Friday, May 29, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, May 29, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) IM OUT has been stuck with 8 holes in his last 3 starts, all vs. much better fields than this one – drops to the bottom level, gets a good draw, and Stratton takes him over #1…good week to give him a try! (1) UNEVERG ONNAGETHIS earned over $250K at Yonkers in 2024-25 but has struggled to get anything going (so far) in 2026 – maybe this is the spot where he finds his game, but he certainly won’t be offering any value with that 8/5 ML price. (2) AIRMANS JACKPOT has gone lots of big miles vs. better than these but she’s been extremely camera shy at Yonkers the last 2 years (2 for 47), and broke before the start last week – contender for sure, but also risky! (7) STMIKES KERRYBLUES was very well meant last week but already tiring before the miscue in the lane – won’t get any easier from Post 7. (8) SEVENSHADESOFGREY is just 1 for 36 over the last 2 years and may have trouble surviving the first turn if Holland does try to leave hard with him. (6) BANK ON ME has some decent efforts out of town but is 5-0-0-0 here at Yonkers – another tough draw won’t help. (5) LIONHEART HANOVER won a bunch of fair races in PA at 2 and 3 but is 10-0-0-0 to start off his 4YO campaign. (4) JEANNIES ACTION (no hopples tonight) tired badly last week off an easy trip, into a :30.4 final quarter

RACE 2 – Tough race: (6) BRI EXPRESS N landed in a very soft spot last week and took full advantage – this will be a much tougher assignment but she does have 5 wins this year, and could be worth a look if the price is decent. (3) BRONX MIXER was a very solid 2nd best to the top choice in her last, after a 6 week freshening…she figures to still be a good price tonight, and a repeat of that effort could make her a player once more. (5) HUNTING HULA was wildly overbet last week and never was able to get into the hunt – not sure what to expect from her tonight, but the odds will be a LOT better for anybody inclined to stay on board. (2) ALWAYSBPUFFING IR rebounded from an unexpected miscue here on 5/15, with a 1:51.3 front end score at Pocono – she still hasn’t beaten older mares here at Yonkers, but it would hardly be a surprise to see her do so. (1) IDEAL COVER hasn’t won all that often over the past couple of seasons but she’s often in the hunt, and never a bad one to include underneath. (4) ALLEGRA HA NOVER has been disappointing all year but did turn in her best effort of the season last start – she may be able to build off that, but insist on a “fair” price if considering on top. (7) JORDANNA HANOVER fits ok with these, but figures to be somewhat limited by the draw. (8) COACHELLABOUND N ends up with Post 8 after scratching from the pole last week – she’s been struggling, and even Holland opts off tonight (to drive #7 instead)

RACE 3 – (2) SWEETNIKKILOU A was chasing stakes performers Down Under earlier this year – she was sent off at 3/5 for her U.S. debut (at Chester) last week, and paced right on by FACTORY GIRL in the lane under her own power – she was Brennan’s choice in here, and expect her to be very tough, at a short price. (1) FACTORY GIRL is back on her game again, but was no match late for the top choice last week – remains the main danger. (3) CHANCEOFLIGHTNING gave it a very game try on the front end last week, battling the impressive JENSVILLE A a long way before giving in…her task is tougher tonight, after drawing outside the top pair. (4) LUCKY ARTIST A hasn’t embarrassed herself at these higher levels, but probably needs some class relief before she can be a more serious threat again. (5) CHERYLS SHADOW has been away 3 weeks after some dull efforts – waiting for better signs before hopping back on her time. (6) TIME TO STRIKE is the outsider here, both literally and figuratively

RACE 4 – (4) MILLWOOD BLISS N was probably the biggest surprise throughout the McIntyre Series and actually raced very well in the Final, despite a very tough trip – she’s been off 3 weeks since then but she did win her first start of the year after almost 5 months on the shelf, so perhaps she’ll be tight enough to pull off a mild upset tonight. (6) COASTAL BABE N raced big in 3 U.S. starts prior to the McIntyre Series, was sharp in all of her legs then 2nd in the Final – she came up a little light in the Betsy Ross (in PA) last week, and does get a tough draw tonight, along with a new pilot – don’t take too short a price on top. (1) JENSVILLE A is taking a big step up to the Invitational but she impressed in all 4 U.S. starts so far, and just may be good enough to contend with these tougher ones too – playable IF the price is fair. (3) SILK CLOUD A tends to be inconsistent, but is still dangerous on her best effort – license to upset if things go her way. (2) FRONT PAGE STORY is very reliable when she drops down a bit in class but her modest 2 race winning streak is definitely in jeopardy against these. (5) SEASIDE DIVA had a solid run through the McIntyre Series but was no factor in the Final, and has been idle since then– leaning elsewhere

RACE 5 – (2) BUBBLE LOU has quickly improved since the recent barn change, and rallied for 2nd (behind the front end, odds-on winner) in her local debut – she catches a very soft spot tonight, and that stamps her as the one to knock off. (6) BELLA ARTISTE hasn’t been much of a threat out of town in her last few starts but she was certainly facing better than these – she’s a threat (even if by default) for her local debut. (1) QUICK MENU hasn’t been all that sharp lately but she draws the pole and should be able to grab a decent piece against this pretty soft crew. (3) PURAMERI has a chance for a piece thanks to the good draw, but is 15-0-0-1 locally over the past 2 years (and 1 for 39 over the past 3 seasons). (8) STAY HAPPY draws Post 8 while well off form BUT she has thrown some form reversals in the past, and isn’t a bad stab for longshot fans. (4) KNOCK TWICE trailed all the way from Post 7 last week, but has at least a chance for minor spoils with the better draw. (5) TRICKY WICKY has yet to hit board in 6 local tries. (7) THATS A HUGE BEACH just hasn’t found any kind of form (so far) in 2026

RACE 6 – Good race! (4) RASPALIA N was used a bit to improve her position from Post 8 last week, paced a very sharp 3rd panel just to get into closer contention, then continued to rally her way into 2nd in the stretch (finishing behind the easier-trip JENSVILLE A) – she’s now an outstanding 11-8-2-1 in the U.S., and we’ll give her the slight nod over a very well matched group. (2) SHEER ARTISTRY A was a steady 4th last week racing off a break and a qualifier – her barn has been on fire lately, and anything they send out has to get an extra look! (1) DOUGS BABE A broke early at Pocono last week but she’ll do that from time to time – she recently had some good efforts in the McIntyre Series, and Brennan has had some luck with her in the past…could be a big player tonight. (3) WORKLIF EBALANCE earned nearly $250K at 3 and has come back good as a 4YO, turning in sharp tries week after week – a good trip puts in her play for another nice chunk. (5) NILA MAREE N has leveled off considerably at this high level, after a great start to her U.S. career – she’s still a very nice mare, but just “another contender” against these other tough ladies. (6) AMBUSHED took advantage of the nice $25K FM Open at Plainridge the last several weeks, picking up plenty of good pieces with Cory S. on board– she’s a very tough mare, but may prefer to be in a bit easier on the local scene. (7) MISS PERIGNON N is another classy mare that may just be in a little too tough with these

RACE 7 – (4) MY MAN PETER did good work here last year but started to fall apart for several starts in KY in March/April – he returned to the local scene, qualified solidly, then kicked home full of trot last week after sitting well back all the way – very dangerous here if he brings his best effort, but that 8/5 ML price is a turn off. (5) P L OSCAR just wasn’t on his game last week and failed to take advantage of some class relief – he drops a bit more, and could be a much bigger threat if he brings his better game (6) E PASS earned $270K at 2 and 3 but has struggled a bit to adjust to life as a 4YO (in Ohio) – he was just acquired by local connections that have done good work with these types in the past, and it would hardly be a shock to see him outperform that 12-1 ML price. (2) SENSI AMNE SIA returns off a 2nd at PcD and definitely fits at this level – he’s been a bit camera shy at Yonkers, however, and may be better used underneath, rather than on top. (3) ONCE IN A LIFETIME throws more lesser efforts than better ones, but a live trip could help him grab a small piece. (1) KASHA V picked up 3 wins fairly early in the season but the streaky 9YO has gone in the wrong direction recently – not sure the rail draw will be enough to help him turn things around. (7) STORMONT DIVIDE made only 4 starts last year and has struggled in a bunch of his 11 tries in 2026 – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help his cause. (8) INCANTATION pounced on a perfect trip to beat easier last week, but may have trouble replicating that kind of effort up in class, from the 8 hole.

RACE 8 – (3) MUSICAL RIDE doesn’t win often enough to ever back with real confidence but he generally holds his own with better than these, and may have found a winning spot. (7) LUCKY MUM N was struggling to start off her 2026 season – she was freshened up after a 4/3 sick scratch, re-qualified and actually raced pretty well last week – could be worth a stab, even from out here. (5) RITSON was better last week, but was also helped by an easy two hole trip, chasing pretty soft fractions – his best effort would make him very dangerous here, but he just seems a bit off his game right now…could be vulnerable. (2) BONTONI DEGATO S raced much better than expected 2 back but then quickly reverted to “clunker mode” last week – worth a look only if the price is juicy. (1) NO DRAMA PLE ASE picked up a win in last week’s “fall apart” race, landing in just the right spot to rally by tired leaders into a :30.4 final quarter – hard to bank on him having the same good fortune tonight. (6) CREDIT TO FRANK made his way to the lead last week, crawled through 3/4s then came home in almost :31 seconds - much tougher spot tonight! (4) INTL BLOCKADE has raced here 26X and never been 1st or 2nd

RACE 9 – (2) SPECULATING A responded to some class relief last week, hitting the wire with good interest – he beat better than these back on 3/23, and may have found another winning spot here. (5) MAJORCROWDCONTRL A has been a major disappointment so far in the U.S., but he still could perk up to have a much bigger say with the class drop – might be a spot for an aggressive try. (4) PRINTVILLE has excuses in a bunch of recent starts (bad post vs. better) but he was also just “ok” when 3rd at this level last week – possible for sure, but also figures to end up overbet. (7) INFLATION PROOF showed life at PcD in his 4th start off the layoff, albeit vs. cheaper – would have liked his chances a lot more tonight had he drawn better. (1) THE MIKI TAKER A is now 0 for 27 over the last 2 years but he fits well enough with these to at least contend for a piece from this spot. (3) GREAT SOMEWHERE hit board in 3 of his last 4 starts and while he does seem cheap these days, he’s still sharp enough for a chance at a minor prize. (6) PAXAMILLION was way too far out to threaten at all in his last and could find himself in a similar boat tonight. (8) AUSSIE HANOVER lost all chance after being trapped last week but draws horribly tonight

RACE 10 – (2) THE BRODSTER moved to command last week, had things his own way but couldn’t finish the job, outfinished by a couple of rivals that would be favored in here – he beat this class 3 starts back, and should have a solid chance to do it again tonight. (6) HOT FLASH KIMMY has picked up a ton of nice pieces in the FM Open this year, even beating them once – she should be a very nice fit here, and could have a big say IF Stratton can find her a decent trip. (4) STREET GOSSIP remains eternally camera shy but races well more often than not, and can pick up good pieces at decent prices – never a bad one to consider underneath. (1) DURANTE HANOVER just caved on the front end last week with no visible excuses – guessing he’ll look for an “easier” trip tonight, and that could help him grab a nice chunk. (8) TORRONE may just tour the oval from Post 8 (up in class) OR Holland may look over and see an opportunity to blast off the car and put this guy in play – couldn’t blame anybody for using him in exotics at a good price. (5) PEDAL ON METAL is almost always good for a late rally but it’s hard to say if he’ll be in any spot when they turn for home to grab a good piece. (3) HAND DOVER DAN has stayed trotting every week lately but may need to be in a little easier to be a more serious player. (7) SCUDO HANOVER always finishes steadily, but he’ll be trying to rally from WAY out of it tonight.