Syndergaard / NYRA Photo

Spotlight shines on New York-breds in Friday's New York Showcase Day

by NYRA Press Office

More than 100 New York-breds will take center stage at Saratoga Race Course on Friday for New York Showcase Day, featuring an all-state-bred card including six stakes worth $1.15 million.

An accomplished field of stakes winners will comprise the $200,000 Fleet Indian for 3-year-old fillies on the main track.

Super Surprise, the Maid of the Mist winner on October 24 at Belmont Park, steps back up into stakes company after a victory in a six-furlong allowance on July 24 at the Spa, which saw her register a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure in her first start of the year.

"She's doing well and had a good comeback race," Pletcher said. "Now we're stretching her out and hopefully that prep race has got her fit enough to do that."

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will have the call from post 5.

Frosty Margarita, the winner of the Maddie May and New York Stallion Series, will depart from the rail for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will be in the irons.

Melodic, trainer Leah Gyarmati's Tale of the Cat chestnut filly, also has a stakes victory on her resume with a three-length score in the Joseph A. Gimma on September 27 at Belmont. Jockey Kendrick Carmouche will be on the saddle out of post 7.

Super Allison has won three of her past four starts, including the New York Oaks on July 23 at Finger Lakes. The Carlos Martin-trained daughter of 2010 Kentucky Derby-winner Super Saver will exit post 4 with jockey Jackie Davis.

Impressive first-out winners Bobby On Fleek and Syndergaard will face off in the third running in the $200,000 Funny Cide for state-bred 2-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs.

Louis Lazzinnaro's homebred Bobby on Fleek will be making his first start since his six-length maiden-breaking victory on July 9 at Belmont Park for trainer Chad Brown. By Frost Giant, Bobby On Fleek will be ridden from post 4 by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Todd Pletcher will saddle Syndergaard, who will have the services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez from the outside post. The Majesticperfection colt will look to back up his eye-catching Spa debut on August 8, where he posted a front-running three-length victory to earn a field-high 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Also in the mix for the Funny Cide are first-out winners Macho Miah, Tribecca and Gold for the King.

The $150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf features a cast of familiar rivals, including King Kreesa, Kharafa, Lubash, and Notacatbutallama.

Multiple graded stakes winner King Kreesa, who enters off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on August 20, won the 2014 edition of the West Point and was second by a length last year. Jose Ortiz rides from post 2.

The venerable Lubash, now 9 years of age, will be making his 50th career start and sixth appearance in the 1 1/16-mile West Point, which he won in 2015 and 2012. The Christophe Clement trainee finished second in 2014 and fourth in 2013 and 2011. He drew post 7 with Junior Alvarado aboard. 

Kharafa, who has earned nearly $1 million, enters off a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Oceanport. The Timothy Hills-trained 7-year-old lost, third in his only West Point appearance in 2013, is seeking his first win since the 2015 Ashley T. Cole at Belmont. He will leave from post 4 under Joe Bravo.

Graded stakes winner Notacatbutallama, third in the last two editions of the West Point, goes in search of his first stakes win since taking the 2013 edition of the Grade 3 Hall of Fame at the Spa. Hall of Famer John Velazquez rides from post 9.

Rounding out the field are Offering Plan, Brother O'Connell, Tapitation, With Exultation, and Harbor King. Good Luck Gus is entered main track only.

Heading the field for the $250,000 Albany is the Bill Parcells-owned Hit It Once More, a winner of three of his last four starts for trainer Gary Sciacca. Once under consideration for Saturday's Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, Hit It Once More enters the 1 1/8-mile Albany off a 6 ½-length victory on July 23 at Finger Lakes. Kendrick Carmouche rides from post position 7.

Also entering for Parcells' August Dawn Farm and Sciacca is Jet Black, who carries a 2-3-4 record from 10 starts into his stakes debut. Jose Ortiz has the mount, and the duo will depart from post 3.

Rounding out the field are New York Derby runner-up Extinct Charm, Owner Gentleman, Eden Ridge, Celtic Chaos and Taoiseach.

Seven juvenile fillies will each look to earn a stakes victory in the $200,000 Seeking The Ante. 

Entering the 6 ½-furlong race for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Barry K. Schwartz is Iron Mizz, who broke her maiden July 3 at Belmont Park and next finished second in the the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Drawing post 6, Iron Mizz will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez. 

Also seeking their second victory are recent maiden winners Passportovictory, who won August 4 at Saratoga for trainer Tom Morley; Code Red, who won her debut July 8 at Belmont for trainer Mike Hushion and Twist 'n Shout for trainer George Weaver.

Rounding out the field are Tiznow's Mile, Wilburnmoney and Bliss to You.

A full field of fillies and mares are slated to contest the $150,000 Yaddo at 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf course. Headlining the field is Flipcup for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Team Penney Racing. The 5-year-old multiple graded stakes winner will look to rebound from a fourth-place finish on August 15 in the Saratoga Dew Stakes. 

With Junior Alvarado aboard, Flipcup will depart from post-position 4.

Looking to get back on track for trainer John Kimmel and owners Mary and Chester Broman is Bar of Gold. Trying the turf for the first time, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro will depart from the rail with Joel Rosario aboard.

Rounding out the field are Invading Humor, Old Harbor, Jc's Shooting Start, Sleneite, Neck of the Moon and Freudie Anne. Also eligible are Fourstar Crook, Maura's Pass and C d'Cat.