Thursday, October 8, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, October 8, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – NAADA Fall Series Leg #5: (1) BIG CHARLIE MORAN’s fate was sealed early on last week, stuck with an impossible trip from the start – his camera-shyness is well documented, but he does have a legitimate chance to come out on top tonight with the move all the way inside. (2) MEETMEATTHEBAR struggled to find any kind of form this year until finally displaying much better signs in her last 3 starts – has speed from a good post with a solid pilot, and the only real knock is that 7/5 ML price. (3) MAMY WATA moved wide around road trouble from the back to 3/4s last week and probably could have finished much closer with an inside route – at least an upset chance with smoother sailing tonight. (5) IMA STANDUP GUY flashed his usual early speed last week and even finished up a little better (for 2nd) – legitimate chance to outperform his 15-1 ML odds. (4) ALL TOO WELL landed on a hopeless trip last week and we’ll give him a pass – good one to include underneath in exotics. (6) MASSTER BLUE lagged in the back too long last to week to be any kind of threat but may find himself in a similar spot here. (7) BARN CREDIT had no offer off an easy inside trip in last and now draws Post 7. (8) BONTONI DEGATO S shows more lesser efforts than good ones lately, and draws outside after making a break trying to leave last week

RACE 2 - NAADA Fall Series Leg #5: (2) CALL OPTION changed hands before his last start and delivered a mega-blowout victory at Pocono for his owner/driver…pretty hard to go against him off that mile, even at what figures to be a miniscule price! (3) P C FREE WHEELING was used hard to make the lead last week and only gave way late…he’s been very consistent, and may be the one to complete a short exacta. (5) CERTIFY was a strong 2nd best last week, and has won 3 of 7 starts here this year – faces a bit of an uncertain trip tonight, but still a logical threat to land somewhere in the exotics. (4) KOUNTRY EXPRESS shows a couple of decent efforts with his owner/ driver out of town – an easy trip could see him rally late for a small piece. (1) WARRIOR ONE did keep trying last week to take home 3rd in a somewhat improved effort – he’s been well off his game for a long time, and we’ll see if he can build a bit off that last effort. (7) BACARDI landed in a beautiful spot last week and that helped him pick up a rare local victory– could definitely be vulnerable tonight starting from Post 7, however (6) MY SECRET ABILITY is sharp enough to have a say but landed on an impossible trip from a bad spot last week, and may face that same dilemma tonight.

RACE 3 – Good Race: (6) SPOOKY LOU struggled in Ohio much of the year but has recently found much better form – more importantly, he moves to a barn having a terrific year, and gets Bartlett for his local debut – could offer sone good value in a seemingly very competitive affair. (5) OVER THE HORIZON goes back to a barn where he’s enjoyed plenty of success, was Hollands’s choice (over #6) and looms a very serious threat tonight. (7) HAPPY HO UR BLISS has been thriving in 20s, for 2 different barns – moves to a another for tonight, and the bad draw will likely leave him forced to race from behind…something he’s shown he CAN do – wouldn’t dismiss too quickly, even from out here. (4) DOWN THE LINE had a big 15-1 wake up call when 2nd at 15-1 in his 2nd local start – have to at least consider for a piece off that strong effort. (1) AINT NOSTOPN TIME figures to be much more involved with the move inside, and deserves to be included underneath in your exotics. (3) CAPTAIN AWESOME has some mixed recent form, but that does include a pair of recent wins in this class – still leaning more towards others. (2) ONYX BOVINO has grabbed enough pieces to at least include for 3rd/4th on some tickets. (8) TRICKY CAPTAIN had some success with his owner driving in NJ and is undeniably sharp right now – he’s also moving up in class from Post 8, and just figures to have trouble getting into the mix tonight

RACE 4 – (3) JAS BLUESTONE took off the gate last week, looked hot early on then ran over a rival and made a break – just give him a pass for that and look for a quick rebound mile for his new connections (he’s won too many of these to NOT get a chance for redemption). (4) CHULO was handled conservatively in his first start off the layoff but rallied nicely to the wire to be 2nd – could be tighter tonight, and looms a very real threat. (1) WALKWHILEYO URTALKIN added hopples last week and gave it a good try on the front end before weakening to 3rd– Stratton sticks with him (over #3), and he can be a big player tonight, as well. (2) BO SILAS was the “pocket rocket” 22-1 upset winner 2 back, but not as sharp off a tougher trip last week – if he can find another easy journey tonight, he can be in the mix for a piece of this. (5) THE BRODSTER was surprisingly strong at the end when he won 2 back but reverted to his late-race struggles last week, falling apart in the end stages…goes for a new barn now and while he can definitely be part of the action, we’re still leaning towards others for the top slots. (6) P L OSCAR rallied nicely off an easy inside trip last week but may not land on such a kind journey tonight– may have to settle for minor spoils WINDSONG PIONEER usually does his best with easier but went a big front end try for 2nd at this level last week – may have trouble replicating that from Post 8, however. (7) RADIO LAB had been racing ok for a while but came up dull in his last, and gets a terrible draw for tonight.

RACE 5 – (5) SOUTHWIND IRON raced ok for 2nd two back, was a decent 5th in his last (dropping in for $20K and with a tough trip), and now drops a bit more to take on the 15s – we’ll give him the narrow nod. (2) ACAPULCO SUNSHINE has perked up with a pair of 2nds since Dube took over…no reason he should be a big player here too, with another inside draw. (1) SHAKE IT isn’t on his best game right now and it’s hard to ignore that he’s been either 1st or 2nd at Yonkers 35X over the past 2 years – have to respect his chances from the pole, but that 9/5 ML price is definitely a turn off. (4) GOTHIC ROCK tired badly after blasting from Post 8 last week but he usually sticks around much better than that, and isn’t a bad one to include for 3rd/4th. (3) FERRAGAMO HANOVER gets Kelly tonight and that may be enough to at least help him contend for a minor piece. (8) HES SPECIAL is sharper than he looks on paper right now…he also draws Post 8 and is 0 for 30 at Yonkers over the last 2 years – wait for a better spot. (7) BARBOSSA HANOVER outraced his 30-1 odds when 3rd two back but failed to build off that last week – Post 7 won’t help. (6) ALADDIN is off a bad date after having no say in his last couple.

RACE 6 – (2) DIPLOMACY was a question mark coming into his last, dropping in for a tag after some time off – he was handled conservatively but did have good trot finishing, and may be ready for a bigger effort tonight. (1) IM OUT came up flat last week but has otherwise been trotting some good miles recently – chance to be a real player if he can shrug off his last, and bounce right back. (7) BELLISSIMO FACE S has been a big player in this class week after week and last week’s victory was his sharpest mile in some time – have to respect his chances tonight, even from out here. (5) SMOKIN JET was disappointing 2 back but raced much better last week, from an impossible spot – not a bad bomb to include underneath. (4) MARIN COUNTY has upped his game recently, even picking up the 21-1 upset victory off a perfect trip last week – has to be considered for a piece in his current form. (6) B NICKING still looks strong on paper, but he definitely wasn’t as sharp the last 2 weeks as he has been… tonight’s tough draw could slow him down a bit more. (3) RITSON’s lone recent win came on the lead, vs. much easier – leaning towards others. (8) GLOBAL TWIST is the outsider, both literally and figuratively

RACE 7 – (1) THEFLYINGROCK is razor sharp, draws the pole in a very soft $30K claiming field and is going to be very hard to deny, at what figures to be an extremely short price. (2) YOROKOBI N will likely find himself fairly close to the front tonight, and that will give him a very good chance to complete a very short exacta. (5) PARK STR EET BLUES shipped in sharp from Tioga and was an excellent 2nd, despite almost a month off – he appears a little “cheap” on paper, but may be sharp enough right now to still grab a nice chunk of this. (3) KOMODO BLUES probably would have more success with some class relief but draws well enough to still have a chance for a decent piece tonight – likely to be overbet with that 5/2 ML price, however. (6) CAVIART SARGENT will sometimes sit back and rally at big odds, for pieces – not a bad one for 3rd/4th. (4) LINDY THE BRAVE landed on a dream trip vs. cheaper last week and still could find enough at the end to go by a very hard used winner…faces tougher now, and will need to be better. (7) TASTE OF HONEY just hasn’t been sharp in some time – Post 7 isn’t going to help. (8) DARKNSTORMY DEO left last week and made a break – guessing he’ll be pretty quiet tonight from the 8 hole

RACE 8 – (1) WARRAWEE YANG has been doing good work for a while – he was a close 4th vs. similar last week, and may be able to pull off a mild upset here if the trip goes his way. (6) KILDARE KING has been good every start since joining his current barn this summer – he was able to end HAPPY JACK B’s 5 race winning streak last week, and has a chance to come out on top yet again, even with the bad draw. (2) MISSISSIPPI STORM loved the class drop and lead last week and his $1.3M worth of class was on full display – faces a little tougher now, is looking at a bit more uncertain trip, but still worth using if the price is fair. (3) VANDY LANE hasn’t been a threat in his last few but it’s hard to say if he’s tailed a bit, or just been too far off the action – he should be closer tonight, and we’ll see if he can have a bigger late say. (8) MASSIVE DESIRE is a very nice trotter when he behaves but tonight’s draw may make things very tough for him, even if he can avoid any miscues. (4) AQUARIUS FACE S has developed a habit lately of losing interest for much of the mile, then kicking in strong at the end – that may not work in this very solid field. (7) YO SHELDON is very sharp but draws poorly, while up in class, and off a bad date – have to stick with others tonight. (5) BRONZER puts hopples back on but has been dull, and moves up in class

RACE 9 – (1) ROYAL COMET was handled conservatively moving up to NW30000 last week (after his HUGE effort to win the start before) but still had plenty of trot to be a close 4th – seems up for the more aggressive try he’ll likely get tonight. (2) FULL OF MUSCLES was also handled conservatively (in a different race) and just missed 2nd with a strong final 3/8ths – dangerous player from this spot. (8) SOUTHWIND COORS almost pulled off the upset in the Miecuna Trot 3 back but hasn’t been nearly the same in his last 2 starts – not saying he CAN’T find his best tonight and win from out here, but he’d need to be a pretty good price to be worth a bet. (6) ALWAYS A STORY clearly wasn’t serious last week racing off a sick scratch – she’s capable of a much better, and could add some value to the exotics with some trip luck. (4) HOT FLASH KIMMY brought her “A game” last week when right there 2nd behind the oft-winning PAYBACK MONI – she tends to be a little inconsistent this year, so we’ll see if she can be as sharp tonight. (5) CAMERA MAN continues to race well every start, even at these high levels – any decent trip gives him a chance to take home a piece. (7) UNCLE RAT raced with a broken headpole almost the entire way last week, and it’s hard to say how much it affected his performance (if at all) – brutal spot tonight, regardless. (3) MY MAN PETER wasn’t sharp in that qualifier and faces a very strong field tonight – prefer to just observe, for now

RACE 10 – (1) OLIVER THE GREAT got on a roll and was holding his own in then Invitational through the beginning of September – he returns after a couple of decent tries out of town (in good fields), and may be able to come out on top tonight after drawing the pole. (7) DEVILISH HILL qualified so sharply upon return from Sweden that he was sent off favored in the Miecuna Trot – he wasn’t nearly sharp enough that day, then came up a little short when 2nd off the class drop last week – he’ll have to improve even more if he hopes to be able to get it done from Post 7 tonight. (2) ARI FERRARI J has struggled to get back to “peak form” in 2026 and his last start (almost 4 weeks ago in the Miecuna) wasn’t sharp at all – we’ll see if some time off (and some class relief) can help his cause. (3) E PASS was handled very aggressively last time but repeatedly turned back by a sharp CAMERA MAN – ok for a piece in here. (4) DRIBBLING BI picked up a pair of good trip 2nds but wasn’t as effective last week from a tougher spot – an easy trip would help his chances for a good piece tonight. (5) LAFERRARIDMANCHE S steps up another peg off a pair of sharp first over scores vs. easier – may have trouble replicating that success vs. these, however. (6) ONAJET PLANE tired badly in the lane off a very aggressive (tough trip) 8 hole try last week – guessing he’ll take a much more conservative approach tonight. (8) BJMS LIL MAN picked up an overdue victory 2 back and can be forgiven for flattening a bit in the lane last week after being caught wide a long way – may just be coming from too far back to have any real say tonight

RACE 11 – (2) DWS DARLENE is a very solid player in this class, and may appreciate the move to this week’s new barn – gets a good draw, and we’ll give her the edge in the finale. (5) TWO BEAN DREAM has a pair of wins and sharp 2nd from her last 4 starts, with an 8 hole in the other – could be the main danger. (3) MILAGRO was an ok 3rd adding Lasix 2 back then did have some belated pace last week after being stuck in a bad spot – could grab a nic chunk with a better trip. (4) ONEDERFULBEACH is an ugly 0 for 28 this year but she’s very capable of grabbing pieces, especially at this $20K level - include underneath. (8) FIGHTING EVIL was used too hard early last week and gets a pass for tiring…but tonight’s draw could leave her with another tough journey! (1) TWO PISTOL ANNIE was overbet in her YR return and failed to fire – could be sharper tonight, but still leaning elsewhere. (6) BETTORS TICKET did win in this class 5 starts back but hasn’t come close to replicating that effort ever since. (7) ODDS ON SARA SARA was 15-0-0-0 at Yonkers before last week’s 3rd – might have given her more consideration tonight if not for the terrible draw.