Thursday, September 3, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Thursday, September 3, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (2) MIND HUNTER tried to step up to 40s off the claim last week but ended up parked from Post 7 and gets a complete pass – drops back to 30s, moves back inside, and we’ll try him on top…even if Bartlett opts to drive (4) SAMHARA N tonight. The latter has suddenly become popular at the claim box, despite being notoriously camera shy the past couple of years – he’s undeniably sharp right now, and deserves plenty of respect for his new crew. (3) OURMATEMENKO N had no chance from Post 7 last week but dropping below the level of the recent claim did set off a couple of red flags – we’ll see how he does tonight with the better draw. (7) REGAL IDEA arrives from Ohio in outstanding form – hard to know for sure how he’ll fit with the locals, but he’d be worth a look as long as the price is good enough. (1) EVER M has 9 wins this year and moves back inside after trailing from Post 8 last week – still leaning more to a couple of others, but he’d surely be no surprise from this spot. (5) YOROKOBI N is sharper than he may look on paper, but his racing style leaves him picking up far more smaller pieces than wins – still a good one to include underneath. (8) C BET HANOVER is solid this level but likely done in by the draw. (6) RAWTN TALE failed to beat single rival in either local try

RACE 2 – (1) BLOCKCHAIN just never got in gear last week but it’s possible that he may not have been a fan of the off-going – he has several recent efforts that would make him a big threat from this spot, and we’ll see if he can bounce right back tonight. (6) TAIPAN AS won his first 2 local tries (vs. easier) but broke in a good spot in his next – finished with good trot from an impossible spot last week, and may be able to pull off an upset here if Kelly tries to be more aggressive at the start. (3) EXQUISITE TASTE is having a strong season, finishing 1st or 2nd in 10 of her 22 local starts – legitimate threat with the right trip. (4) VANDY LANE was handled conservatively last week and may have had more trot in the lane than he was able to show – can contend for a good piece with a live trip. (5) CO MMODUS A benefited from a beautiful trip in that win 2 back, then squandered a 2nd over trip last week (in this class) – could be vulnerable at a short price tonight. (2) E PASS will appreciate the move inside but may be better suited for a bit easier. (7) LUCKY MUM N has seen her game pick up lately but faces a tall task up in class from Post 7. (8) VINNY DE VIE would surely be a surprise in this spot

RACE 3 – (1) SETH HANOVER was racing well when claimed for $20K on 3/18 but was scratched sick from his next and just re-qualified at Pocono – drops in for $15K off the layoff, gets Bartlett to take him over a few others and the guess is that he’ll be ready to roll right off the bench (in this overall blank field). (3) GOTHIC ROCK tends to come up short when it matters most but he collects plenty of good pieces and can do the same tonight (5) SHAKE IT dropped to 20s \immediately after being claimed for $25K three back and tired after cutting the mile in back to back starts – maybe tonight’s drop to 15s can help him stay around longer? (8) SHINE A LIGHT went months without losing a race earlier in the year but now has just one win from his last 5 starts, and it wasn’t “pretty” – remains vulnerable, especially from out here. (2) CAMOUFLAGE MONEY draws well enough for a piece, but will need to be much better to contend for a top slot. (4) SQUADRON SEELSTER is another with a chance for minor spoils, thanks to the draw. (7) HES SPECIAL is 0 for 26 at YR over the last 2 seasons, and camera shy overall, as well – tough spot! (6) FERRAGAMO HANOVER is now 14-0-0-1 at Yonkers over the last 3 seasons

RACE 4 – (4) ASTEROID rarely goes a bad effort, handles any trip, and is usually a good price in the Invitational – should offer decent value in what could be an interesting race. (3) PAYBACK MONI landed on a tough trip in her first start off a 2 month layoff and still just missed – she doesn’t usually take on the boys, but she’s talented enough to still be a big threat (and her barn hasn’t missed a beat with “little brother” now in charge, finishing 1st or 2nd with nearly 50% of their starters since the switch). (6) SIR PINOCCHIO hasn’t been his best self this year, and took 9 starts before he picked up his first win of 2026 – still once to fear, but has also been vulnerable all season long. (2) OLIVER THE GREAT is in career form right now – an easy trip could see him rally for a piece of this. (5) MY DEG ENERATE won by slight noses 2 and 3 back then was a close 3rd in his last – he’s thrived here at Yonkers, but this is a tougher spot. (1) UNCLE RAT is 3 for 3 since arriving on the local scene, handling the class jumps with relative ease – we’ll see if tonight’s even bigger jump finally slows him down a bit

RACE 5 – (1) BIG CITY DAISY throws her share of duds but also throws efforts that would make her very dangerous from this spot – not a bad week to look her way. (5) BETTORS TICKET was well backed dropping in for the $20K tag last week and delivered a victory– hard to leave her off your tickets tonight. (6) ONEDERFULBEACH is hard to “love” on top (she’s 0 for 24 this year) but she’s held her own with better plenty of times, and hit board both start after recently dropping to 20s – possible here, with some trip luck. (7) YOUNONOTHINJON returned to her favorite barn last week and was charging late between horses – will need a lot of trip luck from out here, but still worth a look with that 20-1 ML listing. (4) JIVE DANCING A gets a new barn and driver for tonight but she’s hard to endorse with that 3-1 ML price considering she’s barely been functioning for weeks. (8) RACIN FOR ROYALTY is solid in 20s but figures to be coming from too far back for more than a small slice tonight. (3) MILAGRO seems a bit below the main players. (2) DOCS LOVE is trying to find her game after a long layoff

RACE 6 – (1) STACKING GREEN has been on a long form spree and draws the pole after winning from a similar spot (at 4/5) last week – she does face a few legitimate players tonight, but still deserves top billing. (3) SUNDAY SHOES broke when claimed on 7/30 then took some time off before requalifying (in a blowout) at Pocono last week – could easily be the main danger if he brings his best effort! (2) THE BRODSTER had a much tougher trip than the top choice last week (2 moves from Post 8) and paid for it late – could be a bigger threat starting right alongside of her tonight. (4) KAYS IN CHARGE does her best work with an easy trip and she may grab a nice one tonight – prefer the top ones a bit more, but she’d hardly be a surprise. (6) THEOBALD seems to be back on track for his current barn but will have to overcome a bad draw, with multiple live players to his inside. (5) HAT TRICK MARL EAU will look to save ground and take home some minor spoils (8) JESSES DOLL benefited from a ground saving trip last week but was still very good – hard to see a way for her into the hunt tonight, however. (7) SONGS IN THE WIND broke 2 back, then retreated in her last – the outsider, both literally and figuratively

RACE 7 – (2) B NICKING endured brutal/impossible 8 hole trips the last 2 weeks and still picked up a pair of 4ths – he would likely have won 3 back if not for an untimely miscue, and finished full of trot the start before that – he’s way overdue for some better luck! (1) BELLISSIMO FACE S got beat (to #4) with no excuses 2 back and while he was extremely overbet in his last, he did win handily – legitimate threat to take another, but also likely to be overbet once again. (3) PORTOBAROSSO AS NL broke in his last 2 local tries and exits a couple of very sharp barns – he also lands in a barn that’s as hot as ever, and has a history of improving horses wherever they come from…have to respect off that qualifier (behind the talented GLUTES HANOVER). (4) RADIO LAB pulled off a 13-1 upset when he collared #1 two back, then finished alertly from an impossible spot last week – belongs in your exotics. (7) CLAS SICAL JANE has been stuck racing from the back in her last 3 starts and figures to be stuck in that same spot here – small piece? (5) ALL TOO WELL has been ok across the river but takes on much tougher back here at Yonkers. (6) BOOGIE ON THE BAR seems ambitiously placed based on her out of town lines. (8) BONTONI DEGATO S would be a major surprise from this spot

RACE 8 – (2) FRANK LEAHY popped out of the pocket two back, took over and was a strong to the wire to seal the deal – he was in a tough spot turning for home last week, but still charged home full of trot for 2nd behind a winner that’s won 3 straight…may be sharp enough right now to get back to the winner’s circle in this well matched field. (1) WHEELZABLAZIN was too far back (vs. tougher) last week but he was a winner the start before that, and also beat this class on 7/9– dangerous from this spot if things set up in his favor (5) ALWAYS A STORY has enjoyed a terrific season so it’s a bit of surprise to see her dropping for a tag, especially after a rare miscue in her last – red flag? (4) KILDARE KING was too far back to have any say last week but had been doing excellent work just prior to that – becomes a player again with the move inside. (6) ONAJETPLANE has been a solid weekly performer but he’s still seeking his first victory of the season, and tonight’s draw isn’t going to help. (3) AQUARIUS FACE S moved up to this class last week and did finish with trot in traffic at the back – could see him picking up a piece with an easy trip. (8) VOGUISH improved by leaps and bounds to pull off last week’s 46-1 form-reversing shocker – brutal spot tonight, though. (7) HAND DOVER DAN was very good last start, but from a much kinder spot

RACE 9 – (5) MUSIC HALL benefited from a nice drive (and trip) in last week’s victory but he was also very sharp – maybe he can take another vs. a group where most of the main players have question marks. (3) BRUTALLYHAN DSOME A has been better off the car for Vinny G. the last 2 weeks– moves inside, and seems like a legitimate threat vs. this bunch. (4) SHIPMASTER rallied for 3rd last week but would have jogged off that trip if “sharp” – could end up overbet tonight. (1) HAPPY HOUR BLUES lands in a top barn and draws the pole for his YR debut but while he’s looked sharp at The Meadows, he was likely facing cheaper and hasn’t WON in a while – would need to be a good price to try on top. (2) ALIEN POWER would be hard to consider off his Stga. lines but he moves to a barn that has won with horses looking much worse than this guy, giving him at least a chance in here. (8) CHURCH VIEWFRANKL IR fits for sure, but will probably be coming from too far back to be a serious threat. Both (6) BET ON BIG JOE and (7) INTIMIDATION are both really struggling right now.