Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Empire Report

The Empire Report – Wednesday, September 16, 2026 – Race Analysis

RACE 1 – (4) DOLLAR DRAFT was doing good work before recently changing barns but seems to have elevated his game even more since then, and comes off a 1:55.1 blowout here at Yonkers – he does face a pretty solid field for this class, but still has to be given top billing (1) JUST TEASING did solid work in her 8 starts at 2 and is putting together a strong 3YO campaign as well, returning to Yonkers off a win in last week’s TSS Final (at The Meadows) – she was 3rd from Post 7 in her only local try, and looms a very live player with the move inside. (3) MISTY BLUE was moved to a barn known for improving fresh stock to start her 3YO campaign and is off to a 3 for 3 start (with 2 straight wins here at Yonkers) – she faces a much tougher field today, and we’ll see if she’s up for it. (2) VERSE NI NE broke before the start last week but has shown ability when he behaves – can contend for a decent piece with a clean mile. (6) GOYA is 6-2-1-1 here at Yonkers, with breaks in 2 of the starts – chance to rally for a piece as long as she stays trotting. (8) TREGARON did a nice job holding 2nd after giving way to the classy CHAPHEART last week and continues to improve– may need to wait for a more realistic spot, though (7) BEERNSHUNSHINE DEO throws a good one at times, but this may not be the spot to look for one. (5) RICO TUBBS was empty 2 back then broke last week – watching for better signs before hopping back on board.

RACE 2 – (2) CANIPILOTALL did good work at the Midwest fairs at 2 and 3, and now joins a barn that has enjoyed some success with these types in the past – willing to give her a try in his local debut, as long as the price is fair. (1) NIGHTCAP MEARAS S was handled conservatively in her local debut and finished with steady trot – adds hopples tonight, draws the pole, and we may see a more aggressive try. (3) B TOTALLY NUDE finished ok from too far back last week but picked up a win and a 2nd in the starts before that – should be a very solid player moving back inside. (4) CTM put in a long first over move last week and held together well in a much-improved effort – if he can build off that mile, he can grab a piece here too. (7) RAUCOUS is a “steady” weekly player but likely too far out to do any real damage tonight. (6) VINYL DADDY feels a notch below some of the main players, and the poor draw won’t help. (8) YOU AND ME AS has some ability when she stays trotting but she made breaks in 2 of her last 3 starts and draws Post 8 tonight. (5) FOREIGN XCHANGE feels like he’s gone in the wrong direction again

RACE 3 – (1) DRACARYS Z had no prayer from Post 7 last week but he was right on the wire with HAZEVILLE the week before, starting from the pole – may be able to control the action and pick up a win tonight. (2) SPECULA TING A failed to threaten in a hot mile last week but he had several solid tries (vs. much better) just prior to that, and looms a very legitimate threat in this spot. (3) THE MIKI TAKER A has some ok recent tries but his 23 local starts have produced no wins and just a pair of 2nds, making it hard to justify him being the 2-1 ML favorite! (4) TWIN B POWERBALL has been “ok” since recently returning from a long layoff – ok piece, but he’ll need to find more to threaten for the top slot. (5) OUR SWEET DELIGHT A has been better since adding Lasix, but probably needs an easier spot to thrive. (6) FEELIN WESTERN drops, but may need more class relief to really show his best

RACE 4 – (6) ONEMORE VOLO has been racing well both here and at Pocono, and has enough speed to at least put himself into play with a good start – a few of the other main contenders are a little iffy right now, so we’ll try this guy on top. (4) HIGHLAND STARBURST has plenty of ability but may not be 100% right now (breaks in 2 of her last 3 starts) – very tough if she behaves here, but insist on a fair price if using on top. (5) DWOOD was a dullish 3rd last start but has several recent efforts much sharper than that one – can be right in the mix if he reverts to his top form in here. (7) MONI BUYS HAPPYNES was hoping to become Yannick’s next “super mare” but she broke in her first 2 local starts (FM Invitational) and now draws poorly returning off a 3rd place finish at PcD – would hardly be a surprise, and that 10-1 ML price is definitely tempting. (1) WISH LIST can use her speed to race closer to the action tonight, and that could help her take home a decent piece. (3) MONI MAN has been stuck on minor pieces for months! (2) BIZZY BRENDA gets a decent draw, giving her at least a chance for some minor spoils

RACE 5 – (5) EXISTENTIAL is just 2 for 26 lifetime but does have a LOT of ability (she usually faces much tougher, and is often her own worst enemy) – this is a field where she should be able to avoid any trouble, and probably has only one real challenger to beat. (6) LAVRA ROSE N was a much easier winner in her first U.S. start than the line might suggest so it was no surprise to see her crush the field last week – if the top choice falters at all, she’ll likely be the one getting her picture taken. (1) DRUNK DIAL instantly improved by leaps and bounds upon joining her current barn 3 back, but faces a pair of pretty tough rivals tonight – not sure she’s elevated her game enough to beat them. (2) PAPIS OPINION has been very reliable for weeks, and an easy trip should see her finishing well late for a decent share. (7) CRYSTAL COAST is 20-1 ML but has raced well here several times, even from bad spots (like this one) – good bomb for 3rd/4th. (4) IMSODELIGHTFUL may improve in her new barn but that qualifier suggests it may not happen just yet. (3) JK SASSY LADY won a “fall apart” race last week in a very soft field – would be a surprise to see her come close to that success vs. these. (8) WAVE DANCER failed to threaten in PA last week adding Lasix, and lands all the way outside returning to YR.

RACE 6 – (3) ODDS ON COMMANDEER has delivered a mixed bag of starts this year but although she got too hot and bolted 3 back, she’s actually raced ok in 3 of her last 4 starts – we’ll give her the slightest of edges in this soft, but evenly-matched field. (4) CAVIART MADRID faltered on the lead with no excuses last week (after going 3/4s in 1:27.1) but she gets a switch to Stratton tonight and that could put her over the top. (2) HAY BETH sat pocketed to #4 last with every chance to win up the cones but was outmuscled when it mattered most – another capable of taking this, with the right trip. (5) DORAL DELIGHT has offered more “bad” than “good” in her 6 local tries but she did pull off a 22-1 upset on 7/22, giving her at least a punchers chance vs. these. (7) MIDNIGHT LACE picked up checks in all 5 local tries, hitting board 3X – will be tougher to pull that off from out here, though. (1) DRAGON CRUISE won 3 races (out of town) earlier this year but has struggled mightily for the last few months. (6) JUST MY WORLD finished 7th in all 3 local tries – need to be a lot better

RACE 7 – (3) ALL MY LOVIN has been thriving since moving to these $20K claimers, winning 2 of 5 starts with very legitimate excuses in the 3 losses (where he still raced very well) – gets the slight edge over (4) FOXHUNT as he looks to make it 2 in a row. The latter was a close 2nd behind the top choice last week, after brushing to command to the half – he was a huge 2nd when parked the mile the week before, and looms a dangerous player once more. (6) HAPPY HOUR BLUES was unable to threaten in his local debut but he wasn’t “horrible”, and was certainly facing better – he can have a bigger say dropping in for the $20K tag, even from Post 6. (1) DIVINE COSMO arrives in undeniably sharp form from Monti, but vs. easier – he’ll be using his speed from the pole, but not sure how well he’ll hold up in the latter stages. (8) CAPTAIN AWESOME was a little disappointing when 3rd two back but that effort is sandwiched between a pair of wins (in this class) – the issue tonight is the draw, as he’s struggled from outside spots in the past. (7) ALABAMAJAMMA was way overdriven last week and cost himself a chance for a good chunk – figures to be limited to minor spoils tonight with the move outside. (2) HURRIKANEKINGJAMES won a “fall apart” race last week vs. 15s…not sure the move up to 20s is going to work out (5) AUSSIE HANOVER is winless in 47 local starts over the last 2 years…a ground saving trip may help him grab a small check, though

RACE 8 – (7) SWEETHOMEALABAMA N was a BIG “go” last week, was used very hard into a hot mile and was still a close 3rd at the end – it won’t be easy to overcome tonight’s draw, but he’s still worth a good look, at what should be a good price. (3) OURMATEMENKO N had pace with no room last week and has been facing tougher for some time– he may end up with a good trip here and that could make him a real threat (5) MY ULTIMATE BYRON A gets a pass for his last when he left from an impossible spot, and nothing went right after that – he moves inside, goes back to Siegelman, and one of his better efforts could put him in the mix tonight (2) CHURCHVIEWFRANKL IR will be closer to the action tonight (with the move inside), and that could help him grab a decent piece with his usual late rally. (1) JUST ENUFF STUFF will attract attention with the class drop and rail but he’s been struggling for a long time, and MAY disappoint at a short price. (4) TEXAS HOLDEM looked ok at PcD chasing some fast miles but immediately was back to dullish form upon return to YR (where he’s 0 for 20 this year) – small slice only. (8) DEALERS TURN in just 1 for 29 at YR in 2025-26 and draws Post 8. (6) PARTY CRUISER seems significantly overmatched, despite some good recent PA form (vs. much easier).

RACE 9 – (1) YUENGLING drops back to 20s, draws the pole, and has won 18 races over the last 2 years – the road to the winner’s circle clearly goes through her, but she also figures to be an extremely short price. (5) FIGHTIN G EVIL has never enjoyed the greatest success here at Yonkers but she’s racing ok right now (for our leading barn), and should be able to have a real say here. (2) WHOS PERFECT did well to hold 3rd after being used very hard last week and has some other good recent efforts as well – use in exotics. (8) ALWAYS B LAYLA recently returned from a couple of months off and has his board in all 3 starts in this class – tonight’s draw may present a roadblock, however. (3) DASH N CACHE likes to win races and is 3 for 9 here in 2026…she also feels a little bit cheaper at the moment, and possibly not up for the aggressive tries she usually thrives with. (6) SP DANCINWITHSTARZ continues to be plagued by horrible draws – maybe she can rally for a small share? (4) CHILLIN BYTHE POOL is as camera shy as they come, and would be a surprise. (7) DISARONNO HILL was claimed away from one of our most successful barns and regressed significantly in just one start.

RACE 10 – (4) DELIGHTFUL TERROR drops back to 15s and he has several strong recent tries at this level, including a win 3 back – there’s a chance that the pace just may get contested enough for him to show up late for an upset. (8) WELL THATS MARKY was hammered at the windows off the claim last week and used a perfect drive to nip #1 in the last step – will be much harder to replicate that from Post 8…but the price will also be a lot better! (1) IM A POWERPLAY A lost in the last stride two straight weeks, to the SAME trainer/driver combo each time (but different horses!) – he’ll be trying to wire ‘em once more, but will be trying it for a new barn, with a new pilot – hard to say if he’ll be as sharp. (2) J B GRAM hasn’t been sharp in weeks but he’s looking at a good trip tonight and may respond with a better effort. (3) SHINE A LIGHT was unbeatable for months but now has just 1 wins from his last 6 starts, and sometimes doesn’t look all that sporty – make sure to get a good price if using on top here. (7) MA STER MIKI has a weak local history and draws poorly for his YR return – he CAN hurt #8 if he leaves, though. Both (5) MINOTAUR and (6) BETTERBUCKLEUP would likely need things to just fall apart to have any real say