The 15th Running of the Empire Classic
October 30, 2021 15:00
BEL Race #9 $300.000 11/8 Dirt
NY-Breds 3YOs 121 Lbs 4yo+ 124 Lbs
Track Record-1:46.02 (Jimmies Fourpeat-2012)
Stakes Record-1:47.74 (War Scent-2014)
Saturday’s rain played havoc all over the HRP landscape and BEL saw their eight NY-bred stakes races ran over muddy/soft conditions. The $300.000 Empire Classic was the Saturday feature and did it ever provide some excitement at wire! The 11/8 dirt contest for 3yo+ saw Psychotic Ruler take the shortest route around the track to just get up at the wire and deliver Night Rider Stables his first victory in the event.
Psychotic Ruler went straight to the back of the pack in the early stages as Having A Blast held a half-length advantage over Feathers Not Dots through an opening half-mile went in :48.02. Psychotic Ruler, racing on the rail, was at least eight lengths off of the front-running duo as they traveled the BEL backstretch.
Feathers Not Dots and Having A Blast were noses apart as they passed the three-quarters in 1:12.75. The eventual winner had cut his deficit to six lengths; however, he was still trailing the field. Psychotic Ruler kept inching forward, but, with a quarter-mile to go, he was still five lengths back and had nine rivals in front of him.
At the furlong pole, there was a new leader as Boardwalk grabbed the lead with Roodey only a half-length back on his inside. While all of that was going on, Psychotic Ruler started making real progress on the rail and he was gaining from fourth. Roodey took over in the final 100-yards, but Psychotic Ruler just kept coming. The photo sign was posted as the top two hit the wire, but Pychotic Ruler saw his number put up on the tote board. Roodey had to settle for second almost three lengths clear of Afterburner who had run on for third. Completing the order of finish were Soho Jackman, Boardwalk, Between The Hedges, Bodemister, Oleg, Feathers Not Dots, and Having A Blast.
Psychotic Ruler (Awesome Ruler o/o Analyze This) improved his record to 36-6-6-6 and now has earnings of $645.120 and paid $77.60 to win. Congratulations to Psychotic Ruler and Night Rider Stables on their victory in the Empire Classic at BEL.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
