New York-Breds Set To Shine On Annual Empire Showcase Day
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A total of 93 New York-breds are entered for a special 10-race card on Sunday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet to celebrate the best of New York for the annual Empire Showcase Day, featuring eight stakes races worth a combined $1.6 million, topped by the $250,000 Empire Classic and $250,000 Empire Distaff.
“Empire Showcase Day is the annual marquee Championship event for New York owners, breeders, and horsemen who participate in our program,” said New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. executive director Najja Thompson. “The day is a full display of the quality, competitiveness, excitement, and financial incentives and awards available to horses who are bred and race in New York. We are proud to partner with NYRA to showcase why the New York-bred program is the best in the country.”
Empire Classic [Race10]
Robert S. Evans’ homebred Drake’s Passage [post 1, Manny Franco] will look to return to winning form for trainer Christophe Clement in the nine-furlong Empire Classicfor 3-year-olds and up in Race 10.
The 4-year-old Tonalist colt finished fifth in this event last year as the mutuel favorite before matching up a trio of career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figures when second in a pair of open allowance events here ahead of a four-length romp in the state-bred Commentator in June during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.
Donegal Racing’s multiple stakes-placed Donegal Surges [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] will look to secure his fourth win of the year for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Bred by Chester Broman and the late Mary Broman, the 4-year-old Candy Ride colt sports a 6-0-2-2 record in stakes company, including a runner-up effort to Drake’s Passage in the Commentator. Donegal Surges arrives from one of his best performances yet when besting open allowance company traveling nine furlongs on September 20 here.
Rounding out the field are a pair of contenders for trainer James Ferraro in dual graded stakes-placed General Banker [post 6, Luis Rivera, Jr.] and four-time winner Mama’s Gold [post 8, Romero Maragh]; stakes winner Bank Frenzy [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for conditioner Rudy Rodriguez; the Orlando Noda-trained stakes winner Jackson Heights [post 9, Eric Cancel]; stakes-placed Olympic Dreams [post 5, Flavien Prat] who returns to stakes company off the claim for conditioner Ilkay Kantarmaci; three-time winner Cicciobello [post 7, Madison Olver] for trainer Derek Ryan; and allowance winner Russian Realm [post 3, Dylan Davis] for trainer Danny Gargan.
Venti Valentine scoring The Johnstone Mile. (Janet Garaguso)
The co-featured Empire Distaff, a nine-furlong route for fillies and mares 3-year-old and up slated as Race 5, will feature NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ multiple graded stakes-placed Venti Valentine [post 3, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] in what is expected to be her final career start.
Trained by Jorge Abreu, the 5-year-old daughter of Firing Line, a six-time stakes winner, is listed as Hip 209 at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November Sale. A stakes winner in each of her four years of racing, Venti Valentine has banked $918,600 through a 24-7-6-5 record. She added the state-bred Critical Eye to her ledger in June during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and will look to improve upon her third-place finish in this event last year.
Bred by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, she is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Espresso Shot and dual stakes-winner Landed.
Mark T. Anderson’s Sterling Silver [post 2, John Velazquez], who is listed as Hip 194 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, has banked $867,301 through a 26-8-3-5 record.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott through her last four outings, the 5-year-old Cupid mare, bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, completed the bulk of her impressive ledger for retired conditioner Tom Albertrani topped by a trio of state-bred stakes wins and four graded placings. She captured the Spa’s state-bred Johnstone Mile Handicap in August and arrives from a third-place finish in the local Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on September 29.
A talented field includes the Linda Rice-trained stakes-winner Amanda’s Folly [post 1, Jose Ortiz]; a strong pair for trainer Rudy Rodriguez in stakes-placed Bon Adieu [post 5, Ruben Silvera], who won an optional-claimer here on October 19, and four-time winner Call Her Bluff [post 6, Flavien Prat]; as well as stakes-placed Smokin’ Hot Kitty [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche] for conditioner Horacio De Paz.
Mo Plex riding the rail to victory. (Dom Napolitano)
The stakes action kicks off in Race 3 as R and H Stable’s Grade 3-winner and Grade 1-placed Mo Plex [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] headlines the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow, a one-turn mile for juveniles.
Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the Complexity bay returns to state-bred company after a last-out third in the one-mile Grade 1 Champagne on October 5 here – a “Win and You’re In” event for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which he picked up three qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for the show-honors.
Mo Plex was previously unbeaten in three outings, winning the Grade 3 Sanford and state-bred Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital this summer at the Spa following a dominant graduation sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs here in June.
Bred by Everything’s Cricket Racing, Mo Plex, a $45,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, is out of the Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy. He was the first graded stakes winner for freshman sire Complexity.
Stakes-winner Sacrosanct [post 2, Manny Franco] brings a 2-for-2 record and is hungry for more for dual Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox. Owned by Lady Sheila Stable, Net Birdie and Schwing Thoroughbreds, the Honest Mischief bay won the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard by 12 lengths over fellow state-breds last-out on September 22 here. The dominant effort followed a victorious debut in August at Saratoga Race Course.
Bred by Burleson Farms, Mckenzie Bloodstock and Sequel Thoroughbreds, Sacrosanct, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Vibrato, was a $260,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He is a half-brother to Group 3-winner Navit.
The field also includes dual stakes-placed Soontobeking [post 5, Eric Cancel] for trainer George Weaver and stakes-placed Pay the Juice [post 3, Flavien Prat] for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey; in addition to maiden-winners Smilensaycheese [post 6, Dylan Davis] for trainer Mike Maker and Scheduling Dude [post 4, Jose Gomez] for conditioner Rick Dutrow, Jr.
The undefeated With the Angels [post 3, Jose Ortiz] will look to keep her perfect ledger unblemished for trainer Linda Rice in the $200,000 Maid of the Mist [Race 4], a one-turn mile for juvenile fillies.
Owned by Winning Move Stable, John C. Oxley, Lady Sheila Stable, Rideau Racers and Sanford Robbins, the daughter of Omaha Beach graduated by 11 1/2 lengths in pacesetting fashion sprinting six furlongs in August at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a similar open-lengths romp in the state-bred Joseph A. Gimma on September 22 here, dominating the seven-furlong sprint by 9 3/4 lengths over returning rivals Valtellina and Carmen’s Candy Jar.
Bred by Joseph DeRico, With the Angels was a $350,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Pavilion Racing’s Valtellina [post 5, Dylan Davis] looks to avenge the defeat for trainer Ray Handal while Repole Stable’s homebred Carmen’s Candy Jar [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] vies to do the same for Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher.
The field is completed by maiden winners Playful Lass [post 1, Manny Franco] for trainer Mike Maker, Another Cleeshay [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] for conditioner Gary Contessa, Boston’s Phinest [post 7, Flavien Prat] for four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, and the David Donk-trained Trail of Gold [post 8, John Velazquez]; as well as the maiden Olivia’s Wish [post 6, Ruben Silvera] for trainer Antonio Arriaga.
A patient Prat held his charge in mid-pack down the backstretch. (Chelsea Durand)
Mark Stanley’s Tricky Temper [post 2, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] seeks her second stakes conquest of the year in the 6 1/2-furlong$150,000 Iroquois [Race 6]for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the sophomore daughter of Into Mischief scored in the state-bred Union Avenue Handicap in August at Saratoga Race Course with a stalk-and-pounce trip. She has hit the board in each of her four state-bred starts this year and enters from an off-the-board finish in the Grade 3 Prioress on August 31 at the Spa.
Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Lakland Farm, Tricky Temper notched her first stakes win in November’s Key Cents at the Big A and finished third earlier this year in the state-bred Franklin Square and Bouwerie. The Union Avenue came on the heels of a prominent state-bred optional claiming score at Saratoga.
Steep opposition will be provided by the multiple stakes-placed Leeloo [post 3, Jose Ortiz] for trainer Ignacio Correas, IV; stakes-winners Security Code [post 6, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Lisa Bartkowski, Cara’s Time [post 7, Dylan Davis], the 2023 NYTB Champion 2-Year-Old Female for trainer Mitch Friedman, and Golden Rocket [post 5, Flavien Prat] for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci; multiple stakes-placed Captainsdaughter [post 4, Javier Castellano] for conditioner Russell Cash; and six-time-winner Athena Beach [post 1, Jose Gomez] for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias.
The 6 1/2-furlong $150,000 Hudson [Race 7]for 3-years-old and up will see last-out stakes-winners Looms Boldly [post 3, Manny Franco] and Rotknee [post 5, Dylan Davis] clash in a field of experienced dirt sprinters.
Ten Strike Racing’s Looms Boldly returned to winning form with a strong pacesetting win in the six-furlong John Morrissey Handicap on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the 3 1/4-length win came on the heels of back-to-back runner-up efforts in open allowance company.
Bred by Marshall Gramm and Clay Sanders, the 4-year-old Goldencents gelding also won the Damon Runyon as a sophomore here and the Ontario County last June at Finger Lakes Racetrack.
William Butler’s Grade 3-placed homebred Rotknee was a dominant 5 3/4-length winner of the Leon Reed Memorial last out over sloppy and sealed footing on September 23 at Finger Lakes. There, he broke a step slow but recovered quickly to press the pace early and overtake the lead through the half-mile call with ease under Andre Worrie.
The 5-year-old son of Runhappy’s seven stakes scores include local wins in the Damon Runyon as a sophomore, last year’s Hudson, and this year’s Say Florida Sandy and Affirmed Success. Rotknee was named the NYTB Champion 3-Year-Old Male in 2022.
The field is completed by the Rudy Rodriguiez-trained stakes-placed pair of Factually Correct [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Disarmed [post 4, Ruben Silvera]; multiple stakes-placed Sheriff Bianco [post 2, Jose Ortiz] for conditioner Linda Rice; stakes-placed Light Man [post 1, Javier Castellano, blinkers ON] for trainer Bruce Levine; and three-time-winner Silver Satin [post 6, Flavien Prat] for trainer Jorge Abreu.
Moonage Daydream (rail) scoring the John Hettinger. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
Chris Larsen’s MoonageDaydream [post 1, Flavien Prat] looks to make it three state-bred stakes wins in a row in the $200,000 Ticonderoga [Race 8], a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
Trained by Jorge Abreu, the 4-year-old Candy Ride bay won the Yaddo Handicap in August at the Spa ahead of a pacesetting score in the John Hettinger last-out on September 26 here. The Hettinger marked Moonage Daydream’s third overall stakes triumph, after also capturing the local Stewart Manor sprinting six furlongs versus open-company in November 2022. Bred by 3C Stable, Moonage Daydream is out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Elatha.
Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle multiple stakes-winner Silver Skillet [post 6, Joel Rosario] and Robert Evans’ stakes-winning homebred New Ginya [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.].
Silver Skillet, a 4-year-old Liam’s Map gray bred by Robert Chasanoff, looks to rebound off a fifth in the Yaddo and fourth in the Hettinger – both as the favorite. For her ventures last year for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tango Uniform Racing and Steven Rocco, Silver Skillet earned NYTB Champion Turf Female honors with a 7-2-3-0 record that featured a win in the Suzie O’Cain last August at the Spa.
New Ginya returns from an over one-year layoff dating to a fourth in last year’s John Hettinger. The 5-year-old Tonalist bay won the Yaddo ahead of that last effort and looks for a victorious return on Sunday.
The competitive field includes graded stakes-placed Stonewall Star [post 8, Jose Lezcano] for conditioner Horacio De Paz and Caldwell Luvs Gold [post 5, Manny Franco] for trainer Brad Cox; stakes-winner Whatlovelookslike [post 3, Dylan Davis] for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher; four-time winner Collaboration [post 4, Jose Ortiz] for conditioner Linda Rice; and three-time winner Masterof the Tunes [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Joe Lee.
Spirit of St. Louis winning the Kingston. (Janet Garaguso)
Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn’s Spirit of St Louis [post 1, Manny Franco] looks to get back in the win column in the $200,000 Mohawk [Race 9], a 1 1/16-mile outer turf test for 3-year-olds and up.
Bred by Chester Broman and the late Mary Broman, Spirit of St Louis boasts an 8-for-12 record with five stakes wins. Most recently, the 5-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding finished fifth when making a Grade 1 attempt in the Coolmore Turf Mile on October 5 at Keeneland. Prior, his five-race all-stakes win streak was broken by re-opposing Dakota Gold in the state-bred West Point Handicap presented by Trustco Bank in August at Saratoga.
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s five-time stakes winner Dakota Gold [post 6, Dylan Davis] looks for his next stakes triumph for trainer Danny Gargan. The 5-year-old Freud gelding has hit the board in 13-of-18 lifetime starts including stakes scores in the aforementioned West Point, the state-bred Hudson Valley [2023], eligible-sired Cab Calloway [2022] and Spectacular Bid [2022], and the open Nownownow [2021].
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Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Ronald L. Bowden Living Trust, Dakota Gold, out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Dakota Kid, was an $83,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale. He is a half-brother to stakes-winner Ramblin’ Wreck.
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles’ City Man [post 9, Joel Rosario] won this event in 2022 en route to Champion NYTB Turf Male honors in 2022/23. Bred by Moonstar Farm, the Christophe Clement-trained 7-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man holds an 11-for-35 ledger that features wins in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale and Grade 3 Forbidden Apple in 2022.
Rounding out the field is graded stakes-placed Jerry the Nipper [post 10, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher; stakes-winners Hush of a Storm [post 8, Flavien Prat] for dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox and Itsallcomintogetha [post 2, Jose Gomez] for trainer Lisa Bartkowski; multiple stakes-placed Fidelightcayut [post 4, Romero Maragh] for conditioner Juan Avila; and allowance-winners Ruse [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Timothy Hills, Locke and Key [post 7, Luis Rivera, Jr.] for conditioner James Ryerson and Kaz Sugar Bank [post 3, Ruben Silvera] for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
Enjoy this Sunday’s, October 27th, Empire Showcase Day at Aqueduct Racetrack at Equestris Restaurant!
NYTB photo
Equestris is Aqueduct’s premier venue for horsemen, owners, and breeders, offering breathtaking views with floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the premium buffet on the 10-race Empire Showcase Day, featuring eight New York-bred stakes races worth $1.6 million, highlighted by the $250,000 Empire Classic and $250,000 Empire Distaff.
Equestris Restaurant will be open this Sunday from 11 am – 3:30 pm. The premium buffet pricing includes tax & gratuity:
Adults | $75 per person
Children (3 – 12) | $30 per child
Children under 3 | Free
You can book your reservation directly through NYRA by clicking here.
For individuals and groups with horses entered on the day, please contact NYRA’s Horsemen’s Relations Department at dining@nyrainc.com.
Please click here to view Sunday’s menu at Equestris Restaurant.
