Captain Serious tries two turns in Albany
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Looking to continue the momentum of a slots-infused resurgence of the New York-bred program, the New York Racing Association has added a third card to its calendar devoted strictly to horses bred in the Empire State.
Sunday’s card, billed as Saratoga Showcase Day, features 11 races restricted to New York-breds with total purses worth $1.558 million, including six stakes worth a total of $1.15 million. This follows in the mold of the original New York Showcase Day program [now known as Empire Showcase Day], begun two decades ago and run during the Belmont fall meet. In 2013, NYRA added a Big Apple Showcase Day program to its spring/summer season.
In all, NYRA is hosting 54 stakes for New York-breds in 2014, a $485,000 increase over last year.
The $250,000 Albany Stakes, restricted to 3-year-old males, is the richest race on the card. The Fleet Indian, for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies, the Funny Cide for 2-year-old males, and Seeking the Ante, for 2-year-old females, are each worth $200,000. The West Point, for males 3-year-olds and up on turf, and the Yaddo, for females 3-year-olds and up on turf, are worth $150,000 apiece.
The Albany, the third in a series of races for 3-year-olds, is topped by Captain Serious, the winner of the Mike Lee Stakes, and Empire Dreams, the winner of the New York Derby at Finger Lakes. It also marks the statebred debut of Little Daddy, who has made his first five starts against open company at Gulfstream Park.
Captain Serious, named in honor Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, is 3 for 3 against New York-breds. He has finished second and third in the Grade 3 Dwyer and Grade 2 Amsterdam.
Captain Serious owns three of the top four Beyer Speed Figures in the field but will be trying 1 1/8 miles and two turns for the first time.
Captain Serious lost to Kid Cruz in the Dwyer going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont.
“That was a reasonable performance,” trainer Mike Hushion said. “He’s got to be a little stronger now and have a little more wind in him.”
Hushion said Captain Serious is a laid-back sort and “that same attitude, you hope, will let him relax a little bit extra.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Captain Serious. Trainer Mike Hushion is 22 for 66 with a $2.66 ROI over the past five years stretching from a sprint to route on dirt.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Empire Dreams, second to Captain Serious in the Mike Lee, went up to Finger Lakes to win the New York Derby by 2 1/4 lengths as the 1-2 favorite. Breaking from the outside that day, he was able to avoid a traffic jam coming out of the gate.
“He ran a big race,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “Stretching him out, he seemed to like that distance a lot better than sprinting. He’s trained really well going into this race.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Empire Dreams. Trainer Tom Albertrani is 4 for 49 with a $0.43 ROI over the past two years in dirt races following a win last out.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Little Daddy, like Captain Serious, needs to prove he can get a distance of ground. He won his first two starts sprinting at Gulfstream. Since then, he has been competitive in open stakes company, with a second, a third, and a fourth.
Effinex, a horse who ran his best race going two turns over Aqueduct’s inner track, could be a live longshot. He makes his first start for Jimmy Jerkens here.
Albany Stakes, Race 10
KEY CONTENDERS
Captain Serious (Last 3 Beyers: 90-92-98)
◗ Stretches out in distance after a third-place finish in Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes to 1 1/8 miles against New York-breds, against whom he is 3 for 3, including a victory over Empire Dreams in the Mike Lee Stakes.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Hushion is 6 for 12 going from a sprint to a route in stakes, including 2 for 2 at Saratoga, with a $2.70 return on investment.
Empire Dreams (Last 3 Beyers: 86-91-87)
◗ Made a successful two-turn debut in winning the New York Derby, drawing away by 2 1/4 lengths in the stretch. At 124 pounds, he will be spotting three to seven pounds to the field.
Little Daddy (Last 3 Beyers: 83-78-81)
◗ Faces New York-breds for the first time after going 2 for 5 against open company at Gulfstream Park.
◗ Is making his first start for trainer Kathy Ritvo, who was sent the horse by trainer Carlo Vaccarezza, who has had licensing issues in New York.
“I hope he can settle and get the distance,” Ritvo said. “He’s had two good works here and was super [schooling] in the gate.”