Thursday, June 4, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, June 4, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – Very competitive opener: (3) WHY TOMORROW RAY was well backed with the better draw last week, but did get a little tired late after being used a bit harder than he’d probably prefer – license to make amends tonight with a bit easier trip. (5) ALADDIN has come up 2nd best in 3 straight, just missing in his last pair – would be no surprise to see him get over the hump tonight IF the right trip comes his way. (2) GOTHIC ROCK still has just one win this year (after winning just once LAST year) but he’s become a reliable player in this class and the good draw puts him in play for another nice piece. (7) DELIGHTFUL TERROR felt like he was getting closer to his first win of the season and did cash in last week off a very nice trip – he MAY be able to repeat, but will need a lot to go his way starting from out here. (6) SARANAC BLUE CHIP was a winner the only time in the last 4 starts that he didn’t have to face the never-losing SHINE A LIGHT – tonight’s draw could leave him with a tough journey, however. (1) DEEDENUTO A flashed some better signs the last 2 weeks and will make his presence felt from the pole – maybe 3rd/4th? (8) VEGAS STRIP N has been a (very) rare import “bust” for these normally very successful connections – the drop in for $15K helps, but Post 8 does not! (4) SMOOTH LOU has been stuck in “clunker mode” for 3 weeks

RACE 2 – (4) SUNDAY SHOES broke before the start here on 4/17 but his 3 other local starts produced a pair of wins, and a close 2nd to the currently very sharp NYMERIA – returns from Pocono to a spot that should be right in his wheelhouse. (5) WILLY WALTON is a streaky sort and the 12YO has definitely been consistently solid lately – he’s still looking for his first win of the season, and he may just be a good trip away from finally getting it. (3) CA LDERONE only earned $17K in 30 starts last year then failed to get a check in either of his first 2 starts of 2026 (in the Midwest)…but he totally transformed upon joining his current barn, picking up 4 wins, a 2nd and two 3rds from his last 7 starts (in NJ) – not sure how he fits class-wise with the local 40s, but he’s surely sharp enough to be a real threat. (1) STACKING GREEN was an ok 4th in her local debut, won her next (helped by a perfect trip) but came up awful last week – can be in the mix IF she rebounds to her better form. (2) FOR A DREAMER is rarely a threat to win but the inside draw gives him a chance for a minor share. (7) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS is good right now and would have been listed higher if not for Post 7. (6) HOOLIE N HECTOR probably needs a better draw, in an easier field, to show his best. (8) BULLY BOY HILL faces an uphill battle trying to get in play from all the way out here

RACE 3 – (5) TH SANDRA DEE wasn’t as sharp vs. the tougher 25s last week but she drops back down to the level she handled easily 2 back (at 3/5), and looms the one to beat tonight. (1) SUNBURNT had some sneaky pace 2 back then built off that with a very good 2nd last week– she’s just 1 for 36 at Yonkers over the last 2 seasons, but still very playable underneath. (7) SHEIKH YABOOTY N won her 2nd start off a long layoff earlier this year but hasn’t visited the photographer since then – she does grab her share of pieces, though, and isn’t a bad bomb for the bottom of exotics. (4) CANNERY ROW is 0 for ever at Yonkers (and 16-0-02 this year) but she does finish with pace at times, and is another ok bomb to throw in underneath. (2) LONELY GHOST throws a good one every few starts but fails to deliver way too often – would need a BIG price to consider. (3) STONECOLD GIRL won 5 races by mid March but hasn’t been better than 4th since then – still trying to get back on her game (6) FORTUNADA has leveled off after a brief form spree not too long ago – tonight’s draw doesn’t help. (8) RACIN FOR ROYALTY is usually very solid when she’s inside but has struggled from these outside spots most of the time.

RACE 4 – (2) SKY BOX is light in the win column this year but he did kick home very alertly from a terrible spot last week, his barn has been on a scary roll and he’ll definitely be a decent price – possible upsetter in a race with a few strong contenders. (1) MON AMOUR dropped back down to his preferred $40K level last week and picked up a 2nd behind the very impressive MASSIVE DESIRE – deserves plenty of respect from the pole. (3) WARRAWEE WHISPER recently started to hit on all cylinders again, and picked up 3 straight (dominant) wins before coming up a little disappointing last week (when 3rd) – goes for another new barn tonight and becomes VERY dangerous if he gets back to his best game. (5) KAYS IN CHARGE has been good ever since joining our leading barn this year but drops in for a tag after a (rare) disappointing try in her last, and that could be a red flag. (7) P C FREE WHEELING gets the worst of the draw in a good field and that will likely leave him trying to grab a small slice. (6) WHEELZAB LAZIN sharpened suddenly for a month and a half then went the other way 3 back, and hasn’t looked good since. (4) SONGS IN THE WIND seems ambitiously placed for his Hilltop debut

RACE 5 – (7) SIR PINNOCHIO faced a tough assignment as he made his first start since December in the Maxie Lee Trot, and was forced to a :26.1 opening panel – he didn’t tire all that badly (all things considered) and should be plenty tight for tonight – the newly minted millionaire is the one to beat, even from Post 7. (3) ASTEROID bounced back from that miscue here 2 back to pick up a win at Chester last week – might be a spot where he can work out a good trip, and take home a nice piece. (4) GREEN PASTURES is still prone to miscues but he also has a ton of talent, which was fully on display last week – Zeron fills in for Bartlett tonight, and he can make some late noise with this guy if he can get him away trotting. (6) SOUTHWIND COORS hit board in 4 of his 5 starts this year but was all out to hang on in the lone victory – could be a little vulnerable from this spot. (1) MISSISSIPPI STORM lost interest at the back last week but he’s right back in the box, draws the pole, and is more than eligible to rebound with a much better effort. (5) BLACKHAWK ZETTE is on his game right now, but faces an uncertain trip from this spot. (2) BJ MS LIL MAN (+Lasix tonight) has plenty of ability but is way up in class, and still a work in progress

RACE 6 – (5) PAYBACK MONI raced from well off the pace in her last after back to back dominant wins and could only manage a close 4th – she’s in a much better spot here, so look for Yannick to be aggressive again…making her the one to beat. (4) GLUTES HANOVER wasn’t at her absolute best last week but was still a close 2nd (behind #6) – she’s 10-3-4-2 here at Yonkers, and figures to have another bi say tonight. (6) ALWAYS A STORY picked up a pair of 2nds in her first 2 tries at this top level then turned in a big one to get her picture taken last week – the draw could be an obstacle tonight but she’s way too sharp to ignore, especially for her white-hot barn. (7) NYMERIA used a perfect trip to score the 24-1 upset 2 back but landed on a horrible journey in her last, and can be forgiven for tiring – chance to rally for a share with some live cover. (2) R LADY W is a talented 4YO but she’s taking a BIG step up tonight and will have to prove that she can hang with these tough, seasoned mares. (1) LAFERRARIDMANCHE S is a notch below these, but has a chance for a minor share with an easy trip (like last week). (3) MA ISABELLE will look to save ground and pick up some minor spoils. (8) HIGHLANDSTARBURST is a talented 4YO, but really should have been allowed to draw for an inside post.

RACE 7 – Wide open: (4) ITALIAN LAD N hasn’t won in a while but he’s been a very solid player at this $25K level, beaten by some very sharp horses in several of his starts – one of many who could take this, depending on how the race plays out. (1) C BET HANOVER just missed in his last two tries at this level and debuts for an owner/trainer/driver trio that have done excellent work together, especially off the claim – belongs on your tickets. (3) LOUS BEACH came up a little short last week trying to make the jump from 20s to 25s – been too sharp for too long to take lightly. (7) CURLY JAMES A beat the 75s not long ago but he’s clearly not in that kind of form right now – he draws poorly again, but he could perk up one of these weeks and do some damage. (5) BOILING OAR takes another class drop and it’s hard to say if it’ll be enough to make him a bigger threat – that 10-1 ML price does give him some appeal. (2) EVER M has been having a terrific year but he’s struggled in his last 3, since the claim (vs. 30s) – we’ll see if the drop back to 25s helps him perk up. (6) CENTURY INSPECTOR was used hard in his first local try of the season and was able to somehow hang on, despite a :30.3 final quarter – he exits our top barn, draws poorly, and could be a bit vulnerable here. (8) SIMPLY FAST has been terrific for weeks but he exits 3 of our top barns, moves up to 25s, and lands all the way outside.

RACE 8 – (5) DRIBBLING BI has been struggling to get back to last year’s top form but last week’s effort in PA may signal a step in the right direction – decent value play tonight in a race with no standouts. (8) CANTSTOP YAN KEE has 2 recent wins at this level, one of them from Post 8 (at 36-1) – Bongiorno is never afraid to give one a chance, and there’s nothing wrong with using this guy, at what figures to be a pretty good price. (2) ZENMEISTER S tired after cutting the mile in the Invitational last start but rallied nicely for 2nd in this class the start before (behind #8) – very logical player from this spot, but also figures to be overbet. (7) HIGH SPEED SWAN has never been worse than 4th in 8 local starts (8-2-2-2), and was a front end winner last week– hard to predict his trip from out here, but he becomes very dangerous with any racing luck. (3) EXQUISITE TASTE seemed off her best for a couple of starts but was sharp again last week, finishing just behind #7 – would be no surprise at all. (1) FRANK LEAHY lands in a tough spot for his local debut, but the rail may at least help him contend for a small share. (6) B NICKING is very good right now, but faces tougher tonight and from a bad post. (4) VANDY LANE stayed trotting last time and trotted right on by a much softer field – may find this bunch a bit tougher than he’d like.

RACE 9 – (1) OVERTHINKING has been more than holding his own vs. the 40s and now drops down to the level he beat 2 of 3 starts not too long ago – tough here at a very short price. (2) WALKINSHAW N gets post relief, and may be able to have a bigger impact tonight. (3) HEAVEN ON HIGH N has been consistent lately, gets another good draw and should have a good chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (4) RYDINGTOTHEWIRE dropped in for a tag last week, cut the mile and folded badly – we’ll see if his new barn has any better luck tonight. (8) DELIGHTFUL DUDE N took back to last from Post 8 last week and may be looking at a similar fate tonight – he’ll be a good price if you think Kelly might send him. (7) RAYRAY has 5 thirds from his last 6 starts but the draw figures to slow him down tonight. (5) CAPTAIN BATBOY has improved since changing barns recently but this spot may be a little tough for him. (6) THONG CONTROL seems better in 25s, and the draw doesn’t help either.