Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (5) VEL IM ALL FIRE actually held very well when 4th in her local debut (after getting blown away by the streaking MAYBEMABEL) then was a powerful winner in her last – Bartlett opts for #3 tonight, but this mare is still worth a play…and what should be a pretty fair price. (3) DISARONNO HILL found her best game last week and picked up her first victory in a while (with the sharp front end score) – obvious threat to repeat, but also figures to be overbet. (1) SWEET SANDY had a useful start last week, racing off a month (sick scratch) – she’s done some decent work here, and could add some value to the exotics. (2) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ is a little hard to gauge form-wise after landing in a couple of difficult spots after her form-reversing win 3 back – another that deserves a spot in your exotics. (4) PRINCESS ARONA returns to Yonkers in improved form from NJ…but she’s just 7-0-0-1 locally over the last 2 years…we’ll see if she’s ready to be a bigger local player now. (7) IRIS SEELSTER has her good moments but tonight’s draw figures to make it tough on her to get into the hunt. (6) DUCK INTO THE NITE has just one 3rd from her 10 YR starts the last 2 years…and (8) AMERICANBECHDREAM is 12-0-0-0!

RACE 2 – (1) IDEAL SKIES has been 1st or 2nd in 10 of her 18 local starts this year and draws the pole after being re-claimed by a barn for whom she raced super the last 2 starts they had her – gets the narrow call in a race with a few very legitimate players. (4) RACEY RACH N recently returned from a long layoff, finished 3rd in her first start back and 2nd last week – she should be pretty tight now, and may be able to come out on top with the right trip. (7) TH RIZZO was taken by a barn that has been winning at a 40% clip off the claim and looked super blowing away her rivals last week – would likely have been the top choice tonight if not for the horrible draw. (2) YUENGLING wasn’t at her absolute best last week but used an easy trip to rally late for 2nd – she’s won 12 of her 39 local starts, and has to be considered a threat almost any time she’s in to go. (3) EVELYNA ITIS arrives from Ohio showing lines that would make her a good fit at this level – she also lands in a very tough field (for a new trainer), and would need to be a juicy price to consider on top tonight. (5) WHOS PERFECT has been better in her last couple – maybe 3rd/4th? (6) KELLINA DIAMOND seems a bit overmatched, even for our leading trainer/driver tandem

RACE 3 – (6) BALLROOM AFFAIR showed some ability at 2 before being turned out after a couple of starts – he was ready to go right out of the box at 3, winning his 4 starts before a very sharp 2nd on 5/24 – took a couple of months off and just qualified super, right behind his extremely talented barnmate SNEAKY SQUEAKY – figures to be a handful in his Yonkers debut. (1) CALLMEBIGPAPI appeared to have a big chance on paper in his first local start but was handled very unaggressively and could only rally for 2nd – figures to be more involved tonight, but still seems a bit below the top choice. (7) THE RASCAL N was a no-threat 2nd as the 1/5 favorite in his local debut but raced more aggressively in his last, and easily wired the field – the ability is there, but he does face an uncertain trip from out here. (4) FLYING MAJOR ART N picked up 3rds in his last pair and has a chance for some minor spoils tonight – definitely a notch below the top ones, however. (2) AMERICAN ROAD TRIP was a no threat 3rd in his local debut – tonight’s good draw gives him a chance for another small slice. (3) SWEET JOEL looks solid “on paper” but he tends to not finish his miles well enough, and that’s not going to work against these. (5) YANKEE BR EW shows some solid PA form but may find this spot a little tough as he makes his first YR start.

RACE 4 – (6) BEST CHIP was an afterthought in bottom level NJ classes to start off 2026…but it only took his current connections ONE start to transform him into a totally different animal, delivering HUGE efforts week after week ever since the barn change – this is hardly a pushover field, but he stills deserves top billing, even from Post 6. (5) EVILEYE FLEEGLE has undergone quite a transformation of his own, elevating his game dramatically after moving to the nation’s leading barn on 6/12 – he was a surprise leaver in his last (taking on the Invitationals for the first time) and pretty much ended up on a suicide mission…but he could be very dangerous tonight with a better trip. (4) HOWLENTHEHILLS isn’t quite as sharp as he was throughout the Borgata Series but he’s still a solid weekly player – another that could be a big threat with the right journey. (3) MACS DELIGHT is a perfect 4 for 4 since the big barn change, but that last win was really helped when GO GO GRASSHOPPER never retook the lead, then never had room in the lane – can’t dismiss his chances tonight, but keeping that streak alive vs. these won’t be easy. (1) SUGAR MAN is moving up in class but he’s very sharp right now, and the rail draw can at least put him right in the hunt. (2) SOUTHWIND CELSIUS is in career form, but may be in just a little too tough with these

RACE 5 – (4) ENRIQUE HANOVER was too far back at the half last week (thanks to a gapper) but did pace a solid final 3/8ths to be fairly close at the end – he catches a completely blank field tonight, and this seems like a good spot for Kelly to use some of that early speed he showed a few times in PA. (6) ENTER SANDMAN was a winner in PA in his career debut, but was unable to rally from the back in his local debut (vs. a much better field) – he can have a much bigger say vs. this bunch. (1) KILLER BEE DEO would be dangerous in this spot on anything resembling his best effort but he threw duds in his last two starts, and seems like a pretty risky proposition at that 7/5 ML price! (3) CAPTAIN AMORE N has shown nothing in his 3 U.S. starts but if ever there was an opportunity for a big wake up call, it would be tonight. (7) OZZIES CRAZY TRAIN has made no impact at all in his 4 local tries – tonight’s draw won’t help his cause. (5) TWIN B CABO will go without Lasix after a dismal local debut – we’ll see if that helps (2) HURRIKANE LILLOUIE has fallen way off his game– watching for better signs before considering

RACE 6 – (4) MOONSHINER N was a little disappointing when 2nd in his U.S. debut but he’s delivered 3 straight wins since then – Bartlett opts off #1 to drive this guy tonight, and that seems like a strong endorsement. (1) RAGN AR LOTHBROK N won his first U.S. start then came up 2nd best the last 3 weeks, the last pair behind #4 – Bartlett drove him those weeks and elects to go with #4 tonight…we’ll see if Stratton can make him regret that choice! (2) TWIN B FRESH BET pulled up with some issue on 6/30 – he requalified, then was a solid 4th last week in a very conservative try – he may have a shot to upend the top pair (at a decent price) if a bit of racing luck comes his way. (6) ROCKNACIOUS failed to go around a notoriously troubled SIGNAL CALLER at the start last week then was backed up horribly when he tried to follow that same horse from turn three – he was finally able to get in gear to 3/4s and raced super to come up 2nd best – he’s ready to win, but tonight’s bad draw (with good ones to his inside) may leave him waiting for a better scenario. (3) ALABAMA LUCKY was no factor at all in his last pair but has plenty of efforts that could land him a piece here – ok for 3rd/4th. (5) NOVA BLU was a Pocono winner for his new trainer last week but will be facing much tougher tonight – leaning elsewhere. (7) GEORGES WISH raced well for 3rds in his only 2 local tries but figures to be hampered by tonight’s draw. (8) SWEET PARLAY will have a hard time getting anywhere near the action tonight

RACE 7 – Good race: (4) MAYBEMABEL usually needs to be in 20s to deliver her big-time efforts but she looked super last week beating much better, in her first start off the claim – she’s “technically” moving up in class here, but that’s not really the case…one of a few with a real chance. (2) MC ANGEL got used pretty hard and tired 2 back but rebounded with another bruising victory last week, her 4th in 5 starts – hard to leave off your tickets! (1) MADDIES DELITE threw a dud 3 back but has otherwise been ultra-reliable for months – came up 2nd best to #2 last week but could easily reverse that tonight. (7) OVER ICE (still winless at Yonkers) races well almost every week, but will probably need Buter to leave hard (and hope) if she hopes to have a real impact tonight. (5) SURVIVIN FIRE is good for a reliable late rally start after start, but may be coming from too far back for more than a small slice here. (3) AVF CLAIRE just hasn’t found her “A Game” since returning from a 3 month layoff – others in here are just sharper now. (6) WIN WITH LYNNLY can be a player when “right”, but her recent efforts won’t cut it vs/ these.

RACE 8 – (3) LYONS FRANKY J disappointed last time but he had a “weird” trip in a race that basically fell apart – he was super in previous 2 starts, and reunites with Bartlett tonight…look for him to bounce right back. (4) INVIS IBLE N always finishes strong but has been hurt by some terrible spots and the occasional miscue – if he can avoid any bad luck tonight, he can be a very dangerous late player. (1) HAMMERING HANK probably picked a bad spot to leave last week but he still battled intensely for over 3/4s of a mile (despite being parked all the way) before tiring – looking at a better trip tonight, with a solid chance for a nice chunk. (6) WISH YOU WELL just missed in his first local try of the year and was simply in a hopeless spot last week – not a great draw for tonight, but still a chance to have a say with a decent trip. (2) IMTHEBLACKFLASH N was a close 2nd last start but benefited from a very easy trip – ok to include underneath. (5) BONDI SHAKE N threw a dull one last time but has outraced his odds in a bunch of recent starts – never a bad one for the bottom of exotics. (7) MACS MARVEL got away well from the pole last week and that led to the dream trip he cashed in on – tonight’s journey figures to be a lot tougher. (8) BLANK STARE draws worst for his first local start of the year and figures to have a tough time ever getting close.

RACE 9 – (7) RAILROAD STATION is very sharp right now, and steps up in class seeking his 3rd straight – won’t be easy to overcome Post 7, but a good price makes him worth using on top! (1) BOURBON COUNTY figures to take plenty of $$ returning from KY as he enjoyed success here in the past – he’ll be dangerous for sure, but may also be at least a bit vulnerable vs. a couple of pretty sharp rivals (2) STAR CASINO A was hurt badly by poor cover in his YR debut but still finished strong – no prayer from Post 8 last week but the move inside could make him a big threat. (6) RESILIENT N disappointed at 1/5 two back but finished up full of pace in his last (adding Lasix), after a conservative steer – would be no surprise at all. (4) KEAYANG TACO A seems a bit off his best game right now – needs to find that sharper form from not long ago. (5) ROYAL DESIRE is holding form very nicely, but may be up a bit too high right now. (3) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A is another that may be pressing his limits vs. these.