Chelsea Durand Photo

Mr. Buff pointed to G1 Clark following Empire Classic coup

by NYRA Press Office

• Ratajkowski to target graded stakes company following Empire Distaff win
• Come Dancing 'sensational' in penultimate work for G1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
• McLaughlin pleased with Pauseforthecause winning performance; True Timber gears up for G3 Bold Ruler
• Rice pleased with results on well-related Empire Showcase Day
• Bricks and Mortar, Sistercharlie top loaded Sunday work tab for Brown
• Decorated Invader puts in Breeders' Cup work; Clement satisfied with Gucci Factor victory

Chester and Mary Broman's 17.2 hands-tall Mr. Buff muscled his way to the lead and showed strength and determination to fend off the late charge of diminutive Dynamax Prime to capture Saturday's $300,000 Empire Classic by a length on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

Mr. Buff, under Junior Alvarado, commanded the lead in the nine-furlong event from early pacesetter Not That Brady and, despite not switching leads, enjoyed a comfortable win.

"He made that early move at the five-eighths pole and shot through there. My only criticism is I wish he had got on his outside lead turning for home," said Kimmel. "In these one-turn races he has a tendency not to switch over, whereas in the two-turn races he gets in on one lead and out on the other. Junior said he won with plenty in reserve."

Kimmel said the Grade 1, $600,000 Clark, a nine-furlong handicap set for November 29 at Churchill Downs could be next for Mr. Buff.

"He's come out of the race great," said Kimmel. "I'd like to try something different next like the Clark, a two-turn mile and an eighth race."

Kimmel also saddled maiden winner Harris Bay to a deceptively-good third in the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow won by Captain Bombastic. Settled behind rivals in third in the early running, Harris Bay fell back to fifth at the stretch call before finding his feet to regain third.

"He was a little keen down the backside. He probably could have gone on and engaged the 4-horse [Captain Bombastic] but in wanting to leave a little something for the finish, he took a lot of dirt in the face," said Kimmel. "I think he was a little timid between horses going into the turn and coming out of the turn, but when he found a little room and came on again. I thought he was going to be fifth, but he had some finish to get up again and be third. We'll see what the condition book holds next for us."

Crystalle, who will make her next start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita, breezed four furlongs in company with Grade 3 Nashua-bound Famished in 49.55 seconds on the Belmont inner turf on Sunday.

With Joel Rosario up, Crystalle, who captured the P. G. Johnson on August 29 at Saratoga, worked outside of Famished, fourth last out in the Grade 3 Pilgrim, with the pair both travelling comfortable to the wire.

"She worked very nice and we're on target. Joel said she worked good and finished up well. I had the last quarter in 22 and 4," said Kimmel.

Last out, Crystalle closed from last of eight to finish second in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at 1 1/16-miles on the Belmont turf. She will have just one mile to negotiate in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

"It's a real challenge for the way the race will set up compared to what she's been doing," said Kimmel. "They'll be going much quicker and it's a shorter race, so she'll have to overcome some things that may be to her disadvantage. She can't find herself way out the back door, so he'll [Rosario] have to be cognizant of the pace and put her in a position where she has a chance."

Kimmel said Crystalle will have one more serious bit of work before shipping to California next Sunday.

"She'll do something easy on Saturday morning. She's fit. So maybe something a little better than a two-minute lick to get her a little sharper," said Kimmel.

The Ontario-bred Famished, an early contender for the 2020 Queen's Plate at Woodbine Racetrack, has shown ability on turf, finishing fourth last out in the Grade 3 Pilgrim, and on dirt over which he graduated at second asking. The Uncle Mo colt, bred by Michael C. Byrne, is under consideration for the nine-furlong Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen on December 7 at the Big A should he perform well in the Nashua.

"I have to decide if I want to try him back on the dirt or not," said Kimmel. "Next week I'll work him back on the dirt and see how he handles it. We can always go back to the grass. If he runs well in the Nashua it gives me a little more time to map out my schedule. If he runs good there, I might run him in the Remsen."

Promising juveniles Mandatory, by American Pharoah, and Undefeated, by Uncle Mo, worked four furlongs in company in 49.83 on Big Sandy on Sunday.

Mandatory, a half-brother to three-time Grade 1-winning millionaire I'm a Chatterbox, finished third sprinting six furlongs in his September 28 debut. He is expected to stretch out in a maiden event next Saturday, while Undefeated is pointed to a grass debut a day later.

"The American Pharoah colt will run next weekend. I think he has potential to be a nice two-turn horse. He worked a little half this morning in 49 and 4 with Undefeated to be ready for next Saturday. It went well," said Kimmel. "Undefeated is an Uncle Mo colt that I'll likely run in the grass race on Sunday."

*      *     *

Ratajkowski to target graded stakes company following Empire Distaff win

Gary Broad's Ratajkowski came out of her win in the $250,000 Empire Distaff in good order and was on a van en route to Churchill Downs on Sunday morning, trainer Brian Lynch said.

Making her stakes debut in her sixth career start, Ratajkowski stayed close to pacesetter Out of Orbit before gaining command under jockey Jose Ortiz and fending off Our Super Nova's late inside charge, outlasting her rival by a head in the one-turn mile on a fast main track Saturday.

Ratajkowski's win marked her third consecutive victory and also concluded eight stakes on the Empire Showcase Day that featured $1.75 million in total stakes purses. Ortiz's victory was his fourth on the 11-race card and third in stakes competition.

"She came out of it real good," Lynch said. "The whole team has been very patient with her and it's nice to see everyone get rewarded."

That patience saw Ratajkowski going unraced until her 5-year-old campaign. But once the Drosselmeyer mare made it to the track, she has thrived, never finishing off the board [4-1-1]. After a third-place finish in her debut on May 25 at 6 ½ furlongs at Belmont, she broke her maiden at second asking in a six-furlong sprint over the same track that was sloppy and sealed on June 20.

Stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in her next start, she ran second to Lucky Move on July 25 at Saratoga Race Course before winning her first route at 1 1/8 miles on August 16 at the Spa. After a 10 ½-length score against allowance company on September 11 at Belmont, Lynch moved her up in stakes company, where she bested an 11-horse field that included multiple stakes-winners Newly Minted, Midnight Disguise and Bonita Bianca.

"It wasn't that long ago she was still a maiden, so she's been a very pleasant surprise," Lynch said. "She just seems to be getting better with racing. If you see the size of her, she's a very big filly, so she was given lots of time to mature. Thankfully, everyone was patient with her and now we are reaping the rewards."

Lynch said Ratajkowski will target her first graded stakes with the Grade 2, $300,000 Falls City at 1 1/8 miles on Thanksgiving, November 28, at Churchill. Following that, Lynch said the plan is for her to then return to Aqueduct Racetrack to run during the winter meet at the Big A.

"It's a graded stake against open company. It never comes up with a real big field that time of year because it's not too far from the Breeders' Cup," Lynch said. "You dodge a lot of the heavy hitters and it could be a good opportunity to try to get some blacktype for her in graded stakes. Certainly after that, we'll be back on the New York-stakes program."

Amerman Racing's Admission Office returned to the worktab on Friday for his first breeze since running 11th in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on October 5 at Keeneland. The 4-year-old Point of Entry colt went four furlongs in 48.60 seconds on the Keeneland main track, setting him up for a start in the Grade 3, $175,000 River City going 1 1/8 miles on the turf November 16 at Churchill.

"He came out of his race well and his work indicated that he's definitely going in the right direction," Lynch said.

Admission Office started his year with a win against allowance company on April 4 at Keeneland and followed with two strong efforts in Grade 2 spots, starting with a runner-up effort to dual-surface Grade 1-winner Catholic Boy by a half-length in the Dixie on May 18 at Pimlico and third in the Wise Dan on June 15 at Churchill.

Lynch said he was ready to draw a line through that effort.

"He got in severe traffic trouble and didn't have a chance to run his race," Lynch added.

The Empire Distaff win marked Lynch's first stakes victory of 2019, building on a trio of second-place finishes that included the Dixie, Award Winner in the Grade 3 Kent on July 6 at Delaware Park and Munchkin Money in the Mount Vernon on May 27 at Belmont.

*      *     *

Come Dancing 'sensational' in penultimate work for G1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

Multiple graded-stakes winner Come Dancing continued to impress trainer Carlos Martin in her morning works. She worked six furlongs in 1:10.20 on Saturday over the Belmont training track under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

Owned by Marc Holliday's Blue Devil Racing, the 5-year-old Malibu Moon dark bay will make her next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

"She was sensational," Martin said. "You don't go out there with the intent of going three-quarters in 1:10, but she's going in the right direction. She came back great and ate up well. So far, we're in good shape."

Two starts back, Come Dancing gave Martin his first Grade 1 victory in 28 years when she took the Ballerina at Saratoga.

Martin said the Filly and Mare Sprint will likely be her final start and that she could be bred to multiple champion producing stallion Quality Road for the upcoming breeding season.

"He [Holliday] mentioned that the plan is to breed her. We have a good relationship with Lanes' End," Martin said.

*      *     *

McLaughlin pleased with Pauseforthecause winning performance; True Timber gears up for G3 Bold Ruler

Chester and Mary Broman's Pauseforthecause picked up her first stakes win by wiring the field under Jose Ortiz in her 22nd career start in Saturday's Iroquois for New York-bred fillies and mares.

It was a second consecutive win for the 4-year-old after taking an allowance optional claiming event, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, on September 12 at Belmont in similar fashion.

"She ran huge the last time. Johnny [Velazquez] hustled her early and she was able to take command of the race early and went on to win," said conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin. "Looking at the race [Iroquois] on paper, I thought there was some speed in there, so I told Jose [Ortiz] to just play if off the break. He went to the front and she was comfortable with enough left to go on for the victory."

Making her eighth career stakes start and first since finishing fourth in the Dancin Renee on June 15 at Belmont, McLaughlin said he was pleased to get the victory for the Bromans who also connected with homebred Mr. Buff and bred Sleepy Hollow-winner Captain Bombastic.

"It's nice to not only get a stakes win for her on her resume, but also for her owners Chester and Mary Broman. They are influential and important for the breeding game in New York," said McLaughlin. "We're not sure where we're going to go back with her as of yet, but we're happy she's a stakes winner now."

McLaughlin also reported that multiple graded-stakes placed True Timber is on schedule for a start in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler. Last out, he finished third in the Grade 3 Kelso Handicap on September 21 at Belmont Park.

The 5-year-old son of Mineshaft, who finished second in the 2018 edition of the Bold Ruler, has made three starts this year, including a seventh-place running in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 26 at Gulfstream Park and a ninth-place finish in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

McLaughlin said True Timber is pointed to a return bout in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile set for December 7 at the Big A.

"True Timber will head to the Bold Ruler, we'll use that race as a springboard looking for a year-end target in the Cigar Mile," said McLaughlin.

Talented Shadwell Stable juveniles Ashaar and Ajaaweed are likely to make their next starts at Aqueduct with Ashaar targeting the Grade 3 Nashua and Ajaaweed pointing to the Remsen.

Ashaar, an Into Mischief 2-year-old purchased for $650,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale, won his debut on October 12 at Belmont by 2 ½ lengths.

Ajaaweed, a homebred Curlin colt, broke his maiden in his second start in September at Belmont and followed up with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity on October 5 at Keeneland.

"Ashaar most likely of the pair will run next in the Nashua," said McLaughlin. "Ajaaweed went to Kentucky so we might give him a little more time. We'll have to see what they do from there, but we have the Remsen on December 7. It's nice to have a couple of options."

*      *     *

Rice pleased with results on well-related Empire Showcase Day

Trainer Linda Rice saddled six starters on Empire Showcase Day, including full brothers Voodoo Song and Worth a Shot as well as half-sisters Holiday Disguise and Midnight Disguise, on a day where emotions ran high.

In the day's penultimate race, Rice watched as her talented sophomore filly Newly Minted finished fourth as the mutuel favorite in the Empire Distaff before stumbling to the ground a sixteenth after the finish line. A four-time winner from six starts, including a nine-length romp in the Fleet Indian at Saratoga, Newly Minted stayed on her side on the track under the watchful eye of uninjured rider Jose Lezcano. After a few moments, the filly stood up and walked onto the equine ambulance under her own power.

"She landed pretty hard and stunned herself, but she's great this morning and sound," said Rice. "The other times she's won, she won at a gallop and never got tired like that before."

A race later, Worth a Shot graduated by 5 3/4-lengths with Lezcano in the irons, earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. Earlier in the card, his older brother Voodoo Song had finished a game second, defeated a nose by Gucci Factor in the Mohawk.

"It was the whole gamut of emotions. Voodoo ran great and lost by a nose; Newly Minted gets beat and then goes down on the track; and then 'Voodoo's' brother wins. It was a long day, but it was nice to get a win in the last to turn things around. Most importantly, she [Newly Minted] got up and is okay," said Rice.

Both Voodoo Song and Worth a Shot, by English Channel out of Mystic Chant, are owned by Barry Schwartz. The 3-year-old Worth a Shot, a grey, has taken some time to come around for Rice.

"He's really started to come into himself in the last 60 days. I'm excited about him for next year," said Rice.

Voodoo Song, a 5-year-old chestnut, boasts a record of 8-4-1 from 22 career starts with purse earnings in excess of $950,000. Although winless in four starts this year, the 2018 Grade 1 Fourstardave winner has completed the exacta in his most recent efforts in the Ashley T. Cole and Mohawk utilizing his front-running style.

"I think his last two races have been up to par for him. He had two great years and then we kind of struggled with him," said Rice. "As I told Barry, it doesn't mean he won't come back and have a great year next year. There's hills and valleys and it's been a difficult year with him but these last two races have been pretty good. These grass horses usually get better with age and he's only 5, so he could get better at 6 and 7."

The sisters Holiday Disguise and Midnight Disguise did not fare as well as the brothers with the former rallying for third in the Iroquois and the latter an even fifth in the Empire Distaff while racing for the first time in four months.

"Midnight came off the layoff and needed a race. We're hoping she'll come back into form," said Rice. "Holiday was in a pretty strong race. They didn't go very fast early so there wasn't a good pace for her to close into and that's really her forte. She made a run and got a check."

Drawing Away Stable's War Canoe drew a tough assignment in the Ticonderoga which Fifty Five won for the third year in a row. The 6-year-old Lemon Drop Kid mare entered the Ticonderoga from a rallying second in the John Hettinger. Claimed earlier in the meet for $40,000, War Canoe endured a wide trip en route to finishing third in Saturday's test, beaten less than a length for second.

"She's shown up the last two races. She got in an awkward position and steadied a little bit which might have cost her second. She ran well. Fifty Five is a tough horse," said Rice.

*      *     *

Bricks and Mortar, Sistercharlie top loaded Sunday work tab for Brown

It was a busy Sunday morning for trainer Chad Brown, who sent out numerous turf workers in preparation for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.

Four-time Grade 1 winner and Horse of the Year candidate Bricks and Mortar worked in company with Without Parole, winner of last year's Group 1 St. James's Palace at Royal Ascot, over the inner turf. Bricks and Mortar completed his five-furlong breeze in 1:00.02 while Without Parole went 1:00.01 - the fastest of 10 recorded works at the distance.

"He's in top form. He's got one more work and he's been doing great," Brown said of Bricks and Mortar.

Brown has been on the fence on whether Bricks and Mortar would race in the Grade 1 $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile or the Grade 1, $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf but said he is leaning toward the latter.

"I'm going to pre-enter in both races but right now I'm leaning toward the Turf," Brown said.

Owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, Bricks and Mortar kicked off a sensational campaign with a victory in the inaugural running of Gulfstream Park's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January. After winning the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in March, he won his next three starts, all of which were against Grade 1 company when taking the Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park and the Arlington Million at Arlington Park.

Also appearing on the Sunday work tab for Brown was defending Champion Turf Female Sistercharlie,who went in company with stablemate Thais. Both owned by Peter Brant, they went a half-mile in 49.05 over the inner turf.

"It was just maintenance work. She worked with Thais and she worked really well," Brown said.

Sistercharlie is being pointed for a repeat victory in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She will arrive at this year's edition of the event off of six consecutive victories, all Grade 1, the most recent of which took place in the Flower Bowl Invitational on October 6 at Belmont Park.

A win in the Filly and Mare Turf would make Sistercharlie the first horse to score back-to-back wins in the event. Ouija Board notched two non-consecutive efforts of the Filly and Mare Turf in 2004 and 2006.

Thais, third in the Flower Bowl, also is being pointed towards the Filly and Mare Turf.

Two-time Grade 1-winner Uni recorded her first work since winning the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland when breezing a half-mile in 49.53 seconds.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables, the 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready will face males in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile. She was third against colts two starts back in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga.

Brown also worked Juddmonte Farms' Flavius, a three-time starter who has not yet raced in the United States. The son of War Front, out of four-time graded stakes winning Dynaformer broodmare Starformer, has worked five times since joining Brown's barn and is getting closer to making his North American debut. He last raced one year ago to date when taking a non-grouped stake event at Leopardstown in Ireland for former trainer Dermot Weld.

"He's doing fine. He's come along well. He's not ready to run, but he's getting close. Probably a couple of more works away," Brown said.

*      *     *

Decorated Invader puts in Breeders' Cup work; Clement satisfied with Gucci Factor victory

Grade 1-winner Decorated Invader, trained by Christophe Clement for owners West Point Thoroughbreds, William T. Freeman and William Sandbrook, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.83 on the inner turf Sunday in preparation for his upcoming start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

A son of Declaration of War, he sold for $200,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and ran second on debut this summer at Saratoga on July 13.

After winning by 3 ¼ lengths second time out on August 10 at the Spa, Decorated Invader shipped to Woodbine to capture Grade 1 Summer from off the pace by 1 ¾ lengths, securing an automatic "Win and You're In" berth.

Following Sunday's work, Clement said he is happy with where the colt stands leading up to shipping west to California for the Breeders' Cup a week from Monday.

"I thought he had a very good work this morning," said Clement. "Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard and I'm very excited with how he is doing. He will get one more easy work either Friday or Saturday and then we will look to ship out to California."

Also joining Decorated Invader out west to compete in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint will be multiple graded stakes winner Pure Sensation. The 8-year-old Patricia Generazio homebred has four wins from five starts this year, including a three-length victory last out in the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx Racing on September 2. Breezing four furlongs in 48 seconds flat on Friday on the Belmont main track, Clement said Pure Sensation came out of the work in good order.

"Pure Sensation came out of his work in good shape," said Clement. "Paco Lopez will ride him in the Breeders' Cup and everything seems to be in order heading into the race. I thought it was a good workout and we'll just continue to move toward the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint."

On Saturday, Clement picked up a New York-bred stakes victory in the Mohawk with 6-year-old Gucci Factor for owner Castleton Lyons. Rebounding off a sixth-place finish in the Ashley T. Cole on September 22 at Belmont, the son of Gio Ponti bested Grade 1-winner Voodoo Song to secure the victory.

"It was a nice victory, especially for Castleton Lyons Stable," said Clement. "Being a son of Gio Ponti it was very special and I thought it was a great race. Voodoo Song was very game in defeat and I thought Joel [Rosario] gave a great ride."

Clement scratched graded-stakes placed Therapist from the Mohawk and said he would re-enter the 4-year-old son of Freud for a race to be run next Friday going seven furlongs.

"We had the option to go in the Mohawk, but after more consideration I thought it would be a better fit to return him going seven-eighths," said Clement. "So, we entered him again this morning for a race to be run Friday at Belmont."

Clement also reported Wegetsdamunnys who scratched from the $250,000 Empire Distaff on Saturday, would return to run in the $125,000 Zagora on Sunday, Belmont Closing Day on October 27.