AMERICAN TURF CLUB LEAD

By: JOE GIRARDI

               OnOctober 18^th Belmont hosted New York Showcase day, a day dedicatedto New York breds with eight stakes races on tap. The total purses of the rightstakes races was over $1.7 million dollars.

               Thefirst stakes races came in race #2, the Sleepy Hollow, for two year old NewYork breds run over one mile. The odds-on favorite in the race was Ostrolenkawho was coming off a 14 length win back in late September. He came out runningfor the lead while being pressed from the outside through fractions of 23:3,46:4, he started to edge away around the turn and drew clear in the lane to goon to score by more than two lengths in a final time of 1:37:1 over Good LuckGus and Market Conduct who checked in third. The winner was owned by Eric Feinand trained by Todd Pletcher.

               Thesecond stakes race off the day was in race #3, a race run over one mile for twoyear old filly New York breds. The heavy favorite in the race was thepreviously undefeated Temper Mint Patty. She came out running and got a goodspot early on racing in third behind the two leaders. As they moved into thelane, she was right up with the leaders but Quezon, who was making just hersecond career start swept on by and went on for a dominate win to score by morethan six lengths. Temper Mint Patty checked in second at 2-5 withSweetpollypurebred finishing third in a final time of 1:38:1, a second slowerthat the colts division.

               In race#4 the Mohawk, a race for three year olds and upward, run over the turf at 1and 1/16^th miles with a purse of $200,000. King Kreesa, last year’swinner was sent off as the even money favorite, he came running for the lead,set the pace over a good turf through some slow fractions of 25:3, 51:1,1:15:3. Kharafa, stalked the leaders, moved to challenge into the lane and drewaway holding on late to score by more than a length over Lubash who closed wellfor second with King Kreesa checking in third in a final time of 1:45 flat.

               In race#5, the Iroquois, a race for three year old fillies and mares bred in New York,run over six and one half furlongs with a purse of $150,000. A field of eightwent postward with the speedy La Verdad coming out running for the lead,setting solid fractions of 22:2, 45:2, 1:10:2. She held that lead into the laneand was game to the finish scoring by more than a length at 3-5, second choiceWillet closed to finish second with third choice Risky Rachel checking in thirdat 9-1 in a formful result.

               In race#7, the Empire Distaff, the first running of this race for three years old andupward fillies and mares run over 1 and 1/16^th miles for a purse of$250,000. The favorite in the race was Princess Violet, a three year old fillywho stalked the sharp fractions of 23, 46:2, 1:11:2, she made a strong widemove on the turn, took over and drew off to score by more than five lengths ina final time of 1:43:4. This improve her record to four wins from seven starts.

               In race#8, the Empire Classic, a race for three year olds and upward run over 1 and1/8^th miles with a purse of $300,000. There was a field of 9 thatwent postward with eight betting entrants. The favorite in the race was Siouxwho was just a slight favorite over Saratoga Snacks, both going off at 5-2. SoLonesome made the lead from the start through fractions of 23:3, 47, 1:11:1while not really being pressured. He continued to lead around the turn withEffinex moving up along the inside to get into second. As they moved into thelane, Effinex came outside So Lonesome and ran that rival down to score by aneck in a solid final time of 1:48:1. This three year old by Mineshaft is animproving three year old who may face open company next out.

               In race#9, the Ticonderoga, a race three year olds and upward, for fillies and maresrun over the turf at 1 and 1/16^th miles with a purse of $200,000. Afield of 12 went postward with 11 betting entrants, the odds-on favorite in therace was Discreet Marq who was sent off at 4-5. One Time Only set the earlypace through fractions of 24:1, 49, 1:14:1 with Discreet Marq sitting second.As they moved into the lane, Discreet Marq took over the lead and drew awaylate when asked for a bit of run to score easily by three lengths in a finaltime of 1:44:1. Old Harbor checked in second by more than three lengths withSelenite finishing third.

               Thefinal stakes race of the day came in race #10, the Hudson Handicap, for threeyear olds and upward run over six and a half furlongs with a purse of $150,000.There was a field of 11 that went postward with Noble Cornerstone going off asthe slight favorite. Moonlight Song, off since August 15^th, was sentright to the lead, set the pace of 22:2, 45, 1:09:1 and stayed on to the wireto score by more than a length in a final time of 1:15:2. Big Business closedfor second with West Hills Giant getting up for third. That was a great finishfor a great day of New York bred runners.