Thursday, July 23, 2026, Empire Report

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

RACE 1 – NY Excelsior 3YO Trotting C&G: (5) GOOG EYES has been behaving himself and makes his first Excelsior start off the season after a pair of good looking wins at Stga. – he picks up Bartlett here and that stamps him as the one to beat…but also figures to make him overbet! (7) ACOUSTIC BLUE CHIP will throw a miscue at times but the ability is there for sure, and he’s not afraid to leave the gate – worth a look if the price is fair. (2) SELF PORTRAIT picked up a catch driver at Buffalo and jogged in his first Excelsior try – gets Stratton tonight, and would be no surprise at all. (1) LOU JOHNS ACTION clearly appreciated the drop from NYSS competition, turning a big 8 hole try last week in a Stga. overnight – may be a very good fit here. (3) DWS CHA CHING won a couple of races last year and already has a couple of wins in 2026 – hails from an excellent barn, and can’t be counted out. (6) JUNE FROM DUNOON picked up 3rds in his last pair but is probably still a notch below a few of the others. (4) MUIR WOODS has made too many miscues for our tastes

RACE 2 - NY Excelsior 3YO Trotting C&G: (4) FLEX UP has speed, stays trotting, and already has 4 wins this year (including one here at Yonkers) – we’ll go with him on top, but there are others in here with a real chance. (1) CTM broke 2 back but is otherwise 5-2-2-1 on the year – could end up with a good trip from this spot, with a chance to be a big part of the equation. (6) CHAPTER OF LIFE probably deserves being the 9/5 ML choice off that impressive 1:56.1 score at Stga. last start but he gets a tough draw, and could be at least a bit vulnerable. (7) RUBEN S has been plagued by miscues and brutal trips but the ability IS there, and it’s hard to imagine that he’s listed at 20-1 ML when he actually BEAT #6 3 starts back – couldn’t blame anybody that wants to look his way. (3) VINYL DADDY seems a bit below a couple of the main players but he’s done some good work and usually behaves– ok underneath. (2) LIL CHECKMATE just re-qualified after a trio of miscues – prefer to just observe for now. (5) TS ACTION feels like a work in progress

RACE 3 – NYSS 3YO Trotting C&G: (1 PP5) SEVEN GRAND won 2 in a row heading into last year’s NYSS Final but was scratched sick form that race and went on the shelf after that – has come back very strong at 3 and while he’s winless in 6 starts, he’s been 3rd FIVE times, facing some pretty solid fields – may have found a winning spot. (3 PP2) CHAPTER GEO J was handled conservatively here in an overnight last start but still flew by the favorite once cut loose in the lane – he’s a proven NYSS player, and a logical threat tonight. (4 PP3) WHOSE EYES BLUES raced 15X as a 2YO, banking $181K – he’s still looking for that first win as a 3YO, but will need to be a little better if he hopes for that to happen tonight. (5 PP4) CHAPEL seems to be sharpening lately, and was a winner at PcD last week in his first start for a new trainer – a live trip puts him in play here. (2 PP1) SEVENATO was an upset NYSS winner 4 back, but hasn’t been able to replicate that effort since then. (1A PP6) SECURED does stay flat and has the benefit of being coupled with SEVEN GRAND – does seem a notch below these, however

RACE 4 - NYSS 3YO Trotting C&G: (1) SILVERSTEIN was a $370K earner at 2 and is off to great start at 3, with a NYSS win 3 back followed by narrow losses in the Yonkers Trot, and the Stanley Dancer – the rail draw gives him the edge over some pretty nice colts. (6) AI banked nearly $400K himself as a 2YO, though he’s still trying to find his top form at 3 (close 4th here in the Yonkers Trot) – he adds Lasix tonight, and we’ll see if that helps him kick his game up a notch (5) HIGHWAY SIX did great work at 2 but sticking mostly to the much cheaper County Fair circuit – he’s come back a solid NYSS colt at 3, and even gave Jeff Gregory his 7,000th career victory (at Buffalo) – eligible to grab a piece here too. (3) READ THE ROOM had some success at 2 and is doing good things so far at 3 – no reason he can’t be in the hunt tonight. (4) TITANS MISCHIEF was 2nd in the NYSS Final at 2 as part of his outstanding $317K season – the homebred is off to a slower start at 3, however, and comes into this after being scratched injured – leaning elsewhere tonight. (2) TWIN B SEVIN SINS is winless so far in 2026 but an easy trip would at least put him in contention for a piece

RACE 5 - (6) KOMODO BEACH gets a very tough draw (with several possible leavers to his inside) but he’s been on a long form spree, will probably be a fair price, and just may be able to pull this out IF a bit of racing luck comes his way (for his new barn). (3) SHAKE IT hasn’t beaten the 25s since moving up to this level 3 starts back but he hit board each time, behind a couple of pretty sharp rivals – he’s the “logical” play with Bartlett, but that also means he could end up wildly overbet! (5) MIND HUNTER drops below the level of the recent claim for a barn going very strong right now – hard to know if it’s a red flag, or just an attempt to steal a win. (4) SOUTHBEACH HANOVER was a (well backed) winner last week when handled aggressively in 15s, but the double jump to 25s may be a bit too ambitious. (1) KARLOO BRADLEY N didn’t even pretend to be interested from Post 8 last start and will surely be a LOT more aggressive from the pole tonight -he may also just be more effective vs. 20s, so we’ll see how he fares. (8) MOVIN ON UP has been doing consistently good work lately but would look a lot better in 20s, from an inside post (7) HARD TO CATCH drops to 25s but he’s lost consistently at this level as well. (2) ACAPULCO SUNBURN elects to stay in 25s despite backing through the field and finishing way back in his last

RACE 6 - (5) RACEY RACH N was away nearly 10 months to her last start but had a very useful return effort, rallying nicely for 3rd (behind #8)– may be tight enough off that mile to be a serious threat tonight. (3) RACIN FOR ROYALTY did well to take home 2nd from a tough spot last week and always races better when she draws decently – should be able to have a big say from this spot. (6) EVENINSTARZRAPSODY was a HUGE overlay when she won at 35-1 on 6/17 (2nd start off the major barn change), was 2nd to a fired up #3 in her next, then just not able to overcome a very tough trip in her last – a better trip tonight could allow her to have a big say, at another big price. (1) VEL IM ALL FIRE was blown away last start by a very sharp MAYBEMABEL but held 2nd a long way before being overtaken– she’ll have her say from the pole for sure, but does figure to be heavily overbet! (2) BADDITUDE has been lovin’ it in her new barn, delivering a pair of very nice efforts since arriving from Ocean Downs – hard to leave out of exotics. Both (7) FORTUNADA and (8) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ have some good recent efforts but it’ll be hard for either of them to get in play unless the race falls apart. (4) THATS A HUGE BEACH just hasn’t been any good in some time

RACE 7 – (4) THEOBALD broke trying for the lead last week but he drops back to 40s, gets a big driver change, and a return to his top form would make him very dangerous tonight. (2) SEA CAN felt like he was really starting to go in the wrong direction again but last week’s effort (dropping in for $40K) was much more encouraging – gets Yannick back, and may be ready to be a big player again. (3) KAYS IN CHARGE landed on a dream trip 2 back and was able to cash in easily – she does tend to get overbet, though, and has come up a little short several times. (7) ST ACKING GREEN won in this class on 5/14, threw back to back clunkers after that but quickly got back on track, and has continued to race well in her last 3 starts – not sure if she can overcome the draw, but still worth a look for exotics at a good price. (1) FOR A DREAMER is still winless in 2026 but tonight’s draw at least gives him a shot at a minor share. (6) VOSS BLUE CHIP is in raging form in recent amateur races, but gets a bad draw tonight moving well up in class – may slow him down a bit. (5) NO DRAMA PLEASE rarely wins, and seems ambitiously placed in this $40K claimer

RACE 8 – (5) YOROKOBI N has been finishing with good pace behind some pretty sharp foes lately – the drop to 30s should help his cause, and he may even get the contested pace he needs to make his late rally work (2) HEAVEN ON HIGH N is just 2 for 45 over the last 2 seasons but clearly in very good form right now, finishing 2nd in 5 of his last 6 starts – tonight’s barn and driver changes may help him get over the top. (4) C BET HANOVER steps up a peg off the claim but he’s having a consistent season, and does have appeal with that 20-1 ML price. (3) ALTA CLA SSIC A is very dangerous in 30s when on his game but he MAY be a touch below that right now – we’ll see if his new barn can squeeze one of those big efforts from him. (1) ROLLING WITH SAM is pretty camera shy but he’ll surely have a lot to say starting from the pole – ok to include underneath. (6) PRETTY LOU was no factor in his local debut but also wasn’t terrible – maybe 3rd/4th? (8) PEACE OUT POSSE is a proven winner at this level but may struggle to get in play starting behind the 8 ball. (7) BELLS DAVID would like a better post in an easier field

RACE 9 – (4) MY DEGENERATE was a solid KYSS player, was sent off at 3/5 for his local debut and jogged effortlessly in a very crisp 1:54.1 – he faces a tougher task tonight, but does seem up for it. (5) ULTION FACE S has raced well in almost all of his Yonkers starts, and returns from Chester in solid form – gets Bartlett back, and this feels like a field where he should be very dangerous – belongs on your tickets. (4) FULL OF MUSCLES has remained sharp for a long time, even finishing up with good trot from the back last week (not usually his preferred style) – could be a real threat, especially after drawing well. (1) MASSIVE DESIRE hit the top for his new barn last week but saw his night ended when he made a break soon after – not really sure what to expect from him here, but would need a decent price to consider him on top. (8) WHEELZABLAZIN is hitting on all cylinders for his current connections, 2 for 2 since the claim with wins both off the pace, and on the front end – faces a tougher field here, but still deserves plenty of respect even from Post 8 (he looked a lot more appealing when he drew Post 2 for last week’s canceled card)! (7) TORRONE flew to the top and JOGGED at 19-1 two back, then worked out a pocket trip from Post 8 last week and was able to hold 2nd, even after the powerful winner drew off – if he can loop to the front, he can grab another share at another big price (won’t be easy though). (3) CHAPHEART lands in a tough spot returning from Plainridge, and may need to wait for a kinder spot to strut his best stuff. (3) RITSON has been good lately, but probably pushing it against this bunch

RACE 10 - (3) BEACON BEACH landed in the hottest barn on the East Coast right now for his 2026 Yonkers return and came out a winner – two in a row is hardly out of the question, though this is a well matched field. (1) MON AMOUR is very consistent at this level but a little light in the win column – he’ll be a big player for sure from this spot, but may also end up a bit overbet. (7) BELLISSIMO FACE S was scratched lame on 2/12 (after recently dropping down to 40s) and just re-qualified last week – he’s won 11 of 27 local starts, but would still be careful about taking too short a price from Post 7 after 5 months on the shelf. (5) WILLY WALTON hasn’t won in some time but he’s actually been pretty good lately, and definitely not a bad one if looking for a live longshot. (4) RADIO LAB steps up considerably off an excellent amateur victory last week – he’s a little hard to gauge at this level (2 awful posts from his 3 starts), but he’s a good value play if not in love with the favorites. (2) HAT TRICK MARLE AU HAT TRICK MARLEAU picked up 2nd off a great trip last week but faces a much tougher assignment tonight – minor share only. (6) SEVENSHADESOFGREY has made plenty of breaks blasting into the first turn so it was no surprise to see him do it again last week– more concerning is his 1 for 40 record over the last 2 years (8) SMOKING JET’s best recent work has come in amateur races (vs. cheaper) since being claimed for $25K back in May.

RACE 11 – (7) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK was scr. sick on 5/14 and wasn’t at his best just before that – he did just qualify back very nicely at PcD, and he’s won his fair share of races here in the past – if the tote board suggests he’s “live”, he may be worth a stab in the finale. (4) ALADDIN went a long time without winning a race but has now taken 2 straight, and picks up Mr. Gingras for tonight – chance for a threepeat. (1) BLACK HAWK JOE A has been grabbing his pieces every week but hasn’t been a real threat to WIN in a while…better value with others, on top. (3) SMOOTH LOU has been off his game but moves to a barn that can turn one around in a hurry, and a wake up call is not out of the question. (5) MR PROFETA was a solid 3rd last week (off the qualifier) and is eligible to contend for another decent chunk tonight. (8) J B GRAM was in a good groove before going on the shelf for 5 weeks – solid Monti qualifier, but a brutal draw for his first start back. (2) FRANCO NANDOR N just has way too many duds to consider here. (6) BROWER was easier to steer last week, but still no factor at all.