Empire Dreams fresh for Empire Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – If Empire Dreams can finish 2016 like he did 2015, he certainly will have made up for lost time.

Over the last 10 weeks of 2015, Empire Dreams won the $300,000 Empire Classic and the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Handicap, while in between narrowly missing a third victory in a division of the New York Stallion Stakes.

A planned layoff followed by a splint-bone injury has limited Empire Dreams to only one start this year. On Saturday, he will make the second start of his 5-year-old season when he seeks a repeat in the Empire Classic, the richest event on the Empire Showcase Day program at Belmont Park. The 11-race card, which commences at 12:25 p.m. Eastern, comprises races restricted to New York-breds, including eight stakes with purses totaling $1.75 million.

Empire Dreams finished last of nine in the 2014 Empire Classic, after which he was gelded. In 2015, he went 3-2-2 and earned $422,834 for owner West Point Thoroughbreds. Following his victory in the Alex Robb on Dec. 31, he was given a freshening. Trainer Tom Albertrani said Empire Dreams was ready to return in the spring but developed a splint-bone injury that needed some attention.

Empire Dreams made his seasonal debut in the Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes at Finger Lakes, where he rallied widest of all and just lost the bob to Fox Rules.

“I thought he ran pretty well and was a little bit unlucky to get beat a short nose,” Albertrani said. “But he came back well and should benefit from that race.”

Empire Dreams drew post 9 in a nine-horse Empire Classic field, which from the rail out also includes Wake Up in Malibu, Governor Malibu, Pax in Terra, Good Luck Gus, Hit It Once More, Royal Posse, Sea Raven, and Clifton Pleasure.

Empire Dreams is one of five stakes winners from last year’s Empire Showcase Day program who are running back in stakes on this year’s program.

Wonder Gal, who won the Empire Distaff, was one of nine fillies and mares entered in this year’s Empire Distaff. The field includes Super Surprise, who won last year’s Maid of the Mist for 2-year-old fillies on the Showcase card. Lubash (Mohawk) and Invading Humor (Ticonderoga) will seek repeat victories in their respective races.