NYSS Spectacular Bid, Cupecoy's Joy headline Sunday's card

by NYRA Press Office

Sunday's 10-race card will feature two competitive New York Stallion Series contests, including the 12th running of the $100,000 Cupecoy's Joy and the 13th running of the $100,000 Spectacular Bid, both for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Belmont Park's Widener turf.

In the Spectacular Bid in Race 9, Oak Bluff Stables' Therapist will look to gain class relief after finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Penn Mile on June 2 at Penn National. The two-time stakes winner tired in the stretch last out going one mile but will be cutting back in distance as part of a field of 13 state-breds.

The Penn Mile was the only time in six starts Therapist did not finish in the money after winning four of his first five races, including a victory in the Awad as a juvenile on October 28 at Belmont and in the Cutler Bay on March 31 at Gulfstream Park, with both wins at one mile. The Freud colt, who also finished third in the Grade 3 Palm Beach on March 3 at Gulfstream, drew the outside post with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

"I'm not very happy with the 13th of 13 [post], so I'll have to talk to the owner and be sure he's comfortable about running," Clement said. "But the horse is doing great. Going seven furlongs is no problem."

Spectacular Kid has posted a runner-up and third-place finish, respectively, in his first two stakes appearances in the NYSS, both on the dirt. Trained by Alejandro Maymo, the son of Mission Impazible finished third against allowance company in his turf debut on June 3 at Belmont. Andy Hernandez Sanchez will ride from post 8.

Collective Effort has one win in 11 starts but has registered three runner-up finishes and six third-place efforts. The Raymond Handal trainee will be returning to stakes company after six straight maiden special weight races, drawing post 7 with Manny Franco aboard.

Belleville Spring, trained by George Weaver, will be making his second career turf start after trainer George Weaver moved him off dirt for his last race, where he finished third in a six-furlong sprint on May 25 at Belmont. Hector Diaz, Jr. will be in the irons from post 11.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez will saddle three entrants, with A True Giant, Santo Antonio and Engineers Report all looking for their first stakes wins.

Five Star Bunt, for trainer Linda Rice, will also look to earn his first trip to the winner's circle against stakes competition, drawing post 4 in tandem with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Rounding out the field are four horses making their stakes debut: Beach Access, trained by Leah Gyarmati; Siggie, for trainer Roy Lerman; Binkster, trained by David Cannizzo; Desert Lights, trained by Brad Cox; and Hokulea, a Gary Contessa trainee.

In Race 7, Lindy Farms' Mentality will look to earn her first stakes win from a field of 11 in the Cupecoy's Joy.

Trained by Wesley Ward, the daughter of Freud has two wins from three starts at Belmont, including an allowance win in her most recent start on May 26 in earning a field-high 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mentality will leave from post 5 with Luis Saez aboard.

Trainer David Donk will enter Kreesie for owners Gerald and Susan Kresa. Making her first start for Donk in April, the Cosmonaut filly broke her maiden in her fourth career start. She finished third in an allowance race last out on May 26.

With Jose Ortiz in the irons, Kreesie will depart post 12.

Ortiz, Jr., the meet's leading rider, will be aboard Goodbye Brockley for Hilly Fields Stable and trainer Phil Serpe. The Cosmonaut filly is unbeaten in two starts at Belmont on the turf since switching to the surface in her third career start and captured a state-bred allowance race last out on May 28.

Rounding out the field are She's Delightful, for trainer Bruce Brown and Our Sugar Bear Stable; Aunt Babe, for James Ferraro and owner Louis Ferrari; Dreams Are Pazible, for Woodland Farms and trainer John Toscano, Jr.; Pure Silver, for Twin Creeks Racing Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher; Baby Boss, for owner Neal Allread; and Wegetsdamunnys, for Madaket Stables and Rising Graph Stables. Caoimhe and My Roxy Girl are entered for the main track only.