Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – Tough opener! (5) DASH N CACHE lose Gingras and may have to race from off the pace tonight...but she’s won 3 of her 7 local starts, figures to be a fair price, and may be worth a stab in a hard-to-predict affair. (7) DIS ARONNO HILL is another that will likely be forced to race from behind tonight but she was an excellent 2nd racing from off the pace last week, and she’d be worth considering IF the price is fair. (1) PINK RUBY may be a bit off her best game right now but she may land on a live trip from this spot, and a wake up call is not impossible. (6) FIGHT NOT FLIGHT has been off her game and is hoping a drop to 20s will help her cause…would have had more appeal had she drawn a bit better! (2) SHEIKH YABOOTY N has been racing poorly for a while whenever she left the gate so it was encouraging to see her hang on for a pair of 2nds after leaving in her last two starts – wouldn’t shock. (3) YUENGLING won 4 races early in the year but has struggled a bit lately – in need of a wake up call to be a threat tonight. (4) ILLUSION SEELSTER can pop off a big mile at times but usually on the lead – may be hard for her to get there tonight. (8) UNDETERRED would need things to really fall apart to get close from out here.

RACE 2 – (4) MAYBEMABEL didn’t bring her “ferocious best” best last week but was still a sharp first over winner – this feels like a spot that could set up beautifully for her big time brush! (1) MC ANGEL faltered badly in her only try at this $25K level but there’s a chance she just wasn’t right that night – she’s been winning for different barn lately, doesn’t need the lead, and could be a dangerous player. (3) DWS DARLENE gave it a big try before getting overtaken by #4 last week, and was a winner of 2 straight just prior to that – remains a very legitimate threat! (7) TWIN B ECHO had pace from an impossible spot last week – this spot is no better, but she’s still a good bomb for 3rd/4th. (2) IDEALINFUN failed to get the desired result after recently dropping from 50s to 25s – maybe she can tow along for a small share? (6) PEMBROKE SOUTHIE was very good here in both 2024 and 2025 but she’s been on the shelf since a lame scratch in September, returns at a reduced level, and it’s anybody’s guess as to what we’ll get from her tonight. (5) YOU BEDA ROCK recently rattled off 4 straight vs. the 20s but hasn’t had that same success (so far) vs. the 25s. (8) ZUMA BEACH was 4 for 4 here last year but then went on the shelf, and she hasn’t gotten back to that form in 2026 – not sure the big drop to 25s is going to be the answer

RACE 3 – (5) ZEBS KRAFTY was 0 for 27 in Canada in 2025-26 before adding Lasix for his last start– he changed tactics as well, and promptly charged home to victory…may continue to improve after shipping down to a very sharp barn. (3) ALABAMA LUCKY is just 1 for 39 but he’s hit board in 17 of the losses…remains a good one to include underneath. (4) TWIN B FRESH BET is just 2 for 29 lifetime but one of the wins came 2 weeks ago, and he’s hit board in all 6 starts this year – legitimate player with this crew. (1) HURRIKANELOUIEXIII was too far back to be a player in his only local try but he did finish up decently – he added Lasix since then, and did win his first 2026 start (in NJ) – would consider if the price is decent. (2) FLOOR IT FREDDIE wasn’t a terrible 4th last time and seems to be improving – chance for another small piece. (6) DRAMAS A makes his U.S. debut for our top trainer off a “meh” qualifier, and showing only a handful of starts in Australia – a giant question mark!

RACE 4 – (2) FORWARD FLASH has taken 2 of his last 4 starts and just missed in the other pair – he moves inside of a couple of excellent 7 hole tries, and just may sharpest of this well-matched crew right now (3) CAPTAIN FEAR picked up a pair of wins here in March, including a dead-game victory over the talented KWICK SAND A – he was “sneaky sharp” 2 back, just missed in his last, and could be right there tonight with the right trip. (1) BETTOR NOT appeared full of pace in the lane last week without ever finding any room – loses Yannick but gets Bartlett and the pole – could be right in the mix tonight. (4) GANNONS VELOUCITY shipped in from PA in the midst of a long form spree – he came up a little short in his first 2 local tries and while it’s way too soon to write him off, it’s also hard to take a short price (on top) right now. (5) TITO N CHEDDAR has been right there with these several times but does draw outside 4 live players…and that could put him at a disadvantage for tonight. (6) THE FAMILY MAN is the outsider, both literally and figuratively

RACE 5 – (3) INVISIBLE N was extremely well-meant last week (4-1 from Post 8) but he was well off the car at the start (after recovering from a break) and his fate was pretty much sealed (though he raced very well, considering the early deficit) – gets a rare good draw, and we’ll look for him to take advantage. (7) MIND HUNTER is sharper than he may look on paper, but has just been stuck too far back to do more damage – gets another bad draw but IF Dube could take a shot at leaving, this guy may be able to be a legitimate player. (1) LEVINE is notoriously camera shy but he drops a bit, is looking at a good trip, and does have a solid chance to land somewhere on the ticket. (2) POP IT is winless on the year (and camera shy, in general), but his last couple weren’t bad and he may be in a spot where he can tow along for a piece. (5) CAPTAIN LUFFY raced well in a few of his 6 local starts, gets some class relief returning from Pocono and could easily grab himself a decent piece of this. (4) FORTIFY had a useful start off the layoff two back but regressed badly the next week– he MAY bounce back with a better effort tonight, but it’s hard to justify that 9/5 ML price. (6) CASINO ACTION N was an ok 4th vs. easier last week – may have trouble doing as well tonight, however. (8) SPECULATING A draws another 8 hole, and may have to wait for a better spot

RACE 6 – (2) MISS PERIGNON N has won 3 of her last 4 starts and taken 5 of 10 this year – she does go for a new barn but her trainer and driver had big nights on Monday- we’ll go with her on top over a bunch of rivals with major question marks. (1) ULTIMATE SPEED’s 2026 “comeback” was going well until showing some signs of stalling in her last couple – drops in for a tag, and gives us mixed feelings. (3) ACUSHLA MACHREE N has definitely fallen off her game and goes in for a tag tonight – could go either way. (7) PETROL QUEEN has been good for the last 2 months and would have certainly been listed higher if not for the draw – not sure if she can make her own luck from out here. (6) BRI EXPRESS N is hard to like off her current form but she does have 4 wins this year and will be a big price – ok for longshot fans. (5) OVER ICE wasn’t bad last week but she’s 0 for 16 at Yonkers and hard to consider on top. (4) YS SENSATIONALCITY likes to win races when sharp, but she’s just not clicking right now. (8) SWEET ODDS seems very ambitiously placed here…even if she hadn’t drawn Post 8

RACE 7 – (7) YOUNG BLUEY A took decent $$ for his U.S. debut (in a good field), had no trouble staying glued to the leader into a :27.1 third panel then charged by effortlessly in the lane, pacing his final quarter in :26.4 – we’ll stay on board tonight, even with the bad draw (hard to imagine how he was just 2 for 24 in Australia last year)! (2) BLUE LOU came up a little short after cutting the mile last week but the 3 weeks off may have hurt – he drops, always races well at YR, and figures to have a big say once more. (3) BONDI LOCKDOWN A doesn’t WIN a lot of races but he’s been sharp for some time, and a logical threat to land somewhere in the exotics. (4) YOROKOBI N has been racing well every week, even if hurt by some tough spots – he’d look much better in a bit cheaper, but can still rally for a piece of this. (6) AMERICAN DEALER N had crisp pace finishing off an easy trip last week, but gets a very tough draw for tonight – definitely playable underneath, especially if the price is good. (1) OPTICAL IL LUSION N has bene holding form nicely as he’s been climbing back up the class ladder but this group may be a little too tough for him, even from the pole. (8) ROCKIN JUKEBOX has been sharp out of town and was totally blocked in the lane here last week, full of pace despite racing off a sick scratch – if you think Bongiorno can get him in play from out here, there will be plenty of value! (5) ROCKET CITY A is still trying to find his best in the U.S.

RACE 8 – (3) TWISTED DESTINY had some tough luck in his Borgata legs but he still raced well from some tough spots, never far off the top ones – he has a ton of talent, and last year’s Messenger winner should really appreciate tonight’s significant class relief! (2) JETT STAR N has gone some BIG miles over the last couple of months, and is currently the star of a barn that’s been racing here for 50+ years, and now having their best season ever – gets a good draw, and a chance for a good piece. (4) INKOWBETTER was 2nd in this class on 3/24 and should be feeling good about himself after wiring easier in PA last week – a good trip could land him in the exotics. (8) RENALDO N got beat at 2/5 last week (1st time Lasix) but it was more because the winner came up scary, than because HE didn’t race well – brutal spot, but may be able to have a say…with some trip luck. (6) JUST ENUFF ST UFF throws some big efforts, but it’s hard to say if he can find a manageable trip from this spot. (1) CHURCHVIE WFRANKL IR draws the pole but still figures to get outleft, then struggle chasing the hot pace – leaning elsewhere. (7) SPEAKER OF PEACE has been sharp for ages, but lands in an awful spot here. (5) TOBINS CHESTER was a surprisingly easier winner up 2 classes three back but has quickly leveled off – sticking with others

RACE 9 – (5) LYONS BENJAMIN has seen his form fall off recently, mostly due to racing vs. much better, and from some tough spots – tonight’s drop to the basement should allow Kakaley to be aggressive…with a solid chance to come out on top. (2) COLLECTIVE WORKS A is just 1 for 24 at YR but has raced well, vs. better, quite a few times – may add some value to the exotics. (3) AVENGER FORCE held well after a 1st over try last week and is another that could land somewhere on the ticket. (1) STONEBRIDGE WIZARD made over $200K at 2 but was 6-0-0-0 for $4K in a difficult (and short) 3YO campaign – he returns now at 4, and nothing about his qualifiers suggests he should be listed as the 6/5 ML choice. (6) WATTSUP SUNSHINE A was no factor (in NJ) in his first start back in 2026 (for a new barn) but is at least eligible to improve tonight. (8) SCRIBBLERS raced very well for a new trainer last week but that was from the pole – behind the 8 ball now. (4) FUNATTHEBEACH N was freshened up but came back pretty much the way he left – waiting for any better signs. (7) FRANCO NANDOR N figures to have a tough time getting into play from out here.