Friday, September 4, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Friday, September 4, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) HONOLULU HANOVER chased a sizzling clip behind the talented HAPPY JACK B last start and stayed on very nicely for 2nd in a hot mile – he’s raced well (vs. better) from tough spots in several local tries, and should be looking at a very nice trip from tonight’s excellent spot. (2) MUSICAL RIDE is an infrequent visitor to the winner’s circle but he’s an excellent fit with these, draws inside, and belongs in your exotics. (3) NYMERIA will attract plenty of $$ dropping back to NW10000 but she’s had a disappointing year overall, and really had no excuse to get beat in this class 3 back – could be a bit vulnerable. (5) HOT FLASH KIMMY hasn’t been “bad”, but she also hasn’t been at her “best” for a while – ok underneath, though. (4) SAINT K broke (uncharted) before the start last week, had to make up a lot of ground just to get away with the pack and did race very well to only lose by about 4 lengths – another to consider for exotics. (7) STREET GOSSIP has struggled to find the winner’s circle for most of the last 2 years but he often races well, and has a real chance to at least outperform his 20-1 ML odds tonight. (6) BE DIFFERENT is on the upswing, and used a perfect trip to pick up his first local win of the season last week – the class jump and bad post do figure to slow him down tonight, though. (8) BULLY BOY HILL lands behind the 8 ball and seems damned if he leaves, and damned if he doesn’t

RACE 2 – (4) DWS DARLENE was 1st or 2nd in 13 of her first 17 local starts this year before being placed a bit too ambitiously since mid June – she’s at a perfect level off last week’s claim, and should be able to have a big say against these. (2) FIGHTING EVIL has never been a great Yonkers mare but she seemed full of pace with no room in her last, and has to be considered a big threat against this particular bunch – hasn’t WON here in a long time, though. (1) EVELYNA IT IS should be able to stay close from start to finish from this spot but that 5/2 ML price does seem low, considering she’s 4-0-0-0 at The Hilltop. (5) PINE BUSH MAGA is unreliable from start to start but grabs enough pieces to at least consider for the bottom of exotics. (7) PURAMERI gets a terrible draw but she kept up ok in 4th last week, and may be a good bomb for 3rd/4th tonight. (6) IM A BELIEVER draws poorly after backing up off an easy trip (from the rail) in her last. (8) PINK RUBY has missed 3 weeks after being scratched injured and lands all the way outside. (3) JUST MY MAMA won her last in NJ but just appears to be much cheaper than these

RACE 3 – (4) CHAPHEART is clearly well off his best game right now but he’s used to facing light years better than these, and he did perk up with a much better effort at Tioga last week (with some class relief) – hard to imagine that he won’t find a way to handle this bunch. (2) HOOLIE N HECTOR has been struggling for some time but is another that could perk up with a much better effort in this softer spot -a wake up call is not out of the question. (1) BIZZY BRENDA has drawn Posts 7 or 8 for 5 straight weeks and hasn’t been able to get in play at all – she moves all the way inside tonight, and should at least be able to make her presence felt. (6) TREGARON hit the wire with some life from an impossible spot last week and has improved (overall) for his current connections – ok bomb if looking to beat the favorites. (8) MEETMEATTHEBAR has shown little since returning from a long layoff and draws Post 8…but if the tote board suggests that she may be “live” tonight, don’t dismiss her too quickly. (5) FOR A DREAMER can probably contend for at least a piece off the class drop but he’s just way too camera shy to consider on top. (3) INTL BLOCKADE raced ok in a weak field last time but he’s never been 1st or 2nd in 28 local starts! (7) JAKEY JUMPUP would be a stunner, for sure

RACE 4 – (5) TICK A LOCH A was racing from a bad post off a bad date here on 8/14 but finished full of pace despite a bad she won her next pair in PA, is 5 for 16 locally on the year, and just may be the sharpest of these right now. (1) WORKLIFEBALANCE was handled aggressively off the class drop last week and delivered the very game victory – she’s putting together an excellent 4YO campaign, and the rail draw puts her in the discussion for the top spot. (4) FRONT PAGE STORY finished full of pace off the class drop last week and wins more than her fair share of races– decent value option. (6) RASPALIA N had a solid finish from an impossible spot last week and has proven that she can beat these– tough draw, but that 10-1 ML price does give her appeal. (7) SILK CLOUD A is too talented to ever just dismiss in a field like this but the outside draw does make her task formidable, for sure – would need a big price to use her on top. (3) COACHELLABOUND N was on a nice roll before being stuck in the Invitational the last 2 weeks – drops, but may still find this spot a little too tough, (2) LYDEO has just one win this year and it came 2 starts back, vs. much cheaper, off a pocket trip – prefer others for the bigger prizes

RACE 5 – (6) GREEN PASTURES held his own vs. the Invitational trotters several times so it was no surprise to see him sent off as the prohibitive favorite off the class drop last week…what WAS a surprise was his early miscue, costing him any real chance…suppose he has to be considered a bit risky right now but he’ll be a much better price tonight, and may deserve a chance to make amends. (4) SEA CAN failed to get in play from Post 8 last week (chasing hot fractions) but his previous efforts have been solid, and tonight’s better draw could have him back in more serious contention. (7) WARRAWEE YANG steps up and draws poorly but he has enough speed to at least improve at the start, and more than enough back class to handle the move to NW15000– legitimate player. (2) BJMS LIL MAN usually figures, usually takes $$ but he’s now just 1 for 16 this year and will need to be a better price to consider on top. (8) WOLFPACK ZACH went some big miles at Stga, this year but he broke in his local debut and has made miscues in 2 of his last 3 starts – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help! (5) SAINTS PRESERVE US was a dullish 5th last time and his current Yonkers record stands at 7-0-0-1. (3) P L OSCAR won a “fall apart” race 3 back but has otherwise been struggling. (1) STORMY KROMER was dead short in his first start of 2026 last time and made only one start in 2025…waiting for better signs from the old classmaster before considering

RACE 6 – (7) SPIRITUAL BLISS N finished right behind the beastly FRANCENT N in her last 2 starts Down Under, then turned in a pair of excellent qualifiers in the U.S. – she just didn’t function properly in her first local start but her sharp connections drop her right back in the box, so perhaps it was a minor issue – hard to not give her another chance, especially with her listed at 20-1 ML. (4) LUCKY ARTIST A took a while to find her stride last week but was pacing very well late – she can do serious damage against these types if she shows up in a good mood. (1) TIME TO STRIKE can be a little inconsistent but she won one level up not long ago, and deserves respect from the pole. (2) MISS DOTTIE MAE has been “ok”, and draws well with a class drop…ok for exotics. (5) YOULLFIN DOUT is hard to gauge from week to week but her best effort puts her in the mix for a decent piece. (6) BRONX MI XER is yet another inconsistent player – one of her better efforts could give her a chance to add some value to this ticket. (3) BLUE CHIP LOU N was an easy winner in a slow qualifier to begin her U.S. career – inclined to just observe tonight, but will still be checking the tote board for clues. (8) TWIN B ECHO tries hard but she struggles on turns and that will be magnified starting from out here

RACE 7 – (5) YO SHELDON was excellent in both local tries and his (small) barn has perked up overall as well – he picked up a 2nd and a 3rd so far, and may be ready to take home the top prize tonight. (2) SMOKING JET had a couple of good recent starts vs. the 40s and appeared to have more trot than he was able to show last week – could have a say tonight, at a good price. (1) STMIKES KERRYBLUES returns off a pair of sharp PA efforts vs a bit cheaper – he’ll be using his speed from the pole, and that could help him bring home a decent piece even against these tougher ones. (4) WINDSONG PIONEER’s biggest success this year has come in amateur races but he seems sharp enough right now to have a real say here too – ok for exotics. (7) DURANTE HANOVER is listed at 5/2 ML but he draws poorly, and that “good” effort 2 back was really helped by the race falling apart – could be vulnerable tonight. (6) SHOW THE WILL was a decent 3rd last week but the move outside could slow him down tonight. (3) BIG CHARLIE MORAN broke a VERY long local losing streak 4 back bit quickly reverted to his lesser form, once back up in class. (8) WARRAWEE WHISPER continues to struggle more often than he succeeds

RACE 8 – (1) SHESGOTTHEJACK has brought some High Voltage efforts here to Yonkers, winning her first 3 local starts before just missing last week to the talented WORKLIFEBALANCE – she gets the best of the draw tonight, and that may give her the edge over a few solid foes as she looks to start a new streak. (4) SHEER ARTISTRY N goes big efforts week after week and there’s no reason to think we won’t see one tonight – belongs on your tickets. (3) LOOKLIKEDIAMONDS A will throw a lesser effort at times and last week was one of them – she’s also capable of some BIG miles, and a good price makes her worth considering here (after going down at 3/5 in her last). (5) PROMISING MOMENT proved that her excellent 2nd behind TICK A LOCH A 2 back wasn’t a fluke by racing very well for 3rd in her last, despite an impossible trip – could add some value to the exotics. (2) DANDYS MERCY is 0 for 12 at YR this year, and just 1 for 20 overall – she does tend to end up in the hunt most starts, though, and never a bad one to include underneath. (6) CHANCEOFLIGHTNING didn’t “win” her last so much as the 2nd place finishers just self-destructed – moves up a notch, and draws poorly. (8) BECKONING YANKEE has held form very nicely while climbing the class ladder, but tonight’s draw is a killer. (7) LA MIKI N feels a little bit cheaper, and the terrible draw isn’t going to help.

RACE 9 – (2) HAPPY JACK B has plenty of speed and class and is finally getting his 4YO campaign in gear, winning his last 3 starts – may be able to extend that streak to 4 tonight. (1) LAFERRARIDMANCHE S was Holland’s choice of 4 horses in here and she returns from PA at a level where she can do real damage – logical player. (4) ULTION FACE S is a talented trotter when on his game but he was scratched lame on 7/23, broke in his next qualifier, then was just ok in that last NJ qualifier – seems a little risky right now to take a short price. (5) BAY BREEZE HANOVER looked great in her last pair until the final 50 yards, when she just fell apart (and let wins slip away) – maybe she can do better here if allowed to relax and rally? (7) TORRONE gave UNCLE RAT a good tussle last week before giving way into the stretch, and that one came back to win Thursday Night’s Invitational Trot – not sure he can overcome the draw, and also loses Holland. (8) IM OUT is very good right now, but faces a tall task trying to pass the entire field from out here. (3) SEVEN LAYER has been in and out lately, but even his best might leave him short vs. these. (6) SIR MAVERICK caught ‘em off guard when he wired the field from Post 7 three back but he was no factor at all in his last pair

RACE 10 – (5) ILLUSION SEELSTER used to throw a big effort here and there in 20s but suddenly developed consistency out of town this summer, and her only recent local try produced a solid rallying 3rd behind SILK CLOUD A - worth a try in a race with no standouts, and some shaky favorites. (2) MILLWOOD BLISS N actually finished 2nd in the race when the top choice was 3rd but she ended up hounded into submission in her next start, then was just an ok 3rd at PcD last week – possible, but far from guaranteed! (1) CHERYLS SHADOW did hit the wire with interest way after the fact last week and moves in from Post 8 to the rail – she’s also been extremely camera shy the last couple of years, and hard to back with any real confidence…at a pretty short price. (3) DISCOVERINGTHE HUNT has been holding form nicely on her current climb up the class ladder – good value horse for exotics. (6) NIL A MAREE N has really leveled off after a great start to her U.S. career and is another that could end up overbet in here. (8) LLOYDS LOVES has a great local resume but she’s off her best game right now, and Post 8 isn’t going to help her cause! (7) ISLAND BOUHINIA A has some talent and did pick up a win 4 back…she also seems prone to getting in some trouble, and tonight’s draw isn’t going to help. (4) VEL IM ALL FIRE just seems a notch below a bunch of these – a class drop would help.