Saturday, August 15, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Saturday, August 15, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) KOMODO BEACH has missed 3 weeks since being claimed from his last but it may have just been a problem getting in….he’s been razor sharp for week, and his new barn is having an outstanding season…gets the slight nod in a very competitive opener. (6) BOILING OAR has been going some excellent efforts lately but did just get a bit too hot on the lead last week – goes back to Kelly tonight, and absolutely worth a look at what figures to be a decent price. (5) GDS THUNDER GB has been “ok” in 40s and tonight’s class drop should suit him – definitely a chance to outrace his odds. (1) SAMHARA N isn’t known for his “gameness” at the end of miles but it certainly didn’t matter last week, as he just blew away the field – steps back up to a level where he’s struggled recently, and hard to endorse at a short price tonight. (4) BELLS DAVID went a nice mile last week, finishing 2nd to a very sharp winner – very playable underneath. (7) STELLAR YANKEE was claimed by a barn that can improve most fresh stock considerably, but the bad draw makes him hard to back with much confidence tonight. (8) YOROKOBI N has been plagued by a bunch of bad trips, but could be looking at another tonight. (2) CENTURY INSPECTOR took a couple of months off after making a break off the claim – he also moves UP tonight, and we’re sticking with others

RACE 2 – (6) ALL MY LOVIN went a huge mile dropping in for a tag two back, brutally parked every step and still somehow lasting to be a close 4th – he had a much easier trip last week and the result was a 7 length blowout…gets the call tonight, even with a tough draw. (4) COALFORDONEOFUS GB was a very good 3rd in his only local try and went some nice efforts out of town just after that – he’s listed at 20-1 ML for his YR return, and that makes him worth considering! (3) OVER THE HORIZON is a beast in 15s but he’s shown that he can be very effective vs. the 20s as well – remains ever dangerous. (1) AINT NOSTOPN TIME was struggling for a few starts in NUJ but brought his “A Game” to Yonkers last week, and sprinted home gamely to hold off a sharp rival in 15s– the rail draw should help him handle the rise to 15s, and he could have big say from start to finish. (2) FERRAGAMO HANOVER is just 12-0-0-1 at Yonkers but that 3rd came last week, and he does seem to be improving lately – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (8) ALABAMAJAMMA has been sharp every recent start but moves to another new barn, loses Kelly, and faces a very uncertain trip from out here. (5) ONYX BOVINO was a form reversing winner 2 back but reverted to his lesser self last week. (7) ENRIQUE HANOVER steps up and draws poorly after a perfect trip win over easier last week

RACE 3 – (5) ONEMORE VOLO shipped in sharp and raced very well in his local debut, an excellent 2nd behind the odds on (front end) winner – he’s still looking for his first win of 2026, but may have found a spot to do so. (4) DWOOD was backed up by poor cover last week, then turned in his usual strong stretch rally – very dangerous if he’s close turning for home. (2) MONI MAN added hopples last week and parlayed a ground saving trip into a 3rd place finish – he can be a player here too, but probably shouldn’t be listed as the 9/5 ML favorite. (1) BEERNSUNS HINE DEO is 0 for 18 this year and racing off a bad date, but still may be able to grab a small piece, with an easy trip. (6) BIZZY BRENDA (2nd time Lasix) draws poorly for the 5th straight week, and likely looking at only minor spoils. (3) LIONHEART HANOVER hasn’t impressed in any of his YR tries this year. (7) MARIN COUNTY used a quick start to grab a pocket trip last week but went on to squander it, tiring to 5th – now lands all the way outside

RACE 4 – (4) VERSE NINE has been behaving ever since adding hopples 5 starts back, and been holding his own in some quick miles out of town – we’ll give him the narrow edge tonight, but definitely wouldn’t take too short a price (in his first local try). (6) AJAX BLUE CHIP has behaved in 3 straight, picking up a win and a 2nd here at Yonkers before rallying for a surprise 2nd (at 49-1) in NJ last week – the main danger! (3) FOREIGN XCHANGE has been on the upswing lately – seems a bit below the top pair, but will look to take advantage if either of them falter. (1) APEX TRACKER ships in off a pair of solid Tioga tries but remains a bit of a question over the half – he may also end up overbet. (7) RAUCOUS is just “ok” but he stays trotting, and that could help him pick up a small share. (5) CAPTAIN WILLIE has struggled ever since arriving from Canada – on the positive side, his barn has perked up lately and it’s good to see Mr, Brennan back in the bike! (2) DIVIDED STATES AS has just one start in 5 weeks, and his overall form has really fallen off recently (out of town)

RACE 5 – (4) LAVRA ROSE N was stuck qualifying with top FFA mares in her first US appearance and hardly embarrassed herself, while pacing home in :26.1 – have to hop on board as she debuts in this NW2 event. (7) COME ON BARBIE won 3 of 4 Monti starts and was an excellent 3rd in a quick Excelsior mile here last week – could be very tough here IF the newcomer doesn’t deliver. (8) HAY BETH draws horribly but she’s another solid Excelsior player that just seems better than most of these. (3) RICK EILEEN hit board in 3 of 4 local starts – she seems a notch below the top ones, but the good draw could still help her land somewhere on the ticket. (5) PRECIOUS GEM MA got a little tired in the lane after cutting the mile for her new trainer last week – suppose she could be a bit better the 2nd time around. (6) TINAS WISH turned in a nice try to pick up 2nd at a big price last week but her lesser tries this year have outnumbered her better ones. (2) MIDNIGHT LACE was an “ok” 3rd in her local debut last week – jury still out on her. (1) ODDS ON COMMANDEER has shown some ability but is her own worst enemy far too often for our tastes.

RACE 6 – (3) DAISY DIANA N looked like a strong play on paper last week but clearly didn’t fit the conditions and was scratched – tonight’s lifetime earnings cap has been raised from $30K to $60K (to allow her to fit the class), and the guess is that she’ll be happy to take advantage. (5) LOCHINVAR MATILDA has come up 2nd best in 4 of her 5 local starts and just may come up a bridesmaid once again. (7) CRYSTAL COAST was forced to chase a fired up leader through some sizzling fractions last week, and paid a price for it – definitely one to consider for your tickets with that juicy 15-1 ML listing. (1) SENSATIONAL TELL struggles on the turns but does try hard – an easy trip from the pole could help her land a share of this. (4) GABBYS WISH made an uncharacteristic miscue last week but usually contends for a piece in this class – eligible to rebound with a clean effort. (8) MARTINI STAR was a “meh” 4th last week and is now 0 for 16 at YR – minor spoils? (2) WAVE DANCER looked good outrunning a soft bunch 3 back but hasn’t been able to replicate that since moving up a bit – needs to be better. (6) SWIFT SARABI has yet to impress in 3 local tries

RACE 7 – Tough race: (6) IDEAL SKIES gets a tough draw in a very competitive race but she’s been on her game almost every start for weeks, and can handle a variety of trips – gets a narrow nod. (3) FORTUNADA has been very consistent recently, and her last is sharper than it may look on paper– she hasn’t won in a while, but at least the price will be pretty juicy. (2) YUENGLING hasn’t been at her absolute best in a few of recent tries but she still finds a way to be a player, and her 8 wins this season are hard to ignore – won’t be much value with that 9/5 ML price, though. (1) EVENINSTARZRAPSODY has some good efforts from difficult spots and is probably sharper than she may appear at first glance – she’s shown speed from the inside before, and is another decent value option to consider (7) TALENT TO SPARE A worked out a nice trip last week and earned herself a solid 2nd – terrible draw, but still a decent bomb for underneath. (4) WHOS PERFECT has been “ok” in a few recent starts – minor spoils? (8) BARBA DOS BABE confirmed last week that she’s much better when NOT revved up early on but she faces an uphill battle trying to find any manageable trip from out here. (5) PRINCESS AMERICA has been “Jekyll and Hyde” in her NJ starts…but only “Hyde” here at Yonkers

RACE 8 – (1) WELL THATS MARKY was a different horse with the switch to Holland 2 back and he was very good again last week, even if he just missed in the two horse breakaway to the wire – he knows how to win races, and deserves top billing tonight. (2) LETSMAKELOTSAMONEY finished 9 lengths behind #1 last week but raced pretty well, considering the trip – he was a winner here 3 back, and could be the main danger tonight. (7) THERSO MTHINGGOINON tired in his local debut but was definitely facing tougher – not a bad bomb to use underneath, looking to add some value to the exotics. (4) THEMASKEDCRUSADR N is now 0 for 23 on the year but still a viable candidate for a piece, especially at this $15K level. (5) DIAMONDBEACH is on the comeback trail, a useful 4th last week – we’ll see if he can build off that tonight. (6) SARANAC BLUE CHIP offered little in 4 of his last 5 starts – waiting for some better signs before considering. (8) SHORE NOT BEACH was never close last week but did finish with at least some better life…keep an eye for any additional improvement tonight. (3) SOCIAL THEORI ES seems to do ok in NJ but was dismal in both if his local tries

RACE 9 – (2) BOOKEM DANNO has seen his form perk up with some class relief at Tioga and returns to a very manageable spot off an easy victory – can take another. (3) OUR SWEET DELIGHT A added Lasix (in NJ) for his 3rd U.S. start and raced much better – should be a good fit with the locals in his Hilltop debut. (6) MUSIC HALL left at 70-1 from Post 8 last week and was able to hold on for 3rd – suppose that effort makes him worth including in exotics tonight. (5) CHEVRON ART N did some good work here earlier in the year but returns showing some less than stellar out of town form – he does drop considerably, and that could be enough to make him a much bigger player. (1) LILLBLISS has struggled in all 5 starts this year in PA – maybe moving to our leading trainer can help him find some better life? (8) PYRO may be ready to do some damage now but the guess is that he’ll wait for a better spot before getting an aggressive drive. (7) CASINO ACTION N can throw some good efforts at the bottom level, but may need a better draw before we see one. (4) COVERED BRIDGE hasn’t been in contention locally in a long time – very hard to see $1.4M earner racing this way (and hoping he can perk up at least a little, soon)