10/30/22 

  5  AQU       The Empire Classic

     $250.000   3yo&Up Foaled In NY        1 1/8m   Dirt      3yo 121lbs  Older 124lbs

Seems my handicapping hat was on right this weekend…  nailed the exacta in Saturday’s Empire Classic, and the Green Card handed out the trifecta… not bad.  In the end, Force Of The Shark raced midpack early, responded when asked, closing down the lane to take this one by a quarter length, stopping the clock at 1:47³ for the mile and an eighth NY-bred stakes.  Stolen forced the early pace, took the lead turning for home, but couldn’t hold off the eventual winner, settling for the second spot, just a head in front of Joe Grind, then another head to Sydoux II in fourth.  Only five lengths covered the field of eight. 

Force Of The Shark is a 3yo bay gelded son of Shark Force – Zingingintherain, by Reef Dancer, and he was bred by his owner, Arindel, in NY.  This was his fourth win of the season, fifth overall and he now has lifetime earnings of $511.510.  Congrats to the Connections!  

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast      Time: :47¹  1:11   1:35¹  1:47³
$1 Exacta: 8 – 6 Paid 22.90       $1 Trifecta: 8 – 6 – 1 Paid 93.10
Scratched: None

Force Of The Shark raced mid-pack between horses, responded when asked moving into the far turn, fanned widest for the drive, up in the final 150-yards.  Stolen stalked the pace 2p, moved up entering the lane to take over, headed in the final 150-yards in a game effort.  Joe Grind tracked the pace from the rail, moved to 3p for the drive, no excuse.  Seydoux II rated back off of the early pace, began to move forward far turn, lacked running room into the lane, found room late, good late effort.  Catch A Buzz tracked the early pace 3p, tired.  Jump The Line set the pace to the top of the lane, tired.  Day Of Black was not a factor.  Rent Free wide trip, no factor.   

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded