The 2009 Belmont Park racing calendar wind’s up this weekend with the 16th annual New York bred Showcase Day racing card. This year with the forecast of inclement weather schedule for Saturday in the greater metropolitan area, the two races on the grass (Ticonderoga & Mohawk Handicap) will be run on the final Belmont card Sunday afternoon. That leaves only five New York bred restricted races today on the main track. We have a pair of two year old races going a mile, two sprint races both for the males & fillies and the Empire Classic, going a mile & an eighth for the older N.Y. breds. This race card is one of my favorites that NYRA schedules each year. It comes at the end of the racing year and always just before the Breeder’s Cup day. The topic of this week’s column is an old fashioned handicapping card of the five races that make up this year’s New York bred Showcase Day.
Race #6 starts the showcase card with the Maid of the Mist for two year old fillies at a mile. The focus here is on the one / two finishers in the recently run Joseph A Gimma Stakes at Belmont Park going seven furlongs in the slop on September 27th. Mineralogist (#2) and Sugar Trade (#6) ran first & second in that event and look tough coming back going an addition panel. Theses two get my top billing with Raffie’s Rose (#7) – Spirit of Rose (#8) – Embrace Change (#9) underneath in the triple and superfecta plays.
Race #7 is the boys turn in the The Sleepy Hollow going the same distance. Here once again, I’m going with the proven product on a sloppy track condition with the winner of the Bertram F. Bongard ran the same day as the J.A. Gimma Stakes. Make a Note (#7) was solid in winning that day with a $20.00 mutual. I’ll use him along with Ibboyee (#10) the undefeated runner from the Todd Pletcher barn. Underneath these two will be used; Magic Tiger (#9) – City Trooper (#5) – Come From Behind (#3).
Older filly and mare sprinters are up next (8th) in the seven furlong – Iroquois Stakes. Here is my first “price” play of the card. The three year old filly; Sapphire Sky (#9) has had interesting season so far. Her only two off-the-board finishes this year were on the grass and versus open company runners. Her victory in an overnight stake at Saratoga on a sloppy track gives her the call here for me at the 12-1 morning line odds. My second selection is also a price on the morning line. Under Service (#8) has flashy speed and her only try on an off-track was a nearly wire to wire victory. Rightly So (#10) morning line favorite will be used underneath in the exotics, but gets a class test today. Afleet Alexandra (#12) & Gold for the Queen (#4) both should relish the off-track and should be also used.
The older boys go one less panel in the Hudson Handicap (9th). It will be tough going past the rail horse; Driven by Success (#1) with his early speed. Legal Consent (#4) can handle an off-track and the sprint distance, should be a square price in the exacta. Law Enforcement (#11) defeated the top selection at Saratoga , Lookin At Her (#8) was a longshot winner last out and Smokin Hero (#2) has never been out of the money on wet tracks. These three go underneath the top two picks.
The Empire Classic (#10) is a clash between two nice three year old runners and the usual classy older N.Y. bred runners. Consistent three year old; Slevin (#2) gets the top pick here over the in-form, sharp older gelding – Future Prospect (#6). One horse to watch here is the second off the layoff runner; Haynesfield (#5). He’ll be used with Ruffino (#10) who seeks his five in a row and the filly; Weathered (#4) who has clashed with some top older open company distaffers.
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