Thursday, November 12, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, November 12, 2026 – Race Analysis

With plenty of bad weather forecast to be in the area throughout the day, look for any track bias that may develop over a potentially soggy track!

RACE 1 – NAADA Fall Series Leg #10: (4) P C FREE WHEELING made an uncharacteristic miscue before the start last week, sealing her fate– she had been on long form spree just prior to that, however, and will be a dangerous player tonight if she can shrug off last week’s break. (1) CERTIFY has thrived here at Yonkers this year, his record at 8-3-2-0…he’ll surely be using his speed from the pole, and looms a major threat. (8) BONTONI DEGATO S is listed at 15-1 ML but he was a blowout winner last week, following a sharp overnight try the week before - couldn’t blame anybody looking to try him on top, as long as the price is juicy. (5) MASSTER BLUE ships in off a win in NJ and also beat an Amateur field at Pocono on 9/19 – another that could offer some value in the opener. (3) CAL MIL ES N SHELL has been plagued by inconsistency all year long but any of his better efforts would at least put him in the hunt for a piece. (2) RICO TUBBS had a couple of good starts here in August but then fell off form– he bounced back with a solid PcD try on 10/13 but then made a break the next start…not sure what we’ll get from him tonight. (7) LOVE THIS BAR picked up a dull 3rd last week but failed to hit board in his 7 other local starts this year (6) MY SECRET ABILITY gets a tough draw off a pair of dull efforts

RACE 2 – (4) SHINE A LIGHT had found his top form again recently but was derailed last week when parked out from Post 8 – goes back to one of his favorite barns, moves inside, and will have every chance to make amends for last week! (3) MAD RIVER was brutally parked from the 8 hole in his local debut then lacked room in the stretch in last week’s hot mile – very logical threat here, but note that he’s just 1 for 22 this year (and 1 for 13 at YR). (6) SPO OKY LOU got too hot on the lead in 20s last week and now drops to 15s (below the level of the recent claim)– some red flags for sure, but at least playable in exotics with that 8-1 ML price. (2) CHESTERMAN finally turned in a good local try last week, a no-threat pocket 2nd behind the standout frontrunner – chance for a piece here too. (1) FU LL SUPPORT is rarely a threat for the top spot, but he’s pretty good at taking home smaller pieces. (5) DIVINE CO SMO ships in sharp from Monti but he’s done that in the past, and failed to replicate that form here at Yonkers – we’ll see if he can do better this time. (7) SHAKE IT looks ok “on paper” but he’s been well below the excellent form he displayed for much of the past 2 seasons – won’t be easy for him to overcome tonight’s draw. (8) LEAVE IT TO LUTHER was too far back to threaten in his local debut and likely to face that same dilemma tonight.

RACE 3 – (1) BOILING OAR has been somewhat camera shy the last couple of years but can be forgiven for recently coming up 2nd best 3 straight weeks to a razor sharp MISSED THE TRUTH A – give him a pass for that last 8 hole mile and look for a big effort from the pole tonight. (2) ALIEN POWER has taken 3 of his last 4, a tough 7 hole trip in the other – remains ever-dangerous with another inside draw. (3) AMERITRIC improved a bit 2 back and was well meant in his last – Holland stays on board, and he’s worth a look if the price is fair. (5) SHIPMASTER used a perfect trip to pick up that win 2 back, then was an ok 5th last week – not a fan of that 3-1 ML price but he does have a shot at a good piece if the trip goes his way. (6) POP IT wasn’t nearly as sharp off the claim last week, seeming disinterested too much of the way – he could be better tonight, but will have to overcome a tough draw either way. (7) LINDY THE BRAVE struggled from bad posts in his last pair and faces the same scenario here. (8) ALTA CLASSIC A rebounded with a much better try (at a big price) in his last but draws Post 8 off a bad date, and Holland opts for #3 (4) TWIN B POWERBALL drops in for a tag off a bad date, after finishing last 3 weeks straight

RACE 4 – (6) STACKING GREEN somehow managed to pick up 8 wins (and over $116K) this year at Yonkers without being claimed but she finally was taken from her last – no reason to think she can’t continue to excel for her new connections! (4) BANG BANG BOOGIE was well meant and hard used in his 2nd local try and can be forgiven for tiring a bit in the latter stages – he’s listed at 12-1 ML, but may be able to be part of the equation tonight, as well. (8) THE BRODSTER is a frequent winner in this class, even if he doesn’t always look “pretty” doing it – he may not land on the same perfect trip that led to last week’s easy score, but he’s still a very real threat, even from out here (2) CHULO was a solid 2nd in his first start off the layoff, 3rd in his next, tired to 5th after cutting the mile the next start then broke before the start in his last – it feels like he’s gone the wrong way, but maybe we’ll have a clearer picture after tonight. (3) CLASSICAL JANE just threw a dud last time but won twice in this class not too long ago – could rebound tonight, but no value with that 5/2 ML listing. (1) FIFTYSHADESOFBLU ships in for a barn that used to race here, but hasn’t been seen locally in a very long time – seems a bit cheap, but probably shouldn’t be dismissed too quickly. (7) YALL JUST LOVE ME has been sharp out of town vs. much cheaper – prefer to just watch, for now. (5) KASHA V’s best efforts generally come vs. easier

RACE 5 – (2) CATCHING UP took a little while to get in gear in both local tries but kicked home strong each time (pair of 3rd) – may be able to beat this bunch with a live trip. (4) DARKNSTORMY DEO was loaded with pace in the lane last week but with no room to stretch his legs – he can be quite inconsistent, but any of his “good” efforts could make him a player here. (1) MOOD CONTROL ships in showing a bunch of solid recent tries out of town, even if vs. cheaper – have to believe he can at least have a say here too, starting from the pole. (6) SOUTHWIND IR ON certainly was enjoying life in 15s, winning 3 of 4 starts (while just missing in the other) – he steps up to 20s off the claim, and we’ll see if he can be just as successful vs. these tougher ones. (7) PARK STREET BLUES kept grinding into a quick clip last week, did collar the tiring leader into the stretch but was no match for the fresher closers – may have trouble finding a manageable spot from out here, though. (3) WINNINGMACHINE is 0 for 9 at YR, facing easier than these – he’s often in the hunt, but he’ll face tougher now, and off a sick scratch. (5) COLD BEER CALLING would seem badly overmatched for another new trainer debuting on the local scene. (8) FORZA seems to need to be close to the action to be a player – hard to see that happening from out here.

RACE 6 – (6) DRIBBLING BI crushed softer 2 back then used a perfect pocket trip to step up and win last week’s Open – he did a lot of damage when he got really sharp last year…maybe he’s approaching that form right now? (8) SIR PINOCCHIO brought a 2 race winning streak into his last but couldn’t hold #6 to his inside nearing the wire – he has the speed to loop from Post 8, and is worth using IF the price is decent enough. (5) HOT FLASH KIMMY lost interest at the back 3 starts down but other than that has been remarkably consistent – a quick start (and good trip) puts her in the hunt for a nice chunk of this. (7) PAYBACK MONI wins a huge % of her FM Open starts but can battle the boys effectively as well – tonight’s draw does leave her looking at a somewhat uncertain trip, though. (3) CAMERA MAN has missed 3 weeks and steps up to the Open – he’s had an excellent 4YO campaign, and may be able to take home a small piece here. (4) SCUDO HANOVER was always more of a sluggish closer but he recently discovered gate speed at Pocono and brings an impressive 4 race winning streak back here to Yonkers – curious to see if he’s ready to hold his own with these tough ones now. (1) LUCKY MUM N has been holding form beautifully for a while, but this spot may be a little too tough. (2) MISSISSIPPI STORM is still banging heads (and earning $$) at age 11, but his BEST work probably comes vs. a bit easier these days

RACE 7 – (3) BREEZY HALL was recently on a nice tear at Pocono, going from beating 15s, to beating 20s, to beating 40s – no threat in his last pair (in good fields) but drops back in for a tag upon arrival at Yonkers, adds Lasix, and may be worth a try tonight. (5) DIPLOMACY added Lasix himself last week, was very well backed and easily delivered the front end score – legitimate chance to repeat. (2) SEA CAN took home small pieces in his last pair, and the inside draw could help him do the same tonight. (4) SHES SPICY was well backed here on 10/29 (off the barn change) but was offstride before the start – she put in a pretty nice recovery, re-qualified in PA, and looms the “x factor” for tonight. (1) WILLY WALTON weakened off a pocket trip last week but is capable of better – willing to include on the bottom of exotics. (8) GLOBAL TWIST put in a big effort last week, and would have been even closer at the end had he been able to cross over to the lead on the final bend – not a bad bomb to include underneath, even from out here. (6) IM OUT has gone plenty of miles at this level that would make him a big player here but he turned in a clunker last week, and draws poorly for tonight. (7) DONT ASK FOR MORE was well backed in his only local try but tired after cutting the mile – tough spot tonight, returning from Stga.

RACE 8 – (7) MIND HUNTER had Post 8, up in class, off losses last week but was still well backed, and was a dominant front end winner – worth staying on board, as long as the price remains fair. (4) SILKY CHOICE started to come back around recently and that last start was better than it may look on paper – could add some value here. (1) TYPHOON BANNER N will take plenty of $$ from this spot but note that he’s burned plenty of $$ so far this year – he’s going to put it all together and come up with a winning effort one of these night and it MAY even be tonight…but it’s hard to keep taking short prices (on top) with him. (5) PEACE OUT POSSE has been mostly “meh” lately but he moves to a barn that can pick one up in a hurry, and he certainly has some appeal with that 15-1 ML price. (2) SAILBOAT HANOVER would probably look better in for $20K but he’s a classy veteran, and a good trip could put him close at the end. (3) NEVADA VACATION ships in sharp from Monti but it’s tough to gauge just how well he’ll fit at this level – suppose we’ll have a better idea after tonight! (6) C BET HANOVER is an infrequent winner, but can rally for pieces (at nice prices) when things go his way. (8) CAPTAIN AWESOME usually needs to be much closer to the action to be a serious player

RACE 9 – (2) ROYAL COMET gave it all he had the last couple of starts but still came up 2nd best each time to the razor sharp KILDARE KING – he avoids that foe tonight, and that stamps HIM as the one to beat! (3) SEVEN LAY ER can be a little in and out but he’s a solid trotter when on his game – he was a crisp rallying 2nd last week, and a similar try could land him another big piece tonight. (6) MASSIVE DESIRE has gone some big miles this year but has been plagued by the occasional miscue all season long – tonight’s draw won’t help his cause, but he’s still a good value horse to consider. (5) E PASS was a big “go” from Post 7 last week and gave it a good try before coming up a little short at the end – use underneath. (8) OLIVER THE GREAT was hurt by other leavers last week, ended up with a less than stellar trip but still raced well for 3rd – he’s more than sharp enough to grab a piece even from out here, if some trip luck comes his way. (4) PEDAL ON METAL returned from a layoff in a new barn (with hopples) and has been holding form beautifully in his ascent up the class ladder – may be sharp enough right now to even grab a nice slice vs. these. (1) DEELAYED HANOVER is a very classy veteran with a good local history – he also seems to have lost a few miles on his fastball at age 8, and may find tonight’s spot a little tougher than he’d prefer. (7) KEG STAND returns off the layoff with a terrible draw, and has been having a tough 2026 campaign – prefer to just observe tonight

RACE 10 – (6) TRICKY CAPTAIN N has won 3 of 6 local starts and gone a couple of BIG miles (including last week) – gets a tough draw off the claim but he doesn’t need the lead to win, and we’ll give him top billing tonight. (3) GREAT BET ships in razor sharp for a Monticello trainer winning at nearly 30% upstate – he’s currently 35-12-10-3 on the year, and deserves plenty of respect in his local debut! (8) COACH CUTSINGER was a sharp front end winner 2 back then raced big again last week, coming up 2nd best to #6 – he’ll be a good price (because of the draw), and not a bad one to consider. (5) TAKE A CLOSER LOOK isn’t on his best game right now, but he’s racing well enough to use his speed and maybe last for a minor share. (1) FOXHUNT wasn’t “good” last week but at least he functioned – maybe he can build off that and contend for another small share? (2) MINOTAUR draws well but doesn’t have much else going for him right now. (7) WELL THATS MARKY has struggled since the most recent claim – he races without Lasix tonight, so we’ll see if that helps at all. (4) SHUFFLE UP HANOVER 34-0-1-2 locally over the last 3 seasons.