New York-breds in the spotlight on annual New York Showcase Day to kick off the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

The Opening Day program of the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on Wednesday, June 4, at Saratoga Race Course will feature six New York-bred stakes to celebrate the best of racing in the Empire State for New York Showcase Day.

The five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held at historic Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8. Highlighted by the 157th edition of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 7, the Festival will include 27 stakes races with purses totaling $11,275,000, the richest purses and highest number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in 2014.

Wednesday’s card kicks off with the Grade 1, $150,000 Beverly R. Steinman for open older horses at 2 3/8-miles over hurdles before the New York-bred program begins with six state-bred stakes worth $200,000 each. First post on Wednesday’s 10-race card is 12:40 p.m. Eastern with admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.

"It's a tremendous opportunity to kick off this year's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with a New York Showcase Day card to highlight the quality of competitive racehorses produced in the Empire State when the racing world and media will be focused on Saratoga," said New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director Najja Thompson. "New York-breds compete and win at every level around the world. Featuring a card with six state-bred stakes races and lucrative purses at a historic venue such as Saratoga Race Course shows why it pays to breed and race in New York."

The state-bred stakes action kicks off in Race 2 with the Mike Lee as R and H Stable’s Grade 3-winner Mo Plex [post 6, Manny Franco] tops a competitive field in the seven-furlong sprint for sophomores.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the son of Complexity enters from a determined head victory in the open-company Listed Bay Shore going this distance on April 19 at the Big A. There, he dueled throughout with Faster Gator through splits of 23.09 seconds, 45.55 and 1:09.40 over the fast footing. Mo Plex stuck his head in front at the stretch call, and prevailed by that margin in a final time of 1:21.96, awarding him a co-field-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

Bred by Everything’s Cricket Racing, Mo Plex was a $45,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the unraced Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy.

Mo Plex faces a formidable opponent in the streaking Prince Valiant [post 3, Dylan Davis] for owner Red Oak Stable and Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The King for a Day colt, bred by Sugar Maple Farm, enters off three consecutive wins, topped by a 3 1/2-length romp last out in the NYSSS Times Square sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on April 13 at Aqueduct, an effort that also produced an 88 Beyer.

The seasoned Soontobeking [post 1, Eric Cancel] has been on-the-board in 10-of-12 starts for trainer George Weaver, led by a breakthrough stakes victory in the state-bred Gander going a one-turn mile on March 8 at the Big A. Stakes-placed Smilensaycheese [post 4, Luis Saez], a familiar face in this division, seeks to turn the tables on his frequent rivals as he vies for his first stakes victory in his first start off a more than five-month respite for reigning NYTB Trainer of the Year Mike Maker, who also sends out Calling Card [post 2, Jose Ortiz].

Completing the field are maiden-winners First Pitch [post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for trainer Jose Jimenez and Train the Trainer [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for trainer Rob Atras.

The Commentator [Race 4], a nine-furlong route for 3-year-olds and up, will see Drake’s Passage [post 5, Luis Saez] look to defend his title in this event as the first NYRA stakes starter for trainer Miguel Clement following the recent passing of his father Christophe Clement. [The Miguel Clement-trained Gal in a Rush is entered in Saturday's Grade 3 Royal North at Woodbine.]

The Robert S. Evans homebred, a son of the Christophe Clement-trained 2014 Belmont Stakes-winner Tonalist, wired this event last year, drawing away by four lengths under a hand ride to mark his second stakes score at the Spa following a 7 3/4-length romp in the nine-furlong state-bred Albany in August 2023.

He will be challenged by reigning NYTB Champion Older Dirt Male Bank Frenzy [post 8, Manny Franco], who won four straight races over the winter at Aqueduct Racetrack, including three stakes scores. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez for LSU Stables, the 5-year-old Central Banker gelding, bred by Chester and Mary Broman, finished fourth last out in the Grade 3 Westchester on May 4 at Belmont at the Big A.

A strong field includes a formidable duo from trainer James Ferraro in multiple graded stakes-placed General Banker [post 7, Luis Rivera, Jr.] and stakes-winner Mama’s Gold [post 1, Romero Maragh]; as well as the stakes-placed Locke and Key [post 6, Lane Luzzi] for trainer James Ryerson and Dr. Kraft [post 2, Umberto Rispoli] for conditioner Ilkay Kantarmaci; 11-time winner Rose’s Pepino [post 3, Charle Oliveros] for owner-trainer Robert Inman; and six-time winner Rock the Weekend [post 4, Katie Davis] for trainer Lolita Shivmangal.

NY Final Furlong Stable, Electric City Racing and Sportsmen Stable’s Kay Cup [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] makes her stakes debut in the Bouwerie [Race 6], a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies.

The Instagrand dark bay made a successful return from a nearly eight-month layoff to graduate at second asking in an April 27 state-bred maiden special weight sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at the Big A. There, she pressed the pace set by Munnings Express and kicked clear in the turn to lead by 3 1/2 lengths at the stretch call, widening her margin to 4 1/4 lengths at the wire in a final time of 1:17.76. The effort was awarded a field-best 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

The $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale purchase was bred by Caperlane Farm and is out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Gypsy Jo.

Steep opposition will be provided by Robert Rosenthal and Bradford Bernstein’s multiple stakes-winning homebred Bernieandtherose [post 2, Katie Davis], who enters on a four-race win streak that includes two state-bred stakes triumphs for trainer Domenick Schettino. Kaleem Shah’s Accelerating [post 5, Jose Ortiz] returns to the scene of her four-length romp in last year’s state-bred Seeking the Ante for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, while Peter Kazamias’ homebred Storm Changer [post 1, Jose Gomez], trained by Dimitrios Synnefias, looks to double up on stakes wins after a last-out win in the NYSSS Park Avenue on April 13 at the Big A.

Completing the field are the stakes-placed trio of Charlotte’s Heart [post 8, Dylan Davis] for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, Howling Wind [post 3, Lane Luzzi] for trainer James Ferraro and Valtellina [post 6, Romero Maragh] for trainer Ray Handal; as well as maiden-winner Crimson Queen [post 4, Luis Saez] for trainer Jim Bond.

Sanford J. Goldfarb’s Grade 3-placed Hush of a Storm [post 9, Flavien Prat] looks for a 10th overall win in the Kingston [Race 7], a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf test for older horses. Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the 7-year-old Creative Cause gelding has made three starts this year, closing for second in the Dust Commander and third in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic, both over the Turfway Park synthetic. The winner of the state-bred Ashley T. Cole in September at the Big A and the 2021 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway was bred by Berkshire Stud.

Hilly Fields Stable’s homebred Itsallcomintogetha [post 1, Jose Gomez] looks to put it all together in his second start of 2025 following a neck defeat in a one-mile open optional claimer in March at Gulfstream. Trained by Phil Serpe, the 5-year-old Weekend Hideaway horse upset the 2023 NYSSS Cab Calloway here and was also third in the state-bred 2024 Hudson Valley in July at Belmont at the Big A.

Rounding out the field are stakes-placed Born Dancer [post 10, Joel Rosario] for conditioner Michelle Nevin; Be of Courage [post 4, Ruben Silvera] for conditioner John Pregman, Jr.; Bettrluckythangood [post 3, Dylan Davis] for trainer Miguel Clement; Clear Conscience [post 5, Jose Ortiz] for Hall of Famer Mark Casse; Gem Mint Ten [post 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for trainer Ray Handal; Ruse [post 7, Kendrick Carmouche] for conditioner Timothy Hills; Schlomo [post 2, Jose Lezcano] for Hall of Famer Bill Mott; and Union Trail [post 6, Luis Saez] for trainer Barclay Tagg. Shadow Dragon and Antonio of Venice are entered for the main track-only.

Mark T. Anderson’s six-time graded stakes-placed Sterling Silver [post 8, Junior Alvarado] headlines the Critical Eye [Race 8], a nine-furlong route for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old Cupid mare, bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, has banked $1,046,051 via a 30-9-6-5 ledger and will look to improve on a runner-up effort in this event in 2023 at Belmont Park. Sterling Silver has made a pair of one-turn mile starts this year at the Big A, taking the state-bred Biogio’s Rose in April over a muddy and sealed track and following last out with a three-quarter length second to Jody’s Pride on May 10 in the Grade 2 Ruffian.

A talented group includes Robert D. Rosenthal and Bradford H. Bernstein’s homebred Bernietakescharge [post 9, Romero Maragh], who captured the Heavenly Prize Invitational against open company two starts back on February 22 at the Big A for trainer Domenick Schettino. Lael Stables’ Landed [post 6, John Velazquez] has won 5-of-9 starts for trainer Wesley Ward, including state-bred stakes scores in the Spa’s Bouwerie and Fleet Indian last year and the Big A’s Broadway in February to kick off her campaign.

Also entered are stakes-winner Amanda’s Folly [post 2, Jose Ortiz] for trainer Linda Rice along with P Mutter Pickle [post 4, Manny Franco] for trainer Philip Antonacci, the Antonio Arriaga-trained duo of Lika Rolling Stone [post 5, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] and Snappin Buttons [post 7, Luis Saez], Call Her Bluff [post 3, Flavien Prat] for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci and Racing Colors [post 1, Jose Gomez] for conditioner Norman C. Follett.

Trainer Horacio De Paz sends Awesome Czech and Can’t Fool Me for the Mount Vernon [Race 9], a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for older fillies and mares.

Barry K. Schwartz, who was recently honored with an NYTB Lifetime Achievement Award, will be represented by homebred Awesome Czech [post 5, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], who was a closing neck runner-up to Scarlet Poppy last out in a one-mile optional claimer on May 3 at Belmont at the Big A. The 4-year-old Mendelssohn bay was making her seasonal debut off an over four-month layoff, following a past campaign that included a 2 3/4-length victory in the local state-bred Suzie O’Cain in August. She has taken on three open-company stakes, landing a close second in the Tepin as a juvenile at Aqueduct.

Roger Cimbora, Jr.’s homebred Can’t Fool Me [post 3, Manny Franco] has made one stakes attempt, landing third in the nine-furlong state-bred John Hettinger in September at Belmont at the Big A. The 6-year-old Frost Giant chestnut returns to turf after a defeat in an off-the-turf match race when making her seasonal bow, in a career already worthy of four wins.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tango Uniform Racing and Steven Rocco’s Silver Skillet [post 1, Joel Rosario], the 2023 NYTB-Champion Turf Female, looks to get back in form for trainer Miguel Clement. The multiple state-bred stakes-winning Liam’s Map gray was fourth in her 5-year-old debut going one-mile in an open-optional claimer on April 19 at Gulfstream Park. She was bred by Robert Chasanoff.

The field is completed by dual stakes-winner Cara’s Time [post 6, Ruben Silvera] for trainer Mitch Friedman; stakes-winners Brocknardini [post 9, Flavien Prat] for conditioner George Weaver and Whatlovelookslike [post 10, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher; as well as Bobby M’s Girl [post 7, Jose Ortiz] for trainer David Duggan; Midnight Concerto [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche] for conditioner Ken McPeek; Snowy Evening [post 8, Luis Saez] for trainer Dave Donk; and Spinning Colors [post 2, John Velazquez] for conditioner Mark Hennig.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/event-info/tv-schedule. 

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, and the best way to bet every race of the five-day meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.