It’s Empire Showcase Day here at Belmont. 11 races, 8 of them stakes races for New York Breds, conform the Saturday offer. Let’s take a look:
1- 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) ‘Mdn 70k Purse $70,000 FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
10-12-11
The potent combo of Rosario and Clement appear here in the opener with first time starter Swashbuckle, who has a pedigree that screams he will go nice at the 8.5 furlong distance. Cotton ran nicely in his first turf experience. Now stretches out from six panels and has the speed to be a factor from the gitgo. Ruse showed some early foot in his debut, now gets Johnny V. and the stretch out can be a blessing in disguise. He can be a nice upset probability.
2 – 1 Mile. ™‘MaidOMstB150K Maid of the Mist S. Purse $150,000 FOR FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
5-3-7
Impressive run by Frost Me first time out. Kimmel excels at 34% in non graded stakes. Should be at or near the lead from the beginning. Party at Page’s has a stakes win already. Its true it was at Finger Lakes, but the fact that they bring him here is indicative that they feel the filly is live here. Mashnee Girl returns to the main strip after a miserable try on the grass, and has a very nice jockey upgrade. The one-turn mile seems better for her.
3 – 1 Mile. ‘SleepyHlwB150K Sleepy Hollow S. Purse $150,000 FOR TWO YEAR OLDS FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
3-4-2
Masked Marauder returns to the dirt, and although he didn’t do that bad on the grass, connections feel he is much better on the conventional strip. Irad returns to his saddle, he won him at first asking. Breadman won nicely on the grass over my top pick, lest see how he handles the grass. Terranova hits at a 17% switching surfaces. Hold the Salsa upset the field in the Bernard Bongard, running against a soft pace. The race seems to me like it will develop very similar to that one, so Alvarado will need to put him at a stalking position from the number 2 post.
4 – 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™‘TicndrogaB150K Ticonderoga S. Purse $150,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
2-4-3
After two races filled with trouble for her, Short Pour finally returned to her winning ways in her most recent. If she endures a similar trip, she definitely is one of the fillies to beat. Myhartblongstodady is maybe the speed of the speed, and if she is let loose with easy fractions, it can be her wire to wire. Wegetsdamunnys will complete the selection, she should be stalking the pace and Alvarado knows her well.
5 – 7 Furlongs. (Turf) ™‘Mdn 70k Purse $70,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
2-11-7
Big Time Lady will finally get her wishes come true, racing on the grass. Twice in a row she wanted to race on the lawn and the race was taken off. Because of the rail draw. Irad will look to put her in contention from the start. Home for Christmas is a first time starter for trainer Christophe Clement, with Joel Rosario on the saddle. More than enough attributes to win first time out, and was hammered at 12X her studs fee. Byhubbyhellomoney ran quite nicely on her debut on the dirt, now tries the grass, and has a good pedigree on the dam side that suggest she will relish the grass.
6 – 1 Mile. ™‘EmprDstfHB175K Empire Distaff H. Purse $175,000 A HANDICAP FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
2-6-5
The resilient Ratakowski gets the nod in this race. She was slow from the gate last time out, and the mile is much better for her. Furthermore, she loves Belmont, with 4 wins out of 5 starts. Lucky Move has been facing much better fillies. The cutback to a mile should help her also, and she will be felt late in the stretch. Critical Value has been slowly improving and the pace of the race should play in her favor.
7 – 6½ Furlongs. ‘HudsonHB125K Hudson H. Purse $125,000 A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
6-7-3
The vastly improved Big Engine will get the nod in this race. There should be lively pace here, which plays right into his style. Lezcano will look to catch them late. My Boy Tate is another one who will be stalking the early leaders from mid pack and should come with a late run from the three sixteenths on. Arthurs Hope hasn’t been the same horse that we saw early in the year, but now is facing strictly state breds, so improvement should be expected.
8 – 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) ‘MohawkB150K Mohawk S. Purse $150,000 INNER TURF FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
3-7-5
Dot Matrix just missed last time out, in a race in which there wasn’t any speed at all. Now the pace should be much faster and that will definitely help him. Hoping also for a dry surface. Somelikeithotbrown is the classiest speed of this race, and he has show the ability to come from just off the pace. After running in four graded stakes in a row, this is a definite drop in class for him. Therapist is another one who can take advantage of a hot pace and with Irad up, he is very dangerous.
9 – 6½ Furlongs. ™‘IroquoisB125K Iroquois S. Purse $125,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
7-9-1
It has been at Finger Lakes, but Spin a Yarn has shown nice early zip from the gate and here, she can be long gone. At Saratoga, she did all the dirty work and was caught late. With more experience now, she is a wire to wire threat. Timely Tradition gets a cozy outside post and should be tracking the early leaders from mid pack, and will be heard off late in the stretch. Newly Minted is the class of this field, but I think she has lost a step or two. If she recovers her old form, she is a player.
10 – 1 1/8 Mile. ‘EmpirClsHB175K Empire Classic H. Purse $175,000 A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
3-2-4
I definitely prefer Funny Guy at a mile or less, but in this race, which is a one turn nine panels trip, he is definitely one of the top choices. He should be tracking Mr. Buff from two or three lengths behind and will be a tough beat if he repeats one of his last two races, both in open graded stakes. Mr. Buff is always dangerous versus New York breds, but those last two races, albeit in Graded company, left a lot to be desired. Very wary of his chances. Chestertown is a late developer grinder that looks well placed for a good showing, if he keeps the improving pattern.
11- 7 Furlongs. (Turf) ‘Alw 72000n1x Purse $72,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
3-7-11
Smite has the pace advantage in here, and Saez knows how to effectively rate these horses, specially going short on the grass. Advanced Strategy finally came thru breaking his maiden after burning good money in his last three, all as favorite. It can be a case of the light bulb angle with him, and seems like he is dangerous to win his second in a row. On The Couch gets an additional furlong to work with after just getting up in the shadow of the wire. Some further improvement and he can definitely repeat his win.