Belmont Park: Cluster of Stars going in Empire Showcase instead of Breeders' Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Cluster of Stars, the undefeated New York-bred filly, was entered Monday for Saturday’s $150,000 Iroquois Stakes at Belmont Park and will not be supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, her connections said.

Cluster of Stars, who has won all six of her starts including the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom here on Sept. 21, would have been a serious contender in the Filly and Mare Sprint, a race in which she potentially would have been vying for an Eclipse Award. In the end, however, her connections opted not to pay the $100,000 supplemental fee to make her eligible for the Breeders’ Cup nor do they want to ship her cross-country. The Breeders’ Cup is held at Santa Anita on Nov. 1-2.

“We just felt it was in the best interests for the longevity of the filly,” said assistant Toby Sheets, who oversees Steve Asmussen’s Belmont Park string.

Cluster of Stars, a daughter of Greeley’s Galaxy owned by Harvey Weinstein, will be heavily favored to defeat seven rivals in the Iroquois, one of seven stakes and 11 races overall restricted to New York-breds on Saturday’s Empire Showcase program. Total purses offered on the 11 races are $1,612,000 including three maiden races each worth $90,000.

With 11 races, first post for Saturday will be moved up by 30 minutes to 12:20 p.m.

Cluster of Stars will break from post 5 under Javier Castellano and carry high weight of 124 pounds. Her toughest competition figures to come from Willet and Miss Valentine, who ran 1-2 in this race last year.

The presence of Cluster of Stars in the race enables the Iroquois to overshadow the day’s featured event, the $250,000 Empire Classic.

Readtheprospectus, winner of seven consecutive races, tops the field for the Empire Classic run at 1 1/8 miles. His streak began last Oct. 20 on what was then called New York Showcase Day with a maiden win over the turf.

Readtheprospectus, who is 2 for 2 on the dirt at Belmont, will break from the outside post in the eight-horse field under Junior Alvarado. As the 124-pound highweight, he will concede 2 to 9 pounds to his opponents.

After much hemming and hawing by trainer Gary Sciacca, Saratoga Snacks was entered in the Empire Classic at 1 1/8 miles rather than the $150,000 Hudson Stakes at six furlongs. Saratoga Snacks finished second to Lunar Victory in this race last year, but had a recent winning effort over the track. This year, he enters the race off a 79-day layoff, after finishing third in the John Morrissey Stakes during the Saratoga meet.

Sciacca felt that Saratoga Snacks might have to be harder used to go six furlongs than 1 1/8 miles.

“I don’t think sprinting at that distance is his thing,” said Sciacca, who trains Saratoga Snacks for Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells. “Post seven of eight going long is great. He seems to like it here, he ran well here. It’s a lot of money, why not take a shot.”

Awesome Vision, Spa City Fever, and Bigger Is Bettor are the other top contenders in the Empire Classic,

In the other stakes:

* King Kreesa, second to Wise Dan in the Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga, heads a field of 12 entered in the $200,000 Mohawk Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The field includes Compliance Officer, winner of the 2011 Mohawk; Mission Approved, winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War in 2011, who has not raced in 23 months; and stakes winners Lubash, Kharafa, and the 3-year-old Notacatbutallama.

*The 3-year-old Effie Trinket, winner of the John Hettinger Stakes last out, tops a field of 10 entered in a competitive edition of the $200,000 Ticonderoga Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Shakeira, second in this race last year, Wholelottashakin, Frosty Bay, and Inimitable Romanee top the list of contenders.

* Mine Over Matter seeks a repeat in the $150,000 Hudson Handicap, a six-furlong race he won by a length over Saginaw last year. He is part of an uncoupled entry from trainer Mike Hushion that includes B Shanny, who comes off a stakes victory at Finger Lakes last out. Palace, who defeated The Lumber Guy at Saratoga, and Night Maneuver, are among the top challengers.

* Wired Bryan, winner of the Grade 2 Sanford opening weekend at Saratoga, tops a field of eight 2-year-old colts and geldings entered in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at seven furlongs.

* Court Dancer, a 7 3/4-length debut winner against state-breds at Saratoga before finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Matron, tops a field of seven entered in the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma for 2-year-old fillies.