Friday, March 13, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, March 13, 2026 – Race Analysis – TOUGH CARD!

RACE 1 – (4) SUNBURNT SILVERADO gave it a good try dropping down to this level last week, and should be heading right to the top tonight – he faces a few in here that MAY come up with a big effort, but he definitely seems the most reliable right now. (5) NO DRAMA PLEASE was no factor (out of town) in his first two starts of the year but his barn has sent out some eye-popping winners here recently, and that makes this guy worth at least a look. (2) INCANTATION added hopples for her 2/18 (winning) qualifier at PcD, raced well here on 2/26 but regressed last week – very dangerous if she brings her best effort tonight. (7) PAYBACK MONI was sent off 1/10 for her local debut (first time for our leading trainer) but just gave way to 3/4s and folded – she’ll be a lot better price tonight, and we’ll see if our leading barn can come back to life with Bartlett back on duty (the barn struggled through Wednesday with JB not present). (1) SHOW THE WILL tends to be seriously inconsistent – he can grab a piece from this spot, if he shows up in the right mood. (6) STEUBEN HANOVER makes his first start back after almost 1 ½ years on the shelf – prefer to just observe, for now. (8) IMA STANDUP GUY exits amateur races and gets stuck behind the 8 ball – wait for a better spot. (3) WANIA returns from Monti after a couple of uninspiring tries vs. cheaper

RACE 2 – Tough race: (4) AIRMANS JACKPOT showed some better life 2 back hen was even better last week, charging home to be a fast closing 2nd best – if she can improve a bit more, maybe she can pick up a long overdue victory. (3) KASHA V remains ever-unpredictable – he was a very sharp winner (adding hopples) 3 back, then failed to threaten in his last pair – maybe we’ll get the “good” version tonight? (7) BE DIFFERENT wasn’t “great” in his last start but it was a good step in the right direction– he can beat much better than these when on his best game, and will definitely be a juicy price tonight. (1) LOOKATMEGOAMIGO dead-heated with a currently very sharp MANF ORCE 5 back but failed to replicate that effort in his last few starts – another than can do damage here if he brings his best game. (5) THE LAST CHAPTER can still throw some good ones at age 12 and can only benefit from the switch to Jordan tonight – definitely some appeal at that 15-1 ML price. (8) DARK MIND was a solid winner last week but from a good post, vs. easier – will be hard to replicate that effort from this spot. (2) ICE BREAKERS K is just 1 for 41 at YR over the last 3 seasons but still capable of grabbing a smaller piece from a spot like this, (6) ALT US HANOVER hasn’t had much local success, just 7-0-1-0 over the last 3 years.

RACE 3 – (3) WORKLIFEBALANCE just toured the oval in her 4YO return but finished with a lot more interest last week – she earned nearly $250K at 3, and may be ready for a top effort with those 2 starts under her belt. (4) TH RIZZO finished well upon adding Lasix 2 back then turned in a big one last week, blowing by the heavy favorite to 3/4s on her way to a blowout victory – would be no surprise at all. (1) IM OFFNGONE N pretty much had her fate sealed last week when she was unable to retake to the quarter, backed off to THIRD, then was left first over…an easier trip could see her rebound with a better effort. (6) LAURIE LEE came into her last riding a long local losing streak but ended it with style, drawing off in the lane after wearing down the leader at 3/4s – we’ll see if she builds off that, or reverts to her more disappointing form. (2) FASHION TERROR saw her 4YO campaign get off to a bad start with a miscue here on 2/27– she qualified back effectively and we’ll keep an eye on her for future consideration (7) PRESSURE COOKER is quite capable against these types but her current form is spotty – worth a look if you think she’s leaving. (5) MARIA ALLEGONDA N will need a contested pace to rally for a share at the end.

RACE 4 – (2) ALWAYS A STORY has seen her form dirtied a bit by an assortment of miscues, bad trips, etc. but the ability definitely is there – she actually put in a pretty big move before flattening last week, and maybe this is the week she can pick up a victory…at a nice price. (7) HIGH SPEED SWAN, like most horses, improved dramatically upon joining his current barn – his work out of town stamps him as the one to beat tonight…but he lands all the way outside, moves to the half-miler, and is listed at 3/2 ML – maybe a bit vulnerable? (3) DELAYED HANOVER has a solid local history over the years and he didn’t earn $838K by accident – his connections wouldn’t be bringing him down from Stga. if they didn’t think he was ready to do some damage right now. (4) CANTSTOP YANKEE just started to sharpen again and was immediately claimed - his lack of any recent WINS does make him tough to use on top, though. (6) ESCAPER clicked upon arrival from MN last year and was doing some good work, at the top levels – he just re-qualified (adding hopples for 2026), but may be handled conservatively this week after drawing poorly. (1) CAL MILES N SHELL came up with a big one last week and delivered a 30-1 stunner – still leaning elsewhere in this tougher field, though. (5) FULL OF MUSCLES would be a surprise against these, even if ok last week

RACE 5 – (5) SKY BOX was racing well for his previous barn, gave it a nice try two back (off the claim) then just had no prayer from Post 8 last week – he can race on or off the pace, and we’ll give him the narrow nod with the improved draw. (1) VINNY DE VIE just missed to a currently very sharp STREET GOSSIP then had no chance last week (Post7)– as noted, has barn has suddenly caught fire, and this guy deserves plenty of respect from this spot. (2) MON AMOUR was a surprise leaver last week from Post 8, hit the top and ALMOST wired the field in a big wake up call mile – could trip out tonight, with a chance to get his picture taken. (4) PISCES RISING benefited when the favorite broke last week, then held off a couple of lesser rivals to prevail – he wouldn’t be a shock in here, but he also shouldn’t be the 9/5 ML favorite against this much tougher group. (8) DRAW THE LINE was wildly overbet last week and never even a threat– an easy trip would give her a chance for some minor spoils Both (6) HAT TRICK MARLEAU and (7) SHAKE N BAKE would likely need much better posts to have any real say with these. (3) ENE RGYSOURCE rarely wins…and usually vs. much easier, when he does

RACE 6 – (4) COACHELLABOUND N has been racing “ok” since returning from the layoff, gets some class relief and may be sharp enough right now to handle the aggressive drive she’ll likely be getting tonight. (5) MY RED SEA wasn’t up for cutting the mile at PcD last week and just had no prayer here the week before (7 hole in the Open) – prior to that she had a long streak of good efforts (vs. better), and this could easily be a bounce back spot for her. (1) SHEER ARTISTRY N disappointed off a pocket trip last time and has missed 3 weeks since then – she’s capable of better, and we may see it tonight starting from the pole. (6) FRONT PAGE STORY was “all systems go” last week as she took advantage of the class drop to score on the lead – much tougher spot tonight, but may still be able to rally for a piece. (3) GLITTERING HOPE is back on her game after a brief recent rough patch – an easy trip could see her rally for a decent chunk. (7) SHEZ THE REASON A won her first 2 U.S. starts before coming up a fast closing 2nd in her last – she tends to take a while to find her stride, and tonight’s draw could be a roadblock. (2) UL TIMATE SPEED has been doing some good work since launching her recent comeback and adds Lasix tonight – may be in a little too tough, though. (8) AMBSUHED is a very tough mare, but this is a brutal spot.

RACE 7 – (3) JORDANNA HANOVER has looked as good across the river as several of her barnmates have looked here at Yonkers recently, finishing 2nd in her first start of 2026 then wiring the field (at 4/5) last week – she won here last summer, and we’ll go with her on top in her YR return. (4) MISS DOTTIE MAE finished 2nd to #3 in her last NJ try – maybe she can complete the exacta once more? (7) MIGHTHAVTIME N was undeterred by a sick scratch and bad date last week, rolling by the leader on the final turn and drawing off easily – if Kakaley can hustle her away to a good start from out here, she’ll have a chance to be a player here too. (6) IDEAL COVER is hard to like on paper but she’s been known to reverse form at any time (see 1/30) and never a bad one for longshot fans. (2) SPIRIT OF PEARL A is extremely unpredictable, but capable of having a say on her best effort. (5) PETROL QUEEN looked like an easy 2nd entering the lane last week but then hung badly late – she’s also prone to getting steppy at times. (1) TALENT TO SPARE A is listed at 3-1 ML but she threw a mega-clunker last week and throws those way too often for our liking! (8) BRONX MIXER fits with these, but may have to wait for a better draw

RACE 8 – (4) LUCKY MUM N hasn’t been great so far in 2026 but she hasn’t been bad, either – gets some class relief tonight, and may have found a spot she can handle. (6) ENOLA has been racing well for a barn quietly off to a good start in ’26 – she’ll be a big price, but a good trip could put her right in the mix. (1) RITSON was aggressively handled last week and up to the task, easily wiring the field – faces a bit tougher now, but a repeat of last week’s effort would make him a threat. (3) FARAH TRIO IT won 5 straight in PA before joining our top barn, won her first local start by a city block but broke at PcD in her next, before rebounding with a win in NJ last week – she’d be no surprise at all, but she does figure to be overbet, taking on much tougher now. (2) SENSI AMNESIA chased #1 all the way last week and came up 2nd best – chance for another piece tonight, with an easy trip. (5) BLACK TIE BASH drops a bit, and may be able to rally for a minor piece. Both (8) B NICKING and (7) WINDSONG PIONEER would be major surprises here, especially starting from the 2 worst posts

RACE 9 – (2) BONNIPRINCLOUIS N is the only one in here with ok recent form, but he missed a month since his last (PA) start and while he does exit the top barn in the nation, he lands in the leading barn at Yonkers – we’ll list him on top, but won’t be betting the rent money on him. (5) CELLMATE has done little in his last few starts but was good not too long ago – wake up call? (6) EUPHORIA N re-qualified after a disastrous 2/14 outing – if he’s 100%, this is a spot where he can be a threat. (8) HP MOMENTUM is at a level where he’s bound to wake up eventually – of course, that was also the case LAST week, and he disappointed that night too. (7) FENDI HANOVER hails from a hot barn but is 4-0-0-0 at Yonkers and in a brutal spot tonight – maybe 3rd/4th? (1) FRANCO NANDOR N has just 8 starts over the last 2 years and struggled in most of them. (4) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER has no wins and just 1 2nd from his last 30 Yonkers starts. (3) JACKS LEGEND N has $1M on his card but just not functioning these days.