Haynesfield is Headliner in Empire Classic as New York Showcase Day Shows Off Best in Big Apple

Seeking his first victory since winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last October over eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Blame, Turtle Bird Stable’s Haynesfield will likely go off as the favorite in Saturday’s $200,000 McMahon Adena Empire Classic.

The Empire Classic is one of seven stakes races on the Belmont Park card on New York Showcase Day, with nearly $1 million in purses up for grabs.

Jockey Ramon Dominguez has the call aboard Haynesfield, who makes his first start since checking in fifth in the Metropolitan Mile (G1) on May 30.

The five-year-old has faced New York breds six times in his career, winning four including the 2009 running of the Empire Classic.

The main question for Haynesfield is the nearly five month layoff since his last race along with a price that could drift downward from his 8/5 morning line.

The stakes action starts off early in the card with the $125,000 Iroquois for fillies and mares at seven furlongs going off as the second race on the ten race program.

The race drew a field of nine including Gallant Bloom third place finisher Lovely Lil and Risky Rachel, who beat state bred second level optional claimers by ten lengths in her most recent outing.

The $100,000 B F. Bongard for two-year-old colts drew a big field that includes a four horse entry sent out by the Flying Zee Stables.

The $125,000 Hudson and $100,000 Joe A. Gimma drew a wide open fields, and the $125,000 Ticonderoga drew a full field of fillies and mares that likely are going to catch a turf course less than firm.

The NYRA is offering a $300,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4, which starts with the seventh race, the Joe A. Gimma.

Michael Dempsey provides his full card report for Belmont Park and Keeneland each racing day. Mike’s full card report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations.

Let’s head out to the Belmont Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:

Belmont Park Race 9 The Empire Classic Post time 5:16 ET

• Haynesfield 8/5
• Johannesburg Smile 9/2
• Icabad Crane 4/1
• Inherit the Gold 5/2

Haynesfield is making his first start since a fifth place finish in the Met Mile (G1) on May 30, and is facing New York breds for the first time since winning an optional claimer last June and he won this race back in 2009. He exits a much tougher race, three of the field coming out of the Met Mile won stakes in their next starts including the winner Tizway, who took the Whitney Handicap (G1) in his next start on Aug. 6. The Asmussen barn is 17% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. The five year old owns a solid pace profile throughout and should be able to sit just off the pace and will get the jump on Icabad Crane, who may end up going off as the second choice.

Johannesburg Smile pressed the early pace and took over at the eighth pole and drew off in the mud to win the Noble Nashua by 2 ¾ lengths. The colt has now landed in the exacta in 5 of his 7 trips over the Belmont Park main track. He owns solid early and mid pace numbers and figures to set the pace unless our top pick is really on his toes. The pace figures to be moderate enough where the top pair may be able to get some separation turning for home and he should hang around for a major share.

Icabad Crane did not fire in the state bred West Point on turf, checking in seventh and returns to the main track. Two back he got up late to win the Even Shipman by a nose earning a solid fig going nine furlongs in the slop. Last year in this race he was off to a poor start, was outrun in the early going and made a good late run to grab the runner up spot. The gelding may be up against it here pace wise, as he may not get much help up front. He should be coming late, but could end up with too much to do in the final furlong to get the top spot.

Wagering:
WIN: Haynesfield to win at 7/5 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 3,4,5,7
TRI: 3,4 / 3,4,5,7 / 2,3,4,5,7