Monday, November 9, 2026, Empire Report

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

RACE 1 – (7) THEFLYINGROCK saw his 3 race winning streak snapped last week but was still 2nd best to a fire-breathing ship in winner – tough draw, but that also means a better price…absolutely worth using tonight. (1) HAM MERING HANK was off a bad date 2 back but still raced well despite a bad trip – he was a fast closing in his last, and definitely has a positional edge over his main foes tonight – very logical. (6) MISSED THE TRUTH A saw his own 5 race winning streak ended last week when outbrushed by a scary BE DAZZLED LOU A at 3/4s, but still dug in for 3rd (behind #7)– he should be right back in the mix tonight (3) ULTIMAROCA perked right up after returning to Yonkers and landing in our leading barn – no chance in his last, but could have a much bigger say tonight with the move inside. (2) SUN OF A SHOW is a notch below the top ones but racing well enough for a chance at a small piece from this spot. (5) TASTE OF HONEY was sharp beating softer last week – possibility for 3rd/4th vs. these tougher ones. (4) INTIMIDATION does his damage vs. easier – leaning elsewhere. (8) THONG CONTROL can hold his own with these…but tonight’s draw figures to leave him too far back to threaten

RACE 2 – (5) SAWYERS DESIRE ships in very sharp from out of town for owners that sent over TWO blowout winners last week (BE DAZZLED LOU A, and EXCEPTIONALISM) – this guy will go for a barn making its first ever start here at Yonkers, but currently winning at an eye-opening 28% clip at Monticello – gets top billing for his Hilltop return. (1) IM A POWERPLAY A wasn’t “great” last time, but certainly took a step in the right direction – figures to be right there from start to finish. (7) AINTBLUENOMORE has been a completely different horse since recently joining his current barn, and comes off an excellent 2nd in his YR debut – we’ll see if Bongiorno can find him a manageable trip from out here. (4) GOTHIC ROCK is ultra camera shy but takes home his share of good pieces – ok underneath. (2) EMINEM HANOVER is just 26-0-0-2 locally in ’25-26 but may be able to grab minor spoils. (8) MAXIMUS RED A has his moments, but is facing a very tough trip tonight. (6) AINT NOSTOPN TIME seems to need an inside draw to be any kind of player – last week’s class drop didn’t do the trick. (3) SURFSIDE BEACH has been facing cheaper out of town – sticking with others for now.

RACE 3 – (4) CAPT KARMA won 4 straight off the big barn change and while he hasn’t gotten his picture taken in his last 4 starts, he’s been right there every time, vs. better – has a post edge over his main rival here, and will get top billing for that reason. (7) BE DAZZLED LOU A arrived off a win vs. easier at PcD but turned in a vicious effort for his new barn, a “brush and crush” blowout over some very sharp 40s – the move up to 50s tonight isn’t as big a concern as the draw, though. (6) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A won his first 2 starts off the recent barn change but class jumps and bad posts hurt his chances in his last few – draws poorly once more, but the switch to Bartlett may result in a more aggressive try – ok for exotics. (3) ODDS ON CAPITALISM doesn’t feel like a threat to win, but he’s a solid weekly player with a chance for a decent share. (2) BETTOR BY SEASIDE could use some class relief, but he’s capable of a small piece with these with an easy trip. (1) MARLBANK ROAD is another that could use a class drop, and he’ll likely get one after tonight. (5) KEAYANG TACO A used a very easy trip to be a close 2nd in his last, but seems unlikely to land on such a kind journey tonight

RACE 4 – (4) LAST BEACH comes into this off a pair of victories and is now 7 for 14 here on the year – moves from one sharp barn to another, and deserves a narrow nod over (5) KARLOO BRADLEY N, whom he beat 2 back. The latter is very sharp himself, following up that 2nd to #4 two back with a dead game first over victory last week – the main danger! (3) DISMAS hasn’t won in a while but his overall form is solid, and he could be waiting in the wings should the top pair falter. (1) WARRAWEE EXTREME has been going off much longer prices than his form suggests he should be – he returns off a solid try in PA, has the speed to work out a good trip from the pole, and is worth a look. (2) ARTIST BEST has way more lesser tries than good ones recently but he’ll be a big price, and not a bad bomb for longshot fans (6) IM TALKING HUNGRY followed poor cover off the claim last week but was empty himself– tonight’s draw won’t help his chances. (8) OVERTHINKING chased ok from the pole 2 back but struggled from Post 8 last week. (7) AMERICAGREATAGAIN is 2 for 27 this year, and seems up against it returning to YR

RACE 5 – (4) SWEET BEACH LIFE had won an incredible 10 straight overnight’s before coming up just a little shy last week (2nd in a 1:51.1 mile) – he was allowed to draw with others for posts 4-8 tonight and got the best post possible, meaning he’ll likely be a very short price – he also will have Stratton subbing for Kakaley, so maybe not the best week to bet the rent money on him. (5) CHASE H HANOVER has been remarkably consistent, even if wins have been a little hard to come by – would never be a surprise to see him come out on top. (6) RUTHLESS HANOV ER went over the $1M mark this year but none of it was earned here at Yonkers – the classy 9YO finally makes his way to The Hilltop, and he’s having a bounce-back year in ‘26…would still need a good price to use on top, though. (7) CATALPA RESCUE A has been on a LONG form spree, and comes into this off a heartbreaking loss last week– he’ll need a lot to go his way to win from out here, but it’s not impossible. (3) STAR CASINO N was an easy front end winner over easier last week– he can hold his own with these too, and grab a piece if the trip is easy enough. (1) SOHO DOW JONES A does his best work with easier – the rail draw may help him grab some minor spoils. (2) AM ERICAN DEALER N is in tough, and off a bad date. (8) MACS DELIGHT had the misfortune of being forced to draw with the 4-8 group…and then the even bigger misfortune of landing Post 8!

RACE 6 – (7) TOPVILLE SOMEBEACH has been 1st or 2nd in 27 of his local starts the last 2 years, and moves from one sharp barn to another off last week’s strong 7 hole 3rd (off the class drop) – if Holland can improve position at the start (without using him too hard), he may be able to pull off the mild upset. (1) COALFORD TOPGUY GB has been 1st or 2nd in half of his starts this year, but did come up 2nd best (at a very short price) off the class drop last week– he exits a very high % barn and while he’s an obvious threat to take this, he may be overbet for his new crew. (3) THE WICKED ONE caught a shuffle last week (off the sick scratch) but still finished ok – could add some value to the ticket. (5) EVER M will attract attention (2nd start off the claim for a very high % barn and getting Bartlett) but his form has been lacking for a while – chance he’ll end up overbet. (2) LOTTO MAX probably would like to be in a bit easier but may be able to tow along for a share from this spot. (8) SIMPLY FAST is an excellent fit with these but faces an uphill battle trying to get in play from out here. (6) KOPI LUWAK has found better form with easier but lands a tough spot in a solid field. (4) HUNKA HUNKA fell apart last time – Bartlett bails and we will too

RACE 7 – Good race: (4) HP MOMENTUM was well backed on 10/13 (off some “sneaky sharp” form) but really disappointed after coming first over – he rebounded with a much effort in his last, and now drops a bit for tonight – may be able to pull off the upset of things get hotly contested up front. (1) GANNONS VELOUCITY is 0 for 11 at YR but he was 2nd in this class 2 back, and looking at a good trip tonight – possibility. (6) RESILIENT N has been a bit of an enigma, just 1 for 9 at Yonkers but charging hard at the end of a lot of his starts (vs. better) – he fits nicely here, and playable as long as the price is fair. (2) LYONS GUSTAVOFRING raced pretty well in both tries at this level – another with upset potential if things go his way. (7) KEAYANG KAMIKAZE A was in a winning spot last week and responded to his aggressive drive with a game victory – steps up and draws outside, but still might have a chance to be a player with some trip luck. (8) ROYAL DESIRE draws horrible but may be able to steal a piece if she can save ground and shake free in the lane. (5) BRUTALLYHANDSOME A has been stuck on smaller pieces vs. easier for a while. (3) CASINO ACTION N generally needs to be in easier to have any kind of say

RACE 8 – Tough race! (4) YOUNG BLUEY A is hard to gauge form-wise because he hasn’t any opportunities to be aggressive recently – if Stratton get him into the mix tonight, he certainly has the ability to come out on top. (1) ME SSAGE BANK A was a winner in his U.S. debut then 2nd best to the classy REDWOOD HANOVER in his next (when that winner was allowed to just steal it on the front end) – should be dangerous here, despite the class jump. (8) HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR has been struggling out of town (to say the least) but he LOVES Yonkers, gets JB back on board, and would be no surprise at all…even from out here. (2) MENEMSHA A has excellent Down Under credentials but made a break in his U.S. debut – re-qualified sharply, and could be an upset threat for his top shelf connections. (5) EFFINGHAM looked super in BOTH local tries this year, but hard to know why he took 6 weeks off after that eye opening blowout here on 9/15 – mixed feelings. (3) LOUS ALBANO can improve off his first 2 local tries but may need to wait for an easier spot to do so. (7) HAZEVILLE is good right now, but this is usually not the kind of spot where he thrives. (6) BENHOPE RULZ N would surely be a shocker vs. these

RACE 9 – (1) STRIKEM N has looked super in all 3 U.S. starts and now adds Lasix, and goes back to Bartlett – he’s the one they’ll have to catch and beat. (3) CAVIART LOTUS outraces his odds almost every week, and remains a good one to include in exotics. (4) SMOOTH DREAM hit board in 5 of 6 local starts this year – just re-qualified nicely (after a month off), and could easily have a big say here. (2) TITO N CHEDDAR missed a month after being scratched sick on 10/17 – his local work this year has been very good, but he’ll also be taking on older foes for the first time tonight. (6) MAJOR HOTHOOVES N was a dead game winner last well but tonight’s tougher spot may limit him to a smaller slice. (8) BOSTON BOUND is probably as sharp as ever but he’s been slowed by bad posts and obviously lands another tonight. (5) TWIN B FRESH BET had to re-qualify after having some issue here on 10/13 – prefer to observe tonight, even though he obviously has been very sharp recently. (7) WHICHWAYTOTHE BEACH stole one on the lead vs. cheaper 2 back, but just doesn’t seem up for this type of spot right now.