The Empire Classic ($300.000 Purse)
BEL- For Three Year Olds and Upward Foaled in NY
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
October 20, 2018

The biggest race of the day at BEL for NY-breds is the $300.000 Empire Classic, which could perhaps be the BC Classic of NY breds. It runs for the twelfth time in its history, originally debuting in 2005. It has not been contested every season, as 2008, 2009, and 2012 all saw the race not be a part of the schedule. Seems as though that it would not have been added by the game, since NY-breds are well bred within our community. In 2014, the race saw its purse increase to $300.000 for the first time, and it was won by War Scent. He is probably the most well known of the past winners. For this years race, we will have nine going to post and it may just be the best edition of this race yet. Rain is a decreasing possibility. Yesterday, when we looked at the Empire Distaff, the prognosis was for 50% showers on Saturday. That has now dropped to 20%. Here’s the field!

#1- Cut The General (On The Map Racing, ridden by J Rosario)- The four year old gelding by General Assembly will make his debut running in the On The Map silks, after being acquired in a $40.000 claiming race at ELP, where he ran second. He has had some stake success in the past, and ran in this race last year, but only defeated one rival. Made one stake attempt this year, and it did not go well, so it is going to take some improvement to have a chance here. He has past through so many barns in his career, it’s almost like a who’s who of HRP list.

#2- Handsome (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Had a nice stretch early in his career where he won four out of five races. The streak began around this time of the year, modestly at FL, but ended with him winning the Grade 3 SUN Derby in March. With that, he participated in both the KYD and BEL, but had double digit finishes. Placed second at Grade 3 Dwyer, but then was in the double digits again at the Travers. Moral of the story, keep him away from the best of the division, and he does very well. He’s just not in the top tier. That tier is eyeing the BC now, so Handsome is one of the favorites against this field.

#3- Nice Distorted Laff (Night Rider Stables, ridden by Ro Maragh)- Once modestly claimed for just $5.000, Nice Distorted Laff has been laughing at his doubters ever since then. He has put together a fine career that has seen him win six of 15, and that includes two NY-bred $100.000 stakes, the Haynesfield in February, and the Saginaw in July. Comes off a second place finish in a SAR allowance, to a horse named La Grande Terre, who missed winning the Grade 3 ONT Derby last week by just half a length. Plenty of like, and gets the trainer’s favorite rider.

#4- Custer Of The West (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J Pimentel)- At this time, his earnings are a little higher then Nice Distorted Laff’s, but I do like that one a little better. There was a lot to be excited about in this five year old Rene gelding’s younger days, but since then, he has mainly been in allowances and optional claimers. Don’t take that the wrong way, though, as he has been very competitive in those races, and has shown he deserves another chance to run in a race like this. Should not be ruled out.

#5- Captain Oats (Mb Stables, ridden by J Alvarado)- Since August of last year, Captain Oats has been winning 50% of his races, and rotating wins and non-wins. So, if you believe that pattern will continue, this will not be his day. It’s interesting, because some of the non-wins are rather flat looking race lines. His lone stake win, in several attempts, was the Shipman for NY-breds at the Spa last year. He knows how to win, which makes him scary, and never rule anything out from this barn, but I will look elsewhere.

#6- Joffre (Mb Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- After two wins on the grass, Joffre is returning to the main track in hopes of picking up his first stake win. This is a three year old that has always been competitive, but could not step it up when the trainer hoped to move him forward. His best run had been a second place effort at the $200.000 Commentator for NY-breds in May. Then, in August, he went under the knife, and was gelded. Four days later, he impressively won an ELP allowance, then in his last start, broke through at the stake level, winning the Grade 3 LRL Turf Cup.

#7- Highest Esteem (Axeman, ridden by J R Davila Jr)- The king of FL, in terms of jockeys, as of right now gets a great chance to get a big win at BEL, because Highest Esteem is one of the top horses in the field. His nearly $750.000 in career earnings is higher then anyone in here, and over $330.000 has come this year. Overall, he has won four times in a busy stretch that has seen him make eleven starts already. The highlight of the year was a win in the Grade 3 LS Handicap in May. He was the high weight in the field. Has not taken on NY-breds much in his career, surprisingly.

#8- American Ideal (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- Until this year, American Ideal had spent the majority of his career running in optional claimers, and he was very successful, hitting the board in eight of nine starts, with two wins. He has been moved forward into stakes company this year, and delivered immediately for his trainer in winning the $100.000 Jazil at AQU in January. He’s continued to move forward, and in July he ran third right here at BEL for the Grade 2 Suburban. I like that he always seems to be near the front, and expect him to run well. Has not battled NY-breds much at all.

#9- Cubby Rays (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by M Franco)- Despite seeming to have a logical connection to Illinois or Florida, Cubby Rays has spent the majority of his career running here in New York, as six of his nine races have been statebreds. If it wasn’t for his last start, I wold say he had no chance in here, but he showed remarkable progress in winning an allowance at SAR, increasing his SRF significantly over where it had been training. Therefore, the Cherokee Sunset gelding has earned the chance, and if he can duplicate that run, he certainly can get the win.

Prediction: 2-7-3-8

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded