Susie Raisher Photo

Clement stable fully loaded for Empire Showcase Day

by NYRA Press Office

• Vino Rosso breezes; Pletcher continues Breeders' Cup preparations
• Pure Sensation works for G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint
• Noda confident in 'Platinum' T Loves A Fight, Knight Train for Empire Showcase Day
• Tax drills over Belmont training track; either Breeders' Cup or Discovery next
• Atras seeks Classic score on Empire Showcase Day
• Post times announced for Aqueduct fall meet

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle five New York-bred stakes starters on Saturday's lucrative Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

A total of 96 New York-breds are entered on the special 11-race card which celebrates the best of New York racing, featuring eight stakes races worth $1.75 million, topped by the $300,000 Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles.

Open-company stakes victors Gucci Factor and Therapist will represent Clement's barn in the $200,000 Hudson, a 1 1/16-mile event over the Widener turf course. Owned by Castelton Lyons, Gucci Factor won the Grade 3 Poker over the summer but was left at the gate last out in the Ashley T. Cole, where he was sixth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths to fellow Hudson contestant Dot Matrix.

An Oak Bluff Stables homebred, Therapist is a four-time stakes winner against open company over three different surfaces, most recently winning the Elusive Quality on April 17 at Belmont Park. The son of leading New York stallion Freud arrives at the Hudson off of a narrow fourth in the Ashley T. Cole, where he was beaten 1 ½ lengths.

"Both have trained well going into this race," Clement said. "Gucci Factor got very unlucky with the gate last time, but has been training very well since so he's a go. Therapist also has been very consistent. A mile and a sixteenth might be better for him than a mile and an eighth, so I'm excited to see him run. I entered him in a race next week going seven-eighths. If the race goes, I'll run him there."

Clement will also saddle stakes-winning juvenile City Man in the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow for owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles.

The son of second-crop sire Mucho Macho Man won the Funny Cide on August 23 at Saratoga before finishing third, a head behind Cleon Jones in the Bertram F. Bongard on September 20 at Belmont Park last out.

"All good with him. He's run three good races. He's trained forwardly. His works were a touch slow to start with, but he always finished up well. One mile shouldn't be a problem," Clement said.

Clement will have a pair of turf contenders in the $200,000 Ticonderoga in Munchkin Money and Wegetsdamunnys.

Owned by Sweet Home Stables, Mark Parkinson, Brian F. Martin, and Steven and Tony Weintraub, Munchkin Money has made three starts for Clement after being transferred from the barn of Brian Lynch, winning her first start for new connections where she defeated Grade 1-placed stable mate Chipolata in an open company allowance in June over the Belmont Park inner turf. Last out, Munchkin Money was entered in the John Hettinger but was pulled up strides out of the gate after a slow start.

Clement said Wegetsdamunnys, third in the John Hettinger last out, could scratch if the turf comes up too firm. Three starts back, Wegetsdamunnys was a three-quarter length winner against state-bred allowance company at Saratoga.

"If the ground is not too firm I'm running, if it looks too fast I may scratch and run elsewhere," Clement said. "Every time she's at the back she finishes well. If it's on fast ground, she never has a chance to quite get there. If it's a little on the soft side, the speed can come back, and she can get there."

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Vino Rosso breezes; Pletcher continues Breeders' Cup preparations

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables' Vino Rosso visited the Belmont Park training track on Friday for the second time since being disqualified and placed second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 28.

The multiple graded-stakes winner breezed five furlongs in 1:01.58, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up. Under the watchful eye of trainer Todd Pletcher, he continued preparations for a start in the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 2 at Santa Anita Park.

"I thought he worked great," said Pletcher. "He finished up strongly and galloped out very strong. Everything has gone according to our plan and schedule. He seems to be thriving at the moment so we're happy with him."

With two weeks until the race, Pletcher said he would follow a similar schedule that brought Vino Rosso success in May when the colt shipped west to Santa Anita to win the Grade 1 Gold Cup, breezing one more time at Belmont before shipping out.

"Right now, our plan is to breeze back next Friday or Saturday and then fly to California on Monday," said Pletcher. "It's almost an identical schedule to what we followed for the Gold Cup. I feel like we have a blueprint from what worked for him before in shipping to Santa Anita so we're trying to follow that as closely as we can."

Multiple graded-stakes winner Coal Front, who most recently won the Parx Dirt Mile on September 21, also visited the Belmont Park training track completing five furlongs in 1:01.25.

The 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty has three wins from five starts this year, including an impressive score in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Racecourse on March 30.

"I thought it was a good, steady breeze," said Pletcher. "He seemed to get in a good rhythm and kept going and galloped out nicely. It seems to be consistent with what we've been seeing from him all year. He's shown by winning the Dubai mile that he's a top class miler and I thought the Parx race being two turns was a good prep for him. He came out of it in good shape, so we're happy with the way he's been heading towards the race."

Graded stakes winner Channel Cat, who last out finished fourth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, also breezed four furlongs in 49.05 on the Belmont training track Friday in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Classic.

"We breezed him on the dirt, which he got over fine, and it seems like he's come out of the Joe Hirsch in good form," said Pletcher.

On Thursday, graded-stakes winner Marconi breezed four furlongs in 48.47 seconds for his first work since finishing third in the Greenwood Cup on October 5 at Parx in preparation for the Marathon at Santa Anita.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf contender Freewheeler also returned to the training track breezing four furlongs in 48.20 seconds on Friday in his first workout since running second in the Grade 3 Futurity on October 6.

Lastly, Pletcher reported multiple graded stakes winner Prince Lucky, who breezed four furlongs in 49.23 seconds Friday morning at the Belmont training track, is under consideration for the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler on October 26 with the Grade 1 $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap as a long-term goal.

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Pure Sensation works for G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint

Patricia Generazio's 11-time stakes winner Pure Sensation posted his final work for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint breezing a half-mile in 48 seconds flat for Clement.

The 8-year-old Florida-bred son of Zensational has raced in the Turf Sprint three times with his best finish taking place in 2016, where he was third, one length back of Obviously.

"He worked very well. I'm very happy," Clement said. "It was a nice work, very willing, very sound. He won't work between now and the race, by design. I don't like to work him too close to the race."

Last out, Pure Sensation, a seasoned veteran of 35 career starts, won the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx Racing for the fourth time in the past five years. His lengthy resume also includes three victories in the Grade 3 Parx Dash, which he won this year and from 2016-17.

A winner of 14 career starts, Pure Sensation has accumulated nearly $2 million in lifetime earnings.

Clement also plans on sending Decorated Invader to Santa Anita for this year's Breeders' Cup. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, William Freeman and William Sandbrook, the chestnut son of Declaration of War won the Grade 1 Summer at Woodbine last out and will have two more works before running in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on November 1.

"Decorated Invader will work with Irad on the turf this weekend. He will probably have two ore works and we'll go from there," Clement said.

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Noda confident in 'Platinum' T Loves A Fight, Knight Train for Empire Showcase Day

Trainer Orlando Noda could have a breakthrough day on Empire Showcase Day when sending out two stakes contenders in T Loves a Fight and Knight Train.

A veteran of 13 starts this year, T Loves a Fight will race in the $150,000 Hudson going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track. He recently defeated open company on October 10 over the main track at Belmont for his fifth triumph this year. The 5-year-old gelded son of Girolamo seeks his first stakes victory since besting his Empire State counterpart in the Mike Lee in May 2017 at Big Sandy for now-retired conditioner Michael Hushion.

Noda claimed T Loves a Fight in May for $10,000 and has since won 4-of-8 starts for new connections.

Never worse than second in six of 12 starts over the Belmont Park main track, T Loves a Fight's lone stakes start this year was in the John Morrissey, where he was fourth beaten 1 ¾ lengths behind fellow Hudson aspirants Celtic Chaos, Built to Suit and Gold for the King.

T Loves a Fight is a platinum member of the the New York Racing Association's [NYRA] Starter Loyalty Program, launched on April 2, 2018, in which horses can earn Silver- through Diamond-level purse bonuses between 5 percent and 15 percent on money earned in a qualifying race, based on their number of starts at NYRA tracks.

"He's platinum for sure," Noda said. "I think this is the same race as the one Saratoga [the Morrissey] and we only missed by a length and three-quarters there. I've got his fitness back to par and where I feel it should be. We should be one-two-three. He's a sound horse and he tries hard every time so I can't complain. He's put me on the map, I can say that."

In the $250,000 Maid of the Mist, Noda will saddle first-time starter Knight Train for owner Mohamed Ashrad.

At 20-1, the chestnut daughter of New York freshman sire Micromanage is the longest shot in the six-horse field comprised of four maiden winners and stakes victor Naked Avenger. Nevertheless, Noda believes that his filly has the ability to outrun her odds.

"We got an up-and-coming star in Knight Train in the Maid of the Mist," Noda said. "She's going to be a first time starter. Initially, the previous trainer put a Lasix slip in but she had been training well without it. I'm new school and I believe in no Lasix. If they don't need it, I'm not going to go with it."

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Tax drills over Belmont training track; either Breeders' Cup or Discovery next

Dual graded stakes winner Tax recorded a half-mile work over the Belmont training track Friday morning, completing four-furlongs in 48.60. Breezing in company with a work mate, it was the fastest of 31 recorded works at the distance.

"We had a horse in front of him and it's always nice when he gets company," said Danny Gargan, who trains the gelded son of Arch for owners R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable. "He likes to run at a target, so I was really happy with his work. He's a good work horse when he gets company. It was a good work today."

Gargan has three options on the table for Tax's next start. He could either race in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic, both contested on November 2 at Santa Anita, or the Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery on November 30 at Aqueduct.

"If we go to the Breeders' Cup he'll have one more work, that's why I worked him today," said Gargan. "We have a backup plan for the Discovery if we don't go to California."

Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, Tax was claimed for $50,000 last October following a two-length maiden score at Keeneland. Since joining Gargan's contingent, Tax won the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga this season with starts in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (14th) and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (fourth) under his belt. A three-time winner of nine career starts, Tax has amassed $786,300 in career earnings.

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Atras seeks Classic score on Empire Showcase Day

Trainer Rob Atras has posted a pair of stakes scores on the NYRA circuit since hanging his shingle full time at Aqueduct last year.

The Canadian-born conditioner captured the Bernardini with Royal Albert Hall and the Sis City with Daria's Angel during the Big A winter meet, but the bustling outfit, which started with eight stalls and now boasts 25 horses in training, will look to make a big impact in Saturday's $300,000 Empire Classic with Dynamax Prime.

Dynamax Prime, a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Empire Dreams, will have to topple a field of five, led by millionaire graded-stakes winner Pat On the Back, familiar foe Mr. Buff, graded-stakes placed 3-year-old Not That Brady, and eight-time winner Blugrascat's Smile.

"Maybe that's a good omen for Saturday," said Atras of the appropriately named sibling. "On paper, if he runs like he has been running, it looks like he could hit the board. Pat On the Back and Mr. Buff look like they are in a different league, but the race is run on the track, so you never know. He deserves a shot - he's run five good races in a row."

Owned by Robert Bone, the 5-year-old son of Bluegrass Cat was transferred to the care of Atras in May and promptly won a pair of route races at Belmont Park. Following a second in an optional claiming event on June 19 at Belmont, Dynamax Prime completed the exacta behind Empire Classic rival Mr. Buff in both the Saginaw at Belmont and the Evan Shipman at Saratoga. The dark bay gelding arrives at Saturday's test off a driving fourth in an optional claiming tilt against open company on September 29 at Belmont.

Dynamax Prime, who will be piloted by Manny Franco from post 2, breezed four furlongs in 49 flat on October 13 on the Belmont training track in preparation for Saturday's test.

Atras said the diminutive Dynamax Prime will need some racing luck to turn the tables on 17.2 hands tall Mr. Buff.

"He's not very big," said Atras. "If you look at Mr. Buff, he looks the part. Our horse is on the smaller side, but every time we lead him over he tries.

"Not That Brady has some speed and Pat On the Back is stretching out," added Atras. "Mr. Buff has speed. So, if there's a speed duel, and they end up going too fast, maybe we could win it. I think he deserves a shot."

Atras said he would like to continue being a factor in New York-bred events as the Big A fall and winter meets approach.

"I'd like to have more. Going into Saratoga, we had 10 or 11 New York-breds and a lot of them have done well," said Atras. "There's a lot of good New York-breds out there and it's a good program."

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Post times announced for Aqueduct fall meet

The New York Racing Association announced post times for the Aqueduct fall meet, which runs from Friday, November 1 to Sunday, December 8.

Opening Day, which coincides with the first day of the Breeders' Cup in Santa Anita, will feature a 10-race card at the Big with a noon first post. The lid-lifter will feature the $150,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies going one mile.

Saturday, November 2 will also feature a 10-race card at Aqueduct with the first race scheduled to go off at 12 p.m. With Breeders' Cup action continuing on the West Coast, the day will also include the first graded stakes of the meet, with the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles.

For most eight-race cards during the fall meet, the regularly scheduled first post is 12:50 p.m. with the last race set for 4:17 p.m. Nine-race cards will start at 12:20 p.m. and conclude at the same time.

The inaugural four-day NYRA Thanksgiving Racing Festival, featuring 11 stakes worth $1.9 million in purse money, kicks off on Thanksgiving Day, November 28 with a special 11:50 a.m. first post for the nine-race card that includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap for sprinters, the $150,000 Winter Memories and the $100,000 Central Park.

Friday and Saturday of the festival will each feature 11:50 am. first posts for the 10-race card that will offer the Grade 3, $400,000 Long Island, the Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery and the $125,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship. The festival concludes on Sunday, December 1, with the $125,000 Autumn Days and $100,000 Tepin.

The meet's penultimate day will feature the 10-race Cigar Mile Day card, with a first post of 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, December 7. The 31st edition of the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up headlines a lucrative Saturday card which includes a pair of prestigious Grade 2, $250,000 nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle, as well as the Grade 3, $250,000 Go For Wand Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile.