Spirit of New York likes the course for NYSSS Spectacular Bid

Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Winners Win and Mark Parkinson’s Spirit of New York returns to the site of his Bertram F. Bongard win in Saturday’s $150,000 Spectacular Bid division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Adam Rice, the Honest Mischief gelding captured the Bongard by a half-length versus fellow New York-breds over course and distance in September. The stalking performance, with returning rider Manny Franco up, earned a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure and came on the heels of a third versus open company in the 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore in August at Saratoga Race Course. 

“I feel pretty good about him for this year. He grew up a lot, came back off the farm really well, we gave him time to grow up a little more, and he seems to be progressing just fine,” Rice said. “We’ve gotten some nice works into him that I’m happy with, so we should be on course. I think the three-quarters distance suits him.”

Prior to the Skidmore, Spirit of New York [post 4, Manny Franco], bred by Magic Oaks Farm, won his 5 1/2-furlong debut versus state-breds in July at the Spa, and has competed in four stakes since. Most recently, the bay was off-the-board in the seven-furlong $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way when trying the dirt here in December after a fourth in the local one-mile Notebook, around two turns on turf, in November. 

Spirit of New York has trained into his seasonal debut with a series of works over the Presque Isle Downs synthetic, including a half-mile breeze in 50.40 seconds on June 10.

“He’s turf, flat out,” Rice concluded. “I knew that when I got him last spring, that he’d be better on turf or synthetic. He showed himself well in open company in the Skidmore last year. Stretching out later might not have been to his advantage. Clearly, he can do it, but there’s other horses that might be better for it.” 

Spirit of New York is out of the Candy Ride mare Unbroken Spirit. His fourth dam is Reine-de-Course mare Weekend Surprise, who produced the pair of multiple graded stakes-winning influential stallions A.P. Indy - a Hall of Famer - and Summer Squall.
 
DiRico Racing and Breeding’s Sunday Boy [post 7, Chris Elliott] has made 3-of-8 starts on turf and seeks his first win on the surface. Trained by Jim Ryerson, the Central Banker bay rallied under returning rider Chris Elliott to win the aforementioned $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way and graduate at sixth asking, capping his juvenile season with a statement victory. 

Sunday Boy returned in the 6 1/2-furlong dirt NYSSS Mind Your Biscuits in April here and finished a closing third, exiting for the same result versus state-bred allowance elders last out over Saturday’s course and distance on May 16. The latter race’s winner, Voodoo Doll, improved to 3-for-3 with a one-mile optional claiming win on Friday here. 

“He can run on turf, three quarters is a little tough for him to get up,” Ryerson said. “He ran really well the other day, so we are hoping for a good showing. Voodoo Doll came back and won, although that was a route, he beat open company. We chased a nice horse.” 

Sunday Boy made two prior turf efforts in local state-bred maidens in the fall, landing a close fourth at six furlongs and sixth around two turns going 1 1/16 miles. 

“I think right now, he’s a little better on turf, but he can do both,” said Ryerson. “Even though, if I had my choice: would I like seven-eighths on the turf? Yes, I’d like seven-eighths on the turf. I’m not getting that choice, but he likes the turf, so we’ll see what happens.” 

Bred in the Empire State by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and Spruce Lane Farm, Sunday Boy, a $65,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training out of the winning Harlan’s Holiday mare Lady Daphne, is a full-brother to the dual-surface multiple stakes-winner Sunday Girl.

Adelphi Racing Club and LJSS Thoroughbreds’ Illmatic [post 6, Jaime Rodriguez] has also done the majority of his running on dirt thus far, making 3-of-4 starts on the local main track. Trained by Miguel Clement, the Honest Mischief bay was off-the-board in his 5 1/2-furlong debut and lone grass start in July at Saratoga, returning in February on the Aqueduct dirt to trounce a state-bred maiden by six lengths while earning a career and main body field-best 91 Beyer. 

Illmatic then was a 8 1/2-length runner-up to next-out facile Mike Lee-winner Sculcos Folly in the Mind Your Biscuits ahead of a last-out third versus state-bred elders in a six-furlong allowance on May 15. Bred in the Empire State by Sequel Stallions New York, Illmatic, a $290,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is a half-brother to Group 3-placed Arigatou Gozaimasu out of the Woodman mare Woodflower. 

Rounding out the field are the maiden-winning filly Dancingwithdestiny [post 5, Jose Lezcano] for conditioner Michael Dini, who was scratched from Saturday’s NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy versus fellow sophomore fillies; 2-for-2 Nessuna Pagina [post 9, Kendrick Carmouche], who makes his turf bow for trainer Paul Barrow; maiden winner Wit Storm [post 3, Katie Davis] for conditioner Barclay Tagg; maiden winner Miami Kaz [post 8, Silvestre Gonzalez] and nine-start maiden Hurricane Kaz [post 2, Edgard Zayas] for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias; and four-start maiden Daisy Doo [post 1, Dylan Davis] for conditioner Robert Ribaudo.

Sculcos Folly, who earned a career-best 94 Beyer for his last-out Mike Lee win to continue a four-race winning streak, is entered for the main track-only.

The Spectacular Bid is slated as Race 7 on Saturday’s 10-race program. First post is 1:10 p.m Eastern. 

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