Empire Dreams appropriate winner of Commentator

ELMONT,N.Y. - Perhaps it makes sense that when Big Apple Showcase Day is held at Belmont Park on Memorial Day, a horse named Empire Dreams, an offspring of the stallion Patriot Act, wins the day’s most prestigious event.

Empire Dreams, winless in three starts since winning the New York Derby at Finger Lakes last July, rallied five wide in the stretch under Javier Castellano and persevered past the pace-setting Readthebyline and Saratoga Snacks to win the $200,000 Commentator Stakes by three-quarters of a length. Readthebyline held second by a nose over Saratoga Snacks, the 8-5 favorite. It was 5 1/4 lengths back to Readtheprospectus, who was followed, in order, by Summer Place to Be and Sinistra.

The Commentator was one of six stakes on Monday’s 10-race program, a card entirely devoted to New York-breds.

It was the fourth win from 13 career starts for Empire Dreams, who was gelded following his 3-year-old year, one that ended with dismal performances in the Albany Stakes at Saratoga and the Empire Classic here last fall.

“He does have some quirks about him, like in the paddock he’d get a little hot, so maybe in hindsight it really settled him down a little bit," trainer Tom Albertrani said of gelding Empire Dreams.

In a six-horse field, Castellano kept Empire Dreams in fifth position early as Readthebyline, under Jose Ortiz, ran a quarter in 23.44 seconds and a half-mile in 46.15 while being pursued by Summer Place to Be and a three-wide Saratoga Snacks.

Castellano guided Empire Dreams four to five wide in the stretch, and he had a clear path to victory as Readthebyline and Saratoga Snacks dueled alongside each other in the lane.

Empire Dreams, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, covered the mile in 1:35.42 and returned $10.20 to win.

“They went a decent pace in the race and I took advantage, and he gave me a good run the last part of the race,” Castellano said.