Empire Dreams, Saratoga Snacks go at it again in Saginaw
ELMONT, N.Y. – Empire Dreams will try to remain in career-best form while Saratoga Snacks will try to regain his best form when the two head a five-horse field in Saturday’s $100,000 Saginaw Stakes at Belmont Park.
The Saginaw, for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles, is named for a gelding who won nine stakes at a mile or shorter. It is one of two stakes restricted to New York-breds that highlight the final Saturday of the Belmont spring-summer meeting. The $125,000 Rockville Centre, for 2-year-olds, includes five maidens from its eight entrants.
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Since being gelded following his 3-year-old campaign last year, Empire Dreams has a win and a second in two starts. After finishing second to Loki’s Vengeance in the Affirmed Success going six furlongs May 3, Empire Dreams won the $200,000 Commentator going a mile, rallying past Saratoga Snacks, who missed second by a nose.
“The horse needed time off at the end of last season, and he came back good and healthy,” said Tom Albertrani, trainer of Empire Dreams. “That made more of a difference, I think, than the castration.”
In the Commentator, Empire Dreams was getting two pounds from Saratoga Snacks. Saturday, Empire Dreams carries top weight of 124 pounds and is conceding six pounds to Saratoga Snacks.
Saratoga Snacks, in tight a little early, was three wide and in the clear down the backside and into the stretch of the Commentator, but couldn’t quicken with Empire Dreams.
Saratoga Snacks has fired a couple of bullet workouts since the Commentator, and owner-trainer Gary Sciacca said he’s “ready to turn the tables” on Empire Dreams.
Sciacca is making a rider change to John Velazquez, a combination that is only 1 for 13 the last five years.
Notacatbutallama, who is 1 for 15 since winning the off-the-turf Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, runs on dirt for just the fifth time in his career. Eye Luv Lulu, the potential speed from the rail, and Gridley Here complete the field.
The Saginaw will go as race 3 (2:22 p.m. Eastern) on the 10-race card.
KEY CONTENDERS
Empire Dreams (Last 3 Beyers: 95-83-66)
◗ Earned career-best Beyer Speed Figure when winning the Commentator, 22 days after having finished second in a sprint stakes.
◗ He won the New York Derby at his only try at the 1 1/16-mile distance he must navigate in this spot.
“Off his last race, it looked like he should benefit from a little more distance,” Albertrani said. “The way he was finishing the last race, hopefully he’ll be able to put up the same performance.”
Saratoga Snacks (Last 3 Beyers: 93-89-93)
◗ Did not seem comfortable in the Commentator yet still was beaten less than a length while conceding weight to the rest of the field. Gets an eight-pound shift in weights from Empire Dreams from the Commentator.
◗ He has enough speed to be a pace factor if new rider Velazquez elects to use it.