Six Stakes Worth $1.25M on Tap for NY-Bred Stakes Day

A total of 113 horses have been entered for New York Showcase Day Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course for an 11-race card devoted to horses bred in the Empire State boasting six stakes worth a combined $1.25 million.

The card is headlined by the $250,000 Albany Stakes, a nine-furlong test for sophomores. Also featured are five $200,000 stakes, including the Fleet Indian Stakes at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies; the West Point Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf; the Yaddo Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/16-miles on turf; and a pair of sprints at six furlongs in the Funny Cide Stakes, for 2-year-olds; and the Seeking the Ante Stakes for juvenile fillies.

First post is 1:10 p.m. ET.

In conjunction with New York Showcase Day, NYRA will pay tribute to Funny Cide, one of the most popular and successful New York breds of all time, who died earlier this summer from complications due to colic.

The celebration of Funny Cide's life will feature Funny Cide memorabilia signed by his connections: Sackatoga Stable Managing Partner Jack Knowlton, trainer Barclay Tagg, assistant trainer Robin Smullen, and Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos. The signing will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch. Suggested donations will benefit the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, a pair of non-profit organizations dedicated to the care and well-being of members of NYRA's backstretch community.

On Sunday, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) will also honor three more of the greatest New York-breds to compete and represent the program. Connections from Dayatthespa, Mind Your Biscuits, and Saratoga Dew will be honored after the sixth race—the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Honors New York-bred Legends.

"Saratoga Showcase Day is a marquee asset in the New York-bred program and we're proud in our partnership with NYRA to host this day annually for everyone involved and interested in participating in breeding and racing in New York," said Najja Thompson executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders. "This year's Saratoga Showcase Day closing out Travers weekend on Sunday with a full card of New York-bred stakes, allowances, and maiden races helps to provide more national exposure for the program."

The featured Albany in race 10 provides a rematch between state-bred stakes-winners Maker's Candy  (post 2, Jose Ortiz), bred by Newtownanner Stud, and the Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan-bred Allure of Money  (post 3, Luis Perez).

Paradise Farms David Staudacher, Maxis Stable, and John Huber's Maker's Candy, a Twirling Candy  bay trained by Mike Maker, captured the seven-furlong Mike Lee Stakes in May at Belmont Park but could not get the better of Allure of Money, trained by Michael Ferraro for owner Happy Face Racing Stable, last out when defeated a neck in the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby July 17 at Finger Lakes.

A new challenger is Robert S. Evans' homebred Drake's Passage  (post 6, Manny Franco), who garnered a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in a prominent first-level state-bred allowance score last out July 3 at Belmont Park. The speedy Chester and Mary Broman homebred Mariachi (post 4, Kendrick Carmouche) will also make his stakes debut for trainer John Kimmel. Rounding out the field are Leo and Royal  (post 1, Tyler Gaffalione), Jackson Heights  (post 5, Joel Rosario), and Miracle Mike  (post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.).