A total of 113 horses have been entered for Sunday's New York Showcase Day at Saratoga Race Course for an 11-race card devoted to horses bred in the Empire State boasting six stakes worth a combined $1.25 million.
The card is headlined by the $250,000 Albany, a nine-furlong test for sophomores. Also featured are five $200,000 stakes, including the Fleet Indian at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies; the West Point Handicap presented by Trustco Bank for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16-miles on turf; the Yaddo Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/16-miles on turf; and a pair of sprints at six furlongs in the Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, for 2-year-olds; and the Seeking the Ante for juvenile fillies. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
In conjunction with New York Showcase Day, NYRA will pay tribute to Funny Cide, one of the most popular and successful New York-breds of all time, who died earlier this summer from complications due to colic.
The celebration of Funny Cide's life will feature Funny Cide memorabilia signed by his connections: Sackatoga Stable Managing Partner Jack Knowlton, trainer Barclay Tagg, assistant trainer Robin Smullen and Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos. The signing will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch. Suggested donations will benefit the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, a pair of non-profit organizations dedicated to the care and well-being of members of NYRA's backstretch community.
On Sunday, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) will also honor three more of the greatest New York-breds to compete and represent the program.
Connections from Dayatthespa, Mind Your Biscuits and Saratoga Dew will be honored after the sixth race – the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. Honors New York-bred Legends. The trio were chosen by a distinguished panel of New York turf writers and represent the second class of honorees recognizing their importance in setting forth the New York-bred program.
“Saratoga Showcase Day is a marquee asset in the New York-bred program and we're proud in our partnership with NYRA to host this day annually for everyone involved and interested to participate in breeding and racing in New York,” said Najja Thompson executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “This year's Saratoga Showcase Day closing out Travers weekend on Sunday with a full card of New York-bred stakes, allowances, and maiden races helps to provide more national exposure for the program. We're also thrilled to once again honor a class of New York-bred Champions in Mind Your Biscuits, Dayatthespa, and Saratoga Dew who helped to elevate the program with their career accomplishments.”
The featured Albany in Race 10 provides a rematch between state-bred stakes-winners Maker's Candy [post 2, Jose Ortiz], bred by Newtownanner Stud, and the Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan-bred Allure of Money [post 3, Luis Perez].
Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Maxis Stable, and John Huber's Maker's Candy, a Twirling Candy bay trained by Mike Maker, captured the seven-furlong Mike Lee in May at Belmont Park but could not get the better of Allure of Money, trained by Michael Ferraro for owner Happy Face Racing Stable, last out when defeated a neck in the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby on July 17 at Finger Lakes.
A new challenger is Robert S. Evans' homebred Drake's Passage [post 6, Manny Franco], who garnered a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in a prominent first-level state-bred allowance score last out on July 3 at Belmont Park. Trained by Christophe Clement, the Tonalist bay is out of the graded stakes-placed Speightstown mare Raucous. The speedy Chester and Mary Broman homebred Mariachi [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche] will also make his stakes debut for trainer John Kimmel. Rounding out the field are Leo and Royal [post 1, Tyler Gaffalione], Jackson Heights [post 5, Joel Rosario] and Miracle Mike [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.]
The stakes action kicks off in Race 2 as trainer Linda Rice will have two chances to saddle her second winner of the Fleet Indian when sending out allowance winners Amanda's Folly [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Ichiban [post 5, Jose Ortiz].
Amanda's Folly, by Mendelssohn, was claimed by Rice for $16,000 in April following a seven-furlong triumph at Aqueduct. Bred by Lambholm, Amanda's Folly has now won two of her four starts for Rice, who captured this event in 2019 with Newly Minted. Amanda's Folly's wins include a one-turn mile conquest in May at Belmont before stretching out to the Fleet Indian distance for the first time in a last out wire-to-wire victory on July 26 at the Spa.
Cypress Creek Equine's Ichiban enters her stakes debut from a pair of wins. After a fifth-out graduation going seven furlongs at Belmont, the Street Sense bay defeated winners in late-rallying fashion going nine-furlongs on July 26 at the Spa.
Trainer Alan Bedard will saddle AP Stable's Cairo Sugar [post 3, Flavien Prat], who captured the one-turn mile Maddie May in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Cairo Prince bay, bred by Kaz Hill Farm, was a next out third in the open company Beyond the Wire in March at Laurel Park and enters from a one mile and 70 yard allowance score on July 24 at Parx Racing.
Completing the field are four-time starting maiden Krystalheir [post 2, Shaun Bridgmohan], and Timely Conquest [post 4, John Velazquez], who is unbeaten in both of her starts.
Race 3, the West Point presented by Trustco Bank, will see the return of two past winners in 2021 victor City Man [post 3, Joel Rosario] and last year's champ Somelikeithotbrown [post 1, Javier Castellano] taking on rising stars Dakota Gold [post 2, Flavien Prat] and Spirit of St Louis [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.]
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles' multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire City Man, bred by Moonstar Farm, makes his first start since a nose win over returning rival Jerry the Nipper in the state-bred Kingston on May 29 at Belmont. Trained by Christophe Clement, the 6-year-old Mucho Macho Man dark bay is a 10-time winner of 29 starts.
Skychai Racing and David Koenig's multiple graded stakes-winning $1.7 million earner Somelikeithotbrown, bred by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables, boasts a 4-2-1-0 record over the Spa turf led by a win in the 2020 Grade 2 Bernard Baruch. Trained by Mike Maker, he posted a six-length romp in an off-the-turf edition of this event last year.
The Danny Gargan-trained Dakota Gold, a five-time winner bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Ron Bowden, won the NYSSS Cab Calloway here last summer, while Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn's Spirt of St Louis, bred by the Bromans, earned a 94 Beyer when taking a second-level event versus winners last out on July 20 here. By Medaglia d'Oro and out of the graded stakes-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Khancord Kid, Spirit of St Louis is a full-brother to 2017 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint-winner Bar of Gold.
A talented field includes Ocala Dream [post 4, Manny Franco] and Jerry the Nipper [post 5, Jose Ortiz] along with main-track only entrants Bankit, Sheriff Bianco and Un Ojo.
Race 4 features a field of six in a special renewal of the Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, which will honor the late New York-bred fan favorite following the race with a video compilation of his career, including his signature Grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and 2004 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Funny Cide retired in 2007 and resided at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, until the time of his passing in mid-July. His remains will be buried inside Gate C at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Spa.
The six-furlong sprint for juveniles attracted a talented group that includes the undefeated The Wine Steward [post 6, Manny Franco] for conditioner Mike Maker.
The chestnut son of Vino Rosso, bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker, was a decisive 2 3/4-length winner against open company in the six-furlong Bashford Manor on July 2 at Ellis Park, pouncing from two lengths off the pace under Luis Saez to drive clear of Wilson Q and complete the course in 1:10.06. The effort, which came on the heels of a similar open-lengths maiden score on May 28 at Belmont, was awarded a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.
The field will also include Watchatalkinabout [post 4, Joel Rosario], who garnered a 72 Beyer for a one-length debut score on May 12 at Belmont for trainer Wesley Ward; and 2 1/4-length debut winner Trust Fund [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], who was awarded a 74 Beyer for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. El Grande O [post 1, Jose Ortiz] – who adds blinkers, Always a Warrior [post 2, Dylan Davis] and Works for Me [post 3, Javier Castellano] complete the field.
In Race 5, the Yaddo, Barry K. Schwartz's homebred Whatlovelookslike [post 8, Flavien Prat] brings a three-race winning streak in pursuit of her second stakes triumph for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.
The 4-year-old English Channel chestnut will cut back in distance after she defeated open allowance optional claiming company last out on August 6 going 11 furlongs over the Spa's inner turf course. In her start prior, she added “stakes winner” to her resume when defeating returning rivals Golden Rocket and Runaway Rumour in the Port Washington on July 4 at Belmont Park. Whatlovelookslike brags a 5-3-2-0 record at Saratoga as well as an overall record of 11-5-3-1.
Robert Lambe and Chad Anshelewitz's Golden Rocket [post 6, Jose Gomez], bred by Ballybrit Stables, will attempt her first trip to the winner's circle since a 33-1 upset in last year's NYSSS Statue of Liberty at the Spa. The 4-year-old Alpha chestnut enters from a close fourth-place finish in a July 19 state-bred allowance optional claimer going one mile over good inner turf behind returning rival Lisa's Vision.
Lawrence Goichman's homebred Runaway Rumour [post 5, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] brags field-best earnings of $478,555 through a 19-4-4-4 record. Trained by Horacio De Paz, the 5-year-old Flintshire bay won last year's Ticonderoga against state-breds at Belmont at the Big A in her first win since defeating open company in Belmont Park's Wild Applause in June 2021.
Completing the field are Spungie [post 1, Junior Alvarado], New Ginya [post 2, Dylan Davis], Classic Colors [post 3, Manny Franco], She's Dancing [post 4, Julio Hernandez], and Lisa's Vision [post 7, Jose Ortiz].
Three Diamonds Farm's Concerti [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] looks to build on an impressive debut score on July 14 in Race 7, the Seeking the Ante for juvenile fillies sprinting six furlongs.
Trained by Joe Sharp, the Mendelssohn dark bay, bred by Bella Cavello Stables and Horseshoe Valley Equine Center, led each step of the way in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint over the good main track to draw off impressively under Luis Saez and land the 3 1/4-length triumph in a final time of 1:05.41. She was awarded a 63 Beyer for the effort.
Lawrence Goichman's homebred Stellamaris [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] finished second by a half-length in her August 13 debut sprinting seven furlongs, but was awarded a field-best 71 Beyer for the brave effort from off the pace. Trained by Horacio De Paz, the Catalina Cruiser bay is out of the multiple stakes-winning Stormin Fever mare Intentional Fever.
Completing the field are Caldwell Luvs Gold [post 1, Florent Geroux], My Shea D Lady [post 2, Junior Alvarado], Cara's Time [post 3, Jose Lezcano] – who adds blinkers, and Tricky Temper [post 4, John Velazquez].
Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
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