Big Apple Showcase Day for New York-breds at Belmont Park has solid fields for all six of its stakes races. The $200,000 Commentator Stakes and $125,000 Kingston Stakes have drawn many top older runners.
Multiple graded stakes winner Heart to Heart will try for a second straight stakes win in New York when he starts in an expected full field in the one-mile Artie Schiller Stakes Nov. 19 on the Aqueduct Racetrack turf.
Michael Dub, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Aisquith's Royal Posse continued to make hay in the New York-bred ranks Oct. 22 at Belmont Park with a sloppy score in the $300,000 Empire Classic Handicap.
Things may not have gone as well as they could have for Governor Malibu in the Empire State's most iconic 3-year-old races this season, but in starts against his fellow New York-breds the Malibu Moon colt has been dominant.
Grade I-placed multiple times, Tourist finally got his breakthrough win at the highest level Aug. 20 in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course.
Trainer David Donk is hoping that the third time is the charm when he sends out Gerald and Susan Kresa's New York-bred multiple stakes winner King Kreesa in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 13.
Favored Blacktype, an impressive winner of an allowance race at Belmont Park in his previous start, rallied in the stretch to win the $158,500 Oceanport Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 31 at Monmouth Park.
Runaway Lute stays unbeaten; King Kreesa wins second straight Forbidden Apple.
Three of the six entrants for Belmont's June 18 Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT) at a mile are grade I winners. Red-hot trainer Chad Brown trains two of the others.
Since moving down to Florida in September, Crossed Sabres Farm's Lochte has been unbeatable. He continued his streak Nov. 21 at Gulfstream Park West, claiming the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Crossed Sabres Farm's Lochte, upset winner of the 2014 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT), tops the field for the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 21.
The 1 1/8-mile Empire Classic was the feature race on a Belmont card that included eight stakes worth a total of $1.75 million.
Former claimer Royal Posse will try for his second straight stakes win against other New York-breds and third victory overall when he faces an expected eight rivals in the $300,000 Empire Classic Handicap.
The 11th installment in the rivalry between New York-breds Lubash and Kharafa was staged Sept. 20 at Belmont Park, where Kharafa easily got past his opponent in the stretch and went on victory.
With one of his familiar rivals looking to play spoiler, Lubash will try to win $125,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds and older a second straight year and third time overall Sept. 29 at Belmont Park.
Royal Posse dug in deep and turned back a game rival in pacesetter Saratoga Snacks to win his stakes debut, the $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga Race Course.
Not seen at the races in 10 months, grade II winner Zivo is set to return Sept. 4 at Saratoga Race Course in the $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds.
The Aug. 28 card at Saratoga Race Course, on the eve of Travers Stakes (gr. I) Day, will feature six New York-bred stakes worth $1.15 million, highlighted by a showdown of older turf runners in the $150,000 West Point.
Jim and Susan Hill's Grand Arch roared past pacesetter King Kreesa entering the stretch and repelled the come-from-behind bid from Ironicus to win the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 15 at Saratoga Race Course.
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey hopes the $500,000 Fourstardave (gr. IIT) will open the door to a Breeders' Cup bid for Ironicus, who will do battle with last year's Fourstardave winner Seek Again Aug. 15 at Saratoga.
Crossed Sabres Farm's Lochte hopes to get back on the winning track as the 5-year-old gelded son of Medaglia d'Oro tops the field for the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park.
Gerald and Susan Kreesa's King Kreesa stole away on the front end June 13 to take the $300,000 Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park, becoming just the third two-time winner of a race he also won in 2013.
Stuart S. Janney III's Ironicus shoots for his second straight graded stakes score in the $500,000 Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park on June 13.
West Point Thoroughbreds' Empire Dreams scored the biggest win of his career when he took the $200,000 Commentator Handicap at Belmont Park May 25.
After cruising to victory in an allowance/optional claiming race May 2 at Belmont Park, stakes winner Ostrolenka appears ready to deliver a top effort in the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds May 25.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Empire Dreams | George Weaver |
|
| Front | James A. Jerkens |
|
| Kharafa | Timothy A. Hills |
|
| King Kreesa | Linda Rice |
|
| Ocala Jim | Raymond Handal |
|
| Orino | H. James Bond |
|
| Saratoga Snacks | Gary Sciacca |
|
| With Exultation | George Weaver |
|
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Albany S. | SAR |
| Funny Cide S. | SAR |
| Fleet Indian S. | SAR |
| Seeking the Ante S. | SAR |
| Yaddo S. | SAR |
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| O.D. McDonald S. | ALB | |
| Wild Applause S. | BEL | |
| Chicago H. (G3) | CD | |
| River Rock Casino H. | HST | |
| Edward Evans S. | LRL |
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