Belmont Park: Cluster of Stars to be short price in Iroquois Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Cluster of Stars is the biggest name among the 121 horses carded for Saturday’s 11-race Empire Showcase Day program devoted to New York-breds. She also figures to be the biggest favorite on the card when she meets seven fillies and mares in the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes at seven furlongs.

Cluster of Stars, a 4-year-old daughter of Greeley’s Galaxy owned by Harvey Weinstein’s Turtle Bird Stable, is undefeated in six career starts and is coming off a five-length triumph in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap here Sept. 21.

Many had her pegged as a contender for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, but her connections opted not to ship cross-country and put up a $100,000 supplemental fee.

Cluster of Stars, who was saddled with the 1 or 2 post in each of her last four starts, breaks from post 5 under Javier Castellano on Saturday. Though she portends to be on the lead, her draw gives Castellano a few more options.

“She’s special – none of that bothers her,” Toby Sheets, who oversees trainer Steve Asmussen’s Belmont string, said of the draw. “If she’s back there somewhere, she’s fine. If she’s up there, it doesn’t matter. She’s always done everything the right way, no matter where she’s been.”

Cluster of Stars is the co-highweight at 124 pounds along with Willet, who won this race last year.

Willet, coming off two statebred stakes victories, looms as the main threat. The late-running Miss Valentine, second in this race last year, and the speedy Here’s Zealicious, also are threats if Cluster of Stars has a bad day.

Mine Over Matter returns

Mine Over Matter, the off-the-pace winner of last year’s Hudson Handicap at 6-1, figures to be favored to repeat when he faces six rivals in Saturday’s $150,000 Hudson at six furlongs.

Mine Over Matter, trained by Mike Hushion, upset the slow-breaking Saginaw in this race a year ago. Saginaw beat Mine Over Matter three times this year but suffered a fatal injury in a race at Saratoga in August.

Mine Over Matter also won’t have to compete against Saratoga Snacks, who is entered in the $250,000 Empire Classic. Mine Over Matter hasn’t run since finishing second to Saginaw in the John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

“There was no perfect spot for him,” Hushion said. “I was looking to give him a little extra time. He’s training big time.”

Hushion said the same thing about the speedy B Shanny, who also will run in the Hudson. B Shanny won the Leon Reed Memorial at Finger Lakes on Aug. 17, 16 days after running last of four in the Morrissey.

“I like them both equally – they’re both training big time,” Hushion said. “I know they’re not coupled, but we got a speed horse, and that’s the only way he goes, and a come-from-behind horse, and that’s the only way he goes.”

With other speed types such as Cay to Pomeroy, Moonlight Song, and Readytodefer in the field, the race also could set up for Palace or Night Maneuver. Palace beat the Hushion-trained Grade 1-winning New York-bred The Lumber Guy in the Chowder’s First Stakes at Saratoga. Night Maneuver cuts back to six furlongs, the distance of four of his six career victories. He finished third in the one-mile Spite the Devil Stakes last out.