Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Tuesday, November 10, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (1) DASH N CACHE has been sharp for some time and debuts tonight for an owner/trainer/driver team that has seemingly won the opening race with odds-on favorites a zillion times this year…could happen here too! (4) BARBADOS BABE is hitting on all cylinders right now and will be a “fair” price tonight despite a very sharp win (as the favorite) last week – couldn’t blame anybody looking to stay on her team. (2) BADDITUDE struggled here in 2025 but had a couple of good starts here this summer – returns from MD is excellent form, has her regular pilot on board, and is looking at a good trip – playable in exotics. (6) MILAGRO has been sharper in a few of her recent starts than it might appear on paper – chance to grab a piece, even with the bad post. (3) ODDS ON SARA SARA has become more competitive lately after being a local afterthought for most of the last 2 years – chance for a small share. (8) IDEAL SKIES has done excellent work for the past 2 years but landed on terrible trips in her last pair and faces that same possible scenario tonight. (7) TALENT TO SPARE A races well enough for pieces fairly often but the draw may slow her down here. (5) WISHIN FOR KISSES feels a bit overmatched based on her out of town lines

RACE 2 – (4) SUITE UP BRO continues to thrive since the recent barn change, and might have been even closer last week if not for an unlucky trip – good value play tonight. (3) SPEAKER OF PEACE rarely goes a bad mile, even overcoming some horrendous spots at times – tonight’s draw may help him land a live trip, and he’ll be dangerous late if close turning for home. (5) UDDERLY SWEET A seeks his 4 straight victory but will be taking on tougher foes, for sure – of course, if Bartlett hits the top and grabs a slow half (as we’ve seen so many times), this guy may be tough to overhaul in the sprint to the wire – definitely figures to be overbet, though. (2) HEZA RISK TA KER A remains an enigma, very light in the win column despite having legitimate ability – consider if the price gets juicy enough. (1) SWEETHOMEALABAMA N seems a notch below the main players in here but the good draw could help him pick up a small share. (8) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR figures to be too far back to make any noise. (6) THE RASCAL N is moving way up in class, and seems unlikely to have any real say vs. these. (7) JILLIBY DY NAMITE N is up in class, from Post 7, off 2 months – pass for now.

RACE 3 – (1) CHERYLS SHADOW certainly benefited from great trips in those wins 4 and 5 starts back but she followed that up with crisp late pace from an impossible spot in her next, held ultra-gamely despite being parked the mile after that, then dug in to hold 3rd behind a couple of Open mares last week – willing to give her a look dropping in for the $50K tag. (6) SPIRIT OF PEARL A took last week off after winning 4 straight – very tough draw here, but she’s way too sharp to ignore, even from this spot. (3) OVER ICE tailed off for a few starts but was back on her game in last week’s victory– a repeat is not out of the question (5) AVF CLAIRE (Bartlett’s choice over #1) has been 1st or 2nd in 7 straight starts but came up 2nd best in her last 3 – obviously CAN beat these, but there may be better value with a couple of the others. (7) DISCOVERINGTHEHUNT usually finishes with pace – ok bomb for 3rd/4th. (4) GO NOW is tough to gauge class-wise off her out of town lines – prefer to just observe, for now. (2) BECKONI NG TANKEE probably needs to be in cheaper to be a serious player. (8) BIG CITY DAISY has perked up in PA after a barn change, but hard to see her having any real impact vs. these, from out here.

RACE 4 – (5) ULTIMATE SPEED was starting to tail off a bit (vs. better) but a move to Pocono and drop to 20s seems to have put her back on track – worth a try tonight, as long as the price is fair. (6) EXCEPTIONALISM was one of two horses these owners shipped in from Pocono last week that flat-out jogged for their new trainer – chance to repeat, even with the bad draw. (2) EVELYNA ITIS is winless in 12 local tries but raced well in several of them – could add some value to the bottom of exotics. (3) ALWAYSINFULLFORCE has had a solid 3YO campaign in The Maritimes but it’s hard to say how well she fits with the local 20s – maybe check the tote board for some clues? (1) TWO PISTOL ANNIE used a perfect trip to beat an easier bunch 2 back but may get overbet from this spot – prefer to use her underneath. (4) CRUISE ALERT has been inconsistent all year, but definitely faced better at times – drops in for a tag, and may be able to at least have a say here. (8) YOUNONOTHINJON benefited from a beautiful steer from Lauren Tritton to win the “Pink Up” race last start, but faces an extremely difficult assignment tonight from this spot – would need a pretty good price to consider on top. (7) YUENGLING has really tailed recently

RACE 5 – (4) REGAL IDEA did some terrific work when he first arrived here but started to go south shortly after the 9/14 claim – he LOOKED much better in his last (even if not a factor), and that could be signaling a return to form – may be worth a try tonight. (1) LYRICAL GENIUS A will attract plenty of $$ with the class drop, rail and Bartlett but he hasn’t been at his absolute best lately, and will be going without Lasix tonight – could be at least a bit vulnerable. (6) BELIEVE IN TOWN was going off long prices in cheaper Ohio fields but a big barn change resulted in $4.20 victory at Chester, followed by an 8 hole blowout here last week (at that same short price!) – Bartlett opts for #1 tonight, but don’t dismiss this one too quickly – chance for a “threepeat”. (2) THE MIKI TAKER A is now an amazing 0 for 46 over the last 2 years BUT he grabs his share of smaller pieces, and may be in a spot to grab one here too. (3) BETTOR NOT came up 2nd best when aggressively handled 2 back, then finished up well from a no chance spot last week – maybe 3rd/4th? (5) BET ON BIG JOE has been better since the recent freshening, but still feels below the main players in here. Both (7) DRACARYS Z TAM and (8) LILLBLISS figure to have tough times getting close to the action this week.

RACE 6 – (3) NO WAITLIST was well backed for his local debut and delivered a sharp 1:52.1 front end score – remains the one to beat tonight. (2) GANDHI added Lasix last week and rallied nicely for 2nd into a fast mile – moves inside, and looms a live player once more. (5) CAPTAIN BRUNSON shows some mixed form out of town but he recently beat a NW5PM field at Chester and that certainly makes him worth at least a look tonight, with that 20-1 ML listing. (1) ALWAYS BET ON ME has speed from the pole and hit board in 6 of his 9 local tries – only one was a win, however, and he may be looking at a smaller piece here too. (6) NOVA BLU went his best local mile to date last week and might have had a chance to win, if not for some terrible racing luck – on the flip side, he’s just 3 for 58, draws poorly, and gets a driver change…could see using him if the price is juicy. (4) LYONS PAPI ROCK beat softer in his local debut but does feel a notch below a few of the main players in here. (7) IN A MINUTE raced a bit better in his second local try, but still not ready to hop on his team (especially from out here). (8) JUSTINIAN was charted with an equipment break last week (pulled up) – will excuse, but he still seems very unlikely tonight

RACE 7 – Good race: (3) TH RIZZO steps back up (for another new barn) after a pair of wins vs. the 20s, but she was always rock solid vs. 30s as well – one of several with a real chance in here. (1) BOUT DAMN TIME A didn’t embarrass herself trying to jump from 20s to 50s, picking up 3rd in both starts – drops down, and looms a legitimate danger from the pole. (5) IDEALINFUN had excuses in a pair of recent clunkers but has otherwise been a winning machine vs. the 20s – would be no surprise at all if she was able to beat these too. (8) MAYBEMABEL is probably damned if she leaves, and coming from last if she doesn’t – she is sharp, though, with a chance for a piece with some trip luck. (2) TIME TO STRIKE hasn’t been on her game but the drop to 30s and move inside could at least put her in play for a piece. (7) PETROL QUEEN drops from 50s but gets an awful draw and still prone to gait issues in a bunch of her starts. (4) DANCIN SUZY had pace finishing in her last pair but may not be as effective moving up in class tonight. (6) DRUNK DIAL should appreciate the drop from 50s but may struggle to overcome the draw

RACE 8 – (3) IKNOWBETTER has been razor sharp for some time, handles any trip, and we’ll give him top billing – but that 8/5 ML price (facing some legitimate rivals) is admittedly a turn off! (2) CONGRESSIONAL raced well in his Yonkers debut, 2nd best to a classy winner – he also got steppy at times (as advertised), and we’ll see if his new barn can perhaps find a way to smooth him out a bit. (5) DELE ROW A actually had solid pace finishing 2 back (stepping way up to the Open), then was right there on the wire last week – would be no surprise at all off tonight’s class drop. (4) THE IDEAL DANCER A moves inside, and has been sharp enough to at least contend for a piece. (8) BLUE LOU draws Post 8 after 2 months on the shelf and the guess is that a conservative trip is coming…but check the tote board for any additional clues. (1) LYONS FRANKY J drops and draws the pole but he just seems to save his best efforts for when Bartlett is on board. (6) ESCAPE TO AMERICA was helped by a very live trip last week – may have trouble reaching here. (7) AYE AYE CAPTAIN N tends to struggle when stuck with terrible draws

RACE 9 – (2) KWICK SAND A came up a little short off the class drop last week, not quite able to reel in the sharp frontrunner (who stole a half in :57.4) – draws inside his main rivals tonight, and that may help him get the job done. (7) REDWOOD HANOVER hasn’t been close to “top form” in a long time but was able to win off the class drop last week, helped by the lead and a slow half – he’s back in the same class tonight, but the task definitely feels more difficult from this spot. (6) COOPERSTOWN BOY is a 3YO taking on older veterans but that didn’t stop him from coming out on top last week (one level down)– chance to be a player tonight as well, but will need to create a decent trip to do so. (1) BANDERAS will attract attention with the class drop and the rail but he’s just 1 for 14 at YR, and may be better used underneath. (3) RAGNAR LOTHBROK N wasn’t able to pick up his game with the move inside last week – maybe he’s just gone off form? (5) ILLICIT BEHAVIOR is another 3YO looking to take on older but he certainly flashed some ability at Pocono last week off the barn change– still needs to prove he can hang with THESE types, however. (8) CARABAO A figures to have a tough time getting in play from all the way out here. (4) UNMA TCHED WISDOM moves inside, but that may not be enough to make him a player with these.