Monday, March 9, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Monday, March 9, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (4) JETT STAR N generally needs easier to do his most damage but he was claimed from his last, and moves to a barn that generally excels with fresh stock– worth a look in a race with no stickouts. (1) ALTA CLASSIC A finished with some mild pace from a tough spot last week – he moves all the way inside, and did win on the front end from the rail 4 starts back – possibility. (2) SOUTHWIND PETYR got stuck first over into the fastest part of the mile last week and can be forgiven for weakening a bit in the lane – could be dangerous here with an easier trip. (6) WALKINSHAW N is very good right now but he loses Barthett, and draws poorly with plenty of speed to his inside – would need a good price to use him on top tonight. (5) ITALIAN LAD N took a bit of a suspicious drop last week and made an uncharacteristic break on the first turn – he was claimed that night, and does feel iffy right now. (8) BO ILING OAR grabbed an easy half in an easier field last week and still couldn’t finish the job – now has to deal with Post 8. (7) MAXIMUS RED A can hold his own with these types but may need a better post to be a threat. (3) CYR US N had a rough (short) 2025 campaign – he recently returned to the races, but missed 3 weeks since his last start

RACE 2 – (4) MUSIC HALL won 16 races in 2025 but has been off to a slow start in ’26, largely due to facing much tougher than he’s used to – he gets significant class relief here, a good draw, and we’ll look for a big wake up call. (2) LITTLE WILLY debuted for a new barn last week and unleashed a furious stretch rally to just miss, from an impossible spot – has to be respected off that effort! (6) SAMHARA N served notice 2 back that he may be coming around and built off that effort with last week’s excellent first over score – tough post while up in class tonight, but he’s been known to string good efforts in the past. (3) KWICK SAND A is sharp right now but a bit of a question mark vs. these – would consider if the price is right. (7) YOROKOBI has been camera shy for a long time but does finish well most weeks, and never a bad one for 3rd/4th. (5) CASINO ACTION N was a very game winner last week but in a slow mile, vs. much easier- leaning elsewhere tonight. (1) GREAT SOMEWHERE draws the pole but does seem to be in need of some class relief. (8) GREG THE LEG draws Post 8 after being away since August

RACE 3 – (5) LYONS BENJAMIN won 10 races and $116K in 2025 and so far the new year is going just as well, currently 5-2-3-0 and a winner of his last 2 starts – remains the one to catch and beat! (2) AMERITRIC was wiped out 2 back but has otherwise been rock solid for weeks – no reason he can’t be a player here too. (4) QUOTE ME NOT N has been fishing with good pace from too far back most weeks – he could end up closer to the pace here, and that would put him in play for a good chunk. (7) THE WICKED ONE is listed at 20-1 ML but he has a strong local slate and is moving to a very hot barn – could add some value to the ticket. (1) PERFECT PROMISES just beat these 3 back (after just missing the week before) but feels like he’s heading in the wrong direction – we’ll see if he can turn things back around tonight. (3) SCRIBBLERS gave it a good try off the claim 2 back but came up flat last week – chance for a piece of the “good” version shows up. (8) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH has been 1st/2nd for 5 straight weeks but all from good posts – may face some road trouble from Post 8. (6) ENFORCER looked all done at 3/4 s last week but did a nice job clinging to a well-beaten 2nd – much tougher draw is going to hurt here

RACE 4 – (1) BOSTON BOUND didn’t have much luck in a handful of starts here in 2025 but he was also in a few pretty tough spots – he returns from NJ showing some good recent efforts, gets the rail and a switch to Kakaley and figures to have a big say from start to finish. (7) ALL ALONE qualified sharply and may have won his first start of the year if handled a bit more aggressively (he sat back then charged home for 2nd)– terrible draw, but he would have a chance if Holland is able to improve position at the start. (6) BONDI LOCKDOWN A gets another bad draw and doesn’t win too often BUT he’s definitely sharp right now, and worth at least a look if the price is fair. (8) AMERIC AN DEALER N draws Post 8 after missing 3 weeks and has been well off his best game – he also has a ton of back class, and debuts tonight for the nation’s perennially leading barn…definitely some appeal at that 20-1 ML price. (5) SINBAD has certainly fallen to a winning level but just hasn’t been clicking since returning from Ohio – mixed feelings. (3) LOUS SWEETREVENGE is always dangerous if the race plays out in his favor but his recent form has been spotty, and he’d need to be a good price to consider on top. (2) INTIMIDATION probably needs to be in easier for a chance at one of the bigger prizes…and the same holds true for (4) OURMATMENKO N

RACE 5 – (1) IMTHEBLACKFLASH N came up a little light last week but he was also facing a bit tougher – he figures to be on the front end tonight (for the first time in a while), and that may give him the edge he needs to get back to the winner’s circle. (4) COALFORD TOPGUY GB has been 2nd in all 3 local starts and his last effort was outstanding – he loses Bartlett, but more than capable of getting it done for Buter tonight. (2) ORLANDO BLUE A went a HUGE mile when he shocked at 39-1 recently and has held his fine form since then – he’s looking at a good trip from this spot, and could have a big say. (3) JABBAR is hitting on all cylinders right now – he steps up a peg, and we’ll see if he can be as effective against this tougher stock. (5) ROLLING WITH SAM held form beautifully as he recently climbed back up the class ladder but as always, is light in the win column – ok for underneath. (8) BA CKSTREET SHADOW felt like his most recent comeback was going along very nicely but he missed 3 weeks (after winning 2 in a row) and now lands all the way outside – insist on a good price if looking for him to “threepeat”. (6) SPECULATING A drops a bit, but that figures to be negated by the draw. (7) ESCAPE TO AMERICA gets stuck outside again, and figures to be too far back to have any real impact.

RACE 6 – (4) GDS THUNDER GB is in career form right now and went a huge effort in this class last week to just miss – if he brings that same effort tonight, he may be able to pull off a mild upset. (1) CURLY JAMES A had been coming up a little disappointing for several starts but did pick up a solid front end score 2 back, followed by a game first over 2nd last week (first start off the barn change) – remains a very legitimate threat from this spot. (2) BET ON BIG JOE was 3 for 4 here in 2025 but has come up a notch below so far in 2026 (4-0-2-1) – he had no chance off the claim last week (Post 7), but look for a much bigger effort tonight, with the move inside (3) DELE ROW A had been doing good work in his first few U.S. starts before drawing horribly for his last pair – moves back inside, and can have a bigger say. (7) MACS MARVEL is rock solid week after week but he’ll be coming from well out of it tonight and that figures to leave him looking at minor spoils. (5) HIMSELF N hasn’t been finishing nearly well enough – maybe time to take him off the gate and try to braven him back up? (8) WHATS STANLEY GOT A is hard to predict from week to week – he gets to stay in the same class as last week’s (form reversing) victory as a win came off the bottom of his card…but the bad draw suggests he may prefer to wait for a class drop, and better post next week. (6) HUNTING ZONE makes his first local try in a while and he’s generally more effective vs. easier

RACE 7 – (1) VICIOUS looked to be struggling a bit on the final turn last week but came back to life in the lane and was able to collar the seemingly home-free leader, delivering a victory for his new connections – he’s looking at another great trip tonight, with a license to repeat. (2) DIEGO N would be very tough in here with a clean mile but he did blow up on the first turn last week, making his first start for a new trainer…very dangerous, but also at least a bit risky! (4) AYE AYE CAPTAIN N returned ready off the layoff, charging home in the lane to blow by his rivals on 2/16 – he landed in a tough spot last week but still was able to rally for 4th, and could make some late noise if things fall apart a bit in front of him. (3) TAHUYA DEVIL was a winning machine in Western Canada and has done nothing but good work since arriving on the East Coast last summer – he returns very sharp from NJ, but he’ll need to prove that he can pass tonight’s class test before getting a bigger endorsement! (5) SHERLOCK N has been ultra consistent, but relies on conservative trips to grab his pieces– always a good one for the bottom of exotics (7) SOHO DOW JONES A can beat these with the right trip, but likely to be facing a difficult journey starting from Post 7. (6) AARDIES FLASH N hasn’t been able to get back to “peak” form in 2026, and tonight’s “bad post, up in class” scenario figures to limit him to minor spoils. (8) BLUE LOU has a great Yonkers record…but this is a brutal spot

RACE 8 – Good race: (4) JUMPINGJACKMAC N took a while to find his best form after arriving in the U.S. but was starting to peak at the end of 2025 – he made his (belated) 2026 return last week and certainly showed up ready, charging home in the lane to be gaining on MOSSDALE BEN N at the wire– he’s very versatile, and dangerous here with a good trip. (6) LOU HILL was a sharp winner here on 12/15 (beating #4) and has looked super in 2026, after a brief freshening – his last pair of Pocono wins suggest he deserves plenty of respect here! (5) WHICHWAYTOTHE BEACH figures to be handled conservatively moving way up in class last week but after forcing a wild :55 half before getting the lead from the $2.10 favorite, he just kept going and ALMOST lasted – can’t be dismissed after seeing that effort! (3) VERDUN should really benefit from his first start of the year and is never a bad one to include at a good price (8) MOSSDALE BEN N landed on an unexpected dream trip last and knew how to cash in– unlikely he’ll be quite as fortunate tonight, but should still be coming hard late. (7) CAPTAIN MOORE A can hang with these with the right trip, but not sure that’s going to happen from out here. (1) CADILLAC BAYAMA was part of the wild early pace last week and paid for it – pass for now. (2) SWEETHOMEALABAMA N could use some class relief



RACE 9 – (4) THE GREEK FREAK struggled at the top levels for a few starts but was an easy front end winner with last week’s class relief, and should still be very comfortable at this level too – the one to catch and beat. (1) JUST ENUFF STUFF has been super for a long time, but vs. a bit easier – steps up quite a bit here (off another re-claim), but the rail draw may give him a chance to do some real damage here too. (2) SIX DEGREES had pace in the lane last week but lacked the room to use it – he’s been rock solid for weeks, and should be able to make his presence felt once more. (3) SPEAKER OF PEACE was hurt badly by terrible posts in his last 3 starts but can at least contend for a piece with tonight’s improved draw. (5) HEMSWORTH N is eternally unpredictable but he has just one start in about 7 weeks, and that has us leaning elsewhere. (6) MATAI PHIL N has been super in ’26 but yet another bad draw figures to limit his chances tonight. (7) THE IDEAL DANCER A will look better with some class relief next week. (8) HAZEVILLE is sharp, but also up in class from Post 8.