Former Claimer Royal Posse Set for Empire

Former claimer Royal Posse will try for his second straight stakes win against other New York-breds and third victory overall when he faces an expected eight rivals in the $300,000 Empire Classic Handicap Oct. 24 at Belmont Park.

After being claimed for $20,000 May 31 by trainer Rudy Rodriguez for owners Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Aisquith, Royal Posse finished second in an allowance/optional claiming race for state-breds July 24 before winning under similar conditions for New York-breds Aug. 20 at Saratoga Race Course. The 4-year-old son of Posse   followed that effort with his first stakes win, a nose victory over Saratoga Snacks in the two-turn 1 1/8-mile Evan Shipman Stakes Sept. 4 at Saratoga.

Royal Posse will stay at the 1 1/8-mile distance for the Empire Stakes, but it will be run around one turn at Belmont, where Royal Posse has two wins and two seconds in five career starts.

Rodriguez also will send out Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and the Elkstone Group's Good Luck Gus, who will be making his first start against older horses after winning the Albany Stakes for 3-year-old New York-breds Aug. 28 at Saratoga for this third career stakes win.

The field includes the second- and third-place Evan Shipman finishers in Gary Sciacca's Saratoga Snacks, the highweight at 122 pounds, and West Point Thoroughbreds' Empire Dreams. 

The Empire is one of eight stakes for New York-breds worth a total of $1.75 million on Saturday's 11-race card. 

—In the Sleepy Shollow for 2-year-olds, Repole Stable's undefeated Sudden Surprise will try for his fourth straight win overall and third straight stakes score.

—In the Hudson Handicap for sprinters 3 and older, grade I winner Palace  , campaigned by Antonio Muccio, will try to end a five-race losing streak.

—In the Iroquois Stakes for female sprinters, multiple grade II winner La Verdad will try to secure her sixth straight victory. Lady Sheila Stable's daughter of Yes It's True   has led at every point of call during her five-race win streak, all stakes wins. La Verdad also has been pre-entered by trainer Linda Rice in both the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) and Sprint (gr. I) next weekend at Keeneland. She could be scratched from Saturday's Iroquois in favor of a Breeders' Cup start.

—In the Mohawk for 3-year-olds and older on the turf, frequent rivals Kharafa and Lubash, who both boast multiple stakes wins, will meet again.

—In the Maid of the Mist for juvenile fillies, undefeated Treadway Racing Stable's Melodic will aim for a third straight win overall and second straight stakes triumph.

—In the Empire Distaff Handicap for fillies and mares, Treadway Racing Stable's Wonder Gal, who has placed in four grade I races, will try to secure her first victory of the 2015 season.

—In the Ticonderoga Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf, Moyglare Stud Farm grade I winner Discreet Marq will try for the eighth stakes win of her career.