The Hudson
$200.00 For Three Year Olds And Upward Foaled In NY
6 1/2 Furlongs – Dirt
Belmont Park – October 24, 2026

Nope. Didn’t see this one coming, not even a little bit. I just did not see anything in Turning Point’s form to consider him possibly winning. There is a reason TwinTowersRacing nearly took the Triple Crown this year and I didn’t. Looking back with magical hindsight it is obvious if you throw out his turf route races there is better dirt sprint form there although his off the pace style often has left him a little short. Lesson learned and humble pie eaten. Great win at 12-1!

Winner: Turning Point
Owner/Trainer: TwinTowersRacing
Jockey: A. Beschizza
Breeder: TwinTowersRacing (NY) – Van Gogh/Happy Native (No Doubt About It)

Sat way back in last throughout most of the race as is his usual running style. Began to inch forward around the turn but still had a lot of work to do at the top of the stretch. Gathered momentum as he picked his way through the field down towards the inside. Continued his relentless drive and got up to nip Valyrian Needle in the final strides. 

Second: Valyrian Needle
Owner/Trainer: Mb Stables
Jockey: J.A. Gomez
Breeder: Woogaloo (NY) – Broomsticks Harry/Arya Stark (Marry Me Mandy)

Expected him to be speedy early and he was. Bounded out of gate nine and engaged in an early pace battle with Strategic Knight and stablemate Hazardous. He shook those two off around the turn and came into the stretch with a clear lead. Continued on strongly to the wire and just got nipped by a freight train to his inside. 

Third: Strategic Knight. 
Owner/Trainer: Big Jd Racing
Jockey: M.J. Sanchez
Breeder: Our Athletes (NY) – Our Dark Knight/Eva The Strategic (Strategic Command)

Contested the pace early but lost contact with Valyrian Needle around the final turn. Held on gamely and fought on to the wire to be a clear third. Solid effort.

Fourth: Pretty Boy Floyd
Owner/Trainer: Big Jd Racing
Jockey: L. Salles
Breeder: Big Jd Racing (NY) – Native Music/Proudtobegreat (Great Bounty)

Sat back in the trailing group early. He was alongside the eventual winner but while Turning Point was able to snake his way through inside, Pretty Boy Floyd had to go wide. Was not going to beat the winner who got the jump on him but did rally very late to nap a payday. 

Preview Pick: Laffin Romantick – Sixth. Lacked interest early and struggled to find racing room in the stretch. Expect better next out.

This was the first win in The Hudson for both TwinTowersRacing and jockey A. Bexchizza. It was the third career win for Turning Point and his first stakes victory adding to leading sire Van Gogh’s tally. The win raises the homebred’s career earnings to a total of $364.45.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded