Thursday, August 20, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, August 20, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NY Excelsior 2YO C&G: (2) BEACH PLAYIN just missed at 2501 two back at Stga. then was 2nd again in his last at Btva., this time at 2-1 – he’s definitely on the upswing, and one of a few possible winners in this short, but seemingly well matched field. (1) BLAST BLUE CHIP started off his career with a pair of odds-on victories but got caught wide leaving at Stga. and got a little steppy before dropping in 4th, then broke on turn three when trying to make a strong brush – could easily rebound and beat these, but he’s at least a little risky now after that last mile. (5) WARDENSVILLE has a 2nd and a 3rd since dropping out of the NYSS and could easily be a big part of the action here too. (4) YOU GOTTA GOGOGO seems to like to relax a bit before rallying – definitely can make his presence felt. (3) AMARILLO seems a slight bit below the others right now, but really wouldn’t be a shock.

RACE 2 - NY Excelsior 2YO C&G: (1) BACCHUS BLUE CHIP is hitting on all cylinders right now, gets to call the shots with Yannick and looms a very short priced favorite – there ARE others in here who have been very good as well, so maybe not one to bet the rent money on. (4) ITS NEWS TO ME was ok in a pair of NYSS tries but has been really good in his 3 Excelsior starts – he’ll surely make his presence felt tonight. (3) BABYLON BLUE CHIP did tire badly after giving way last time but still finished 3rd, and is now 5-3-0-0-2…could easily bounce right back with a contending effort. (5) BILLS MAFIA is prone to miscues but also has plenty of talent – not for the faint of heart, but probably still a good “value horse” to at least consider. (6) BEACH BUM BLUECHIP started off strong but feels like he’s regressed a bit in his last couple – the outside draw isn’t going to help. (2) IGOR is really the only one in here that would be a legitimate surprise

RACE 3 – NYSS 2YO C&G: (1A, PP5) PRIMACY STATION has taken 4 of 6 starts and the horses who did beat him (in close decisions) aren’t in this field…gets the narrow nod. (4 PP4) ROSE RUN COWBOY raced well when 2nd best to the top choice at Monti 2 back, then won his next at Stga. – he draws inside that one tonight, and we’ll see if that helps him turn the tables. (1 PP2) BASTONATA BLUECHIP hasn’t been quite as impressive as his stablemate but he’s still done some good work, draws well, and is a useful “bonus” horse to have include. (2 PP1) MAN ON A HUNT shows a mixed bag of efforts so far, but comes into this off a clunker at Batavia – leaning to others right now. (3 PP3) FREE AGENT has been stuck on smaller pieces and will need to be a bit better if he hopes for a better chunk tonight

RACE 4 - NYSS 2YO C&G: (2) MARIES JET has won 3 of his 5 starts, including a victory over PRIMACY STATI ON – it’s great to see Bartlett listed to drive (after missing 2 weeks due to an accident), but we’ll give him the nod even if somebody else ends up at the controls. (4) BEATLE BLUE CHIP nosed out the top choice at VD, and finished right behind him at Stga. – if you’re willing to excuse his last try at Batavia, he’s a very logical choice. (3) MY BODYGUARD did some good work in KY then ran into a tough trip at Batavia for his new barn – wouldn’t be surprised to see him have a much bigger impact tonight. (1) EL CUCUY figures to be closer to the action from the spot, and that could help him have more impact

RACE 5 - NY Excelsior 2YO C&G: (6) TAKES COURAGE puts his 4 for 4 Excelsior record on the line and he’ll need to overcome Post 6 to keep the streak alive – won’t be easy, but we’ll give him the nod to come out on top. (1) HUNT ME DOWN has been improving in every Excelsior start, 3rd, then 2nd, then a winner last week – gets the best of the draw, and figures to be the main danger. (2) TWIN B WILDFIRE hit board in his last 4, including a close 2nd to #6 at VD…he’ll likely be the best price of the 3 major players, and that makes him worth considering. (4) LYIN IN THE SHADOWS has raced at an awful lot of tracks for a 2YO in August…and the results have been extremely mixed – we’ll learn more about him tonight. (5) DOCS DEL MAR definitely feels a notch below the others

RACE 6 – NAADA Summer Series, Leg #10: (8) BIG LIMO got parked over half a mile before getting the lead last week and while he had every license to get tired, he continued to dig in bravely to pick up the very hard earned victory – he rallied crisply from way back the start before that, and that was in the heels of another win at Monti – he may just be good enough right now to overcome Post 8, if the trip doesn’t turn out too horrible. (5) WINDSONG PI ONEER gets a pass for his last (impossible trip) but he has a pair of pretty recent wins with Beltrami, and deserves a serious look with that big 20-1 ML price! (4) SHAKE N BAKE is a very consistent performer in these races but he’s just 1 for 11 at Yonkers this year, and will likely end up overbet with that 9/5 ML listing. (2) IMA STANDUP GUY had been struggling with miscues recently but he behaved in a fast PA qualifier on 8/1 then stayed trotting here last week as well, hanging in pretty well after being forced to let the top choice go after half a mile – another possible value play. (1) BACARDI was a no threat 3rd last week but figures to be sitting a closer trip tonight, with a chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (7) CAL MILES N SHELL picked up a long overdue victory last week and the 2nd place finisher came back to light up the tote board last Friday night – very difficult draw, however. (2) BONTONI DEGATO S was dull in his last and draws into a pretty solid field tonight. (6) BARN CREDIT will need a lot to go his way to get near the action tonight from this bad spot

RACE 7 – (7) GREEN PASTURES has matured into a very nice trotter this year, often charging home full of trot at our highest level – he gets some rare class relief tonight and while he may be looking at a less than stellar trip from out here, a good price still makes him worth a try. (5) HIGH SPEED SWAN has been a model of consistency all year long, for a barn that seems to be “hot’ at all times – handles any trip, and looms a serious threat…as always. (4) MISSISSIPPI STORM feels like he may be a bit off his best game right now but he drops down to a level where he can never be dismissed too quickly– would still need a decent price to use him on top here. (6) MASSIVE DESIRE has become a bit unreliable, making breaks in 3 of his last 6starts – he does go some BIG miles when he behaves, and seems to get along best with Yannick – has appeal with that 8-1 ML price. (1) FRANK LEAHY gave it a nice try on the front end last week before being overtaken in the lane – maybe he can battle for a bigger slice with an easy trip? (3) RITSON feels like he can use some class relief right now. (8) E PASS has a new trainer listed (after stealing one vs. cheaper last week), but lands in a brutal spot – sticking with others

RACE 8 – Good race: (6) JAS BLUESTONE was a nice overlay winner when he wired the field from Post 8 two back (at nearly 8-1) but could only manage 3rd last week, when overbet (at 4/5) – his price will be better tonight, and he’s won too many of these to not give a serious look. (3) THE BRODSTER turned in an impossible-to-predict front end blowout jogburger from Post 8 two back, but then took off the gate and was no factor at all in his last – if the “good’ version shows up tonight, he’ll have a big say. (1) MON AMOUR has tailed quite a bit in his last few but his connections move him to a barn he thrived for not too long ago, and a quick wake up call is not out of the question. (7) SMOKING JET used an aggressive start to pick up 2nd at 53-1 two back then wasn’t bad at all when 4th last week, this time at 54-1…terrible draw, but still worth using for 3rd/4th. (5) THEOBALD was razor sharp when claimed on 6/25 then failed to stay trotting in his next pair (for his new barn) – just re-qualified, and the guess is that he’ll be handled pretty conservatively tonight. (8) BEACON BEACH is a proven winner at this level, and would surely have been listed near the top…if not for Post 8! (4) FOR A DREAMER pays his bills by saving ground and hoping for small checks in this class. (2) LORANGA just feels ambitiously placed for his local debut.

RACE 9 – (5) ASTEROID almost never goes a bad mile and he’s used to facing much tougher (overall) fields than this one – deserves top billing with the rare class relief. (2) OLIVER THE GREAT has really upped his game lately, finishing with solid trot (from a tough spot) last week after winning 2 straight just prior to that – sharp enough to have a say with these too. (6) MY DEGENERATE just held off the top choice last start by a slight nose, after winning possibly the tightest photo ever the start before that – he goes for 4 straight tonight, but the draw seems like it may put that streak in jeopardy! (1) EXQUISITE TASTE steps up in class but the rail draw could help, and she definitely was trotting very well at the end of her last mile – ok for a piece. (4) DRIBBLING BI has thrown some strong efforts this year but lacks the consistency of his big 2025 season – likely looking at a minor share tonight. (3) TORRONE dug in hard last week but was nipped up the cones at the wire – steps up in class, and may struggle a bit. (7) WHEELZABLAZIN is very good right now, but has to deal with a class hike AND Post 7.

RACE 10 – (6) UNCLE RAT shipped in showing some excellent work vs. cheaper out of town but he had no trouble at all handling the class jump (or bad post), scoring impressively for his new trainer – faces a few solid foes tonight, but still may be able to repeat! (4) STACKING GREEN made an uncharacteristic miscue before the start last week then turned in a HUGE recovery to somehow finish 2nd to the top choice – hard to leave her off your tickets tonight. (5) CREDIT CON is doing good work since landing back in a barn he thrived for in the past – he was hurt by a shuffle last week (rallying for 3rd, once clear), and can make his presence felt tonight, as well. (8) B NICKING was parked every step from Post 8 last week and battled all the way, an outstanding 4th (considering the trip) – his overall recent form has been excellent, but he draws outside again and note that his only 2 recent miscues did come with tonight’s trainer. (7) CLASSICAL JANE raced well in 2 out of her 3 local starts but does figure to be limited to a minor share tonight after drawing so poorly. (2) BIG CHARLIE MORAN looked great breaking a VERY long local losing streak 2 back, but remains suspect up at this $40K level. (1) SEVENSHADESOFGREY won just one race last year and that’s one more than he’s won in 2026! (3) AIRMANS JACKPOT is iffy vs. much cheaper these days

RACE 11 – (1) BRAVO ANGEL S has won 5 of her 6 Yonkers starts and raced super in the lone loss (making a HUGE recovery for 2nd after a rare break before the start) – she’ll appreciate both tonight’s class relief AND the rail, and looms a short priced favorite returning from NJ. (3) MIRACLE MAVEN is a very talented mare as well, though not as sharp in NJ as the top choice…still can be a big player tonight, though. (7) ALWAYS A STORY is putting together an excellent 2026 campaign and has the speed to get herself in play, even from Post 7 – belongs in exotics, and has at least a punchers chance of coming out on top. (2) MA ISABELLE is cheaper than the top ones but she uses good trips to pick up her fair share of smaller pieces. (5) HOT FLASH KIMMY isn’t at her “best” right now but she remains more than capable of rallying late for some minor spoils. (4) R LADY W seemed to be really thriving with the recent additions of Lasix and a choke plate but she threw a major clunker last week, and is likely looking at a conservative try tonight. (6) VOGUISH just feels somewhat overmatched for her Hilltop debut

RACE 12 – Wide open finale: (6) WARRAWEE WHISPER hinted at some better life 2 back and did turn in a much better effort last week, even if outkicked from behind for the top prize – maybe he can get it done tonight, if he continues to improve? (3) SENSI AMNESIA blasted from Post 8 last week (off the claim) and found the pocket, hanging in ok for 4th – no reason he can’t be a player here too. (2) BELLISSIMO FACE S was a solid 2nd three back (returning from a long layoff) but just a “meh” 3rd in his next, then failed to keep it going on the lead in his last – too soon to write him off, but also hard to take another short price. (7) KAYS IN CHARGE has won her fair share of starts this year but usually needs a good trip to cash in – she may not get the best of journeys from out here, and she does figure to be very well backed. (5) RADIO LAB would probably appreciate being in a bit easier but this is a modest field of 40s, and a live trip could see him take home a share. (1) BO SILAS turned in a nice try for a new barn last week but would still be hard to back up at this $40K level. (4) KASHA V got 2nd at a big price at this level 2 back but that was a “fall apart” race…maybe that can happen here too? (8) HAT TRICK MARLEAU would need a lot to go his way to get anywhere close after starting from Post 8