De Paz sends out five contenders on Empire Showcase Day

Trainer Horacio De Paz will send out five contenders led by Twenty Six Black on Saturday’s Empire Showcase Day card at Belmont Park, which offers 10 stakes exclusively for horses foaled in New York State valued at a combined $2.1 million in purses. 

“This card is great, it showcases how competitive the fields of New York-breds are,” De Paz said. “A lot of these horses have run against open company. This day gives them a chance to knock heads with each other, and it shows the quality of New York-breds.”

Roger Cimbora, Jr.’s homebred Twenty Six Black [post 3, Manny Franco] returns to state-bred company for a title defense attempt in the $200,000 New York Sprint Championship [Race 9], a six-furlong Widener turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up. 

De Paz’s other four contenders on the 11-race card are B Yutiful Carly [Maid of the Mist], Professor Plum [Sleepy Hollow], Awesome Czech [Ticonderoga] and Sounds Like a Plan [Mohawk]. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern. 

Twenty Six Black won the Listed Harvey Pack in July at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a close fourth in the Grade 2 Troy in August there and a last-out fifth under Manny Franco in the local Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint on October 1.

“His last effort wasn’t bad,” De Paz said. “There’s always some sort of little minor excuse for him, as far as trips, the going of the turf, or the pace. Things just haven’t really aligned for him. Last time, the pace was a little slow. Manny said he found himself closer than he normally is because of the slow first quarter.”

In his last effort, the 6-year-old War Dancer gelding finished 1 3/4 lengths behind the victorious mare Egyptian Mau, who edged returning rival Waralo by a neck. 

“He’s been running in open company,” said De Paz. “I hope there’s a little bit more pace for him to run at here.” 

My Purple Haze Stable’s Waralo [post 2, Jose Lezcano] also enters from the Troy and Belmont Turf Sprint. Trained by Chris Englehart, the 7-year-old War Dancer gelding crossed the wire a head second in the Troy but was demoted to third for interference in the stretch, exiting for another narrow defeat in the Belmont Turf Sprint. The dark bay, bred by Casey Newick, has hit the board in all nine starts on turf via a 5-3-1 record on the surface. 

Rounding out the field are Out On Bail [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], Dakota Country [post 4, Antonio Fresu], Bold Journey [post 5, Junior Alvarado], Bosun [post 6, Kendrick Carmouche], Truman’s Commander [post 7, Edgard Zayas] and Senbei [post 8, Flavien Prat].

Stakes action kicks off with the $200,000 Maid of the Mist [Race 2], a one-turn mile for juvenile fillies. Leading the field is Klaravich Stables’ Cash Burn [post 3, Flavien Prat], who was a dominant 13 1/2-length winner of her 6 1/2-furlong debut on August 20 at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the daughter of Nyquist stalked and pounced to victory with ease under Flavien Prat, drawing off impressively to complete the course in 1:18.73.
 
Bred by Ned Williams, Mike Matese and Jack Murray, Cash Burn was a $370,000 purchase at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale and is out of the Violence mare Three Hawk, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Bern Identity.
 
Torie Gladwell’s homebred Sun Kissed Bliss [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche] looks to remain perfect in her third outing while attempting a stakes double following a 1 1/2-length victory in Finger Lakes Racetrack’s 5 1/2-furlong Lady Finger on September 21 for trainer Joe Sharp. She graduated by 5 1/2 lengths on debut on August 30 at Saratoga.
 
The field is completed by Davidson [post 1, Manny Franco], Fantasy Fortune [post 2, Edgard Zayas] and B Yutiful Carly [post 5, Ricardo Santana, Jr.].

Team Spoor’s Munnings Express [post 3, Manny Franco] returns to state-bred company for trainer Linda Rice in the 6 1/2-furlong $200,000 Iroquois [Race 3] for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Bred by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, Jayne Johnson and Adrian Wallace, the 4-year-old Munnings bay won the seven-furlong Johnstone in August at Saratoga, and enters from a fourth in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on October 1 here. She has banked $438,870 through a career ledger of 13-6-3-3.

Stakes-winners Celtic Dawn [post 2, Antonio Fresu, blinkers ON], Sunday Girl [post 4, Katie Davis], Venetta [post 5, Flavien Prat], and Kay Cup [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], along with six-time winner Queens Cat [post 1, Nazario Alvarado], complete the field.

KatieRich Stables’ Grade 1-winner Iron Orchard [post 5, Manny Franco] looks to rebound in the $250,000 Empire Distaff [Race 4], a nine-furlong route for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Authentic sophomore was an impressive 12-length winner of Saratoga’s Fleet Indian going this distance on August 21, and enters from a distant eighth in the Grade 1 Cotillion on September 19 at Parx Racing.
 
The reigning NYTB Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, Iron Orchard won the Spa’s Seeking the Ante against state-breds ahead of a nose score in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont at the Big A. Bred by Pine Ridge Stable, she started this year with a pair of off-the-board finishes in stakes events before a triumphant return to the winner’s circle in the Fleet Indian.
 
The in-form Grazie [post 4, Flavien Prat] enters off two open-length romps against state-bred allowance company in August at Saratoga and last out on September 30 here when coasting wire-to-wire in a one-turn mile for a seven-length coup for Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher. Grazie is campaigned by Repole Stable and was bred by Michael Slezak and Kaylee M. Platt.
 
The field is completed by Boxed Wine [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], Bernietakescharge [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche], Valtellina [post 3, Dylan Davis] and Racing Colors [post 6, Heman Harkie]. 
 
Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn’s dual Grade 1-winner Spirit of St Louis [post 3, Manny Franco] looks for his third triumph in the $200,000 Mohawk [Race 5], a nine-furlong inner turf test for 3-year-olds and up, which he captured in 2023-24. 

Trained by Chad Brown, the 7-year-old Medaglia d’Oro dark bay won two Grade 1 events last year in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park and the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. 

Spirit of St Louis enters from a score in the West Point presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in August at Saratoga. Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Spirit of St Louis, who has banked over $2 million via a 24-12-5-1 record, was the NYTB Champion Turf Male in 2024. 

The De Paz-trained Sounds Like a Plan [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr., blinkers OFF] was a half-length second to Spirit of St Louis in the West Point before a last-out fifth in the one-mile Listed Artie Schiller on October 2 here. The 4-year-old Twirling Candy gelding was previously on a three-race win streak.

“He set a pretty hot pace going one mile last out on the Belmont turf. He wasn’t able to kick on from that,” said De Paz. “I’m going to take his blinkers off, see if he can settle a little bit. He seems like a much more mature horse now, and this is 1 1/8 miles, so hopefully he can get into a nice little rhythm.”

Sounds Like a Plan is owned by Club Sixty Five Racing and was bred by Wildwood Farm.

Rounding out the field are Funny Factor [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche], Annexperience [post 4, Junior Alvarado], Chummers [post 5, Dylan Davis] and George Briggs [post 6, Flavien Prat]. 

Ice Wine Stable and Smart Choice Stable’s Shoot It True [post 3, Antonio Fresu] earned two graded placings earlier this year for trainer Wesley Ward, and will look to earn her second career stakes win in the inaugural $200,000 New York Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Championship [Race 6] for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going six furlongs over the Widener turf. Bred by Old Tavern Farm, the Munnings 4-year-old enters from a three-length optional claiming score sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on August 13 at the Spa, and holds a solid lifetime record of 11-5-3-1.
 
Lucky Hat Racing, Fugget About It Racing Stables and Sportsmen Stable’s Highway Harmony [post 5, Edgard Zayas] won four consecutive races to start this year, capped by a 2 1/2-length score in the state-bred John Hettinger in June at Aqueduct Racetrack, where she set a six-furlong outer turf course record of 1:06.44 in the final stakes run at the historic oval. Bred by Twin Farms, the 6-year-old Mo Town mare enters from a 3 1/4-length fifth in the six-furlong Floral Park on September 19 here. She is trained by Amelia Green.
 
The field is completed by Sweet Brown Sugar [post 1, Junior Alvarado], Silsbee [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche, Hood ON], Boston’s Phinest [post 4, Manny Franco], Latest Edition [post 6, Marvin Fernandez], Kaz Farm Girl [post 7, Dexter Haddock], Fairy Godmother [post 8, Dylan Davis] and Annascaul [post 9, Flavien Prat].

SJB Stable’s Scramjet [post 1, Kendrick Carmouche] brings a 2-for-2 record to the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow [Race 7], a one-turn mile for state-bred juveniles. Trained by Linda Rice, the Uncle Mo bay captured the six-furlong Funny Cide last out on September 7 at Saratoga Race Course, following a debut graduation over that same course and distance in July. 

Scramjet was under consideration for the Grade 1 Champagne on October 3 here, but spiked a fever and rerouted to this event. Bred by Stephen Barberino, Jr. Accumulation Trust, Scramjet, a half-brother to stakes-placed Skyler’s Starship, is out of the stakes-placed Simon Pure mare Dorothy’s Aurora. His third dam is dual stakes-winner Madame Roar.

John Foster, Dennis O'Neill and De Paz’s Professor Plum [post 4, Manny Franco] was a two-length second in the Funny Cide and once again provides top opposition to Scramjet. The Solomini bay, bred by Jimbo and Torie Gladwell, closed to win his 5 1/2-furlong debut in July at the Spa.

“Never been a morning horse, but he’s done nothing wrong in the afternoon. He’s hit the board twice,” De Paz said. “Hopefully he takes the next step. I think the distance suits him better.”

Completing the field are Fullcup [post 2, Junior Alvarado], Covered Option [post 3, Antonio Fresu], Hammerin Henry [post 5, Samuel Marin], Inalienable [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], Big Handsome [post 7, Flavien Prat] and Midnight Raider [post 8, Chris Elliott]. 

Lady Sheila Stable’s Sacrosanct [post 8, Manny Franco] fits the $200,000 Hudson [Race 8], a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up. Trained by Linda Rice, the 4-year-old Honest Mischief bay was a close third last out in an open optional claimer in July at Saratoga, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Grade 1 Forego runner-up Senior Officer. 

Sacrosanct was a three-time stakes winner as a 2-year-old en route to 2024 NYTB Champion 2-Year-Old Colt honors. Bred by Burleson Farms, Mckenzie Bloodstock and Sequel Thoroughbreds, Sacrosanct, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Vibrato, was a $260,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. His second dam is dual stakes-winner Cuff Me.

Rice also sends out A. Bianco Holding Limited’s Acoustic Ave [post 6, Jose Lezcano], the 2022 NYTB Champion 2-Year-Old Male. Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, the 6-year-old Maclean’s Music gelding is 38-9-9-8 overall and enters from a second to well-regarded Disco Time in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer on October 14 here.

Other Hudson contestants include Buttah [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], El Grande O [post 2, Antonio Fresu], Hit the Post [post 3, Chris Elliott], Caldo Candy [post 4, Samuel Marin], Factually Correct [post 5, Edgard Zayas], The Wine Steward [post 7, Kendrick Carmouche] and Sculcos Folly [post 9, Flavien Prat].  

Tristar Farm’s Doc Sullivan [post 9, Samuel Marin] contests the $250,000 Empire Classic [Race 10], a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up. The 5-year-old Solomini dark bay stretches back out in distance from a fifth in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Vosburgh on October 1 here when making his third start for trainer Amelia Green. 

Doc Sullivan’s four efforts at nine furlongs include a neck second to returning rival Bank Frenzy in last year’s Empire Classic for trainer John Ortiz and a one-length second in the state-bred Albany in 2024 for conditioner Mike Miceli. Bred by Seamus Coughlan, Doc Sullivan is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Queen Frostine and was a $59,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age. He is 25-7-9-2 with $845,090 in earnings. 

Steep opposition will be provided by TEC Racing’s in-form Wynstock [post 8, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Joe Sharp. The 5-year-old Solomini chestnut was claimed for $80,000 out of a nine furlong optional claiming win over Grade 2-winner Emerging Market in July at Saratoga, and returned to defeat Doc Sullivan by a nose going one-mile last out on September 5 there. Wynstock, bred by Empire Equines, won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity as a 2-year-old for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. 

The rest of the field from the rail out is Donegal Surges [post 1, Jose Lezcano], Ez Roll [post 2, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], Alan Turing [post 3, Junior Alvarado], Pandagate [post 4, Dylan Davis], Leon Blue [post 5, Antonio Fresu], Bank Frenzy [post 6, Manny Franco], Iron Dome [post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] and Tricky Business [post 10, Flavien Prat].

The $200,000 Ticonderoga [Race 11], a nine-furlong inner turf route for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, will see Midnight Concerto [post 4, Manny Franco] attempt a stakes double for conditioner Ken McPeek on the heels of a determined victory in the state-bred Yaddo on August 30 at Saratoga.
 
Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Valerie Dailey, the 5-year-old Mendelssohn mare was a deep-closing winner by a nose over returning rival Being Betty in the 1 1/16-mile Yaddo, similar to her neck score in an open optional-claimer on August 13 there in her prior start. She has hit the board in each of her last eight outings, including a half-length second to Being Betty in the 1 1/16-mile Mount Vernon in June at the Spa. She is campaigned by Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables.
 
Hilly Fields Stable’s homebred Being Betty [post 7, Antonio Fresu] looks to turn the tables on her familiar foe following their throwdown in the Yaddo for trainer Lisa Bartkowski. The 5-year-old daughter of Weekend Hideaway has won more than $400,000 through a 17-6-2-1 record.
 
Barry Schwartz’s homebred multiple stakes-winner Awesome Czech [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] will look to defend her title in this event for De Paz, while the Gallagher’s Stud-bred Gallant Greta [post 9, Flavien Prat] enters off an open-company stakes win in Remington Park’s Ricks Memorial on September 27 for owner Jordan Wycoff and trainer Mike Maker.
 
Rounding out the field are Spinning Colors [post 1, Jose Lezcano], Sail With the Wind [post 3, Junior Alvarado], Victory Hall [post 5, Reylu Gutierrez], Bobby M’s Girl [post 6, Edgard Zayas], Nonna Lynne [post 8, Dylan Davis] and National Archive [post 10, Samuel Marin]. Starship Pegasus and Considerate City are listed as also-eligible.

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