Friday, October 9, 2026, Empire Report
The Empire Report – Friday, October 9, 2026 – Race Analysis
Extremely difficult card with Bartlett, Stratton, Kakaley, Buter, Boyd and Holland ALL not driving here tonight, and so many horses getting unfamiliar pilots!
RACE 1 – (2) IN A TINY WAY trotted evenly for 4th in her local debut and gets some more class relief for tonight – logical player with the inside draw. (4) DONT ASK FOR MORE has shown a desire to win races and the barn shipped down a couple of live ones from Stga. recently – should be a good fit with the locals. (1) INCANTATION is looking at a good trip from this spot, and the barn has been pretty live lately – one to consider, if the price is fair. (5) SEA CAN drops to a level where he can surely do some damage but his current form is a bit of a question mark – another that would need to be a decent price to consider on top. (3) CREDIT TO FRANK still doesn’t look too sporty at times but he was in cheap enough last time where it didn’t matter – may have a tougher time battling with these better ones. (7) PEDAL ON METAL qualified nicely with the addition of hopples – on the flip side, he draws Post 7 and hasn’t raced since October. (8) SHIV was 2 for 2 here as a 3YO but 4-0-0-0 last year…probably fits with these, but a brutal draw for her first local try of ‘26. (6) SEVENSHADESOFGREY is 1 for 44 over the last 2 years.
RACE 2 – (6) BECKONING YANKEE has some ugly looking recent lines but bad posts in higher classes will do that – gets another tough draw tonight, but may still be able to be a serious player with the drop to the bottom level. (4) FASHION TERROR also drops to the basement tonight, and she should be very dangerous in here as well…as long as she doesn’t self-destruct! (3) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ was wildly overbet last week, probably making effort “feel” worse than it really was (she raced ok for 3rd) – chance for a decent slice here, as well. (5) ADALECIA was very well meant last time but got gobbled up out of the pocket by a camera shy mare – ok to include underneath (8) DIVIDED WE FALL hit board all the PA starts for her new barn, facing some familiar names – may be looking at only minor spoils after drawing so poorly, however. (1) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL is just 2 for 63 here since 2024 but still at least a threat for a small slice after drawing the pole. (2) COWGIRL LILLY is 0 for 25 at YR over the last 2 seasons and 1 for 60 over the last three…tough one to consider on top! (7) FORTUNADA was a little better last week, but that was from the pole – brutal spot tonight
RACE 3 – (5) L DEES MARIA left pretty well in her local debut but was afraid of being caught wide and made a FULL retreat to last, was well out of it but still finished up with alert trot from a hopeless spot – she should be a decent price tonight, and is worth a shot in a race with no stickouts. (3) TORRONE dropped to this level last week, was well backed and looked like a winner into the stretch, only to get tired nearing the wire and letting it slip away – chance to make amends tonight. (4) STMIKES KERRYBLUES gets a class drop and better draw, and has to at least be seen as a contender in here…though losing Kelly does figure to hurt. (7) STREET GOSSIP missed a month to his last start and should benefit from the mile – drops right back in the box but gets a terrible draw, and is extremely camera shy…ok bomb for a small piece. (6) COMMODUS A used a perfect trip in that victory on 8/14 and hasn’t come close to replicating that effort ever since – we’ll see if tonight’s class drop helps his cause. (2) MATTHEWS was racing very well here not long ago but seems to have unraveled recently at Harrington – iffy at the moment. (1) SHAKE N BAKE has some good recent efforts out of town vs. softer but will have to prove that he can still bang heads with these tougher types. (8) TACHYON is the outsider, literally and figuratively
RACE 4 – (5) TICK A LOCH A wasn’t able to keep it going on the front end last time, her 3 race winning streak coming to an end – she’s been away for 3 weeks (as the Invitational failed to fill), but the brief vacation may actually benefit her – we’ll give her the narrow edge. (6) SILK CLOUD A has also missed 3 weeks since coming up a nose shy in her last – obviously not a great draw, but she’s also capable of charging from the back when there’s some action up front…possibility. (3) SHESGOTTHEJACK has been loving it here at Yonkers, currently at 7-4-2-0… she had missed time to her last (sick scratch) but still went a huge mile to come out on top, and she’s certainly earned her way up to this top level…we’ll take a shot in the dark that she can hang with these (1) DANDYS MERCY isn’t used to racing up at this level but she’s on her game right now, and could grab a share with the inside draw. (2) FRO NT PAGE STORY still loves to win races, but more of them come vs. easier these days – small piece? (4) HARLEE QUIN A is listed on the bottom but she’s been improving rapidly since recently starting her U.S. career and she may just be good enough to at least make her presence felt tonight.
RACE 5 – (4) COACHELLABOUND N was on a solid form spree not long ago before getting up a little too high in class – she’s come back around recently (down at these more comfortable levels) and could be a big threat tonight. (5) ULTIMATE SPEED is on her game right now, and handling any trip that comes her way – no reason she can’t be right in the hunt again tonight. (3) VEL CINDERELLA has out of town lines that suggest she’s be a good fit here – the big question is whether she’ll be able to race as well for a new trainer and driver (6) STAYINGWITHTHEWIND was much sharper a few months back, and her best recent efforts have come vs. a bit easier – the barn can never be counted out too easily, but this mare will need to up her game a bit to be a major threat from this spot. (1) CERISE RAINBOW A has been a disappointment at Yonkers for sure, but an easy trip from this spot would at least put her into contention for a small piece. (8) BRI EXPRESS N has more than enough ability to go with these but she draws Post 8 and drops a win off her car after tonight…may already be looking ahead to next week. (2) IDEAL COVER would look more appealing in a bit cheaper but her barn has sent out a few live longshots recently…don’t dismiss too quickly. (7) YOULFINDOUT is sharp, but draws poorly up in class and that figures to slow her down a bit
RACE 6 – (4) WHEELZABLAZIN has a history of being inconsistent but he’s actually held form beautifully for his current barn – gets significant class relief for tonight, and that should make him a serious threat. (2) MA ISABELLE races best with a good trip and she should get one here– solid chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (1) GOO FOR BROKE has been coming up light at the end of her miles – hard to see her beating these, but she may be able to stick around for a small piece. (7) SEVEN LAYER throws plenty of big efforts and just hit the board in his last pair – good chance he can outperform that 15-1 ML price. (8) I TAKE THE CAKE has been sharp for seemingly all of 2026, and is 2 for 2 here at Yonkers…she’s also a 3YO filly tasked with taking on classy older rivals from Post 8, and that may be tough to overcome (even with her good speed). (3) VINNY DE VIE doesn’t win all that often and he’s racing tonight off a sick scratch – leaning elsewhere. (5) HONOLULU HANOVER had some good efforts here but was disappointing in his last pair – waiting for better signs. (6) BE DIFFERENT had been on a nice little climb back up the class ladder before looking completely disinterested last week – prefer to just observe, for now
RACE 7 – (6) DANCING DRAGON is currently riding a 3 race winning streak, one of many horses hitting on all cylinders for a barn currently winning at very high rates at 4 different tracks – tougher draw while up in class, but she may still be able to keep the streak alive. (1) TALL DARK TEQUILA can throw some strong miles and gets an interesting barn change for tonight – would be no surprise to see her throw a strong effort for her new crew. (4) SA MMY JO HANOVER was an excellent 2nd last week, even if no match in the lane for the top choice – she can be part of the equation here too (3) NILA MAREE N can’t be dismissed against these but she does figure to get overbet and she hasn’t won in some time (and really wasn’t all that good last week)…could be vulnerable. (2) BRONX MIXER’s overall form hasn’t been bad but she’s racing off a sick scratch, and may not be at her best tonight. (7) VEL IM ALL FIRE was well meant last week but went offstride before she could launch the quarter move she was planning– guessing she’ll be conservative here, but she can make some noise IF Dube puts her in play (8) LUCKY ARTIST A throws more good races than bad ones (at age 13!) but she loses Siegelman while drawing Post 8, and may not be able to get into the hunt this week. (5) IM A BELIEVER is just 13-0-1-0 at The Hilltop this year
RACE 8 – Tough race! (4) FARAH TRIO IT made a HUGE recovery after an early miscue last week, and made an impressive move 3 starts down as well – back to Kelly tonight, and maybe she can rally by late if things get spicy up front. (2) FRANK LEAHY has been coming up a bit light lately but he’s also been taking on tougher – may be a bigger threat against this bunch. (3) EXQUISITE TASTE has enjoyed an excellent season overall but disappointed at short prices in her last 3 starts – if the price starts to creep up a bit, her appeal gets much stronger. (1) BEAUEAS TEL arrives from Stga. sporting blowout wins in 2 of his last 3 starts – hard to say how that form will translate vs. these, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him bring a big one here too. (7) LUCKY MUM N went her sharpest mile of the year in last week’s jogburger victory but it was also with a pocket trip, from the rail, with Holland – tougher scenario tonight, for sure (5) SAINTS PRESERVE US is winless in 9 local starts and camera shy in general– leaning elsewhere. (6) HAND DOVER DAN seemed to get too hot last week and that forced Siegelman to move early – he may just try to leave hard tonight, but that may not work out either
RACE 9 – (3) SUNBURST is sharper than she looks, but has been racing in some tough luck since arriving here a few starts back – she’s overdue for a winning trip, and she may get one tonight. (2) DOUGS BABE has had a disappointing year for sure, and it seems like a bad sign that she took 3 months off after winning her last start here on 6/19 – she did qualify ok, gets along great with Brennan, and could be very dangerous right off the shelf. (5) TR UE BLUE HANOVER is just 1 for 29 locally over the last 2 years but that win did come here on 7/24, at tonight’s level – may be ready for another big effort with the class drop. (1) SHEZ THE REASON A has been better since adding Lasix and should get away close enough to the action to at least contend for a piece tonight. (7) ANNA LOV ES BANANAS would look more appealing from a better post but may still be able to reach for a share. (8) TH CHECK ME OUT was ok in her local debut but is another that may struggle with a bad draw. (4) CATNAP is in and out but one of her better efforts might be enough for some minor spoils. (6) CRUISE ALERT toured the oval at a big price from Post 8 two back but for pounded at the windows from the same Post 8 in her last, was predictably handled more aggressively and able to pick up the win – this is a much tougher spot, and she seems likely to go back to more conservative tactics tonight.
RACE 10 – (5) SENSI AMNESIA conceded from Post 8 last week but this is a much more realistic spot, and an aggressive try is expected – meets a LOT of question marks in here, but her own 0 for 19 local record this year makes her somewhat iffy herself…still think she may be able to beat these. (6) JESSES DOLL was doing some good work vs. better pretty recently – not sure if her last couple were just “blips” or if she’s just starting to tail off, but we’ll get a clearer picture after tonight. (1) TREGARON is another looking for his local win of 2026, but he’s raced well (in defeat) several times – should be a player from start to finish from this spot. (2) STORMY KROMER now has 3 starts back after the long layoff and it’s still a tough call as to where the millionaire stands right now – mixed feelings about his chances tonight. (8) KASHA V turned in a wake up call mile for 3rd last week, but with an easy trip, from a good post – will need to overcome a lot to match that effort tonight. (3) BACKSTREET PLAYER is 3-0-0-0 at Yonkers this year, 0 for 16 overall, and racing off a sick scratch – hard to love his chances. (4) EUNICE makes her first start back after EIGHT YEARS away…we’ll just observe, for now. (7) MR KNOWITALL lands outside after a weak 4th from the pole last week (in a weak field)!