Thursday, April 23, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, April 23, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (6) JIVE DANCING A has been very consistent this year and comes into tonight off her sharpest mile to date (and fastest win since 2024)– willing to stay on board, despite the tough draw. (7) BIG CITY DAISY (who beat the 25s three back) dropped down to 20s last week, landed on a live trip and charged on by in the lane to win it – she’s SHARP enough to take another, but may not get that same live trip this week. (1) CHARMING VIXEN is hard to justify as the 2-1 ML favorite (she’s 15-0-0-2 locally over the last 2 years) but she IS racing well enough for at least a chance at a decent piece. (3) SHEIKH YABOOTY N held well for 2nd last week after establishing a pocket trip from Post 6 – remains a solid candidate to land somewhere on the ticket. (4) SUNBURNT picked up 3rds in 2 of her last 3 starts and has a chance for another small slice tonight. (5) UNDETERRED raced “ok” for 4th from a tough spot last week – chance for some more minor spoils tonight. (2) VEL IM A WINNER was away for almost a year only to end up distanced in her first start back (credited with broken equipment) – waiting for a solid try before considering. (8) CANNERY ROW can grab pieces at times, but probably not from a spot like this

RACE 2 – (3) SOUTHWIND COORS gave it a big first over try in his first start since 12/19 and can be forgiven for getting collared late by the currently VERY sharp BRAVO ANGEL S – clearly the one to knock off tonight! (4) AST EROID backed off after getting caught wide leaving last week, came out 3rd over on the final bend then trotted evenly to the wire – he’s capable of better, and he may be able to have a bigger say tonight. (1) ULTION FACE S has been somewhat unreliable lately, making early miscues in 2 of his last 3 starts – he draws the pole with Buter tonight and the pair teamed up for some good efforts last Fall…chance for a decent piece IF he behaves himself. (2) SECURITY PROTECTED was handled aggressively in his 2nd start off the layoff but was used too hard from start to finish and weakened a bit at the end – could be sharper tonight with an easier trip. (5) MISSISSIPPI STORM can still do battle at this level with a good trip, but the draw may leave him sitting in a tough spot tonight. (6) FULL OF MUSCLES should have been assigned an inside post (moving WAY up in class from what he’s used to) and he can’t even catch a break with the 3-6 draw…razor sharp, but still hard to endorse from out here.

RACE 3 – (4) MINOTAUR just missed after a bad trip 2 back then was a VERY sharp 8 hole winner in his last, making his first start off the claim – steps up a notch to 20s, but seems more than sharp enough to handle it right now. (2) WHY TOMORROW RAY was no factor last week but was taking on the 25s, off the claim – drops back down to 20s, and may bring a better effort tonight. (1) CELLMATE returns off an amateur victory in NJ and did win plenty of races here in 2024-25 – could have a big say tonight, starting from the pole. (3) WELL THATS MARKY was an ok 3rd off an easy trip 2 back but reverted to his lesser form last week, with a tougher trip – which version tonight? (6) DISMAS was a form reversing winner 3 back, an ok 3rd in his next (after cutting the mile) but tired after last week’s first over attempt – tonight’s draw will make it hard to rebound, but that 20-1 ML price does give him some appeal. (5) ROSE RUN ASTRO was good for a while but comes into tonight off a trio of lesser efforts. (7) BR OOKDALE MIKI popped off a huge mile 2 back but came up empty trying to follow that up last week

RACE 4 – (5) GLUTES HANOVER has really blossomed into a very nice 4YO, and her last 4 starts have produced a pair of wins, and pair of 2nds to PAYBACK MONI – she never seems to get overbet, and we’ll give her the narrow nod tonight. (6) PAYBACK MONI has a TON of talent and can deliver BIG miles, when on her game (as evidenced by last week’s outstanding first over score) – she also can be pretty quirky, and it’s hard to know how she’ll react to feeling a different set of hands tonight! (4) HOT FLASH KIMMY can always be counted on for a good finish, and will be dangerous here if the top pair falter – not sure she’ll offer much value with that 9/5 ML price, however. (3) ENOLA is having an excellent season and while probably a notch below the top trip, she still could easily land on the ticket somewhere. (1) AIRMANS JACKPOT is on the cheaper side – minor share only, even from the pole. (2) SAPPHIRERAINSTAR always seems to ship in with sharp PA form…then fails to replicate it here at Yonkers

RACE 5 – (4) CHULO beat this class twice in March and would have been in a great spot to do it again last week… but he broke heading to the quarter after dropping nicely into the pocket – he drops right back in the box and we’ll give him a chance to redeem himself. (3) SKY BOX picked up his first win last week since being claimed on 2/19 – drops back in for a $40K tag and looms a live player once more. (8) MON AMOUR was a dullish 4th from Post 8 last week but he’s capable of better (and he’s not afraid to leave from the outside) – could be worth a stab if not a fan of the favorites. (7) EYES OF JUSTICE hit board at big prices in his last pair, but those were with easy trips, from inside posts – not sure he can replicate that kind of effort starting from out here. (6) BLACK TIE BASH fits well enough with these but he’s been plagued by terrible posts and lands another one tonight. (5) BONTONI DEGATO S feels like he might be a little bit cheaper, but he may still be able to grab a minor piece. (1) IMA STANDUP GUY exits amateur races and does feel a bit ambitiously placed in here. (2) WILLY WALTON hasn’t been a serious threat in some time – the good draw may help him grab some minor spoils, though

RACE 6 – (1) EVER M has been on an extended form spree and continues to get even sharper, picking up wins in his last pair – he owns a tactical advantage over his main rivals in here, and may be able to make it 3 in a row. (6) THEFLYINGROCK was wildly overbet last start ($2.10) but certainly had no trouble delivering the victory – goes for a new barn tonight, moves from the rail to Post 6, and MAY be at least a bit vulnerable. (3) ITALIAN LAD N had been tailing steadily for a few starts but was “sneaky ok” last week – and may be able to grab a piece tonight with a decent trip. (7) HEAVEN ON HIGH N sat in the back and appeared to be in a hopeless spot turning for home last week, only to unleash a major stretch rush that saw him end up right there 3rd on the wire – he’ll still be a big price here, and not the worst bomb you could consider. (5) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES has been solid for a while so it was no surprise to see him cash in off the live trip last week – not sure that tonight’s move up to 25s is really warranted, and we’ll see how he handles it. (2) SOUTHWIND PETYR threw a dud off the claim last week – sticking with others, but will observe for future consideration. (8) BONNIPRINCLOUIS N was a no threat 2nd to #6 two back then basically stole a win last week – very tough spot tonight off the claim, though. (4) THEMASKEDCR USADR N hasn’t been a serious threat in a long time.

RACE 7 – (5) JAS BLUESTONE definitely was helped by his two main rivals going offstride last week but that doesn’t mean that HE wasn’t very good, winning in just his 2nd start of the season – moves to a very sharp barn off the claim, and has a solid chance to make it 2 in a row. (4) SENSI AMNESIA was off a month to her last but still hung in for 3rd – drops right back in the box, and could be sharper this week. (1) FOR A DREAMER was an easy trip (no threat) 3rd last week and tonight’s draw makes him a candidate for another small piece. (2) MEMENTO MO RI drops back in for a tag, gets a good draw, and may be able to land somewhere in the exotics with an easy trip. (3) QUALITY KID just hasn’t thrived since arriving from Ohio and landing with our leading trainer – at least his price should start to climb up a bit. (6) BO SILAS hasn’t embarrassed himself at all at this $40K level but gets a tough draw for tonight, and may have a tougher time grabbing a piece. (7) CAL MILES N SHELL was scratched from his last and drops in for a tag tonight – red flag? (8) WARRAWEE WHISPER has been steadily tailing – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help him turn things around

RACE 8 – (1) AQUARIUS FACE S was overbet last week at 1/5 and wasn’t able to overcome a tough trip (first over into a very quick mile), off a bad date – drops right back in the box, is looking at a better trip, and may be able to make amends. (4) HIGH SPEED SWAN was handled conservatively from a tough spot last week but still finished with good trot – he’s been very good in most all of his starts since joining this barn this winter, and could easily be a major threat. (5) CHAPHEART just wasn’t on his best game when a dullish 4th last time, but he was also racing off a bad date – his best effort would make him a much bigger player tonight. (2) P L OSCAR is going well for a hot barn right now, picking up back to back big price 2nds– may be able to land in the exotics once more. (3) VANDY LANE arrives from Ohio in excellent form and lands in a top shelf barn…he also MAY be a little on the cheaper side, but we’ll get a clearer picture after tonight. (6) SOUTHWIND ARTURO arrives sharp from PcD for a barn that’s clicking in multiple states – the class jump and bad post may slow him down a bit, however. (7) KASHA V had only one win all of last year and has already tripled that total in 2026 – he’s up in class from a horrible post tonight, and that does figure to hurt him quite a bit. (8) CANTSTOP YANKEE draws yet another terrible post and while he’s still holding form quite well, he’ll probably need to wait for a better spot to be a serious player

RACE 9 – (4) BLACK HAWK JOE A gave it a good speed try vs. the 20s last week but let it slip away at the end – drops to 15s, and this may be a group he can just outrun. (2) ROCKET FREIGHT went a big one when he just missed to the streaking IM SOME GRADUATE 3 back, then was a good 2nd behind a favored frontrunner in his last – main danger for the biggest surprise barn of the year! (7) ADVANCE MAN threw a dud last week but he drops right back in the box and was racing well prior to that – decent bomb for the bottom of exotics. (3) FULL SUPPORT remains winless on the year but he’s been able to pick up some ok pieces when close to the action. (1) ALWAYS RO CKIN is just 2 for 40 at Yonkers (last 3 years) for a barn off to a 4 for 95 start - maybe the rail draw can help him pick up some minor spoils. (6) J B GRAM hung badly at the end last week but at least he functioned – we’ll see if he can be competitive 2 weeks in a row. (5) DEEDENUTO A came up with a better effort last week but he has speed to his inside tonight and that could hurt his chances. (8) LEAR SEELSTER figures to struggle from out here.