Manny Franco looks over as Bank Frenzy (outside) noses out Doc Sullivan for the win. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
Lucrative Empire Showcase Day Card
By NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – LSU Stables’ multiple stakes-winner Bank Frenzy staved off a late bid from Doc Sullivan to capture the co-featured $250,000 Empire Classic on Saturday’s annual Empire Showcase Day at Belmont at the Big A.
Empire Showcase Day, featuring nine stakes races worth a combined $1.9 million, is the marquee Championship event for New York owners, breeders, and horsemen.
“Empire Showcase Day once again showed why New York breeding and racing stand among the best in the nation,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “The day highlighted the depth, talent, and pride of our breeders, owners, and program participants, reflecting our shared commitment to continually elevate the New York-bred program.”
Two warriors of the New York-bred program delivered a fitting showcase in the $250,000 Empire Classic [Race 10] as Bank Frenzy [No. 5, $6.32] fought off a determined challenge from fellow multiple stakes winner Doc Sullivan to get up at the wire in the 1 1/8-miles race for 3-year-olds and up.
“It’s special. The New York-breds have been good to me,” said Bank Frenzy jockey Manny Franco, who won two stakes on the card. “I’m just happy to be in New York, doing well and getting good opportunities from the owners and trainers.”
Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Bank Frenzy earned his sixth career stakes victory – all coming in New York – as the 5-year-old Central Banker chestnut inched that much closer to millionaire status. The gelding opened his 2025 season with consecutive state-bred wins in the Stymie and Haynesfield at Aqueduct and also annexed the state-bred Commentator at Saratoga Race Course in June.
Bank Frenzy added to his banner season Saturday when he traveled three-wide in the early going, moving up to press pacesetter Iron Dome through the opening quarter-mile in 24.80. Bank Frenzy stayed at that one’s flank down the backstretch through fractions of 49.35 and 1:13.83 before inching his way to the lead in midstretch despite drifting out.
Just as Bank Frenzy gained his advantage, Doc Sullivan came with a surge of his own in the final sixteenth, rallying along the rail and briefly sticking a head in front only to have Bank Frenzy find more and ultimately prevail by a neck.
“My horse likes to wait when he makes the front, but I knew that he had more under him and when the horse [Doc Sullivan] engaged him to the inside, he gave me the effort that he has,” Franco said.
Doc Sullivan was 1 1/2-lengths clear of third-place finisher Whittington Park. Quick to Accuse, Dr. Kraft, and Iron Dome completed the order of finish. Chief Liam was scratched.
Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Bank Frenzy, the 2024 NYTB Champion Older Dirt Male, earned his 10th career victory from 20 career starts. He is out of the Tiznow mare Storm Now, who is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner American Lion.
Pavillion Racing’s Valtellina [No. 3, $10.94] proved it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish when she recovered after stumbling at the break to mow down pacesetter Bernietakescharge in the lane to capture the co-featured $250,000 Empire Distaff [Race 7], a 1 1/8-miles test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, ending a 10-race losing skid.
Trained by Ray Handal, the Complexity chestnut visited the winner’s circle for the first time since breaking her maiden at first asking at Saratoga Race Course in August 2024. The 3-year-old filly had been hinting at a breakthrough of late as she came into the Empire Distaff off a pair of on-the-board finishes in the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes in July and Fleet Indian at Saratoga on Aug. 21.
It appeared more bad luck had struck Valtellina Saturday as she nearly went to her knees at the start under jockey Dylan Davis, briefly putting her at the back of the seven-horse field as Bernietakescharge bounded to the lead out of post 2. Davis didn’t panic, however, and settled his mount into sixth on an inside path while Vehemente surged up to press Bernietakescharge through the opening quarter mile in 23.77.
The top two separated themselves by about six lengths as they reached the half in 47.31 and were still well clear when they covered three-quarters in 1:11.64. By that point, Valtellina had inched her way up to fifth and saved ground as she cut the corner on the final turn before angling out past a tiring Vehemente and taking dead aim at Bernietakescharge in the stretch en route to drawing clear in the final sixteenth.
“She mis-timed the break and made a quick, little stumble,” Davis said. “I was hoping she would get her feet in time, but the break wasn’t as important for me today because there was enough speed in here and she’s not a speed horse. I was just hoping she could get her legs going and get me back up and into the race and get going. She did that well.
“The kickback was a little worrisome, but she handled it great,” David added. “I was letting her bide her time and she picked up the bridle into the second turn and I was just riding the turn. I didn’t want to move too early but keeping her in contention. The rail opened up and I moved through there and then got back to the outside. I thought it was very easy for her. I gave her one more left-handed to make sure she passed the two-horse [Bernietakescharge] but she did a great job.”
Valtellina scored by 2 1/4-lengths while covering the distance in 1:50.03. Bernietakescharge held for second with Midnight Concerto third. Boxed Wine, Kay Cup, Vehemente, and Sweetest Princess rounded out the order of finish. Fast and Frisky was scratched.
Bred by Thorostock, Valtellina improved her record to two wins from 12 career starts. She is out of the Take Charge Indy mare Take Charge Sue, a half-sister to graded stakes placed Grumps Little Tots.
The stakes action kicked off with Bravaro [No.1, $3.56*] capturing the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow [Race 1], a one-turn mile for 2-year-olds with Dylan Davis in the irons for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.
The Upstart bay exited the inside post and saved ground from fourth position through a half-mile in 45.19 seconds, but was in need of running room late in the turn as Fourth and One, Gaming Wizard, Max Money and Time to Roll dueled four across the track. A patient Davis tipped Bravaro wide for the stretch run and reeled in Max Money to score by 2 1/2-lengths in a final time of 1:35.68. It was three lengths back to Fourth and One in third with Gaming Wizard, Time to Roll and Froutien rounding out the order of finish.
Bred by Stephanie Baltzan, Bravaro, who notched a one-length victory on debut under Davis, maintained a perfect 2-for-2 record in victory.
David Staudacher and Paradise Farms Corp.’sThe Wine Steward [No. 5, 4.52*]put away pacesetter Vettriano to take the $200,000 Hudson [Race 2], a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Mike Maker and piloted by Ricardo Santana, Jr., the 4-year-old Vino Rosso colt tracked from second position as Vettriano zipped through splits of 22.46, 45.20 and 1:08.71. Santana, Jr. switched to left-handed urging in the stretch run and The Wine Steward responded with a strong kick to get up and secure the 2 1/4-length score in a rapid final time of 1:14.80. Acoustic Ave landed third with Grand Opening, Caldo Candy, Locke and Key, Jackson Heights and Hit the Post completing the order of finish.
Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker, The Wine Steward was purchased by Maker for $340,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He improved his record to 13-5-4-1.
Roger Cimbora, Jr.’s popular homebred Twenty Six Black [No. 1, $4.98*] demonstrated his abundant class to capture the inaugural running of the $200,000 New York Turf Sprint Championship [Race 3] at six furlongs over the outer course for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Horacio De Paz and ridden by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, the 5-year-old War Dancer gelding saved ground in fifth position as Waralo showed the way through splits of 22.91 and 45.95 over the firm footing. Twenty Six Black maintained inside position through the turn and when presented for the stretch run, he surged beyond Waralo to notch the one-length score in a final time of 1:08.20. It was a half-length back to third-place Run Curtis Run with Dancing Buck, the awkward-starting Bold Journey, Twisted Filigree and Senbei rounding out the order of finish.
Twenty Six Black, now 17-7-4-2, is out of the First Dude mare Brazo de Oro, who also produced the stakes-placed De Paz trainee Can’t Fool Me for Cimbora, Jr.
Letmecounttheways [No. 8, $2.92*] proved much the best as she romped to a six-length victory under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario in the $200,000 Maid of the Mist [Race 4], a one-turn mile for 2-year-old fillies.
Trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms Corp., JP Racing Stable, David Staudacher and Zilla Racing Stables, the Yaupon dark bay exited the outermost post 8 in good order and led at every point of call to post the facile score in a final time of 1:35.94.
The $190,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale purchase built upon a similarly stunning 5 1/2-length debut win sprinting six furlongs against fellow state-breds on September 27.
Bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, Letmecounttheways is out of the winning Dialed In mare Draft – a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Time’s Mistress.
Niall J. Brennan’s homebred Slapintheface [No. 5, $15.44] arrived in the final jumps to win the $200,000 Mohawk [Race 6], a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Anthony Dutrow and piloted by Manny Franco, the 5-year-old Oscar Performance gelding entered from a deep-closing state-bred optional claiming win here.
He settled closer to the pace today, tracking from third position as Itsallcomintogetha set moderate fractions of 24.44, 50.17 and 1:14.31 over the firm going. Slapintheface advanced willingly down the lane, overtaking the stalking Sounds Like a Plan and the game pacesetter to secure a half-length win in a final time of 1:43.33. Itsallcomintogetha held place by a head over Sounds Like a Plain with another head back to George Briggs. Clear Conscience, Be of Courage and Outsource completed the order, while Conman and main-track only entrant Leftembehind were scratched.
Slapintheface, who improved his record to 15-4-6-1, is out of the winning Lookin At Lucky mare Lost Innocence, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Quality Rocks.
Mark T. Anderson’s millionairess Sterling Silver [No. 8, $6] flaunted her class when it counted most, uncorking a rally down the middle of the track to get up in late stretch and secure another triumph in the $200,000 Iroquois [Race 8], a six-and-a-half-furlong test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
The 6-year-old mare grey or roan daughter of Cupid prevailed in the 2023 edition of the Iroquois and was coming into this year’s test off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on Sept. 27. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Sterling Silver also earned her first victory since taking the state-bred Biogio’s Rose in her seasonal bow at Aqueduct on April 6.
With Junior Alvarado at the helm, Sterling Silver settled off the pace third to last in the nine-horse field as pacesetter Cara’s Time covered the opening quarter mile in :22.42. Sunday’s Girl took over the lead to cut fractions of :45.31 and 1:09.13 and looked to have some fight in her as she held onto that advantage into the final sixteenth. After advancing between rivals, however, Sterling Silver swung out and found daylight in the lane, rolling past eventual runner-up Stonewall Star and kicking on to a two-length win.
Sterling Silver covered the distance in 1:15.09. Stonewall Star was a half-length clear of third-place finisher My Mane Squeeze with Sunday Girl fading to fourth. Khali Magic, Stone Smuggler, Cupid’s Heart, Storm Changer, and Cara’s Time completed the order of finish.
Bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, Sterling Silver notched her 10th win from 35 career starts. She is out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor, who is out of graded stakes winner Sheets.
Barry K. Schwartz’s homebred Awesome Czech [No. 4, $4.98*] lived up to her 7-5 favoritism when she found her best run between rivals to earn the victory in the $200,000 Ticonderoga [Race 9], a 1 1/16-miles test on the outer turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
With her latest triumph, the Mendelssohn bay has now won three of her last four starts. Trained by Horacio De Paz, Awesome Czech annexed the state-bred Yaddo at Saratoga Race Course August 22, an effort that came just over a month after an allowance victory, and was most recently third in the Athenia here on September 14.
After getting away well under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., Awesome Czech settled into third on the inside path just behind longshot Golden Rocket while Spinning Colors set the pace with an opening quarter mile in 24.10 over firm going. The top three held their position as they reached the half in 47.91 but were joined around the final turn by Moonage Daydream trying to make a bid on the outside.
Awesome Czech was not to be deterred and unleashed her winning rally from between horses, coming up inside of Golden Rocket and holding off a late run from Gallant Greta to prevail by a neck.
Bred by Stonewall Farm, Awesome Czech covered the distance in 1:41.41. Gallant Greta held for second with Moonage Daydream in third. Golden Rocket was fourth with Brocknardini, Racing Colors, Spinning Colors, Bobby M’s Girl, and Can’t Fool Me completing the order of finish in the nine-horse field. Amanda’s Folly was scratched.
Awesome Czech improved her record to six wins from 18 career starts. She is out of the Awesome Again mare Marvelous Martina.
Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
