Class may carry Governor Malibu in Empire Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – Governor Malibu has spent the better part of his 3-year-old season chasing the top members of the division. While he’s acquitted himself well in most spots, his only two victories of the year have come against New York-breds.

On Saturday, Governor Malibu will be among the choices in the $300,000 Empire Classic, the richest race on the biggest day of the year for New York-breds at Belmont Park.

The Empire Classic is one of eight stakes and 11 races on the Empire Showcase Day program, which begins at 12:25 p.m. Eastern. Total stakes purses on Saturday are $1.75 million, while total purses for the card are $1.932 million.

In addition to the racing, there is a craft fair from noon to 4 p.m. and a host of fall-themed family activities in the backyard, including a haunted house, hayrides, carnival booths, and a mechanical bull ride.

On this card last year, Governor Malibu finished third as a maiden in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes. He would go on to win a maiden race at Aqueduct in November and the Gander Stakes over the inner track in February, both against New York-breds.

His next five starts came in open company and included a second-place finish to the odds-on favorite Unified in the Grade 2 Peter Pan, which, like the Empire Classic, is a one-turn, 1 1/8-mile race. Governor Malibu, who also ran fourth in the Belmont Stakes and second in the Jim Dandy, just won a one-turn, 1 1/16-mile allowance race against statebreds in the mud here Sept. 30.

Governor Malibu took advantage of a quick early pace in his allowance win and could get a similar setup under Joel Rosario in the Empire Classic with the speedy Wake Up in Malibu and Hit It Once More in the field.

“That’s good, and Joel can ride the race he wants to ride,” trainer Christophe Clement said.

Empire Dreams and Royal Posse finished one-two in last year’s Empire Classic, and they are back in this year’s field. Wake Up in Malibu is coming off a win in a stakes-caliber allowance just two weeks ago. Hit It Once More won two statebred stakes before finishing last in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.

Hit It Once More was taken back that day after breaking from post 12. Trainer Gary Sciacca said Hit It Once More likely will show his customary speed Saturday.

The $250,000 Empire Distaff, at 1 1/16 miles, is the female counterpart to the Empire Classic.

Wonder Gal, who won the Distaff last year, is stretching out off two sprints. Her competition includes Bar of Gold, 4 for 4 in statebred races, Super Surprise, and Literata.

KEY CONTENDERS

EMPIRE CLASSIC, RACE 10

Governor Malibu, Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 99-95-99

◗ Had a useful prep, beating statebreds by 7 1/2 lengths in a second-level allowance after rallying from 7 1/2 lengths off the pace.

“It was nice for him to win,” Clement said. “This is a very tough race. You got some good older horses, and they killed me with the weight.”

Governor Malibu carries 120 pounds, two fewer than Royal Posse but one more than Wake Up in Malibu.

Royal Posse, by Posse

Last 3 Beyers: 97-101-94

◗ He has never finished worse than second in 12 starts since being claimed by Rudy Rodriguez and a partnership led by Michael Dubb in May 2015.

◗ Appears to prefer two turns but is 2-5-0 from eight starts in one-turn dirt races at Belmont.

“He gets more comfortable and he can be a little closer to the pace going two turns than the one turn, but they’re going to be flying, so I’m hoping maybe he can pick up the pieces,” Rodriguez said. “He’s coming into this race very good.”

Wake Up in Malibu, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 102-86-88

◗ Looks like a bounce candidate after recording a career-high Beyer Speed Figure in a one-mile allowance race just two weeks ago.

◗ He definitely prefers one turn and is the one to catch, though he could be suspect at 1 1/8 miles.

EMPIRE DISTAFF, RACE 8

Wonder Gal, by Tiz Wonderful

Last 3 Beyers: 82-100-84

◗ Came off a long layoff with a dynamite performance against statebreds at Saratoga before finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at 6 1/2 furlongs.

◗ Won this race last year after a poor effort sprinting in the Grade 1 Test.

◗ Trainer Leah Gyarmati said that by stretching out, Wonder Gal can “get a relaxed trip.”

Bar of Gold, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 83-41-91

◗ Her last win came going a one-turn mile in the mud at Belmont in May, when she beat Haveyougoneaway in the Critical Eye Stakes. In that race, she chased a very fast early pace. In running third in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters going 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 19, Bar of Gold was well back early and came with a strong late run.

Trainer John Kimmel believes jockey Rosario has “got her so relaxed now that we’re taking her back and making a late move.”

Super Surprise, by Giant Surprise

Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-67

◗ Stretched out to 1 1/8 miles when winning the Fleet Indian Stakes by four lengths at Saratoga in August.

◗ Won the Maid of the Mist Stakes going a one-turn mile here last year on this card.

Jules N Rome, by Dunkirk

Last 3 Beyers: 89-80-73

◗ Overcame the outside post in a 10-horse field when winning the Saratoga Dew Stakes at Saratoga first off the claim by Rudy Rodriguez. Javier Castellano, who rode her in the Saratoga Dew, is back aboard.