Saturday, May 9, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Saturday, May 9, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) SIMPLY FAST had Post 7 off a sick scratch last week but that didn’t stop him from circling the field powerfully from the final turn, scoring at 22-1– he moves all the way inside and there’s a good chance the result will be the same…but at a MUCH lower price! (2) TONTO RETURNS has a pair of recent wins but used perfect trips to pick those up – he’s not nearly as good when forced to do the work himself, but Bartlett can probably find him an easy trip from this spot– solid chance to land somewhere in the exotics (3) LETSMAKELOTSAMONEY was racing well here in 15s, though without a victory – he elected to move up to 20s in PA and raced well at that level too, and was 2nd last week adding Lasix for the first time – no reason he can’t grab a good piece here too. (6) MINOTAUR had a tougher trip last week and wasn’t nearly as effective – he goes for another new barn tonight, will be a better price, and deserves a chance to rebound…ok for exotics. (5) WHY TOMORROW RAY was empty for 7/8ths of the mile last week then did finish up ok – small piece? (4) BROOKDALE MIKI hasn’t come close to replicating that effort from 4/9 in his last 3 starts – waiting for better signs. (7) WELL THATS MARKY generally needs an inside draw for any chance to succeed. (8) DIVINE COSMO is looking at less than stellar trip going from the rail to Post 8

RACE 2 – (3) LOCHINVAR MATILDA flashed some ability in a handful of 2YO starts – she’s certainly come back impressively at 3, delivering back to back Monti blowouts (in a couple of pretty quick miles) – guessing she’ll be able to handle her more experienced elders as she makes her local debut today. (5) ALWAYS B LAYLA got away well back in 6th last week but still did an excellent job picking up 2nd to the stickout winner, despite a very tough trip – her chances for success go way up if she can leave the gate tonight, but she’s shown that she can still be effective from off the pace, if necessary. (1) HOBBY GONE CRAZY returns after a pair of sharp tries at Chester – this is certainly a great spot, but she did get beat here with no excuses back on 10/29, then made a final turn miscue on 4/8 (in her only other local appearance) – mixed feelings, especially at a fairly short price. (4) ALWAYSWITHYOU has been ok recently, but may need a couple of others to falter in order to get a bigger prize. (2) COWGIRL HANOVER was super at 2…but raced only 3X as a 3YO (3-0-0-0), and shown little in her 2 starts this year– sticking with others

RACE 3 – (2) BIG CITY DAISY was racing for a new barn last week, was rushed more quickly into the first turn than she’d prefer and made a costly miscue – was quickly reclaimed by the barn she recently won twice for, and may end up in a good spot to pull off a mild upset here. (1) JIVE DANCING A has now taken 3 in a row and draws the pole for a very hot barn – she DID get a little tired at the end of her last, however, so maybe she’s at least a tad vulnerable today. (4) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ has been racing well for weeks, and even did well despite last week’s bad draw– moves back inside, and remains a solid threat to take home a good piece. (5) STONECOLD GIRL had fallen a bit off her best game but her last start was fairly encouraging – not a bad value horse to include underneath. (3) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL looked like she would be no worse than 2nd entering the stretch last week but she flattened late and ended up 3rd – minor share? (8) VEL IM ALL FIRE ships in from Ohio showing almost identical field sweeping efforts, at big prices – she may be a good fit here for her new connections, but we’ll take a “wait and see” approach, for now. (7) MIGHTHAVTIME N has been an “all or nothing: mare all season and brought the “all” version last week – tough spot, even if she brings another. (6) SPIRIT OF PEARL A drops in for a tag after a pair of disappointing efforts – this might be a good class for her, but it’s a tough spot, regardless.

RACE 4 – (5) FLEX UP was a solid winner in his local debut and a very good 8 hole 2nd last week, behind a talented winner – no reason he shouldn’t have a big chance here too. (2) LIFE IS GREAT finished just behind #5 in her last 2 local starts, and is looking at another good trip tonight – should be right in the mix. (7) VERY BUSY got a pretty big barn and driver change before his last and quickly established a new 1:56 mark at Pocono – he may be able to score in his first local start as well but he does get the worst of the draw, and won’t offer any value (7/5 ML). (6) VINYL DADDY is developing quickly for his sharp trainer and probably a good fit for his YR debut– he may be handled conservatively, however, and that MAY limit him to a smaller share tonight. (4) MUSCLE SPASM has been just “ok”, and likely looking at only minor spoils. (3) CHATTY MATTIE had been showing little even before being scr. sick from her last. (1) BRANDERS stayed trotting in his qualifier adding hopples – still an outsider, however

RACE 5 – Good race! (2) BJMS LIL MAN continues to improve every week for his new barn and Stratton has done a great job getting him to relax, and finish stronger – his last try was excellent (from an impossible spot), and he may be ready to pull off a mild upset. (3) KAYS IN CHARGE found herself in an easier spot last week and easily dominated her rivals – this group is MUCH tougher, but she’ll still be able to have a big say. (4) NYMERIA was sneaky sharp from an impossible spot 2 back so the only thing surprising about last week’s victory was the 7-1 odds –a good trip makes her a big threat once more. (7) GREEN MEL has been a little inconsistent and has also struggled a bit to pick up wins – he’ll probably be a good price from out here, and is worth including underneath. (1) PORTO BAROSSO AS NL hit board in all 4 local tries, though hasn’t been a threat to WIN any of them – certainly playable for 3rd/4th. (6) HILLOOKIN was having a good 4YO campaign before going on the shelf last June – he has a couple of recent starts (after missing 10 months) and does appear to be sharpening – not sure he’ll be able to overcome the bad draw, however. (5) HALFADOZEN raced respectably in his Brennan Series tries but may need to find an easier spot to be a bigger threat. (8) INCANTATION is the outsider, both literally and figuratively

RACE 6 – (1) INEXPRESSABLE flashed legitimate ability as a 2YO, from his first NJ qualifiers through some excellent efforts in KY – he just qualified back sharply for his 3YO campaign, and figures to be a handful right off the bat for his top shelf connections. (4) BIZZY BRENDA was freshened up for a few months and came back ready, picking up an excellent 2nd last week behind the standout winner – may be able to complete this week’s exacta as well. (2) WISH LIST usually races ok when she draws inside – not a bad one to use if looking to add a bit of value to the exotics. (5) NET WEIGHT really disappointed in his only local try, failing to sustain his bid once into the lane – too soon to write him off after one weak effort, but also hard to take too short a price either. (3) STOVID hasn’t been good enough at the end of her miles but did finish a little better in her last pair – small slice? (6) BEERNSUNS HINE DEO can race on or off the pace and picks up her pieces either way – maybe 3rd/4th? (7) SIX AND STONES goes for a new barn, draws horribly and will race without Lasix – pass for now

RACE 7 – Tough race: (3) FOXHUNT wasn’t as sharp in his last couple but that was vs. the 25s– he’s more effective at today’s $20K level, and may be able to “drop and pop”. (2) PINK FLOYD HANOVER sat to the final turn last week, launched wide and kicked home very crisply – he’s been 1st or 2nd 7X this year, and may be able to return quick dividends off the claim if his trip works out. (6) DANCININTHEFIRE was hammered at the windows from Post 7 last week, was able to loop to the lead but fell apart badly from the final turn – he’ll be a MUCH better price tonight, for those willing to give him another chance. (1) THEMASKEDCRUSADR N benefited from a great trip when 2nd last week but it was still a much-improved effort – might be able to grab another good piece with a similar try. (8) DISMAS was a very sharp first over winner last week vs. the age-restricted 20s – he faces a much tougher journey from out here, but still worth a look if the price is right. (4) SHAKE IT just feels like he’s fallen off his game lately– he does love to win races, however, and could be worth considering IF the price drifts high enough. (5) DANCE ON THE BEACH, like his trainer, has been enjoying an excellent season…his best efforts seem to be vs. the 15s. however, and he may need a class drop before we see his best again. (7) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES gets the class drop he needs…but not the post he wants!

RACE 8 – (7) VICI has started to come back around lately after a recent trainer change – he gets a terrible draw, but may still be able to handle this crew. (2) AUSSIE HANOVER isn’t usually rated this highly (0 for 17 locally over the last 2 years) but he’s “sneaky sharp” right now, and may be able to have a say if the trip works out. (5) BONDI SHAKE N is another camera shy sort that does fit with this bunch – definitely ok for exotics. (4) CAVIART SARGE NT has been no factor at all for several weeks but this isn’t a bad spot to look for a wake up call – would need to be a big price to consider, however. (3) ONYX BOVINO had an easy trip arriving from Canada and was an ok 4th – maybe a small slice here too? (6) JO PAS WARRIOR has a couple of ok tries since the recent claim but has been a disappointment, overall – would have liked his chances a lot more with a better draw. (1) GREG THE LEG is listed at 3-1 ML but has been non-competitive in all 7 of his starts this year – waiting for better signs. (8) NATIONAL SP ORT arrives off a form reversing amateur win in NJ – hard to see him as a serious threat from all the way out here

RACE 9 – (2) MOVIN ON UP has proven to be very solid at this $15K level, especially when he lands on a decent trip (as he should tonight) – he won his last Yonkers start, and we’ll give him the edge for tonight. (3) OVER THE HORIZON has taken 3 of his last 4 starts, the lone loss coming when racing off a sick scratch – he loves to get his picture taken, and deserves plenty of respect here. (8) OZONE BLUE CHIP rallied for 3rd from Post 8 last week but unfortunately gets the same horrible draw tonight– best chance here probably if Lachance leaves hard, and improves position at the start. (4) LONG SHOT BUCKETS turned in sharp miles 3 and 4 starts back before making breaks in his next pair – qualified back nicely at Pocono, and would be worth a look if his price is juicy enough. (7) CYRUS N was able to rally nicely for 2nd in his first start at this level, but that was with an easy trip from the pole – we’ll see if he can be as big a player starting from Post 7. (1) DELIGHTFUL TERROR had some better life 2 back but was stuck with Post 8 last week – moves all the way inside, and may be able to grab a share. (5) FULL SUPPORT aired it out on the lead last week before tiring to 3rd – prefer others, but he could easily outrace his 20-1 ML odds. (6) JAC KS LEGEND N hasn’t been terrible, but figures to have trouble overcoming tonight’s bad draw.