE tried to cut the mile vs. better racing off 7 weeks – he gets a pass for tiring, and should be tighter tonight – another with a chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (7) MR KNO WITALL goes from his owner/trainer in the bike to our leading driver…but he also seems off his game and draws Post 7 – would want a pretty good price to consider on top. (8) STREET GOSSIP was way overbet last week and never even put in play – brutal draw for tonight, but still may be able to rally for minor spoils. (4) LOOKATMEGO AMIGO takes on older tonight and will need to prove that he belongs

RACE 2 – (2) SHEZ THE REASON A was sent off at 3/5 for her U.S. debut (at The Swamp) and did not disappoint – her connections used to import some mice horses, and this could be the best one we’ve seen from them in a while – we’ll try her on top in her Yonkers debut. (3) BONITAS BEST BET disappointed as the odds-on choice dropping in class last week and now drops a bit more – Bartlett gives her a vote of confidence by staying on board, so a better effort is expected. (1) CHANCEOFLIGHTNING has raced well here in the past in limited starts, returns at a comfortable level and should be able to be part of the equation from this spot. (7) IM OFFNGONE N was an even 5th two levels up in her local debut, then a solid 3rd last week dropping a notch – she drops once more, but the brutal draw may leave her looking at a small piece. (5) LAURIE LEE was way overbet last week but did finally turn in a better local effort, even if helped by a very easy trip – we’ll see if she can build off that mile. (4) TH RIZZO adds Lasix but her efforts have been very inconsistent and Bartlett opts off. (6) MISS DOTTIE MAE seems to do her best here these days vs. a bit easier (and with a better post).

RACE 3 – (3) ZENMEISTER was a winner across the river in his first U.S. start then jogged as he pleased in his next start (here at Yonkers) – he faces much tougher tonight but Bartlett stays on board…so we will too. (1) LAFER RARIDMANCHE S, like the top choice, is 2 for 2 in the U.S., also with wins in NJ and here at Yonkers – Bartlett opted to stay with #3, but it would surely be no surprise to see this mare come out on top. (2) ENOLA is moving up 2 classes but she was a very nice 2nd from Post 7 last week, and may sit an easy trip after drawing inside – her barn is off to a decent start (overall) in 2026. (5) BLACK TIE BASH may need to be in a little easier for a chance at the top spot but he was ok in his last couple, and an easy trip could see him rally for a share. (6) BAY BREEZE HANO VER is on her game right now, but may end up with a less than stellar trip from out here – still a chance for a piece with some trip luck, however. (4) ONCE IN A LIFETIME just hasn’t been sharp at all – in need of a wake up call

RACE 4 – (2) FRONT PAGE STORY was content to just trail all the way last week, perhaps with tonight’s class drop already in mind – this is hardly an easy spot…but she’s certainly worth a shot at a fair price. (4) SILK CLOUD A just missed dropping to this level last start and the winner (LLOYDS LOVES) came back to jog the next week – she may not be on her “best” game right now, but she’s certainly very dangerous against these. (3) DRAGONS LUC KY LADY raced conservatively in her seasonal return and should benefit from that start – could have a much bigger say tonight. (1) MORE GOODA N threw a dud 2 back but rebounded with a much sharper try last week – she faces a bit tougher here, but an easy trip could put her in play for a decent piece. (6) COACHELLABOUND N came up short in her first start of 2026, tiring after a two hole trip – she could be tighter, but tonight’s draw will be tough to overcome. (50 MISS PERIGNON N has taken 5 of her last 9 starts but takes on much tougher this week

RACE 5 – (2) AMBUSHED finished well from impossible spots in her last couple and now gets major post relief – she loves to win races, and feels like the one to knock off tonight. (1) IDEAL COVER failed to function 4 back but then won at 40-1 the next week – no factor in her next, but flew from the clouds to just miss at 32-1 in her last – if the “good” version shows up tonight, she may be the main danger. (7) MIKI IN LUV is a good fit with these but gets no luck with the draw…still worth using in exotics as long as the price is good. (4) ULTIMATE SPEED has been steadily improving since returning from a long layoff recently, and did pick up a victory (over cheaper) last week – if she built some confidence off that win, she may be able to have a say vs. these too. (5) OVER ICE is now winless in 12 local tries, but an easy trip would give her a chance at some minor spoils. (6) PETROL QUEEN has some ability but can be her own worst enemy (broke 4 back, then got rough and lost any chance last week) – tough draw tonight, even with smooth sailing. (3) VIBRANCE is listed at 3-1 ML but she’s been away for 24 days and wasn’t all that good prior to that – seems vulnerable. (8) MARIA ALLEGONDA N has ability but is another that has hurt her chances by getting rough during the mile – would need a lot to go her way to overcome tonight’s draw

RACE 6 – (2) STRUTSVILLE gets to drop 2 classes after rallying for 2nd behind the razor sharp LLOYDS LOVES last week – this field should be right in her wheelhouse, and we’ll give her top billing. (1) MACHS LEGACY A never got close after drawing Post 8 last week but was right there in all 3 starts prior to that – moves back inside, and that should put her right back into the hunt. (6) PRESSURE COOKER was a big overlay at 12-1 last week and almost was able to take ‘em wire to wire – remains a legitimate threat, but will need Marohn to find her a manageable trip. (3) GLITTERING HOPE has more than enough ability to be a late player but has been off her game recently – if she gets a wake up call, she can add some value to this ticket. (4) LUCKY ARTIST A was making her first start of the year last week and while she looked all done on the final turn, she did come back on in the lane for a 4th place check – the 13YO classy mare still loves to win races, and is never a bad bomb to consider. (8) WIN WITH LYNNLY took command early in her first try vs. the 50s and never looked back, scoring an easy wire to wire victory – this is a MUCH tougher spot, and she may not be handy enough to create a trip for herself from out here. (7) TWIST LITTLE GIRL N returns from Stga. and while she does end up with Bartlett in the bike, she gets a terrible draw and really was struggling in her last few starts here. (5) CRUISE ALERT isn’t on her game right now, and has to move up in class off losses.

RACE 7 – (4) AUSTRAL HANOVER was no factor from bad spots in his first 2 starts of the year but was much better in his last pair – he loves to win races (11 victories last year), and seems poised to pick one up with tonight’s class relief. (3) CHAPHEART gave it a nice try from Post 8 off the barn change last week, and can build on tat tonight (especially with the move inside – look for a big effort, even moving up a bit. (2) BUSY MAKING MONI was the easiest of winners off the class drop last week, and should be able to handle tonight’s move up fairly seamlessly – hard to leave him out of the exotics. (1) ENERGYSOURCE was “sneaky ok” 3 back, an easy winner in his next then trotted evenly last week – the good draw puts him in position to tow along for a share. (5) SENSI AME RICA is just 1 for 12 locally but hit board in 8 of the losses – she may be a tad cheaper, but still could pick up some minor spoils. (6) DRAW THE LINE was just 2 for 21 last year, draws poorly and does his best work with cheaper – leaning elsewhere. (8) NYMERIA made only 9 starts last year and struggled in a bunch of them – she’s off to a slow start in 2026 as well, and tonight’s draw isn’t going to help. (7) MON AMOUR moves outside after backing up badly off a pocket trip from the rail last week

RACE 8 – (3) BRONX MIXER was handled conservatively in her 4YO return but kicked home full of pace – she’s flashed some decent ability at times, and Schnittker may be ready to handle her much more aggressively with that start under her belt – worth a play tonight. (4) MAYBEMABEL was purchased at the end of last year by connections that normally deal with much better stock – she showed some moves in her 3 recent starts at DD, and will probably attract plenty of attention tonight moving to one of our most successful barns. (7) MIGHTHAVTIME N was pretty good here 3 back from an impossible spot – was no factor in her next vs. the 25s but an ok 4th last week vs. the 20s – she should fit very nicely with these, but the draw may leave her with a difficult trip. (5) TALENT TO SPARE A was way overbet last week and no factor at all– she’ll be a better price tonight, and maybe she can grab a small piece. (2) IM A BELIEVER would be a threat here on her best effort, but we don’t GET that effort often enough – leaning elsewhere. (6) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL was 1 for 44 at Yonkers over the last 2 years but does grab a handful of smaller pieces – qualified ok off the layoff, but we’ll just observe, for now. (1) KAIRAKICONFIDENTL N comes off an awful 2025 campaign where she struggled to function in many of her starts – begins her 2026 campaign here, and we’ll watch for any better signs. (8) HARPER SEELSTER gets stuck with another 8 hole – sticking with others

RACE 9 – (1) LLOYDS LOVES obviously appreciated the 4 months off, circling the field to win her first start of 2026 and then effortlessly dominating last week’s field on the front end – she steps up but the rail draw should more than offset that, especially when she’s a proven winner against these types in the past – chance to make it 3 in a row. (5) TICK A LOCH A has done nothing but good work since beginning her U.S. career in January, and that includes 3 excellent tries here at Yonkers – can be a big player once more. (6) ELUSIVE A was on our radar from the time she debuted here in October, and is finally starting to live up to those expectations (40-1 upset winner 2 back, 2nd at 15-1 last week) – if she ends up with a decent enough trip, she can grab a piece here too. (8) AARDIE B MIKI N is capable of winning any time she’s in to go but she’s also eligible to end up with a tough trip (at a short price) from out here – insist on a fair price if using on top. (4) ACUSHLA MACHREE N was on a nice roll before last week’s no-factor effort – not quite sure what to expect tonight, but her appeal goes up if the price gets really juicy. (7) MY RED SEA has been ultra reliable for weeks but is facing a pretty tough trip from this spot – will need lots of racing luck just to grab a piece. (2) SHEER ARTISTRY is a nice mare, but still unproven at this top level. (3) DANDYS MERCY makes her first start of the year, and at a level a bit higher than she’d probably prefer.

RACE 10 – (7) SEVENSHADESOFGREY had a rough 2025 season but his first start of 2026 (after 3 months off) was actually very encouraging – he catches a blank bunch tonight, and the poor draw can only help his price – not a bad week to give him a try. (1) DOMOVOY missed a year before returning to the races in December and the majority of his recent upstate starts would give him a legitimate chance here – on the flip side, the 9-5 ML price is way too low, and he did make an early miscue last week. (6) AIRMANS JACKPOT wasn’t “great” when 3rd in her 2nd start of the year, but at least it was a step forward – it’s been some time since she was “sharp”, but she does fit well in here. (5) KASHA V qualified cleanly putting the hopples back on and the barn did send out a sharp winner earlier this week – have a feeling he’ll end up overbet, however. (3) BIG CHARLIE MORAN definitely fits nicely with this bunch, but his futility here at Yonkers is well documented – ok for underneath. (2) DARK MIND is hard to gauge off those NJ lines but he draws well, gets a big driver change, and is eligible to contend for a piece. (8) P C FREE WHEELING had an encouraging first start back but quickly disappointed in her next pair – suppose she’s ok for those hoping for a last-race longshot. (4) FULL RIGHTS was distanced in his last start of a winless 2025 campaign and that return qualifier doesn’t look any more promising.