Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, August 11, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – Italian/American Amateur Challenge: (4) ALADDIN disappointed off the claim last week but was quickly taken back by the connections he had been thriving for – driver Otello Zorzetto is actually very experienced, and has been 1st or 2nd 450X in his career…good value play in tonight’s opener. (3) LAST BEACH is solid in this class, and should get away to a good spot on/near the lead – could have a big say here. (5) DECISION DAY is the deserving ML favorite after winning his last pair, and his driver picked up a win and a 2nd from 3 starts when last seen here back in 2022 – on the flip side, he’s always slow early on, and could face a tough trip as a result! (6) HES SPECIAL has a pair of recent 2nd place finishes and was “sneaky ok” from a terrible spot in his last – he hasn’t won here since 2024, but still worth a look at what figures to be a pretty juicy price. (1) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES drops back down to 15s and draws the pole, but he’s hard to endorse after folding so badly last week off the claim. (7) ITS MAHOMES A is as camera shy as they come but a quick start would give him a chance at some minor spoils. (2) SONO CONFUSO was sent off at 35-1 for his first local start of the year and offered little. (8) ROCKET FREIGHT can throw a good one at times, but figures to be severely hampered by the draw.

RACE 2 – Italian/American Amateur Challenge: (3) IM OUT turned his best effort last week since those back to back front end blowouts 6 and 7 starts back – he faces easier in here, and anything close to that last mile will make him a very tough customer! (2) SOUTH WIND BANSHEE recently returned from a long layoff and should be pretty tight with three starts under her belt – she’s used to facing tougher, and should be a solid player tonight. (7) CACTUSTOTHECLOUDS isn’t on his best game right now but he has the speed to get himself in play (even from Post 7), and could stick around for a piece of the pie. (1) BO SILAS has been able to stay trotting since recently adding hopples but just hasn’t been sharp – goes for a new barn tonight, draws the pole, and we’ll see if that helps him find a better effort. (4) SIX AND STONES had a big form-reversing effort when 3rd last week, but he just hasn’t been able to have any consistency this year – not sure what to expect from him tonight. (5) BONTONI DEGATO S has been camera shy the past 2 years – maybe a minor share? (6) BE DIFFERENT has struggled all through 2026 – tonight’s draw isn’t going to help! (8) WARRI OR ONE is way off form and draws Post 8 after being scratched from his last – sticking with others

RACE 3 – (7) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT has now taken 3 straight and clearly hitting on all cylinders– she was reclaimed by the barn she just won twice for and we’ll look for her to keep the streak alive…even in this solid field (3) SPIRIT OF PEARL A is very sharp herself, and goes back to the barn for whom she just picked up a win and a 2nd – maybe she can pull off a mild upset? (8) BOUT DAMN TIME A is another mare in raging form, with blowout wins in 2 of her last 4 starts – some racing luck will be needed to overcome Post 8, however. (4) GINGER TREE LIZ didn’t start off her 2026 campaign until May and has been sharpening in PA – arrives sharp for her first YR start of the year, but lands in a brutally tough spot! (6) BIG CITY DAISY has her moments when things go her way but the bad draw figures to really hurt her chances against the razor sharp top trio. (5) PINE BUSH MAGA is winless on the year but did hit board in half of her starts – ok bomb for the bottom of exotics. (2) JIVE DANCING A is struggling, to say the least. (1) MILAGO is winless on the year and returns off a “distanced’ line – not sure the rail will help

RACE 4 – (6) RAGNAR LOTHBROK N has come up 2nd best 4 straight times, the last 3 behind MOOMSHINER N – he finally gets to avoid that rival tonight, and we’ll see if that helps him make it back to the winner’s circle. (2) AL WAYS BET ON ME improved by leaps and bounds in his first start off the barn change (6/26 at The Meadows), blowing out his rivals in 1:49.3 – he followed that up with a win here at Yonkers, a 3rd the week after, then a tough first over trip after that – he’s returning from a sick scratch tonight, so he’s definitely a little iffy! (1) REINCARNA TED seemed a bit overbet for his local debut but he ended up with an easy lead (and no pressure) and was able to prevail – legitimate chance to repeat, but likely to be even more overbet tonight! (3) GEORGES WISH seems a notch below the top three, but he’s raced ok in his 3 local starts – definitely playable in exotics. (7) ALBAMA LUC KY bounce back with a better effort last week, but tonight’s draw figures to really hurt his chances. (8) THE RASC AL N was way overbet last week and lost all chance after getting away last from Post 7 – not sure he’ll be able to do any better after drawing poorly once more. (5) DARKNSTORMY DEO raced well in his first 2 local tries but just never looked “right” last week – leaning elsewhere, for now. (4) HURRIKANELOUIEXIII feels overmatched here

RACE 5 – (1) MAYBEMABEL rallied crisply late for 2nd last week after an impressive blowout win the week before – the big efforts that were formerly reserved for lower levels are now coming vs. these as well, and we’ll give her the edge from the pole tonight. (2) OVER ICE is STILL winless at YR, despite racing very well in a lot of her starts – wouldn’t mind using her on top tonight, as long as the price is fair. (6) MADDIES DELIGHT threw that dud 4 back and it really stands out among a sea of excellent efforts – won’t be easy from Post 6, but a good price makes her worth considering. (8) MC ANGEL may find herself unable to get anywhere near contention from out here but she has 9 wins this year, and throws some BIG miles – can’t blame anybody for using her at a good price. (3) TH RI ZZO earned a class jump after back to back wins in 20s off the claim but the leap to 50s may prove a bit ambitious. (7) ISLAND BOUHINIA A put it all together last week, hounded by multiple horses throughout the mile and still somehow reporting home in front – may have a tough time replicating that effort from THIS spot, however! (4) EAR TH ANGEL was no factor in either local try. (5) SWEET ODDS has never really shown that she belongs in 50s.

RACE 6 – (1) STAR CASINO A overcame horrible cover in his first local start to be a close 3rd, hit the wire with solid pace from an impossible spot in his next then came up 2nd best last week behind the very talented BOURBON COUNTY – looms a short priced favorite against this much easier bunch! (2) BONDI LOCKDOWN A got himself into a suicide trip off a sick scratch last week and still wasn’t too far back at the end – may be able to complete a pretty short exacta. (7) LYONS FRANKY J raced very well in 3 of his 4 starts since arriving at Yonkers – loses JB and draws poorly tonight, but that 20-1 ML price makes him hard to leave out of exotics. (3) WATTSIP SUNSHINE A is up higher than he’d prefer right now but his form is solid, and he may be able to stick around for a minor share. (5) LASER SPEED picked up a 2nd and a 3rd in his last pair but did have the rail those nights – still a chance for a piece here too, with a good trip. (8) TH COLBY hadn’t been strong enough at the end of his miles but he ended up with a beautiful trip last week and scored at 11-1 – in tougher now, another awful draw, and loses Gingras. (4) IN EXCESS N is doing well since the recent trainer change but he moves up TWO classes tonight after a no-threat 3rd in his last. (6) LOTTO MAX was 2nd at a big price last week but is unlikely to replicate that effort vs. this crew.

RACE 7 – (4) CALLMEBIGPAPI was extremely unaggressive in his 2 local tries but still rallied nicely for 2nd each time (and was particularly good last week) – no excuses accepted vs. this bunch. (1) CAPTAIN AMORE N was well back (from bad posts) in his first 3 U.S. starts but turned in a much better effort when 3rd last week (after drawing much better) – lands the pole for tonight, and we’ll see if that’s enough to help him complete the exacta. (7) SWEET JOEL isn’t the best finisher but he’s still managed to hit the board in 6 of his 7 local tries – decent chance to land somewhere on the ticket tonight, as well. (8) ADONIS BLUE CHIP is off to a good start in his career, currently 7-3-1-2 (with a victory in his only local try) – not sure the circumstances but there’s a barn change for tonight, to go along with a terrible draw…could slow him down at least a bit. (3) HURRIKANE LILLOUIE was an empty 4th here last week, and will need to be better for a chance at a better piece tonight. (2) TWIN B CABO was well back in both local tries. (6) OZZIES CRAZY TRAIN hasn’t been close at all in 5 Hilltop attempts. (5) CALVIN HANOVER tries the locals after finishing up the track in back to back starts at Chester

RACE 8 – (3) ROCKNACIOUS rallied crisply for 2nd from a tough spot in his local debut then finished solidly again last week, though unable to gain any spots chasing a much better group than this one – should find THIS crew more to his liking! (4) YANKEE BREW seemed to have some energy in traffic through the lane in his local debut – could have a bigger say tonight, and be part of the equation. (1) FLYING MAJOR ART was no factor at all in his first local try but did race well enough for pieces in his last 3 starts – good chance for another slice tonight. (5) KILL ER BEE DEO was a dull 4th two back but did bounce back with a better effort for 2nd last week – remains a solid one to include underneath. (7) NOVA BLU did look to leave in his local debut but had to grab up at the start, and was never in play after that – maybe he can have a bigger say tonight, at a juicy price? (6) JUSTINIAN could be a player on his best effort, but he seems off his game after taking a month off recently. (20 HE IS STINGIN arrives from KY and just feels like he may be a notch below these – we should have a clearer picture after tonight

RACE 9 – (4) WISH YOU WELL was handled aggressively last week and was more than up for it, a powerful 1:51.3 winner– he’s more than capable of stepping up a notch tonight and taking another. (6) RAILROAD STATION brought a 2 race winning streak into his last, turned in another sharp performance but was overtaken in the lane by the (classy) pair that sat to his back – definitely a chance to make amends tonight. (2) DUNKIN was parked every step on the way last week and still almost pulled off the victory – he faces much tougher here but he’s on the upswing, and has tons of class…would be no real surprise! (3) KEAYANG TACO A hasn’t been “bad”, but it does feel like he’s leveled off a bit – needs to be sharper for a chance at the top prize. (5) HAMMERING HANK chased #4 all the way last week and was right there at the wire – he moves out from last week’s rail, however, and may not do as well with the (expected) tougher trip. (1) MACS MARVEL used a great trip to pull off a mild upset vs. softer 2 back, but would need things to fall apart to knock these off. (7) MOONSHINER N has won 4 straight but he’s moving WAY up in class tonight, and lands all the way outside – sticking with others.