Empire Dreams delivers as New York Derby favorite

Empire Dreams, stretching out beyond seven furlongs for the first time, handled two turns and 1 1/16 miles as the odds-on favorite in Saturday’s $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

Ridden for the first time by Manuel Franco, Empire Dreams ($3) made a four-wide bid to challenge Fox Rox on the far turn, took the lead turning for home, and drew clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The winning time was 1:45.55.

Fox Rox, a half-brother to 2012 New York Derby winner Fox Rules, finished a clear second but was disqualified and placed fifth for coming out at the start and causing the riders of Eye Luv Lulu and Free Mugatu to check severely.

Eye Luv Lulu, who was taken back to last early, was elevated from third to second. Let’s Discuss, a 53-1 outsider, was moved up from fourth to third. Free Mugatu, who opened at 3-5 in the betting before drifting up to 4-1, was placed fourth.

Empire Dreams, a son of Patriot Act trained by Tom Albertrani for West Point Thoroughbreds, is now 3 for 9 with earnings of $320,500. He won a division of the New York Stallion series sprinting at Aqueduct last fall and was most recently second in the seven-furlong Mike Lee at Belmont Park.

Flipcup narrowly prevails in New York Oaks

Even-money favorite Flipcup survived a stretch-long duel with pacesetter Alwaysinstilettos and held off a late charge by Storied Lady to prevail in a three-horse photo in the $75,000 New York Oaks at 1 1/16 miles.

The Bill Mott-trained Flipcup ($4.30), ridden by John Davila Jr. reached the wire first by a neck in 1:46.55. The locally based Alwaysinstilettos, winner of last season's Lady Finger, nosesd out Storied Lady for second.

Flip Cup, a daughter of Milwaukee Brew owned by Team Penney Racing, Wachtel Stable and Brous Stable, is now 4 for 7 with earnings of $214,209. Last winter, she won the East View Stakes on Aqueduct's inner track.