Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (3) ILLUSION SEELSTER shipped in from NJ off a sharp try as the favorite so the only thing really “shocking” about her victory last week was that she was sent off at an absurd 67-1 – obviously her price will come WAY down tonight…but she does have a legitimate chance to repeat. (4) STORMY SERENA came into her last riding a three race winning streak but she got a big test from the top choice to 3/4s and while she did try to battle back in the lane, she was simply 2nd best – she moves to another of our top claiming barns tonight and will have every chance to make emends…but won’t offer much value with that 6/5 ML price! (5) MALUKA MISS N threw a dud last start but she moves to a new barn for tonight, drops a notch, and may be able to bring a better effort. (1) RA CIN FOR ROYALTY has been very consistent but she came up a little light in the lane in her last pair and moves up a peg for tonight – prefer to use her underneath this week. (6) NUTTINBUTHEBEST ended 2025 in solid form and started off 2026 with a win and a 2nd – she moves up from 20s to 25s tonight (while drawing outside), and that may leave her looking at a smaller piece this time. (2) TOBAGO TIME gets a good draw but hasn’t been on her game in some time. (7) CRÈME DELIGHT is extremely camera shy…tonight’s terrible draw won’t help her cause

RACE 2 – (1) DWS DARLENE had no prayer from Post 8 last week but did finish up well – her overall form has been good for some time, and she draws the pole tonight for her new connections – solid threat! (5) UNCONTROLL ED just seemed totally disinterested for much of the mile last week before finally getting more motivated in the latter stages – she may benefit from a contested pace tonight, and could be a decent value horse to consider. (3) YUE NGLING saw her 3 race winning streak halted last week (after drawing Post 8) and will go for a new barn tonight (after being claimed) – legitimate player. (4) WHOS PERFECT enjoyed a perfect trip in her first local try of the year and was able to come out on top for our most dangerous trainer/driver tandem – can certainly take another, but she’s very likely to be overbet in this competitive affair. (7) MIKI THE CLOWN is racing well right now but figures to be significantly hampered by the terrible draw – maybe 3rd/4th? (2) HOLI STARZZZ A was empty in her local debut but does get post relief this week – we’ll keep an eye for any improvement. (6) SHEIKH YABOOTY N just re-qualified after missing almost 9 months – prefer to just watch, for now. (8) NITE TIME DEAL draws all the way outside after running out badly in the lane last week

RACE 3 – (4) ALWAYS A THRILL was helped by an easy lead here on Opening Night but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a razor sharp winner – he really should have been assigned Post 6 tonight, and he’s hard to go past from this spot – figures to be a pretty short price! (1) BET ON BIG JOE was definitely a bit disappointing last week when he was unable to prevail after having things all his own way – he could be looking at a pocket trip behind #4, and that would give him a decent chance to complete the exacta. (6) HEZA CHARTTOPPER A was one of several top performers for his barn last year, winning 13 of 28 local starts (for $241k) – he has a pair of qualifiers after being away for 3 months, and the outside draw may result in a conservative trip this week. (3) JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE was handled aggressively off the winter break and delivered the victory 2 back – his last wasn’t as sharp, though, and he’s a little tough to gauge for tonight. (5) ALL CLASS was going strong this summer before going on the shelf after a lame scratch on 10/6 – hard to say how serious he’ll be after just re-qualifying, and note that Bartlett does opt for #4. (2) MUSIC HALL won an incredible 16 races last year…but looms a major question mark vs. THESE types

RACE 4 – (5) LOCHLAN HANOVER came up 2nd best to former barnmate ODDS ON NO LIMIT last week and there’s no shame in that – he’s been ultra consistent for a long time, and this feels like a field he should be able to handle (2) CAPTAIN LUFFY probably wasn’t all that well meant last week when taking on older foes, after missing 5 weeks (from Post 7) – he moves inside, drops back to the level he beat on 12/16, and figures to be a much bigger player tonight. (1) DREAM BIRD is winless in 8 local tries but he could be looking at another pocket trip tonight, and that would give him a chance to land somewhere in the exotics. (4) BOXER SEELSTER has developed a bad habit of lagging badly for way too long before finding his best stride (too late) – always a chance he can rally for a piece. (6) WAVEMAKER had problems in his first 2 local tries but raced well 3X since then – he’s another that may be coming from too far back to really threaten, though. (3) DREAMBOAT HANOVER has yet to impress in 3 local starts – needs to be better

RACE 5 – Tough race: (2) BOUT DAMN TIME A continued to rally decently from a tough spot last week after flashing good speed in NJ the week before – she’s too camera shy to ever really back with confidence, but she’s sharp enough right now to consider, as long as the price is fair. (6) DASH N CACHE was very well backed for her Hilltop return last week and was able to convert a fast start into a victory – she loses Bartlett but picks up Gingras, and her trip may end up a bit tougher tonight…still, a chance to repeat. (7) STONECOLD GIRL was solid at the end of 2025 and is 2 for 2 to start off the new year – can’t fault her form right now but she does get stuck with a terrible draw, and that could make her a bit vulnerable, at a short price. (4) JUST ROSAS LUCK is a little tough to gauge off her out of town form right now but she does have a solid local history, and definitely some appeal with that 20-1 ML price (1) LADYCORONA isn’t “sharp”, but she’s at least more competitive than she was through a recent rough patch – chance to find a better effort from this spot, but would still need to be a decent price to be worth a play. (3) BEANTOWN BABE probably needed her last (off the layoff) and is eligible to be a bit sharper tonight – minor share possible. (5) DELITFULCATHERIN N has far more clunkers than good ones lately, and that has us looking elsewhere. (8) GUMBELL draws her 3rd straight 8 hole and may struggle even if she landed inside

RACE 6 – (2) JABBAR hasn’t been a threat in some time but he’s been facing better (and hanging in decently), and catches an extremely blank field tonight – the class drop and post relief may be enough to get him over the top in his 2nd start off the layoff. (3) HARD TO CATCH was driven aggressively as the (overbet) favorite last week and not up for it – he’s a logical player once more, but that 3/2 ML price suggests that he’s going to be way overbet again. (4) COLLECTIVE WORKS A had a useful tightener off the winter break, gets some post relief, and is used to facing tougher – maybe worth a look if the price is juicy enough? (1) GLIMPSE OF VICTORY seems cheap based on his out of town lines but he draws the rail with Yannick for his local debut, and his new barn has sent out some live ones recently – willing to include underneath. (5) PEACE OUT POSSE is going to wake up with a form reversing win one of these nights, but his last (weak) effort suggests that perhaps it’s not quite time just yet – check the tote board? (7) EMINEM HANOVER hasn’t been terrible lately but his 16-0-0-1 local slate (last 2 years) is hard to overlook… as is the bad draw (6) DEALERS TURN figures to need a start after being away since 12/16 (8) ALWAYS ROCKIN seems off his game, and will have contend with the 8 hole

RACE 7 – (8) THONG CONTROL obliterated a soft field last week (as the odds on choice) but that was from the pole – he catches a pretty iffy bunch tonight as well, but now he’ll be starting from all the way outside (and hasn’t shown to be all that handy, in the past) – if he’s a good enough price, we’d be willing to give him a chance to repeat. (2) CURBSIDE PICKUP wasn’t better than 8th in 3 starts across the river but he did just miss in his last local try of 2025 – he’ll likely be handled aggressively from this spot but would still need to be a decent price to consider on top (5) CAVIART SARGENT was no match at all for #8 last week and fortunate just to hold on to a tiring 2nd – he’ll likely make his presence felt in here, but he does figure to end up overbet. (1) SAMHARA N was a dullish 3rd in his first start off the winter break but may be sharper tonight – possibility for exotics. (4) BACKSTREET SHADOW has done some outstanding work here over the years, contributing to the $1.7M in career earnings – on the flip side, he made only 7 starts last year, and managed just one 2nd (albeit vs. much better than these) – he really didn’t look all that ready for action in his qualifier, and is a complete guessing game for tonight. (6) GENTLE GIANT may benefit from last week’s start and his best effort would make him a legitimate player here – his barn has really struggled so far in 2026, however. (3) BUCHANNON HANOVER was 15-0-0-0 at Yonkers last year, after going just 9-0-0-2 the year before. (7) ORLANDO BLUE A draws poorly once more – waiting for a better scenario

RACE 8 – (2) MOVIN ON UP had a couple of “ok” tries after joining this barn in December but that last effort was definitely eye-catching, effortlessly blowing by the leader then winning as he pleased – the barn has heated up even more since then, and we’ll see if this guy can double up on that big mile. (3) T H TYSON shipped in off a pair of wins at The Swamp and kicked home full of pace in the lane from Post 8 – he gets post relief for tonight, and could be a big threat with any decent trip. (5) BONDI LOCKDOWN A rallied full of pace for 3rd from a tough spot in his last, finishing just ahead of #3…he’d be no surprise at all in here. (4) POP IT was used hard early last week and did a nice job holding on for 3rd even after getting outbrushed by the top choice at 3/4s – good one to include underneath. (6) JAHAN HANOVER was off 5 weeks to his last (NJ) start and was a solid 3rd – draws outside his main foes for his YR return, but still may find a way to land a small piece. (8) PRINTVILLE comes into this off a pair of solid 2nds but he’s not blessed with much early speed, and may just find himself too far out to be a serious player here. (7) TONTO RETURNS has 5 recent wins out of town (for our leading trainer) but facing easier – pretty tough spot for his Hilltop debut. (1) CHARLIES WISH arrives from Canada with lines that suggest he may need to be in a bit easier before he can be a real threat.

RACE 9 – (1) MISS PERIGNON N found herself in an unfamiliar spot on the lead last week and certainly seemed to like it, wiring the field with a sharp 1:56.3 mile…she’ll get to cut it again if she wants to, and is a very possible repeater from the pole. (4) MACHS LEGACY A hasn’t been at her absolute best so far in ’26 but was still right there 2nd and 3rd in her 2 starts – remains a very live player. (3) IDEALINFUN finished well off the bad date 2 back then took just a little too long to get rolling last week – may be able to show up late for a piece tonight. (2) ACCESS GR ANTED raced well in this class for a few starts last fall but may be at a disadvantage tonight as she’s been away for a couple of months – leaning towards others for tonight. (6) BRI EXPRESS N wired the field in 3 straight Yonkers starts but those were vs. easier, and while in our leading barn – we’ll see how she does tonight for a new trainer, up in class, from a tough post (7) YS SENSATIONALCITY handled the bump back up to 50s beautifully last week, chasing #1 from the pocket and finishing a close 2nd for new connections – may have a tougher time working out a good trip tonight, however. (5) CYCLONE SISTER remains a question mark at this elevated $50K level – jury still out! (8) LAURIE LEE just seems to race much better out of town these days, than here at Yonkers.

RACE 10 – Good race, with the sharpest players drawn outside: (7) BOOKEM DANNO gave it a good try from Post 8 last week, used hard to make the top and really not tiring all that badly (and not too far off 2nd and 3rd) – he has the speed to at last establish a good early spot, and his price will definitely be tempting. (6) THE WICKED ONE has a strong 8-1-4-2 local slate, draws inside a couple of his main rivals and may end up with the best of the trips – appealing with that 8-1 ML price. (8) BETTOR NOT was sent off favored last week in his Hilltop debut and was a sharp wire to wire winner (over #6) – may run into a tougher trip tonight, though, so make sure to get a fair price if using him on top again. (1) ALRITEALRITEALRITE was invisible in his first start of 2026 but that was from the 8 hole – he moves all the way inside, and may turn in a much more serious effort tonight…and that would put him in the hunt for a decent piece. (3) NO TRESSPASSING hasn’t been on his game in some time but does have more ability than he’s been showing – maybe he can show some better life tonight? (2) THIS JK ROCKS was no threat at all to #8 and #6 last week – we’ll see if the big post edge he has tonight can make him a bigger player. (5) TIP OF TIME was no threat at all arriving from NJ last week and is just 3 for 38 lifetime. (4) CAPTAIN FEAR makes his first start in 7 weeks – we’ll just observe, for now.