N.Y. bred Showcase Day III ~ Belmont Park

Today is New York bred Showcase Day at Belmont Park, the third of these race cards solely for registered N.Y. bred horses. This event has been hosted for over twenty years and was the catalyst for many other exclusive state bred racing days throughout the country. Many of the horses entered today are well known at NYRA and may have raced in the two other showcase days that were held at Belmont in late May and Saratoga in August.

Nine two year old colts racing a flat mile on dirt are going in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes (2nd) to start the stakes action off. The two morning line favorites seem to stick out in this group; Get Jets (#4) and Sudden Surprise (#6) have running one/two in a seven furlong stakes race for statebreds here on September 27th. We'll key these two in the top spots and use underneath in triples and superfectas : Forever in Love (#1) - Celtic Chaos (#3) - Inside Straight (#5).

Older statebred sprinters goes six and a half furlongs in the Hudson Handicap (3rd). Once again, a full field is assembled with the morning line favorite; Palace (#9) possibly scratching for next week's Breeder's Cup Sprint at Keeneland. With that said, I'll past on him in today's play and not include him in my selections. The Mike Hushion trained uncoupled entry are my top two selections; Loki's Vengeance (#1) and Captain Serious (#2) , both have shown capability in these statebred sprint stakes and are a juicy 6-1 & 8-1 on the morning line. I'll boxed these two and use underneath in my exotics : Ostrolenka (#5) - Noble Cornerstone (#7) - John's Island (#8).

It's the filly and mares turn next up in the Iroquois Stakes (4th) going the same distance. Once again here, the morning line favorite; La Verdad (#9) is pre-entered in the Breeder's Cup Filly & Mare Sprint next week. She is the best in here at 3-5, but again I'll leave her out, on the assumption she races next weekend. Just like in the Hudson Handicap, the race is wide open without these major players. Willet (#5) and Tricky Zippy (#8) both drop from open company stakes and have run well in the past versus statebred stakes company, they are my top two picks. The triple and superfecta players will be : Women Win (#2) - Isabelle (#3) - Hot City Girl (#7).

The formerly featured race of the today, the Empire Classic (#5) is now midway through the card and ends the early pick 4 stakes play. This route race for older males has been the staple for showcasing the top NY bred runners of the year. We have a wide open field with questions who will get the mile and eighth distance over the Belmont racing surface of one turn. The lukewarm morning line favorite; Saratoga Snacks (#3) and out-of-town "new face"; Warrioroftheroses (#9) are my top two selections. Underneath these two, I'll be using : Beyond Empire (#3) - Good Luck Gus (#4) - Royal Posse (#5).

We head to the turf for the first of two grass races on today's stakes card, the Mohawk Stakes (7th) going a mile and a sixteenth on the weeds with the usual cast of characters in these type races. Kharafa (#3) was a solid winner of the Ashley T. Cole Handicap going a bit longer for these state breds and the favorite in that same race; Lubash (#6) who disappointed, are my top two picks today again. Underneath players are Runaway Posse (#1) - Iron Power (#2) - Notacatbutallama (#5).

The late pick three finishes off the stakes action today (races #9 thru #11) with the filly two year old counterpart to the Sleepy Hollow Stakes, the Maid of the Mist Stakes (#9) going the same distance with an overflow field of 12 runners. She's All Ready (#10) drops back to statebred company and has a solid class edge over this group. She's my top pick along with Trappe Play (#1) who broke her maiden first out at 13-1 and draws the rail. Underneath my top two picks : Frosty Margarita (#3) - Melodic (#5) - Super Surprise (#7) the beaten favorite in the Joseph Gimma prep race for this.

The Empire Distaff (10th) are the gals equivalent to the Empire Classic, going a sixteenth of a mile less though. Hot Stones (#8) tired versus grade I open company in last start, back versus statebreds which she had dominated in her two previous starts. She gets the top pick, along with Wonder Gal (#9) who returns versus NY breds for the first time since her last victory as a two year old in July of 2014. With these two, I'll be using : Tahoe Tigeress (#1) - Temper Mint Patty (#5) - Jc's Shooting Star (#7).

The day wraps up on the grass with the ladies in the Ticonderoga Stakes (#11). Discreet Marq (#5) failed as the favorite last time out at the Saratoga NY bred showcase day, makes amends today on class alone with the "in form" Neck of the Moon (#2) who's on a roll and faces stakes company for the first time. Wide open underneath as most all these races are today ; Selenite (#3) - Swear By It (#8) - The Tea Cups (#10) are the runners I'll use in triple and superfecta slots. Today, is a good day to pad your phone-a-bet account for next week's championship day in racing at Keeneland. Good luck!

The Breeder's Cup & NYRA

We mention last week that this year's Breeder's Cup World Championships would be at a new, different venue. For the first time since Monmouth Park in 2007, the two day event was being held somewhere else other than Santa Anita Park or Churchill Downs. It's the first time for Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington Kentucky and in 2017, the event will be held at Del Mar Racecourse in California. But, conspicuously by it's absence for over a decade is the event being held in New York.

The original rotation from 1984 to 1995, the Breeder's Cup was held at California, New York and Florida based tracks only. In 1996, it was held at the first new venue other than the three original states. Also, it was the first and only time held outside the Untied States at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada. During that next ten year span, courses like Arlington Park, Lone Star Park and Monmouth Park were added. But, it has been ten years since the two day festival of championship races has appeared at a NYRA based track.

There were five year internals where the Breeder's Cup was conducted in New York. The first was in year two of the event, at Aqueduct in 1985. Then five years later, the first time at Belmont Park in 1990. That was twenty five years ago this month and it was the first Breeder's Cup I attended. One word could sum up that day, COLD! It would be every five years after that (1995, 2001, 2005) with the exception of 2001 that the race would be on this rotation of sites. But since 2005 the last time it was here, the Breeder's Cup World Championships organization has ignored the NYRA racing venue.

There are two factors that stick out why the event is no longer conducted here in New York. The first is a lame excuse that has out lived it's usefulness, in my opinion. The upheaval within the racing organization the last several years This has been a excuse used by Breeder's Cup Ltd. in the past why they overlook having the event here in New York. It's gotten to the point in the last few years that NYRA hasn't even applied to be considered hosting the two day event. Whatever transpired a decade ago with NYRA is done and over with and the Breeder's Cup should give a shot having the event here in New York. But, the main and biggest reason that it's not here anymore is because of the weather.

It was a damp dreary day in 1985 with the temperature at 54 degrees when the event was held at Aqueduct on November 2nd in it's second running. Five years later in 1990, it was sunny with a brisk wind and a cold 43 degrees on October 27, a week early than 1985. In 1995, the post times were earlier because of a conflict with the NBC broadcast and Notre Dame football. It was 66 degrees that day, but it had rained the night before and there was moisture in the track. The 2001 edition was surreal because it was held only a few weeks removed from the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. It was a cool crisp 50 degrees that day and I spent most of it inside the Belmont Park grandstand with my father. The last time the event was held there in 2005, the weather conditions were the same as four years before; 46 degrees and windy. With Belmont Park being an open-air facility, weather conditions play a big factor the last weekend of October. This is the main reason the Breeder's Cup isn't held in New York anymore.

With all this said, the purpose of having this event was to showcase championship caliber thoroughbreds across the many racetracks in this country. I guess the Breeder's Cup World Championship seems fit that New York does not fall under that criteria anymore. To me, this has taken away the flavor and usefulness of their mantra, "World Championships".

Breeder's Cup latest venue ...... KEENELAND

The 2015 edition of the Breeder's Cup World Championships deviates from the norm this year. After three straight years at Santa Anita Park and five of the last seven, the two day event is at Keeneland Racecourse for the first time. It will be a whole new ball game for wagering, not seen since the last time it was held at a new site. That was in 2007, the year it expanded to two days and at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Those two days were a turning point in where the event was held because of what transpired. After last weekend's weather, the result could be much like it was in 2007 unfortunately, if mother nature doesn't cooperate.

The weather was a major factor the first time it was held at this new east coast site eight year's ago. Late Fall weather in the northeast can be tricky and that year it was at Monmouth Park. There was pretty much non-stop rain from Friday afternoon until well into the Saturday card. Not the way Monmouth Park wanted it to be for the first time they were holding the Breeder's Cup. Top that off with it being the inaugural expansion of more races and having two days instead of one. It was a washout and one of the reasons that the move to Santa Anita was put in place. We've seen it too, that weather in Kentucky can be brutal this time of the year also.

When the races were held in Kentucky in the past, there were times that they too had off track conditions. This past weekend at Keeneland and New York, weather wasn't favorable and conditions not the best. With the possibly of inclement weather, the size of the Keeneland Racecourse facility for the attending fans, it could be very interesting. Keeneland isn't as large as most host tracks for this event. Much like what NYRA did for the Belmont Stakes and Travers this year, Breeder's Cup is limiting the amount of on-track patrons to the event with a cap on attendance. This is a factor only if you plan on going, but the weather will play a big role on the success of this year's Breeder's Cup Championship day, away from sunny Southern California.

Our handicapping segment this week looks at two turf races that may be affected weather again this week. In New York, the Knickerbocker Handicap (9th) a mile and eighth on the weeds and at Keeneland, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (9th) for three year old filly turf runners. While the New York is while open, in Kentucky a very sharp three year old filly sticks out over her rivals.

A field of 11 with one (MTO) is scheduled for the route event at Belmont Park which includes the winner from the previous year. I'm leaning toward the two inside horses as my top selections; Middleburg (#1) and Messi (#2) with the later coming off a bad effort going longer at Saratoga in his last start. I'll box these two in my exacta and use underneath; War Dancer (#7) - All Included (#10) - Mr. Speaker (#9). I'm leaving out last year's winner of this race; Legendary (#8).

At Keeneland, a soft turf may be at hand also in their featured event going the same distance as the Knickerbocker in New York. Here the outside filly is head and shoulders best over her competition. Sentiero Italia (#9) is two for two in stakes competition at this level and has been great in winning both those starts. She goes from the outside today and should set a good stalking trip. She's my top pick and underneath I'll use; Olorda (#6) - Blond Me (#7) - Miss Temple City (#3) and longshot - Return to Grace (#5).

SUPER SATURDAY II @ Belmont Park ~ superfectas / pick 4 / pick 6 plays

Today is round #2 of Belmont Park's Super Saturday Stakes action with prep races for the Breeder's Cup at Keeneland on October 30th and 31st. There are six stakes races today that encompass races five through ten. The Saturday pick six at Belmont, starts in the sixth and guaranteed pick four in the 7th race. With the success in two of my five superfecta box plays from Super Saturday I (Turf Classic Day) and three out of four in my stakes pick four play, we'll use the same format on the five stakes today with another pick four play and pick six play.

The Kelso Handicap (5th) starts things off for older males going a mile on dirt. The 3/5 favorite is my old friend; Honor Code (#2) who has become the top older male handicap older with his big effort in the Whitney Handicap. While he is turning back in distance, today in this race is a better spot that in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at a longer distance later on in the card. Hopefully, there will be enough speed leading the way for his late closing kick. My superfecta box play is : 2 with 4/5/6.

It's a battle of stateside versus European runners in the Flower Bowl Handicap (6th) for older filly & mares going a route distance on the turf. The North American runners have taken turns beating each other, so I'll go with the European class runner; Curvy (#8) who has four victories in nine career starts. This three year old faces older America foes for the first time and is a new face among distaff turf runners. She is my top pick and I'll use with her; 8 with 1/5/7.

The first of two races for two year olds is the Frizette Stakes (7th) with an evenly matched field of seven fillies. I'm taking a page from the last race and going with a European runner from a trainer who has done well in the past with first time stateside runners. Nemoralia (#3) is trained by Jeremy Noseda, whose claim to fame was with Wilko, who won at 28-1 over Afleet Alex in the 2004 edition of the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. This horse makes in dirt debut after wins on turf and polytrack across the pond. My superfecta box play is : 3 with 1/2/7.

The boys are up next in the Champagne Stakes (8th) with another evenly matched field. Going with a price here and my man Shug McGaughey who saddles, Sail Ahoy (#4) at 12-1 morning line odds. This regally bred Phipps runner has a victory at this mile distance over the Belmont strip (only one of two with a victory longer than a sprint). With this black & pink runner, I'll be using : 4 and 1/2/5.

Much like last weekend's three year old filly race on the weeds, the Hill Prince Stakes (9th) for the boys is wide open! The Japanese bred from the connections who campaigned Main Sequence to top turf eclipse honors is my top selection; Tale of Life (#11). In his stateside debut, he was victorious at Saratoga and steps up to stakes action today. With him, I'll use : 11 and 4/6/10.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup (10th) is a short, select field that is minus the two best older males on the east coast (Liam's Map & Honor Code) with that said, it's Tonalist (#6) race to lose. I can't go pass him and the superfecta play in this short field is: 6 with 1/3/4.

The all-stakes pick four wager today starts in the (7th) race and is : 1/2/3 (7th) with 4/5 (8th) with 11 (9th) and 6 (10th) = $3.00 for a fifty cent play. The pick six play starting in the (6th) is : 8 with 1/2/3 with 4 with 11 with 6 and ends in the (11th) with Life Imitates Life (#7) = $6.00 pick six wager.